John Tusa talks interviewing legends in their 90s for new podcast: “In the last 18 months we lost 5 people”

by

Sir John Tusa explains that his new podcast, ‘The Best Is Yet to Come,’ was created with a sense of urgency. He shares that they’ve already lost five colleagues in the past year and a half, and he isn’t sure how much longer he’ll be able to continue working on it.

People often joke about how quickly managers change in the Premier League, but Michael Tusa is discussing something much more universal: the passage of time. He and his guests on the show have all remarkably lived long lives, and his program, ‘The Best Is Yet to Come,’ focuses on people who have thrived well into their nineties.

Several people he initially wanted to interview passed away before they could participate – Fred Emery, a former Washington correspondent for The Times who reported on Watergate, and Mark Tully, a long-time BBC expert on India. However, speaking with people in their nineties wasn’t the sad experience one might expect.

Hearing Jonathan Tusa interview architect Nick Thompson – known for designing beautiful theaters like Sheffield’s Crucible – is a delightful and funny hour. It’s also a lesson in how to conduct a great interview. Tusa, who celebrated his 90th birthday on the podcast’s launch day, still possesses the same engaging curiosity, careful listening skills, and warm personality that made him a memorable host on Newsnight and a respected interviewer on Radio 4.

He started the podcast after being inspired by the vibrant lives of people he knew in their nineties. He interviews fascinating guests like Lord Michael Heseltine, historian Lady Antonia Fraser, economist Sir Richard Layard, and novelist Dame Penelope Lively. He realized these individuals weren’t just passively aging; they were actively enjoying and embracing life. As he puts it, why stop doing what you love until it’s absolutely necessary?

He acknowledges that living a long life has its difficulties, especially losing loved ones like his wife, Ann, and old friends. However, he chooses not to dwell on death in his podcast, feeling he doesn’t have any unique insights to offer. He describes his feelings by recalling a Bible verse he read at his grandchild’s wedding: “Love is strong as death, passion as fierce as the grave.” He says the verse resonated with him both for the couple and for his own enduring love for Ann, who passed away four years prior.

He believed this podcast would be captivating because, having lived through so much history – from World War II and the Cold War to the threat of nuclear war, major economic downturns, and the rise of the internet, social media, and now AI – it offered a uniquely fascinating perspective on a remarkable era.

He found his time as a journalist most exciting during the Cold War. He explains, “There was a genuine threat of war, which needed careful examination. But the clash with Marxist-Leninist ideology also sparked constant debate.” He contrasts this with the current situation, stating, “Putin is essentially a gangster – you can’t reason with someone like that.” Unlike the Soviet Union and Communist Eastern Europe, where there was a basis for discussing their actions and beliefs, there’s no room for argument with Putin’s regime.

The events in Eastern Europe held a personal significance for him. Born in Czechoslovakia in 1936, he immigrated to the UK with his family in 1939. After studying history at Cambridge University, he began his career at the BBC, eventually becoming Managing Director of the World Service in 1986. He left the BBC in 1993, voicing concerns about the leadership of Director-General John Birt. Despite living most of his life in Britain, he maintained a strong emotional connection to his homeland.

As a Brit who went to school here, I’ve always identified with my British background. But I also have this deep connection to my Czech heritage, and it makes me feel truly European. I was flying into Vienna the other day, and looking down at the Danube snaking through the countryside, it just hit me – I felt incredibly connected to Europe, to its history and landscape. It was a really powerful moment.

He was very upset by Britain’s decision to leave the EU. He described it as both an economic mistake and a deeply hurtful rejection of Europe, feeling it was done without a valid justification.

Despite challenges like funding concerns, competition from numerous streaming services, and a potential lawsuit following a critical report, he remains optimistic about the BBC’s future. He believes its deep connection to the public means people will ultimately support its continued existence. He’s confident that when it matters most, the public will choose to keep the BBC.

Want to see this content?

This page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA. Before it loads, we need your permission because it might use cookies and similar technologies. If you want to see the content, please select ‘Accept and continue’ to enable reCAPTCHA.

According to Tusa, the BBC needs to refocus on its core mission: creating quality programs. He believes everything else stems from that. He’s particularly disappointed with the changes to Newsnight, which he remembers as a robust hour-long program featuring reports, interviews, and debate. Now reduced to a half-hour of political commentary, he calls it “an empty shell.” He doesn’t fault the program’s creators, but rather the management for failing to innovate and try something new.

He still loves listening to the radio, regularly tuning into programs like Today, Woman’s Hour, and The World at One. He appreciates how these shows continue to feel new with different hosts over time. He also notes that radio has become much more relaxed compared to the more structured and formal broadcasting style he remembers from his early career.

He seems a little embarrassed when I ask about his favorite podcasts – he hasn’t really gotten into listening to them yet. Beyond the production company helping him, he also has a knowledgeable guide: his godson, Rory Stewart, who hosts the popular podcast ‘The Rest Is Politics.’ Rory actually interviews him for the first episode of the new series.

Creating ‘The Best Is Yet to Come’ is a very personal project for him, something he does for his own enjoyment. He hopes others will enjoy it as well.

Authors

Catherine Pepinster

Read More

2026-03-09 21:12