SC
I know you can't watch Col but guess who's on continuity duty tonight?! None other than Robin Taylor! No in-vision though
Good to see both channels with reports on Belfast Pride today. Even the UTV newsreader had a nice smile when introducing the report! 
(Yes, it was MM.)
(Yes, it was MM.)
I know you can't watch Col but guess who's on continuity duty tonight?! None other than Robin Taylor! No in-vision though
CO
Right, when I've referred on here to UTV's female reporters as ladyclones, I have honestly been joking; but now it seems it's actually beyond a joke and becoming reality.
Now Aideen Kennedy has cut her blonde hair into a bob just like Jar Jar Clarke, Ratwoman, Tracey Magee et al. I now expect Ruth Gorman to take shears to her bleached locks in the near future - or worse, I fear Poor Gilly will go back to her old short-hair style again for another 10-odd years.
Now Aideen Kennedy has cut her blonde hair into a bob just like Jar Jar Clarke, Ratwoman, Tracey Magee et al. I now expect Ruth Gorman to take shears to her bleached locks in the near future - or worse, I fear Poor Gilly will go back to her old short-hair style again for another 10-odd years.
CO
An interesting return for UTV Live Tonight after its at least five-week "summer break".
Extended to over 50 minutes, it mainly comprised a well-researched and well-constructed investigation by Jamie Delargy into the former non-executive directors of Northern Ireland Water.
The near thirty-minute piece did feel like it should have been branded as an Insight episode, so who knows why it wasn't. Following his piece, Jamie led a studio debate on the issues raised, including a two-way with Mick Fealty of Slugger O'Toole at the HTV West studios in Bristol!
Being left to top and tail Jamie's items, Clarky ran a two-minute summary of two other news stories (so no Gillian/whoever was announcing tonight - never mind a concise digest of the day's news) and the morning paper front pages, stating it was "good to be back" and, annoyingly IMO, still telling viewers what's coming next on UTV for no apparent reason - please leave that to the CA so they still have a job to do, Paul!
Extended to over 50 minutes, it mainly comprised a well-researched and well-constructed investigation by Jamie Delargy into the former non-executive directors of Northern Ireland Water.
The near thirty-minute piece did feel like it should have been branded as an Insight episode, so who knows why it wasn't. Following his piece, Jamie led a studio debate on the issues raised, including a two-way with Mick Fealty of Slugger O'Toole at the HTV West studios in Bristol!
Being left to top and tail Jamie's items, Clarky ran a two-minute summary of two other news stories (so no Gillian/whoever was announcing tonight - never mind a concise digest of the day's news) and the morning paper front pages, stating it was "good to be back" and, annoyingly IMO, still telling viewers what's coming next on UTV for no apparent reason - please leave that to the CA so they still have a job to do, Paul!
SC
I think it was originally going to be, there was an article in one of the local papers on Saturday that said that the programme would be shown on Monday night at 8pm, which is traditionally the slot that Insight would have been shown in. Glorious Gardens is mid series though in that slot so I suppose they didn't want to have to shift it.
The near thirty-minute piece did feel like it should have been branded as an Insight episode, so who knows why it wasn't.
I think it was originally going to be, there was an article in one of the local papers on Saturday that said that the programme would be shown on Monday night at 8pm, which is traditionally the slot that Insight would have been shown in. Glorious Gardens is mid series though in that slot so I suppose they didn't want to have to shift it.
CO
I think it was originally going to be, there was an article in one of the local papers on Saturday that said that the programme would be shown on Monday night at 8pm, which is traditionally the slot that Insight would have been shown in. Glorious Gardens is mid series though in that slot so I suppose they didn't want to have to shift it.
No real reason why they could have stuck with the 8pm slot and postponed Glorious Gardens until a later date... seems likely they wanted to use it for the return of UTV Live Tonight, and perhaps allow extra time for last-minute editing to keep the report as accurate as possible.
And the UTV lunchtime bulletin has moved back to the continuity studio again, looks like their residence in Studio 1 only lasted while Tonight was off the air.
The near thirty-minute piece did feel like it should have been branded as an Insight episode, so who knows why it wasn't.
I think it was originally going to be, there was an article in one of the local papers on Saturday that said that the programme would be shown on Monday night at 8pm, which is traditionally the slot that Insight would have been shown in. Glorious Gardens is mid series though in that slot so I suppose they didn't want to have to shift it.
No real reason why they could have stuck with the 8pm slot and postponed Glorious Gardens until a later date... seems likely they wanted to use it for the return of UTV Live Tonight, and perhaps allow extra time for last-minute editing to keep the report as accurate as possible.
