ITV Evening News
Encyclopedia
The ITV News at 6:30 is the evening news bulletin on the British
television network ITV
. It is produced by ITN.
The 30-minute programme, presented by Mary Nightingale
and Alastair Stewart
covers British national and international news stories and broadcasts at 6:30pm from Monday to Friday. In the event of a major news story, one of the programme's presenters will front the first ten to fifteen minutes of the programme from the scene of the story. The other newscaster will remain in the studio and read the day's other news.
On Bank Holidays, the main evening bulletin usually airs at either 6:15pm or 6:45pm, running for 15 minutes.
; this simple bulletin made use of a light blue background with a single camera, and was intended as a round-up of the day's headlines and looking at stories to be covered in more length by that evening's edition of News at Ten.
This changed in September 6, 1976 when ITV introduced a daytime television schedule for the first time; this new schedule included a new programme, the ITN News at 545, with the first edition broadcast at 5:45pm on September 6, 1976. The 545 marked a major departure in presentational style from the ITN News that had preceded it. Initially, the bulletins were broadcast from the Police Five studio, which enabled the producers to make extensive use of chromakey to display images behind the newscaster, several studio cameras, interviews with correspondents in the studio and on a TV monitor, and wide screen shots of the studio set at the beginning and end of the programme, and when handing over to correspondents.
Alastair Burnet
was the original host of the News at 545. Michael Nicholson
presented the bulletin on Fridays (due to the Friday edition featuring a "World News" update), and was also a relief presenter. Immediately after the visual 'roll' and electronic audio at the beginning, the announcer intoned in a hushed tone: "The news at 5:45, with Alastair Burnett/Michael Nicholson". Other relief newscasters in the late 1970s included Leonard Parkin
, who at the time also regularly hosted the News at One, and Martyn Lewis
. In March 1980, when Burnett departed the 545 to present News at Ten, Nicholson replaced him as main anchor, with Carol Barnes
taking over as relief presenter. In September 1986, Nicholson left the 545 to return to war reporting, and was replaced by Alastair Stewart
.
In 1988 the News at 545 underwent some cosmetic changes, with the visual 'roll' logo and electronic audio being dropped in favour of a new computer-generated opening sequence and a more contemporary theme tune; the studio images were still inlaid using chromakey, although these were now also generated by computer. The programme was moved to the main newsroom within the ITN headquarters building, and full-length reports were now featured as part of the programme. ITN dispensed with the "main" presenter and relief host format, and instead a "team" of newscasters - Alastair Stewart
, Fiona Armstrong
, Nicholas Owen, Trevor McDonald
and Carol Barnes
- began presenting the show on a "rotation" basis. In 1989, the introduction of a national weather
forecast at the end of the programme led to the bulletin's timeslot starting earlier at 5:40pm, being extended in length and the title being changed to News at 540.
Due to the Gulf Crisis of 1991, ITN were temporarily granted a full half-hour slot each evening; the continual change of time (and length) of the bulletin around this time led to the News at 540 being known simply as the ITN News, although the theme tune and set stayed the same with the 540 logo removed from the titles until the bulletin returned to the 5:40pm after the Gulf War ending.
By March 1992, the 540 was dropped, and re-launched as the ITN Early Evening News, though the bulletin remained at 5:40pm and kept the Early Evening News name. The "team" of presenters was scrapped, and John Suchet
took over as the programme's main newscaster until the Early Evening News was axed on 5 March 1999.
The 6:30pm ITV Evening News was launched three days later with Trevor McDonald
as its main presenter. He left to present the short-lived revival of News at Ten in 2001 and subsequently became main presenter on the ITV News at 10.30
(and later, a third incarnation of News at Ten in January 2008). Following McDonald's departure from the ITV Evening News in 2001, Dermot Murnaghan
and Mary Nightingale
became the programme's main newscasters. Mark Austin replaced Murnaghan following the latter presenter's defection to BBC News
in 2002.
In August 2009, it was announced that after 16 years co-hosting London Tonight
, Alastair Stewart was to leave the regional news programme to become main co-anchor of the ITV Evening News. Mark Austin, as the channel's lead news anchor, co-presents the ITV News at Ten but continues as a stand-in anchor for the 6.30pm bulletin.
In September 2011, it was announced that ITV
is to pilot a new hour-long 6pm news programme that integrates its early evening regional and national news bulletins. It will also be in direct competition with the BBC News at Six. But this is only a pilot and if it proves to be unsuccessful the news at 6.30 will be re-introduced to the ITV schedules. No date has yet been set for the pilot too air.
and ITN's 50th birthday celebrations:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television network ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. It is produced by ITN.
