David Jessel on the first shift. Maryam Moshiri on the second shift. Although both are well known to BBC World viewers, it is somewhat of a lottery on BBC World at the weekends. You just never know who is going to turn up!
Last weekend, I glimpsed Julian Marshall, Tony Campion, Peter Dobbie, Linette Tye.............
It was in fact the wonderful Owen Thomas who seems to be the main late weekend anchor now. I'm surprised he's not being used during the week... though he's probably got to do weekends for a bit since he's only just joined World.
As for the debate on older presenters, I think every network has to have a good mix of old and young. BBC World can look like an edition of Grumpy Old Men - to see Nick Gowing followed by Jonathan Charles followed by Julain Marshall and now resurecting Jessell is just crazy and puts anyone vaguely younger off. Yet someone referred to Martine Dennis as one of the younger ones. And Owen must be the youngest of the lot.... yet Martine, though she looks great, must be over 50 - she's presented on World since the beginning. And Owen must be in his late thirties at least... he's been around for ever too. And frankly, I'd rather watch Owen, Martine and Peter Dobbie with a spinkling of older faces than a constant diet of po-faced stiff shirts with no sense of humour.
It was in fact the wonderful Owen Thomas who seems to be the main late weekend anchor now. I'm surprised he's not being used during the week... though he's probably got to do weekends for a bit since he's only just joined World.
As for the debate on older presenters, I think every network has to have a good mix of old and young. BBC World can look like an edition of Grumpy Old Men - to see Nick Gowing followed by Jonathan Charles followed by Julain Marshall and now resurecting Jessell is just crazy and puts anyone vaguely younger off. Yet someone referred to Martine Dennis as one of the younger ones. And Owen must be the youngest of the lot.... yet Martine, though she looks great, must be over 50 - she's presented on World since the beginning. And Owen must be in his late thirties at least... he's been around for ever too. And frankly, I'd rather watch Owen, Martine and Peter Dobbie with a spinkling of older faces than a constant diet of po-faced stiff shirts with no sense of humour.
It was in fact the wonderful Owen Thomas who seems to be the main late weekend anchor now. I'm surprised he's not being used during the week... though he's probably got to do weekends for a bit since he's only just joined World.
As for the debate on older presenters, I think every network has to have a good mix of old and young. BBC World can look like an edition of Grumpy Old Men - to see Nick Gowing followed by Jonathan Charles followed by Julain Marshall and now resurecting Jessell is just crazy and puts anyone vaguely younger off. Yet someone referred to Martine Dennis as one of the younger ones. And Owen must be the youngest of the lot.... yet Martine, though she looks great, must be over 50 - she's presented on World since the beginning. And Owen must be in his late thirties at least... he's been around for ever too. And frankly, I'd rather watch Owen, Martine and Peter Dobbie with a spinkling of older faces than a constant diet of po-faced stiff shirts with no sense of humour.
[SPOILER]
Dear Newscentre
Did you say the "wonderful Owen Thomas"? Or did you mean the Owen Thomas who ends his bulletins with an ASSinine grin as he SWEEPS the papers off the table while grinninninnng! into the camera.
I grant you, he is not a bad presenter but he is not in the same class as many of the older , LIFE-EXPERIENCED presenters on BBC World.
Incidentally, watch the "Grumpy OLd Men" when they are next on the screen and present to us an analysis of their demeanour which justifies your description of them as grumpy. Either that or you need specs too because they have smiles and a classiness which exudes through the television screen.
CLASS, BABY, CLASS
Nik Gowing (one of your "Grumpy Old Men") was brilliant in Mumbai. His comments (borne out of his maturity and experience) showed deep insight into the events in Mumbai, which ,I think, proved BBC WORLD NEWS to be the top International News Broadcaster.
I agree with the need for older, experienced presenters and I commend BBC World for being different from the crowd in keeping them on. However, I have to disagree with David's comment about Owen Thomas not being experienced. He actually presented on BBC World in the 1990s and has also spent many years at ITN, presenting the ITV News Channel during the Iraq War, and has recently been at CNN presenting from London. He may not be 50 years old and have the experience that comes along with that, but to paint him as inexperienced is unfair, in my opinion.
