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A Day Like Today: Memoirs
For more than three decades, millions of Britons have woken to the sound of John Humphrys’ voice.
As presenter of Radio 4’s Today, the nation’s most popular news programme, he is famed for his tough interviewing, his deep misgivings about authority in its many forms and his passionate
commitment to a variety of causes.
A Day Like Today charts John’s journey from the poverty of his post-war childhood in Cardiff, leaving school at fifteen, to the summits of broadcasting. Humphrys was the BBC’s youngest foreign correspondent; he was the first reporter at the catastrophe of Aberfan, an experience that marked him for ever; he was in the White House when Richard Nixon became the first American president to resign; in South Africa during the dying years of apartheid; and in war zones around the globe throughout his career. John was also the first journalist to present the Nine O’Clock News on television.
Humphrys pulls no punches and now, freed from the restrictions of being a BBC journalist, he reflects on the politicians he has interrogated and the controversies he has reported on and been involved in, including the interview that forced the resignation of his own boss, the director general. In typically candid style, he also weighs in on the role the BBC itself has played in our national life – for good and ill – and the broader health of the political system today.
A Day Like Today is both a sharp, shrewd memoir and a backstage account of the great newsworthy moments in recent history – from the voice behind the country’s most authoritative microphone.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2019
62 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
John Humphrys
22 books5 followersDesmond John Humphrys is a Welsh author, journalist and presenter of radio and television, who has won many national broadcasting awards. From 1981 to 1987 he was the main presenter for the Nine O'Clock News, the flagship BBC news television programme, and since 1987 he has been a presenter on the award-winning BBC Radio 4 programme, Today. He is also currently the host of the popular BBC Two television quiz show Mastermind.
John Humphrys has written several books, including Lost for Words, in which he criticizes what he sees as the widespread misuse of the English language, plus 'Devil's Advocate', 'Beyond Words', 'The Great Food Gamble' and 'In God We Doubt: Confessions Of A Failed Atheist'. Humphrys is an agnostic, but has a curiosity to test his agnosticism and challenge established religions to see if they can restore his childhood belief in God. In 2006, he presented a BBC Radio 4 programme, titled "Humphrys in Search of God" where he spoke to leading British authorities on Christianity, Judaism and Islam to try and restore his faith.
Humphrys is a columnist for the Daily Mail.
John Humphrys has written several books, including Lost for Words, in which he criticizes what he sees as the widespread misuse of the English language, plus 'Devil's Advocate', 'Beyond Words', 'The Great Food Gamble' and 'In God We Doubt: Confessions Of A Failed Atheist'. Humphrys is an agnostic, but has a curiosity to test his agnosticism and challenge established religions to see if they can restore his childhood belief in God. In 2006, he presented a BBC Radio 4 programme, titled "Humphrys in Search of God" where he spoke to leading British authorities on Christianity, Judaism and Islam to try and restore his faith.
Humphrys is a columnist for the Daily Mail.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 7, 2020
My usual reading speed is fast and to reach the end of most reading material as quickly as is sensible is my normal intention, but this book was so informative, so well written and enjoyable that I didn’t want it to finish, wondering what insight or titbit Mr. Humphrys would release next. Of course the author is known for lack of tolerance of fools but what comes across in this account is not the impatience of - in his own words - ‘a stroppy Welshman’ but of a humble man, one grateful for the ‘luck’ - again his words which has provided him with a stellar career. I suggest rather it is skill and often courage that led him to reporting all over the world, covering many of the world’s newsworthy events, often extremely tragic events; and then as the BBC’s possibly most revered presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme with what many felt were outstanding interviews.
January 8, 2020
interesting autobiography about the radio presenter and newscaster from his roots in Wales to being around the world with the BBC to a newscaster and a radio presenter on the today programme
September 1, 2020
Short autobiography of one of the greatest journalists the BBC combined with a deep analysis about Today’s program. If you are not already you become aware of the greatness and uniqueness of the BBC, and how important it is to have independent news who tried to inform and put things in the right context. How difficult it is and arguably is very well presented in this book. I only wish more countries would allow to have independent news as the UK.
