Amol Rajan fought back tears as he delivered his final farewell on Radio 4’s Today programme, with the BBC presenter leaving after five years. The 43-year-old journalist announced back in January that he would be leaving the show, having joined its roster of presenters back in 2021. With a number of schedule changes kicking in across the BBC’s news outlets this month, Rajan hosted his final episode of the Today programme alongside Emma Barnett this morning (Wednesday 2 September).
Speaking to listeners for the final time, Rajan – who currently hosts University Challenge and was the editor of The Independent – admitted that he was “feeling really nervous”. It has been such an honour sitting in this studio with you Emma, with all the presenters but above all, with the amazing team behind the glass. I hope you know how seriously we take your time and trust.
To the incredible producers on Today and across BBC News, to all my incredible, heroic colleagues who are here today, over the past decade in fact, you are the best in the business, and we are so incredibly lucky to know you.” He went on to address his children, Winston, Jamaica, Loveday and Nesta, who were present in the gallery for the broadcast. I promise I’m going to make it up for you. Finally, to my mum, who is also here, the best of humanity, and to my dear dad who lit my childhood and ended it by his untimely departure shortly after I began on this programme,” Rajan continued, becoming emotional.
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After hailing those in the gallery as “the real heroes”, he chose to end the show with the theme tune to Only Fools and Horses. The number of presenters on the Today programme would therefore go down from five to four, while six shows on BBC Radio 4 would be cut: The World Tonight, the Midnight News, Money Box Live, AntiSocial, The Law Show and Crossing Continents. On the TV side, BBC Breakfast’s Sunday broadcast has now been axed – which means that presenter Rachel Burden will no longer be on the show.
She announced in July that she would be leaving, saying on social media: “This is my last Sunday on the @bbcbreakfast sofa before the schedule changes in September – no complaints there, we have to cut our cloth.” Burden will also no longer be on BBC Radio 5 Live’s breakfast show, with Naga Munchetty moving from BBC Breakfast to replace Burden and co-host Rick Edwards. The Today programme will continue to be hosted by Anna Foster, Barnett, Justin Webb and Nick Robinson, while Rajan announced today that he is launching his own YouTube channel: The Amol Rajan Connection. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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