Mishal Husain talks her new chapter, pressing Nigel Farage on Russia and the recent BBC troubles

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After spending 26 years at the BBC, Mishal Husain made a move to Bloomberg in 2025, calling it the biggest challenge of her career. She admitted to feeling apprehensive about the change, questioning whether she would be successful in this new role, and noting the need to essentially start over and redefine herself.

For the last eleven years of her career at the BBC, Mishal Husain hosted Radio 4’s Today programme, and she was always my favorite host. Unlike some interviewers who were aggressive, she was known for her thorough research, careful listening, and insightful questioning, which consistently yielded valuable information. Husain skillfully revealed flaws in arguments, exposed double standards, and uncovered dishonesty, all while remaining fair and understated.

Mishal Husain has moved from quick news interviews to a weekly 40-minute podcast, simply called The Mishal Husain Show, which launched in October. She says the two formats are vastly different. “I’m finding that doing one in-depth, considered interview each week is much more challenging than the fast pace of daily news, especially getting up at 3am!” she explains. “It’s definitely harder, but I’m really enjoying it.”

Even when not on the air, she still has that clear, confident voice, but it’s a little more playful and lighthearted now. She admits the most daunting part of her work is building an audience from nothing – starting with zero viewers and listeners.

At 52, Husain looks remarkably young and is quite small in stature. With her signature bob haircut and a lean, strong build, she has an energetic, almost heroic presence. She enthusiastically led me through Bloomberg’s challenging staircases, showcasing the stunning views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and central London from the top floor, as well as the appealing (and complimentary) food pantry, and finally, the bustling newsroom.

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During the first few weeks of her interviews, she spoke with a diverse group of people – current and future world leaders, and prominent global figures. This included Canada’s prime minister, former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, and Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado, who recently won the Nobel Peace Prize. She’s starting to notice common themes in these conversations, many of which highlight the growing divisions around the world.

I recently met Husain, and she was still clearly processing her interview with the former head of MI6, Richard Moore. He’d told her the world feels more unstable now than at any point in his 38-year career, and it really struck her. She confessed that when she graduated college in the nineties, things felt much more secure – economically and politically. It’s something she’s been trying to understand ever since. Our very first guest, Mark Carney, spoke about a fundamental break in the established order, and she remembers being shocked to hear a former G7 leader suggest that things might never return to how they once were. You could see her concern for the state of the world right there on her face.

I was really impressed with how she handled Farage during their interview. She didn’t shy away from asking tough questions about his and Reform’s links to Russia – especially knowing what later came out about Nathan Gill being jailed for taking Russian money. He clearly got annoyed, even saying something like ‘Listen, love, you’re really trying to get me!’ But she didn’t take the bait. She explained later that she deliberately didn’t respond to his comment because she wanted to keep the focus on Russia, not get into a personal back-and-forth with him. It was a smart move, honestly, and showed she was in control of the interview.

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If the interview had been filmed ahead of time for the Today show, it likely wouldn’t have made it on air. They would have probably had to shorten it to just five minutes, and it would have most likely been edited out completely.

Now that she’s left the BBC, she feels more comfortable sharing her opinions. However, she doesn’t plan to reveal everything about her personal life – that’s simply not her style. But during this year’s Romanes Lecture, she mentioned she’s become more willing to discuss her faith as a Muslim and her family’s Pakistani heritage. When asked why, she explained that being in the public spotlight comes with a responsibility, especially now with increasing prejudice and discrimination. She feels a duty to speak out.

Years ago, a young Muslim journalist at the BBC told me they admired my openness about being Muslim, which struck me as a sad comment. It really made me realize how much responsibility comes with being visible. I mean, look at my name – it’s obvious! It would be impossible to hide my faith.

The BBC’s director-general, Tim Davie, and head of news, Deborah Turness, both stepped down this week after a version of Donald Trump’s speech was altered during a Panorama broadcast. When asked about the resignations, she said she believed the situation had become overwhelming and that she understood why they ultimately decided to leave.

The question of whether the BBC should have faced scrutiny is separate. While some claim the BBC leans left, Husain disagrees. He believes the BBC’s board members weren’t neutral, stating that journalists are expected to remain unbiased, and he feels the board didn’t adhere to that same standard.

She admits leading the organization was incredibly challenging and she struggles to imagine anyone wanting the position now. She describes whoever takes on the role as being very courageous. When asked if she’s reached out to former coworkers, she confirmed she has, saying she’d be insensitive not to consider what they’re going through. While she witnessed several difficult issues and scandals during her time there, she feels this current situation is far more serious and is deeply concerned about what it means for the future.

She’s optimistic about the upcoming Christmas season. Surprisingly, she enjoys the religious aspects of it, even as a Muslim. She finds services like Midnight Mass and carol singing very touching, and notes that the story of Jesus’s birth is also told with reverence in the Koran. When asked if she considers herself religious, she said faith plays a role in her life.

She’s hoping for a more relaxed Christmas this year, as she’s often had to work on Boxing Day in the past. She’s wondering what she’ll be watching!

She said we could choose some movies to watch, explaining that her Bafta membership meant she always had a long list for the holidays. Then she playfully added that the team at TopMob probably wouldn’t be happy, as they’d likely prefer her to watch something currently airing on television. She asked if she could have a drink, and I agreed. She finished by saying she’d be checking the Christmas edition of TopMob for viewing ideas, and burst into laughter.

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2025-12-08 21:09