BBC News: Presenters, correspondent & rotas

I wasn't being ageist i was just merely stating a reality.

The BBC has a large number of presenters who are 55+ and quite frankly if they all retired within the next 5 years the BBC would be significantly poorer so hopefully the vast majority of them remain in post for the next several years. In many ways the BBC has failed to plan for any long term succession by promoting too many people of about the same age to senior posts.

The only reality is that is was an ageist comment or that’s how it’s been perceived at least. Mr McCoy will not be retiring when he hits 60. Plus the national age of retirement for men is not compulsory, and certainly not at the BBC.

I agree. They need a 1999 style revamp when the likes of Huw, Fiona, George, Sian, Sophie amongst others were young fresh faces first promoted to senior faces across BBC News.

Cannot do that anymore. That will be discrimination.

Christian Fraser and Vicki Young are still young they could be possible candidates for the Six and Ten in the next few years. Vicki doesn't have much presenting experience apart from shifts on the News Channel but then neither did Huw Edwards in the 90s. And she does show potential. Unless she's appointed Political Editor but I can't see Laura K going anywhere soon.


There's Tina Daheley but I'm not sure she could be considered heavyweight - I would put her on the One in a revamp.

I’ve said this for over 18 months. Christian Fraser is being groomed for the next lead news presenter. It’s blatantly obvious.

George and Huw have been able to maintain audiences during times where television viewing has gone downhill and there are many other ways to receive news. Clearly, the loss of these two highly experienced and professional presenters on the two main bulletins could have an impact on the audience. It’s lovely to see George on the Six during his long period of ill health (and today for once, we have Sophie on the 1, George on the 6 and Huw on the 10) however this has clearly proven difficultly for the BBC to consider a permanent placement to cover for George during time’s when he cannot be there. Instead, we have 3 or 4 different presenters across the week on the 6 and 5 different ones on the 1.

This gives me concern as to whether the BBC would consider a future relaunch, or instead have presenters replacing others as they disappear and just covering whatever a lot they happen to be given that day.

Rather than there being some dramatic relaunch, I suspect with the cuts coming the 1 is going to lose its dedicated presenter, instead sharing with Afternoon Live. This would leave Sophie to be the primary deputy to George and Huw.

I don't buy in to the thinking that people will tune out of the news just because either George or Huw aren't on. I think if people watch the news at 6 or 10, they watch it whoever is reading it. It's the content not the presenter that's important.

Rich Preston (BBC Radio) presented BBC World News tv overnight.

According to his Twitter it was his first bulletin on TV. The gallery played the incorrect (Newsday) headline bed during the TOTH as well.