November 25, 2019
As Lord Reith himself may have put it, an entertaining, educative and informative read (or listen), especially the first half, and for the second half, informative yes, but perhaps not as entertaining
Covering his impoverished upbringing in Wales, you get a vivid understanding of the formation of Humphrys anti-authoritarian streak, that has informed much of his attitude to interviewing.
In fact, the early years were the best part of the book for me. The influence of his father, the tough upbringing, and then the first break into local news journalism in his native Wales reminds you of how rare this kind of background is in the modern BBC, especially Radio 4.
Among the early events recounted are the terrible tragedy at Aberfan (and the attempts to cover up the causes of the disaster), and a bevvy of local news stories, including interviewing the distraught wife of a missing husband, who turns out not be quite what she seems.
After a stint in broadcast TV, it's on to the BBC, and a stellar journalistic career, covering wars (East Pakistan), news reading (Nine o'clock news), before landing Today, where he remains for 30 years.
The Today years are covered in-depth of course, and some of the great Humphrys moments are here - the Blair years, the evisceration of the short-lived BBC Director-General George Entwistle and many others. These are entertainingly re-lived, as are some of the gaffs and controversies, particularly the furore around female pay at the BBC. The related coverage of Humphrys unguarded banter with a male colleague, around their own pay, seems to still rankle, and there is some score-settling, notably Eddie Mare, who gets both barrels.
So why the three stars? Mainly because of the lengthy analysis of the BBC, it's impartiality or otherwise, and the nature of modern political news coverage is interesting, but after a few chapters, I find my attention drifting. Of course, with a 50-year career, most of it at the BBC, Humphrys has got deep insights into life at the BBC, and it's peculiarities as well as its strengths.
For me though, some of the later analysis does not have the reading appeal of the earlier 'reporter' years. Let's hope for a follow-up volume, covering these at greater length.
Covering his impoverished upbringing in Wales, you get a vivid understanding of the formation of Humphrys anti-authoritarian streak, that has informed much of his attitude to interviewing.
In fact, the early years were the best part of the book for me. The influence of his father, the tough upbringing, and then the first break into local news journalism in his native Wales reminds you of how rare this kind of background is in the modern BBC, especially Radio 4.
Among the early events recounted are the terrible tragedy at Aberfan (and the attempts to cover up the causes of the disaster), and a bevvy of local news stories, including interviewing the distraught wife of a missing husband, who turns out not be quite what she seems.
After a stint in broadcast TV, it's on to the BBC, and a stellar journalistic career, covering wars (East Pakistan), news reading (Nine o'clock news), before landing Today, where he remains for 30 years.
The Today years are covered in-depth of course, and some of the great Humphrys moments are here - the Blair years, the evisceration of the short-lived BBC Director-General George Entwistle and many others. These are entertainingly re-lived, as are some of the gaffs and controversies, particularly the furore around female pay at the BBC. The related coverage of Humphrys unguarded banter with a male colleague, around their own pay, seems to still rankle, and there is some score-settling, notably Eddie Mare, who gets both barrels.
So why the three stars? Mainly because of the lengthy analysis of the BBC, it's impartiality or otherwise, and the nature of modern political news coverage is interesting, but after a few chapters, I find my attention drifting. Of course, with a 50-year career, most of it at the BBC, Humphrys has got deep insights into life at the BBC, and it's peculiarities as well as its strengths.
For me though, some of the later analysis does not have the reading appeal of the earlier 'reporter' years. Let's hope for a follow-up volume, covering these at greater length.
March 13, 2020
4 1/2 Star. A really interesting read. Much better than I expected.
To many, myself included John Humphries is synonymous with Radio 4’s flagship morning news program Today. He has presented the program for over 32 years. Delivering the morning news to millions of listeners. It was widely known that Prime Minister Margot Thatcher listened each morning. One of the books many anecdotes describes how she picked up the telephone and called the studio demanding to speak to John.
