BBC News: Presenters, correspondent & rotas

25 minutes into Points West and for the first time in months they are actually reporting news. I kind of miss stories about kids that learn how to play the points west theme tune on a recorder which has been the output for the last few weeks.

I can't see things returning to anything like normal for a number of months, but I would hope that some things can start to return where the need for additional in person staffing is minimal. Now that Katty has a suitable home set up, and considering the current stories, I would like to see B100D return in some form within the next few weeks, even if Katty takes the lead on anything remotely US focused so that the London presenter can do the programme without any additional preparation compared to a generic bulletin to allow them to continue with the preceding bulletins (I would personally also like to see Matthew and Christian swap so that the majority of editions will continue to be Katty and Christian).

The problem with continuing the current set up in the evenings (that I agree is working well) is that World will unfortunately want Newsday to return at some point, which is completely inappropriate for the NC and therefore requires the NC to remain separate until midnight at the earliest. That being said I would suggest that Newsday and the NC evening shift should be the very last thing to return (of those things that are actually returning) and should only do so when everything else is comfortably resourced with some slack.

I also believe that it would make sense to continue with the current afternoon set up of Simon and Jane sharing 1-4 including the one and someone else doing 4-7 and would move Afternoon Live to 1:30-4 to allow for this, and also make it the flagship NC programme and retain bulletins for the rest of day times (eliminating the 5, 9 and Newsroom Live).

I have a rolling joke in this house as to what field did a horse eat grass in on Points West. Mainly because they spend half the program telling you what’s coming up and happening tomorrow and how they spoke to someone last year about something.

Having lived in Bristol over a decade ago, I found Points West used to favour stories typically about the WI in Chipping Sodbury more than acknowledging that there was a multi-cultural population sat right on its doorstep. It's concerning to hear that this had not changed. (And even more concerning to see that their current set is still standing 11 years later!)

ITV West used to get the balance between urban and rural stories generally right (no idea if they still do!). Granted its a minority but surely this type of historical event in the city must make BBC West open it's eyes to the region it's serving and how it can better represent what's actually going on in the streets of Bristol and beyond for the whole audience that it should be serving.

Today’s Points West at 18:30 was slightly biased, in my opinion. They failed to form arguments back to those who were interviewed - from whichever side of the argument - and instead asked questions that would help the individual being asked message come across as the best one.

Notably at the end of every report the presenters (all the time this is - not just this evening) like to express an opinion on it. A minimal comment however, again, in my view, unprofessional.

Not to mention the weather forecast - which is either broadcast from the roof or in the studio corner....

Points West has never been the same for me since the departure of Susan Osman in 2005! I have never understood why they don't have a permanent green screen for the weather too? Yes, use the roof but not when Ian has to get a soaking!

I completely agree - why did David Garmston feel the need to add his opinion at the end?

Kasia Madera up later with The Papers. I don’t recall seeing her doing that slot before.

ISTR she done a few in 2017.

Simon standing up to the criticism of the endless banter by Huw on the news. I have to say Huw should take a leaf out of his book - Simon would never dare to make jokes during his bulletins

@huwbbc - I wouldn't put up with that....

— Simon McCoy (@SimonMcCoyTV) June 10, 2020

Sorry to hear this evening that George Alagiah's cancer has spread (interview in The Times). I wish him all the best for his ongoing treatment.

Terrible news. He is one of the strongest more influential people I know. His determination, optimism and openness is admirable.

That is very sad news. All the best, George.