Here in BBC Midlands land we will have a similar situation in September, when veteran BBC WM presenter Ed Doolan reduces to 2 days a week & he's late 60's.
And to add to that BBC Look East Stuart White, but I think he is hanging on in there. He must be about 60. And although there are several male presenters I am really unsure who is best to take the helm.
Sad news this is, but I guess it's been a matter of when than if, last I checked I think Gordon is about 69 years old, so it's understandable, I wouldn't be too surprised if Tony Livesey gets the presenting gig full time, but it should be given to Stuart Flinders really. Although I thought he would have hung on a year to let NWT settle down at Salford Quays.
And 15 years??? I feel old, I remember the billboards and the promos at the time telling us that Gordon Burns was the new host of NWT.
Don't forget Tony Livesey is the late-night host on 5 Live, which he may not be able to do as well as fully anchoring an evening news show (and presumably the gig will still include lunchtimes too). He might think the national radio show is a bigger gig, especially with BBC Sport moving to Manchester which would presumably bring opportunities with it...
I've nothing particularly against Livesey but TBH it should be Stuart Flinders, he really deserves it after so many years, and his stint on the news channel should put him in a good position.
I tend to watch Granada Reports at 6 but I do now and again watch NWT at 6.30 and Lunchtime so it wont be the same with out Gordon. I think Gordon is older then 60? also is it may when they move to the new home?
Another vote for Stuart Flinders here. He's been Gordon's understudy for so long that it would be a slap in the face for Tony Livesey to waltz in and take the lead role after just a few years.
It's a shame Gordon's leaving, but it had to happen eventually. I don't think NWT will ever be quite the same without him, though.
Very sad news, NWT will not be the same again. Yes I see Flinders getting the job, a natural progression, with Tony Livesey staying at 5Live probably moving to a more peak time show in due course with BBC Sport presenting duties thrown in too.
What does this mean for Ranvir? She's had a few spots on 5Live covering Weekend Breakfast and the 10pm-1am slot so maybe she'll move on or become more prominent on 5Live or even BBC Breakfast?
I wouldn't be too surprised if Tony Livesey gets the presenting gig full time, but it should be given to Stuart Flinders really. Although I thought he would have hung on a year to let NWT settle down at Salford Quays.
BBC Manchester have moved before. When I was a 'wee lad' they came from a tiny studio in a victorian building just off Piccadilly Gardens. This is a dreadfully low quality pic from an old RealPlayer file
I think it used mirrors to give the impression of space.
EDIT: Having checked on TVArk, it appears that this pic is from 1985, which is after the move to NBH on Oxford Road.
While surfing to find a clip of the Mundy/Hall combo to illustrate my post above, I actually came across this rather bizarre clip from 1981, apparently recorded when they moved out of the old building and into Studio-B at New BH.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nq3wVX7iuc
It's mute but gives you a great idea of just how pokey that studio was. Interesting that they used multiple corners and mini-sets.
I thought that NBH opened in the late 70s, so can anyone confirm why news spent so long at Piccadilly?
While surfing to find a clip of the Mundy/Hall combo to illustrate my post above, I actually came across this rather bizarre clip from 1981, apparently recorded when they moved out of the old building and into Studio-B at New BH.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nq3wVX7iuc
It's mute but gives you a great idea of just how pokey that studio was. Interesting that they used multiple corners and mini-sets.
I thought that NBH opened in the late 70s, so can anyone confirm why news spent so long at Piccadilly?
That's fascinating...I'm guessing the "NEWS" vertically on a bit of black card was superimposed next to the newsreader in some shots, can't see it being used on it's own?
That's fascinating...I'm guessing the "NEWS" vertically on a bit of black card was superimposed next to the newsreader in some shots, can't see it being used on it's own?
No, that's the 'hi-tech' title sequence for daytime bulletins, which did appear as tacky on screen as it obviously was in reality.
It was at least given 'false colour' (not sure of technical term), which made it show on screen as yellow or white letters on a blue background.
You can see the two black strips, which would be pulled to reveal 'ORTH' and 'EST' next to the N & W in NEWS.
