Emma Barnett, the new Paxman, is the dogged voice the Today programme needs

Every morning at 6.30am, I slowly come to life with the help of a set of voices discussing current affairs that are by turn smooth (Amol), reasonable (Justin), hectoring (Nick), grownup (Martha) and skewering (Mishal). Henceforth, a new voice will take Martha’s place in the room: Emma Barnett (dogged) is leaving Woman’s Hour to join the Today programme. The deal was apparently done on a walk in Brockwell Park – also the location where Martha Kearney told Today’s editor she was thinking of moving