John bows out with swipe at social media politicians
John Humphrys quit his Today show yesterday with swipe at politicians who snub interviews. Sherna Noah reports
BBC broadcaster John Humphrys ended his final Today show with a swipe at politicians who snub political interviews in favour of social media.
The Today “Rottweiler” bowed out of the early morning BBC Radio 4 programme yesterday after 32 years and 5,000 programmes.
Humphrys, 76, who has been accused of “poisoning the well of democratic debate” over the years, thanked the people he has interviewed on the flagship Radio 4 show.
In an interview with former prime minister Tony Blair on his final broadcast, Humphrys said Boris Johnson had not been on the show since he entered Number 10 and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had stayed away for nearly three years.
“Increasingly, politicians are talking directly to the people via social media so they can choose the questions they answer without being challenged,” Cardiff-born Humphrys said.
Later as he signed off for the final time, Humphrys said “thanks” to everyone he had interviewed, “including the politicians, or at least those of them, the vast majority, who still recognise it is important that people in power should be held to account, even if just occasionally we might give them a hard time”.
Minutes after BBC directorgeneral Lord Hall showered him with praise in the studio, Humphrys said there was a “lot wrong” with the BBC “as an organisation”, adding “there is a lot wrong with every organisation”.
The broadcasting heavyweight, who will continue to host BBC show Mastermind, said: “It’s facing massive challenges from social media and changing behaviour but I believe we need the BBC as much now as we have ever done.
“I simply cannot imagine this country without it. It is an unthinkable thought.”
Earlier, he had quizzed Lord Hall over the decision to means-test the TV licence for over-75s.
Humphrys sounded emotional as he thanked listeners for their “loyalty” to the programme.
“I really do feel that I have got to know you over the decades and you are decent people,” he said.
“I’m more proud than I can say that you have put up with me for so long. Thank-you, all of you. I do hope you keep listening.
“Today matters for tomorrow and if that’s a rather corny way to end my years on the programme, so be it.”
Of listeners who had “written over the years, sometimes to give me a pat on the back, often to give me a kick up the backside for getting it wrong or for being out of touch, you’re always right, or nearly always”.
Clips of his former interviews were played, including the encounter which led to BBC director-general George Entwistle resigning.
Dame Edna Everage appeared on the show, and when Humphrys asked if she “had any words of guidance for somebody like me, who is retiring from a job after a very long time doing it”, she replied with a rhyme.
“You won’t grow old, you’ll just get nicely mellow. So hug your trees, play Elgar on your cello.”
Humphrys responded: “You can’t follow that, really.”
With the studio filled with co-presenters past and present, he signed off: “That’s it from me and from Today. Good morning.”
The BBC is not recruiting a replacement for Humphrys, with Justin Webb, Mishal Husain, Martha Kearney and Nick Robinson filling in his shifts.
Humphrys later told the BBC’s World At One that the send-off “was beyond my wildest imaginings, it was simultaneously profoundly embarrassing and deeply moving”.
“If I hear the programme, I am going to be saying to myself, ‘Oh God, look, that’s not the place for that interview, for heaven’s sake.
Humphrys, who was accused by Jonathan Aitken of “poisoning the well of democratic debate” before the ex-Tory MP was jailed in 1999 for perjury and perverting the course of justice, said: “I am going to have no influence or no power over it (the programme). It’s an awful, terrible feeling.”
Kathy Burke joked that being furious with “miserable old git” John Humphrys over the years was almost like a marriage.
The comedian, actress and writer was among those paying tribute to Humphrys as he bowed out.
Burke poked fun at her moments of rage against Humphrys, tweeting: “I’ve never been married but being furious with John Humphrys at least three out of five days every other week has felt like I was.
“Think I’m gonna miss the miserable old git. Good luck to him.”
PM host Evan Davis, who previously worked with Humphrys on Today, tweeted that his former colleague “really deserves all the accolades”.
“I found that the more I saw him at work on @BBCr4today close up, the more I respected him and understood why he had such enduring appeal.”
He added that there was “way more to him than the adversarial interviews people talk about.”
BBC News at Six host George Alagiah said he felt “bereft” after hearing Humphrys’s final broadcast, while Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan hailed him for his “32 gloriously irascible years”.
Referring to the Today host’s apology for being “a bit grumpy”, Morgan added: “No apology necessary.
“He’s been the greatest radio interrogator of them all, and will be hugely missed.”
ITV’s political editor Robert Peston tweeted: “From one total obsessive to another, you will be missed John Humphrys. You care about the craft in the way that not enough do.”
Gardeners’ World host Monty Don told of his “ever-increasing admiration and respect” for Humphrys over the past 32 years, adding: “One of the truly great broadcasters and a fine man.”
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell tweeted: “Thank you John Humphrys for your huge contribution to public service broadcasting in our country.
“Although at times I could have brained you for your interruptions, your forensic interviews held us all to account enhancing our political debate. Have a great retirement.”
UK Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock congratulated the broadcaster “for a lifetime of grilling, bringing light, entertainment and accountability to British public life.
“We politicians may not always enjoy the keen eye of scrutiny, but healthy democracy relies on it.”
While there was an outpouring of respect for Humphrys, there was also joy from some to see him retire.
Former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett quipped: “Today is John Humphrys last day on #r4today, so it seems appropriate to be polite. I won’t say anything.”