Ratings for Breakfast hold steady despite strike

Ratings for Friday’s edition of Breakfast on BBC One held relatively steady despite the strike by the National Union of Journalists.

 

Ratings for Friday’s edition of Breakfast on BBC One held relatively steady despite the strike by the National Union of Journalists. There was also no rise in ratings for Daybreak on ITV1 even though the strike had a clear impact on Breakfast. While the morning magazine programme went ahead usual Friday presenters Susanna Reid and Charlie Stayt were absent as were weekday hosts Sian Williams and Bill Turnbull. Instead Friday morning’s edition of Breakfast was presented by former regional presenter Gavin Grey. However, ratings remained relatively unaffected with 1.3 million viewers tuning in – down slightly on 1.4 million who usually tune in. Daybreak over on ITV1 averaged – as it has done across this week – 800,000 viewers.

 

It was a day of stand-in presenters across the BBC’s news output as many of the corporations regular news-readers went on strike or refused to cross the picket line. Former GMTV newsreader Emma Crosby stood in for Kate Silverton for the 1pm news bulletin on BBC One and also fronted news output on the BBC News Channel. The 6pm news bulletin on BBC One was presented by former Newsround anchor Chris Rogers with the absence of Huw Edwards, Fiona Bruce and George Alagiah. Other BBC personalities absent from their regular duties because of the National Union of Journalist strikes included Moira Stewart, John Humphrys and Sarah Montague.