The Newsroom

BBC News Presenter Count 1967-2020

Presented by Rolling News and mccanmat. With cmthwtv and News96. (May 2020)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
MC
mccanmat
So for now sticking to main bulletins... off to the 1980’s we go- as I’m on a roll will start with the 9 o’Clock news....

1980:
Kenneth Kendall 61
Richard Baker 51
Peter Woods 38
Jan Leeming 34
John Edmunds 25
Angela Rippon 20
Richard Whitmore 20
Christopher Morris 3

In the early 80’s sometimes the 9 would get moved to 9:10.... mainly on Wednesdays.
MC
mccanmat
Nine O’Clock News 1981:
John Humphrys 46
Kenneth Kendall 42
Richard Baker 37
John Simpson 32
Peter Woods 29
Jan Leeming 25
John Edmunds 18
Richard Whitmore 10
Angela Rippon 6 - only presented in January.

There seemed to be a change from 7 Sept where mainly two John’s present - Humphrys and Simpson
MC
mccanmat
Nine O’Clock News 1982:

John Humphrys 135
Michael Buerk 45 - first appeared 10th June
John Simpson 44
Frances Coverdale 6
Richard Whitmore 5
Richard Baker 4
Jan Leeming 1 (xmas eve)
MC
mccanmat
Nine O’Clock News 1983:
John Humphrys 125
Michael Buerk 68
Sue Lawley 42 (double headed 3 editions)
David Dimbleby 9 *
Nicholas Witchell 8
Fred Emery 7 *
Frances Coverdale 6
Richard Whitmore 1 (news was on 2 on a bank holiday)

* as it was election year Dimbleby and Emery co-presented a campaign report
Last edited by mccanmat on 13 June 2020 10:09pm
MC
mccanmat
Nine O’Clock News 1984:

John Humphrys 112
Sue Lawley 66
Julia Somerville 46
Nicholas Witchell 6
Richard Whitmore 6
Moira Stuart 3- bank holidays
Frances Coverdale 1 bank holiday
Jan Leeming 1 - Bank Holiday
Chris Lowe 1 - bank holiday

Witchell and Lawley did not present the 9 after 6 o clock news launched. And also no Michael Buerk this year!
RN
Rolling News
Wow Chris Lowe in 1984!
MC
mccanmat
Nine O’Clock News 1985:

Julia Somerville 147
John Humphrys 134
Andrew Harvey 27
Richard Whitmore 12
Frances Coverdale 12
Michael Buerk 2

This was the year the flying fish fingers double header launched, the last single header was by Frances Coverdale on 30th August and double headed started 2nd Sept with Julia and John. Andrew Harvey was the only other presenter in the double headers this year.
EX
excel99
There seemed to be a change from 7 Sept where mainly two John’s present - Humphrys and Simpson

There was a big relaunch of TV news that day I believe. There is a report on You Tube but I can't find it sadly. News After Noon launched with Richard Whitmore and Moira Stuart on the same day. Jan Leeming became the main weekend presenter. I think Peter Woods had moved to a managerial role and was in charge of the changes?
MC
mccanmat
Nine O’Clock News 1986:

John Humphrys 185
Julia Somerville 170
Andrew Harvey 123
Frances Coverdale 12 - first presented with Julia in March.
Nicholas Witchell 6 - presented first double headed With Andrew Harvey not that did not have Julia or John
Phillip Hayton 5
Richard Whitmore 1 (bank holiday)
Moira Stuart 1 (bank holiday)
MC
mccanmat
Nine O’Clock News 1987:
Andrew Harvey 112
Julia Somerville 112
Martyn Lewis 96
Phillip Hayton 60
Debbie Thrower 44 - mainly presented with Martyn
Nicholas Witchell 21
David Dimbleby 10* campaign report only
Michael Buerk 1 - presented with Debbie Thrower
MC
mccanmat
Nine O’Clock News 1988:
Martyn Lewis 184
Phillip Hayton 106
Michael Buerk 55
Andrew Harvey 55
Debbie Thrower 15 - last presented Feb
Nicholas Witchell 15
Moira Stuart 13
Mike Smartt 10

Last double headed Edition with Martyn Lewis and Mike Smartt on 28 Oct, first single header on 31 Oct with Martyn Lewis, apart from 3 editions in November where Martyn Lewis was in London and Michael Buerk in Washington (US election?)
MC
mccanmat
Nine O’Clock News 1989:

Martyn Lewis 125
Michael Buerk 113
Phillip Hayton 11
John Humphrys 3

And that completes the 80’s of Nine O’Clock land... next in a few days to have a genome break will be 6 O’Clock news from the 80s

Newer posts