It still doesn't mean that they aren't talented female debate hosts. It is still a male dominated world and their is probably some very talented female hosts out there but they haven't had the chance to come through yet. When David Dimbelby retires, it'll be a good chance to have a female host of QT if there is one there on merit. Also, if there is a female host that is qualified and the BBC choose a male host who isn't as qualified, will be accused of discrimination because they choose the male host who isn't as qualified because he's a man. The BBC doesn't work this way, they wouldn't do this. Your arguments are not well argued at all, I'm sorry. They are sexist comments which aren't founded anywhere.
A Couple of tweets for the morning which summarize that Maxine Mawhinney is returning tomorrow and (because of the 9:30 briefing about the missing plane) they maybe going on air earlier (at 9:30)
maxine mawhinney @maxinemawhinney 2h
The #weekendnewsclub returns tomorrow. I am back. Roll call for @chrisckmedia @declancurry @BBC_Joe_Lynam . See you on air 1000 @BBCNews
Chris Cook @chrisckmedia 24m
@maxinemawhinney @BBC_Joe_Lynam @declancurry ps: be ready to go on at 0930! The plane presser may mean we opt from @BBCBreakfast early!!! xx
And will leave a vacancy in Europe - Matthew Price must be a contender surely. I'd imagine Luisa Baldini might have been in the frame if she hadn't just left. Who else? Jonny Dymond or one of the politics team such as James Landale maybe?
And will leave a vacancy in Europe - Matthew Price must be a contender surely. I'd imagine Luisa Baldini might have been in the frame if she hadn't just left. Who else? Jonny Dymond or one of the politics team such as James Landale maybe?
Katya Adler - Outside shot but fills the brief of more prominent female corespondents, and has been European affairs and speaks Spanish/French/German/Italian.
News of Gavin Hewitt's promotion is a bit bittersweet for me. He's had an incredible time reporting on the events of the Eurozone crisis, and having recently finished his book on Europe's recent woes, his knowledge of the EU and having sources within European circles makes his expertise really valued and all the more missed from his Europe Editor role.
This new role does sound very ambitious and wide-ranging, so plenty for Gavin to get his teeth into. He was Special Correspondent for BBC News At 6/10 before being appointed Europe Editor in 2006, so this is in a lot of ways a return to his former role. I do worry that with this brief being so wide-ranging that is is perhaps too diluted and too broad that it's hard to determine exactly when Gavin should be deployed, resulting perhaps in seeing Gavin less often, and getting in the way of other on-screen Editors who would usually cover a certain story. It creates too many layers for me, though I'm looking forward to seeing Gavin's wider remit of stories, because he's so obviously capable of covering them with great insight.
I can really picture Katya as Europe Editor. She's always brought in to present European elections. I'm thinking of the recent German elections and before that, the French elections. She has a distinct style of reporting, and her knowledge of several European languages and cultures, and her history of reporting in several European countries for the BBC, along with presenting on World Service and World Service, is worth bearing in mind. She made a documentary on Spain's Lost Children, and has reported as a Middle East and World Affairs correspondent. She would really be the best for the job for me.
Apart from Katya, Matthew Price has a good standing with being the Brussels correspondent for a time, and knowing the European institutions. He's quite a recognisable face for European reporting.
Another bet is Christian Fraser. He's been reporting from Ukraine and is a really good reporter and correspondent in Paris. Add the fact that he's been used as a relief presenter on World News and he seems to be heading for bigger things sooner or later.
With so many new roles and editorships and changes of staff between news organisations, I don't think I've ever seen so many departures and role creations than of late. It's an exciting time for BBC News, definitely.
Does anyone know if Fiona Armstrong is still officially a relief presenter on the news channel? I believe it's been a good few months since she's been on and I reckon she's been quietly dropped or she's quietly left, much like Julia Somerville. In fact I'm surprised she hasn't covered Carrie's old place on weekday mornings at all, as that seemed to be her most common slot.