"BIG MOIRA"

Being relatively new to this forum, I may be touching on an age-old subject. But, I've done several searches, and cannot find answers to my questions.

I no longer live in the UK, but remeber Moira vividly and still reckon her to be the most professional of broadcasters, because:

a) She has being doing it for years;
b) She has had a wide exposure on all of BBC News' network output;
c) She is known and recognised by all of the British Viewing Public;
d) She does her job. Reads the news. Goes home. Doesn't get involved in publicity seeking stunts and Hello! and OK! Style interviews and other tabloid tat that several other presenters (Dermots / Trevors / Natasha's / Sophies) of this world seem to get involved in. She doesn't present quiz shows, appear with Bruce Forsyth on Dancing Competitions, not does she allow herself the indignation of being savaged by the likes of Trinny and Susannah. She reads the news. Does it well. Short and sweet.

I know that Moira is not strictly from a journalistic background, and some feel that all she does is read the autocue, but why the heck to BBC News have Moira hidden away on a couple of days presenting two minute bulletins on the mediocre "Breakfast" and also on "Breakfast with Frost", whilst the rest of the BBC "Senior" news journalist presenters are lampooning and having a whale of a time dabbling in the world of celebrity??????

Why doesn't the BBC - which prides itself in being a serious global news broadcaster - have rules for this sort of thing.

I cannot feel that news delivery is serious if it is being done by someone who has just danced across the screen the night before dressed in sequins, or who has been in the jungle with Peter Andre (Jennie) or dressed from tip to toe by trinny and Susannah, or who gets involved in tabloidy investigations about builders and plumbers (Kate Sanderson and Fiona Bruce) and so on and on.

I wish they were more like Moira and I really wish Moira was given a "real" job in the network's output. I think more of us are likely to listen and believe a story being read to us by Moira behind a desk, than by Natasha fluttering her eyelashes on a sofa!

I like Natasha !

But I agree Moira is excellent. However the BBC don't like to have non - journalists on the main bulletins. But on her * short * bulletins on Breakfast she has conducted interviews - albeit only with reporters - but I'm sure she can do it. It is not lke she is out and about reporting. I would like to see her on the Ten, however it is highly unlikely.

But maybe the BBC will see how much we all like Moira and rethink their policies on who is best for the job !

Hear, hear! I asked these questions (though not so eloquently) when I joined the forum and was never really given a satisfactory answer. After a few lectures all I could gather was that it was because Natasha, Kate and those of their age have degrees in something or other and Moira does not. Seeing as it has only been a few years that journalists were required to obtain degrees instead of working their way up the ranks, this rather smacks of 'agism'. I'm with you in preferring someone who has experience and authority rather then someone with a perfect face and figure. I'm sure more lectures are coming now....

Does anyone have any idea how old Moira is ? I can't find her D.O.B. anywhere.

You do know that it's not polite to ask about a lady's age don't you?

.

Of course - what sort of person do you think I am ( ! )
I would still like to know !!!

Well I think that BIG MOIRA first started newsreading in 1981, and was the first black woman to do so.

More like 1977/8 when she started on Radio 4 I think.

hmm wonder if we should petition some university to give her an honorary doctorate in journalism, which IMHO would be more deserved than many handed out... I know it's not a *real* qualification but if 20+ years doing the job doesn't count as such I don't know what does...

These are all excellent ideas. Let's start a petition and have Moira rightfully restored into a position that she deserves, where a much larger audience can see and hear her keeping us abreast of the day's global events, and not playing second fiddle to the Sofa Sector.

Can I ask something - why do you all refer to Moira as "BIG MOIRA", and in capital letters and colours? Serious question as a newcomer.

Because of her haircut in the nineties -

http://thetvroom.com/images-bbc-one-news/news-93/wend-e.jpg

I think a BBC TV presenter referred to her as ' Big Moira '. Perhaps someone else could elaborate ?

This is an honest story. As an expat living outside the UK, I was on a visit back to London (although I am a native Scot) several years ago on business.

I watched the Six O'Clock News on a Friday evening, presented by Peter and Moira. Moira presented also on the Saturday. On both days, she had really really short cropped afro style hair.

She then turned up on Sunday on BBC1 presenting the daily bulletins - and she had longer hair. (Not quite like the photo above, but longer than it was the night before). How could that be????!!!!???

No matter what, she is still the Queen of TV News in my opinion and she should be back on mainline television news, regardless of hairstyle.