BBC News - General

He was a good reporter in his younger days, I agree. But calling him slow and extremely boring is just downright insulting.

If you want presenters dragging things on forever, look no further than Nicholas Owen!

With due respect, Nicholas Owen is in a different league to Ben Brown. Nicholas has experience on his side as well as having an excellent onscreen personality. I spoke briefly with Nick a few years ago and he is a genuinely nice, helpful guy, which comes across on air. Ben Brown, whilst being an excellent reporter, is not a brilliant presenter. He doesn't have much of an onscreen personality (though, he is a lot better than he was when he started on BBC World) and his speech/intonation is quite monotonous. I'm sure he will get better over the years after he builds up presenting experience but I disagree that he should be fast-tracked to Newsnight.

Nic is enthusiastic, Ben is most certainly not, and thats not insulting you Ben.

Ben Brown is a bit like George Alagiah, out in the field top class, but put them in a studio and they do not have the personality or charisma needed to be the anchor. Its more than just sitting there and reading the autocue, which both do ok at, its the other stuff that is lacking

Oh no, Nicholas Owen is awful. He's so twee and old-fashioned. Patronising too.

I really like Ben Brown. He has a laugh doing the news - I think that's good sometimes. Of course he takes it seriously when he needs to, but he can get away with being a bit more jokey because his reporting experience gives him credibility. He also seems to get on very well with his co-presenters.

Well bloody said Moz. I'm glad there's someone round here with a bit of brain cell.

Ben Brown deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his outstanding reporting and excellent presenting, with the steamy chemistry he has with whoever his co-presenter is lucky to be.

A few Youtube clips of the master at work:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=y6Dg3jk9De0 - Mr Brown presenting a BBC1 lunchtime summary
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_YL2biB7Afs - Looking very relaxed as ever
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1nwyR4vXkls - Presenting alongside his best friend but wooden presenter, Joanna Gosling
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XIHBGJnlWak - Proving he has a life outside work
http://youtube.com/watch?v=loqIzHPnx2Y - Being as lively and charismatic as ever during a messy BBC World TOTH.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Pt1qvm4lTKQ - Presenting a news round up, after the 'Six O Clock News'

The rest of us have complete brains with many cells



Hahaha that's absolutely hilarious

Ben Brown has about as much on-screen personality as dishwater.

I find it frankly embarrassing at points to see him on screen, bit like an anxious teenager.

And as for his 'outstanding' skills - are we watching the same person?

Of course, it's all subjective... SO STOP RAMING YOURSELF DOWN MY BLOODY THROAT BEN AND TAKE YOUR PORTFOLIO TO SOMEONE WHO CARES!

Looks like you're not a fan of Sir Ben of Brown's presenting skills. Perhaps you'd prefer it if that wet, talentless, stuttering, dozy, confused idiot Alastair Yates took over his slot?

And he HAS got outstanding skills. Remember that time he interrupted himself when reading the autocue, to tell us his co-presenter Emily Maitlis had just sneezed? THAT'S what I call good presenting, with a touch of chemistry with Emily (who's also good, just not a patch on Sir Ben)

Well, that confirms it. You have no idea about what makes a good presenter. Alastair Yates is the God of newsreading. He is authoritative, easy to watch and has excellent intonation (to a level which Ben Brown could only dream of) and most certainly has a strong onscreen personality. Easily one of - if not the - best newsreader at the BBC at the moment.

If he is that good, why does he have the graveyard slot on BBC News 24, rather than peak time?