The BBC Six O'Clock News (to be renamed BBC News at Six on Monday 21 April^[1]) is the evening news programme broadcast daily on British television channel BBC One and BBC News 24 from 6:00pm until 6:30pm. It is currently presented by George Alagiah on Monday to Thursday and Sian Williams on Friday. Image File history File links BBC_Six_O'Clock_News. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... George Maxwell Alagiah (born November 22, 1955 in Sri Lanka) is a newsreader on BBC Television in the UK. He co-presents the Six OClock News with Natasha Kaplinsky. ... Sian Williams with co-presenter Dermot Murnaghan on the set of BBC Breakfast Sian Mary Williams (born 28 November 1964 in Eastbourne, Sussex) is a television presenter for the BBC. She currently presents BBC Breakfast on Monday-Thursday alongside Dermot Murnaghan. ... For other persons named David Lowe, see David Lowe (disambiguation). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 1. ... In the United Kingdom, Sixty Minutes was a BBC national, international and regional news hour that ran each weekday evening from 17:40 from 24 October 1983[1] to 27 July 1984[2] on BBC One. ... BBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and BBC News 24. ... The BBC One OClock News is the early afternoon news bulletin from the BBC. Produced by BBC News, the programme is broadcast on BBC One and BBC News 24 every weekday. ... The BBC Ten OClock News is the flagship evening news programme for British television channel BBC One and BBC News 24. ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 1. ... BBC News 24 is the BBCs 24 hour rolling news television channel in the United Kingdom. ... George Maxwell Alagiah (born November 22, 1955 in Sri Lanka) is a newsreader on BBC Television in the UK. He co-presents the Six OClock News with Natasha Kaplinsky. ... Sian Williams with co-presenter Dermot Murnaghan on the set of BBC Breakfast Sian Mary Williams (born 28 November 1964 in Eastbourne, Sussex) is a television presenter for the BBC. She currently presents BBC Breakfast on Monday-Thursday alongside Dermot Murnaghan. ...

For a long period the Six O'Clock News was the most watched news programme in the UK but since 2006 it has been over taken by the Ten O'Clock News. On average it pulls in 4 million viewers.^[2]

History

The original programme titles, from 1984.

George Alagiah presenting a bulletin in 2007.

The programme launched on 3 September, 1984, replacing early evening news magazine Sixty Minutes and was originally presented by Sue Lawley and Nicholas Witchell. Both presenters have since moved on to other positions within BBC News and the BBC itself. Jeremy Paxman, who went on to present Newsnight in 1989, was relief newsreader from 10 September. ^[3] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... In the United Kingdom, Sixty Minutes was a BBC national, international and regional news hour that ran each weekday evening from 17:40 from 24 October 1983[1] to 27 July 1984[2] on BBC One. ... Sue Lawley (born 14 July 1946) is an English broadcaster. ... Nicholas Newton Henshall Witchell (born September 23, 1953) is a British journalist. ... Jeremy Dickson Paxman (born 11 May 1950) is an English BBC journalist, news presenter and author. ... Newsnight is a British daily news analysis, current affairs and politics programme broadcast between 22:40 and 23:20 on weekdays on BBC Two. ...

In 1988, the Six O'Clock News studio was famously invaded during a live broadcast by a female group protesting against Britain's Section 28 (a law against the promotion of homosexuality in schools). Witchell famously grappled with the protesters and is said to have sat on one woman, provoking the memorable front-page headline in the Daily Mirror, Beeb man sits on lesbian.^[4] Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Sir Ian McKellen with Michael Cashman at the 1988 Gay Rights March on Manchester in protest against Section 28. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... Alternate newspaper: The Daily Mirror (Australia) The Daily Mirror is a popular British tabloid daily newspaper. ...

In May 1999, the bulletin was relaunched, along with the rest of the BBC's television news programmes and the new anchor was Huw Edwards with Fiona Bruce as the deputy anchor. Both Huw and Fiona left the Six O'Clock News in January 2003 when they were moved to the Ten O'Clock News. Huw Edwards (born August 1961) is a newsreader, or anchor, with the BBC in the United Kingdom. ... Fiona Bruce (born 25 April 1964 in Singapore) is a British journalist and television presenter in the United Kingdom. ... The BBC Ten OClock News is the flagship evening news programme for British television channel BBC One and BBC News 24. ...

