AB
Indeed... if I remember, the new look Breakfast Time was originally billed for the last week of September - to coincide with the Labour Conference - but simply failed to appear. Instead the old format continued until about the middle of November, two or three weeks after daytime tv had started.
As you say, if they'd gone for something like the current Breakfast - news based but relaxed - it might have been less controversial. And, of course, Breakfast Time during this period only ran from 7am to 8.40am.
As you say, if they'd gone for something like the current Breakfast - news based but relaxed - it might have been less controversial. And, of course, Breakfast Time during this period only ran from 7am to 8.40am.
NG
ISTR that the reason for the delay was that they were moving from Lime Grove to TV Centre, and there were issues about the staffing levels at TVC...
noggin
Founding member
Indeed... if I remember, the new look Breakfast Time was originally billed for the last week of September - to coincide with the Labour Conference - but simply failed to appear. Instead the old format continued until about the middle of November, two or three weeks after daytime tv had started.
ISTR that the reason for the delay was that they were moving from Lime Grove to TV Centre, and there were issues about the staffing levels at TVC...
SW
They didn't actually move to Lime Grove until about 1988, because on YouTube there's that clip from the day after the hurricane - where Nicholas Witchell was in the Broom Cupboard - and the delayed start of that day's Breakfast Time where Sally Magnusson says their normal studio in Lime Grove was without power and they've moved to a studio in TV Centre. I know one of the major union complaints about the new Breakfast Time was the ending of the separate news bulletins, and getting the presenters to read the news instead.
That said, they did bring back a newsreader eventually, which they should do again now, I've never liked the presenters reading the news on Breakfast Time, Breakfast News or Breakfast. Of course to take it back to the subject of this thread, initially the GMTV presenters read the news too, which was abandoned after a matter of weeks.
Breakfast Time's closing time shuffled around all over the place - sometimes, as you say, it ended at 8.40, with Watchdog or Open Air until nine, other times it ended at nine o'clock and sometimes at 8.30. There's a clip of Paxo signing off at 8.30 on YouTube, followed by Laverne and Shirley. It just made it look dead half-arsed.
When it became Breakfast News, it was such a small change - I think the only changes were the replacement of Paxman with Witchell, and the move to 6.30 - they didn't even bother changing the theme tune.
ISTR that the reason for the delay was that they were moving from Lime Grove to TV Centre, and there were issues about the staffing levels at TVC...
They didn't actually move to Lime Grove until about 1988, because on YouTube there's that clip from the day after the hurricane - where Nicholas Witchell was in the Broom Cupboard - and the delayed start of that day's Breakfast Time where Sally Magnusson says their normal studio in Lime Grove was without power and they've moved to a studio in TV Centre. I know one of the major union complaints about the new Breakfast Time was the ending of the separate news bulletins, and getting the presenters to read the news instead.
That said, they did bring back a newsreader eventually, which they should do again now, I've never liked the presenters reading the news on Breakfast Time, Breakfast News or Breakfast. Of course to take it back to the subject of this thread, initially the GMTV presenters read the news too, which was abandoned after a matter of weeks.
Breakfast Time's closing time shuffled around all over the place - sometimes, as you say, it ended at 8.40, with Watchdog or Open Air until nine, other times it ended at nine o'clock and sometimes at 8.30. There's a clip of Paxo signing off at 8.30 on YouTube, followed by Laverne and Shirley. It just made it look dead half-arsed.
When it became Breakfast News, it was such a small change - I think the only changes were the replacement of Paxman with Witchell, and the move to 6.30 - they didn't even bother changing the theme tune.
AB
Indeed... BBC Breakfast News was essentially just a revamp of Breakfast Time Mk2. New graphics, slightly changed set, Nicholas Witchell and - er that's it. The last remaining soft features on Breakfast Time which survived the cull of 86 - like the TV previews - had gone quietly by then.
Of course, the launch of BBC Breakfast News was put off at the last minute too because of union problems... so Breakfast Time Mk 2 continued for a few more weeks.
Of course, the launch of BBC Breakfast News was put off at the last minute too because of union problems... so Breakfast Time Mk 2 continued for a few more weeks.
AB
To get back to GMTV... it will be interesting to see how the core audience reacts to the changes. Will they accept them initially? Or will they come to like them? Or might the loyal audience turn against the changes? (Never underestimate the loyalty of regular daytime viewers to their favourite programmes and personalities.)
Talking about the revamp of Breakfast Time and the launch of BBC Daytime brought this all back to my mind.
Initially back in 1986 it soon became apparent that BBC daytime faced a problem - the fact that the baby had been thrown out with the bathwater and the two main existing daytime programmes had either been axed or dramatically changed. (Breakfast Time changed after the BBC accepted it would never beat TV-am and should provide an alternative that played to corporate strengths - Pebble Mill at One finished so the resources could go into other programmes for the daytime schedule.)
However both these programmes had such a loyal following that the decisions were initially unpopular. In the case of Breakfast Time, the initial upset proved worth it in the medium term but PM@1 was effectively brought back a year later, albeit with different presenters and changes in style and content.
Talking about the revamp of Breakfast Time and the launch of BBC Daytime brought this all back to my mind.
Initially back in 1986 it soon became apparent that BBC daytime faced a problem - the fact that the baby had been thrown out with the bathwater and the two main existing daytime programmes had either been axed or dramatically changed. (Breakfast Time changed after the BBC accepted it would never beat TV-am and should provide an alternative that played to corporate strengths - Pebble Mill at One finished so the resources could go into other programmes for the daytime schedule.)
