Midlands Today
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Midlands Today | |
 Midlands Today titles |
|
| Format | Regional News |
|---|---|
| Presented by | Nick Owen Suzanne Virdee (Main Anchors) Ian Winter (Main Sports Presenter) Shefali Oza Simon Keeling Genelle Aldred Ben Rich (Weather Presenters) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | BBC Midlands |
| Running time | Main bulletin: 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One West Midlands |
| Original run | 28 September 1964 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | East Midlands Today Central News |
Midlands Today is the BBC's regional television news programme for the West Midlands region, which covers the West Midlands county, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Herefordshire. Midlands Today began on 28 September 1964, from a small studio in Broad Street, Birmingham.
Midlands Today's signal originates from Sutton Coldfield or can be watched in any part of the UK (and Europe) on digital satellite channel 979 on the BBC UK regional TV on satellite service, via Astra 2D at 28.2 degrees East. The latest edition is also available to view again on the Midlands Today website anytime.
Midlands Today is produced by BBC Midlands and broadcasts on BBC One during the regional news slots during and following the main national news. The programme is produced and broadcast from the BBC studios in The Mailbox, Birmingham which has been its base since 25 October 2004. Journalists are also based at newsrooms in Wolverhampton, Coventry, Hereford, Worcester, Stoke-on-Trent, and Shrewsbury.
The programme began broadcasting from a small room in the Birmingham Register Office and moved to the custom-built Pebble Mill broadcasting centre in Edgbaston on 10 November 1971. It remained there until the studios closed on 22 October 2004.
Until 1991, "Midlands Today" covered the entire Midlands region - the East Midlands counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire are now covered by BBC East Midlands Today based in Nottingham.
The main 6.30pm presenters are Nick Owen (formerly a presenter of Good Morning with Anne and Nick) and Suzanne Virdee. Other presenters include Kay Alexander, Michael Collie (formerly a presenter on Countryfile and Top Gear), Sarah Falkland, Satnam Rana and Ashley Blake (formerly of Watchdog). Shefali Oza, Genelle Aldred and Ben Rich present weather and Ian Winter is the main sports presenter.
Former presenters have included Tom Coyne, the late Alan Towers (until July 1997), David Stevens, David Davies, Kathy Rochford (who transferred to the East Midlands), Sue Beardsmore, Matt Smith, Julian Worricker, Bernardette Kearney and Michael Buerk.
Senior presenter Alan Towers's on-air departure in July 1997 (after twenty five years) brought about one of the most controversial moments in the programme's history when he shared indignant views on the state of BBC management, describing them as pygmies in grey suits wearing blindfolds.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Weekday Presenters and Broadcasts
Morning News: 6:25, 6:55, 7:25, 7:55, 8:30 and 9:05 during BBC Breakfast. Lasts 5 minutes.
Each update contains the look at the news, traffic and weather.
It is usually presented by one of the following:
- Katie Rowlett (Main Presenter)
- Giles Latcham (Main Presenter)
- Kay Alexander (Main Presenter)
- Ben Godfrey (Relief Presenter)
- Sarah Falkland (Relief Presenter)
- Michelle Robinson (Relief Presenter)
Lunchtime News: 1:30pm and takes place after BBC News at One. Lasts 15 minutes.
The programme contains the news, sport and weather.
It is usually presented by one of the following:
- Suzanne Virdee (Main Presenter)
- Nick Owen (Main Presenter)
- Kay Alexander (Main Presenter)
- Satnam Rana (Relief Presenter)
- Sarah Falkland (Relief Presenter)
News Update: 3.00pm and takes place after the BBC News Update. Lasts 3 Minutes.
The update contains a look at the news and also has signing for deaf people. No weather.
It is usually presented by one of the following:
- Suzanne Virdee (Main Presenter)
- Nick Owen (Main Presenter)
Evening News: Main news at 6.30pm after BBC News at Six. Lasts 30 minutes.
It contains the news in detail, sport and weather.
It's co-presented by the main anchors Nick Owen and Suzanne Virdee.
Relief presenters include:
- Michael Collie (Relief Presenter)
- Sarah Falkland (Relief Presenter)
- Daniel Pallett (Relief Presenter)
News Update: 8.00pm and takes place after the BBC News (8pm Summary). Lasts 30 seconds.
It contains a look at the main headlines and a brief weather summary.
It is usually presented by one of the following:
- Suzanne Virdee (Main Presenter)
- Sarah Falkland (Relief Presenter)
- Satnam Rana (Relief Presenter)
- Daniel Pallett (Relief Presenter)
- Giles Latcham (Relief Presenter)
- Ben Godfrey (Relief Presenter)
Late News: 10:25pm and is part of the BBC News at Ten. Lasts 10 minutes.
It contains a look at the news and sport. No weather.
It is usually presented by one of the following:
- Suzanne Virdee (Main Presenter)
- Nick Owen (Main Presenter)
- Sarah Falkland (Main Presenter)
- Satnam Rana (Friday Presenter)
- Ashley Blake (Relief Presenter - Suspended as of February 2009)
- Daniel Pallett (Relief Presenter)
[edit] Weekend Presenters and Broadcasts
Saturdays: Usually late afternoon around 5.00 - 6.00pm. Lasts about 10 minutes.
Sundays: Usually early evening around 7.00pm. Lasts around 10 minutes.
The weekend news includes a look at the sport and weather.
The weekend news team consists of:
- Michael Collie (Main Presenter)
- Sarah Falkland (Main Presenter)
- Daniel Pallett (Relief Presenter)
[edit] Politics Show
The Politics show is on Sundays usually at 12pm or 11am occasionaly. It lasts for around 1 hour with a section in the West Midlands talking about the Polictics here.
| Presenters | Duties |
|---|---|
| BBC West Midlands Politics Show | |
| Michael Collie | Regular Politics Show Presenter |
| Sarah Falkland | Regular Politics Show Presenter |
[edit] Other Presenters
| Presenters | Duties |
|---|---|
| Weather Presenters | |
| Shefali Oza | Regular Weather Presenter |
| Genelle Aldred | Regular Weather Presenter |
| Ben Rich | Breakfast and Weekend Presenter |
| Simon Keeling | Weather Presenter |
| Sports Presenters | |
| Ian Winter | Main Sports Presenter |
| Nick Clitheroe | Sports Presenter |
| Daniel Pallett | Sports Presenter/Also Presents News Bulletins |
[edit] Reporters
[edit] References[edit] External links
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