Radio 4: Today at 60
Hannah Khalil
Digital Content Producer, About The 成人论坛 Blog
L-R: John Humphrys, Justin Webb, Nick Robinson, Sarah Montague, Jim Naughtie, Evan Davis, Garry Richardson, Mishal Husain
The radio programme that editor Rod Liddle described as ‘a light entertaining magazine programme… an oral Blue Peter for 60 year olds’ is 60 itself today.
The began life on Monday 28th October 1957 when the 成人论坛 Home Service launched a new morning programme presented by Alan Skempton and edited by Isa Benzie. According to Sue Macgregor, who presented Today from 1984-2002 the original programme was “built around Jack (De Manio)’s personality very much, so there was lots about food and booze in it, which were his great loves”.
Other presenters over the years included Michael Aspel (1970-1974), Barry Norman (1974-76), Des Lynam (1974-75),Gillian Reynolds (1976), Nigel Rees (1976–78), Libby Purves (1978–81) and Jenni Murray (1985–87).
Behind the mic at the Today Programme
What’s more a very young Prince Charles made his broadcasting debut on the Programme, talking to Jack De Manio about performing as a student in a show at Cambridge University.
However, it hasn’t all been smooth runnings over 60 years: De Manio started the programme on 31st March 1970 saying: “I got stuck in the loo, I’m sorry… I’m sorry about the beginning of this programme, I had a slight little bit of trouble”.
Sue Macgregor recalls on another occasion being so tired she fell asleep in the middle of her own question to Lord McGregor, Head of the Press Complaints Commission: “I remember waking up, as if out of a dream, conscious I was babbling nonsense… this isn’t a nightmare, this is really, really happening”.
Margaret Thatcher on the Today Programme
The programme interviewed countless people of note over the years; but influential figures also listened: Margaret Thatcher was a regular. Legend has it she phoned into the programme in 1988 because she had heard the bulletin announcing that Gorbachev would be cancelling his visit to London to return to the Soviet Union after the Armenian Earthquake. She wanted to the let the public know that she knew he wouldn’t be able to visit London and understood why.
Over 60 years the content and format of the Today programme has evolved; but from the outset world leaders, titans of business and industry, academics and activists alike have faced a grilling by the presenters. Its position as a Great British institution is as assured as ever, with over 7 million listeners regularly tuning in to Radio 4.
Jenni Murray, John Humphrys and Brian Redhead
To mark Today’s anniversary there will be a special broadcast from Wigmore Hall in front of a live audience, hosted by John Humphrys and Sarah Montague today (Saturday 28 October) from 7-9am. Highlights from the programme include:
- Sue MacGregor doing a Reunion with a panel of former presenters such as Evan Davis and Ed Stourton
- Mishal Husain chatting to John Simpson and Bridget Kendall on the great world events of the last 60 years
- John Humphrys charting the history of political interview
Further special guests featured are: Alma Deutscher who has composed a 60th song which will be played out; and Monica Ali will be in conversation with James Naughtie.
It promises to be an informative and starry programme to mark 60 years of the Today Programme.
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