BBC News at Ten

Nine O'Clock News
The BBC Nine O'Clock News was the flagship BBC News programme launched on 14 September 1970, and ran until 15 October 2000, when it was controversially become BBC News at Ten. The first week was presented by Robert Dougall, followed by Richard Baker and Kenneth Kendall, each presenting five consecutive nightly bulletins. The choice of these three was significant as it echoed the first BBC television bulletins of 1955, which they had also presented. Other famous presenters have included John Edmunds, Peter Woods, Richard Whitmore, Angela Rippon, Jan Leeming, John Humphrys, John Simpson, Sue Lawley, Julia Somerville, Moira Stuart, Nicholas Witchell, Martyn Lewis, Michael Buerk, Peter Sissons, and George Alagiah. Nine O'Clock News replaced The Main News at 8:45pm in a response to the launch by ITN of the News at Ten. It was the first bulletin to have a closing set of music, other bulletins would link to the weather at the end instead. The set used by the bulletin was designed to differentiate from the day's bulletins, On 2 September 1985, The 9 O'Clock News received it's own look, a year after the Six O'Clock News. A bold new CGI sequence and a return back to double headed presentation. From 31 October 1988, it was reverted back to single headed presentation, with Martin Lambie-Nairn designing the new look which was also used for all BBC's weekend and late bulletins, with the aim to redefine the BBC's news image. However, the new look was panned by viewers, who likened it to a Nazi symbol, and BBC unions, who sought assurances such a major rebranding project would never again be outsourced. In 13 April 1993, as part of a relaunch of all the BBC News bulletins which created a more uniformed look. The bulletin had a darker set and, like the others, a stereo orchestral version of the previous mono title music. A larger relaunch of all the BBC News output came in 9 May 1999 when the programme once again shared a common theme and set with the daily programme. The final bulletin was presented by Peter Sissons on Friday 13th October 2000. The show was carried on BBC One and inspired a BBC Two comedy show running in the same timeslot to take the name Not the Nine O'Clock News.

BBC News at Ten
The programme was launched on 16 October 2000, with presenters were Michael Buerk and Peter Sissons. Originally the plan was to launch the new bulletin in 2002 but were brought forward. From the same point Sunday also had a fixed news bulletin thus BBC news at ten will broadcast six nights a week. BBC Chairman Sir Christopher Bland said it was in the best interests of viewers. It's a better time for news, It contrasts quite sharply with ITV's proposals, we offer absolute clarity in the scheduling of our news, six days a week. Culture Secretary Chris Smith has called on the BBC to rethink its plans but the unexpected move to bring the change forward seems to suggest that is unlikely [5]. Michael Buerk & Peter Sissons left the BBC Ten O'Clock News in 19 January 2003 to make way for relaunch of BBC news, with new Studio set and presenters reshuffle, with Huw Edwards and Fiona Bruce taking control from Monday 20 January 2003. Since 5 February 2006, the bulletin has been simulcast on BBC News channel as part of the BBC Ten O'Clock News Hour. This consists of the BBC One bulletin for the first half hour, with the second half coming from the News channel studio and presented by Chris Eakin. It includes a paper, sport and business review. From 21 April 2008 the programme, along with the rest of BBC News underwent a graphical refresh and moved into a refurbished studio. It also changed name to the BBC News at Ten. After the regional news, there is a weather forecast from the BBC Weather Centre: usually presented by either Rob McElwee, Peter Gibbs, [[John Hammond ] or Philip Avery. BBC News at Ten has been named News Programme of the Year by the Royal Television Society on numerous occasions, most recently in 2005, 2009 and again in 2010.

Out of Studio
As well as presenting from the studio, the main presenters are called upon to present on location when major stories break. For example Huw Edwards reported live from Washington for the 2008 US Presidential Elections and has presented live from Basra at the withdrawal ceremony. He also regularly presented from Westminster. George Alagiah presented from L'Aquila in April 2009, Haiti in 2010 and from Egypt in 2011.

Weekends
At the weekend there is a late evening bulletin of BBC Weekend News which is sometimes referred to as the BBC News at 10 if it starts at 10pm exactly.

Former presenters

 * Michael Buerk (Main presenter 2000-2003)
 * Peter Sissons (Main presenter 2000-2003, relief presenter until 2005)
 * Darren Jordon (Relief presenter 2000-2006)
 * Dermot Murnaghan (Relief presenter 2004-2007)
 * Natasha Kaplinsky (Occasional relief presenter 2006-2007)
 * Jon Sopel (Occasional relief presenter 2006-2007)