ITV News

Lucrezia Millerini on tonights ITV News. Think that's the first prime time bulletin she's done? Even had a V/O prepped for her.

She does seem to be an ITV News favourite at the moment. She's been regular cover for Nina and Charlene on ITV News London at 6 and on weekend ITV News daytime shifts.

Ironically she seems to have got more work out of Geoff Hill since becoming freelance.

Kylie Pentelow is covering the evening shifts on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Mrs Hill was on the national bulletin this afternoon, always found her to be quite good when she was previously on the nationals...

John Ray, new Africa correspondent

Bit late on that one.

ITV News at Ten set for revamp as political editor race hots up

4 SEPTEMBER, 2015 | BY JAKE KANTER

ITV News at Ten’s will undergo a major editorial refresh later this year in the hands of new anchor Tom Bradby - as the race to replace the outgoing political editor hots up.

Industry sources have indicated that the flagship ITN-produced bulletin will become more American in style, with Bradby providing a personal take on the day’s big stories.

More time will be devoted to a smaller number of stories, with Bradby supported by the best packages from ITV News’ top correspondents.

Broadcast understands that the time allowances for interviews could double to up to three minutes and the number of live guest slots will also increase. It is hoped that this will give Bradby more space to grill interviewees and enable ITV to attract better quality guests.

Bradby is understood to be in direct contact with ITV director of television Peter Fincham over the revamp, with a soft launch planned for mid-October.

The former royal correspondent has only recently returned from an extended holiday and is still performing his political editor duties, reporting on the migrant crisis from Downing Street this week.

There is unlikely to be any significant changes to the look of the bulletin initially, with ITV bosses and Bradby keen to evolve the show slowly over time. Any update to the titles or set are more likely to be made next year.

Bradby’s other show, The Agenda, will continue to be rested until 2016 to give Bradby more time to focus on News at Ten. The ITN Productions format was last on-air in April for an election special.

It was revealed in June that Bradby would replace Mark Austin and Julie Etchingham as the main anchor of News at Ten. Austin will present the 6.30pm news, while Etchingham will deputise for Bradby when he is away.

Bradby’s political editor role has attracted around 20 credible applicants, with interviews set to take place over the coming weeks.

Broadcast understands that Lucy Manning, who left ITV News to join the BBC as special correspondent in controversial circumstances last year, has applied for the role.

She is highly regarded at ITV, but her switch to the BBC in June 2014 was unpopular with some. It also stoked anger in the BBC newsroom, as she was appointed without an open recruitment process at a time when the corporation was making 500 journalists redundant.

The BBC’s deputy political editor James Landale has also thrown his hat into the ring for Bradby’s old ITV News post, as has Channel 4 News anchor Cathy Newman.

Other external candidates are said to include The Sun’s political editor Tom Newton Dunn and Newsnight’s Allegra Stratton.

ITV declined to comment.

And NAT has been ITV News' flagship bulletin for the past seven years, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

But the 6.30pm bulletin is the most watched and commercially important programme. (Tom Bradby's words).