BBC presenter Amol Rajan said he is considering moving his family to India due to what he described as “big problems” in England, during a conversation with presenter Giles Brandreth on the Rosebud podcast.
Rajan, who hosts BBC Radio 4’s Today and University Challenge programmes, said he was “very concerned” about the country’s future and was rethinking where his four children should grow up.He added that although he still loved England, he was unsure whether it would remain a place where “history is made”, compared to India, which he described as dynamic and fast-changing.
What did he say about India?
Rajan said India feels “excited and vibrant in a way that Britain doesn’t always feel,” pointing to its young population, rapid economic growth and expanding workforce.He said that India is a country where “history is being made” and added that he would like his children to spend some time there so that they can experience it first-hand and decide for themselves where they want to live in the future.
Concerns about ‘big problems’ in the UK
Rajan said he was concerned about the direction of Britain, describing it as a place with “very big problems that need to be addressed”.He said that although he believes the UK is the best place to raise his children currently, he is unsure of its long-term cultural and global importance compared to previous decades such as the 1960s and 1970s.
He also contrasted Britain’s present with its past influence on culture, politics and world affairs, suggesting that it no longer carried the same sense of momentum.
Career transition
Rajan also revealed that he was withdrawing from the BBC Radio 4 show Today to launch his own digital venture in the creator economy.He said the nature of early morning radio journalism was difficult, especially alongside family life, and hinted at a desire to move towards a healthier and more flexible lifestyle.
Who is Amol Rajan?
Amol Rajan is a British journalist and broadcaster of Indian origin. Born in Kolkata and raised in London, he is best known as the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Today Show and BBC Two’s University Challenge.He previously served as editor-in-chief of The Independent newspaper and is considered one of the UK’s most prominent media figures. Rajan is married to academic Charlotte Faircloth, and they have four children.
