Af ter cancer battle, Nick Robinson’s Today debut is ruined by croaky voice
NICK Robinson apologised for his croaky debut on the Today programme yesterday – as he admitted his voice may never fully recover.
The former BBC political editor, who has been off work after treatment for lung cancer, fulfilled a childhood ambition by landing a role as one of the Radio 4 breakfast show’s presenters.
But what was supposed to be a moment of triumph became a struggle, as at times he found it difficult to speak during the three-hour programme.
The 52-year-old tried to make light of the situation, jokingly acknowledging his hoarseness on air, and later apologising to listeners on Twitter.
But sources admitted that he was ‘disappointed’ at his performance, which had been so long in the planning. ‘He is absolutely beating himself up about it,’ said one insider.
Robinson had secured an interview with David Cameron – quite a coup for his first morning back on air – but even this was eclipsed by his croakiness.
Sympathetic listeners were alarmed at his apparent struggle. Some said that his voice sounded so painful, they found it difficult to listen to him. Others questioned whether he should have come back to such a demanding role so soon after his serious illness. One said: ‘Listening to his seemingly straining voice is uncomfortable. Sounds like it hurts.’ Another added: ‘[I] just worry if he’s fully recovered. Such a demanding job on his voice.’
Robinson, who had an operation to remove a tumour after being diagnosed with lung cancer in February, had previously insisted that he is well enough to resume full on-air duties.
‘The medical problem was cancer, and the good news is the surgery cleared that up. As far as anyone can say it’s not a problem – you still have to have the checks – it’s not a problem, which is tremendous,’ he told the Radio Times, in an interview to be published today.
Although the surgery dealt with Robinson’s cancer, it damaged nerves in his vocal chords and caused a change in his voice which is likely to be permanent.
‘What I have to come to terms with is that it will never 100 per cent physically recover,’ he said. He sees a speech therapist daily, spends 15 minutes under a towel inhaling steam twice a day and has complex regime of exercises to try to improve the way he sounds.
Earlier this year Robinson, who is married with three children, admitted he had been more concerned about his voice than the tumour in his lung.
‘Talking with one vocal cord is like trying to walk with one leg. It doesn’t work,’ he said. ‘I know it sounds odd but I worried about my voice rather than cancer.’
‘It’s described as lung cancer but technically it is an unusual tumour that doesn’t grow. It was never at the “Oh my god!” end of the spectrum. The dark moments were much more about losing my voice. Firstly, that’s what I do; secondly, I could talk for Britain; and thirdly, it’s who I am.’
Yesterday, broadcasting sources raised concerns that, even though BBC director general Lord Hall visited the Today studios yesterday to welcome Robinson back, he could struggle to keep his job if the croakiness in his voice persists.
‘It’s horrible. If you work in radio, the way you sound is obviously hugely important,’ a source said. Meanwhile Jim Naughtie, the man Robinson is replacing as Today anchor, was also on shaky form. At 7am, he accidentally swore live on air, clearly audible to listeners as he muttered ‘s***’ over the last of the pips while reporting from Paris.
In 2010, Naughtie famously suffered a slip of the tongue as he introduced Jeremy Hunt, then Culture Secretary, turning his surname into an offensive word.