Trevor McDonald Set To Leave ITV News In 2005
ITV will lose one of its best known personalities next year, as long serving newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald steps down from his position with ITV News.
The veteran broadcaster has stated that he will not renew his contract with the broadcaster’s news operation when it expires next year. His departure will mark the end of a 31-year career with ITN, producers of ITV News.
The loss of 64-year old Trevor will be a blow to ITV, although the newscaster will continue to work on current affair’s programme, Tonight.
Commenting on his retirement, Sir Trevor told the Sun newspaper: “I’ve been reading the news for so long it feels about 320 years. There will be lots of people to step into my shoes. I’m not giving up TV. It’s my passion and I love it.”
ITV recently poached long-serving chat show host Michael Parkinson from the BBC, a move which brought an end to Corporation’s thirty-three year relationship with one of its biggest and most prolific stars (see BBC Loses Parkinson To ITV After More Than 30 Years).
Parkinson is expected to begin broadcasting on ITV this autumn, presenting a chat show of similar format to his BBC offering. The loss of ratings winners such as Blind Date has hit ITV hard in recent years, but with Parkinson attracting an average of around 6 million viewers to the BBC, ITV will be hoping for a similar performance.
In addition, ITV has announced the creation of several soap and drama spin offs to boost tea-time viewing figures. Spin offs from Coronation Street, The Bill and Inspector Morse are among a raft of programmes being considered for extension, with ITV eager to fend of competition from the rival station’s successful evening schedules (see ITV To Rescue Ratings By Resurrecting Classics).
ITN: 020 7430 4700 www.itn.co.uk ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com
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