He's said goodbye to News at Ten twice before though, though second time round I don't really recall any fuss about it being axed.
He didn't read the last NaT MKII, it was John Suchet, I still have it on tape somewhere and he says at the end of the bulletin that it's the last one and that News at 10:30 will be on from the Monday.
No-one really gave a damn when they axed that version of NaT, but that was from the News At When era when it was rarely on at 10pm.
I've said it before but that when IACGMOOH returns News At Ten's ratings go up, it got 3.7 Million last night (MediaGuardian), only 1 Million behind the BBC, not bad for them then.
I know it is very sad of me but I remember the exact words John Suchet said at the end of News At Ten Part 2. It was the last Thursday of January 2004, so it was the 30th. He said: "And that's the news, on this, the last ever News At Ten. From Monday, Trevor McDonald will be here for the new News At 10.30, on at that time, 5 nights a week."
It seemed John had a face like he didn't believe what he said - I bet he was pestered to say it by the awful ITV Chairman Charles Allen.
I sincerely do hope News At Ten beats the BBC. I'd like it if ITV beats the BBC [in ratings] so much, the BBC decides to move their bulletin - that's what I'd like to happen. Hopefully, it will. As I always write, News At Ten should only be on ITV. ITN invented a 10 o'clock news bulletin.
I've got to hand it to News at Ten, they've done some cracking special reports in the last few weeks i've been watching, and i think the news itself and the general presentation (including the presenters themselves) are at least equal, mostly better than their BBC counterparts. It certainly deserves better ratings than it gets.
I sincerely do hope News At Ten beats the BBC. I'd like it if ITV beats the BBC [in ratings] so much, the BBC decides to move their bulletin - that's what I'd like to happen. Hopefully, it will. As I always write, News At Ten should only be on ITV. ITN invented a 10 o'clock news bulletin.
I see where you're coming from, McMahon, but I doubt the BBC will move their 10pm bulletin - definitely not in the very near future. You've got to remember that people aren't always keen to change their ways and most (but not all) viewers probably tune into BBC One at 10pm out of habit. It's a real shame that NaT doesn't get the ratings it deserves; I prefer ITN's bulletins if I'm being honest. The BBC just doesn't really appeal to me anymore.
It is rather odd reading "BBC News at Ten" though! I always associate the News at Ten name with ITN - Ten O'Clock News is what the BBC bulletin is supposed to be called.
There's no reason really for the BBC to move it - the bulletin itself has performed very well at 10pm consistently for the last few years, while BBC1 performs well in the slots both before and after the bulletin too.
It is rather odd reading "BBC News at Ten" though! I always associate the News at Ten name with ITN - Ten O'Clock News is what the BBC bulletin is supposed to be called.
Ah yes but in a marketing world where BBC News 24 is deemed to be too disjointed from the BBC News brand, BBC 10 O'Clock News just doesn't cut it any more.
Trev should have stayed on into December and made more of an occasion of his final News at Ten appearance. I still can't accept this will be the last time he hosts the news. I'm sure he will turn up somewhere else.
A low key exit this time then, which indeed it should be. Good timing too I guess off the back of I'm a Celeb - hopefully now Mark is taking over the bulletin can begin to make some strides forward.
