Get the latest gossip

Emma's always been terrific...but her first Today shift was in danger of edging into Oprah territory, writes JAN MOIR as she listens in to BBC Radio 4 at breakfast


JAN MOIR: No surprise that Emma Barnett 's debut on the Today programme was confident, assured and polished, but did we have to suffer quite so many moments of cheery self-reverence?

When she asked Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, if he felt his opinions are being heard, she added: 'Beyond coming on this esteemed programme that I am getting to grips with this morning.' At the end of the broadcast there was even a glutinous exchange of thank-you-no-thank-yous with her co-host Amol Rajan, the pair of them behaving as if they'd just delivered a seminal performance of Tristan and Isolde at the Sydney Opera House, instead of presenting a news show. It was quite startling to hear her loud, mad bark of laughter during an overlong – and actually not very funny at all – item about US Secretary of State Antony Blinken playing with a rock band during his trip to Kyiv.

Get the Android app

Or read this on Daily Mail

Read more on:

Photo of BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4

Photo of Oprah

Oprah

Photo of JAN MOIR

JAN MOIR

Related news:

News photo

Oprah Winfrey apologizes for her role in toxic diet culture - after finally admitting to using weight loss drugs to shed 40lbs: 'I've been a major contributor to it'

News photo

Gwyneth Paltrow, 51, daughter Apple, 19, and son Moses, 18, all tower over Oprah at her Montecito mega mansion: 'Quality time with friends and family'

News photo

Oprah Called These Noise-Cancelling Headphones 'the Best of the Best' — and Now They're 50% Off