ITV News is set to see the biggest shakeup of its big name presenters in years, with changes including political editor Tom Bradby to be announced as the solo anchor of a revamped News at Ten.
Bradby’s move, which could see him replace Mark Austin and Julie Etchingham who have fronted News at Ten since it returned in 2008, is understood to be one of a number of changes being finalised by ITV News chiefs in the next two weeks.
The 48-year-old Bradby was chosen to take over from veteran anchor Alastair Stewart to front ITV’s general election coverage, a move seen as a changing of the guard to bring in a younger generation.
However, ratings were disappointing, with Channel 4’s Alternative Election Night, fronted by former Newnight anchor Jeremy Paxman and Peep Show’s David Mitchell, beating it for the second election in a row.
With Bradby moving to News at Ten other changes could include Austin and Etchingham both moving to the ITV Evening News at 6.30pm, although this would raise the question of what happens to incumbents Stewart and Mary Nightingale.
Stewart also presents the lunchtime slot with Nina Hossain.
Bradby would also need cover for periods of the year when he is not at work.
ITV News also has “relief” presenters, including Natasha Kaplinsky, who could factor in the shakeup.
Journalists in the ITN newsroom are understood to be unhappy about the proposed shakeup, which is considering moving Etchingham and Austen to the 6.30pm news programme.
Both current presenters of the flagship News at Ten are popular in the newsroom so people are asking why this is happening, especially after Etchingham’s well-received general election debate and Austin’s RTS awards success as well as live coverage plaudits for Mandela’s death and Haiti.
News at Ten won the coveted RTS daily news programme of the year. One person told the Guardian: “If it ain’t broke why fix it?”
“We have not announced any changes and we don’t comment on speculative stories about our programmes,” said an ITV spokesman.
