BBC Radio 4 listeners are not overly keen on change, so imagine their reaction to find out the Today programme has been given its very own theme tune. Whaaaat? On Today? Fortunately for them the composition, written by Simon May, whose greatest TV hits include the theme tunes to EastEnders and Howard's Way, is not a permanent addition to the show. The Today presenter Evan Davis didn't sound entirely impressed. "We thought perhaps it was just a tiny bit light, it lacked a certain gravitas for a programme like ours." That was precisely the point, said May. "I wanted to give you guys a contrast to the intensity of the show. You can sing along – Today... on... Radio... 4." Well, yes. Sort of. Jim Naughtie thought it was "very loving". Hmm... maybe. It's certainly not as groovy as the programme's short-lived 1983 theme tune – yes, it really did have one – composed by Johnny Dankworth. But back to Davis, who asked May: "How long did it take you to write? I'm not suggesting you don't have enough to do..." Certainly not. It turns out May has a new album to promote. So that's why he offered to do it...
