BBC Breakfast confirmed for Salford move

[Perdita]

The BBC has today confirmed plans to relocate BBC Breakfast to the new production base in Salford Quays.

In a statement, the corporation said that moving the morning programme to the new BBC North headquarters in Greater Manchester is intended to "build on the show's current success and enhance its strong reputation for providing news and features from across the UK".

After the move, Breakfast will benefit from an "iconic waterside location" offering views of The Lowry Theatre, the Imperial War Museum North and the Manchester Ship Canal.

However, some BBC Breakfast staff are reportedly very "upset" over the planned move from London to Manchester, which one source described as "utter madness".

BBC News director Helen Boaden, who allegedly broke the news to staff yesterday, said: "BBC Breakfast is the most watched breakfast programme in the UK and loved by millions.

"It has a fantastic connection with audiences across the UK and we want to build on that. Clearly this involves personal and professional decisions for the talented team who make Breakfast but we will be supporting them to reach an informed judgement about the move."

Around 2,300 BBC staff positions are due to make the move from London to the new Salford base, including the corporation's sport, children's, learning and future media and technology departments, along with parts of Five Live.

As part of the move, 88 roles across BBC Breakfast will be relocated to BBC North, but the programme will remain part of BBC News and accountable to Boaden.

Over three hours per day of live BBC One output will eventually come from Salford to demonstrate the BBC's commitment to production outside of London.

BBC North director Peter Salmon said: "The move of Breakfast is especially symbolic as it is the first time a BBC Network News programme will come from outside London - a real vote of confidence in our new enterprise.

"Today's announcement shows just how serious we are about creating a world-class media hub in the North of England by better reflecting and serving all our viewers and listeners - wherever they live."

[Katy]

its two hours on the train! hardly miles away is it! I seen it in the paper with the title itsgrim up north! bit harsh! its a nice area where the media city is.

[Perdita]

Eamonn Holmes could reportedly take over as host of BBC Breakfast.

The show's current anchors Chris Hollins and Sian Williams are said to be unhappy about the confirmed move to Salford Quays. Upset staff described the move as "utter madness".

The Sun reports that This Morning hosts Holmes and wife Ruth Langsford could take over after the 2012 move.

"Eamonn loves breakfast TV and the biggest show in town is BBC Breakfast," an insider told the paper.

Holmes, who is currently on honeymoon, had been tipped for a return to GMTV before Adrian Chiles was confirmed for the show.


I am usually at work and even if I was to be at home, I doubt I would watch it if Ruth Langsford is part of it, can't take to her

[Perdita]

STRICTLY champ Chris Hollins has hinted he won't stick around as BBC Breakfast's sports presenter when the show ups sticks from London to Manchester.
The host, who won the dance contest last year, is fuming at the corporation's plans to relocate to Salford Quays.

And having recently moved into a new London pad with his girlfriend, Chris, 39, seems to have no intention of leaving the capital.

He said: "No man in their right mind is going to buy a house 18 months before they are due to move to Manchester."

He warned key guests on the show will not be bothered to travel up north after the move, which could come as early as 2012.

Chris snapped: "It doesn't take a brain surgeon to say it will be practically impossible to get the Prime Minister on set, as we do now."

Beeb bosses say the decision will help make the organisation less "London-centric".

Show anchor Bill Turnbull is thought to be retiring before the move - while co-host Sian Williams is worried about relocating with her four kids to Manchester.

Staff have branded the move a "gift" for ITV's revamped breakfast show Daybreak, to be hosted by ex-Beeb stars Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley.

They fear that it will get the best London-based celebrity guests.



Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3077294/Chris-Hollins-hints-hell-quit-before-BBC-Breakfasts-Manchester-move.html#ixzz0vQPDiRcG

[Abbie]

its two hours on the train! hardly miles away is it! I seen it in the paper with the title itsgrim up north! bit harsh! its a nice area where the media city is.

I read that I think they are being harsh, I love the North

[Perdita]

Sian Williams is leaving the BBC Breakfast show after its move to Salford, it has been reported.

Staff have until midnight tomorrow to decide whether they want to stay with the programme which is currently based in London.

The Daily Mirror reported Sian and sports presenter Chris Hollins will leave the show.

Her agent told the paper the move was not an issue but that the presenter wanted a break from the show's early starts.

He said: "We've been talking to the BBC for the past six to nine months about potential new roles where she doesn't need to use her alarm clock quite so frequently."

The paper reported Sian might commute briefly to Salford in the early stages of the move and that co-hosts Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid would stay with the show.

A BBC spokesman said: "No one needs to make a decision until the end of March 30 so it is all speculation."

When the move was announced last July, BBC News director Helen Boaden said it would involve "personal and professional decisions" for people who work on the show.

It is part of a plan by the corporation to relocate around 2,000 jobs outside the capital.

PA

[Katy]

Gee thanks! Anyone would think they were relocating to the end of the earth! Its about time this country wasnt so london centric

[Perdita]

ITV's football pundit Andy Townsend is reportedly being lined up by BBC bosses to join BBC Breakfast as a replacement for Chris Hollins.

Earlier in the month, it was confirmed that sports anchor Hollins and presenter Sian Williams would leave the show when it moves to the new BBC North base in Salford Quays in 2012.

Only 46% of staff working on Breakfast will make the move to BBC North, although that does include lead presenters Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid.

A replacement is now being sought for Hollins, and former Republic Of Ireland footballer Townsend is viewed as a strong candidate, according to the Daily Mirror.

An unnamed BBC source was quoted as saying: "Andy is the man they want if Chris doesn't move. He is regarded as very composed, extremely knowledgeable and easy to understand. He's really liked."

Townsend, who turned out for Chelsea, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough in his playing career, has featured on ITV Sport for several years, including international and domestic football coverage.

He has also previously appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live and TalkSport, where he replaced Jon Gaunt after the latter was sacked for controversially calling a guest a Nazi live on air.

This summer, the BBC will start relocating five departments to MediaCityUK in Salford Quays, including sport, children's and learning, along with a range of high profile shows.

However, Hollins last year described the relocation of Breakfast as a "political decision" and said that it will be "practically impossible to get the Prime Minister" on the programme after the move.

DS