The NEW Central West and BBC Midlands thread

that new chris bloke has read a few bulletins, he was crap, but i guess it comes with practice.

incidentally, mark gough is now "midlands life" correspondent ... now i wonder where that idea came from

The same format is undoubtedly being rolled out across the regions - dedicated lifestyle, political, consumer and entertainment correspondents for each programme.

Actually I think that NEW CHRIS bloke was very good the other night!!!!

Natural I thought!

that as maybe, he comes across as very cheeky on screen - but then on screen and off screen can be 2 very different things. as nice as jo seems on screen, she was a bit of a miserable cow when i was in her presence last.

I know what you mean tvmercia about the cheeky grin. But cheeky is sometimes a good thing, just shows a bit of charisma and enjoyment. something the news lacks a lot these days- just that zing of watchability.

What der yer fink?

well yes, he's fine at the and finally's and i'm sure he'll get the grip of the minor bulletins, but i cant imagine him presenting the 6.00. it makes you wonder what chris would think if he were reading this forum.

Certainly welcome the introduction of dedicated correspondents - at least with London Tonight you can be pretty sure that the reporter isn't an all rounder (Apart from the dubious "London Life" title) and will have more often than not have good background in it.

Dedicated correspondents is what BBC regions have had over ITV for years, and they work well. Patrick Burns as political correspondent, Michaele as Health, Peter Plisner as transport, etc, etc - I think you often get a better story out of a correspondent who knows their subject.

But of course, in regional news there's always the "general" reporters - who usually cover a certain patch (Liz Copper - Stoke, Bob Hockenhull - Wolverhampton) but often do get called to other areas to cover stories.

Haven't watched Central for a while, but it would make me cringe a bit when you'd see two reports from the same reporter - and often more than one reporter too. They'd also be different ends of the spectrum too. First report would be current (heartbreak story - Central like those) and then you'll get a non time specific story presented by the same reporter - I was never a big fan of that...and I do think Jonathon Ray took on a lot of the "lighter stories" which he covered marvellously - as well as being a good reader too. But alas he's now gone.

Is this Chris the one in that picture a while back, Chris James?

If so, I'm certain he belongs to HTV West -- it seems odd he works fairly regularly for two news gatherers.

If not ignore me.

Was it only me that noticed the mistake at the end of the 10.25 opt last night.
Nick threw back to network with the word "And now back to London and Huw"

Great - pity it was Fiona on 10 duty last night!

Just on the Chris subject

he does work for HTV as well. He did the Bristol beer festival the other week. Can REPORTERS do that, working for 2 tv stations?

Well we all think he's great in our family! Very personable and watchable. I hope he does get to do the 6pm show. We think he's much better than mark gough and eric mccinis.

it makes you wonder if perhaps chris is moving to htv west ahead of some kind of relaunch.

nice report on this lunchtime's midlands today about the doctors SPECTACULAR.

http://www.andrew986.clara.co.uk/doctors1.jpg

http://www.andrew986.clara.co.uk/doctors2.jpg

http://www.andrew986.clara.co.uk/doctors3.jpg

http://www.andrew986.clara.co.uk/doctors4.jpg

http://www.andrew986.clara.co.uk/doctors5.jpg

http://www.andrew986.clara.co.uk/doctors6.jpg

http://www.andrew986.clara.co.uk/doctors7.jpg

DOCTORS REPORT

loved the way the only words christopher said in the report were "we should never have left the mill"