It was their first time presenting together on the Today Programme in 94 days after reports had surfaced of their ‘clashing egos’ and a spat behind the scenes.

And while Emma Barnett, 61, and Nick Robinson, 61, tried to pretend it was business as usual, Radio 4 listeners were less than convinced, noting an icy air between the pair on Thursday morning.

Used to a jovial rapport between presenters on the BBC flagship radio show, listeners were quick to point out that Emma and Nick said little to nothing to each other throughout the two-hour programme.

One person wrote on X: ‘Loving the top banter between new besties Emma Barnett and Nick Robinson this morning…’

Accompanying the post was a picture of Hannibal Lecter next to Princess Diana to signify the seemingly hostile relations between the pair.

It comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed the Woman’s Hour host had lodged a complaint about the Today Programme veteran, calling him ‘overbearing’, when she joined the show in April last year.

Nick Robinson and Emma Barnett have not presented the Today programme on Radio 4 for more than 90 days

Listeners have spotted tensions between Nick Robinson and Emma Barnett on their first show back together in more than three months after reports of ‘clashing egos’ emerged

Emma Barnett lodged a complaint about Nick Robinson when she joined the show in April stating that she found the veteran host ‘overbearing’

Another person wrote: ‘Emma Barnett calling Nick Robinson overbearing – talk about the pot calling the kettle black.’

Last month, it was reported that the two journalists had not appeared together on the show for 90 days, sparking rumours of ‘clashing egos’ and making life difficult for the producers.

Emma and Nick – who is paid up to £349,000 by the BBC – have co-presented Today just 13 times, well short of any other pairings Before their last appearance together in December they had shared the studio just three times in more than 150 days.

Emma is understood to have lodged a complaint about Nick with Deborah Turness, the chief executive of the BBC’s news and current affairs division, after finding her veteran co-host ‘overbearing’.

Before their last outing, in mid-December, Ms Barnett and Robinson (pictured) – frequently criticised for allegedly reporting with a pro-Conservative bias – had shared the studio three times in more than 150 days

BBC star Emma Barnett (pictured) lodged a complaint against her Today co-presenter Nick Robinson soon after joining Radio 4’s flagship news programme

Barnett is said to have lodged a complaint with Deborah Turness (pictured), the chief executive of the BBC’s news and current affairs division, after finding her co-host ‘overbearing’

Nick Robinson in the studio, BBC Radio 4 ‘s Today Programme. Picture date: Thursday July 24, 2008

Ms Barnett was absent from the Today show for Mishal Husain’s leaving do in December 2024

Insiders said the matter was resolved with no action taken and there had been no suggestion Nick had done anything wrong.

They blamed the ‘inevitable stresses and strains caused by the pairing of two strong characters’ and said the pair had experienced the sort of misunderstanding common between colleagues – but that in this case it had been blown out of proportion.

One source said: ‘Emma made a complaint about Nick,’ adding that tensions have persisted so much that they ‘can’t be on together as she finds him overbearing’.

However other sources at the BBC played down the claims and denied there had been any ‘formal’ complaint to Ms Turness.