ITV News

If other Newscasters self-isolate then there may be no option to ask him back on a temporary basis. Or Sky or BBC could snap him up on a temporary basis as an experienced television journalist.

Can’t see it myself - ITV have plenty of possible presenters to use from Nina, Mary, Tom, Julie etc to the likes of Ranvir or Lucrezia and even the likes of Steve Scott, James Mates, Geraint Vincent and Chris Ship have done bulletins in the past. I struggle to see a scenario where they’d need to draft Alastair in.

They also have Duncan, Faye, Romily, Kylie etc who present at weekends that could be asked to present weekdays if they needed to. Why would they ask someone who no longer works for ITV News to present?

Yes, Duncan did the Sunday night bulletins.

I wonder why the regional news was down to 3 mins today including the weather. I don't know why weekends are so poor when it comes to regional news. It needs to be at least 12-15 mins IMO.

Its pathetic. On average you have 1-2 stories followed by the sports.

It was even shorter tonight than the weekday lunchtime bulletin, that needs to be 10 mins not 4 and weekends needs to be around 15 mins.

I wonder what may be causing resources to be stretched. Any ideas guys?

Both channels had quite short national and regional slots scheduled today. TBH though Saturday regional news is usually half sport anyway and sadly suspect the periphery local bulletins may go completely soon if staffing becomes a real issue.

You are aware what is going on at the moment?

They’ve obviously pared it right down on a Saturday so they don’t need as many staff and there is also no sport to report on.

As you will surely be aware regional news is basically the national news at the moment but with regional places dropped into the script.

Seems like you cant even make an observation at the moment without people being rude Cant you disagree with someone without resorting to such comments.

Obviously im well aware of what is going on. I simply made a comment that the regional news was 3 mins long and shorter than usual. They might as well have not bothered getting a presenter and camera crew in for weekends across the however many regional newsrooms to limit contact considering the bulletin was far too short to be of any use.

Regional news down from 6:30 to 3 minutes at weekends until further notice, News At Ten has been three minutes longer every night this week, many regions going PAN on their 6pm shows. A way of keeping people informed of their local news whilst not over stretching a team which might end up becoming smaller and smaller because of the virus