BBC News Now, styled also as BBC News Now with Lucy Hockings, is a news programme that premiered on both UK feed and international feed of BBC News channel on 22 May 2023 as part of a refresh following the merger of the two news channels.[1] The programme is mainly hosted by Lucy Hockings. Its main focus is on fast-paced international breaking news, covering as many stories with as much details as possible in each of its episodes. The format includes report packages, interviews, and live reactions, updates, and images from where each story breaks out.
| BBC News Now | |
|---|---|
 Title card used since 2023 | |
| Also known as | News Now |
| Created by | BBC News |
| Presented by | Lucy Hockings |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Studio C, Broadcasting House, London |
| Running time | 15-30 minutes |
| Production company | BBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Two BBC News (UK feed) BBC News (international feed) |
| Release | 22 May 2023 – present |
| Related | |
Like its predecessors (World News Today, GMT and Live with Lucy Hockings) its designed a morning programme for North America and South America, a lunchtime/afternoon programme for Europe, Middle East and Africa, an evening programme for Asia, and a late night/early morning programme for Australia and Oceania.
History
editOn the course of BBC News channel mergers, Live (also styled as Live with Lucy Hockings), which has a similar background as BBC News Now and was also presented by Lucy Hockings, aired for the last time on 3 March 2023 on the then BBC World News. However, BBC announced that Lucy Hockings would stay as a presenter for the merged channel.[2]
The programme was announced by the BBC to begin broadcasting on 22 May 2023, with Lucy Hockings as the main presenter. However, the first episode, which aired that day, was presented by Maryam Moshiri. It is thought that Maryam Moshiri was at the time the chief relief presenter for all newly launched programmes, including BBC News Now. The programme puts the newest breaking news and stories as its priority to cover, while bringing live images, reactions, and updates to each story from the location where the story happens, like Live programme it spiritually replaces.
On 6 December 2023, just before starting a newscast Moshiri was captured with her middle finger to the camera, for which she apologised saying it was a "private joke" with the staff.[3][4] It was later revealed that Moshiri had been counting down with her fingers with the floor manager, representing "1" with the middle finger, and she expressed relief that the full video showing this has been released.[5]
Schedule
editAll time schedules are in UK time, which is either GMT or BST depending on the month.
BBC News Now airs on weekdays and splits into six parts. The first five parts, broadcasting at 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, and 14:00, air for 30 minutes each. The last part, which broadcasts at 14:45, airs for 15 minutes. All parts are shown on both UK and international feed of BBC News channel, except the 13:00 and 13:30 editions, when the UK feed opts out to show BBC News at One and Sportsday respectively. The first 15 minutes also air on BBC Two on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday before breaking away for Politics Live, during parliamentary recess and bank holidays the full first hour airs on BBC Two.
Presentation
editThe programme is usually broadcast from Studio C Broadcasting House in London, although it may sometimes use Studio E as a backup studio.
Presenters
edit| Years | Presenter | Current role |
|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | Lucy Hockings | Main presenter |
| Ben Thompson | Relief presenter | |
| Lewis Vaughan-Jones | ||
| Samantha Simmonds | ||
| Tanya Beckett | ||
| Anjana Gadgil | ||
| Rich Preston | ||
| Sarah Campbell | ||
| Rajini Vaidyanathan | ||
| Lucy Grey | ||
| Nancy Kacungira | Relief presenter (currently on maternity leave)[6] | |
| 2024-present | Annita McVeigh | Relief presenter |
| Kasia Madera |
When Lucy Hockings presents, the title sequence ends by stating BBC News Now with Lucy Hockings. However, if other presenters present, the title sequence simply states BBC News Now regardless of the relief presenter. Moshiri left the programme in early 2024 after being appointed as the main presenter of The World Today.
Former
editFormer presenters
| Years | Presenter |
|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | Maryam Moshiri |
References
edit- ^ "BBC News channel launches three new programme formats" (Press release). BBC. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "BBC unveils presenter line-up for news channel" (Press release). BBC. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Topping, Alexandra (7 December 2023). "BBC presenter apologises after giving middle finger at start of live broadcast". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri apologizes after flipping the middle finger live on air - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Skopeliti, Clea. "Full clip of BBC presenter's viral middle-finger countdown released".
- ^ https://mbu.ug/2024/01/12/nancy-kacungira-baby-birth/
