WHO WILL FIT INTO SIMON JACK’S BOOTS ON BBC TODAY PROGRAMME WITH COMFORT?
I was watching a very average start to The Capital One Cup Final yesterday; so my mind started to wander. Consequently I decided to be playful and price up a market on Simon Jack’s successor as Today’s business presenter, as if I were acting as a bookmaker. I was one, once upon a time. However I do not want any emails or messages informing me that I’ve got my ‘over and arounds’ wrong! These pricing are only guesstimates.
With Simon Jack about to step in to the polished Kamal Ahmed’s boots as Business Editor, an accolade Simon richly deserves, I wondered who might be under consideration by James Harding and James Purnell as a likely successor as business presenter on BBC Today Programme and copious other business radio programmes – A very prestigious appointment in terms of professional prestige and kudos.
You might be forgiven for thinking that there are several ‘in-house’ candidates – all excellent – very polished, knowledgeable and qualified for that position – Joe Lynam, Tanya Beckett, Jonty Bloom and Matt Price immediately come to mind. And if you are looking for 2 for the future Victoria Fritz and Ben Thompson would tick all the boxes.
However the BBC never tends to make matters easy for itself. In recent years they have made senior appointments from outside the corporation if Messrs Peston, Ahmed and Kuenssberg are anything to go by and one gets the impression that James Harding, Head of News at the BBC is always looking for outside candidates.
So here are ‘my runners and riders’ based on my diseased ridden mind working overtime.
JOE LYNAM – 7/2
TANYA BECKETT – 7/2
JONTY BLOOM – 11/2
SIMON ENGLISH (TIMES) – 6/1
MATT PRICE – 7/1
HUGO DUNCAN (DAILY MAIL) – 8/1
VICTORIA FRITZ – 8/1
JAMES MOORE (INDEPENDENT) – 12/1
