BBC News: Presenters & Rotas

Er, no!! I was around in the 70's, 80's and 90's, alas, and I can assure you, that's not the case.

Now, this is a BBC News thread, so I'll apologise for the thread creep *here*:

And to make up for it, I'll mention something randomly about BBC News Presenters: why is Chris Eakin in N8, on the wrong side of the desk?????????

It'd be a BBC News first, backwards presenters... unless you mean on the wrong half of the desk...

Apologies, and thanks to Bilky for being on the ball: wrong HALF of the bloomin', bleedin', bloody flamin' desk!!!!
LOL. x

As James alludes to, that is totally wrong. Alastair started out newsreading for ITN on national bulletins in the very early 1980s. He worked his way up from the Weekend News to News at 5:45 (of which he became the lead presenter when Michael Nicholson stepped down) and eventually News at Ten. Although Alastair Burnet and Sandy Gall were the top newscasters on NAT back then, Alastair Stewart frequently co-presented and even led the programme sometimes. In fact, one could argue that he was above Trevor McDonald in the late 80s. Trevor was still doing the News at 5:40 in the late 80s and co-presented NAT, but I don't think he led the programme until Burnet and Gall left in 1990-ish. Until then if Trevor was on NAT, it always seemed to be Alastair Stewart or Julia Somerville who led the programme. When NAT was relaunched in November 1992, Trevor, Alastair Stewart and Julia were all in the running to take the new single-headed role and Trevor won out. I think Alastair stayed at ITN for only a month or so before moving to London Tonight in 1993. He made his return to ITV News during the Iraq War coverage in 2003 and has remained there ever since.

So, as you can see he's spent by far the majority of his career presenting nationally. He was a regional presenter from 1993-2009, totalling 16 years; but he's done well over 20 years on national TV news. And in the late 80s, Mark Austin was but a lowly sports presenter when Alastair was fronting the big news bulletins of the day.

Did Komla do FOA as well?

I know the first info about FOA said Komla was one of the presenters with Sophie something being billed as the other host. Maybe they will split the week, or do week about to allow Komla to do some other WN shifts.

Yes, Komla did FOA as well.

I would agree especially with Mark being moved down to a reporter role for both the Jubilee and Royal Wedding while Julie was main presenter. She also had a bigger role on Election night.

Rachel Schofield staying on at 11 after also doing the 8:30 shift. Unusual!

With Sue Thearle?

Yes, with Sue. Maybe one of the afternoon presenters will eventually start their shift earlier, which normally happens in this scenario, and take over from Rachel.

Like Julian Worricker.

Will, it won't be Boy Friday, as he's been in World's N8 since 8am.

I'll swap you him for Sue any day. LOL.

It is a big gig for Sue Thearle - leading the studio coverage of this breaking news story, alongside Rachel Schofield! It's not often she leads the News Channel full stop. Both are doing a fine job though.

It seems odd when gaps like this are left (Tim on this own last night and Rachel carrying on this morning) - surely this is the time to call in Fiona Armstrong or Julia Somerville?