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''Today'' (often referred to as "the ''Today'' programme" to avoid ambiguity) is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks. It consists of regular news bulletins, serious and often confrontational political interviews, in-depth reports and ''Thought for the Day''. ''Today'' has been voted the most influential news programme in Britain in setting the political agenda. The programme has 7.18 million listeners per week. It was voted the Best Breakfast Show of the Year at the 2010 Sony Radio Academy Awards.〔(Sony Radio Academy Awards – Winners ). The Radio Academy (11 May 2010).〕 ==History== ''Today'' was launched on the BBC's Home Service on 28 October 1957 as a programme of 'topical talks' to give listeners a morning alternative to light music. It was initially broadcast as two 20-minute editions slotted in around the existing news bulletins and religious and musical items. In 1963 it became part of the BBC's Current Affairs department, and it started to become more news-orientated. The two editions also became longer, and by the end of the 1960s it had become a single two-hour-long programme that enveloped the news bulletins and the religious talk that had become ''Thought for the Day'' in 1970.〔Lizzie Clifford ("Thought for the Day’: Beyond the god-of-the-slots", ) ''Ekklesia'' ()〕 Radio 4 controller Ian McIntyre cut it back to two parts in 1976–78 (creating a gap which was filled by ''Up to the Hour''), but it was swiftly returned to its former position. Jack de Manio〔(Jack de Manio ). Radio Academy.〕 became its principal presenter in 1958. He was held in affection by listeners, but became notorious for on-air gaffes (announcing a documentary on Nigeria titled 'The Land of Niger' as 'The Land of Nigger', and referring to Yoko Ono as "Yoko Hama, or whatever her name is", for instance). In 1970 the programme format was changed so that there were two presenters each day. De Manio left in 1971, and in the late 1970s the team of John Timpson and Brian Redhead became established. Timpson had been critical of the content, style and professionalism of ''Today''—describing it once as "not so much a programme, more a way of telling the time" and being filled with "eccentric octogenarians, prize pumpkins, and folk who ate lightbulbs and spiders". In the late 1970s and early 1980s, under editors Ken Goudie and Julian Holland, ''Today'' made moves to broaden its appeal away from broadcasting a lot of national politics with London-centric bias. Presentation was split for a time between London, usually by John Timpson, and from Manchester, usually by Brian Redhead. The objective was to make it more of a balanced, national programme. The on-air humour of the two presenters and the split of locations made the programme very popular and influential. Brian Redhead was quoted, "If you want to drop a word in the ear of the nation, then this is the programme in which to do it."〔(Today Programme ). BBC Press Office. October 2007.〕 This pairing lasted until Timpson's retirement in 1986. Other presenters during this period included Libby Purves in the late 1970s. John Humphrys and Sue MacGregor joined the rotating list of presenters in 1986. By this time the programme was benefiting from publicity gained after it became known that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a regular listener. Ministers thus became keen to go on the programme, but the tough, confrontational interviewing they encountered led to accusations that the BBC was biased. Criticism was particularly directed against Redhead, who was often seen as being on the left. Chancellor Nigel Lawson accused him of having been a Labour voter all his life during a live interview,〔Michael Leapman (Obituary: Brian Redhead ), ''The Independent'', 24 January 1994〕 in 1988. The style of the male interviewers was analysed and contrasted with the approach of MacGregor, who was alleged to be giving subjects an easier time. The 'Big 8.10' interview that follows the 8 o'clock news had become an important institution of British politics, a position it retains. After Brian Redhead died in January 1994, James Naughtie became a member of the team. Peter Hobday presented the programme regularly until 1996; Sarah Montague replaced MacGregor in 2002. Carolyn Quinn was a regular presenter until 2008 as was Edward Stourton until 2009. Other more occasional presenters include the BBC's Stephen Sackur and Tim Franks.〔(Biographies: Tim Franks ). BBC Press Office. January 2011.〕 Evan Davis and Justin Webb〔 〕 were the newest regular presenters to join the roster until Mishal Husain in 2013. Husain became the second regular female presenter when James Naughtie began to cover the Scottish Independence referendum as a ''Good Morning Scotland'' presenter for two days a week, and across the BBC's output. Naughtie will return to ''Today'' before the 2015 general election.〔Jason Deans and Josh Halliday ("BBC's Mishal Husain to join Today" ), ''The Guardian'', 16 July 2013〕 On 7 July 2015, the BBC announced that James Naughtie was to leave the programme, to become a Special Correspondent for BBC Radio 4.〔http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/james-naughtie〕 Two days later, Nick Robinson was announced as Naughtie's replacement.〔http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/nick-robinson-today〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Today (BBC Radio 4)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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