BBC News Thread

According to the Radio Times Moira is making a return to prime time news, presenting the bulletin this Sunday at 7.35pm.

I notice George Alagiah was on the Ten last night, he suits the Ten far better whenever I have seen him present it. I think the Six is somewhat dummed down these days, and George has the gravitas for serious news.

Is this true about Moira presenting the Sunday bulletins?

so is it right to speculate that we could se a major BBC News presenter reshuffle next year? Apparently Anna Ford's contract expires in January 2006 - I can't see her staying after that, she is well into retirement age now, I'm doubtful that Sophie Raworth will return to the BBC after giving birth, Jon Sopel's about to leave for the Politics Show and BBC News 24 has no permanent structure to its presenter line-up...there are different presenters popping up all the time, especially Tim Willcox. Where's Maxine Mawhinney, Karin Giannone and Kate Silverton? Rachel Schofield has just suddenly popped up now and is never away. Philip Hayton is truly terrible and Joanna Gosling is terribly boring. Anna Jones has left for Sky News and Susanna Reid is on maternity leave. Liz Pike hardly shows her face, haven't seen Chris Eakin for a while or Jon Sopel. I think News 24 needs to review its presenter line-up and get some structure going.

DITCH: Philip Hayton, Joanna Gosling, Matthew Amroliwala, Carrie Gracie, Rachel Schofield, Maxine Mawhinney.

GIVE PERMANENT SLOTS: Kate Silverton, Karin Giannone, Simon McCoy, Peter Dobbie, Julian Worricker, Tim Willcox.

Just to clear up a few of the points you have made:

Jon Sopel will still present on News 24 from Monday-Thursday
Julian Worricker probably won't get a permanent slot due to his radio commitments
Peter Dobbie does have a usual slot (11pm-1am, Monday-Thursday)
I assume that Rachel Schofield is just acting as cover while the usual presenters are away on holiday
Chris Eakin has recently been away on the BBC News roadshow as well as presenting on location

I agree that Simon McCoy should get a permanent slot as he is probably one of the most experienced presenters. If Philip Hayton was to cut down his presenting times to just the weekend, perhaps we could have Kate Silverton and Simon McCoy as the new 9am-1pm team. This is of course assuming that Simon does not get promoted to a full time Breakfast presenter anytime soon (my personal preference)

I think that in general the BBC One news team is OK at the moment with the exception of Anna Ford who I get the impression is only still on the One O'Clock News because once her contract expires they can get rid of her. I'd like to see Jane Hill replace her on the One, but if it is decided that N24 should keep her, then I could see Kate Silverton or Louise Minchin getting the call instead. I would like to see (bearing in mind all of the pregnancies and what we already know):

Breakfast - Simon McCoy and Sian Williams
One O'Clock News - Darren Jordon or Jane Hill
Six O'Clock News - Dermot Murnaghan and Natasha Kaplinsky
Ten O'Clock News - Huw Edwards or George Alagiah

One thing that I have thought is that maybe Jon Sopel will move to Breakfast Monday to Thursday, especially when it moves to the N24 studio, as I've heard that on here Dermot is set to move when Breakfast moves permanently to the N24 studio.
I also hear that Huw Edwards is going to reporting and when Breakfast does move to the N24 studio Moira will therefore not be needed on Breakfast.
If all this is true then below is what I think may happen to the rest:

Breakfast
(Mon-Thurs): Jon Sopel and Sian Williams
(Fri-Sun): Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid/Mishal Hussein

One
Anna Ford
Darren Jordon

Six
Dermot Murnaghan and Natasha Kaplinsky

Ten
George Alagiah (Huw Edwards)
Fiona Bruce

Weekend
Moira Stuart
Darren Jordon
Fiona Bruce

No doubt Simon McCoy would replace Jon Sopel on News 24 if the above is correct.

If the above is all true then it is very interesting. Perhaps Huw Edwards could get the vacant Chief Political Correspondent role?

Will George be on the Ten again tonight, Sian has presented both the 3.20 and Six Updates, which possibly could suggest George will be presenting later.

And Mr Peter Sissons has just popped up on The World (BBC 4 News)

Is Sophie on holiday?, Sian and Jane were on last week, so far Sian has been on this week and next week Jane Hill is on the 6???

Radio Times says Huw but it has been wrong before.

Is Breakfast definately moving to the News 24 Studio.?.

I am not keen on the main news desk, unless they use the section used for News 24 sunday.

I believe that it is moving but, as for the date, I have heard many conflicting rumours as to when. I don't think that it would be feasible to use the area used for N24 Sunday - the area they use always strikes me as being cramped and claustrophobic. They might as well broadcast from a corridor (but then again I am a fan of the N24 studio desk )