Lots of media coverage this morning over who may quit the show when it moves North.
Chris Hollins has hinted he will not be moving and Louise Minchin won't renew her contract with Breakfast. There are rumours that Bill will retire early and that Sian and Susanna are likely to quit.
Maybe they'll just have to employ people from the north, rather than shifting people up from London...
Bill has said on his twitter that he is not retiring.
I haven't seen this posted anywhere else today, but the
Heil
has an article apparently with quotes from Hollins, blasting the move as a 'political decision':
Quote:
The BBC is facing a backlash from stars and crew on its breakfast TV show over plans to move them to Salford.
At least two presenters are expected to quit, another is likely to retire early, and other members of the on-screen line-up have expressed serious concerns about the 'politically motivated' move.
Staff on BBC Breakfast - many of whom are women with young families - are also strongly opposed to the relocation.
There is growing discontent from BBC staff about the Salford project after it was revealed that the man overseeing the transfer of 1,500 jobs from London was not moving his own family there.
BBC North director Peter Salmon plans to rent a flat, paid for by the licence fee payer, near the MediaCityUK site.
Many of the other senior executives spearheading the £877million move have also not yet committed to moving their own families north.
BBC Breakfast staff are particularly angry because they were told about the decision to move the show only two weeks ago.
The corporation said it had discovered that it had more free space at the new northern base than it thought.
Many on the show believe the move is an own goal because it will hamper their ability to attract guests at the same time ITV has revamped its own breakfast show. GMTV is to be replaced by Daybreak, which will be presented by Christine Bleakley and Adrian Chiles.
Breakfast staff fear high-profile guests will not want to journey north for interviews so early in the day, and there are calls for BBC director general Mark Thompson to reconsider the decision to move the show.
The programme's sports presenter, Chris Hollins, last year's winner of Strictly Come Dancing, said: 'What is most disappointing is that I don't think [the move] is an economic decision or an editorial decision; it's merely a political decision.
'It doesn't take a brain surgeon to say that it will be practically impossible to get the Prime Minister on set, as we do at the moment.'
The 39-year-old recently bought a new house in London, and said: 'No man in his right mind is going to buy a house 18 months before he is going to have to move to Manchester.'
It is speculated that Bill Turnbull, 54, one of the show's main presenters, may take early retirement rather than make the move. Louise Minchin, 41, who also works for the News Channel and The One Show, is expected not to renew her contract on the show when it expires at the end of the year.
Other stars understood to be worried about the decision to move north are mother-of- four Sian Williams, 45, and mother-of-three Susanna Reid.
Comments section as usual full of amoebas moaning "time to look for new talent". These are people who read the Daily Mail. They can barely read, let alone read the news.
It's the lack of accessibilty to politicians live in the studio that worries me, if an interview is done 'down the line' the lack of full body awareness to the interviewer is lost so any uncomfortable fidgeting is masked. In addition the number of available entertainment and sporting live in studio guests will inevitably drop.
As for coffeebar interaction that to me in a news organisation is important too.
It's the lack of accessibilty to politicians live in the studio that worries me, if an interview is done 'down the line' the lack of full body awareness to the interviewer is lost so any uncomfortable fidgeting is masked. In addition the number of available entertainment and sporting live in studio guests will inevitably drop.
As for coffeebar interaction that to me in a news organisation is important too.
Politicians are very rarely in the studio IMO.
Not commonly, that's true, but Cameron has been on in recent weeks - and you can expect with the swingeing cuts to public services coming, he'll be looking to explain it away in some studio or other; and that will probably be Daybreak's after the move.
I agree with Chris (Mr Cornwall) that interviews are much more revealing where the guest is sat on the sofa. Down-the-lines seldom have the same dynamic.
Have we got any Breakfast insiders here because the way the story broke in the news it appeared the idea was raised one day, approved the next with very little consultation - but obviously we don't know what had been going on privately in the weeks and months before hand.
This is a real own goal by BBC. Breakfast is the most watched in that slot and Bill , Sian , Chris and Susana are probably partly what makes the show so popular .
Intresting that theres no reaction from Charlie , Kate , Simon , Mike , Carol or Matt.
I Rellay dont see who there is who is talented enough for a main role in the bbc northwest team as Itv by far have the better one.
This is a real own goal by BBC. Breakfast is the most watched in that slot and Bill , Sian , Chris and Susana are probably partly what makes the show so popular .
Intresting that theres no reaction from Charlie , Kate , Simon , Mike , Carol or Matt.
I Rellay dont see who there is who is talented enough for a main role in the bbc northwest team as Itv by far have the better one.
When is this move supposed to be happening anyway?
With the soon to be relauched Daybreak and Breakfast as you say is the most popular currently . If Daybreak is sucessful and Breakfast ends up with worse presenters, I could see people switching over to Daybreak.
Daily Mail "Bill Turnbull to take early retirement"
Bill Turnbull "I'm not retiring"
TVN "Daily Mail makes it up as they go along.. as usual"
If Chris has said what the Daily Mail claim he has then more fool him. He is only the sports presenter at the end of the day. Just bring back Rob Bonnett.
NONE of the main presenters have even speculated on whether they will/won't move to Manchester or not. Moot point as it stands.
EDIT: Perhaps also worthwhile noting that Louise does not have a contract with Breakfast as suggested in the mail article.
Not commonly, that's true, but Cameron has been on in recent weeks - and you can expect with the swingeing cuts to public services coming, he'll be looking to explain it away in some studio or other; and that will probably be Daybreak's after the move.
I agree with Chris (Mr Cornwall) that interviews are much more revealing where the guest is sat on the sofa. Down-the-lines seldom have the same dynamic.
I admit I haven't seen Breakfast for a while, but I couldn't remember seeing many politicians in the studio. If you disagree, then I'm willing to accept being wrong - I just couldn't see it being too much of a problem! For what it's worth, I agree with you both about the body language of the guest being important.
