Granada Reports

Has Bob Smithies died, I didn't know that, very sad if that is the case?

Edited, with apologies.

Yep Bob Smithies died back in 2006, although his death wasn't as well reported as Bob Greaves', still sad nevertheless.

Paul Crone has been there quite a while too I think, must be about as long as Lucy if not longer?

I think Paul's been there since 1987 or so, whilst Lucy has been on since 1989, but you don't really see Paul about as much these days or at least not as much as Lucy and Fred, still always there for the obligatory silly story though.

Interesting to see that Granada News used to cover international news too. I always assumed it more or less had its current modern. As I'm not old enough to have had an interest in news that long ago, let alone remember, did that make the ITN news somewhat irrelevant?



Probably not, Coronation Street will most likely be around but aside from that Granada will have gone. Also in 20 years, ITV probably won't be doing regional news anymore, and if they are there will probably be less regions than now and some bright spark will have the idea to rename them to generic names; ITV North West etc.

I think it was more the fact that the JFK assisination was such a big story, got to remember in those days ITN would have only been on air about twice a day for only a few minutes, and Granada's News programme (Scene at 6.30 as it was in 1963) was pretty much the only one on air on both BBC and ITV by the sounds of it. From what I read elsewhere ITN weren't impressed that Granada broke the JFK story before they did.

And I'm sure today if a major story broke during the regional news (on either BBC/ITV) the regions would announce it, assuming it didn't warrant going back to the national teams immediately. Can't think of anything lately where that's happened, but it's bound to have happened more than once since 1963.

9th April 2003, the day that the statue of Saddam Hussein was pulled down etc. BBC regions were doing their lunchtime news and were given 20 seconds notice that they had to opt back to network, who then threw to News 24.

Interesting to see a single headed programme tonight. I wonder if it's a permanent thing, it not just for Fridays as they used to, or if its just a staffing issue.

Was just a one off, because of the grand national. Rachel Phillips who sometimes covers on a Friday was at Aintree with Rob in the studio.

Anyone know where Tony Morris is, he has been off a few weeks now?.

I haven't watched Granada Reports much lately so I didn't know he was off, but they posted on their Facebook page the other night saying that Tony is okay and well but he's just taking some time off, with the reason not stated, so one can only presume it's a personal matter and hope that he's ok.