BBC News: Presenters, correspondent & rotas

I love how Nik tries to scold him by pointing out that "we ARE live on air; there's an audience out there" - as if to say "wtf are you doing?!"

Mike Embley must surely be the longest-serving news presenter on BBC World News now? I think he joined in about 1995, so 25 years, and, even if you take out his stint at Newsroom South East, he's done around 21 years on World. I think Nik Gowing clocked up about 18 years and even Lindsey Brancher, who was there from the start in 1991, probably only managed about 17 years, if that. I don't recall her moving with World News to N8, so I'm using 2008 as a cut-off - she might even have finished a year or two before?

So, other than Mike, I can't think of anyone else who's done as many years, continuous or otherwise.

Nice to see Martine Croxall this weekend; James Reynolds has been on in this slot steadily for the last five or six weeks.

He first started popping up on the BBC World broadcasts appearing on PBS in the US in 2003; I've been consistently watching him since then.

Katty Kay first appeared at the anchor desk on BBC World as Mishal Husein's relief in Washington in 2002. She has 18 years in as an anchor.

I seem to recall he returned from Newsroom South East in 2001 and for a while was the Tim Willcox-type who would pop up anywhere and everywhere. He was one of the few presenters at the time who would appear on both BBC World and BBC News 24. Eventually he settled into a pattern of weekends on BBC World and deputising on weekdays literally all over the schedule.

How long has Sally Bundock been doing the early morning shift? I know she was as a business presenter for most of the time but I think she did occasional news for many years before getting the briefing.

Since at least 2003.

This profile page says she joined the BBC Business team in 2002, but I'm sure I've seen her on TWT videos from 2001...

How long was Peter Dobbie on BBC World? He seemed to be on for many years as well.

No definitely not then - TWT only relaunched in September 2001 and the business presenter was Tanya Beckett at that point. I'd say Rolling News is right - about 2003 would have been her first appearance. Certainly no earlier than 2002.

Incidentally, I seem to recall that Aaron Heslehurst started in 2002. Some of the other business presenters around this time included Jane Sinclair, Sara Coburn, Jamie Robertson, Mishal Husain, Manisha Tank, Paddy O'Connell, John Terret, Richard Quest. Quite a strong team, really. Some of those names were exclusively World, others like John Terret also presented the business segments on News 24. I seem to recall Julia Caesar was mostly/exclusively on News 24. And in 2001 News 24 launched "Business Today" fronted by Nils Blythe.



I believe Peter Dobbie started back in the WSTV era - say 1994ish. But he had a long stint away from World as he was exclusively on News 24. His regular slot used to be late nights between 23:00 and 01:00 but he also sometimes presented during the daytime too. I may be wrong but I don't think he returned to World until after it moved into N8.

I'm sure Peter returned to World in 2006/07 when it was still in N9. There's a couple of clips online of him doing so. I think it was then when Chris Eakin took over the 23:00-01:00 slot on News 24.

Don’t forget Adrian Finighan and Peter Coe we’re both business presenters on BBC World. Both moved on to become news presenters on the channel as well.

If my memory serves, Peter Dobbie was with WSTV since approx 1993.

Mike Embley began regular secondments to BBC World late in 1995, if I recall correctly. He and his regional partner, Gwennan Edwards, used to take it in turns to move over to BBC World for additional cover, mostly late evenings and weekends. When one would be at World, the other would be back in the region and would alternate weeks at a time. There were some periods during early 1997 when both appeared on BBC World at the same time.

Based on his association with World since 1995-ish, it makes Mike the longest serving (albeit not continuous) presenter at BBC World, followed probably by David Eades, who HAS held a continuous post since 2000.

Sally Bundock was relief (Fridays/random) second presenter on The World Today from 2002 before taking over permanently from Tanya Beckett in the slot from 2003 when the programme was rebranded and David Eades took over from Martine Dennis. (I think.....)