Day telly bosses got it just right

STAR SPOTTING Dermot Leary & Kirsty Young on BBC Mirror TV critic

EVEN the most cynical observers accepted that the royal wedding was a truly uplifting occasion.

That might explain why, as I sat flicking between the three main contenders covering it for British TV, I found very little to grumble about.

All three appeared – wisely – to have decided their tone long before kick off.

BBC1 went for a mix: the BBC Breakfasty pairing of Dermot O’Leary and Kirsty Young took care of the fluff before giving way to the stately tones of Huw Edwards. Dermot didn’t seem too comfortable with that tight shirt collar, while Kirsty was a little too keen to tell us she knew a lot of the guests. They did a good job, though.

Huw was excellent throughout, although he did go on a bit about the stained glass windows. I can’t have been the only viewer hoping he’d give it a rest and tell his cameraman to check whether Victoria Beckham had cracked a smile yet instead.

ITV repeated the trick that worked so well for them last time out. Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham was my favourite pairing of the day.

Schofield was aware his This Morning audience would be watching while Etchingham knew that a news reporting job had to be done. They got the balance just right – I think we can forgive Julie’s excited little wave at the wedding car. But my highlight was over on Sky News. Kay Burley takes a lot of stick, but the sight of her bouncing through the crowd like Tigger in white lace summed up the joyous and carefree vibe flooding through Windsor on the day. TEAM Schofield and Etchingham