BBC News: Presenters & Rotas

There's more chance of getting blood out of a stone than seeing Huw Edwards do a full week on the Five. He hasn't actually done one since August last year

Wow! Didn't realise it was that long ago!

That's a joke. I watch the French and Spanish news very often and pretty much all of the news presenters present their bulletins 5 days a week. Surely with the BBC under such scrutiny these days they should make their presenters do their job for the full working week. Is there a convincing reason why not apart from the obvious, like having children?

There was an interesting graph in the In Gear magazine showing how good value for money presenters are, given the viewing figures and salary, and quite a few news presenters, like Huw and Fiona were near the bottom. They need to find more programmes for them to do.

It also got me thinking that BBC News seems to be quite overstaffed these days. There are Washington correspondents I've never heard of appearing, and the list of News Channel and relief presenters on Wikipedia seems to be very extensive.

Not everyone who reports or presents for BBC is necessarily on the BBC payroll as an employee. Many may well be freelance and therefore only paid for duties they work. Some may also work part time. Higher staff numbers is not necessarily a problem in itself - and in some businesses can be an advantage,

Is his contract just 4 days a week, Monday - Friday? Is this the case with George and Sophie too?

I know that on Spain's TVE all main anchors do 5 days a week and do basically only have breaks for summer holidays, they are very consistent with their slots.

I'm glad you've picked up the consistency on Spanish TV as well. They seem to be hard working on TVE. I know it's the summer and holidays are expected, but even during the rest of the year, Huw can be off for some time, and there's no real reason why. I know Huw's good, but I don't rate him as much as the best news presenter. During the Royal Wedding, his entire tone was a sombre one, and hasn't had the wealth of reporting experience around the world like others have done before taking the big job. I'm not the biggest fan of George, but before getting the job on the 6, he was a correspondent around the world for many years.

Also, just to throw it out there, who do we reckon will succeed John Simpson as World Affairs Editor? I was watching a documentary by Lyse Doucet the other day, and I'm really amazed by her contacts in Afghanistan and her reporting style. I'm a big fan of hers, and it's a shame she didn't ever get her Friday show on BBC World News. Mishal Husain is very good as well - especially on Newsnight.

Just thought I'd put my two cents in!

I think so.
Sophie does Tues-fri on the one (Kate Silverton does Monday one)
George mon-thu on six and gmt. (Fiona does fri six, Stephen sakur does gmt)
Huw does mon-thu five and ten (Fiona does ten, Gavin Esler does the five)

Who was on with Julian this evening?

Martine Croxall

Stephen Evans co-anchoring World from Leipzig today - Peter Dobbie in the studio.

Indeed, I saw him on the 10.00 BST edition of BBC World News. Can't say he's the most natural anchor; he seemed a bit nervous/hesitant. He obviously knows what he's talking about, though, which is the main thing.

Indeed, Rob. I noticed that too. In fact, I loved his hurried and fluffed sign-off back to Peter in the studio. Remarking on the imminent summit between Merkl and Sarkozy, Stephen wrapped up his piece by telling Dobbie: "the leaders would need to do something more than just pulling a few rabbits out of the hatchet!"

I am sure there's a well intended saying in there somewhere!