The book briefly touches John's childhood and upbringing. This sets the tone to how he operates and thinks. After leaving school he works at local papers in Wales. Moves to Television and the BBC News service. Initially as a foreign correspondent, he sees firsthand some of the great stories from around the world. A move back home, to become a newscaster on the Nine O’clock News follows. The usually, John chose a move to Radio 4’s Today program.
The main part of the book covers this fascinating period and is rich in anecdotes. It details interview battles with Politicians from both sides. The aim to get them to answer the question and provide something meaningful and insightful. It details the rise of controlling spin doctors, who try and control the narrative and ensure the party line is towed. Letting fly with letters of complaint to the Senior Management on a daily basis. Striving to keep delicate balance of impartiality. The periods that stick out are the Thatcher and Blair years. Again, some great anecdotes.
He covers the many crisis’s that have hit the BBC over the years. The shelving of the Jimmy Savile investigation by Panorama. The Andrew Gilligan affair Much closer to home, the recent discussion of inequality of pay between male and female staff at the BBC. Unlike a lot of his interviewees, seem to give an honest and fair response.
All in all, extremely engaging and fascinating to read. A must-read to anyone who would love to know what happens in the background putting together Today on Radio 4. Getting up at 3am and going live at 6am. A great read.
To many, myself included John Humphries is synonymous with Radio 4’s flagship morning news program Today. He has presented the program for over 32 years. Delivering the morning news to millions of listeners. It was widely known that Prime Minister Margot Thatcher listened each morning. One of the books many anecdotes describes how she picked up the telephone and called the studio demanding to speak to John.
The book briefly touches John's childhood and upbringing. This sets the tone to how he operates and thinks. After leaving school he works at local papers in Wales. Moves to Television and the BBC News service. Initially as a foreign correspondent, he sees firsthand some of the great stories from around the world. A move back home, to become a newscaster on the Nine O’clock News follows. The usually, John chose a move to Radio 4’s Today program.
The main part of the book covers this fascinating period and is rich in anecdotes. It details interview battles with Politicians from both sides. The aim to get them to answer the question and provide something meaningful and insightful. It details the rise of controlling spin doctors, who try and control the narrative and ensure the party line is towed. Letting fly with letters of complaint to the Senior Management on a daily basis. Striving to keep delicate balance of impartiality. The periods that stick out are the Thatcher and Blair years. Again, some great anecdotes.
He covers the many crisis’s that have hit the BBC over the years. The shelving of the Jimmy Savile investigation by Panorama. The Andrew Gilligan affair Much closer to home, the recent discussion of inequality of pay between male and female staff at the BBC. Unlike a lot of his interviewees, seem to give an honest and fair response.
All in all, extremely engaging and fascinating to read. A must-read to anyone who would love to know what happens in the background putting together Today on Radio 4. Getting up at 3am and going live at 6am. A great read.
June 25, 2020
While Humphreys does talk about his childhood and career (from hack journalist to foreign correspondent and thence from news-reader to Today presenter – all very interesting accounts), he also discusses the history of journalism and the ways in which it, and more widely that provided by the BBC, convey impartiality and truth to an ever-changing digital-age society (or not). In the aftermath of recent political scenarios, where ‘fake news’ predominates and where ‘truth’ has several different definitions depending on who is defining it, this insider insight was very compelling.
Humphrys relates several anecdotes from his career throughout the book, some of which are humorous, some of which are poignant – the latter evidenced most notably his visit to Aberfan shortly after the tragic landslide which killed 116 children – a memory that has remained as one of the most haunting and tragic events of his journalistic career. He also discusses the perils faced by foreign correspondents in war-torn nations, including the impact his almost non-stop travel had on his marriage and family life. He talks of interviewing politicians (and his famous fierce interruption style), and also talks about the effect that scandals, such as the Jimmy Saville case and that of Dr David Kelly, had on the integrity of the BBC. He also takes the reader behind the scenes of the Today programme, with its punishing and stressful atmosphere. As a devoted Today listener, I found this fascinating.
