Some of the UK's most famous news presenters are returning to TV to present a series of special reports for Five, formerly Channel 5.

ITN veterans Sandy Gall, Michael Brunson and Carol Barnes will team up with old BBC hands Martin Bell and Angela Rippon on the station¿s Five News bulletins from 9 December to front a four-minute report on a variety of topics.

It's the character and experience of these veteran journalists that makes them so successful

Gary Rogers, Five

Former foreign correspondent and News At Ten presenter Gall will interview Afghan President Mohammad Karzai on plans to rebuild the world-famous Bamiyan Buddhas, destroyed by the Taliban last year.

Martin Bell, who has reported from Malawi for Five, will return to Bosnia, where he was wounded while working for the BBC, to interview Paddy Ashdown, the United Nations' high representative, on the prospects for lasting peace in the area.

Stint

Bell quit the BBC in 1997 to successfully stand as an "anti-sleaze" candidate in the general election for Tatton, Cheshire.

Former BBC presenter Angela Rippon ¿ who recently completed a stint in the US as an arts reporter for a channel in Boston ¿ will discuss what constitutes art in the week the Turner Prize winner is announced.

Carol Barnes, once one of ITN's most well-known newscasters, will report on crime, using her recent experiences as a magistrate.

Michael Brunson, who retired as ITN's political editor two years ago, will return to Westminster to call for reform of the parliamentary system.

Five's controller of news and current affairs, Chris Shaw, said: "I¿m delighted some of the best characters in British television journalism have agreed to produce special reports for Five News and we hope they become regular contributors."

The programme's editor, Gary Rogers, said: "It is the character, wisdom, and experience of these veteran journalists that makes them so successful and brings and added dimension to our daily news coverage."