Final election programme for David Dimbleby

The Bill makes provision for elections to be called earlier under only two exceptional circumstances. Parliament can be dissolved early if:

at least two thirds of MPs vote for dissolution
a Government is unable to secure the confidence of the House of Commons within 14 days of a no-confidence vote.
For the no confidence vote, a simple majority of fifty per cent plus one will be required. The Fixed-term Parliaments Bill now goes forward for Royal Assent when it will formally become an Act.

Since the passing of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Bill in 2011, each government now lasts five years with an exact end date, rather than the prime minister being free to choose a date as previously.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-bill-establishes-fixed-term-parliaments

Interesting line at the end of that press release. It says Edwards will present the referendum coverage 'from Glasgow'. That backs up what I thought might be the case. They have permission to keep the Commonwealth Games studios at Pacific Quay in Glasgow until the end of September.

Odd that at ITV, elections are Alastair's ground yet big events (news or state occasions) are Mark's yet the BBC are giving everything to Huw.

Jeremy Paxman would have been my choice. A lot of what Dimbleby does is interview party representatives, not simply report statistical updates. Not only is Paxman still one of the finest interviewers, but would make the coverage far more entertaining than Edwards will.

Honestly a little disappointed this will be Dimbleby's last - certainly in 2010 he was on top form, and adds a special quality to the broadcast that betrays the BBC's current transition to very competent, yet straight/boring presenters (a la Edwards). At least the BBC has gone for a transition to a new presenter, instead of just not inviting Dimbleby back again. My suspicion is this will be Nick Robinson's last election, at least as political editor, but I could be wrong.

It is worth noting that the article doesn't say Dimbleby is retiring per se, so much as being replaced as lead presenter. I suspect it's unlikely (when you consider the role the likes of Beurk and Sissons have played in coverage [of any kind] after being replaced), but I'd like to think Dimbleby will continue to play some kind of secondary role in election coverage for as long as he can and wants to. I certainly can't imagine them replacing him on Question Time any time soon.


I suspect Mishal Husain could well be part of election coverage next year, either for Today or the main television programme. Ditto for Laura Kuenssberg - it will be interesting to see what her role is compared James Landale.

Also, while this press release hasn't provided details of the rest of the onair team (and indeed such decisions might not yet have been made), I wonder if Jeremy Vine will return at the green screen / swingometer? I can somehow imagine someone like Laura Kuenssberg taking over this role sometime in the future...

Odd that at ITV, elections are Alastair's ground yet big events (news or state occasions ) are Mark's yet the BBC are giving everything to Huw.

I guess Broadcasting House doesn't have any N9-esque studios spare they can occupy for 24 hours or so.

Thing is surely the need to find something for Jeremy Vine to do. Apart from appearing at election time, his TV appearances are few and far between (Radio 2 aside). My money's on Jeremy Vine replacing David D on Question Time in the next 5 years.

It's not odd. It's different decisions by different management about different people.

It would be odd if they just mirrored every decision.