ITV Reveals Plans For Election Coverage

ITV has unveiled its line-up for coverage of the General Election. ITN coverage is to be backed up with four midweek election specials hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby, and leader profiles on Tonight With Trevor McDonald, while News at Ten will be extended during the campaign in order to carry in-depth reports on the main issues. With the News at Ten debacle having brought competition between BBC and ITV news coverage into sharper focus, the channel will be looking for a strong stand against the BBC’s “swing-o-meter” tradition.

Dimbleby’s programmes will be broadcast from studios across Britain, where an audience of 100 will be invited to Ask Tony Blair, Ask Charles Kennedy and Ask William Hague each week. The final programme will be titled Ask The Leaders and will feature a similar question and answer format with the leaders of the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru.

ITN’s team of political correspondents will be led by political editor John Sergeant, who will also help present the polling night election special, along with Dermot Murnaghan, Mary Nightingale and Katie Derham. ITV Election 2001 will be anchored by Jonathan Dimbleby and broadcast from a specially built set at ITV headquarters.

ITV: 020 7843 8222 www.itv.co.uk

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