Misha Glenny: my plans for In Our Time

Misha Glenny is taking over as presenter of In Our Time, succeeding Melvyn Bragg after 27 years. Glenny promises continuity rather than radical change, describing his approach as “evolution, not revolution,” while recognising the need for the programme to remain relevant in a changing media landscape.

He questions the show’s long-standing slogan, “Never knowingly relevant,” arguing instead that its discussions of history, science, and philosophy are often unknowingly relevant, especially during times of political and social uncertainty. Glenny believes audiences still have a strong appetite for serious, expert-led conversation despite the dominance of smartphones and short-form content.

While acknowledging competition from popular history podcasts such as The Rest Is History, he has no plans to imitate their style. Instead, he intends to preserve In Our Time’s tightly structured, rigorous format while ensuring it continues to engage new generations of listeners.