BBC News (UK): October 2021 onwards

[DTV]

Well, James Landale would be a fantastic choice. He was vocally peeved when he didn't get it last time around and moved to the Diplomatic Dept.

Though given he was seen as a frontrunner to be Theresa May's Director of Communications, his appointment could possibly be politically sensitive. I know that he was approached and declined rather than applied, but you don't get approached for that kind of job without them more than suspecting that you lean their way.

[Rolling News]

Vicki Young would be my ideal choice. Although I’ve a feeling Peston will return to the BBC and get it.

[DTV]

Although I’ve a feeling Peston will return to the BBC and get it.

Doubt it. A move from ITV to the BBC would likely mean both a pay cut and the loss of his own show for what is largely a sideways move. Not to mention the fact that Peston's appalling use of social media would become much more of an issue if he was working for the BBC.

[Andrew]

And if you notice, Peston doesn’t do as much day to day run of the mill stuff on ITV, he’s almost like a special correspondent. Even on big political news days he is absent. The same role on the BBC involves appearing 4 days per week

[Newsroom]

PESTON: The BEEEB would never let him back. He's broken very few big stories at ITV News. A damp squib.

In the words of Madonna: Trip the station, change the channel

[Newsroom]

Vicki Young would be my ideal choice. Although I’ve a feeling Peston will return to the BBC and get it.

On what merits? He excelled at the BBC in Business and broke some incredible stories.He just doesn't suit politics, he comes across as slow and unsure - weary.

[Brekkie]

Am I right in thinking Laura was at ITV for a year or two before returning to the BBC?

[Omnipresent]

Am I right in thinking Laura was at ITV for a year or two before returning to the BBC?

Yes, Laura joined ITV News as Business Editor in 2011 before returning to the BBC to join Newsnight in 2013:

https://www.itn.co.uk/press-releases/itv...ess-editor

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/n...kuenssberg

[Moz]

Chris Mason for me. The man is just brilliant.

[Omnipresent]

Is Nick Watt’s role at Newsnight continuing long term? Today and Newsnight were both meant to be losing their dedicated specialist correspondents, so I assumed Watt’s role is included in that? Other people, like Katie Razzall, have already moved onto bigger roles within the Beeb.

I don't know but Nick has been working for other programmes. Sometimes Nick has filed reports for the Today Programme on Radio 4 (presumably recorded after Newsnight) as well as appearing on Andrew Marr.

[Solari]

There's a really good journo, used to present a lot of the Beeb's political programmes and was one of their lead interviewers - I think his name might be Andrew Neil...? I hear he's free these days - might be worth a shout. 8-)

In all seriousness, I thought Michael Crick was on to something when he suggested that the Beeb separate the pol ed role into two - one for TV, one for radio. I doubt they will - not in this era of cuts, cuts and more cuts - but I think it would break up what must be an almost Herculean workload, and maybe encourage some (friendly?) competition between the two, keeping them on their toes. But anyway... I can't see it being Jon Sopel - as others have pointed out, he is 63; nor can I see the Beeb hiring from outside. My money is on Vicki Young.

[bkman1990]

How many sources does Nick Watt have in his role on Newsnight when compared to Chris Mason? Would the number & the quality of the sources involved create a big amount of influence if they're potentially being eyed up for nabbing the role of BBC News Political Editor?

[boddington]

The windows of the Andrew Marr Show / Newsnight studio look like they need a good clean from the outside, based on the Andrew Marr Show this morning - though it's currently overcast in London, so that may be adding to the grey / murky effect.

I agree with previous comments about the sofa covers: it looks very makeshift and unprofessional indeed.

[Stanley Matravers]

The fact that the chromakey (?) newsroom backdrop for the Marr news update *still* has the frosted swooshes in the foreground infuriates me.

The swooshes generally ceased to part of any national news studio/set backdrops, with the move to NBH. Why the virtual backdrop for Marr etc was not de-swooshed at that time, or hasn't yet been at any point since, is anyone's guess. Sort it out!

[Steve Williams]

In all seriousness, I thought Michael Crick was on to something when he suggested that the Beeb separate the pol ed role into two - one for TV, one for radio. I doubt they will - not in this era of cuts, cuts and more cuts - but I think it would break up what must be an almost Herculean workload, and maybe encourage some (friendly?) competition between the two, keeping them on their toes. But anyway... I can't see it being Jon Sopel - as others have pointed out, he is 63; nor can I see the Beeb hiring from outside. My money is on Vicki Young.

In Peter Sissons' book he mentions being offered by the Political Editor role by John Birt in the mid-noughties, when he was on Channel Four News, but this would be a substantially pumped-up role with increased responsibilities of running the entire BBC political unit, including hiring and firing. He thought that sounded the most pressurised job imaginable and turned it down, as did everyone else they asked presumably, given it never happened.