BBC Election 2015

Well this is the first year I think they've changed shift in the mornings, though in the end they probably didn't need to as the result was more decisive than anyone predicted. I suspect next time around Huw will anchor throughout unless coverage is set to go beyond 1pm or so, although with talks of a second presenter it was nice to see Kirsty Young on the VE Day coverage today - forgotten what a loss to news she actually is and it would be great to see her return to being one of the nations prominent news anchors, wherever that may be.


Sadly though this week at a time when the BBC is under more pressure than ever to prove it's value to the politicians it didn't really justify it's position. In the past a separate studio for the election coverage was a no-brainer but I think with the improved spaces at Broadcasting House actually this time around they could probably have been accomodated there. Wouldn't have been as visually interesting at all and we'd all have complained about it, but Jeremy Vine (or Emily) could have been housed in their virtual studio with David Dimbleby at the desk and Andrew Neil in the soft area in the Newsnight studio (or equivalent).

Usually the final product justifies the large election studio, and of course I suspect much more goes on there than we see on screen, but this year it just felt like they were there for the sake of it.

Actually now you've said that, I think Kirsty Young would be a brilliant main anchor on Election Night.

I hope they ditch Jeremy's holodeck next time round and spend the money on reducing OB delays instead.

The 83 and 87 BBC Election programmes came from relatively modest studios with no statisticians in sight and rows of production staff in the background.

BBC News could definately do with another star name alongside Huw Edwards, Huw Edwards and Huw Edwards.

BBC Scotland had someone at every count but I think most were only seen once before the declarations began and then never again.

Chris Eakin is a Yachtmaster Offshore, so he could both present from and operate the BBC Boat for the next election.

A "BBC election bingo card" cropped up on a forum I read and one of the squares was literally "OB reporter at a count who usually does sport"

They have one, sadly he's on sick leave at present.

I'd much rather see somebody who is underrated yet excellent (and I can think of a few people to whom that would apply) rather than somebody parachuted in because they are a "name" rather than on merit.

A sports journalist is still a journalist.

In fact you could make a case that the Election Night programme has certain similarities to Soccer Saturday and Final Score, maybe Jeff Stelling should host the next one, with Kammy sent to a very marginal count?

I do agree, and I think there are a few people at BBC News who are underrated who should perhaps be taking the seats of some of the BBC's second tier news presenters. I just thought it was great to see Kirsty Young doing something other than Crimewatch for the BBC and it was a reminder of how great she actually is.

Going back to how BBC News looks at the moment and I said a few days ago how the red really does BBC News no favours, and I think the caps from S4C's Newyddion highlight that well - same graphics but with purple instead of the red and IMO look so much better.
http://www.tv-live.org.uk/plusone/elections/uk-general-election-2015/s4c-election-result-coverage-2015/

I don't know if this has been addressed yet, but I've often wondered, when the returning officer chooses not to say the party name when announcing the votes, who is it that chips in with "(Labour)" on a voiceover? Is it someone at each count or someone at the studio?