On Monday 20 January 2003 as George Alagiah and Sophie Raworth took over, the bulletin was relaunched along with the rest of BBC One's news bulletins. During Raworth's first maternity leave in 2004, Sian Williams stood in for her for over the six months. However, during Raworth's second maternity leave at the end of 2005, Natasha Kaplinsky stood in, originally as a temporary measure. As part of a presenter reshuffle in April 2006, Kaplinsky was confirmed as the new full-time presenter. Sophie Raworth was later named as the main presenter of the One O'Clock News. is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... George Maxwell Alagiah (born November 22, 1955 in Sri Lanka) is a newsreader on BBC Television in the UK. He co-presents the Six OClock News with Natasha Kaplinsky. ... Sophie Raworth (pronounced ) (born 15 May 1968) in Redhill, and also known as Sophie Winter is a newsreader on BBC Television in the UK. In April 2006, she became the main presenter of the BBC One OClock News, after the retirement of Anna Ford. ... Sian Williams with co-presenter Dermot Murnaghan on the set of BBC Breakfast Sian Mary Williams (born 28 November 1964 in Eastbourne, Sussex) is a television presenter for the BBC. She currently presents BBC Breakfast on Monday-Thursday alongside Dermot Murnaghan. ... Natasha presenting the BBC Six OClock News The image above is believed to be a replaceable fair use image. ... The BBC One OClock News is the early afternoon news bulletin from the BBC. Produced by BBC News, the programme is broadcast on BBC One and BBC News 24 every weekday. ...

Since April 2005, the programme has formed the first half hour of the Six O'Clock Newshour on BBC News 24. The subsequent half hour consists of business and sport updates presented from within the News 24 studio by one of the News 24 presenters. As before, the bulletin still completes at 18:30 before splitting off to regional news programmes on BBC One.

A 90-second update at 8:00pm is viewed on BBC One, Monday - Friday. This consists of 60 seconds on national and international news, followed by the other 30 seconds of the update focussing on regional news.

On 5 October 2007 it was announced that Natasha Kaplinsky was to leave the BBC to replace Kirsty Young on Five News, taking up her new role on Monday 18th February 2008 presenting two half-hour evening bulletins. She left at the end of the Six O'Clock News on the same day.^[5] For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Kirsty Jackson Young (born 23 November 1968 in East Kilbride) is a Scottish television journalist, presenter, actress and radio presenter. ... Five News is the news programme of British broadcaster Five. ...

For a while Sian Williams filled in as co-presenter, but on 3 December 2007, the programme went single-headed, with George Alagiah as main presenter, and Sian Williams as deputy presenter. is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

In February 2008, the programme moved studios, from N6 to TC7, as part of a restructuring across BBC News. From 21 April 2008 the programme will, along with the rest of BBC News, undergo a refresh, taking on new titles and a new set.^[6] BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... is the 111th day of the year (112th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Presenters

On Monday to Thursday the Six O'Clock News is anchored by:

• George Alagiah - anchor since January 2003, solo presenter since December 2007

On Friday and when George is absent the Six O'Clock News is anchored by; George Maxwell Alagiah (born November 22, 1955 in Sri Lanka) is a newsreader on BBC Television in the UK. He co-presents the Six OClock News with Natasha Kaplinsky. ...

• Sian Williams - presenter since 1999, deputy anchor since December 2007

Relief presenters Occasionally, the regular presenters will be replaced by another journalist from the BBC, the most regular being: Sian Williams with co-presenter Dermot Murnaghan on the set of BBC Breakfast Sian Mary Williams (born 28 November 1964 in Eastbourne, Sussex) is a television presenter for the BBC. She currently presents BBC Breakfast on Monday-Thursday alongside Dermot Murnaghan. ...

• Nicholas Owen - Relief presenter and BBC News 24 presenter

Former presenters
Nicholas Owen is a newsreader for the ITV1 Lunchtime news. ...

• Jennie Bond - co-presenter 1990-1999
• Fiona Bruce - deputy presenter from 1999-2003, occasional relief presenter to 2008
• Jill Dando - co-presenter 1991-1999
• Huw Edwards - main presenter 1999-2003
• Anna Ford - main and co-presenter 1987-1999
• Andrew Harvey - main and co-presenter 1984-1996
• Philip Hayton - main and co-presenter 1987-1994
• Natasha Kaplinsky - co-presenter from 2005-October 2007
• Sue Lawley - main presenter 1984-1989
• Chris Lowe - co-presenter 1988-1994
• Martyn Lewis - main presenter 1994-1999
• Dermot Murnaghan - Friday/ Relief presenter 2004-2007
• Jeremy Paxman - relief presenter 1984-1989
• Sophie Raworth - co-presenter from 2003-2005, occasional relief presenter since 2006
• Peter Sissons - main presenter 1988-1994
• Moira Stuart - co-presenter 1986-1999
• Justin Webb - main and co-presenter 1992-1999
• Nicholas Witchell - main presenter 1984-1989

