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| Anna Foster - Today Programme |
I have been a less regular listener to the Today Programme since the start of the year. It seemed to have lost its vitality and focus since the loss of Mishal Husain. Her professionalism and sharp focus had kept other presenters on the ball. Her temporary replacements, Jonny Dymond, Simon Jack and Katya Adler, had kept things ticking over, but Emma Barnett did not seem to be a team player. She is a loose cannon, unaware of her brutal style that irks interviewees and this listener.
Nick Robinson and Amol Rajan were spending time on other projects, including their Today Podcast, which is usually very good but it did not please Justin Webb. He had been involved on occasion but thought it overlapped with the Americast, his podcast with Sarah Smith.
Then, the new presenter, Anna Foster, arrived on air. She was in Thailand on her first day, covering the Myanmar earthquake. Her easy style brought out the best in the people she interviewed; she made a seamless connection with Nick Robinson in London, and they were a team. The Today Programme was back on track. Amol had already interviewed her on the Today podcast, and they had vowed to look forward to working together. She will no doubt rescue Justin from his grumpiness and cope with Emma, just as she does with everyone else in her fresh and positive manner.
