ITV London Tonight

She was good, formal yet easy to watch and such a good presenter. However I wonder if Alexandra could make a return to LT, after all she will be due back from her own maternity leaave when Nina goes on hers.

http://www.itv.com/london/itv-london-behind-the-scenes98709/

So Ben Scotchbrook has been overlooked again by ITN by getting in Natasha Kaplinsky to cover Nina's maternity.

Overlooked for Donal, Nina and now Natasha is nothing short of a joke.

Maybe Ben likes his job the way it is??

it a great choice she's warm welcoming and a good solo presenter

but so is Ben, Charlene and Faye? Why Ben is not being signed up is something I would love to know, even when Matt and Donal were employed why was Ben just not given the job then? If they signed Ben then cover from Charlene and even Sally Bidulph would make a good programme. It's simply ITN putting big names to present programmes in an attempt to gain viewers.

That's ITN's prerogative. Ben Scotchbrook is hardly on the same level as Natasha. Maybe he is happy what he's doing? He needs to sort out his skanky bottom teeth out.

Indeed, he's a solid broadcast journalist without a colourful past in the industry.

LOL.

How so, with the exception of Strictly she's worked in nearly every broadcast news programme/channel and has great experience. Can't see the issue myself.

Sorry Lester, but to me she represents everything that is wrong with television news. A triumph of style over subtance, lacking any gravitas, and more concerned with looks than serious journalism. Personally, I find her a complete turn off ... but each to their own .

Ben Scotchbrook presents the news in the style of an early 1980s regional presenter from Anglia... the faux avuncularity, the "absolutely...!" in response to a comment by a fellow presenter of reporter. There's no way they'd let a woman on if she were as fat as him, his nose is flat, he lacks charisma, unless you're a fan of Daniel O'Donnel, and is just a complete turn off. That's why he's continually overlooked by ITN.

This comment is exactly what I think is wrong about Britain - or even the whole Western world - in 2011. Everything is about looks and style. So what if a newscaster isn't particularly attractive? The last time I checked you didn't have to be beautiful to convey the news to the audience. If Ben Scotchbrook was trying to be a model then yes, you'd have a point. But, you could get along just fine as a newscaster without good looks. A newscaster has a serious job - they are often the person charged with delivering sometimes very serious news to the British people. That's a job that requires authority, credibility and a reputation as a serious journalist. I don't think anyone could say any of those qualities apply to Natasha Kaplinsky and her like. You accuse Ben Scotchbrook of being stuck in the 1980s as if it's a bad thing. To me, the news was a lot more serious and watchable back then than it is now with its patronising scripts and dolly bird presenters.