Jennie Bond (born 19th August 1950) is a British journalist. ... Fiona Bruce (born 25 April 1964 in Singapore) is a British journalist and television presenter in the United Kingdom. ... Jill Dando (9 November 1961 – 26 April 1999) was a British television presenter who worked for the BBC for over fifteen years. ... Huw Edwards (born August 1961) is a newsreader, or anchor, with the BBC in the United Kingdom. ... Anna Ford (born 2 October 1943 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire) is a retired British television presenter, best known as a newsreader. ... Andrew Harvey Andrew Harvey has spent the last 30 years presenting the main TV News programmes on BBC and ITN. In fact he is one of the very few presenters to have fronted ALL the BBC’s daily news programmes. ... Philip Hayton presenting on BBC News 24. ... Natasha presenting the BBC Six OClock News The image above is believed to be a replaceable fair use image. ... Sue Lawley (born 14 July 1946) is an English broadcaster. ... John Christopher Lowe (born Scotland 25 January 1949) is a widely respected BBC News broadcaster, currently with BBC News 24. ... Martyn Lewis (born August 12, 1982) is a male badminton player from Wales, Great Britain. ... Image:Dermot Murnaghan. ... Jeremy Dickson Paxman (born 11 May 1950) is an English BBC journalist, news presenter and author. ... Sophie Raworth (pronounced ) (born 15 May 1968) in Redhill, and also known as Sophie Winter is a newsreader on BBC Television in the UK. In April 2006, she became the main presenter of the BBC One OClock News, after the retirement of Anna Ford. ... Peter Sissons presenting the last BBC Nine OClock News bulletin Peter George Sissons (born 17 July 1942 in Liverpool) is a nationally known television newscaster in the United Kingdom. ... Moira Stuart OBE (born 1952) was the first Afro-Caribbean female newsreader on British television. ... Justin Webb became BBCs chief radio and Washington correspondent in 2001. ... Nicholas Newton Henshall Witchell (born September 23, 1953) is a British journalist. ...

Presentation

As with the rest of BBC News bulletins on BBC One, the bulletin is based within studio TC7 of BBC Television Centre. The current design of set was introduced in May 2006, the latest design of titles in January 2007. BBC Television Centre (sometimes abbreviated TVC or TC) in London is home to much of the BBCs television output and, since 1998, almost all of the corporations national TV and radio news output by BBC News. ...

BBC News theme 2007 excerpt Image File history File links Bbc_news_theme_2007. ...

An excerpt from the BBC News Theme 2007 by David Lowe

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Within the last few minutes of each bulletin, a full national weather forecast is presented by Dan Corbett, Alex Deakin, Susan Powell, Carol Kirkwood or John Hammond of the BBC Weather Centre. For other persons named David Lowe, see David Lowe (disambiguation). ... Daniel Corbett (born in Dagenham, Essex) is a British broadcast meteorologist, working for the Met Office and the BBC. He regularly appears on BBC One, BBC News 24, BBC World, BBCi, BBC Four, BFBS TV, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Five Live. ... Alex Deakin on BBC ONE in 2004 Alex Deakin on BBC ONE in 2005 Alex Deakin (born North Ferriby, outside Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire) is a weatherman for the BBC, broadcasting on British television and radio. ... Susan Powell is a weather forecaster for the BBC. She broadcasts on BBC News 24, BBC One, BBC World BBC Radio Four and is a main weather presenter on the BBC Six OClock News, the BBC One OClock News and BBC Radio Five Live. ... BBC Weather presenter, appearing regularly on BBC News 24 and BBC Breakfast. ... John Hammond (born 1966 in Bosham, West Sussex, England) is a BBC Weather forecaster. ... Since the 2005 relaunch, a new glass globe has been the logo for BBC Weather and is shown at the beginning and end of all weather forecasts. ...

Criticism

The bulletin has been accused of being an example of the BBC 'dumbing-down' with more consumer led reports and dynamic presentation. In particular, the Commons leader Jack Straw berated the shows presenters for "prancing around the studio" ^[7] John Whitaker Straw (born August 3, 1946) is a British Labour Party politician. ...

The BBC defend the format as they believe that the body language and integration of presenter and graphics increases the viewer's understanding of the news.^[8]

The bulletin has also been accused of having an English perspective on the news in terms of items covered and priority each news item is given. There have been calls in Scotland for a separate 'Scottish Six' that would combine Scottish, British and international news items to create a news programme from a Scottish perspective. The idea was rejected by the BBC in 2003 after a series of public meetings and a poll showed that 38% favoured the idea, as opposed to the 45% that wanted no change.^[9] However, the SNP have continued to call for the change.^[10] The Scottish National Party (SNP) (Scottish Gaelic: is a centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. ...

See also

• ITV Evening News

ITV Evening News is a news programme on the British TV channel ITV1. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ...

External links

BBC Portal

• BBC News at bbc.co.uk