Daybreak - the launch onwards

I wasn't aware she worked on Daybreak at all, until the Harry Potter programme last night billed her as a 'Daybreak Correspondent', or something to that effect, as I say above. Therefore, just slightly coincidental she appeared today!

Ah I see. Anna has covered the Showbiz slot a few times on Daybreak in the past couple of months when Steve and Kate have been away.

She's presented the showbiz a couple of times when Kate and Steve Hargrave have been unavailible but I wasn't aware she was a Daybreak Correspondent. Also in reference to the ratings yesterday Daybreak only attracted 600,000 viewers down from the usual 700,000 / 800,000 threshold. This is the lowest non Bank Holiday weekday rating for a couple of months however does this illustrate the beginning of the summer holiday ratings decline that GMTV use to suffer.

I agree with ginofish, there does seem to a certain extent more focus on the news agenda with less fluffy stuff than usual. For example yesterday they had Stephen Lennon the leader of E.D.L on the show. People might not agree that he should have been given the right to speak about the events that hapenned in Norway given his political views. However, I thought it was quite brave of producers to allow the interview and I thought Adrian handled it extremely well. Some will argue it's controversial and fair enough everybody is entitled to their own opinions. But this is what Daybreak needs to do in terms of setting the news agenda and breaking barriers.

Also (slightly off topic) I was watching ITV 4's football coverage of the Audi World Cup and the commentators were using Daybreak's studio 7. I know they used the Daybreak studio for some of the International cricket coverage. All they did was change the desk and use screens behind the sofa, but even though it was very sunny outside there was less glare on the windows so there was a much clearer view of the London vista.

Err no. Stephen Lennon is a media whore, and has been punting himself around for interview since the events at the weekend. He did an arse-clenchingly embarrassing interview on Newsnight on Monday, complete with being caught off guard on camera as his appearance was announced, pointing at someone or something in the studio with an aggresive look on his face.

Accepting his offer for an interview with him doesn't make them brave, just as having it two days after the BBC and one day after a number of ILR stations doesn't make them "agenda setting".

More like "last chicken on the shelf" territory.

Had I been the editor of Daybreak, I wouldn't have touched him with a 10 foot pole - because I would have heard his rhetoric on other programmes and decided he wasn't worth sending a car for.

Perhaps Daybreak's editor is in bed when Newsnight comes on.

On this month's viewback survey it ask's for views about segments on the show and one of them was TV Matters and it asked you to rate the presenters of this feature it had Kate and Steve but also Anna so I think she is a correspondent and has also done the competition segments.

I seen the football and the studio did look very good, they may well use it as ITV Sport's studio for the new season.

For Helen Fospero fans:


Just thought I'd let you know...

where do you folks get the viewing figures from?

Pamela Stephenson? Did she throw eggs across the studio?

I really hope they re-think the name of the 8:30 slot or extend Daybreak to 9:25 when Lorraine's not there.

I can't see that happening.

Lorraine Kelly's segment has gone under many different names in the past, and is the only link with Daybreak's forerunners. It's very popular, more so than the main programme most of the time, so I think any tinkering to bring it any further into the damaged Daybreak brand would be a mistake.

The name and timing of the show tells most people what to expect, regardless of whether Ms Kelly is presenting or not. It's a credit to her that she has established that identity and brand, and ITV would be rather foolish to erode it.

If they ignore her importance, she could quite easily swap over to BBC One (contract permitting) and provide exactly the same programme from 8:30-9:15, replacing the current 'fluffy bits' on BBC Breakfast when they move to Salford.

Her audience would follow her, and I'm sure Lorraine herself would be happier only having to travel to Salford rather than London to do her show 4 days a week. In fact, why even do it from Salford? She could do it from Pacific Quay.

They should call it Daybreak with Lorraine and use the Lorraine branding/studio when shes there. When shes not there, use the same format with Daybreak branding in relit Daybreak studio, called Daybreak with Kate or if its a guest host, Daybreak with [full name].

Having 'Lorraine' without Lorraine is just silly. Its OK if its 1 day a week but like now when its the summer holidays and she is absent for 7 weeks it is just daft.

Being called Lorraine With Kate Garraway etc makes sense - it is common in radio that when the regular presenter is away and the show is named after them, the show name is retained and "With ..." is used.