The 30-minute programme, presented by Mary Nightingale
Mary Nightingale
Mary Nightingale is an English newsreader and television presenter. She is a newsreader for ITN on ITV News, and presents the cookery series Britain's Best Dish on ITV1.-Education:...
and Alastair Stewart
Alastair Stewart
Alastair James Stewart OBE is an English journalist and newscaster. Stewart is currently employed by ITN where he is a main newscaster for ITV News.-Early life:...
covers British national and international news stories and broadcasts at 6:30pm from Monday to Friday. In the event of a major news story, one of the programme's presenters will front the first ten to fifteen minutes of the programme from the scene of the story. The other newscaster will remain in the studio and read the day's other news.
On Bank Holidays, the main evening bulletin usually airs at either 6:15pm or 6:45pm, running for 15 minutes.
History
When ITN was formed on 22 September 1955, there were initially evening news bulletins on the ITV network. Originally a short ITN News broadcast was screened in the late afternoons, presented by Gordon HoneycombeGordon Honeycombe
Ronald Gordon Honeycombe is an author, playwright and stage actor, well known in the United Kingdom as a national television newscaster....
; this simple bulletin made use of a light blue background with a single camera, and was intended as a round-up of the day's headlines and looking at stories to be covered in more length by that evening's edition of News at Ten.
This changed in September 6, 1976 when ITV introduced a daytime television schedule for the first time; this new schedule included a new programme, the ITN News at 545, with the first edition broadcast at 5:45pm on September 6, 1976. The 545 marked a major departure in presentational style from the ITN News that had preceded it. Initially, the bulletins were broadcast from the Police Five studio, which enabled the producers to make extensive use of chromakey to display images behind the newscaster, several studio cameras, interviews with correspondents in the studio and on a TV monitor, and wide screen shots of the studio set at the beginning and end of the programme, and when handing over to correspondents.
Alastair Burnet
Alastair Burnet
Sir Alastair Burnet is a British journalist and broadcaster, known for his work in news and current affairs programmes.- Early life :...
was the original host of the News at 545. Michael Nicholson
Michael Nicholson
Michael Nicholson OBE is an English journalist and former ITN Senior Foreign Correspondent.- Journalistic career :Born in Romford, Essex, Nicholson attended the University of Leicester. Nicholson was a war reporter for ITN, who reported from wars in Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Vietnam, Cambodia,...
presented the bulletin on Fridays (due to the Friday edition featuring a "World News" update), and was also a relief presenter. Immediately after the visual 'roll' and electronic audio at the beginning, the announcer intoned in a hushed tone: "The news at 5:45, with Alastair Burnett/Michael Nicholson". Other relief newscasters in the late 1970s included Leonard Parkin
Leonard Parkin
Leonard Parkin, Leonard Parkin, Leonard Parkin, (2 June 1929 - 20 September 1993 in Thurnscoe, Yorkshire, England, was a British TV journalist and newscaster who worked for both the BBC and ITN.He was educated at Hemsworth Grammar School, Yorkshire...
, who at the time also regularly hosted the News at One, and Martyn Lewis
Martyn Lewis (journalist)
Martyn Lewis CBE is a British television news presenter and journalist.-Early life:Lewis was born in Swansea, West Glamorgan, though was educated at the co-educational Dalriada School in Northern Ireland and graduated with a BA degree from Trinity College, Dublin. He then joined BBC Northern...
. In March 1980, when Burnett departed the 545 to present News at Ten, Nicholson replaced him as main anchor, with Carol Barnes
Carol Barnes
Carol Lesley Barnes was a British television newsreader and broadcaster. She worked for ITN from 1975 to 2004.-Early life:...
taking over as relief presenter. In September 1986, Nicholson left the 545 to return to war reporting, and was replaced by Alastair Stewart
Alastair Stewart
Alastair James Stewart OBE is an English journalist and newscaster. Stewart is currently employed by ITN where he is a main newscaster for ITV News.-Early life:...
.
In 1988 the News at 545 underwent some cosmetic changes, with the visual 'roll' logo and electronic audio being dropped in favour of a new computer-generated opening sequence and a more contemporary theme tune; the studio images were still inlaid using chromakey, although these were now also generated by computer. The programme was moved to the main newsroom within the ITN headquarters building, and full-length reports were now featured as part of the programme. ITN dispensed with the "main" presenter and relief host format, and instead a "team" of newscasters - Alastair Stewart
Alastair Stewart
Alastair James Stewart OBE is an English journalist and newscaster. Stewart is currently employed by ITN where he is a main newscaster for ITV News.-Early life:...
