[Humphrey Hacker]

While I never watched the Early Rundown, because I was never watching the news at that time, and therefore can't compare how he has faired in both slots, I do agree that I find his presentation to awkward at times. I do think he has got better, or perhaps more comfortable, since he first started (not unsurprisingly).

For me, it's not that I think he lacks ability, in fact, he has the potential to be good, but he comes across as nervous. For example, he inhales a lot during delivering the headlines or interviewing and often talks quite fast. He has worked on enunciation I think, and by this I mean pronouncing the letter Ts more clearly (while I know this is very common these days, it bugs the hell out of me as news always seemed to be immune to more casual styles of talking). Also, he fidgets and adjusts his suit a lot while talking to guests in the studio, in particular at the Wall. Then there is the slamming of the hand on the desk. It doesn't provide a calm and collected delivery style that, at least for me, is comfortable to watch.

Obviously, I have about this a lot and need to get out more. I think he just needs more time, I remember Kimberley Leonard being painful to watch at first, to then having to eat my words when she became one of the presenters I liked the most.

I think Belle Donati exhibits some degrees of nervousness too and maybe they both needed to cut their teeth on weekends more. But I've also wondered that if they still did double-headed presentation, newer presenters could be paired with more experienced ones.

The idea of a senior-junior setup is a sound one. I can see Kay, Sarah-Jane and Mark slotting into the senior roles very easily.