Good Morning Britain - the launch

I didn't suggest the same format would work, but something between GMB, Breakfast, Weekend could, if they have a news desk and then a couple of presenters too or something and try and attract viewers. Plus one bank holiday isn't going to change anyones behaviours, a well publicised weekend show, separate but with GMB could work IMO so long as they keep it interesting, with elements of news, but also the public interest bull**** that they put into the weekday show atm.

I don't think there's an issue with the first half an hour with the stories and reports or interviews related to them.

I'd like to see them try different things. Why not use the regions like they did on the itv news channel and have a feature getting the headlines from each?
Why not show a 60 seconds style headlines being covered around the world, or open with that a CBS eye opener showing brief clips of the big stories from the past 24 hours?
Can a newspaper review be fitted in after one of the half past regional news bulletins to go through the front pages, but also look at some of the lighter stories to get the crew and team laughing adding a good family atmosphere to the programme, where the lighter items Segway into lighter interviews, and entertainment news.

If the programme does want to go back to lifestyle and human interest pieces, I think the lines become too blurred when trying to cover all. The fixed news reader has always allowed the programmes to have many items and features, with the audience knowing that the days news will come from a particular person at a particular time in the programme.

Whilst I like the 4 presenter format, if it is in the way of human interest stories that the show does want to go, it may be easier to have a separate news reader to keep the authority with the news reports whilst the others do the main job.

Andi's O.B. Has been an improvement this week meeting people who have won, though sometimes I feel he'd be better used in a 'hub' role through the programme.

If they do a paper review then they can't just refer to crappy tabloid rubbish such as the Mail or the Sun - they need to look at some good journalism like whatever the Guardian's latest exclusive report is, or a really interesting comment in the Telegraph. The problem with a paper review is, as GMB is essentially a tabloid TV show, whereas Breakfast is more of a 'broadsheet' programme, we don't want them to refer to the sensationalist rubbish that the Daily Mail are saying.

I agree that Andi would be great in a social media hub. They could even use Alex Beresford for the days he was off.

I think you're living in dreamland if you think ITV is ever going to have a 'broadsheet' audience for it's breakfast show. That's not a criticism, it's just how it is.

Not saying that, but seeing as most Mail articles are absolute rubbish, I think ITV can avoid some of that crap. I'm not suggesting that they boycott all tabloid papers, I'm saying they shouldn't report all those articles as fact and not mention proper articles.

By looking at a variety of journalism you are more likely to attract a vaster audience. You never hear of people turning the telly off because they discussed actual news, or a real story that was developing. You do hear of people not wanting to watch a show because the groom who played with a football down the aisles got 15 minutes air time, or because they advertised an exclusive interview with Dolly Parton every five minutes.

The problem I thought about the Freddie Starr interview was that all of the headlines never led on content, just on the walkout. Also once you see the clip of him walking out you won't bother with the interview, and if you do it's not enough to drive you to the show.

No Ben this morning, John Stapleton in for Ben today and Sean in Brazil.

Has anyone heard the World Cup music?

Not suprising that there is no Ben, he was up playing footie till 10 last night in Manchester

I am surprised at how rarely the full team seem to be on screen at the moment. In these early stages, surely it's important for viewers to get to know the presenters and for the programme to bed-in with a bit of stability and consistency.

In radio, it's common when launching a new breakfast show for there to be a tacit agreement that the new presenter won't book any holiday for the first three months or so to allow the programme to establish itself. Okay, so there are some unavoidable situations, such as Ben being involved in Soccer Aid, but GMB having so many stand-ins so often can't help its cause.

Remember:
1. Its breakfast TV- 3.00am starts are hard work especially over 5 days a week.
2. Susanna and Charlotte seem to be on 4 day contracts.
3. Sean is in Brazil- you cant expect anyone to go away for a month without allowing him time with his family. (+ broadcasters appear to treat their staff nicely)
4. Ben Shephard can not be expected to present a show live from London between 6am - 8:30 am after playing a charity football match in front of 70,000 up in Manchester: finishing at 10:30pm.

I think that the four of them are working hard- but it is equally important that relief presenters are initiated into the programme, and the audience become aware of them.