Well that's good-bye to Jo Malin then - nice tribute of her time with Central but seemed lacking something? No Bob Warman either.
Perhaps they don't want too much fuss over one presenter leaving when there will be a few more going soon (and a couple already gone)?
Bob is off as he has an ear infection in his earpiece/talkback ear.
Well that's good-bye to Jo Malin then - nice tribute of her time with Central but seemed lacking something? No Bob Warman either.
Perhaps they don't want too much fuss over one presenter leaving when there will be a few more going soon (and a couple already gone)?
10 years of present Central News and that was the best they could do? It was pathetic and I think they let Jo down - shame Bob couldnt of recoreded something from home and letting Gareth Owen present alongside her on her last show I dont know what to say to that. You will be missed by us Jo if not Central.
An article from the Birmingham Mail today. This was quoted from another website, sorry I couldn't find a direct link to the original story..
Quote:
Nov 28 2008 by Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail
WELL-known ITV Central broadcaster Arti Halai has been axed as Birmingham’s early morning presenter after seven years in the high-profile job, it was revealed today.
The TV star is one of dozens of Central employees being let go across a range of departments as the channel battles against a vicious advertising downturn. Popular weathergirl Emma Jesson is also leaving as part of the latest jobs exodus.
Arti, who learnt of her fate in a telephone call from her Head of News Alan Rook, today said she was disappointed to be leaving the Gas Street studios.
“I think they showed me a lack of respect. Decisions like that should be made face to face, but that’s life – you just have to get on with it,” she said today. “I don’t think it’s a reflection of my abilities – I have been doing the job for years. Maybe they want a fresh face, maybe they want something different.”
Arti, aged 38, had had to apply for her own job, along with dozens of colleagues, as part of plans by ITV to shed around 60 posts across Birmingham and Nottingham as the two areas merge.
“I am not really in a position to say what I plan to do. I will be looking at other avenues. I have a very nice following in the area. I always think that when one door closes, a lot of others open, and the key is not to focus on the door that closes.”
Arti, who has her own media training company, said she had no plans to leave the West Midlands.
“My business is established in this part of the world. This is my adopted city – I do not plan to do a runner. It’s going to be a very different set-up at Central. I wanted to be part of it, but it was not to be.”
As well as Arti and weathergirl Emma, another long-established face at Central Tonight, former ITN man Eric McInnes, has been told he is to be made redundant, while former Central Tonight co-presenter Joanne Malin has already left to join Radio WM.
Meanwhile, more cuts could be on the way at the Birmingham studios after parent group ITV revealed it was calling in consultants to pinpoint further cost savings across the group.
John Cresswell, the group’s chief operating officer, has written to staff to say more savings are required as the advertising market continues to suffer.
In a memo, Mr Cresswell said: “The need for action is therefore urgent. We need to accelerate our plans to improve the efficiency of all our operations now.”
It is understood that around 36 journalistic staff will be left to cover the whole of the merged region when Central Tonight is reduced to one programme covering east and west, from the Welsh Borders across to the North Sea coast.
Chairman Michael Grade has already said he is looking to slash up to £40million from an annual £120million outlay on regional news – and now more savings look inevitable.
...and I noticed that Claire Lavender has been presenting mornings a couple of times now.
Arti I'm not suprised but Emma
Thanks for that, I wasn't intentionally trying to steal your thunder
Emma's take on things, from her website:
Quote:
Goodness gracious me, I was rather miffed - to say the least - to see that news of the cuts has reached the local press and that I personally have been mentioned.
I have not spoken to the press, have no intention of doing so and had NO part in those articles coming into being. I only found out about them when I came back from filming my package this evening.
Let me clarify my position chaps... I will continue on screen, working as I am now, until the end of January 2009 or maybe longer if it suits the purposes of the company. Once the new job positions come into effect, I will not be working as the full-time weather presenter with ITV Central, but have high hopes of maintaining freelance work with them in 2009 - there will be discussions soon.
Charlie [Neil] will be leaving ITV Central, probably at the end of December. I think it best that I don't speak for anyone else.
I still believe in the company, the brand and will always work to the best of my ability for ITV Central... SO KEEP WATCHING!! But... you're DEFINITELY ALLOWED TO SAY YOU MISS ME! (or even write to the boss and say it!!! )
Thank you all for your support and of course you will continue to see more of me... somewhere! I'll keep you posted.
the enemy of kay iirc. i have a clip of her on this computer of her reading out the email address in her usual mumbling manner and saying central instead of carlton. the potential age of this little mp3 worries me
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