Not a dry eye in the house: Jim Naughtie bows out at Radio 4
VETERAN broadcaster Jim Naughtie bade a fond farewell to the Today programme after 21 years on the flagship BBC Radio 4 show yesterday.
Naughtie has left the programme after 21 years
He said it had been “one of the great privileges” to be in the presenter’s chair.
His voice breaking with emotion, the 64-year-old paid tribute to the show’s listeners, telling them: “You are the programme.”
Anchoring alongside fellow veteran John Humphrys, Mr Naughtie told how he had been “woven into the fabric” of the show.
He said: “It is inescapably a moment of change because you can’t sit in this chair, working with such talented an without being woven into the fabric of the programme, which I am, with all the presenters down the years, as well as my old friend here with whom I started and with whom I now finish. I will be giving them my thanks.”
Naughtie anchored the show with John Humphrys
You are the programme, thank you
He added: “But all of you who listened need to be thanked too. You are the programme, thank you.”
Mr Naughtie will continue as a special correspondent for Radio 4.
One of Mr Naughtie’s final interviews was with former prime minister Sir John Major, who said: “I will miss you, and I think a lot of other people will in the morning.
“And I will do so because generally you have asked the right questions, mostly you have listened to the answers and also you have done it in an extraordinarily professional way so I hope as you leave you are proud of what you have done.”
Naughtie will continue as a special correspondent for the BBC
Despite his vast experience, Mr Naughtie has made the occasional on-air slip during his time on the live show – memorably getting into an embarrassing mix-up over the name of then culture secretary Jeremy Hunt in 2010.
Last month the BBC apologised after Mr Naughtie crashed the pips by swearing. On the final beep of the time signal the presenter was heard to whisper “****” before launching into the news headlines.
Naughtie won numerous awards during his time on the show