Mishal Husain has already come to blows with new R4 colleague John Humphrys Husain's appointment follows a high-profile campaign for more female voices on Radio 4 and was widely welcomed. The Cambridge-educated journalist, who will also be Today's first Asian presenter, will replace James Naughtie as he moves to focus on coverage of the Scottish independence referendum. The programme is currently fronted by four men, Naughtie, Humphrys, Evan Davis and Justin Webb, and just one woman, Sarah Montague. Tony Hall, the BBC's director-general, said he was "particularly pleased" that Husain's appointment meant there would be "another female voice" on the programme, which he acknowledged was "extremely important." In 2011, it was estimated that 84 per cent of reporters and guests on the show were men.