However both these programmes had such a loyal following that the decisions were initially unpopular. In the case of Breakfast Time, the initial upset proved worth it in the medium term but PM@1 was effectively brought back a year later, albeit with different presenters and changes in style and content.
BN
Indeed, with the exception of the 1986 revamp, every BBC Breakfast tv revamp has never been that drastic...no matter how much they plug it to be so! As was said, the '89 launch of Breakfast News was merely tidying up the format of Breakfast Time, brining in Business Breakfast, and the start of the (still-missed!) irreverant paper reviewers. Likewise the 2000 launch of Breakfast was actually just a tidying up of the 97-2000 Breakfast News...the lighter features were already very much part of the schedule post 8.30, and more banter between the presenters had already begun, and Business Breakfast had already been axed in '99. It's funny...looking at Breakfast from 2000/01, it's much more similar in tone and style to Breakfast News that it replaced (and was supposed to be vastly different from) than Breakfast of 2010!
As for Daybreak, I'm looking forward to seeing how it will differ from GMTV and how many concepts or ideas will be taken from Sky Sunrise, and BBC Breakfast...or even RI:SE!
As for Daybreak, I'm looking forward to seeing how it will differ from GMTV and how many concepts or ideas will be taken from Sky Sunrise, and BBC Breakfast...or even RI:SE!
LI
And people say GMTV viewers lack intelligence. It really is quite simple - GMTV news here, Daybreak news there. Overlaps where most appropriate.
Doesn't really matter anyway, and hopefully mods will follow the standard procedure when Daybreak launches of closing existing threads and starting a new one so the discussion of on screen presentaion is on page one, not page 443.
and now they are back separate. Wish they will make there minds up
I see the threads are now merged. That is a good idea as it was confusing anyway's 
And people say GMTV viewers lack intelligence. It really is quite simple - GMTV news here, Daybreak news there. Overlaps where most appropriate.
Doesn't really matter anyway, and hopefully mods will follow the standard procedure when Daybreak launches of closing existing threads and starting a new one so the discussion of on screen presentaion is on page one, not page 443.
and now they are back separate. Wish they will make there minds up
DA
Danslink
Helen Fospero was brilliant on the sofa. Hopefully they will use her more in the final weeks. If she's not moving to Daybreak I hope she gets a big job. She'd be boring on ITV News, too serious on BBC News. Argh, its tough to figure out what she could do.
Is it just me, or is Andrew Castle rather sleazy?
Is it just me, or is Andrew Castle rather sleazy?
LE
He comes from the Richard Madeley school of presenting... Thinks he is oober cool when in actual fact he comes across as slimy, vacuous and patronising. Glad he'll be on the television far less come September.
Lester
Founding member
Helen Fospero was brilliant on the sofa. Hopefully they will use her more in the final weeks. If she's not moving to Daybreak I hope she gets a big job. She'd be boring on ITV News, too serious on BBC News. Argh, its tough to figure out what she could do.
Is it just me, or is Andrew Castle rather sleazy?
Is it just me, or is Andrew Castle rather sleazy?
He comes from the Richard Madeley school of presenting... Thinks he is oober cool when in actual fact he comes across as slimy, vacuous and patronising. Glad he'll be on the television far less come September.
JT
Always liked Helen presenting Look North for the couple of years she did - a Grimsby girl done well
Helen Fospero was brilliant on the sofa. Hopefully they will use her more in the final weeks. If she's not moving to Daybreak I hope she gets a big job. She'd be boring on ITV News, too serious on BBC News. Argh, its tough to figure out what she could do.
Is it just me, or is Andrew Castle rather sleazy?
Is it just me, or is Andrew Castle rather sleazy?
Always liked Helen presenting Look North for the couple of years she did - a Grimsby girl done well
MI
Noticed the last couple of mornings on GMTV during GMTV News that there have been News reports / Live interviews on locations by ITV Central News Newsreader Louisa James & ITV Central News Correspondent Gareth Owen.
Can any members confirm whether or not they are still part of the ITV Central current on air team or have they now moved to GMTV
Wonder whether or not GMTV / ITV Breakfast will still provide three pan-regional news bulletins during GMTV at 06:35, 07:05 and 08:05 as part of it's Autumn plans ? If the bulletins remain as part of the new plans will the amount of bulletins increase or decrease ? Will the Broadcast times remain the same or change ? Will the ITV Local News bulletins have dedicated new sets or graphics around the regions specifically for the new Breakfast service ?
Any TV Forum Members have any ideas or views on what will be happening in the Regions with the forthcoming new service at Breakfast Time ?
My apologies in advance if this is posted in the wrong related thread
Enjoy the weekend everybody
Can any members confirm whether or not they are still part of the ITV Central current on air team or have they now moved to GMTV
Wonder whether or not GMTV / ITV Breakfast will still provide three pan-regional news bulletins during GMTV at 06:35, 07:05 and 08:05 as part of it's Autumn plans ? If the bulletins remain as part of the new plans will the amount of bulletins increase or decrease ? Will the Broadcast times remain the same or change ? Will the ITV Local News bulletins have dedicated new sets or graphics around the regions specifically for the new Breakfast service ?
Any TV Forum Members have any ideas or views on what will be happening in the Regions with the forthcoming new service at Breakfast Time ?
My apologies in advance if this is posted in the wrong related thread
Enjoy the weekend everybody