Bird bows out: News anchor’s final show after 30 years
● Broadcaster wants to pursue other BBC work
Jackie Bird has bowed out from the BBC’S Reporting Scotland programme after 30 years in the presenter’s chair.
One of Scotland’s best known broadcasters, Bird presented her final programme on Wednesday without most of her colleagues knowing she was bowing out.
Bird insisted she would not be leaving the BBC, but wanted to pursue other current affairs programmes, including investigations and in-depth interviews.
She has announced her departure less than two months after the launch of BBC Scotland’s new flagship news programme, The Nine, which is presented by Rebecca Curran and Martin Geissler.
Bird said her commitments to Reporting Scotland had ruled out working on other projects, but she admitted she was still “apprehensive” about leaving the programme.
Bird, also well known for fronting BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay coverage and its Children in Need show, said she was also keen to write for TV and radio. It is not known if she will be back on screen on Hogmanay as the BBC programme has been put out to tender.
She said: “There’s never been a better time to get involved in new TV and radio programmes in Scotland, but being committed to Reporting Scotland for so much of my working week simply didn’t allow me the time.
“I’m actually apprehensive about making such a big change – even last week I considered changing my mind, but it’s something I have to do.
“I’ve been planning this for a while. I thought I’d give it until Brexit was sorted, but I fear I might have to stay for another 30 years.
“I’m not leaving the BBC, I’m just vacating the news desk.”
Born in Bellshill, in 1962, Bird started her career in Dundee working on DC Thomson’s teenage magazines. She subsequently worked for Radio Clyde, the Evening Times and The Sun before moving into broadcasting as a reporter and presenter on Coast to Coast, ITV’S regional news programme for the south east.
Bird added: “I’ve been fortunate to cover most of the major news stories in Scotland over the last 30 years.
“I’ve been privileged to be involved in so many memorable news events, from seismic political changes to reporting live from Afghanistan.
“I’ve presented the proalda gramme from Washington to Westminster and last year anchoring from France on the centenary of the Armistice was an honour.
“None of this would have been possible without some tremendous colleagues and it’s them that I will miss most, but it’s time to move on.”
BBC Scotland head of news Gary Smith said: “Jackie is one of the most talented and committed journalists I’ve ever worked with. Her passion and energy for the job are unsurpassed. As a TV news presenter, she is the ultimate professional, who copes supremely well with whatever comes her way. She’s also great fun.
“For many in the newsroom – and the audience – she just IS Reporting Scotland. I’ll miss her, the newsroom team will miss her, Scotland will miss her.”
BBC Scotland director DonMackinnon said: “She’s a brilliant journalist and multitalented broadcaster who will, I hope, continue to work with us here. She was an inspiration to many female colleagues, particularly during her earlier years when newsrooms were largely dominated by men.
“I‘m certain she will continue to inspire and influence in all she does next.”
“As a tv news presenter, she is the ultimate professional, who copes supremely well with whatever comes her way” GARY SMITH
Jackie Bird has been the face of Scottish television news for three decades, an extraordinary achievement for any broadcaster in any country in the world.
After she announced her departure from Reporting Scotland, BBC Scotland’s head of news said, quite correctly, that “for many in the newsroom – and the audience across the country – she just is Reporting Scotland”.
If this had been America, the programme would have almost certainly been called “Reporting Scotland with Jackie Bird” and her face
would have been plastered on billboards across the land.
But that isn’t really her style. While she became a household name over the years, she never aspired to be a Us-style “celebrity anchor” who made the programme all about her.
The news was always the focus. She is a respected journalist who told viewers what had happened that day in an authoritative, pleasant and calm manner.
Her nightly presence will be missed in homes across the country. Reporting Scotland will just not feel quite the same without her.