The BBC's John Humphrys has hung up his microphone for the final time after presenting Radio 4's flagship Today programme for the last 32 years.
Despite earning £600,000 and receiving glowing tributes from bosses, the 76-year-old broadcaster kicked mud at his former employer by highlighting the BBC's institutional prejudice towards the Brexit process and leave voters.
In his memoirs, A Day Like Today, serialised exclusively in the Daily Mail, Humphrys described what he labelled the "institutional liberal bias" at the BBC and condemned the "Kremlin"-style organisation for being out of touch.
Humphrys, who earned a reputation for his dogged interviewing style, accuses BBC staff of confusing their interests with the feelings of the wider public.
In sections Humphrys claims the BBC "tried to mould the nation into its own liberal-left image", and reveals how the BBC's most powerful executives were devastated at the outcome of the 2016 referendum on membership of the European Union.
He likened their dejected expressions following the referendum to a football fan whose team has just missed a penalty. He said: "I'm not sure the BBC as a whole ever quite had a real grasp of what was going on in Europe, or of what people in this country thought about it."
He also writes about having to present alongside Carrie Gracie, who quit as the BBC's China editor in a row over unequal pay. He writes: "Today had to report it, just as it would any other big story. I said as much to my boss. There was the sound of some throat-clearing, and then: 'Umm - no - It's been decided that she'll still be presenting.' I said, 'Well, at least I'll be able to grill her about her claims - should make a bloody good interview.'"
But Humphrys was told in no uncertain terms to avoid the issue of Gracie's pay at all costs. He said: "I despaired. This wasn't just poor news management. It made the Kremlin circa 1950 look sophisticated."
Humphrys also writes about how he became embroiled in a row after he was caught making off-air comments about the gender pay row with the BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel.
He writes: "Within 24 hours it was all over the internet and the newspapers – and I'd apparently joined the ranks of the world's great misogynists. I was right up there with Trump."
Trendy lefties and members of the liberal elite have hit out at Humphrys' comments.
Enemy of democracy Andrew Adonis, an unelected Labour peer and arch-remainer, who has spent a lifetime leaching from the public purse, furiously labelled Humphrys a fraud, adding that for decades "he was the BBC for millions of listeners!"
A BBC spokesman said: "John's entitled to his opinions and has never been reluctant to let us know what he thinks, and while we don't necessarily agree with all his views it's good to see him declare the BBC a 'tremendous and irreplaceable force for good' that the country needs as much as ever."
Humphrys' memoirs, A Day Like Today, is available on Amazon.
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