John Humphrys reveals the on-air incident that made him give up alcohol

Health & FitnessLifestyle
28 May 2026 • 8:03 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

John Humphrys reveals the on-air incident that made him give up alcohol

  • Legendary presenter John Humphrys, 82, has revealed details of an on-air incident in 1974 that led him to give up alcohol.
  • While working for the BBC in Washington, covering Richard Nixon's resignation, Humphrys had consumed a significant amount of alcohol during lunch.
  • His broadcast assistant warned him about his sobriety before a live satellite broadcast, which he managed to complete despite being “painfully obvious” he was drunk.
  • Following the broadcast, London informed his assistant that such an incident “can't” happen again, prompting Humphrys to stop drinking entirely.
  • Humphrys, who believes he “was an alcoholic” and had a family history of the condition, now drinks very little, often opting for non-alcoholic beer.

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