Amol Rajan proclaims he is leaving BBC News and Radio 4’s Today programme – as he reveals he desires to ‘unleash his inside Del Boy’ and ‘create an empire’ in weird farewell message

Presenter Amol Rajan is to step down from his role on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

The BBC said the 42-year-old, who has worked on the show since 2021, will continue to present University Challenge and the Radical With Amol Rajan podcast.

Married father-of-four Rajan, who joined the BBC as its first media editor in 2016, said: ‘The pips have sounded, and it’s time to get my coat.

‘Leaving Today might be mad. This team is the best of the best, consistently world class, and exceptionally well led by Owenna Griffiths and Mohit Bakaya. I will always feel like I played in the editorial version of Alex Ferguson‘s Manchester United, or Steve Waugh’s Australia.

‘I genuinely couldn’t be prouder of Amol Rajan Interviews, which will stand the test of time. Travelling all around the world (or indeed Essex) to spend so much time with so many icons has been an unforgettable privilege.

‘Twenty years after I first flirted with the idea, I’m extremely excited to jump into the great digital Narnia of the creator economy, and build my own company. I’ll still do Britain’s oldest TV quiz and most exciting podcast.

‘But Del Boy was my hero growing up, and it’s time to unleash my inner entrepreneur.

‘I am very much not leaving the BBC, Britain’s noblest cultural institution, whose Reithian spirit is such a generous gift to a world in flux. It’s that world I’m heading for, and I’m excited.’

An announcement about Rajan’s replacement on Today is expected in due course.

In a similar post on his Instagram account today, Rajan said: ‘Very exciting day. Some professional news! I’m leaping into the Great Digital Narnia of the Creator Economy, unleashing my inner Del Boy, building my own company and having a go at being an entrepreneur.

‘I’m very much staying at the @bbc, but leaving @bbcnews. I’ll keep doing Britain’s oldest TV quiz – University Challenge – and most exciting podcast, RADICAL, which is surging. But I’ll step back from ‘Amol Rajan Interviews’ and @bbctodayprogramme later this summer, and have just emailed the team to let them know.

‘It was very important to me that the news didn’t leak and they were the first to know, which they were. Look out for a message of thanks to them here later today, because they are the best of the best.

‘Anyways: golden days ahead. The best is yet to come. I want to grow an empire of ideas and IP. If you want to be part of the journey, give me a call. Life is wonderful.’

Rajan’s Today colleague Nick Robinson tweeted today: ‘Missing you already @amolrajan – or should I say Del Boy?*

‘You’ve added boundless energy, intelligence, curiosity, charm and quite a lot of bling to @BBCr4today

‘Looking forward to watching your next adventure. Enjoy that sleep which you’ve been craving for so long. (*Watch the video!)’

Today editor Owenna Griffiths said: ‘Amol is an exceptional talent with a rare combination of intellectual dexterity, impressive breadth of interest and a brilliant sense of humour.

‘Moreover – and perhaps, most importantly – he is a great team player who always champions the hard work of producers. It has been enormous fun working with him on Today and setting up Radical. He will be sorely missed.’

Mohit Bakaya, director of speech and controller of Radio 4, added: ‘Amol has brought a distinctive intellectual energy and curiosity to Today that we will be really sad to lose.

‘However, I’m pleased that he will still be a regular presence on Radio 4; Radical has rapidly become one of our most compelling podcasts, and I’m sure there will be many other Radio 4 projects down the line. In the meantime, I wish him well with this next exciting phase of his career.’

John McAndrew, director of live and daily news, said: ‘Amol’s a huge talent who’s been a fantastic addition to the Today line-up. I’d like to thank him for everything he’s done and I’m delighted he’ll continue presenting for the BBC.

‘Amol has brought a real breath of fresh air to Today and we will keep evolving the programme as we continue to refresh the presenting team in the months ahead.’

Rajan was born in Calcutta before moving to London, where he attended Graveney School in Tooting, before graduating in English at Downing College, Cambridge, where he also edited student newspaper Varsity.

He began his professional media career in 2006 as a researcher on Channel 5’s mid-morning chat show The Wright Stuff, before meeting guest Simon Kelner, then editor of The Independent, and asking him for work experience.

During his time at the newspaper he held a number of roles, including news reporter, columnist, sports reporter and editor of the title’s comment section, Independent Voices.

Rajan was appointed Independent editor aged just 29 in 2013 – making him the youngest ever editor of a broadsheet title in Fleet Street, and the first from an ethnic minority.

He remained at the Independent until the publication went digital-only in 2016, joining the BBC as its first media editor soon after – and made his first appearance on Today in May 2021.

In November that year, he fronted a controversial documentary called The Princes And The Press about William and Harry – which drew censure from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace, along with accusations of bias.

The series was criticised by the royal households for giving credibility to ‘overblown and unfounded claims’.

Rajan also later had to apologise after a series of past tweets and comment pieces he had written about the monarchy came to light.

In them he called for the downfall of the ‘ridiculous House of Windsor’ and joked about ‘throwing a brick’ at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

In one message, posted on the day of Trooping The Colour in June 2012, he even said that the BBC’s ‘monarchist propaganda’ made him sick.

In February 2022, he interviewed tennis star Novak Djokovic, boasting that it was a ‘mega global scoop’. But he was criticised for fawning over the player, who had refused to be vaccinated against Covid.

Rajan has presented several shows for Radio 4 including The Decline of the West; Archive on 4 – 50 Years On: Rivers of Blood; and The Imperial Inversion of Cricket; as well as hosting Start the Week, PM, Any Answers, several series of Rethink and The Media Show.

He also presented the podcasts Harry, Meghan and the Media; and, with Robinson, The Today Podcast. For Radio 2, Rajan has presented the Breakfast, Lunchtime and Drivetime shows.

Rajan has also been a regular presenter of The One Show on BBC One, and last year hosted the documentary Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges.

On BBC Two, he presented How To Break Into the Elite, How To Crack the Class Ceiling and the Amol Rajan Interviews series, for which he has interviewed Bill Gates, Greta Thunberg, Billie Jean King, Ian McKellen, Sheila Hancock, Tony Blair and John Major.

Rajan is married to the academic Charlotte Faircloth, an associate professor at University College London’s Institute of Education, with whom he has four children.