Callow: Naughtie’s style is ham radio

James Naughtie, the Scottish presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, has been accused of having an overly theatrical reporting style by, of all people, the actor Simon Callow.

Callow caught one of Naughtie's despatches from the US on Monday about smalltown America – he is currently in the States reporting on the Hillary/Obama Democratic nomination campaign. It was not short on cliches or actorly flourishes, as is the Scotsman's way.

Callow, who stops short of comparing Naughtie with that great theatrical Knight Sir Donald Sinden (and ham of hams), says: "Of course Jim is an actor. That's the way he is – on and of the radio. He acts out the persona his created."

Naughtie is not best pleased by the criticism. "Being accused of being a touch hammy by Simon feels like being accused of self-publicity by Michael Winner."