Farewell boyo, the day that John Humphrys went off air

Final words

Tears were welling as John Humphrys responded to the many tributes from past colleagues and victims as he retired after 32 years presenting the Today programme. I had listened to the programme since the 1960s when it was little more than a talking clock. Jack Di Manio would announce the time and I would run to catch the bus to school. Today was also the morning soundtrack during university days where my interest in current affairs was nurtured, although the World at One was a more enlightening programme with Peter Hobday on the serious stuff and the inestimable Monty Modlin reporting on the quirky aspects of life.

Throughout my working life, the Today programme was tuned into before the 7:00am news and listened to during the journey to work. Brian Redhead and John Timpson along with Sue MacGregor gave the programme a more professional makeover in the late 1970s and 1980s and began to interrogate our politicians. Since 1987 John Humphrys has been the mainstay of the programme, cleaving his way through politicians, introducing important and sensitive issues through interviews with people who have suffered tragedies and focusing his intense energy to speak truth to power. Along with Jim Naughtie, they were the Matchday commentators on current affairs during prime ministers from Thatcher, Major, Blair, Brown to Cameron.

He has been much maligned for interrupting his guests and being grumpy. But there is underlying humanity when he interviews ordinary people and no artifice as he seeks to give them a voice. He has been heavily criticised for taking no prisoners but this style was reserved for those in authority. His final day had him interviewing two former prime ministers, Tony Blair and David Cameron whilst fearlessly accusing Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn of being too 'frit' to be interviewed by the programme and held to account. He leaves behind a talented team and they showed their esteem for his remarkable longevity and contribution to broadcasting.

It is probably best to hear him out as he closed his final programme surrounded by his fellow presenters, past and present, his editors and producers as well as the Director-General of the BBC, Lord Hall.
John Humphrys final today programme sign-off

With Brian Redhead 32 years ago