TV Live Forum

Spencer post_id=54299 time= user_id=891 Wrote:The Sunday morning political slot has always taken a rather more gentle approach to interviewing which can be just as effective in its own way.

A less obviously confrontational style can cause politicians to drop their guard somewhat, which often results in some killer blows being dealt. Whilst I think hard political maulings have their place, I’m not sure it’s on a Sunday morning over breakfast.

I have always found her to begin with the "look, I'm cuddly" approach before pouncing.

Mauling has a place on Sunday mornings.

I don't recall Andrew Neil being very 'gentle' with them, and never started by trying to be 'cuddly' either.

I'd say Huw Edwards is one of the most likely names to takeover Sunday mornings. It's known that he doesn't want to leave the BBC completely after stepping down from the Ten, but would occasional big events and elections be enough work for him? Unless he's allowed to do work for other broadcasters, I can't see covering elections once every 2 - 3 years and occasional big news stories being enough for Huw. He's still at the top of his game at 60.
Even David Dimbleby still had weekly Question Time shows whilst being the big events & elections anchor. Sunday mornings, as well as big news stories, events and elections could be perfect for Huw.

Sophy Ridge would be my pick. She’d be a great addition to their election night coverage too.

The BBC seemed slightly caught on the hop by today's news, judging by the rather hastily prepared statements from Tim Davie and Fran Unsworth.

I think it will take the BBC a while to work what they want to do, bearing in speculation about Laura Keunssberg and Huw Edwards also wanting to change roles.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some rotating presenters on an interim format in January before the launch of a new fully fledged show. With the emphasis on moving shows out of London, I also wouldn't be surprised more presentation of the new show around the UK.

What makes you say that? How do we know they weren’t prepared statements waiting on his announcement?

(Not trying to be funny, just interesting as I didn’t read that from either statement!)

Newsroom post_id=54277 time=1637347622 user_id=1342 Wrote:

bfgarmy post_id=54266 time= user_id=977 Wrote:As an outside shout maybe Mishal Husain. Very used to interviewing politicians and world figures from Today and previously BBC World News, has the gravitas but warmth required for the Marr role and would no doubt be capable at the arts/culture sections.

Any of her, Kirsty Wark, Jon Sopel or Nick Robinson would be an excellent choice.

According to the Guardian, Mishal Husain has been tipped to replace Huw on the Ten when he moves to big events and elections.

What a catastrophic waste of Mishal’s talents it would be for them to sit her in front of an autocue four days a week. Today is a perfect vehicle for Mishal’s persistent but nuanced interviewing skill and warm yet precise style. I think her swapping the Sunday night Ten for the AM slot would make a lot of sense, in addition to Today once or twice a week.

I think if they want to move Nick Robinson off Today (just a hunch), this would be the logical landing spot/sideways move for him. That would in turn open up a spot for Sopel or Kuenssberg on Today.

Another name I haven’t seen mentioned: Reeta Chackrabati. She’s clearly viewed quite highly within the Beeb, and might actually suit a slightly slower-paced programme compared to network or rolling news. Chris Mason would also be excellent in the role, and his profile is a lot greater than your typical political correspondent.

For what it’s worth, I also think Fiona Bruce could really excel in the Marr role. I do wonder how her stint so far on Question Time is viewed internally.

Potentially don’t rule out Victoria Derbyshire, either. If the BBC have shown anything about how they’ve replaced the likes of David Dimbleby, Jonathan Dimbleby, Jeremy Paxman and John Humphrey’s in recent years, it’s that they don’t necessarily opt for the obvious choice (Fiona Bruce, Chris Mason, Evan Davis and (eventually) Amol Rajan, respectively).

If I were the Beeb I’d be turning my eyes towards C4 News.

Matt Frei might be good in that kind of role but not sure about anyone else in the C4 team.

Nicky Campbell could be a good shout - years of interviewing experience on 5 Live but mainstream enough not to put off viewers who might not watch a Sunday morning political show and familiar to Sunday morning viewers.

I do think Emma Barnett is the best shout so far though.

Stuart post_id=54301 time= user_id=875 Wrote:Mauling has a place on Sunday mornings.

