BBC News Thread

. . . and Kate Silverton reporting live from Basra was a bit of a turn up for the books as well!

It was, although she was there for Breakfast this morning.

Very surprising to see Kate in Basra, what's that all about?!

Jane's presented on at least one outlet on Christmas Day for the last few years, IIRC. I remember one year (possible 2001), she presented BBC World in the morning and then channel-hopped to BBC News 24 for the afternoon shift.

No one at home for her then? (Nudge Nudge Wink Wink say no more!)

On the subject of Kate Silverton in Basra - anyone got any opinions on that. Seems an odd choice of reporter/correspondant to dispatch to Iraq......

Not that unlikely - apparently she studied Arabic and Middle Eastern History and has an interest in Middle East politics

Good to see Sophie Raworth doing a solo shift on News 24 on Boxing Day.

Same format as Jane yesterday, doing a 2-5 shift in between the two national bulletins on BBC1 .

Yeh it's a nice format actually. It was good to have Kate there in Basra throughout the day, showing she isn't just a pretty face on the Breakfast sofa; she's highly educated in middle eastern politics and I was surprised at the high quality of her reporting.
On the subject of Jane Hil...noone at home for her? Does she have a family? I think, she chose to do the Christmas Day shift for more exposure. The Christmas Day bulletin must get high viewing figures? When she signed off at 11pm yesterday, she seemed rather sad the way she said 'Happy Christmas'

No one noted Kate's slight makeover then!

Slightly lighter hair & no specs!

Kate's report on the main news last night was 'borrowed' from another correspondent. It had been shown all day on News 24 - the script and pictures were pretty much identical, but with Kate's voice and a piece-to-camera slapped on the end for BBC One.