John Humphries - The Today Programme
Discussion
Is it just me or is John Humphries becoming increasingly insufferable?
On days when he isn't on the Today programme my drive into work is an oasis of calm where I am both informed, educated and entertained.
Days when John is on shift is usually punctuated by me shouting "f
k off, fk off, fk off" at the radio for 30 minutes. This morning I was actually physically compelled to change to Radio 2 during his interview with Cameron.
I think it was Chris Harris who described John Humphries as being "early morning, high octane agro" and this is spectacularly true - and it would be acceptable if it was in some way entertaining - but it isn't.
All Humphries seems to do is try and score points with those he is interviewing - he's worse than a politician, or a married couple who have grown to resent the sight of each other over 40 years.
Listen John - perhaps if you tried to actually get to the bottom of the issue rather than play radio Journalist one-upmanship with your subjects you might actually get some answers.
My first tip would be to let the person you are interviewing actually answer the question rather than ask a further 3 before they have had chance to respond to the first. The key to a good interview is to get answers - not see how many questions you can ask in the allotted time - or to shout down your guest.
Eddie Mair on PM gets it spot on - speak softly and carry a big stick. He has an increcible knack of asking a superbly pointed questions - quietly and politely.
He gives them time to respond to the question - he's unafraid to leave a silence and the result is usually that he gives his guest enough rope to hang themself. John would do well to take note of this IMO.
On days when he isn't on the Today programme my drive into work is an oasis of calm where I am both informed, educated and entertained.
Days when John is on shift is usually punctuated by me shouting "f
k off, fk off, fk off" at the radio for 30 minutes. This morning I was actually physically compelled to change to Radio 2 during his interview with Cameron.I think it was Chris Harris who described John Humphries as being "early morning, high octane agro" and this is spectacularly true - and it would be acceptable if it was in some way entertaining - but it isn't.
All Humphries seems to do is try and score points with those he is interviewing - he's worse than a politician, or a married couple who have grown to resent the sight of each other over 40 years.
Listen John - perhaps if you tried to actually get to the bottom of the issue rather than play radio Journalist one-upmanship with your subjects you might actually get some answers.
My first tip would be to let the person you are interviewing actually answer the question rather than ask a further 3 before they have had chance to respond to the first. The key to a good interview is to get answers - not see how many questions you can ask in the allotted time - or to shout down your guest.
Eddie Mair on PM gets it spot on - speak softly and carry a big stick. He has an increcible knack of asking a superbly pointed questions - quietly and politely.
He gives them time to respond to the question - he's unafraid to leave a silence and the result is usually that he gives his guest enough rope to hang themself. John would do well to take note of this IMO.
I agree. I tend to listen to R4 as a default but have found myself considering listening to music on the way in in the morning rather than arrive at work ready to rip someone a new one.
I’m not a particular fan of Mayer either for that matter but at least he doesn’t let his political agenda get in the way of doing his job the way JH does.
I’m not a particular fan of Mayer either for that matter but at least he doesn’t let his political agenda get in the way of doing his job the way JH does.
Mr Gearchange said:
.
Days when John is on shift is usually punctuated by me shouting "fk off, fk off, fk off" at the radio for 30 minutes.
Not just me then Days when John is on shift is usually punctuated by me shouting "f
k off, fk off, fk off" at the radio for 30 minutes. 
although it tends to wind me up any time they do any interview. Its either the interviewee/interviewer one of them will piss me off.Rude-boy said:
I agree. I tend to listen to R4 as a default but have found myself considering listening to music on the way in in the morning rather than arrive at work ready to rip someone a new one.
Same, R4 was my default station and would always be on in the car on the way to work in the mornings. Not so much now. I switched it off this morning because he got up my nose, it seems to happen more often that he wont let a guest get a word in edgewise as if he has some sort of personal bias which he wants to put across.
I'm sure he probably thinks he's just playing devils advocate, but he just sounds like a twunt
Mr Gearchange said:
Eddie Mair on PM gets it spot on - speak softly and carry a big stick. He has an increcible knack of asking a superbly pointed questions - quietly and politely.
He gives them time to respond to the question - he's unafraid to leave a silence and the result is usually that he gives his guest enough rope to hang themself. John would do well to take note of this IMO.
Agreed, his bait and trap is rather pleasing to listen to.He gives them time to respond to the question - he's unafraid to leave a silence and the result is usually that he gives his guest enough rope to hang themself. John would do well to take note of this IMO.
Mr Gearchange said:
Listen John - perhaps if you tried to actually get to the bottom of the issue rather than play radio Journalist one-upmanship with your subjects you might actually get some answers.
A politician will allow an interviewer to get to the heart of an issue and provide answers?Stick to Chris Evans.
JH lived in our village, grew up down here. An ego the size of planet Saturn. Well known for it. Find myself shouting..your a news reader....not a journalist. Michael Buerk the same, you can almost here their desperation in working to be regarded as an 'institution'.
I've also never heard anyone more out of their intellectual depth that Buerk on the Moral Maze. Constantly ignored, mostly by the bitter little 'starky'.
I've also never heard anyone more out of their intellectual depth that Buerk on the Moral Maze. Constantly ignored, mostly by the bitter little 'starky'.
Edited by Robbo66 on Saturday 28th May 09:37
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