This 2009 ITV interview with John Bercow has been doing the rounds in Westminster this morning. Bercow’s mask slipped and Tom Bradby saw the two sides of the Speaker: his polite public persona and his rude and bullying private tone. Also ironic to see Bercow complaining about questions overrunning. If he speaks like this to a senior journalist in an interview, imagine how he treats his staff…
Blimey fire alarm in middle of #Newsatten #itv pic.twitter.com/aWp7pb2PZi
— Phil Lanning (@lannomedia) January 3, 2018
Handled like a pro by Tom Bradby…
“Tom Bradby is so hot he got 500,000 new viewers,” claims a headline in the Times today. It follows on from yesterday’s puff piece reporting ITV News at Ten “has put on half a million viewers since Tom Bradby began presenting”. The generous write-up claimed:
“Average viewing figures for the ITV bulletin over the past three weeks have risen to two million — up by half a million on September averages.”
Has Bradby’s sex appeal really made such a remarkable difference?
Industry insiders tell Media Guido that, actually, the ITV News at Ten numbers are flat. In the three weeks since Bradby took over, reliable sources say ITV News at Ten has scored above two million on just three nights. The ratings have reached c1.9 million on zero nights, c.1.8 million on one night, c.1,7 million on six nights, c1.6 million on 2 nights and c1.5 million on 2 nights. The “half a million” headline figure is as sexed up as their new choice of host…
UPDATE: The BBC hit back as the 10pm flame war intensifies:
Happy to report business as usual at Ten, whatever others may wish. 4.4m v 2m. Back to work with a smile. Diolch! pic.twitter.com/Ryi3ovvUIu
— Huw Edwards (@huwbbc) November 3, 2015
UPDATE II: Here are the ITV figures in full since Bradby took over. Last night’s numbers take the average just above 2 million:
With Tom Bradby off to present the ITV News at Ten, a plum broadcasting job is in the offing. Mark Austin is said to be raging that he has been overlooked for the once promised flagship presenting gig…
A tight pool of names are being floated to replace Bradby as ITV Political Editor, including James Landale, Joey Jones, Chris Ship and Lucy Manning.
With Nick Robinson now unlikely to be making a move to the Today programme any time soon, his current deputy Lansdale is said to have itchy feet and is being talked about for the role.
Current ITV Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship wants it, and would be unlikely to stick around for long in the number 2 job if he is overlooked. That would leave a serious hole in an already stretched operation…
Sky’s Joey Jones’ name is in the frame after being pipped to the post – controversially – by Faisal Islam to the Sky News Pol Ed job and Lucy Manning is another name doing the rounds. Guido hears, however, that there is some serious bad blood at ITV in the manner in which Manning jumped over to the BBC before the election, shortly after being promoted to editor level at ITN…
It’s a hard one to call…
Guido understands the ladies of the Lobby are not happy with Nick Robinson. Tom Bradby got an on camera line out of David Cameron about not doing the TV debates unless the Greens were included.
Nick does have some form for what would be called in print “byline banditry”.
Here’s a flavour of the outrage….
Shameful – "learned" from ITV RT '@BBCBreaking Cameron will not take part in TV leader debates unless Green Party involved, the BBC learns'
— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) January 8, 2015
The BBC learns? From watching ITV News? Is that what we pay the licence fee for?
— tom bradby (@tombradby) January 8, 2015
When you have such a degree of market dominance, funded by the tax payer, you need to have some respect for competitors.
— tom bradby (@tombradby) January 8, 2015
I am afraid BBC News has form on the 'BBC has learned' front and I think it is becoming a serious issue.
— tom bradby (@tombradby) January 8, 2015
After @itvnews asked PM RT @BBCPolitics: Watch: @bbcnickrobinson on why David Cameron says he may refuse TV debates if Greens not included
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) January 8, 2015
@bbcnickrobinson @itvnews @BBCPolitics Am similarly, we look forward to seeing your report 🙂 @tombradby
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) January 8, 2015
@tombradby it's pathetic – as if they can't admit someone else can get a story, given the BBC's vastly superior resources
— Tony Gallagher (@tonygallagher) January 8, 2015
Ladies, ladies…
