GMTV's Emma Crosby joins Channel 5 News

Emma Crosby, who has also worked for SKY News and recently BBC News, will present the re-named Channel 5 News from February 14th.

Crosby will present the 7.00pm broadcast with current Five News anchor Matt Barbet, who has been with Five for the past three  years, continuing to front the 5.00pm edition.

Andrew O’Connell, Head of Factual, Channel 5 said, “We’re delighted that Emma has chosen to join 5 News which is a huge coup for the channel.  Emma has an outstanding track record in broadcasting and we’re positive that both Emma and Matt Barbet will take 5 News from strength to strength.”

Emma was born in 1977 and brought up near Newbury, West Berkshire. After studying at University she started her TV career as a producer at BBC News 24. She became a newsreader at London’s Radio News Direct and LBC. In September 1999 Emma joined The Money Channel as reporter and newsreader, before moving to local ITV news slots London Tonight and Meridian Tonight as a reporter. In July 2001, Emma joined CNBC.

Emma spent five years at SKY News as a presenter after initially joining their breakfast show, Sunrise in June 2003. She moved to GMTV as a main presenter in January 2009 and remained until its demise last September; thereafter Crosby has been mainly seen on the BBC News Channel.

Emma says on moving to Channel 5 News, “I am hugely excited about joining the team. From the outset, Channel 5 News have always enjoyed the reputation of offering viewers something a little bit different and I am over the moon to be a part of that. Matt and I studied at university together so I’m looking forward to the reunion too!”

After graduating from Cardiff’s prestigious journalism school more than a decade ago, Matt’s career began at ITN Radio later moving to the BBC. At the corporation his voice became familiar to millions on Radio 1 Newsbeat. Subsequently, his face became recognised too, on BBC London News. Matt also made appearances presenting BBC Breakfast, as a pundit on Liquid News and fronting the cult alternative news bulletin StoryFIX.

Matt adds, “I’ve known Emma for years, and it’s excellent news that she is joining Channel 5 News at such an exciting time. The programme’s just been nominated for an RTS Award, and the forthcoming rebrand means It will continue to be network television’s most groundbreaking news bulletin.”

The revamp of Five News is part of the wider relaunch of Five back to the Channel 5 brand which was last on-screen in 2002. The network originally launched as Channel 5 in 1997 with pop girl group, The Spice Girls, ‘switching on’ the station. While the programme and station has a new look, the time slots of 5.00pm and 7.00pm for the news slot remains unchanged.

David Kermode, Editor of Channel 5 News said, “I’m thrilled we have signed two of the brightest talents in the business to front our news programmes. Matt is already a familiar and trusted face for our viewers, having been Natasha’s very successful stand in for the last three years on our flagship show. Emma is already well established on network television and will be a huge asset for us as we seek to build the profile of our 7.00pm programme.”

Channel 5 News will continue to be produced by SKY News and will be broadcast from their headquarters in Isleworth, West London.