Philip Hayton quits

I can't speak for the other moderators, but I certainly would not have commented on this news item being discussed in its own thread. I think you have a misunderstanding where generic threads are concerned. The generic threads are only for minor day-to-day discussion - anything major (i.e. re-launches, new programmes, etc) deserves its own thread. This is mainly because some members choose not to read the generic threads, but may be interested in reading about a major change that is going to happen. If it had been posted on page 254 of a generic thread, it is unlikely that that person would be able to read about it. In terms of the topic at hand, a senior presenter quitting a news channel is definitely worthy of a new thread. However, an aston colour change is not.

I hope that clarifies things for you. Let me assure you that there is no "you and us" - I believe that no user is above the forum rules.

I'd put him back on the one when Anna Ford retires.

Has that him gone now or will he leave News 24 on a set date?

To be honest I never thought that the two of them would work well together for the fact that the times have changed and Philip is an old style presenter whereas Kate is much more young, modern and open. It would be like putting Peter Sissons with Kate; again it wouldn't have worked. Personally, I thought he could move to mornings and early afternoons (9-14) on the weekend with Peter Sissons after him (14-19). However, this would obviously mean no shift for Carrie Gracie or Tim Wilcox.
One thing with Simon and Kate presenting, who will cover on Breakfast when Natasha leaves for the six (and maybe Dermot moving as well)?

If Simon has to do Breakfast, they'd put Tim Willcox in instead of him. If Kate had to do Breakfast they'd get Gosling or someone to fill in.

Little bit more information

BBC Press Release

When you give a reason like that you tend to go rather quickly - human resources don't like that sort of thing.

Well I'm hardly surprised to be honest. This has been brewing for a long time.
I'm annoyed at Kates charactisation in Haytons statement, but when you look at the "school" of the pair it's not hard to see that there would be some conflict.
I'd agree with comments made on here that Phil was more suited to a single headed bulletin, such as World. He always performed better when he was on his own.
I'd be interested to see now how the line-up is changed. I think Simon and Kate would be a good pairing in the slot, possibly moving to Breakfast at a later date.

I certainly will miss Phil - yet I cannot say that I dislike Kate either. She seems okay to me.

Am I correct in saying that Phil also was the main presenter of BBC North West Tonight - during the early nineties, and that he moved back to Wood Green when that did not work out?

Some presenters do not like each other, as do colleagues in any office - it comes with the territory. However, for a veteran to quit is a rarity and I am sorry he had felt this is the best option.

Kate won't stay long at 24. This is just a platform for her to move into daytime. BBC management are touting her as the next big thing but many others have been given that title then disappeared without trace. Phil Hayton is a big loss to 24 but I guess it's the current BBC thinking, style over substance. Never mind the lack of journalistic experience, as long as they look good. Presenters on a rolling news channel should be journalists you can't get away with eye candy reading an autocue like you can with built bulletins, not when you may have to cope with breaking stories.

Bring him back to BBC World, please.........he was good on BBC World, and was paired alongside Melinda Wittstock, Lindsey Brancher and Liz Pike, amongst others. He was pretty good o single headed bulletins too.

I admire him - I always found him to be a safe pair of hands, and not quite as dithery as some others of his era. However, I cannot pass comment at all regarding Miss Silverton, having hardly ever seen her broadcasts.

I wish Phil luck with whatever he does. Does anyone remember him years ago beign the BBC Correspondent in South Africa? He seemed to be there for decades..........

I have also seen him giving several guests a hard time with his style of questioning..........

this is a sad sad day for the BBC. They have lost one of their veteran and most authoritative news anchors. I like Phil and his style, and he is much much better than the two-bit chancers they have on the channel (e.g. Simon "Jokey" McCoy) who totally lack credibility. News is serious, not a comedy act. And despite people's statements, Phil had his fair share of laughs anyway.

No one can accuse Phil of being boring when people like George Alagiah and Darren Jordon present main network bulletins. They have no charisma, whereas Phil has the air and grace of an credible and experienced jounalist and news anchorman. The only younger guys that come close are Tim Willcox, Peter Dobbie and Jane Hill.

As for McCoy, i don't see the fascination. He makes me cringe.

BRING ON ALASTAIR YATES!