And the UTV lunchtime bulletin has moved back to the continuity studio again, looks like their residence in Studio 1 only lasted while Tonight was off the air.
GE
A little off topic, but BBC Broadcasting House in Belfast was evacuated shortly after 11pm last night due to a security alert. Around two hours later, a controlled explosion was carried out on what turned out to be another hoax device. There were brief pictures of the controlled explosion on the morning Newsline bulletins this morning.
Did anyone notice what effect this had on television services last night? I presume BBC One NI and BBC Two NI just switched to network - last night being one of the rare evenings these days with no local programming, and the same schedule as network.
BBC Radio Ulster was on the air live with Cherrie McIlwaine. At around 11.15pm, following a track that Cherrie had introduced, a pre-recorded sequence of music was aired through until around 11.55pm. Then we had an old version of the Radio Ulster jingle, another track, then an apology from the announcer for the 'disruption to our scheduled programming' who linked straight into a live news update with Jacqui Godfrey (no intro). Interestingly there was no comment about the ongoing alert.
The Cherrie McIlwaine programme is available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00tcv14. This includes the announcement at midnight and the start of the news bulletin. Unfortunately the whole news bulletin with the link into 5 Live is no longer available on iPlayer.
Any ideas as to where this live update would have come from?
Anyway, after the news, the announcer returned to hand over to Radio 5 Live for the night - the scheduled two-hour Rory McConnell programme did not happen.
Its been a while since the BBC in Belfast have had to handle a bomb scare on their front door. Hopefully it won't become as regular an occurrence as it used to be.
Did anyone notice what effect this had on television services last night? I presume BBC One NI and BBC Two NI just switched to network - last night being one of the rare evenings these days with no local programming, and the same schedule as network.
BBC Radio Ulster was on the air live with Cherrie McIlwaine. At around 11.15pm, following a track that Cherrie had introduced, a pre-recorded sequence of music was aired through until around 11.55pm. Then we had an old version of the Radio Ulster jingle, another track, then an apology from the announcer for the 'disruption to our scheduled programming' who linked straight into a live news update with Jacqui Godfrey (no intro). Interestingly there was no comment about the ongoing alert.
The Cherrie McIlwaine programme is available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00tcv14. This includes the announcement at midnight and the start of the news bulletin. Unfortunately the whole news bulletin with the link into 5 Live is no longer available on iPlayer.
Any ideas as to where this live update would have come from?
Anyway, after the news, the announcer returned to hand over to Radio 5 Live for the night - the scheduled two-hour Rory McConnell programme did not happen.
Its been a while since the BBC in Belfast have had to handle a bomb scare on their front door. Hopefully it won't become as regular an occurrence as it used to be.
PE
peterrocket
Founding member
I would imagine, particularly given the troubled past in NI, that there's at least some kind of backup studio that can take control whether it be Blackstaff or even somewhere like Stormont.
Clearly they just need to update the jingles in that part of the world!
Clearly they just need to update the jingles in that part of the world!
CO
UTV appear to have recruited another new young female reporter with a nasal voice, a penchant for wearing jackets with big bows and primary school-level enunciation... yawn.
Mind you, there seems to be two English-accented male sports reporters who have been recruited on Newsline.
No advert break on UTV Live Tonight, unusually, where they credited Ruth Langsford as "Ruth Holmes" on a report on some upmarket Belfast hotel re-opening with "Norn Iron's A-List Celebs". Yawn again.
Mind you, there seems to be two English-accented male sports reporters who have been recruited on Newsline.
No advert break on UTV Live Tonight, unusually, where they credited Ruth Langsford as "Ruth Holmes" on a report on some upmarket Belfast hotel re-opening with "Norn Iron's A-List Celebs". Yawn again.
IS
Isonstine
Founding member
I think Macmillan Media - who provide both the Northern Ireland and Scotland news updates would have something to say as they are contracted. I would also think that with London and the nations not having the best of relationships that ITV would be making any moves to bring UTV back into things.
Don't forget that as ITV have done away with the GMTV brand - the company GMTV Limited which is now renamed as ITV Breakfast Limited technically still holds the separate breakfast franchise so I would imagine any existing arrangements in this regard would be carried over.
However, as always, if the price is right then all bets are off.
Don't forget that as ITV have done away with the GMTV brand - the company GMTV Limited which is now renamed as ITV Breakfast Limited technically still holds the separate breakfast franchise so I would imagine any existing arrangements in this regard would be carried over.
However, as always, if the price is right then all bets are off.