Edwards roams curved ‘catwalk’ as part of revamped BBC news
BBC newsreaders will leave their desks and roam a studio “catwalk” as part of a multi-million pound revamp of the flagship bulletins.
The makeover is designed to make the news “more enjoyable” for viewers, according to Huw Edwards, who launched the new look with last night’s News at Ten.
The corporation has built a new studio in the basement of New Broadcasting House, from where it will broadcast the News at Six and News at Ten programmes. Edwards will no longer begin each bulletin in his signature pose of one arm folded across his desk and remain there for the duration – a habit so unchanged over the years that it has spawned its own “Huws at Ten” tribute account on social media.
Instead, he will walk along a curved catwalk which connects a number of giant screens relaying images, facts and figures about the day’s news stories.
When delivering a story about events in Downing Street, Edwards will stand in front of a screen transformed into the front door of No10.
“This is all about being modern. It’s all about making a better programme and telling stories in a different way,” Edwards said.
“These are not just toys to play with. The advanced technology allows us to tell the story in a more impactful way that is more illuminating and, yes, let’s be honest, more enjoyable too. We want you to enjoy it.”
The studio will also be home to Laura Kuenssberg’s Sunday morning political interview show, BBC London and election broadcasts.
The BBC said it would be a cost-saving measure in the long run as the corporation previously had to build makeshift studios for each election broadcast. Sources said the news had not been revamped for a decade and was reliant on old technology.
The weather forecasts will also be revamped with “bigger and better” maps.
Weather presenters will no longer use the “clicker”, a handheld button allowing them to change the image on a green screen behind them. Instead, they will stand in front of a digital image.
Matt Taylor, a member of the BBC Weather team, said there were plans to introduce augmented reality, allowing the presenters to interact with computer-generated imagery.
Weather presenters will also be encouraged to comment on stories involving major weather events or climate change.
Taylor said: “Instead of a standalone forecast at the end of a bulletin, we will now be in the studio and able to offer more context or expertise when the weather is a big talking point.
“By being embedded in the bulletins, we can provide explanations and context.”
BBC viewers have complained in the past about changes to the weather: the decision to introduce a tilted map, which made Scotland appear smaller, led to an outcry.
The map became flat again in 2018 and Taylor said there were no plans to change it.
Jonathan Munro, the BBC’S interim director of news, said: “Bringing greater value to our audiences has been at the core of this project and we’re so excited to finally bring the newly refurbished studio to viewers at home.
“It really puts them at the heart of our reporting while also highlighting the great variety of what BBC News has got to offer.”