BBC ties itself in knots over presenter’s name

AMBITIOUS BBC editor Amol Rajan has issued a clarification to the Corporation’s ‘pronunciation unit’ after Radio 4 presenter Justin Webb called him ‘Ran Jan’.

Media Editor Rajan, 34, says he was sent a ‘very pompous email’ by officials, asking: ‘I’m sorry, but this is a very serious question — there are many people within the BBC who are very concerned they’re actually pronouncing your name wrong.’ Speaking on a podcast, Rajan claims: ‘To a certain kind of man from a privileged background, my name really throws them.

‘It’s something about the “Raj”, it brings back these sort of imperial colonial memories . . .

‘Justin Webb will introduce me on air by saying: “We’re now joined by our media editor Amol Rajan . . . so Ran-Jan, what do you think . . .”’

The correct pronunciation is a-mole rardjen.