Among the main narrative of the book, Humphrys has included some interview scripts or journal pieces that he has written, providing a different medium through which he conveys his story. There are also two separate plates of photographs, and some humorous cartoons placed infrequently amid the text (the presence of the cartoons is a little baffling!). The language is very Humphry-esque: intelligent, comic, and informative. Is it worthy of picking up and reading? It does address current issues regarding bias in media, and the conveying of reliable news to a society who are plugged in to social media continuously and are thus able to receive bulletins from any number of sources. As a result, it is engaging and relatable.
Humphrys relates several anecdotes from his career throughout the book, some of which are humorous, some of which are poignant – the latter evidenced most notably his visit to Aberfan shortly after the tragic landslide which killed 116 children – a memory that has remained as one of the most haunting and tragic events of his journalistic career. He also discusses the perils faced by foreign correspondents in war-torn nations, including the impact his almost non-stop travel had on his marriage and family life. He talks of interviewing politicians (and his famous fierce interruption style), and also talks about the effect that scandals, such as the Jimmy Saville case and that of Dr David Kelly, had on the integrity of the BBC. He also takes the reader behind the scenes of the Today programme, with its punishing and stressful atmosphere. As a devoted Today listener, I found this fascinating.
Among the main narrative of the book, Humphrys has included some interview scripts or journal pieces that he has written, providing a different medium through which he conveys his story. There are also two separate plates of photographs, and some humorous cartoons placed infrequently amid the text (the presence of the cartoons is a little baffling!). The language is very Humphry-esque: intelligent, comic, and informative. Is it worthy of picking up and reading? It does address current issues regarding bias in media, and the conveying of reliable news to a society who are plugged in to social media continuously and are thus able to receive bulletins from any number of sources. As a result, it is engaging and relatable.
September 3, 2020
This is a straight forward retelling of the life of the author and all the main episodes you expect to be covered, are covered.
There are interesting little vignettes, such as how his name came to be spelt, but more insight comes out about the man not in what says about what has so far happened his life, but in how he says it.
It is interesting to note that for someone who clearly is very good and what he did and does, and who always appears so self-confident and self-assured that he so often mentions that his actions were often driven by wanting to prove himself, to demonstrate that he could do X or Y.
The other understated revelation is of one thing that consistently gets past his tough exterior and melts his natural cynicism and that’s children in peril, or in want. For instance the Aberfan disaster, where he was the first reporter to arrive on the scene, to his encounter with children while reporting famine in Africa, or even his own childhood with loving parents but with limited resources and the loss of a very young sibling. Yet these experiences also clearly gave a further edge to his dislike of authority it in charge of coal mining or countries.
May 9, 2020
The book is most interesting when it deals with his early years and development as a reporter, rather than the many years he was a mainstay of Today.
I suspect that most readers will have often heard his somewhat combative approach with politicians as they listened in the morning.
It is written that Bloody Mary said that 'Calais' would be found to engraved on her heart.
I think that when John's body is examined it will have' Aberfan' engraved there.
I read the report he made as a young reporter on the spot with tears running down my cheeks. It was a totally unnecessary tragedy, and the workers in the pit knew that the tips were unstable, and were ignored.
This must have coloured his approach to those in authority for most of his working life.
' Why is this lying bastard lying to me' is a pretty good premise when dealing with many politicians, even more so in the current climate when many countries are controlled by people who are strangers to the truth.
Perhaps he should come out of retirement.
I suspect that most readers will have often heard his somewhat combative approach with politicians as they listened in the morning.
It is written that Bloody Mary said that 'Calais' would be found to engraved on her heart.
I think that when John's body is examined it will have' Aberfan' engraved there.
I read the report he made as a young reporter on the spot with tears running down my cheeks. It was a totally unnecessary tragedy, and the workers in the pit knew that the tips were unstable, and were ignored.
This must have coloured his approach to those in authority for most of his working life.
