Category: News
Date: 14.02.2006
Printable version
Sophie Raworth is to succeed Anna Ford as the new presenter of the Â鶹Éç's One O'Clock News.
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Sophie - who has presented both the Â鶹Éç's Breakfast news and Six O'Clock News - will start her new role after Anna steps down in April.
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Commenting on her appointment, Sophie said: "I am thrilled to be taking on such a prominent role.
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"In news terms, the One O'Clock sits in the middle of an incredibly busy part of the day, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge.
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"Clearly, Anna will be a hard act to follow, but it's a wonderful opportunity - a prestigious new job and I still get to be home every afternoon for my children!"
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Anna Ford said:
"In my opinion, this is the best slot in Â鶹Éç News. Sophie couldn't have done better than to be moving to the One O'Clock News.
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"We have a regular audience of up to three million, with over 40 per cent share of available audience which, frankly, other programmes would give their eye teeth for.
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"It's a great team to work with and we achieve a phenomenal amount in a short time, I've never enjoyed my work more.
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"I'm sure Sophie - who's a wonderful presenter - will find it stimulating and will build on the programme's success."
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Sophie Raworth joined the Â鶹Éç's regional trainee scheme in 1992 and went on to become a reporter for Â鶹Éç GMR in Manchester.
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She joined the Â鶹Éç's Look North team in 1995, where she first presented the news, and then made the move to London in 1997 to co-present the Â鶹Éç's Breakfast with Jeremy Bowen.
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Sophie started presenting the Six O'Clock News with George Alagiah in January 2003, and has since co-presented a number of news events, including the marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla Parker-Bowles in April 2005.
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Anna Ford became the presenter of the Â鶹Éç's One O'Clock News when the programme was re-launched in May 1999.
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Her Â鶹Éç career began in 1976 for the Man Alive programme and she went on to join Tomorrow's World in 1977 and the Six O'Clock News in 1989.
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The Â鶹Éç's Head of Television News, Peter Horrocks said: "Sophie brings considerable broadcasting and journalistic experience to the team after presenting Breakfast news and the Six O'Clock News.
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"I'm sure her professionalism and warmth will stand her in good stead to follow Anna.
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"Anna is a first rate broadcaster, we will miss her but wish her well as she takes on a range of new challenges in and outside broadcasting."
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The Â鶹Éç's One O'Clock News celebrates its 20th anniversary later this year and enjoys a higher share of audiences than any other news bulletin.
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Notes to Editors
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The Â鶹Éç's One O'Clock News was launched in October 1986.
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The programme enjoys a 41 per cent average share of audiences and an average reach of 3.0 million viewers.
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PR2
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