ITV News

Anyone know who that was doing the ITV News at lunchtime today?

That was Alexandra Hill (aka Alex Hyndman).

ITV News are doing a news review of 2010 at 11:20 on new years eve - presented by Mark Austin. Do they normally do a review?

Also Andrea Benfield will present the countdown to 2011.

Are the regions doing a news review?

They did last year, although that may have been particular to the end of a decade.

They only did last year, the last few years there've had Live from the 02 with the likes of Take That/Elton John.

Yeah last years one was a bit weird - because it was the news/ review/countdown all in one.

This year I expect the Mark Austin review will be a separate show ( no doubt pre-recorded).

Better having it separate I think.

It is separate this year :

11.20pm That Was 2010
Mark Austin looks back at the momentous news stories of 2010, including Haiti's disastrous earthquake, the uplifting rescue of the Chilean miners, the historic developments that led to the coalition Government and of course, the announcement of the royal engagement. He speaks to ITV's award-winning correspondents, who were there as history unfolded.

11.50pm ITV News and Weather
Andrea Benfield presents the latest news headlines from around the world. Followed by a national weather forecast and the countdown to 2011

I'm glad it's a separate programme this year. It felt too odd last year having Alastair Stewart build up the excitement, only to try to sombre himself down for the day's few news headlines and the review and then get jolly again for the countdown.

Actually I'd prefer this year's review to be live so Alastair/Mark could do the news bulletin immediately afterwards as well.

Well we all know Mark doesn't do holidays!

Plus his in Australia on holiday I think (I follow him on twitter) as his a big cricket person, aswell as why he was on reporting from the Auz cricket ground on today's bulletin.

LOL, was that a first? News at Ten starting two minutes before ten?



Oh right, thanks for that. I thought it was a bit out-of-character for Mark to make a post-Christmas, pre-New Year appearance...!

EDIT: Off-current topic: I was thinking (after seeing Mary Nightingale present the early evening bulletin on Monday) that maybe News at Ten should be the only double-headed bulletin. It seems that the 6:30 News flows much better having its own personality hosting the programme, and I think Alastair should become the main newscaster (or at least alternate with Mary) - much like the old 5:40 News was pretty much known as John Suchet's programme.
EDIT 2: Have I contradicted myself and posted something worthy of the rota thread...?

Yes and hes been on the Lunchtime News and will be on NaT.

Been very impressed by ITV News today, a good coverage of stories today on the Lunchtime News and was greatful for 12 minutes of regional news. Evening news was a summary and now NaT for a full 35 minutes and as BBCNicky was saying on time too

I agree, the general coverage of stories today has been good, especially on News at Ten - but it's just such a shame that ITV News these days is generally being let down by a number of small things that can easily be corrected. The good bulletins (like the majority of tonight's NaT) are lost among all the bad ones. Strange thing is that for most of last year they had everything just right. Being totally honest, I really wouldn't give a damn about the bloody studio design if the editorial approach to stories was the same as it was before November last year!

And I see Geraint is due for another a haircut.

Does Steve Scott present ITV News anymore, or is he just Sports Editor now?