I don't recall Andrew Neil being very 'gentle' with them, and never started by trying to be 'cuddly' either.

Andrew Neil rarely ever interviewed any politician of note in his final years at the BBC because of it. The PM didn't even do his primetime general election interview. The previous host was David Frost, I don't see a change in direction.

Bluecortina post_id=54391 time= user_id=1554 Wrote:If I were the Beeb I’d be turning my eyes towards C4 News.

A Sunday Morning show with big ratings that relies on big interviews won't be looking to a show that rates terribly and rarely attracts big names.

The Times is suggesting Nick Robinson as a likely contender. I can see him doing it, not least because he's filled in for Marr himself on several occasions, but it would be rather uninspired.

Regardless of that, i believe a new Sunday Morning show that replacing Andrew Marr show will featuring the new BBC logo. I think the new show will be the preparation of BBC News rebranding and overhaul as whole.

Nick Robinson is really part of the same old generation and would be a misguided choice. As with Adam B leaving Sky, there really is no one I can think of who could be an equivalent replacement within the BBC or Sky. They will have to go elsewhere.

I would expect Nick R would be next to go and this is a changing of the guard so to speak. I am not referring to physical age, more they represent an era that has ended.

Perhaps they can take a gamble on someone new, but should be prepared to let it develop.

Hello everyone. My first post so be kind!

It strikes me that Marr leaving opens up lots of possibilities to solve different 'problems'. Not just with BBC News but with the News Channel too. It all depends on who you perceive as being a) the linchpin and b) capable of doing the cultural or soft-power stuff. There are lots of moving parts at the moment and people suggesting that they'd like to do something different. If they pick the right person they could solve half a dozen other issues in one move and set the bulletins up for a good decade or two (a bit like 1999).

• Huw Edwards has said he'd like to move on at some point. If you offer him the Sunday morning show, state occasions, etc. he'd probably be quite happy. He has the scope to do work then for BBC Wales. That opens up a slot on the Ten. Mishal Hussein would be an obvious contender and would then open up a slot on the Today programme for... Laura Kuenssberg (which would in turn open up the PolEd post to somebody such as Jon Sopel).

• Choosing Kirsty Wark is quite smart and ticks lots of boxes. You could move you political show north of the border, give the major political interviews to a woman and open up a slot on Newsnight to... Jon Sopel? I'm no saying that you pair him and Maitlis but they do complement each other.

• Sophie Raworth is often overlooked for these things but she's the great survivor. She's done all of the main broadcasts, can combine serious with the lighter and is known to the audience. That would open up a slot on the Six and the Ten which could be filled by... anyone really. Take your pick.

• Justin Webb has proven himself time and again as a broadcaster. His questions to Starmer this week were excellent and completely unexpected. There's no reason why somebody with his experience (heavy political and foreign reporting experience and lighter stuff on Today, coupled with presenting Breakfast in the 90s) shouldn't have a chance. Move him from Today and you open up the slot to... well, you get the idea.

• Andrew Neil I wouldn't touch with a barge pole. Not for any reason other than all a politician as to do is throw GBNews in his face and remind him of his mistakes and... that's the interview undermined.

• Nick Robinson would be fine but not exactly a surprise. Former PolEd and Today host. He has the profile and the interviewing skills but... I don't know. It lacks a bit of 'Oh I wasn't expecting that'. But again, it would open up a role on the Today programme...

A lot depends on how you see the News Channel fitting in. At the moment it's lacking something though the likes of Victoria Derbyshire, Annita McVeigh and Martine Croxall all add something to it - capable, calm, measured and can think on the feet and ad lib (which is more than can be said for some that appear on the Channel). If the One remains effectively an offshoot of the News Channel then it's a bit cumbersome trying to pack everybody into the schedules. If the One is a standalone programme (à la the Six and the Ten) then you can pick two names to present it (Derbyshire, Hill, Brown) and use everybody else on the News Channel and develop talent for the next ten or twenty years (Ben Thompson, Christian Fraser, etc).

Saturdays and Sundays appear to have fallen by the wayside too. Depending on how you manage the talent for those two days - the late bulletin on BBC One on both days is a big bulletin - it could go someway to helping you move people around without putting too many noses out of joint.