, Fiona Armstrong
Fiona Armstrong
Fiona Armstrong, Lady MacGregor of MacGregor is a freelance Scottish television journalist.-Early life and career:Armstrong was born in Preston, Lancashire. As a child she lived for ten years in Nigeria, where her father was in the colonial service. She became Lady MacGregor of MacGregor when she...
, Nicholas Owen, Trevor McDonald
Trevor McDonald
Sir Trevor McDonald OBE is a Trinidadian-British newsreader and journalist. He had a long career as a news presenter with ITN...
and Carol Barnes
Carol Barnes
Carol Lesley Barnes was a British television newsreader and broadcaster. She worked for ITN from 1975 to 2004.-Early life:...
- began presenting the show on a "rotation" basis. In 1989, the introduction of a national weather
ITV Weather
ITV Weather is the national and regional forecast shown on UK terrestrial network ITV, and is provided by the Met Office...
forecast at the end of the programme led to the bulletin's timeslot starting earlier at 5:40pm, being extended in length and the title being changed to News at 540.
Due to the Gulf Crisis of 1991, ITN were temporarily granted a full half-hour slot each evening; the continual change of time (and length) of the bulletin around this time led to the News at 540 being known simply as the ITN News, although the theme tune and set stayed the same with the 540 logo removed from the titles until the bulletin returned to the 5:40pm after the Gulf War ending.
By March 1992, the 540 was dropped, and re-launched as the ITN Early Evening News, though the bulletin remained at 5:40pm and kept the Early Evening News name. The "team" of presenters was scrapped, and John Suchet
John Suchet
John Suchet is a British news reader and television presenter.Suchet has two brothers, one of whom is David Suchet, a British actor. His father was Jack Suchet, who emigrated to England from South Africa in 1932, and trained to be a doctor at St Mary's Hospital, London...
took over as the programme's main newscaster until the Early Evening News was axed on 5 March 1999.
The 6:30pm ITV Evening News was launched three days later with Trevor McDonald
Trevor McDonald
Sir Trevor McDonald OBE is a Trinidadian-British newsreader and journalist. He had a long career as a news presenter with ITN...
as its main presenter. He left to present the short-lived revival of News at Ten in 2001 and subsequently became main presenter on the ITV News at 10.30
ITV News at 10.30
The ITV News at 10.30 was the flagship news programme on British television network ITV, airing Monday to Friday at 10.30pm. It was produced by ITN...
(and later, a third incarnation of News at Ten in January 2008). Following McDonald's departure from the ITV Evening News in 2001, Dermot Murnaghan
Dermot Murnaghan
Dermot Murnaghan is a British journalist and television presenter.He is well known for his work as a presenter of ITV and BBC News as well as the shows Eggheads and Treasure Hunt . He co-presented BBC Breakfast from Monday to Thursday as well as regularly fronting national BBC news bulletins...
and Mary Nightingale
Mary Nightingale
Mary Nightingale is an English newsreader and television presenter. She is a newsreader for ITN on ITV News, and presents the cookery series Britain's Best Dish on ITV1.-Education:...
became the programme's main newscasters. Mark Austin replaced Murnaghan following the latter presenter's defection to BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
in 2002.
In August 2009, it was announced that after 16 years co-hosting London Tonight
London Tonight
London Tonight is a regional news programme broadcast on ITV London . Produced by ITN, the programme is broadcast at 6pm every weeknight, also including local sports news and local features of interest.Like all regional news programmes on ITV in England and Wales and Channel Television, it uses...
, Alastair Stewart was to leave the regional news programme to become main co-anchor of the ITV Evening News. Mark Austin, as the channel's lead news anchor, co-presents the ITV News at Ten but continues as a stand-in anchor for the 6.30pm bulletin.
In September 2011, it was announced that ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
is to pilot a new hour-long 6pm news programme that integrates its early evening regional and national news bulletins. It will also be in direct competition with the BBC News at Six. But this is only a pilot and if it proves to be unsuccessful the news at 6.30 will be re-introduced to the ITV schedules. No date has yet been set for the pilot too air.
