Humphrys blamed for BBC Today’s listener plummet
ALASTAIR Campbell has suggested that John Humphrys’ on-air manner and welcome to Brexiters led to a drop in ratings for BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
The former spin doctor for Tony Blair when he was prime minister, who resigned during the Hutton Inquiry in 2003, has criticised a “never-ending succession of hard Brexit advocates” on the current affairs show.
Mr Campbell has said there may be many reasons for the loss of 800,000 listeners from 2017 to 2018, but that Humphrys’ on-air style was one of them.
The Labour Party and Humphrys had clashed in 2005 following a speaking engagement where the presenter criticised senior politicians. Humphrys and Mr Campbell were also involved in the debate surrounding the Hutton Inquiry.
Mr Campbell has criticised the “harrumphing cynicism that has come to be Humphrys’ stock-intrade”, and urged Today to develop a younger, working-class, less metropolitan voice.
Writing in Radio Times magazine, the former Labour Party spokesman said: “While there are doubtless many reasons for the dramatic fall in Today’s ratings, with one million fewer listeners than 18 months ago, might the hectoring style and the crossing from tough questioning to opinionated, snorting sarcasm (other than for the never-ending succession of hard Brexit advocates, the Reesmoggs, Duncan Smiths and David Davises generally given a chummier ride) have been among them?”
Mr Campbell, who has supported the Remain cause, criticised the reception of news that Humphrys would be stepping down in the autumn, calling interviews with the outgoing presenter, conducted by his long-time BBC colleagues, “giggly” and “flirty”.
The former spin doctor has called on Today to reform itself after the departure of Humphrys, and appeal to a less middle-class, middle-aged audience. He has urged the programme to treat the arts and sport seriously, and to steer clear of “gotcha” journalism.
Mr Campbell has suggested the BBC continues “moving or getting rid of some of the furniture”, and considers Emma Barnett or Shelagh Fogarty or Victoria Derbyshire as replacements for Humphrys.
His article can be read in Radio Times magazine.