John Humphrys

About

John Humphrys

John Humphrys is one of Britain’s best known and most controversial broadcasters. He has been a journalist for more than half a century. He was BBC TV’s youngest foreign correspondent and has anchored most frontline news and current affairs programmes on both television and radio.

He has won just about all the national broadcasting awards… including the “Oscar of Oscars”: the Sony Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement. The citation read: “He has truly changed the face of radio and the nature of the radio interview for an entire generation.”

But he has also achieved something else. He has become a hate figure in his time for BOTH major political parties. When the Conservatives were in power he was savagely attacked by one cabinet minister for “poisoning the well of democratic debate” with his style of interviewing. When the Labour Party was in opposition he was praised by them for his robust approach. Then, when Labour came to power, all that changed and he was attacked by New Labour for giving ministers a hard time. He was described as the “John Humphrys problem”. They called for him to be sacked. Essentially, he went from being a hero of the democratic process to a villain in a matter of months.

Apart from his broadcasting work John writes books and newspaper columns and has set up his own charity: the Kitchen Table Charities Trust. He also presents that rare programme: a serious television quiz show, Mastermind.

He is frequently referred to by newspapers as a “national treasure” – which he loathes because he says it makes him feel a bit like one of Queen Victoria’s commodes!

John present a weekly show for ClassicFM and writes a weekly column for the Daily Mail.

John is internationally recognised as a leading authority on world politics, international and current affairs as an author, radio and television broadcaster and journalist. He is an excellent moderator, host and presenter and speaks on leadership, motivation, media, and press relations. In addition to world affairs John has extensive knowledge of Brexit and UK Politics and is the host of the Mastermind TV show.