Big changes at breakfast today, after a week off, McCoy has indeed turned-up on breakfast as rumoured, but for some reason not promoted, with co-presenter Kirsty Gallacher, formerly with Sky Sports News. The two work much better together than McCoy & Alex Phillips, which isn't saying much TBH, they are both naturally laughing at times, rather than the forced laugher from Phillips, very professional overall presentation.
They have moved from the sofa studio into the one used by Farage, so are sitting at that white flat-pack desk, with that fuzzy background, but at least it doesn't seem to be flicking any longer. Certainly since 8 am there's been no tech issues, even sound levels between the studio, outside reporters & pre-recorded inserts have been good.
The format is now more akin to a proper news programme, top of the 'clock hour' headlines, followed by more in-depth reporting on some national stories with fairly suitable input from reporters outside Heathrow Airport and Parliament, followed by sport, then headlines on the half hour, so a serious move from the studio discussion format.
Next up a couple of regional stories, one about Team GB pairing up with Hull University, including live reporter in Hull and insert from Matt Langridge MBE (rowing), then live to Hertfordshire covering the plans for a new 'Hollywood' style studio to be built -
see this report from The Independent. The last 15 minutes of the 'clock hour' was some input from viewers and a bit of banter between the presenters. There was nothing particularly right-wing, nor loony, about it TBH.
It seemed a very well structured 'clock hour' format, with specific things happening at specific times, whereas before it was all over the place, with lots of inane waffle between presenters and 'guest', which tended to be another GBN staffer. Leave the staff to fill much of the time just talking about any old story just doesn't work, they can't be experts in every subject, and therefore just come across as idiots.
It is a massive improvement TBH, and as BBC 1 is doing the Olympics & the News Channel has someone signing, which I find distracting, plus I can't stand Kay Burley on Sky, that was a very watchable hour.
I thought from the start they should have gone with this sort of rolling news format during breakfast & daytime, leaving discussion programmes to the evening, I wonder if that's the direction they are going in. I can certainly see the new breakfast show getting better viewing figures if it continues like this, but nowhere near enough to rescue the station.
