Not sure we've ever had one of these - but here's your chance to discuss the South West news programmes... I'll start the ball rolling:
Does anyone know what's happened to David Braine on Spotlight? He's been off for at least three weeks and all we've been told is "he's taking a little break" - Craig Rich is obviously unavailable to fill in, so we've had forecasts from the national team for the last few weeks.
Didn't they say on tonight's show David would be with Justin and Victoria when the Spotlight Sofa goes on tour (don't ask) this Wednesday at Carn Brea Leisure Centre near Redruth
Yes they did, so he's obviously in the area... just not working at present for some reason.
And lets hope Spotlight don't get their sofa stolen (although it's probably not the one they use on air!) Otherwise that would be two BBC sofa problems in one week!
Victoria Graham has stepped into Teresa Driscoll's shoes with ease. She looks so comfortable, relaxed and happy sat with Justin on the sofa.
She's good fun too, bit of a giggler.
Agreed, I thought she'd be a good replacement and the few times I've been down in the South West and seen her she's done plenty to prove me right. I think she's an excellent presenter, with plenty of warmth and buckets of professionalism. Like you say, she's stepped into Teresa's shoes very easily indeed.
I'm not too sure about Justin's haircut he's had for the last few months (can't find a picture of him with it) I preferred it when he had a bit more hair - like this:
Victoria Graham has stepped into Teresa Driscoll's shoes with ease. She looks so comfortable, relaxed and happy sat with Justin on the sofa.
Yes Phil, I like Victoria Graham also . She always had a very warm and relaxed persona when presenting the breakfast bulletins. Just what was needed at that time of the day, but she has certainly proved her professionalism since taking over from Teresa Driscoll.
Also, how have they suddenly managed to make the studio look so much bigger ? There never seemed to be room for a sofa area before, and from my understanding it is a very small studio anyway. Is the screen behind the sofa a back-projection screen rather than CSO. If it is CSO then it's done ALOT better than the one behind the desk which is always so obvious.
David Braine does project work for the Met Office in Exeter, as well as his TV work, so I expect he's in the middle of something for them at the moment.
That's why it used to be convenient for Craig to cover longer periods of David being away, whilst Craig was still in semi-retirement.
Now he HAS retired, you won't get Craig to do cover over here during February. FAR too cold. He won't be back from South Africa till the English weather warms up.
Perhaps we need a new standby in that case. I think having a pre-recorded weather bulletin from London spoils the flow of the programme. I've noticed too, that when presented from London, they never seem to zoom in so close to the South West, and the whole region looks tiny.
Stuart, yes I think the screen behind the sofa is back projected as far as I know. It normally shows a shot of the Barbican, although whether this is live or not I'm not 100% sure.
And isn't it time for an upgrade to BBC South West's equipment? What with stretching the picture out to 14:9, and some very fuzzy pre-recorded bits, the programme looks slightly below broadcast quality sometimes.
Talk of the devil and he shall reappear! David was back last night.
The other point about the recorded forecasts sent down the line from London is that the Channel Islands don't get their own, separate one, as they now do from David, Craig, or a stand-in in Plymouth.
When it's a forecaster in Plymouth, the Channel Islands get their own forecast towards the end of their own opt, then see the more general south-west one later in the programme. That's why the general one at the end of the programme hardly mentions the Channel Islands and has more time for details of the Scillys.
Talk of the devil and he shall reappear! David was back last night.
The other point about the recorded forecasts sent down the line from London is that the Channel Islands don't get their own, separate one, as they now do from David, Craig, or a stand-in in Plymouth.
When it's a forecaster in Plymouth, the Channel Islands get their own forecast towards the end of their own opt, then see the more general south-west one later in the programme. That's why the general one at the end of the programme hardly mentions the Channel Islands and has more time for details of the Scillys.
Penny Tranter did a Channel Islands forcast on Monday night.
. She always had a very warm and relaxed persona when presenting the breakfast bulletins. Just what was needed at that time of the day, but she has certainly proved her professionalism since taking over from Teresa Driscoll.