BBC Breakfast

BBC Breakfast isn't just a news progamme: it aims to inform more than just those who want to watch news in the morning. They appear to do rather well in that respect, according to their viewing figures.

I suggest you listen to the BBC World Service, or get a satellite dish pointing at 19.2 degrees East and pick up 'BBC World News TV'

BBC Breakfast is aimed at people in the UK wanting random items (such as those they would read in a newspaper) before they go to work.

BBC Breakfast isn't supposed to be the same as BBC NC, Moz!

Indeed, Drew!

But they did do short bits of Sian's highlights throughout the programme for people who were dashing off to work, and would miss the end. I was lucky, I had today off, so I got to see the end of the programme.

I thought they gave Sian a very good send off: and well deserved it was too!

LOL.

I've never been Breakfast's biggest fan (not since BIG MOIRA left). Nevertheless, I enjoyed and appreciated Sian's farewell sequences. Showed that she was very well thought of and was liked by most.

Like in any job that anyone does day in and day out for eleven years with the same colleagues, it's no wonder that it was quite emotional for all of them, and for many of us, I'm sure.

Technical note: in the farewell clip above, I was quite teary eyed as Bill and Sian said their final farewells as a duo. However, moments later, I was hissing myself laughing at the almost deadpan and Orla Guerin-esque tone and subject matter of the continuity announcer at the very end of the clip. Hilarious, if you watch the whole thing through and experience the dichotomy there.

BBC News Channel high-brow ?! I don't think so !

R4's Today leans closer to that, but these days even that's just an opportunity for John Humphrys to show off, and constantly interrupt his guests.

PM with Eddie Mair is much better. Best TV news prog by a mile is C4 News (IMHO)

Agree with all that.

I can't understand why replies above suggest that you have to a) listen to the radio or b) watch output designed for non-UK audiences to get a decent news programme in the morning.

As for Breakfast being popular, so was the News of the World. It's not the BBC's job to appeal to the masses, that's Daybreak's agenda.

I'm also not saying that Breakfast can't have the odd light moment, but just think it's gone too far. Much of the 'news' they cover is consumer and health stuff - same goes for the Six.

I much preferred the old Breakfast News in the Nick Witchell/Jill Dando era.

Are you serious?

100% agreed. Being a journalist is akin to being a doctor/nurse. You have to detach yourself from the seriousness of your professional job. My mum was a nurse and she said they had to have a laugh about things during lunch/breaks otherwise they'd go mad having to deal with sickness and death all day long.

Moz, I'm surprised at your accusations of unprofessionalism towards Bill and Sian. When - apart from this morning - has the "jazz hands" ever been seen or referenced on air? The answer: never. In my view, that makes them totally professional. What they do off air is up to them. If shaking their hands helps them get focused, what's the harm?

Get a grip! You obviously have some issues.

It's a reasonable point that there is an audience for harder news at Breakfast. What does World do during this period, would a simulcast with the NC be feasible if it were done along similar lines to overnights with suitable opt points for Word affiliates to drop ads in?

Everyone, including moz, is entitled to an opinion - but I think words like "disgusting" and "sickening" are a bit silly and OTT - and they do tend to suggest deeper rooted issues, I'm sorry to say.

I think Sian has been great. Have really enjoyed her on Breakfast, and am sorry to see her go.

Oddly Sophie was on the 1 today, and had Jeremy Bowen at the desk as a correspondent. I was suddenly reminded of their Breakfast pairing, and how much I enjoyed that.

So I'm sure they will come up with another I'm equally fond of.

Not many people liked Jeremy and Sophie at the time, but like you, Gavin, I quite enjoyed the pairing. I always thought it was quite a solid programme after the 2000 relaunch - Jeremy, Sophie and Moira were serious enough to make it a formal news programme, but were equally good at relaxing after 8.30am. It lost that stuffiness that it had as Breakfast News during the 1990s. I also liked Darren Jordon and eventually Bill Turnbull with Sian. For me, Breakfast started to decline with the arrival of Dermot and Natasha. I really didn't enjoy it in the mid-2000s, but I do think it picked up again with Bill and Sian at the helm. The only days I don't enjoy it so much are when Susanna Reid is presenting. Sadly for me, that's now going to be most of the time. However, I'll still tune in as anything's got to be better than Daybreak or Eamonn Holmes.

As for the suitability of Breakfast, I think they've always had it pretty much spot on since 2000. As much as some people here would like to think that what's needed is a serious news programme, I'd have to disagree. Breakfast News in the 1980s and 1990s was very, very staid and boring. It really was a turn-off for the vast majority of people. That's exactly why it was trounced by TV-am/GMTV and needed a major overhaul in October 2000. It just wasn't fit for purpose. Most people don't want a lot of serious, factual information first thing in the morning and this is where I think Breakfast has succeeded. While GMTV/Daybreak went into meltdown by focusing on very fluffy showbiz content, Breakfast seized the opportunity to become what GMTV had been at its peak - a mix of news and features that's an easy watch in the morning. I value serious news and don't follow showbiz, but I've always felt that Breakfast caters very well for the British public. It has a nice balance of news and lighter content. It's obviously what the majority of people want as the viewing figures are always very good. If you want wall-to-wall news first thing, either listen to Radio 4 or watch one of the news channels. Why can't Breakfast remain as a balance between that and Daybreak?

I always thought it was a bad idea to use the virtual set during 1993-1997.

http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/news/bbcnews/images/breakfast/1993/breakfastnews_130493b.jpg
(courtesy of TV-ARK)

Adding an orange hue to the top of the backdrop really wasn't going to warm up an icy blue and grey studio - not exactly easy on the eye first thing in the morning. October 2000 was definitely the turning point for Breakfast. I do wonder if Breakfast would still benefit from a desk though to use?