“My ambition on the Today programme is to keep asking the questions that listeners want answers to – as well as raising many smiles along the way – while armed with a very strong cup of tea. I am delighted to be joining a programme that occupies such a unique space in British life and to also have the opportunity to expand my work across BBC TV and News.” — Emma Barnett
Emma Barnett will join the BBC Radio 4 Today programme’s presenting team from May, and will also front TV documentaries and cross platform news-making interviews for the BBC.
Emma is well known to BBC Radio 4 listeners in her current role as host of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. Today’s announcement will place her at the heart of some of the BBC’s most consequential and high-profile news output and ensure her talent has impact across the BBC’s outlets.
Emma Barnett says: “We are living in volatile times where sometimes even asking a question can seem risky – wrongly so. My ambition on the Today programme is to keep asking the questions that listeners want answers to – as well as raising many smiles along the way – while armed with a very strong cup of tea.
“I am delighted to be joining a programme that occupies such a unique space in British life and to also have the opportunity to expand my work across BBC TV and News.
“My time on Woman’s Hour means a great deal to me and I want to thank the team and our mighty army of listeners for how much we have shared – the joy, wisdom, sorrow and sometimes sheer rage. I will carry so many of those moments with me for the rest of my life – chief amongst them conducting Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s first interview after her long-awaited release from prison in Iran; making a rare and special conversation happen with Kate Bush and reflecting the overwhelming response to the rape, abduction and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.
“I will greatly miss being within the rare and unique space Woman’s Hour provides, where most days anything can happen and routinely does. All power to the next person gifted the opportunity.”
Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, says: “Emma is a formidable, fearless and ferociously intelligent journalist and I’m delighted that she will be showcasing her considerable talents across all of BBC News’ platforms.”
She adds: “Emma will bring her unique energy and verve to our brilliant team of Today presenters – every day they ask the questions that need answering, and host the UK’s most important conversation. I’m thrilled that Emma is joining that team, who are at the top of their game.”
Mohit Bakaya, Controller, Radio 4, says: “Emma is a tenacious journalist who has brought her distinctive and forensic interview style to Woman’s Hour, leading to some remarkable radio moments over the past few years. During her time the programme has gone from strength to strength as she has championed her listeners and ensured that no subject remains taboo.
“I’m delighted that she will bring those qualities to the Today programme as she steps onto the biggest and best radio news stage in the UK to work alongside our terrific presenter team in this major election year.”
Owenna Griffiths, editor of Today, says: “Emma is a truly great radio talent and I’m completely delighted she’s joining the Today team. She consistently puts the audience at the heart of her programmes and her unique combination of warmth, energy and persistence will be a fantastic addition to the line-up.”
Today is the BBC’s flagship morning radio programme and is the most listened-to breakfast radio news programme in the UK.
Emma is currently the main host of Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, a role she took up in 2021. She will leave the programme in April.
Woman’s Hour will be recruiting a new presenter for the programme. BBC Radio 4 is inviting expressions of interest from experienced live broadcasters who have strong journalistic credentials, warmth and gravitas to lead this flagship Radio 4 programme.
Biography
Emma Barnett is an award-winning journalist. She is the main presenter of BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour. Emma was previously the host of her eponymous award-winning BBC Radio 5 Live programme and part of the presenting line up of Newsnight.
Emma anchored the overnight BBC Radio 2019 election programme with James Naughtie that was simulcast across Radio 4 and 5 Live.
On television, in addition to her work on Newsnight, Emma has presented Question Time – Under 30s Election 2019; The Andrew Marr Show; Politics Live on BBC Two; Sunday Morning Live on BBC One; The Pledge on Sky News and After The News on ITV.
Emma has also made documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service.
Emma has twice been named Best Speech Presenter at the Radio Academy Awards (ARIAs) – first in 2020 for her BBC Radio 5 Live programme and then again in 2021 for Woman’s Hour. She was named Interviewer of the Year at the British Journalism awards in 2022; Radio Broadcaster Of The Year 2018 by the Broadcasting Press Guild and Broadcaster of the Year 2017 by the Political Studies Association.
Source
BBC Radio 4
