Can I stop you there? Outgoing Today presenter John Humphrys interrupts his guests every 51 seconds – but Emily Maitlis and Mishal Hussain have even less patience
- John Humphrys interrupted guests every 51 seconds on average over last month
- Humphrys is to leave BBC Radio 4 Today programme after 32 years in autumn
- Emily Maitlis, BBC Newsnight presenter cut her guests off every 28 seconds
- BBC’s Mishal Husain also out did Humrphys, interrupting every 46 seconds
John Humphrys, 75, is to leave BBC Radio 4 Today programme after 32 years in autumn
An analysis of the country’s seven sharpest political presenter’s interviewing style has revealed quick-witted John Humphrys interrupts his guests every 51 seconds on average.
While known for his choppy interview style Mr Humphrys, 75, was in fact not top of the most interruptive list last month – far outdone by two of his BBC colleagues.
Emily Maitlis, Newsnight presenter, was found to cut her guests off every 28 seconds and Mishal Husain, every 46 seconds, while interviewing on Today and The Andrew Marr Show, the analysis by The Sunday Times found.
The results of the analysis may come as a surprise to some Today programme listeners as they gear up for Mr Humphrys’ departure from the Radio 4 show.
Emily Maitlis from BBC Newsnight (left) and Mishal Husain from Today and The Andrew Marr Show
Having presented the show in his distinctive interrogation style for 32 years the momentous event of Mr Humphrys’ leaving has been dubbed ‘Hexit’ by his colleagues – reports The Sunday Times.
Just last week Mr Humphrys faced criticism for ‘hectoring’ former Labour Leader Ed Miliband, interrupting him 20 times in a seven minute interview on climate change.
The pair clashed after Mr Humphrys asked him if people ‘shouldn’t be going ahead’ with holidays ‘to the Costa Brava?’ and whether flights should face more taxes.
The former Labour leader replied: ‘That might be one of the issues yeah.
‘What experts say is that flying is the hardest thing and we will have to make that transition. But all of these things will have to change.
‘I guess the point is John, if we just say to people “you are going to have to make sacrifices and life is going to be worse”, I don’t think we are going to bring people with us.
‘I actually think life could be better. Less air pollution – if we have better public transport, more walking and cycling in our towns and cities, electric cars…’
The interview style saw John Humphrys trend on Twitter this morning, with people questioning his style of interviewing.
David Cameron also fell victim to the ‘interrogation’ in 2006 joking with Humphrys: ‘You’ll interrupt yourself in a minute.’
Speaking about the art of the interruption to The Observer last month Emily Maitlis said: ‘If you interrupt somebody too early, if you miss it and don’t interrupt at all — that’s the difference between a good interview and a bad interview.’
While Sarah Sands, editor of the Today programme, told The Sunday Times: ‘The fundamental purpose of a news interview is pursuit of truth.
‘Is our understanding advanced by the end of the interview? If not, why not? If it is the fault of the interviewee, the interruption is one way of tackling this. But interruptions because the interviewer is thinking of themselves . . . play badly with audiences.’
Mr Humphrys and Mr Miliband had a full-blooded exchange on the Today programme this morning when they discussed climate change and steps needed to prevent it