Sky News: Presentation Discussion

More presenters I've never heard of parachuted into major roles.

It'll be a long time indeed before this thread clocks up another 100. Until Burley's biannual WTF? moment, I can't envisage there being much to talk about except how quickly Sky News is slipping behind BBC News in pretty much every regard.

I'd never seen or heard of your beloved Chris Roberts before he joined Sky News.

Bit of a malicious comment and seemingly of little relevance to my post. The core point I was making was it seems new presenters at Sky these days are ushered into big daytime slots almost straight away, without having to work their way up. The hierarchy is gone- no more "A team" or "B team" as we used to call them on here. Cheapness and availability are the main priorities, with experience some way behind.

Edited to add I find it absurd that you are demonstrating such hostility towards a fellow poster purely for taking a dislike to Sky's decision to drop Chris Roberts. I make no apologies for holding this opinion or expressing it in the way that I did and still stand by my comments. Your catty remarks are noted, but not appreciated. Still at least you're inflicting your unpleasantries via internet forums and not on poor unsuspecting souls in the offline world!

I'm sorry LTR, but Chris Roberts is the only presenter to have lost his job and you seem to think that that's affected the whole of Sky News. He only did a few hours at the weekend anyway.

And twice in the past I have corrected your misquoting of the Chris Roberts/Kelvin McKenzie Press Preview altercation and you never responded.

Several fixed hours a week but often many more as relief.

I apologise if I slightly misquoted Kelvin but even still the nature of his comments were not appropriate for a news programme which is probably why he got an ear bashing from a Sky producer after the event. His fellow paper reviewer at the time also aired disapproval at his comments.

I noticed before that Chris Roberts 'struggled' with the more 'right wing' paper reviewers. I wonder if that is one of the reasons they let him go?

I said this last October, coincidentally to one of your posts.



http://www.tvforum.co.uk/forums/search?seid=6445

I must agree with you there - it seems that the second presenter role is taken really lightly at Sky these days, although Charlotte/Gillian are major parts of the Sunrise set-up. The scheduling has been very badly prepared recently.

er, I doubt it. otherwise he'd have them up before an employment tribunal in no time

Indeed.

I don't really know what you're getting at Derek, as I never saw any examples of that. To me he always came across very fair and balanced, and didn't seem to have a problem handling any of the guests.

With regards to the second presenter role:

Firstly yesterday Lisa Knights did it because Gillian did Saturday Live. Really can't see an issue with that as Gillian is wasted reading headlines. Secondly Sky, like all channels, should be giving new talent chances, and reading headlines seems like a good way to do that

It's when junior presenters start presenting flagship programmes like Live at Five that I personally find wrong

Chris really did struggle with Kelvin who incidentally has gone missing on the paper review slot. I think he's only made one appearance since the general election. Instead we're seeing more of people who are afraid to express their views and just run through the papers. Bring back Kelvin!

Yes, they should be giving junior presenters a go, but not on their highest-rating programme, which is Sunrise. Surely that is why they have NSW and the overnight slots?