The hubris of Today presenters.

Amol Rajan gabbles and mumbles often at the same time and Todays 8.10 am r4 interview was particularly irritating. He was shouting over Starmer and neither could be heard.
He, like me, was born abroad, but being brought up in this country means we have the local accent.
However as an anchor of what us supposed to be a prestigious political programme it is surely not asking too much for presenters to speak clearly, and he doesn't.

I think Amal can be very hard to listen to as he slurs his words together and gabbles along. I hope he doesn't mess up on University Challenge which is one of my favourite programmes.

Fleurpepper

FannyCornforth

Presenters with regional accents Adrian Chiles
Steph McGovern
Huw Edwards
Alex Jones
Neil Nunnes (spelling?)
Gary Lineker
The late, great John Cole

(Just off the top of my head)

Yes, but they did not grow up as immigrants in the UK did they? A regional accent is acceptable in many settings, but not really as a political interviewer. I agree 'technique' is more important nowdays. As said, I didn't see the interview.

Having a British regional accent is very different, when 'climbing the ladder', to having a foreign one, and especially one from India or Africa.

Yes, Amol Rajan has less of an accent than many interviewers. Perhaps he's just lost any strong London accent he had along the way.
🤔 Are you trying to introduce racism where none exists?

It's his interviewing technique and his diction that has come in for criticism.
He has a SE England accent (well to me, anyway).

Why would he have an Indian accent? No more than any other child who arrived here at a young age. Like all our neighbours' children who had exactly the same London accents as my DC, although none of their parents nor we have.
They pick it up from their peers.

FP Neil Nunes was born in Kingston, Jamaica and grew up in Manchester.
I realise that he is something of a one off though.
Interesting though.
I’m amazed that he is only 43!
He sounds much older
www.pressreader.com/jamaica/jamaica-gleaner/20151009/282415578114434

MerylStreep

I blame Brexit 😂

ahahaha (funny? really? not)

FannyCornforth

Presenters with regional accents Adrian Chiles
Steph McGovern
Huw Edwards
Alex Jones
Neil Nunnes (spelling?)
Gary Lineker
The late, great John Cole

(Just off the top of my head)

Yes, but they did not grow up as immigrants in the UK did they? A regional accent is acceptable in many settings, but not really as a political interviewer. I agree 'technique' is more important nowdays. As said, I didn't see the interview.

Having a British regional accent is very different, when 'climbing the ladder', to having a foreign one, and especially one from India or Africa.

I blame Brexit 😂

Yes, this morning did not encourage me to think about him taking over University Challenge. But then JP came in for a lot of flack when he took over. I guess we’ll get used to him.

Exactly this, Callistemon21

Accents are fine, diction is what matters.
And interviewing techniques.

Presenters with regional accents Adrian Chiles
Steph McGovern
Huw Edwards
Alex Jones
Neil Nunnes (spelling?)
Gary Lineker
The late, great John Cole

(Just off the top of my head)

MerylStreep

Fleurpepper

Didn't hear him this morning. But as an immigrant and son of immigrants, he learnt that to succeed he had to lose any trace of foreign accent, or regional accent- and he read English at a top University in Cambridge.

Received pronunciation is a must for those from rural and Northern regions, etc, and for immigrants. So well explained in the book by Melvyn Bragg about the English language. Our introduction lecture when I went to Uni (I was one of the few mature student in my intake)- had exactly that message, if you have a non standard accent, lose it quick or else.

Absolute piffle.
How long has Kirsty Wark been presenting Newsnight in her lovely soft Scottish accent. Yet another dig at the way we run things in this country.

That was probably correct 60+ years ago when presenters had to have 'BBC accent'. Melvin Bragg is 83.

It's certainly not the case any more.

Accents are fine, diction is what matters.
And interviewing techniques.

Fleurpepper

Didn't hear him this morning. But as an immigrant and son of immigrants, he learnt that to succeed he had to lose any trace of foreign accent, or regional accent- and he read English at a top University in Cambridge.

Received pronunciation is a must for those from rural and Northern regions, etc, and for immigrants. So well explained in the book by Melvyn Bragg about the English language. Our introduction lecture when I went to Uni (I was one of the few mature student in my intake)- had exactly that message, if you have a non standard accent, lose it quick or else.

Absolute piffle.
How long has Kirsty Wark been presenting Newsnight in her lovely soft Scottish accent. Yet another dig at the way we run things in this country.

I find the now normal Today confrontational style of interviewing infuriating. Why is it thought that you will get the best response from the person you are interviewing by badgering them into the ground? Mishal Husain is as bad as the men. I switch off when she starts haranguing people.
I also dislike the presenters on Woman’s Hour who are becoming just like the Today mob. I need gentleness after the stressful hours of listening to Today.

Completely agree NotSpaghetti, he has managed to get himself EVERYWHERE. Do the BBC do it annoy us (I sometimes feel they particularly dislike older, Radio 4 listeners] or because they really believe he’s the answer to everything? I fear I won’t enjoy University Challenge once dear Paxo goes.

That was in answer to FleurPepper

Amol came to the UK when he was three and went to school in London and university in the UK. He has a SE accent but speaks too fast.

It's not his language skills which are being questioned, it is his interviewing technique.

I didn't hear the interview but I have heard him interviewing others and agree that his style is annoying.

I would ask how many English teachers you have heard in a classroom and why think they reflect the majority's style. Any good teacher adapts their style to suit the children they are teaching.
I hope we are not condescending.
Why compare an interviewer to a teacher who get bashed from all directions? Yes, he was poor this morning but in my opinion, Starmer was avoiding giving a straight answer as well.

Didn't hear him this morning. But as an immigrant and son of immigrants, he learnt that to succeed he had to lose any trace of foreign accent, or regional accent- and he read English at a top University in Cambridge.

Received pronunciation is a must for those from rural and Northern regions, etc, and for immigrants. So well explained in the book by Melvyn Bragg about the English language. Our introduction lecture when I went to Uni (I was one of the few mature student in my intake)- had exactly that message, if you have a non standard accent, lose it quick or else.

Not gambles!! 😁
Autocorrect, Amol.

Gabbles

I thought he was the wrong candidate to take over University Challenge because find he gambles and swallows his words, very annoying.

However, after reading your post DaisyAnne, he's going to be a perfect replacement for Jeremy Paxman 😁

"Hurry along now!"
"What's keeping you?!"
"The answer is * of course"
"How come you didn't know that?"
"Well, you were pretty useless tonight, UC Wherever"

Yes. He was very annoying indeed today

www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2023/02/rise-amol-rajan-bbc
"Behind the rise of Amol Rajan".

His hosting of University Challenge will be very interesting.
As a guest judge on Masterchef, I can't remember how he was introduced, but I do remember being surprised at how he was styled and wondered why he was there.

Thanks Chestnut. Will take a look later. 👍

You should watch Amol Rajan interviewing Bill Gates, who is the world's biggest charity donator. His trust has given £30 billion towards healthcare for the poorest in the world. Rajan was clearly not going to show himself as being in awe of Bill Gates, who was left with raised eyebrows at some of his comments. It's a very interesting interview and was on only a few days ago.

Today used to be one of my favourite programmes but since the advent of Nick Robinson and latterly Amol Rajan I barely manage an hour's listening. Rajan was arrogant and condescending before he joined the programme, and in my opinion promoted far above his abilities, but seeing some of these presenters working in Ukraine made me realize that they are principally good journalists; it is the ethos of the programme which has changed.