Simon McCoy is definitely better than Philip Hayton any day. I don't understand what people like about Hayton, he is dull, boring and got an annoying accent that's only decent to impersonate.
Simon McCoy reminds me of a Dermot Murnaghan; serious yet can pull jokes at the right opportunity. However, although I have suggested his name as a replacement on another thread, he is best suited to evenings where the seriousness is required. I'd personally have Chris Eakin or Tim Willcox on instead of Philip and then have Simon on the evenings with Jane.
Is the news more serious in the evenings then?
I think judging that more adults and less children watch it later on in the evenings and the distinct difference between the serious level of the One compared with the Ten then the answer is yes.
I think you're being very harsh on McCoy. He's not exactly vivacious, I grant you, but he's definitely got a sense of humour - unlike the painfully dreadful Philip Hayton. Hayton is a bore, a tired hangover from newscasting of yesteryear.
Matthew Amroliwala used to be quite excruciating to watch as well, but he's really lightened up recently, and he's much more bearable and - like McCoy - enjoys cracking a few jokes when appropriate. McCoy just seems a bit too self conscious, like he's always trying too hard. Never saw him on Sky, so I can't compare, but I think there's plenty of other deadwood I'd prefer to chuck ahead of him.
I hadn't seen much of Simon presenting on News 24 until this week, and his bantering on the snow two-ways with John Braine has been really quite funny. The "Snowman Simon McCoy" bit this morning was pretty well judged (and made it to BBC Three's bulletin), as was the day before's exciting, news breaking closeup of a van driving down a snowy motorway in Kent. (Which ended with "There's only so much you can say about the M2 and M20 - and I think we've said it" - honesty like that is quite refreshing these days!)
The purpose of BBC news presenters is to deliver the news in a clear, concise and authoratitive way. Not sit behind a desk, swivelling manically on your chair cracking crap jokes for the sake of it.
News presenters should stick to bringing the viewers the news, and not try to be comedians. If they think they're all so hilariously funny, they should quit the news circuit and go into the entertainment circuit at the Edinburgh festival.
Thinking about him after reading some of the earlier comments today about McCoy, I've changed my view of Simon over the past few months. He has something of a light hearted sense of humour which he can express well during his work. Not that he overdoes it. I watched him 'trip up' the business correspondant this week and it was a funny moment, probably the only humerous bit i've seen in months on there.
News 24 can cope with a character like him and gain something from him., He is a relatively younger man than the others . I mean the average age must be over 50 on the team and he looks early forties.
Admittedly he has let himself go a bit , a man corset might be a good choice. It must be the good life living on a fat salary from the BBC. And he isnt the worse example of a bright prospect from sky who now looks like they're past their best and in need of a trip to the spa or rehab clinic.
So to sum up, Simon can stay and if he wants to crack a joke while coining it , well he can carry on.
I think the problem with the 'old guard' presenters like Peter Sissons and Philip Hayton is that their more formal style isn't well suited to a fast-paced rolling news channel.
Peter Sissons in particular brings a great air of authority to the 10 O'Clock News on the rare occasions that he presents it, and is well suited to the programme. On News 24 however, he just flounders and looks like he doesn't quite know what's going on.
Simon McCoy is definitely better than Philip Hayton any day. I don't understand what people like about Hayton, he is dull, boring and got an annoying accent that's only decent to impersonate.
Simon McCoy reminds me of a Dermot Murnaghan; serious yet can pull jokes at the right opportunity. However, although I have suggested his name as a replacement on another thread, he is best suited to evenings where the seriousness is required. I'd personally have Chris Eakin or Tim Willcox on instead of Philip and then have Simon on the evenings with Jane.
Is the news more serious in the evenings then?
I think judging that more adults and less children watch it later on in the evenings and the distinct difference between the serious level of the One compared with the Ten then the answer is yes.
The One, Six and Ten have different news agendas. All of them are "serious".
