Right back into the 1980s and the part of the day we call lunchtime...
In 1980 Radio Times didn’t list the Midday News presenters Merely the weather forecasters (the time was flexible between 12:30 and 13:20 it seems...)!
So we hurtle into 1981 and only from September onwards with News After Noon:
Richard Whitmore 69
Moira Stuart 69
Jan Leeming 1
News after noon 1982:
Moira Stuart 217
Richard Whitmore 192
Linda Alexander 15
Jeremy Thompson 10
Ian Ross 7
Mike McKay 5
Margaret Hounsell 5
Peter Day 5
Ian Smith 5
Jan Leeming 3
Michael Buerk 2
Richard Baker 2
John Humphrys 1
Frances Coverdale 1
You may see a few familiar names, as well as some... who??? Maybe names you forget started their screen career with BBC News...
News after noon 1983:
Richard Whitmore 199
Frances Coverdale 35
Fern Britton 28
Vivien Creegor 26
Sandi Marshall 23
Heather Payton 22
Noreen Bray 20
Michael Cole 19
Jane Franchi 18
Anne Diamond 17
Judi Lines 17
Judith Stamper 10
Michael Buerk 2
A fairly strange year... Richard Whitmore presented most editions with Michael’s Cole and Buerk covering him and until November a rotation of female co presenters who seem to do a month or so each until Frances Coverdale settles down as co presenter
News after noon 1984:
Frances Coverdale 210
Richard Whitmore 196
Moira Stuart 33 (returned after launch of 6 o clock news)
Chris Lowe 16
Michael Cole 15
Sandi Marshall 12
Phillip Hayton 10
Michael Sullivan 5
Jan Leeming 1
On 23rd Oct two editions were listed, the second At 12:58
by David Dimbleby at Victoria Station and Buckingham Palace
News after noon 1985:
Frances Coverdale 162
Richard Whitmore 150
Moira Stuart 97
Michael Cole 31
Chris Lowe 13
Julie Carter 6
Ed Mitchell 5
Laurie Mayer 3