Why now, Emma ?

Is there a link between Emma Barnett's 14 minute interview with Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch on Thursday morning, and the strong rumour that the interrogator is about the leave the Today programme after two years ?The interview became unduly and unnecessarily unheated - a sort of prizefight and test of will when the immediate political climate demanded more of a canter round low obstacles. Waiting alongside Emma, her co-presenter Nick Robinson, with thirty years of experience as a political correspondent and interviewer, rather heavy handedly claimed he had the "Interview of the Day", with Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson.Three weeks ago, Emma revealed that she'd been largely off-air since June, recuperating from a five-hour operation which included a hysterectomy and gall-bladder removal. She returned to the Today studio just in time to co-present with Amol Rajan for his last programme. She may, too, have decided that there are easier ways to earn £300k a year without requiring 4.30am alarm calls.