‘Cool, calm, precise’: how Mishal Husain became the interviewer politicians dread

The Today programme has changed dramatically during Mishal Husain’s time as presenter. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC

For a moment after Mishal Husain’s Today programme interview with the home secretary, James Cleverly, on Tuesday morning there was a stunned silence in the editing gallery outside the studio.

“It felt quite surreal. I wasn’t really expecting the word ‘shit’ to be said so many times,” says Owenna Griffiths, the Today programme’s editor. “Often I’ll pick up with the presenter immediately to discuss whether it went well or badly, but Mishal and I both sat there in silence for about a minute because it had taken such an unexpected turn.”