RADIO

Boris Johnson

THE problem with journalists is they think they are experts on everything. Give a hack a newspaper column and he (it’s usually a he) will think he can run the country. Indeed, the UK is currently undergoing a realtime experiment to test that very hypothesis (the answer so far, forgive me for editorialising, is not well).

Still, from newspaper to broadcaster isn’t quite so large a leap, so perhaps it should be no surprise that Times Radio, launched on Monday morning at 6am, with Aasmah Mir and Stig Abell in the driving seat, arrived with a sense of safehanded competence.

The big coup was getting an interview with Boris Johnson, someone who, of course, was fired by the Times newspaper for making quotes up. Lying, I think that’s called.

Nothing much has changed. Johnson gave us his usual empty bluff, bluster and baloney over spending plans and the shake-up of the civil service. “Briefing against Sir Mark Sedwill? Not me, guv.” (That might not be an entirely accurate quote, but if it’s good enough for the PM … )

A solid start, though. But listening to its first day did give a clear insight into the challenges Times Radio will face. First of all, it feels more than a little south of England in tone. Plus, does it have to be so newsy? Newspapers can sometimes be guilty of forgetting most of us buy them for the crossword, the sport and the TV listings.

It might also be worth remembering that there is life outside the broadcasting studio. Even in the middle of a pandemic.

Listen Out For: James Naughtie’s Letter to America, BBC World Service, 6.50pm. The veteran broadcaster reflects on where the United States is now.