BBC
News new presenter line-up
An
exciting new line-up of presenters across all BBC ONE news bulletins
launches next week.
The
award-winning team of talented and experienced broadcasters will
present the Ten O'Clock, Six O'Clock, One O'Clock and Breakfast
news bulletins from Monday 20 January 2003.
Huw
Edwards will anchor the flagship Ten O'Clock News from
Monday to Thursdays, with Fiona Bruce presenting
on Fridays and often at weekends.
Joined
by the BBC's team of specialist correspondents, Huw and Fiona will
spearhead the distinctive, in-depth and quality journalism viewers
expect from the Ten O'Clock News.
There
will be no change to the programme's style and content.
To
coincide with the changes, the Ten O'Clock News is launching a website.
Users will be able to view the Ten in video, on demand; discover
information about the bulletin; read profiles and interviews with
the presenters and key correspondents; and access links to the day's
top news stories.
In
a change in format, the Six O'Clock News will now be co-presented,
by George Alagiah and Sophie Raworth.
The
two presenters will play an integral part in the journalism of the
Six, which gives viewers a popular digest of the day's top stories:
it is currently Britain's most watched news programme, attracting
audiences of around six million each teatime.
The
One O'Clock News will continue to be presented by Anna Ford.
Darren Jordon remains the second presenter.
Meanwhile,
Dermot Murnaghan and Natasha Kaplinsky
introduce the mornings on Breakfast.
Sian
Williams and Bill Turnbull will present
the programme on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
A brand
new set has been built for the Ten, Six and One O'Clock news bulletins,
to refresh the look and feel of the programmes.
The
new line-up embodies the BBC's core values of trusted, impartial
and authoritative news.
Supported
by the Corporation's unrivalled newsgathering resource of specialist
correspondents and reporters around the world, the team will offer
viewers a serious news agenda delivered in a range of styles and
formats to suit our audiences.
Richard
Sambrook, Director BBC News, said: "I'm delighted to have such
a strong team of highly talented newscasters. Though they have a
hard act to follow in succeeding Michael Buerk and Peter Sissons,
their impressive range of news and current affairs experience is
a credit to BBC News and will take forward our portfolio of news
programmes for the future."
Lorraine
Heggessey, Controller BBC ONE, said: "News is one of the most
crucial parts of BBC ONE and I'm delighted with our new line-up
of presenters. They have the journalistic credibility to maintain
the strength and popularity of our excellent news programmes."
Notes
to Editors
BBC
News audiences for 2002
-
Breakfast averaged nearly 1 million.
- The BBC One O'Clock News averaged 2.7 million.
- The BBC Six O'Clock News averaged 5.1 million.
- The BBC Ten O'Clock News averaged 4.8 million.
Highest
individual audiences
-
The BBC One O'Clock News peaked at 3.7 million on the day of the
collapse of the Paul Burrell trial (1 November 2002).
- The BBC Six O'Clock News peaked at 6.4 million during the week
of the Queen Mother's death (8 April 2002).
- The BBC Ten O'Clock News had its highest audience on 15 November
2002 (Myra Hindley's death and Children In Need night) with 8.4
million.
- The biggest News audience of the year was the BBC News on Christmas
Day with more than 10 million.
Pictures
of the presenters are available, for media use only, from BBC Picture
Publicity on the digital picture service or via the BBC Press Office.
Presenter
quotes
Huw
Edwards said : "I've had three very satisfying years
on the Six O'Clock News and it's been a delight working with the
Six team. I'm very much looking forward to a different kind of challenge
on the Ten. It's a huge privilege to follow in the footsteps of
Peter Sissons and Michael Buerk and I'll be doing my very best to
maintain the high standards they've set over the years."
Fiona
Bruce said: "I'm thrilled to be offered such a prestigious
job on the BBC's flagship news programme. And at the same time it
enables me to spend time with my family and fulfil my other BBC
ONE commitments. I couldn't be more pleased."
George
Alagiah said: "It's a rare privilege to be asked to
anchor what is the most watched news programme in Britain. The Six
O'Clock News marks the gateway to the evening's viewing on BBC ONE
- that is both an opportunity and a challenge. Sophie and I are
determined to find the right combination of authority and accessibility
that is so important at that time of day."
Sophie
Raworth said: "I'm absolutely thrilled and delighted
to have been asked to present the Six, it's an amazing opportunity.
I'm very sad to leave Breakfast but feel extremely lucky to be offered
this challenge and am looking forward to working with George Alagiah."
Dermot
Murnaghan said: "I've had 11 marvellous years at ITN
but the opportunity to work for the BBC, presenting Breakfast news,
is an irresistible challenge. I'm really looking forward to joining
such a prestigious news organisation. And the early mornings won't
bother me - I have four children!"
Natasha
Kaplinsky said: "Breakfast is a dream job. I'm really
looking forward to working with Dermot and the morning team. I can
hardly wait for the 3.00am alarm call!"
Notes
to Editors
BBC
News biographies
Breakfast
website
Ten
O'Clock News website
Natasha
Kaplinsky joins Breakfast (13.11.02)
BBC
News completes presenter line-up (01.11.02)
BBC
News announces new presenter line up (04.09.02)
All the
BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the BBC's eight television channels, as well as six BBC radio
networks.
The
soon to launch BBC THREE will become available as it goes on air.
|
