John Humphrys

Topics:

• TV/Radio Presenter

John Humphrys is a busy television and radio presenter known for his tough, no holds barred style of interviewing, but still finds time to chair conferences, deliver humorous after dinner speeches and present corporate awards.

Broadcaster & Journalist

He was the first of the BBC’s journalists to present front-line news programmes on both television and radio: "Today" on Radio Four and Television News on BBC1. He also presents "On the Record" on BBC1, "On the Ropes" and "The John Humphrys Interview" on Radio Four. In one five day period he presented Today, The Six O’clock News, On the Record, Panorama and The Nine O’clock News - a world beating first.  But he insists that he’s not a workaholic, just a work enthusiast.

For ten years he was a foreign correspondent with the BBC and over the years he reported on most major international events, ranging from the Watergate crisis and resignation of Richard Nixon to the first free elections in South Africa, revolutions in Latin America and assorted wars in all parts of the globe.

He was based in Washington for six years (the youngest journalist ever to be appointed as a foreign correspondent in BBC Television News) and in Southern Africa for three years.  He began his career in newspapers and spent two years in Independent Television as a scriptwriter and reporter.

Controversial Figure

John Humphrys became a controversial figure in March 1995, when he was attacked for his style of interviewing by some leading Conservative politicians, most notably Jonathan Aitken. He famously accused John of "poisoning the well of democratic debate" with his aggressive style. The BBC was swamped with letters and phone calls, of which more than ninety percent supported Humphrys. Many other politicians and public figures from all parties rose to his defence, as did newspapers of all persuasions. The Daily Mail described him in an editorial as "one of the most brilliant journalists in the country" and The Express ran a column demanding "Humphrys for Prime Minister", it concluded: "Politics would be richer, but the BBC would probably close down through lack of interest".

Conference Chair & After Dinner Speaker

He chairs conferences and debates on every subject under the sun and makes what he modestly describes as brilliantly witty after-dinner speeches.

In his spare time he tries to play the cello and conducts a one-man crusade to rescue the English language from those who are corrupting it with Americanised jargon and meaningless business non-speak. He admits failure on both fronts…but he’s not giving up.

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