Tables turned on BBC veteran Humphrys

JOHN Humphrys is known for giving his guests on the Today programme a grilling.

But yesterday the veteran presenter was furious after the tables were turned on him.

Jo Swinson, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, was invited on the Radio 4 show to discuss sexual harassment at Westminster.

At the end of the interview, she ambushed Humphrys over his remarks on Carrie Gracie, who resigned as the BBC’s China Editor citing a sexist pay culture. A recording last month appeared to show him mocking Miss Gracie, who was educated in Aberdeenshire and Glasgow. Miss Swinson, who is Glasgow-born, asked: ‘While I have got you here John, can I just ask have you apologised to Carrie Gracie for the remarks that you made about her courageous stance on equal pay?’

The presenter made it clear he regretted the remarks. He said: ‘I wrote an email to Carrie Gracie immediately after that exchange, yes I did as a matter of fact, and she replied. Quite what this has to do with what we are discussing here I fail to see, but there we are.’