STV News

Yeah I saw that this evening. What's going on?! I guess she's just back as a freelancer to cover. But very weird as you say! I wonder if anyone else will be coming back?! On another note I saw Heather had a night time bulletin with problems on Thursday. The picture went very white, then the weather started over her talking. Been a while since we've seen many of those, however she coped well - didn't look the least bit flustered.

Also I saw something in a paper about the local news bit coming up soon, what does everyone think about that? I can see the reason behind it but wonder how it'll work now. Everything's going well at the moment - if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I do think Heather is a great newsreader, and is very good with the viewers, as is Louise and John. I suppose Stephen isn't too bad either.
The reason why the news will have sub-regions is I think it was a deal with Ofcom: If Scottish and Grampian merged into one (stv) then they would have to provide sub-regional news.

Ahhhhh...how do you think they'll divide up the reading then between east and west? If John anchors then I guess Heather or Lousie will do the west, will Stephen do the east? Or Suzy? But then when would Stephen anchor? I hope the agenda doesn't become too parochial. Also, after all the redundancies will they be rehiring. Maybe that's why Ms Dean is back.

This is how I think it may be worked out:

North Tonight
Main: Norman Macleod/Andrea Brymer

Opt-outs
North: Kirsten
South: Pauline

Scotland Today
Main: John Mackay/Stephen Jardine

Opt-outs
East: Heather
West: Louise

I can't believe what I've just seen there. The main story on STV's 10.50 bulletin was a five minute report on the station launching an appeal to raise money for Malawi.

Now, a commendable appeal, you might say. But the lead item on our regional news is a five minute report on a foreign country?

Fine for five minutes on a half hour bulletin, an absolute joke when you've got less than 10 minutes. They even had the cheek to say "in other news" after the report. You haven't even given us the real sodding news yet .

I'll bet you they showed the same report in the former Grampian region as well. Nice little moneysaver.

Ok, I'm done.

Spot on, and tonight it was Stephen Jardine. With Ex Scottish Television news girl Andrea anchoring North Tonight, two or three nights every week, it is more like Scotland Today. It is unbelievable an ex central belt part-timer takes precedence over much loved Grampian presenters, Kirsten, Pauline, Norman and Chris. Obviously preparing us for the day when our news comes from Glasgow.

I take it you do not like Andrea..fair enough.
However, many viewers class Andrea as a 'much loved' presenter from Brechin. She just happened to get her break at Scottish Television - surely you can hardly hold that against her. Perhaps news bosses think she is a better ratings weapon?
Would you say the same of Selina Scott, John Duncanson and Sarah Mack then?

Well said Chris. I loved watching Andrea when she was on Scotland Today and she was always a joy, a laugh and a pleasure to watch every time! I'd probably never get tired of seeing her. How is she getting on up there these days? She's another one that I miss.


Laura (with new username).

I used to quite like Andrea too, on LTST though. Didn't she used to appear alongside Angus Simpson and Louise White?

Me too........I think she is a breath of fresh air. She fits in well at NT and seems very down to earth unlike some of the others on NT!!

She would have been great alongside John Duncanson (anyone know what he is up to these days?). Talking of Chris Harvey.....where is he????

She did that James. She has co-presented with both Angus and Louise, in fact I don't think there's anyone that she didn't co-present with, before she left for Grampian. The funniest times to me always seemed to be, when it was Andrea & Louise together on Lunchtime Scotland Today! They were a right pair. You really got a laugh from the two of them.

I can remember her saying that people thought she was Shereen's wee sister
She has always seemed very down to earth and has something that many do not have at Tullos - a bubbly personality!