BBC North Region

It looks likely that Christine could be Christa's replacement, as she seems to have gone straight from her Wellbeing role to Calendar, which she hasn't done for about 5 years.
Lesley Alexander left in November to work on French TV
As well as Karen Petch, Nicola Crompton has also presented an edition of Calendar before
I think Christa has 'cleared her desk' at YTV, So only Mike is off
John Shires is probably on Holiday as he doesn't have much sport to cover at the moment, also Geoff Druet has the Election to cover, so theres only Fraser Maude left!

Well obviously YTV didn't see that one coming (Christa's defection) or they would never have released Christine to Wellbeing, only to recall her again so quickly. So that's it then for Christa ?? What will she do between now and appearing on Look North in the autumn ?? Also, is Tonight meant to be re-appearing in the autumn or has that left the schedules for good ?

As far as I know, Christa will remain at YTV until she starts at the BBC 'in the Autumn', although she will no longer appear on screen. As far as 'Tonight' is concerned, it has been axed and has been replaced by 'Live Lunch' which airs fron 1:00-1:30pm weekdays (on YTV) and is presented by Gaynor Barnes and Carolyn Hodgson.

I've done a mock up of what Look North could look like from the Autumn, with YTV's Christa Ackroyd joining Harry Gration on the main programme and Clare Frisby presenting the new 'East' opt out from Hull
http://www.hillyard22.freeserve.co.uk/LookNorthfromAutumn.jpg
What do you think?

Wow!! I wonder if the opt-outs will be called 'Close Up' or whether their subtitle will be 'East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire' so as not to confuse viewers with 'Close Up North'?!! I think that Look East's is called 'Close Up' is called that because their equivalent to 'Close Up North' is known by a different name. I wonder whether we'll get a studio as good as Look East's Cambridge one, though! Cambridge have a studio which has a better video wall than most of the main English Regions and their studio is only used for the 'Close Up' opt-out!! I think Hull deserves to at least have a replica of the Leeds set, as the Belmont opt-out will cover such a huge area!!

Yes, I've just checked... BBC East's equivalent to 'Close Up North' (documentary strand) is called 'Matter of Fact'. So if they call the eastern opt-out 'Close Up', they'll have to change the name of 'Close Up North', which is in need of a revamp anyway, as is 'North of Westminster'. I don't think BBC South West's Channel Islands opt-out is called 'Close Up', either!

Never mind the Hull opt out studio, Its about time the Leeds set was rebuilt to accomodate a proper 'big screen' window like most regions have, and get rid of those '4 TV's'.
Following 'Midlands Today''s replacement of their bathroom window, I think theres only Look North and North West Tonight with small 4 or 6 part windows, rather than a proper big one.

I agree with that, too! I also think it's time for the old Look North set (now used to present North of Westminster etc from) is disposed of and replaced with a 'comfy area', which Look North deserves!!

They can't get rid of that desk, Its a artistic masterpeice

I'm not sure how often a comfy area would be used, even Calendar dropped theirs.

I noticed the start of 'The Super League Show' last Sunday, Notice they bring the corporate chairs and widescreen screen from the Look North set to use on the programme.

Yes! The Superleague Show does always look very cheap! Also if you've noticed, sometimes if they've got too many guests on Look North they'll bring the chairs from the old set onto the new set to make up the numbers - they only have 3 of the yellow ones (I think)! And very comfy they are indeed!

Christa looks surprisingly comfy at the BBC desk, I'm sure she'll cope without Mike Morris to keep her company.

Look North (North East & Cumbria) still has the widescreen TV's making up their 'window.'

I think it would be too much trouble to change the window for one the same size because the 4 TV's does just fine.

Midlands Today changed theirs as from day one they never intented to keep the bathroom window and the set was built so that they could add a bigger window at a later date.
Many regions would have to accuire new pieces of the studio to make a bigger window work.

Also, I think its less than a year now when Pebble Mill closes its doors and BBC Midlands moves to the Mailbox in Central Birmingham.
Midlands Today will have a lovely big set with big window and a comfy seating area is certainly a possibility I was told.
It will be the most hi-tech news studio in Europe when it is built apparently!