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BBC Radio 4 listeners have been divided over Emma Barnett’s debut as host of the At the moment present with some followers praising her ‘refreshing’ presence, whereas others have been left uneasy a few intercourse training quip.
The 39-year-old broadcaster hosted Lady’s Hour on the identical station from 2021 till she bid farewell to the female-focused present final month.
The veteran radio host, who additionally hosted the BBC’s 5 Reside for six years, took on the brand new function as host of Radio 4’s At the moment programme this morning, changing Martha Kearney.
She launched the present, saying: ‘Good morning, what a pleasure to be right here. It is six o’clock on Wednesday Could 15. That is At the moment with Amol Rajan and Emma Barnett.’
Whereas followers have been completely satisfied to listen to her voice 4 hours sooner than regular, others have been lower than impressed with a quip about placing ‘bananas on condoms’.
Emma Barnett introduces BBC Radio 4’s At the moment programme on her debut alongside Amol Rajan after bidding farewell to Lady’s Hour final month
The presenter was discussing the Rishi Sunak ordered evaluation of England’s intercourse training coverage for college youngsters when she made the joke.
She stated: ‘Now to intercourse and relationship training as you have been simply listening to within the bulletins. Do you bear in mind yours? Did you will have any?
‘Was it price it? Did they educate you something? Some would possibly bear in mind it boiling all the way down to a really awkward instructor placing a condom on a banana – or was that simply my expertise.
‘The Prime Minister ordered a evaluation into it and new steerage is predicted as quickly as tomorrow.’
As the previous Ladies’s Hour host launched the BBC’s chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman, she added that she ‘would not make him blush’.
Nonetheless, some listeners have been left a bit queasy by the joke made so early within the morning.
One listener stated: ‘Emma Barnett ought to bear in mind she is just not on Lady’s Hour’
Whereas a fan stated: ‘How refreshing to get up to the voice if Emma Barnett. Welcome to our area and all the perfect.’
A 3rd listener stated: ‘Simply wakened in a panic pondering I would slept in and was listening to Emma Barnett.’
Emma interviewed a member of the Ukrainian punk band that performed alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kiev bar final night time.
Emma is changing Martha Kearney, who has been presenting the At the moment present for the final six years
The guitarist described taking part in Neil Younger’s Rockin’ in Free World with Mr Blinken as ‘very bizarre’ however added he was ‘very glad’ it occurred.
One listener stated: ‘How fabulous to take heed to Emma Barnett this morning. Interview with a member of the band who had Anthony Blinken on stage with him in Ukraine, priceless.’
Barnett hosted Lady’s Hour since 2021 however has now joined the At the moment programme.
Her stint as presenter got here to an finish on April 11 as she praised the ‘unimaginable’ present, saying it’ll ‘be part of me ceaselessly’.
Lady’s Hour, which runs for an hour between 10 and 11 am on Radio 4, highlights ladies’s points and tales, in addition to extra lighthearted content material.
Emma’s closing episode featured interviews with American activist Gloria Steinem and British soul singer Rebecca Ferguson.
Ferguson and the Lady’s Hour staff then shocked Barnett with a spotlight reel of all her most memorable moments from the present, together with snippets from her interviews with Liz Truss, Nadine Dorries, Jodie Comer and Kate Winslet.
Barnett was left nearly speechless earlier than bidding her farewell to the staff within the closing minutes of the present, saying: ‘It has been an unimaginable experience. I’m unsure I’ve many phrases left to say after that however I do need to thanks on your firm within the Lady’s Hour scorching seat.
‘Thanks for trusting and pondering of us and coming to our superb staff together with your views. I enormously admire it.
Emma Barnett has bid a really emotional farewell to Lady’s Hour on Radio 4 in her closing ever episode
‘Lady’s Hour shall be part of me, ceaselessly. I’ve been capable of do some unimaginable journalism right here. I’ve approached topics with nice concern and favour and in addition been capable of have an awesome snigger.’
‘However I go away Lady’s Hour extra satisfied than ever of girls’s energy, vitality, power, resilience and knowledge. Whereas I’ve labored right here I’ve even had the privilege of giving start to 1, my little woman.’
She concluded by saying: ‘I’m solely transferring a bit earlier to the At the moment programme… as a result of my god I’m going to overlook this, I’m going to overlook you, however relaxation assured I stay completely satisfied of the necessity for a girl’s lens on the world and I’m taking that with me.
‘It has by no means been extra essential. For the final time, thanks. Lady’s Hour shall be again tomorrow at 10.’
Barnett additionally referenced the ‘actually essential journalism’ she had been given the chance for, akin to being trusted by Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe for her first interview after being launched from jail.
Her ardour for the present and for the themes she had lined was resoundingly clear all through the assertion.
Throughout her time internet hosting the present, Emma has additionally spoken to Queen Camilla – then Duchess of Cornwall – about her work with home violence survivors, and to Hasina Safi, the previous Ladies’s Minister of Afghanistan.
Different essential interviews she highlighted consists of these with Professor Kathleen Inventory, the then CEO of Stonewall Nancy Kelly, Girl Lavinia Nourse – who was falsely accused of kid sexual abuse – and a extra light-hearted chat along with her namesake, actress Emma Thompson.
