I'm beginning to think many on this site consider the existence of a personality and an ability to have a joke make someone inappropriate for the flagship bulletins. Simon, Martine and Christian are all in my opinion considerably better at structured than some of the people you consider to be outstanding at them (and those people are all more than capable themselves), but obviously do not show as much personality during bulletins as they would on the channel as the tighter timings don't allow for it.
.......... I do hate admitting this sometimes as it’s silly, but I don’t watch the Six or Ten when Fiona or Sophie are on. There’s nothing to the bulletin when they are presenting in my opinion...........
Once upon a time, I also used to make comments like that on this forum. And then, frankly, I grew up. Especially after one well-known news broadcaster contacted me privately - and politely - to remind me of the words of the late and great Sir Alastair Burnet, who said "its the news itself that's the star. We are just privileged to be able to tell it to the people at home every day".
So, you don't watch the news when Sophie and Fiona are on? Their appearance - albeit a crucial one - is to link the stories together and introduce news reports from award-winning news correspondents out in the field, sometimes risking life and limb to keep us informed. It's a shame you'll miss out on their excellent journalism for having to put-up with a collective 3.5 minutes of Sophie or Fiona speaking. The other 24 minutes of the bulletin is why the programme exists in the first place.
For the record, there are a few news presenters who's style I don't like too much (not Sophie or Fiona by the way), but I no longer switch-off the news because that person happens to be presenting. That would be doing a dis-service to the correspondents sweating in the field.
But, as I said at the open, I see where you are coming from because I was once that guy posting the same comments here on these very boards.
Until that 'awakening', which made me feel like a total pr!ck.
We're all entitled to an opinion, as you correctly state. I respect yours, but, with utmost politeness, I don't agree with it.
(It's also worth remembering that both Christian Fraser and Simon McCoy are also time-served correspondents in the field. Christian was Europe and Paris correspondent for quite some time; Simon covered the Gulf War from the field during his time at Sky News. I agree, they're both excellent at rolling news presentation. And, believe it or not, Christian is far better known globally for his international reach than Huw Edwards will ever be. That's as much to do with circumstances than his ability or suitability to do the "nationals").