Scotland Today and North Tonight.

Marie Claire's television work goes back several years (including Live TV in Edinburgh). She's stuck at it - the way one is supposed to; so I'm pleased she is finding success.

Miss M and I were in youth theatre together in the mid-80's; although at that point her name was simply, Claire McManus.

I haven't seen her do a bulletin yet; but I think you might have rushed to judgement too soon, Lewis.

Reading news to time and operating your own autocue takes a few shots to master. She'll get there. Besdies, isn't local TV there for people to learn?

She's intelligent, quick-witted and capable. You won't have to wait long to see improvement.

I disagree Gavin. STV should be using the Journalists in the news room not another blond bimbo who has come in the back door.

I disagree Gavin. STV should be using the Journalists not another blond bimbo who has come in the back door.

Gavin, your rational and sensible approach to discussing Maire Claire's talents have no place in this forum... It would appear that some people prefer to just make personal attacks based on goodness knows what. BBC World admitted in earlier post that he rarely gets to watch either Scotland Today or Reporting Scotland, yet then lambasts it's staff. Incredible...

I have no idea what the ratings are for the bulletins since Maire Claire started but I know they have not dipped. I also know she fits in with the look and style that GMTV want for their regional bulletins (and they do pay for half her wages...), so I'd prefer to give her a chance before judging.

Goodness knows what "Heaney and Dixon" did to annoy BBC WORLD but it would be nice to see something a little more constructive in this forum about the programme rather than just moaning about on-screen presenters/reporters. etc.

As I said Lewis, she didn't wander in through the fire escape; she has worked her way up to the dizzying heights of Cowcaddens.

However you may feel about the decisions of the beancounters, I'd be grateful if you didn't bandy insults like, "bimbo" around. It seems a little unneccessary; not least because it simply isn't the case.

I'd have a look at her site www.marieclair.co.uk

She seems to have done quite a lot of various things.

She does, but updating her website isn't one.

By any chance has Scotland Today made a report over the Weekend about Jim Bowen being at the Edinburgh Festival, as Granada News showed this, it was edited poorly and there was a Scottish reporter too.

I certainly saw an interview with him saying this is his first Festival.

That was a couple of weeks ago.

Oh please "bimbo" is mild to the chat in the news room about it all.

I think Granada must have been running out of stories, as they mentioned it was his 68th birthday, and the interview focused more on the success of Bullseye.

i notice from digiguide that stv and gtv have regional headlines before the itn morning news

NEWS: Grampian Headlines
Channel: Grampian 03
Date: Monday 22nd August 2005
Time: 05:25 to 05:30
Duration: 5 minutes.
All the latest local news.
(Subtitles)
Excerpt taken from DigiGuide - the world's best TV guide available from http://www.digiguide.com. Copyright ©1999-2004 GipsyMedia Ltd. Information copied from DigiGuide cannot be re-distributed, sold or used without prior written consent from GipsyMedia Ltd. All rights reserved.

how do they produce it? surely it can't be pre-recorded - given the fuss ofcom made about the re-recorded central news east bulletin. is it read by the announcer (presuming they have an announcer in at that time?) or do they make the gmtv newsreader get in about 40 minutes earlier than their colleagues in england do?