Main newscasters
| Years | Newscasters | Other roles | Previous roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–present | Mary Nightingale Mary Nightingale Mary Nightingale is an English newsreader and television presenter. She is a newsreader for ITN on ITV News, and presents the cookery series Britain's Best Dish on ITV1.-Education:... |
||
| 2009–present | Alastair Stewart Alastair Stewart Alastair James Stewart OBE is an English journalist and newscaster. Stewart is currently employed by ITN where he is a main newscaster for ITV News.-Early life:... |
ITV News at 1:30 newscaster | Newscaster, 1992–1998; Relief newscaster, 2003–2009 |
Relief newscasters
| Years | Newscasters | Other roles | Previous roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–present | Mark Austin | ITV News at Ten newscaster | Main newscaster, 2002–2009 |
| 2011–present | Andrea Benfield Andrea Benfield Andrea Benfield , is an English journalist, currently working with ITV.Benfield is engaged to Wales rugby player Lee Byrne.-Early life:... |
Wales Tonight Wales Tonight Wales Tonight is a national television news and current affairs programme, also including local sports news and local features of interest, produced by ITV Wales at its studios in the western outskirts of Cardiff.... newscaster |
|
| 2008–present | Julie Etchingham Julie Etchingham Julie Etchingham is an English television newsreader and journalist. She is currently co-presenter of ITV News at Ten and is the presenter of the current affairs programme Tonight, having replaced Sir Trevor McDonald.... |
ITV News at Ten newscaster; Tonight Tonight (TV series) Tonight is a British television newsmagazine, produced by ITV Studios and ITN for the ITV network. Since 1999, Tonight replaced the long-running investigative series World in Action... presenter |
|
| 2004–present | Nina Hossain Nina Hossain Nina Hossain is a British journalist, presenter and newscaster.Hossain is currently employed on a freelance basis by ITN where she is the main presenter of ITV London's regional news programme London Tonight. Nina also acts as a relief newscaster for ITV News.-Background:Hossain was born in... |
London Tonight London Tonight London Tonight is a regional news programme broadcast on ITV London . Produced by ITN, the programme is broadcast at 6pm every weeknight, also including local sports news and local features of interest.Like all regional news programmes on ITV in England and Wales and Channel Television, it uses... newscaster |
|
| 2011–2012 | Natasha Kaplinsky Natasha Kaplinsky Natasha Margaret Kaplinsky is a British newsreader and television presenter, currently employed by ITV having previously worked for Channel 5, Sky News and the BBC... |
||
| 2002–present | James Mates James Mates James Mates is a British newsreader and journalist.Mates is currently employed by ITN where he presents on ITV News whilst also being senior correspondent.-Personal life:James Mates is the son of Conservative party politician Michael Mates... |
Senior Correspondent | |
| 2006–present | Steve Scott Steve Scott (journalist) Steve Scott is a legendary British newsreader. He was educated at Clifton College and began his career in local radio. Scott currently employed by ITN where he presents on the weekend ITV News bulletins and is the Sports Editor.-ITN:... |
Sports Editor | |
Former newscasters
- Fiona ArmstrongFiona ArmstrongFiona Armstrong, Lady MacGregor of MacGregor is a freelance Scottish television journalist.-Early life and career:Armstrong was born in Preston, Lancashire. As a child she lived for ten years in Nigeria, where her father was in the colonial service. She became Lady MacGregor of MacGregor when she...
- presenter, 1985–1989 - Carol BarnesCarol BarnesCarol Lesley Barnes was a British television newsreader and broadcaster. She worked for ITN from 1975 to 2004.-Early life:...
- relief presenter, 1982–1994 - Felicity BarrFelicity BarrFelicity Barr is a British journalist working for Al Jazeera English.-Early career:Barr trained as a journalist at 2-Ten FM, before she specialised in sports reporting, covering events in sport since 1994 when she worked as a freelance journalist...
- relief presenter, 2001–2005 - Andrea CatherwoodAndrea CatherwoodAndrea Catherine Catherwood is a Northern Irish television presenter and journalist.-Early life:Andrea Catherwood was born and raised in Belfast where her mother, 'Adrienne McGuill', was an announcer and newsreader at Ulster Television from 1959 to 1969, and also presented 'The Romper Room', from...
- relief presenter, 2003–2006 - Katie DerhamKatie DerhamKatie Derham is a British newscaster and a presenter on television and radio.-Early life:Derham was born in Stockport to John and Margaret Derham, and grew up in Wilmslow...
- relief presenter, 2002–2010 - Shiulie GhoshShiulie GhoshShiulie Ghosh is a television journalist for Al Jazeera English, a leading international news network headquartered in Doha, Qatar. She attended The Avenue Primary School, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, and then Teesside High....
