Breakfast

Makes me sick that I have to pay for something I do not use! The only thing I used to watch on the Beeb was the news, but this has gone so far downhill lately it's unreal.

Now I watch ITV in the mornings - something I would never have done five years ago.

Few of my "MORNING NEWS LOVERS" Has left slightly unhappy reviews... I've watched all of the "competition" versions (sky itv ) I always come back to BBC BREAKFAST ! Presenters Do stay professional and not afraid to speak they mind and friendly bunter.

Early morning news, views and interviews. You can always trust the BBC to report the news in the most professional way possible, but the more warm presentation would appear to be influenced by ITV. Jeremy Bowen has a similar style to Des Lynam, and after watching a couple of episodes of this show I think I'm already falling in love with Sophie Raworth.

BBC news, once upon a time (for me) was the world leading example of how to give the news, facts and truth without bias.

There was obviously a lot of global respect for the BBC after WW2, where the 'Beeb was world renowned for reporting 'the truth'.

I remember hearing a radio interview with a retiring BBC sports commentator. He described how he got a colossal telling off for his commentary of the world cup,(where England won).

When England scored he commentated excitedly 'we've scored'. He was remonstrated with that, the BBC was unbiased, you don't say 'WE scored' you say 'England scored'

Sadly, those days and those standards are gone.

Technical problems, sound problems now seem common, strange when you think of the technology available now.

They also seemed to have sunk to a 'dumbed down' presentation for us with childish graphics, breakfast butty vans and such.

Dare I say it, the BBC also displays bias. Anything to do with Brexit seems negative. They are happy to report anyones opinion, if it is negative, on Brexit.

The BBC and media in general seems to have decided gossip is now 'facts' and therefore news.

Remember all the news of Trump and Russian involvement. The BBC and all the media kept reporting, without a shred of hard evidence.

Now this item has died. I cannot help but think, that previous BBC mandarins would never have reported gossip or on such flimsy basis

BBC Breakfast news still has good points, but it is (I feel) slowly sliding down to the low standards of the general media.

If so why should we keep paying for it?

The BBC briefly nosed ahead in the Breakfast TV ratings war in 1983, more by sleight of hand than anything when they launched their service two weeks or so before the hapless TV-am. By early 1984 however the slide had begun, never to be reversed as their middle class style jarred with a firmly working class audience addicted first to Nick'n'Anne: and then to a collection of similarly 'next door' couples on sofas as offered by TV-am and GMTV.

They've tried various iterations over the years, and the latest has to be close to the poorest. The presenters seem to be caricatures, rather than characters. The show stutters between an over excitable weather girl generally parked outside in the courtyard jumping up and down shouting `It's a GORGEOUS day!' to a Billy Bunteresque Business correspondent, (with his own studio, guests and crew no less) in the London Stock Exchange.

The anchors are no better, seemingly selected for appeal rather than ability with 'Lipstick' Kaplinski's reach seemingly exceeding her grasp on any subject more complex than fashion. Dermot Murnaghan is a little better, and looks like he might even have read the briefing notes before his interviews. Best of the lot is Rob Bonnet, who presents the sport, by the admittedly old fashioned technique of coming along, sitting on the end of the sofa, and reading it. He occasionally subs for Murnaghan who's contract clearly forbids him presenting on Fridays and at least lifts the shows solidity if not its style.

Weekends are better with Bill Turnbull generally partnered with Siân Lloyd or Jules (who, bizarrely, becomes Julia at weekends) Botfield. Exiled to the News 24 set, they manage to keep the 'matey' style going without too much of the self indulgent mannerisms of their weekday opposite numbers.

All in all it's an expensive white elephant aimed at the middle class, and middle aged commuter belt audience in the Home Counties (hence the inappropriate emphasis on business and London weather) I'll give you one guess as to the demographics of those responsible for this programme.

Thank God for Sky.