' Why is this lying bastard lying to me' is a pretty good premise when dealing with many politicians, even more so in the current climate when many countries are controlled by people who are strangers to the truth.
Perhaps he should come out of retirement.
March 30, 2022
I had put off reading this book as I was concerned it could be another boring self indulgent autobiography.....I was wrong. The book was witty, insightful, provocative, charming, frank, informative and entertaining. From the tragedy at Aberfan to the ill considered Iraq War, Thatcher to Blair, The Hutton (whitewash) and Chilcott enquiries, , Saville to Lord McAlpine, Remainers and Brexiteers, Mandela to Mugabe, the old days and the new, Religion and atheism, BBC at its best and at it's very worst, Humphrys covers it all with a wonderful approach, tone and style. He was great to listen to and just as good to read....he is sorely missed on Today, although I am sure not everyone would agree with that!
December 15, 2021
An illuminating view of a well-known public figure and the BBC over the past half-century.
The text deals almost exclusively with Humphrey's working life (with the possible exception of his farming) and he only provides minimal insight into his life away from work. Although he makes his views plain about some of the people he has met and worked with (for example, Evan Davis' 10 commandments of interviewing) he shy's away from revealing personal details. In my view, this is a very positive aspect of the book.
I enjoyed the historical perspective he provides as well as a detailed and perceptive commentary of life at the BBC in a number of roles.
A very enjoyable and insightful book.
The text deals almost exclusively with Humphrey's working life (with the possible exception of his farming) and he only provides minimal insight into his life away from work. Although he makes his views plain about some of the people he has met and worked with (for example, Evan Davis' 10 commandments of interviewing) he shy's away from revealing personal details. In my view, this is a very positive aspect of the book.
I enjoyed the historical perspective he provides as well as a detailed and perceptive commentary of life at the BBC in a number of roles.
A very enjoyable and insightful book.
April 12, 2020
Thoughtful discussion of the current state of BBC journalism following a memorable career over 5 decades in the organisation. The "coups" of being in the right place at the right time to cover the Aberfan tragedy - which clearly still haunts him - and as Washington correspondent during Watergate are recounted.
The account of being at the heart of the infamous WMD row with the Government, after the invasion of Iraq, stands out in its analysis of how an early morning interview on Today threatened the collapse of a Government.
The account of being at the heart of the infamous WMD row with the Government, after the invasion of Iraq, stands out in its analysis of how an early morning interview on Today threatened the collapse of a Government.
September 9, 2020
Who would have known that John Humphrys has been present at some of recent histories most memorable moments. I have garnered a new appreciation and respect for him based on his life/career experience. Its a must read if you are a fan of the Today programme. Covers some really interesting areas such as Jimmy Saville scandal, gender pay gap, Aberfan, buying a gun on expenses, Nixon, the impartiality struggles within the BBC, how spin doctors at no.10 throw their weight about, Carl Beech Panorama paedophile scandal, the misspelling of his surname and much more. Highly Recommend!
June 10, 2022
I found this a very enjoyable book that combined an account of the authors life with significant political and social events.The tragedy of Aberfan was particularly well addressed.It also brought alive the realities of putting together a morning news show with a look at the key roles that lie behind the presenters.There is certainly a bit of Victor Meldrew in some of his musings but you get the full human being in the book not just the stock image irascible interviewer .such a change from so many bland autobiographies
March 17, 2020
Having listened to John Humphrys for many years on R4's Today programme, I was expecting humour, pathos, drama, revelation, and just outright good writing. I wasn't disappointed. His writing on the Aberfan disaster had me in tears, the revelations about official misdemeanours made me cross and some of the stories just had me laughing out loud. It's a very good book and quite an eye-opener. It has the same sense of wry humour as his 'In God We Doubt' - I'm a confirmed Humphrys reader.
