12-09-2022, 05:17 PM
(12-09-2022, 04:08 PM)Radio_man Wrote: If Huw does leave the BBC, of course it could be a personal decision, but you have to wonder, just how much of its top talent is the BBC prepared to lose?
Huw leaving would be a big blow to the BBC, particularly given that the senior news presenter typically retires rather than 'defects'. But I don't think it would be an irreparable loss - they still have more than enough good quality newsreaders (Raworth, Myrie, etc.) to cover the Six, Ten and major events, as well as several others (Hill, Husain, Brown, etc.) who are are also top-tier presenters and could easily fill any voids.
It might be a bit sacrilegious to say, but I do think that, if anything, the BBC has more (particularly senior) presenters than it necessarily needs. Despite the cutbacks over the last decade-and-a-bit, the staff losses have disproportionately come from backroom staff and lower-level journalists. Other than the recent glut of defections to Global and retirements, they have actually been quite good at retaining presenters and major correspondents. This is particularly noticeable with the Six and Ten where there are nearly double the number of regular presenters than there were ten years ago.
Every defection might be a loss, but I don't think the BBC are exactly in shortage territory.