John Humphrys, broadcaster, was surprised by Michael Aspel on the set of the BBC's political television programme On The Record at the BBC Television Centre. John, who was born in Cardiff, began his career as a junior reporter with the Merthyr Express and the Western Mail. He joined the BBC in 1966 as the district reporter for Liverpool and the Northwest, before becoming the BBC's youngest foreign correspondent. As a reporter for more than 40 years he covered the Aberfan disaster, President Nixon's resignation, Mandela's rise to power in South Africa and front line action in various war zones around the globe. In 1981 he became the main presenter of the BBC's flagship Nine O'Clock News before joining the agenda setting Radio 4's Today programme in 1987.