And now it’s over to you, Mark ...
Richard Brooks, Arts Editor
McDonald’s successor is named, and ITV passes over the women
AND finally, the presenter chosen to replace Sir Trevor McDonald on ITV’s main night-time news is once again a man. Mark Austin has emerged as the newscaster who will take over when McDonald leaves in the autumn.
Austin, 43, who fronts the early evening news bulletin, has beaten off female contenders such as Mary Nightingale and Katie Derham to be selected for ITN’s 10.30pm slot.
Surely we always knew that Mark Austin would replace Trevor? I suppose now the bigger question is who will take over Mark's role on the Evening News. Nick Owen's going to be presenting the "beefed up" Lunchtime News from March, so who are we going for? Steve Scott? Andrew Harvey? Owen Thomas?
I am assuming that Mark Austin won't continue the current trend of presenting both the Evening News and Late News when Trevor is away.
I wonder who will front the Evening Noos then? I'd like Nick to stay where he is on the Lunchtime News, so maybe they are going to promote Steve Scott or somebody off the NC, seeing as Steve did the Evening Noos a couple of weeks back.
I know Bill Neely and James Mates both have briefs as ITV's Chief Correspondent and International Editor, but I would have thought one of them would get the 6.30 job over the likes of Steve Scott.
However I would have said Andrew Harvey was a good choice too.
I know Bill Neely and James Mates both have briefs as ITV's Chief Correspondent and International Editor, but I would have thought one of them would get the 6.30 job over the likes of Steve Scott.
I think James is too serious and solemn to be the regular 6.30 presenter - Bill would be a better choice, but to have him studio-bound would be a waste of his talents.
I'd go for Andrew Harvey too - he's had plenty of experience at presenting the evening news, as he was a co-presenter on the BBC Six O'clock News for many years. It would be good to see him back on mainstream television news again.
Trev's departure should allow them to be a bit more creative with the 10.30. Trevor never really seemed that comfortable in his virtual world, he's not the most animated of people and never really entered into the spirit of the newswall thing, barely getting halfway up the central catwalk.
So, the potential for more newswall stuff, floor maps etc which Mark seems more willing to participate in.
Hurrah for the graphics. Soon we won't even need journalists. We'll just have a little map and a few animated floors and we will know everything we need to know.
Funny that News at Ten was so popular and yet survived without these gimmicks remarkably well.
Maybe if ITV filled their news broadcasts up with good stories, and not fancy graphics, they wouldn't be having a ratings crisis.
Hurrah for the graphics. Soon we won't even need journalists. We'll just have a little map and a few animated floors and we will know everything we need to know.
Funny that News at Ten was so popular and yet survived without these gimmicks remarkably well.
Maybe if ITV filled their news broadcasts up with good stories, and not fancy graphics, they wouldn't be having a ratings crisis.
Yes, I agree, I'm talking presentationally. Whilst I'm not expecting the agenda to change, I am suggesting that the loss of Trevor will allow them to use more of the "bells and whilstles" which is what I presume they want to do, but Trev stifled their creativity a bit.
The 10.30 is never going to have the audience of the old News at Ten, ITV have disenfranchised the news audience too much through pratting around with the time slot and dumbing down that this new show doesn't have the guaranteed audience of the old 10.
In terms of ratings it yo-yo's depending on the audience inheritance of the preceeding programme and whether viewers have already had their news fix from the BBC.
this is NOOOS i have been dreading! There is loads more better presenters like Alistair Stuart, Angela Rippon and even Nicholas Owen on ITV and they have to the most boring, un-bothered, and self-obsessed presenter!
Boring, well you know why, no feeling in what he says
un-bothered, becouse i have noticed when he isnt speaking a few times he looks up to the ceiling and looks away and doesnt interact with the presenters as much. Nina, Mary, Nick, Alistair, Angela are much better!
self-obsessed, becouse he is always at his blazer just when he turns around and when that is done, he starts to finally do his job. and always streaching across the desk! ARRAGH!
like honestly, they were lucky to get Angela back, and then Alistair left ITN, moved to LNN and now is back at ITN, which means they were again lucky. And even he has some experience with the News At Ten, and he pronounces things right!
Nick Owen, is just a great presenter IMO. Brings some form of life to the programe and interacts with the viewers and is really relaxed when interviewing people
