ITV News announces changes to award-winning presenter line-up

ITV News today announced changes to its award winning presenter line-up.

Tom Bradby will be joining the team as anchor of News at Ten after the programme was co-presented for eight successful years by Mark Austin and Julie Etchingham. Tom will present as sole anchor on most nights of the year with Julie remaining a key figure on News at Ten, frequently presenting the programme, which is moving to a single presenter format. Julie will also have an expanded role on ITV s current affairs output. Mark, who received his second consecutive RTS Presenter of the Year award in February 2015, will co-anchor ITV News at 6.30, Britain s most watched commercial television news programme, where he will renew his presenting partnership with the highly experienced Mary Nightingale.

Tom is expected to take up his new on-screen position with News at Ten, the RTS Daily News Programme of the Year, in the autumn. He has been ITV News Political Editor for the past decade and anchored ITV s Election 2015 overnight coverage. He has also established The Agenda with Tom Bradby as a distinctive political discussion programme. In 2010 he gained international recognition for his world exclusive interview with Prince William and Kate Middleton on their engagement. Tom previously spent time in the field as Ireland Correspondent, Asia Correspondent, Royal Correspondent and UK Editor.

Alongside her key role on News at Ten, Julie will also expand her role on ITV's award winning current affairs output. She will continue to present all editions of Tonight, Britain s most watched current affairs programme, and will extend her work on ITV s investigative strand Exposure. Julie won widespread acclaim for her role as moderator of the seven party ITV Leaders debate during the recent election campaign and presented alongside Tom Bradby on election night. She has presented and reported for News at Ten on major stories including the election of the Pope, the Scottish referendum and on US presidential elections and she will continue to play a major role in covering news events for the programme. Julie was the first woman to win the RTS News presenter of the year award and in 2014 secured a significant scoop, interviewing the Pope. She has established a prominent presenting role on national events such as the Royal Wedding, the Queen s Diamond Jubilee and the General Election and this will continue in future.

After eight highly successful years on News at Ten, during which time he presented the programme from the scene of many major stories, Mark Austin will co-anchor ITV News at 6.30, Britain's most watched commercial television news programme. He will renew his presenting partnership with the highly experienced Mary Nightingale the pair worked closely together on the same programme a decade ago, winning a string of major awards. Mark will bring the energy of his location anchoring, so successful on News at Ten, to the early evening for major stories and together Mark and Mary will develop strong, distinctive editorial strands for the programme.

Mary Nightingale, who remains in her current role, is one of the country s most respected news presenters. She has presented the ITV News at 6.30 programme for 15 years, twice winning the TRIC award for news presenter of the year. Mary received widespread praise for her presentation on the day the Queen Mother died in 2002 and recently presented extended coverage of the first appearance in public of Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Highly respected ITV News newscaster, Alastair Stewart will play a key role in the on-screen line-up, regularly anchoring ITV News at 1.30 and 6.30. Alastair has decades of presenting experience on some of ITV s most memorable news programmes. He presented live from Berlin in the days following the fall of the Berlin Wall, from Kuwait city following its liberation in 1991 and was the moderator of the first Election Debate in 2010. Alastair, who in May presented special rolling news coverage on the day David Cameron walked back into Downing Street as the head of a majority government, will present ITV s programme on the Chancellor s Budget on 8th July.

Nina Hossain will continue to present ITV News at 1.30 as well as ITV News London, where she is lead anchor.

Drawing on his wealth of international affairs expertise, Rageh Omaar will also step in to anchor ITV News at Ten occasionally whilst continuing with his presenting role on some weekend bulletins. Rageh will remain in his role as International Affairs Editor, while continuing to present ITV's monthly current affairs strand On Assignment. Charlene White and Ranvir Singh will present regular ITV News at 1.30 and ITV News at 6.30 programmes as well as ITV s popular weekend news programmes. Charlene also presents on ITV News London and Ranvir presents on Good Morning Britain.

Tom Bradby said: News at Ten is one of the best known and loved news brands in the country and I have hugely enjoyed working for it in 25 years on the road with ITV News. The chance to help lead it into a new era is a unique and incredibly exciting challenge - and, given the programme s heritage, a great honour, too.

Mark Austin said: After eight really enjoyable years on News at Ten I leave the show in great shape, as current RTS Daily News Programme of Year, and in good hands. I look forward to joining the evening news programme. It s an exciting challenge and also means a bit more sleep.

Julie Etchingham said: Following an exciting few months covering every twist and turn of Election 2015, I m delighted to continue presenting and reporting for ITV News at Ten in this fascinating new political landscape we find ourselves in. From covering the biggest stories affecting our viewers to exclusive investigative journalism, I m looking forward to dedicating more time to ITV s award

LINK:	http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-news-announces-chang...
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