BBC Radio 4’s flagship news and current affairs programme Today is being adapted into a podcast launching this October, hosted by the show’s current presenters and veteran journalists Nick Robinson and Amol Rajan.
The Today Podcast will continue the conversation after the programme goes off air and feature behind the scenes insight on how the show is made as well as the hosts’ takes on the biggest news stories of the day. Each episode will also feature a guest that will help provide additional context and analysis.
The podcast will launch on 5 October and be available to listen to on the BBC Sounds platform first before airing on Radio 4 at 11pm. The series is the latest extension from the BBC of the Today franchise, having launched The Today Debate with award-winning journalist Mishal Husain last year. It is executive produced by editor of the Today programme, Owenna Griffiths, and produced by the Today programme’s editor Tom Smithard.
“With Amol and Nick, the conversations we have about stories and ideas off air are as interesting and challenging as the interviews on the Today programme and I’m really excited this podcast will open up those conversations to our listeners,” said Griffiths.
The launch of The Today Podcast is part of the BBC’s wider commitment to expand its podcast offerings on the BBC Sounds platform with news and current affairs programmes being key drivers. Hit current affairs podcast Newscast was BBC Sounds’ most listened to podcast from August last year to January this year, according to its quarterly reports.
“I love presenting Today - a fast moving, agenda setting, daily news programme - but I can’t wait for the chance once a week to slow down, take a breath, kick off my shoes and reflect on what’s really happening in the world beyond the headlines, without ever needing to look at the clock and say ‘I’m sorry, that’s all we’ve got time for’,” said Robinson.
“Well, this is exciting. I am a podcast fanatic,” said Rajan. “Recent years have shown there is massive global demand for the intellectually ambitious, deeply humane and mischievous conversation which podcasts can provide. Helpfully I like Nick a lot and respect his intellect. Everybody’s invited and there will be plenty of input from the Today community – and beyond.”
BBC News Podcasts executive producer Jonathan Aspinwall - who also edits The Today Podcast - told the PressGazette in August this year that as Newscast continues to expand its audience, it will be central to the BBC’s general election coverage and it has since increased its volume to seven days a week with the addition of of two new hosts - Laura Kuenssberg, presenter of BBC One’s flagship Sunday morning politics TV show, and Paddy O’Connell, presenter of BBC Radio 4's Sunday Broadcasting House show - for weekend episodes.