May 4, 2020
A 4.5. Erudite, intelligent and informative as expected from a National Treasure. Of the two men most trusted in the UK I will put him and David Attenborough out on their own. A man of great intelligence, fair - mindedness and humility with fascinating insight into the BBC and the world of media. The Today program definitely lost mana when he left and will it ever be replaced to the same degree, as good as it is? Will we ever see his like again in the dual roles of broadcasting and journalism?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2021
Audiobook: what a voice. I felt myself sitting across from John H as he read the news or talked to me!
I would hate to be on his wrong side.he’s a genuine, honest and above all argumentative man! Definitely learn about what it must be like to be about to go toe to toe in an interview. He is a bit of a legend in terms of the bbc/radio 4. You do get an insight into the man and his professional life in his own words.
His quips, his words and his commentary is simply exquisite.
I would hate to be on his wrong side.he’s a genuine, honest and above all argumentative man! Definitely learn about what it must be like to be about to go toe to toe in an interview. He is a bit of a legend in terms of the bbc/radio 4. You do get an insight into the man and his professional life in his own words.
His quips, his words and his commentary is simply exquisite.
September 13, 2022
Today or Tomorrow
The book is not the most easiest to read, I am an outsider looking in, to appreciate and get the maximum benefit you need to work in journalism, television, media etc.
However it covers John's life in journalism, from his first appointment reporting on Aberfan to joining the BBC, he gives nothing away regarding his personal view on politics.
Like most people his work life had highs and lows
Overall a good read
The book is not the most easiest to read, I am an outsider looking in, to appreciate and get the maximum benefit you need to work in journalism, television, media etc.
However it covers John's life in journalism, from his first appointment reporting on Aberfan to joining the BBC, he gives nothing away regarding his personal view on politics.
Like most people his work life had highs and lows
Overall a good read
January 6, 2022
It's interesting how the writer is best known as a broadcast journalist as his writing is execrable. To have experienced what he has without being able to describe his experiences in any way which communicates insight nor adds to the reader's understanding is remarkable. Few other autobiographers can have revealed themselves to be so misanthropic either. A dull and unpleasant read.
April 6, 2020
As other reviewers have said the first half of this book is far more interesting than the second half. I was never much of a fan of John Humphrys in later years but I came out of reading this with a worse opinion of him than I started with.
January 4, 2021
A truly honest book by a really brilliant journalist. A true account of working for the BBC and its faults and successes. Outstanding. Interesting comments about Tony Blair and Alistair Campbell. A must read.
July 7, 2021
Audio book. Extremely interesting. Behind the scenes of several of the most significant events in the 20th and 21st centuries as well as how the BBC functions (and sometimes doesn’t).
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
February 14, 2025
Very rarely do I give up on a book, but I gave up on this one about 48% the way through. Just not my cup of tea, was very political.
The best bit was finding out why his surname is spelt the way it is!
The best bit was finding out why his surname is spelt the way it is!
March 9, 2020
A joy to read, and to be reminded that being a journalist means presenting facts and getting the truth out amid all the spin.
April 3, 2020
A really enterprising book it the best of the biographies that I've read so far. I would recommend this to anyone with a dry sense of humour
August 18, 2020
A very interesting and topical read. Tge autobiography is not my favourite genre, though. The quality of writing can be variable but it is of a good standard here.
December 27, 2020
A book which shows Humphrys is little different in prose than he was as an interviewer on Today - honest, combative, keen on plain speaking, but not often overly reflective or hugely enlightening.
We get roughly three parts, the first on his early life and reporting career, including growing up poor in Wales and the roots of his anti-authoritarian streak. Humphrys makes no effort to hide the chip on his shoulder from what must have been a difficult rise to the top of an increasingly middle-class profession but is engagingly honest about where he benefited from luck and isn't afraid to talk about the financial rewards.
His anger from reporting the Aberfan disaster has clearly lasted throughout his career and might have influenced his aggressive style - the truth that often the powerful do have something to hide.
This shapes the next section, his move to Today in 1987, where he became (along with Jeremy Paxman) one of the most famously aggressive political interviewers in Britain. This contains a standout dissection of the 'dodgy dossier' row over Saddam Hussein's supposed WMDs from the studio where it first emerged, including being forced to decide on the spot whether to disclose his own secret conversation with the head of MI6.
