BBC Studios produced Morning Live to broadcast year round on BBC One
The BBC has confirmed that the BBC Studios-produced topical live programme, Morning Live, will now become an all year-round fixture in the BBC One schedule at 9.15am, and that from January next year the production will be based in Salford, Manchester.
The BBC has confirmed that the BBC Studios-produced topical live programme, Morning Live, will now become an all year-round fixture in the BBC One schedule at 9.15am, and that from January next year the production will be based in Salford, Manchester.
Morning Live will continue to be hosted by Kym Marsh and Gethin Jones, as well as its team of experts and the news comes as part of the BBC’s wider ‘Across the UK’ plans, which have been announced today.
These plans follow consistently slot-winning figures for the programme since it returned to BBC One for a second series in late January. Its best performing episode for the series was on 8th Feb when it achieved 1.8m, and the weekly average consolidated figures are 1.5m – consistently the highest in its slot. This is an increase on the 1.4m consolidated figure for the first run which aired from October to December 2020.
Morning Live will broadcast on BBC One at 9.15 throughout the year, with regular three week intervals for the Rip Off Britain series, which broadcasts in the same slot.
Hannah Wyatt, Managing Director, Factual Entertainment and Events, BBC Studios Productions says: “The efforts needed to build such a large and incredibly loyal audience with a new live daily show in such a competitive slot should not be underestimated. The all year round commission is a richly deserved reward for what the Morning Live production and presenting team have achieved in a fraction of the time it would take other shows to do.”
Carla-Maria Lawson, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak says: “Morning Live has been on an incredible journey, with viewers embracing it from the very beginning . This year-round commission is a response to the audience demand for topical, relevant and entertaining content as a trusted companion in the mornings.”
The changes mean that from 2022, BBC One’s entire live morning output from 6am through to 10am will come out of Salford, with Morning Live following BBC Breakfast, and will be the only channel in the UK to broadcast all of its live morning output from outside of London. With the move to take place from January 2022, more details will be announced in due course.
Morning Live is produced by Emma Morris (Executive Producer) and Rob Unsworth (Head of The One Show) for BBC Studios Productions. It is commissioned by Carla-Maria Lawson, Head of Daytime and Early Peak and the BBC Commissioning Editor is Rachel Platt.
For more information please contact: Phil Fleming philip.fleming@bbc.com
Notes to Editors:
About Morning Live
Morning Live has been on air following BBC Breakfast each week day at 9.15am on BBC One since the end of October. The programme combines a fresh mix of lively and entertaining topical content and expert guidance through the addition of regular guest presenters from the BBC Daytime and Early Peak presenting family. This has ranged from invaluable medical updates from Dr Xand van Tulleken, to the latest advice on security and scams from Rav Wilding, and Sabrina Grant capturing the mood of the nation with her roving reports around the country. While Anna Haugh has been on hand with recipes and food tips, Will Kirk has brought DIY expertise each week, and Dr James Greenwood (along with Oliver the dog) has shared weekly veterinary guidance.
BBC Daytime is committed to representing the lives of our viewers across the UK in the nations and regions with 76% of our commissions coming from across the UK, providing something for everyone.
In March 2021 it was announced that Helen Munson has been appointed as the BBC’s first Commissioning Editor for Daytime and Early Peak to be based in North East England. In this new role, Helen will support suppliers in the North of England, with particular focus on building the supply base in the North East, as well as working alongside colleagues in Scotland.
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Bluey. BBC Studios has offices in 22 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2500 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Amazon and China Mobile, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for programme titles. To the BBC, BBC Studios contributes both cash dividends and funds for programme-making, supporting the licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.