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November 28, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 5:35pm

Blunkett to turn tables on Humphrys

By Press Gazette

Fomer work and pensions secretary David Blunkett will turn the
tables on John Humphrys and interview him on the state of the British
media when he sits in the editor’s chair of the Today programme in
December.

The BBC Radio 4 Today programme has again invited five guest editors to take the helm between Christmas and New Year.

This
year’s guest editors are: David Blunkett MP, HSBC Chairman Sir John
Bon, Anna Ford, Queen Noor of Jordan and Steve ‘Chandrasonic’ Savale
from the band Asian Dub Foundation.

Their editions of Today will be
broadcast between 27 and 31 December 2005.

Among other ideas
David Blunkett plans to interview John Humphrys about the condition of
journalism, Queen Noor of Jordan will measure progress towards the
Millennium Development Goals and Anna Ford will tackle ageism.

David
Blunkett said: “Editing the Today Programme is something that I’m sure
most listeners (and I am very much a listener now!) would want to have
a go at.

“I’m particularly keen to reflect a better social and geographical spread, without alienating the traditional audience.

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“I
hope it will be entertaining – not full of heavy politics!”

Anna Ford
said: “At last a chance to get my hands on the running order and
content. What an opportunity! I’m really looking forward to it.”

Today’s
regular Editor Kevin Marsh said: “Today’s guest editors have been a
great success. They’ve brought some fascinating and thought-provoking
radio to Today listeners – and always from a fresh standpoint.”

Guest
editors are responsible for between a third and a half of their
programme’s output but the normal day and night duty editors are on
hand to make sure their material is newsworthy and meets the BBC’s
editorial guidelines.

Previous Today programme guest editors include:
Bono, the Duchess of York, Lord Tebbit, film director Anthony Minghella
and Professor Stephen Hawking.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

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