- relief presenter, 1998–2006 - Trevor McDonaldTrevor McDonaldSir Trevor McDonald OBE is a Trinidadian-British newsreader and journalist. He had a long career as a news presenter with ITN...
- relief presenter, 1983–2001 - Lucy MeacockLucy MeacockLucy Meacock is a British television news presenter currently employed by ITV. She presents Granada Reports, a regional news programme for the North west of England.-Early life and education:...
- relief presenter, 2007–2009 - Dermot MurnaghanDermot MurnaghanDermot Murnaghan is a British journalist and television presenter.He is well known for his work as a presenter of ITV and BBC News as well as the shows Eggheads and Treasure Hunt . He co-presented BBC Breakfast from Monday to Thursday as well as regularly fronting national BBC news bulletins...
- relief presenter, 1989–2002
- Bill NeelyBill NeelyBill Neely is International Editor for ITV News, the news service produced by ITN for British commercial broadcaster ITV. He has been a broadcaster since 1981...
- relief presenter, 2006–2008 - Michael NicholsonMichael NicholsonMichael Nicholson OBE is an English journalist and former ITN Senior Foreign Correspondent.- Journalistic career :Born in Romford, Essex, Nicholson attended the University of Leicester. Nicholson was a war reporter for ITN, who reported from wars in Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Vietnam, Cambodia,...
- presenter, 1976–1986 - Lucy OwenLucy OwenLucy Owen is a Welsh television news reader.-Early life:Owen attended Howell's School in Llandaff, Cardiff, and graduated from the Royal Holloway, University of London in English.-Career:...
- relief presenter, 2004–2006 - Nicholas Owen - relief presenter, 1990–2007
- Leonard ParkinLeonard ParkinLeonard Parkin, Leonard Parkin, Leonard Parkin, (2 June 1929 - 20 September 1993 in Thurnscoe, Yorkshire, England, was a British TV journalist and newscaster who worked for both the BBC and ITN.He was educated at Hemsworth Grammar School, Yorkshire...
- relief presenter, 1976–1987 - John SuchetJohn SuchetJohn Suchet is a British news reader and television presenter.Suchet has two brothers, one of whom is David Suchet, a British actor. His father was Jack Suchet, who emigrated to England from South Africa in 1932, and trained to be a doctor at St Mary's Hospital, London...
- presenter, 1991–1999 - Geraint VincentGeraint VincentGeraint Vincent is a British journalist, currently employed by ITN as a special correspondent for the ITV News at Ten. Vincent lives in Cardiff.-Early life:...
- relief presenter, 2006–2009 - Romilly WeeksRomilly WeeksRomilly Saran Weeks is a British newsreader and journalist.Weeks is currently employed by ITN for ITV News.-Media career:After a career in acting, Weeks went into broadcasting journalism. Now an experienced presenter and journalist, she has covered events all round the world for ITN...
- relief presenter, 2006–2009 - Kirsty YoungKirsty YoungKirsty Jackson Young is a Scottish television presenter and radio presenter. She is the main presenter of Crimewatch and Desert Island Discs. She is married to millionaire club owner Nick Jones.- Career :...
- presenter, 2000–2002
Guest presenters
Between 19 September and 23 September 2005, former ITN newscasters returned to present the ITV Evening News alongside either Mark Austin or Mary Nightingale as part of ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
and ITN's 50th birthday celebrations:
- Julia SomervilleJulia SomervilleJulia Mary Fownes Somerville is a British television news anchor and reporter, who has worked for the BBC and ITN.-Education:...
- presenter of News at One and News at Ten, 1987–2001 - Martyn LewisMartyn Lewis (journalist)Martyn Lewis CBE is a British television news presenter and journalist.-Early life:Lewis was born in Swansea, West Glamorgan, though was educated at the co-educational Dalriada School in Northern Ireland and graduated with a BA degree from Trinity College, Dublin. He then joined BBC Northern...
- presenter of ITN News at 545 and News at Ten, 1976–1986 - Selina ScottSelina ScottSelina Scott is a British newsreader, journalist, television producer and presenter.- Background and early life :Scott was born in Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire in 1951, the eldest of five children...
- presenter of News at Ten, 1977–1982 - Gordon HoneycombeGordon HoneycombeRonald Gordon Honeycombe is an author, playwright and stage actor, well known in the United Kingdom as a national television newscaster....
- presenter of ITN bulletins, 1965–1977 - Anna FordAnna FordAnna Ford is a retired English journalist and television presenter, best known as a newsreader....
- presenter of News at Ten, 1975–1981