I agree with the need for older, experienced presenters and I commend BBC World for being different from the crowd in keeping them on. However, I have to disagree with David's comment about Owen Thomas not being experienced. He actually presented on BBC World in the 1990s and has also spent many years at ITN, presenting the ITV News Channel during the Iraq War, and has recently been at CNN presenting from London. He may not be 50 years old and have the experience that comes along with that, but to paint him as inexperienced is unfair, in my opinion.
I take your point, itsrobert. And I will acknowledge that the man is good but the grin must go.
Sorry, but the grin has gotta stay. It gives him a touch of character and distinctiveness. Yes, he's a good newsreader, with a lot of experience. And on a news channel, there needs to be just a touch of personality injected, not a lot otherwise it undermines the authority of the anchor, but a touch of personality just makes us as an audience connect to them a little bit easier, without affecting their sense of authority.
Jon Sopel and Simon McCoy are two good examples of newsreaders who can inject a touch of personality at the right time, without seeming unprofessional. Owen falls neatly into that category too. His credibility isn't undermined by the little personality traits that he has, like the grin.
Sorry, but the grin has gotta stay. It gives him a touch of character and distinctiveness. Yes, he's a good newsreader, with a lot of experience. And on a news channel, there needs to be just a touch of personality injected, not a lot otherwise it undermines the authority of the anchor, but a touch of personality just makes us as an audience connect to them a little bit easier, without affecting their sense of authority.
Jon Sopel and Simon McCoy are two good examples of newsreaders who can inject a touch of personality at the right time, without seeming unprofessional. Owen falls neatly into that category too. His credibility isn't undermined by the little personality traits that he has, like the grin.
Agreed. I've felt that BBC World has been, to some extent, lacking in personality since Adrian Finighan left three years ago. The majority of the presenters show little in the way of personality or humour for the bulk of the time and I think Owen is filling Adrian's shoes in this respect.
BBC World can look like an edition of Grumpy Old Men - to see Nick Gowing followed by Jonathan Charles followed by Julain Marshall and now resurecting Jessell is just crazy and puts anyone vaguely younger off.
Jonathan Charles "old"? By what definition? Over 40?
Quote:
Yet someone referred to Martine Dennis as one of the younger ones. And Owen must be the youngest of the lot.... yet Martine, though she looks great, must be over 50 - she's presented on World since the beginning.
Would not normally comment on a lady's age - but BBC World (News) as opposed to BBC World Service Television has been on-air for no more than 13 years or so - so even if you were there at the start you could easily be in your early 40s (or late 30s at a push if you were a very young rookie presenter in your early-to-mid 20s)
I wasn't a regular BBC World viewer in 1995 when it launched - but was Martine one of the launch presenters?
(In fact - just checked. She joined BBC World in 1996, and started her career at LBC/IRN in 1983 - which suggests she isn't as old as suggested)
No matter what age, she is brilliant. I really like Martine. Been watching her on World now for 13 years almost. She hasn't changed much.
Had to chuckle at Tanya closing WBR last night - they came back from an over-running report and she announced "an now for a look at the markets", as is normally the final thing on WBR. However, she realised they had run out of time and only managed to say "and I can tell you that they are all down! Bye for now". The gallery was clearly shouting in her ear "close now" or something like that, and she was unable to stop herself from bursting out laughing as she was delivering her final words to us. A loud hearty laugh. Tanya is good - connects well.
Sorry, but the grin has gotta stay. It gives him a touch of character and distinctiveness. Yes, he's a good newsreader, with a lot of experience. And on a news channel, there needs to be just a touch of personality injected, not a lot otherwise it undermines the authority of the anchor, but a touch of personality just makes us as an audience connect to them a little bit easier, without affecting their sense of authority.
Jon Sopel and Simon McCoy are two good examples of newsreaders who can inject a touch of personality at the right time, without seeming unprofessional. Owen falls neatly into that category too. His credibility isn't undermined by the little personality traits that he has, like the grin.
Agreed. I've felt that BBC World has been, to some extent, lacking in personality since Adrian Finighan left three years ago. The majority of the presenters show little in the way of personality or humour for the bulk of the time and I think Owen is filling Adrian's shoes in this respect.
Excuse me but Television news is not a talk show (a Parkinson or Letterman product), stand-up comedy or a screen test for the latest Ridley Scott movie. The NEWS is the centre piece of the station and the presenters need to be sharp, accurate, insightful, clear , quick-thinking and presentable. They do not have to be funny. It's the news, comment,documentaries,etc that people switch on for. If you need a laugh, switch on Zimbabwe television.
