BBC News 24

4 hour shifts weekdays are pretty gruelling. The original N24 had a 1200-1600 shift (Val Sanderson and Krishnan Guru-Murthy) - but this had single-headed back half-hour shows (Business, Active World and Active UK) which lessened the continuous load a bit.

I think the only 4 hour shift weekdays in daytime is now 0900-1300 - but there is a back twenty-mins of World News at 0935ish. There is also 1900-2300 shift - but that usually ends with Business Today (which I guess will be replaced by a repeat of World Biz Report at some point?)

How do you all rate Karin Giannone, Martine Croxall, Carrie Gracie and Liz Pike?

I think Karin's o'kay but can be a bit dull. Martine and Carrie I feel are really boring and Liz is quite plain & lacks personality.

Something I've not seen before: at 1245, Maxine Mawhinney joined Kate and Simon at the desk to discuss what was coming up in "our show" with her and Matthew Amroliwala.

Yes Alastair Yates has officially taken on the Sunday afternoon slot

Oh, I thought there was talk of the computer geek Cole taking that. But if Big Als got it, bring on Sunday.

Serious point now - After having watching the early morning N24's for a few times I'd never realised there was so much emapthsis on discussion, very KY News, if you get my drift.

Well, with the amazing popularity of this thread I thought I'd ask a wee question.
Just what is the N24 "Pod" now used for, apart from the occasional Sports update and Dateline London over-spill?

Not a lot really. It's quite a nasty part of the set really, as the presenter has to stand facing a main thoroughfare in the N24 newsroom. People are walking past while the presenter is reading the auto-cue. Apparently, it can be quite distracting.

Just noticed just after 11.30 Phil Avery's weather forecast was abruptly cut off!

This isn't so much along shot as a throw down the M4 but with the pod been used less could the camera be out to better use? e.g. In the Newsroom?

Also, Since when has the 1-4 Presenters come on to give an "update" of whats coming up after 12? Maxines just been on explaining the storys to come. Just never seen that done before on News 24.

Simon and Kate apologised for it as well. Earlier on in the 0900-1300 slot, Simon was attacked by a flickering light on the set which caused much distraction. He blamed it on Declan Curry pushing random buttons at the Sizewell nuclear power station (from where Curry was doing OBs through Breakfast and after 0900 on N24).

Whos presenting the sport on News 24 at the moment?

Has World Business Report replaced Business Today?
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