Unfortunately such moments of insight are rare. For a man at the heart of British political life for more than three decades, Humphrys has surprisingly few anecdotes about the people he interviewed. As he notes himself, a job requiring extremely early starts wasn't conducive to accepting invites, nor does his personality lend itself to befriending politicians. There are a few reasonable sketches of Margaret Thatcher, Alastair Campbell and others but nothing revealing -except maybe about other BBC figures.
Humphrys gets in a fair amount of score-settling, largely to his disadvantage. A defence that his joking about a female colleague's complaints about pay inequality was banter between old friends is an argument he'd shred a politician for, which is then compounded with a personal attack on fellow presenter Eddie Mair for taking up the story. It also casts doubt on his otherwise reasonable discussions of worries about groupthink at the BBC - are they balanced thoughts or bitterness at his own departure under a relative cloud in 2019?
The final part is a relatively weak analysis of the BBC and wider media, which is fair but contains little new. As in the rest of the book, occasional rants spring from nowhere (a whole chapter on Thought for the Day, parts on the monarchy, objections to the role of a fact-checking correspondent) and it's easy to lose the thread of the argument.
It's notable what's missing - almost nothing about his personal life and the toll of such a stressful job and little overt reflection on what drove him to do one of the most difficult jobs in all of media for 32 years. The book might have been improved by a little more space between his departure from the BBC and a potential mellowing over time. But that was never much Humphrys' style.
We get roughly three parts, the first on his early life and reporting career, including growing up poor in Wales and the roots of his anti-authoritarian streak. Humphrys makes no effort to hide the chip on his shoulder from what must have been a difficult rise to the top of an increasingly middle-class profession but is engagingly honest about where he benefited from luck and isn't afraid to talk about the financial rewards.
His anger from reporting the Aberfan disaster has clearly lasted throughout his career and might have influenced his aggressive style - the truth that often the powerful do have something to hide.
This shapes the next section, his move to Today in 1987, where he became (along with Jeremy Paxman) one of the most famously aggressive political interviewers in Britain. This contains a standout dissection of the 'dodgy dossier' row over Saddam Hussein's supposed WMDs from the studio where it first emerged, including being forced to decide on the spot whether to disclose his own secret conversation with the head of MI6.
Unfortunately such moments of insight are rare. For a man at the heart of British political life for more than three decades, Humphrys has surprisingly few anecdotes about the people he interviewed. As he notes himself, a job requiring extremely early starts wasn't conducive to accepting invites, nor does his personality lend itself to befriending politicians. There are a few reasonable sketches of Margaret Thatcher, Alastair Campbell and others but nothing revealing -except maybe about other BBC figures.
Humphrys gets in a fair amount of score-settling, largely to his disadvantage. A defence that his joking about a female colleague's complaints about pay inequality was banter between old friends is an argument he'd shred a politician for, which is then compounded with a personal attack on fellow presenter Eddie Mair for taking up the story. It also casts doubt on his otherwise reasonable discussions of worries about groupthink at the BBC - are they balanced thoughts or bitterness at his own departure under a relative cloud in 2019?
The final part is a relatively weak analysis of the BBC and wider media, which is fair but contains little new. As in the rest of the book, occasional rants spring from nowhere (a whole chapter on Thought for the Day, parts on the monarchy, objections to the role of a fact-checking correspondent) and it's easy to lose the thread of the argument.
It's notable what's missing - almost nothing about his personal life and the toll of such a stressful job and little overt reflection on what drove him to do one of the most difficult jobs in all of media for 32 years. The book might have been improved by a little more space between his departure from the BBC and a potential mellowing over time. But that was never much Humphrys' style.
November 19, 2021
Interesting, life of a reporter..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2022
Slow read, autobiographies aren’t my thing.
December 31, 2022
Very good but somewhat repetitive in places
December 26, 2025
And the BBC continues getting itself in trouble - some things never change!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews