John (Desmond) Humphrys

Television journalist and presenter, born in Cardiff, S Wales, UK. He was educated at Cardiff High School and began his career with the Western Mail. In 1966 he joined the BBC as a reporter and became foreign correspondent in the USA and South Africa (1970–80), diplomatic correspondent (1980–1), and presenter on the Nine O'Clock News (1981–6). He joined the Today programme on Radio 4 (1987), and began to present On the Record for BBC 1 (1993). In 2003 he became host of the revived classic TV quiz show Mastermind. His contribution to the industry has been honoured with the 2001 Media Society Award and the 2003 Sony Radio Award, and in 2003 he was inducted into the newly established Radio Hall of Fame.

John Humphrys (born 17 August 1943) is a British radio and television presenter. He has been a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today programme since 1987, and has worked as a correspondent and presenter for the Nine O'Clock News.

He is considered to be a tough interviewer and is allegedly avoided by the Prime Minister Tony Blair.

John Humphrys was born in Splott, a suburb of Cardiff, and was educated at Cardiff High School, leaving to become a teenage reporter on the Penarth Times.

Humphrys joined TWW, a commercial television channel based in Wales, before going to the BBC. With the appointment of Humphrys and John Simpson, the presenters of the news became part of the process of preparing the broadcast, rather than just reading a prepared script as with previous presenters.

He made the headlines on 28 August 2004, after scathing criticism of the 'dumbing down' of British television. Ironically, Humphrys is also the presenter of the revived version of Mastermind, which has also been accused of 'dumbing down'.

Humphrys attracted further controversy in September 2005 when he allegedly branded all politicians as liars and made comments about Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and John Prescott in an after-dinner speech which was subsequently leaked to The Times by Tim Allan, an aide to the Prime Minister .

Humphrys has also presented Panorama.

John Humphrys has written several books, including Lost for Words, in which he criticizes what he sees as the widespread misuse of the English language, plus 'Devil's Advocate' and 'The Great Food Gamble'.

Humphrys is an atheist, but has a curiosity to test his atheism and challenge established religions to see if they can restore his childhood belief in God; thus he is currently presenting a BBC Radio 4 programme where he talks to various religious leaders to try and restore his faith .

His brother, Bob Humphrys, is a television presenter on BBC Wales sport programmes.