BBC News Presenter Count 1967-2020

Some clips of the former Queen of BBC News:

I've managed to find an example of Anna and Fiona presenting the Six together from 1998:

LOL! Not exactly the happiest of Fiona's there.

BBC Six O' Clock News 1993:

(1) Anna Ford - 130 programmes
(2) Peter Sissons - 126 programmes
(3) Andrew Harvey - 91 programmes
(4) Moira Stuart - 90 programmes
(5) Jennie Bond - 29 programmes
(6) John Humphrys - 21 programmes
(7) Jill Dando - 8 programmes
(8 ) Chris Lowe - 6 programmes
(9) Laurie Mayer - 2 programmes
(10) Mike Smartt - 1 programme

Because it was Christmas!

From 1986-88, there was a full-length Six and a full-length regional news on the days between Christmas and New Year, which is one in the eye for those who complain about boring Bank Holiday schedules now.

BBC Six O' Clock News 1994:

(1) Martyn Lewis - 128 programmes
(2) Anna Ford - 98 programmes
(3) Moira Stuart - 87 programmes
(4) Andrew Harvey - 64 programmes
(5) Jennie Bond - 44 programmes
(6) Jill Dando - 37 programmes
(7) Peter Sissons - 13 programmes
(8 ) John Humphrys - 11 programmes
(9) Huw Edwards - 7 programmes
(-) Mike Smartt - 7 programmes

Martyn Lewis made his debut on the Six on Monday 17th January 1994 when he swapped with Peter Sissons, who moved to the Nine
Peter returned as an occasional relief presenter in the autumn of 1994, and interestingly (in my opinion) presented with Huw Edwards on Friday 23rd September 1994

BBC Six O' Clock News 1995:

(1) Martyn Lewis - 136 programmes
(2) Anna Ford - 98 programmes
(3) Moira Stuart - 88 programmes
(4) Jill Dando - 74 programmes
(5) Andrew Harvey - 43 programmes
(6) Jennie Bond - 30 programmes
(7) Huw Edwards - 12 programmes
(8 ) John Humphrys - 7 programmes
(9) Nicholas Witchell - 3 programmes
(10) Paul Burden - 2 programmes
(-) Peter Sissons - 2 programmes
(-) Justin Webb - 2 programmes
(11) Edward Stourton - 1 programme

Wow! Paul Burden did the Six? That does surprise me. Any idea who with? All this research you're doing is wonderful BTW - so thanks!

Yes on 2 occasions with Anna Ford. He mainly did Business Breakfast in the 1990s. I was a bit surprised to see his name crop up on the Six. He was also the father of BBC Breakfast/Five Live host Rachel Burden.


And no worries!

Guys,

Bit of an announcement. I will continue to do the presenter counts for the Six up to 1999, which hopefully I will have done in the next couple of days. But then I may have to let someone else count the Nine presenters for the 1990s (and any other decade you wish to do). It's not because I can't be bothered anymore (although I must warn, it is tiring!) it's just i will be returning to work in the next couple of weeks so won't have the time. The information I'm using is from the website Genome, which contains the original Radio Times listings so isn't always entirely accurate but is the closest information we will ever get. If anyone would like to continue with the counts after me please PM me by Friday 12th June at 9pm and if there's more than one entry i will draw a name out of a hat. If there's no entries the counts will sadly cease (although we can still share memories of old BBC News and any surprising pairings we manage to unearth).

Thanks

BBC Six O' Clock News 1996:

(1) Martyn Lewis - 133 programmes
(2) Anna Ford - 98 programmes
(3) Moira Stuart - 87 programmes
(4) Jill Dando - 61 programmes
(5) Andrew Harvey - 48 programmes
(6) Jennie Bond - 44 programmes
(7) Nicholas Witchell - 8 programmes
(8 ) Huw Edwards - 7 programmes
(9) Michael Buerk - 4 programmes
(10) John Humphrys - 3 programmes
(11) Edward Stourton - 1 programme

Interesting to see Michael Buerk as a relief on the Six this year, he also did the programme with Huw on Thursday 8th August

BBC News certainly used to be very... grey.