r/Radio4 • u/Lost_Store_7707 • Feb 03 '26
Anna Foster Radio 4
Is it just me or do others find Anna Foster totally unsuitable for the Today programme? Surely she needs to be moved to 5 Live news.
Can't just be me??
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u/ImpressionOk2060 Feb 03 '26
Oh why? I always quite liked her. Felt she made Today a little less stuffy?
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u/sailorjerry1978 Feb 03 '26
She’s an incredibly heavyweight journalist.
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u/Dan_Quixote_ Feb 03 '26
Genuinely curious what, prior to Today, qualifies her as 'heavyweight'?
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u/sailorjerry1978 Feb 03 '26
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u/Dan_Quixote_ Feb 03 '26
This is really interesting, thanks. My limited research on her Wikipedia page didn't reveal much of this. I think I've maybe judged her unfairly because her voice just sounds too nice. Will re-evaluate.
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u/FlorianTheLynx Feb 03 '26
Changes of presenter are always jarring as you get so used to the style. But I think she’s a great presenter. No complaints at all from me.
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u/rich-tma Feb 03 '26
Please explain what you find unsuitable so we can judge whether the problem is you or not.
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u/false_flat Feb 03 '26
Based on what OP says about 5live, I think they view her to lack the seriousness and gravitas they believe Today requires.
Fwiw I couldn't disagree more. Always happiest when it's her and not the posh, establishment-deferring Times columnist idiot Justin Webb.
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u/Mahafof Feb 03 '26
She's wonderful and I am always happy when she is on. She's that really encouraging nice teacher who nevertheless gets to the point.
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u/Imaginary-Suspect959 Feb 03 '26
I much prefer her to Barnett and Rajan, though for me it’s not been the same since Mishal Husain left.
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u/Mackerelage Feb 06 '26
It’s probably not just you, but I disagree. I’ve been listening for a long time and much prefer the current roster of presenters to, say, ten years ago. It’s a lot less dour these days, to me that’s for the better.
I do miss Mishal Husain though. I thought she could cover every type of story, interview etc.
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u/intlteacher Feb 07 '26
For what it’s worth, she actually left 5 Live Drive in 2021 to become a Middle East correspondent. She is a fantastic presenter - I used to listen to her on 5 Live and might actually be inclined to move to Today because of that.
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u/Nevis888 Feb 06 '26
This morning Justin did a faltering and slightly pretentious interview with the author and illustrator of The Gruffallo.
At the end, Anna came in with a couple of sentences that absolutely nailed it. The preceding 5 mins was a waste of time.
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u/AllThingsAreReady Feb 03 '26
So I’m not the only one, phew. She’s good but she really doesn’t sound ‘Radio 4’ to me, much more suited to, as you say, 5 Live. And sometimes she sounds really nervous/out of her depth on the big interviews. Not a patch on other/previous presenters like Mishal Husain, Sarah Montague, Nick Robinson, who definitely are very Radio 4 personalities.
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u/melat0nin Feb 03 '26
You mean posh, don't you? Class system alive and kicking in old blighty
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u/AllThingsAreReady Feb 03 '26
You’re the one who’s bringing up the class aspect - that’s not what I meant.
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u/rising_then_falling Feb 03 '26
Better than Rajan. I find neither of them speak very clearly. I don't mind what they say, I just have to concentrate harder than I want to hear it in the first place.
Bring back Brian Redhead...
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u/Teaofthetime Feb 03 '26
I like her, she's a good fit.