BBC North West Tonight

These days, it probably compares quite favourably with sub-regions such as Cambridge or Oxford, but you need to consider the reduction in space needed for the cameras and staff.

When I had the chance to go round the Westcountry studio before it closed in 2009, I was surprised at how small the cameras were. They were in relatively fixed floor positions, but also right up against the back wall as they were controlled remotely from the gallery and didn't require operators behind them.

That allows for wider shots of the studio, and better use of the space.

EDIT : However, having said that, here are some screen grabs taken of BBC Millbank (which I've been meaning to share for a while as they are using up space on the tellybox since February) which show camera operators in a small studio such as BBC Millbank....

http://i56.tinypic.com/swebyh.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/15846z4.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/icpd79.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/34pga4n.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/f3ajp5.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/2zyzyqa.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/23kx81v.jpg

...and t'video...

http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/StuartPlymouth/BBC-Millbank-2011-Studio-3.mp4

http://i53.tinypic.com/34pga4n.jpg
Hardly appropriate footwear, is it. Heels in a studio covered in cables. HSE would murder her for that.

I'm sure she didn't think we'd catch it to criticise.

I was under the impression that NWT's studio was actually one of the larger ones. It certainly looks bigger than London, Scotland and the Midlands. I fear that they will be down-graded when moving to Media City unless they share a set with Breakfast.

Studio B at New Broadcasting House is certainly very big. I got to go round it in the late 80s when they had the 'grey carpet' set on the walls on NWT. (I can't find an example on TV Ark)

....

Would like to see Stuart Flinders get the top job, if he wants it, but I think he may be moving down the News Channel route soon enough.

Other good options would be Dave Guest or Phillip Hayton (also of advancing years though).

I think Ranvir will probably be moving on soon (would make a good #2 on Breakfast), so I think somebody who can carry the programme on their own would be necessary.

Philip Hayton presented NWT for a short while in 1993, didn't last too long there though.

Interesting to see Kaye Forster's debut on NWT. Diane is having an extended period of leave, and will be back in July. No specific reason why...

Also, NWT will move to Salford in November.

Who did North West Tonight before Gordon. I remember Gordon's days on the Krypton Factor and many of us here remember Granada Tonight in the 90's quite fondly, but I've little recollection of a pre-Gordon North West Tonight. Always remember thinking it was somewhat of a step down for him, but I think he was a major coup in the BBC's battle in Granadaland.

This might be useful

http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/bbc_northwest/news.html

People may have thought the same about Nick Owen at BBC Birmingham, when he started on Midlands Today, but, apart from starting out in the newspaper world oop North, he started broadcasting on the old BBC Radio Birmingham in the early 70's before joining ITV!