It's a giant game of 4D chess. You have a Chief Presenter (who people generally like and trust) who wants to move on; a Deputy Chief Presenter who (in many ways) deserves a chance (either at the Six or Ten outright or on something different); you have ambitious individuals like a PolEd and North America Ed who could do it but are either untested (Kuenssberg) or have done it before (Sopel). And because you've marginalised one of the bulletins to News Channel status, you have less on-air real estate to work with. I don't envy anybody involved in this decision.

dougal post_id=54419 time= user_id=2315 Wrote:Hello everyone. My first post so be kind!

It strikes me that Marr leaving opens up lots of possibilities to solve different 'problems'. Not just with BBC News but with the News Channel too. It all depends on who you perceive as being a) the linchpin and b) capable of doing the cultural or soft-power stuff. There are lots of moving parts at the moment and people suggesting that they'd like to do something different. If they pick the right person they could solve half a dozen other issues in one move and set the bulletins up for a good decade or two (a bit like 1999).

• Huw Edwards has said he'd like to move on at some point. If you offer him the Sunday morning show, state occasions, etc. he'd probably be quite happy. He has the scope to do work then for BBC Wales. That opens up a slot on the Ten. Mishal Hussein would be an obvious contender and would then open up a slot on the Today programme for... Laura Kuenssberg (which would in turn open up the PolEd post to somebody such as Jon Sopel).

• Choosing Kirsty Wark is quite smart and ticks lots of boxes. You could move you political show north of the border, give the major political interviews to a woman and open up a slot on Newsnight to... Jon Sopel? I'm no saying that you pair him and Maitlis but they do complement each other.

• Sophie Raworth is often overlooked for these things but she's the great survivor. She's done all of the main broadcasts, can combine serious with the lighter and is known to the audience. That would open up a slot on the Six and the Ten which could be filled by... anyone really. Take your pick.

• Justin Webb has proven himself time and again as a broadcaster. His questions to Starmer this week were excellent and completely unexpected. There's no reason why somebody with his experience (heavy political and foreign reporting experience and lighter stuff on Today, coupled with presenting Breakfast in the 90s) shouldn't have a chance. Move him from Today and you open up the slot to... well, you get the idea.

• Andrew Neil I wouldn't touch with a barge pole. Not for any reason other than all a politician as to do is throw GBNews in his face and remind him of his mistakes and... that's the interview undermined.

• Nick Robinson would be fine but not exactly a surprise. Former PolEd and Today host. He has the profile and the interviewing skills but... I don't know. It lacks a bit of 'Oh I wasn't expecting that'. But again, it would open up a role on the Today programme...

A lot depends on how you see the News Channel fitting in. At the moment it's lacking something though the likes of Victoria Derbyshire, Annita McVeigh and Martine Croxall all add something to it - capable, calm, measured and can think on the feet and ad lib (which is more than can be said for some that appear on the Channel). If the One remains effectively an offshoot of the News Channel then it's a bit cumbersome trying to pack everybody into the schedules. If the One is a standalone programme (à la the Six and the Ten) then you can pick two names to present it (Derbyshire, Hill, Brown) and use everybody else on the News Channel and develop talent for the next ten or twenty years (Ben Thompson, Christian Fraser, etc).

Saturdays and Sundays appear to have fallen by the wayside too. Depending on how you manage the talent for those two days - the late bulletin on BBC One on both days is a big bulletin - it could go someway to helping you move people around without putting too many noses out of joint.

It's a giant game of 4D chess. You have a Chief Presenter (who people generally like and trust) who wants to move on; a Deputy Chief Presenter who (in many ways) deserves a chance (either at the Six or Ten outright or on something different); you have ambitious individuals like a PolEd and North America Ed who could do it but are either untested (Kuenssberg) or have done it before (Sopel). And because you've marginalised one of the bulletins to News Channel status, you have less on-air real estate to work with. I don't envy anybody involved in this decision.

For a first post, that has to be one of the best and most considered posts I've read on this forum.

I concur with your take on it, think you've got it spot on.