BBC Scotland’s flagship daily news programme on its new channel will be anchored by journalists Rebecca Curran and Martin Geissler, the corporation has announced.
Due on air in February next year, when the channel will launch, the hour-long news programme will bring national and international news to audiences across Scotland.
Ms Curran, who is currently based in the BBC’s Aberdeen newsroom, and Mr Geissler, who is a news correspondent with ITN, will be the programme’s co-presenters when it broadcasts live daily from the BBC studios in Pacific Quay.
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Ms Curran said: “This is an amazing opportunity for me personally and professionally, at what is an exciting time for broadcasting in Scotland. I have enjoyed every minute of working in the Aberdeen newsroom, covering a fantastic patch with great colleagues, but I am looking forward to this next challenge.”
Mr Geissler said: “The opportunity to front a fresh programme, covering the world from a Scottish perspective, was impossible to resist. The nine o’clock news will be a bold programme with its own character and personality, produced by a talented team. I can’t wait to get started.”
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Programme editor Hayley Valentine said: “Rebecca has gained a reputation as one of the BBC’s most talented reporters over the last two years, and brings with her a passion for original journalism that will continue to shape the agenda on the show every night. She’s also smart, warm and engaging.
“Martin has earned his status as one of the stand out journalists on British television, covering some of the major world events of the last 25 years.
"His knowledge of world, UK, and Scottish affairs is difficult to beat, while his hunger to get beneath the skin of a story will be a huge asset to the new programme. I’m delighted he’s chosen to join BBC Scotland at such an important time.
“What the two of them have in common is their energy, curiosity, drive to set the agenda, passion for original stories and desire to put the audience at the heart of their journalism.”
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Gary Smith, head of news and current affairs at BBC Scotland, said: “The appointment of Rebecca and Martin is brilliant news.
"They’ll bring a commitment to bold, challenging and original journalism to the channel and our audiences.
"With Rebecca and Martin at the front of a talented team, the news at nine o’clock will be able to compete with the strongest TV news programmes in Scotland and anywhere across the UK.”
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