BBC News: Presenters, correspondent & rotas

Reeta presented from Auschwitz at the end of January for the 75th anniversary of the Liberation, but I think that's the only one in 2020.

They’ve been promising to cut back on presenting on-location for quite some time.

Same with CNN, not one broadcast has been anchored on location, when in normal times most anchors would be dispatched. It's just not safe enough.

Tbf, I think most of the on-location presenting in the last few years has been from Downing Street/Westminster, which isn't exactly far from Broadcasting House, so it isn't a huge cost when compared to flying out presenters all over the globe.

I don’t think George has been out of the studio for years now either, meaning the Six is mainly in the studio other than when you have Huw somewhere for an event or Clive covering foreign affairs - in fact - Clive has taken George’s position in that sense. I remember when George would be out and about for the Six and more times than not you’d have someone else presenting.

I think George has only presented on location once since 2014 and that was in Manchester in the aftermath of the May 2017 arena bombing. Also Fiona and Sophie have also presented outside Downing Street on numerous occasions in the last few years on the Six.


Ben Brown is another one who never seems to get sent abroad anymore for foreign stories. I know he frequently presents on location in the UK but time was up until a few years ago if a big story broke abroad he would be straight there, considering his speciality is foreign affairs. Now they seem to favour Clive in that respect.

I might be wrong, but I don't think George has done any bulletin other than the Six from the studio since his cancer diagnosis. A real shame, but understandable. I remember between 2008-2014, he'd regularly present on location, or covering for Huw on the Ten. I think he was very much considered No 2 in the BBC News hierachy at this point, and it wouldn't surprise me if Rolling News does Presenter Counts for the Ten in the early 10s (that sounds confusing when I read aloud!) if George presented the 10 more often than Fiona in some years.

Ben Brown still seems to be the go to man to send around the UK. Haven’t seen Reeta do any OB to my memory and I can only ever remember Sophie/Fiona being at Downing St or Westminster.

Last years 10 was very frequently Huw in Westminster and Clive in the studio. In recent years there haven’t really been many foreign affairs leading bulletins.

Another thing I have noticed is that say Huw’s out being used for the 5/6 and 10 - the studio presenter is different for the 5, 6 and 10. I recall a while back it being someone for the 5 and the same person for the 6 and 10.

I wouldn't be surprised if either 9/1 becomes same presenter, with Victoria Derbyshire presenting 10-1 from Studio C, then 5/10 becomes the same presenter. 6 could be paired with 8pm & 11pm bulletins

If anything its more likely it will be 1/5 and 6/10.

There are many presenters now though that they don’t need to hook up bulletins. Friday 6 and 10 is no longer shared (excluding current situation) with Sophie on the 6 and Clive on the 10. Can’t see George doing the 10 or Sophie doing the 5 if on the 1 etc. There’s no need either, generally if Huw isn’t in its Ben on the 5 and Clive or Sophie on the 10.