BBC Radio 4's flagship morning news programme, Today, is set for a significant change as one of its lead presenters, Amol Rajan, has announced he will step down later this year.
A Four-Year Stint on a Flagship Show
Amol Rajan will leave the Today programme in 2026, concluding a four-year tenure that began in 2021. The BBC confirmed the move, stating that an announcement regarding his replacement will follow in due course. Rajan, however, is not severing ties with the corporation entirely. He will continue to host the popular quiz show University Challenge and his Radio 4 podcast, Radical with Amol Rajan.
Rajan first rose to prominence at the BBC in 2016 when he was appointed as the broadcaster's first-ever media editor. In that role, he was responsible for leading coverage of the global media and technology sectors, becoming a familiar face and voice across BBC news output.
"The Pips Have Sounded": Rajan's Fond Farewell
Announcing his departure, Rajan employed a classic radio metaphor, stating, "The pips have sounded, and it’s time to get my coat." He lavished praise on the Today programme, calling it "the best of the best" and comparing his experience to "playing in the editorial version of Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, or Steve Waugh’s Australia."
He expressed particular pride in his interview series, Amol Rajan Interviews, suggesting it was work that "will stand the test of time." Looking ahead, Rajan revealed he is "extremely excited" to build his own company within what he termed "the great digital Narnia of the creator economy." He was keen to stress his ongoing commitment to the BBC, describing it as "Britain’s noblest cultural institution" whose Reithian principles are a "generous gift to a world in flux."
BBC Colleagues Pay Tribute
Senior figures within the BBC were quick to pay tribute to Rajan's contribution. Owenna Griffiths, the editor of Today, commended his "exceptional talent with a rare combination of intellectual dexterity, impressive breadth of interest and a brilliant sense of humour," adding that he would be "sorely missed" by the entire team.
Mohit Bakaya, director of speech and controller of BBC Radio 4, said Rajan had brought "a distinctive intellectual energy and curiosity" to the morning programme. He also highlighted the success of the Radical podcast, noting it had "rapidly become one of our most compelling podcasts."
Before his distinguished career at the BBC, Rajan made history in the print media. In 2013, he became the youngest editor of a UK broadsheet newspaper when he took the helm at The Independent.
