BBC Scotland’s flagship daily news programme on its new channel will be anchored by two of the country’s leading journalists, Rebecca Curran and Martin Geissler.
Due on air in February next year when the channel will launch, the hour-long news programme will bring national and international news to audiences across Scotland.
Curran, who is currently based in the BBC’s Aberdeen newsroom, and Geissler, who is a news correspondent with ITN, will be the programme’s co-presenters when it broadcasts live daily from the BBC studios in Pacific Quay.
Widely recognised as one of the most talented and tenacious broadcast reporters of her generation, Curran has worked for BBC Scotland in its Aberdeen newsroom for the last two years. She has broken a raft of original stories – from an exclusive interview with a rape survivor, to a raid on a puppy farm in Aberdeenshire.
She started her career in the newsroom at Northsound Radio, and then spent three years at STV before joining the BBC in 2016. Her number one priority is original journalism and she has an enviable track record in persuading people to tell their story to her and to the BBC. She lives in Aberdeen and is passionate about representing the whole of Scotland on the new programme.
Speaking of her appointment, Rebecca says: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the new BBC Scotland channel. This is an amazing opportunity for me personally and professionally, at what is an exciting time for broadcasting in Scotland. I have enjoyed every minute of working in the Aberdeen newsroom, covering a fantastic patch with great colleagues, but I am looking forward to this next challenge.”
Martin Geissler has been with ITN since 2002, and has reported on some of the biggest news stories this century: the Iraq war, the Afghan conflict, Hurricane Katrina, the Boxing Day tsunami, the conflict in Darfur, the crisis inside Zimbabwe, Donald Trump’s election; and many more.
He is currently based in Scotland with ITN, covering stories from around Britain and across the globe, and also produces and presents regular “essay” pieces on politics and modern Britain. He was previously Brussels, Africa and Scotland correspondent for ITN.
He started his television career with Sky News in Scotland, and has worked as a reporter and presenter for STV and as a correspondent for Sky Sports. He lives in Clackmannanshire with his wife and children.
Martin Geissler says: “I’ve seen every stage of my career as a privilege and this is an exciting new chapter. The opportunity to front a fresh programme, covering the world from a Scottish perspective, was impossible to resist. The nine o’clock news will be a bold programme with its own character and personality, produced by a talented team. I can’t wait to get started.”
Programme editor Hayley Valentine believes she has secured a warm and engaging team who also bring real journalistic rigour.
Hayley Valentine says: “Rebecca has gained a reputation as one of the BBC’s most talented reporters over the last two years, and brings with her a passion for original journalism that will continue to shape the agenda on the show every night. She’s also smart, warm and engaging.
“Martin has earned his status as one of the stand out journalists on British television, covering some of the major world events of the last 25 years. His knowledge of world, UK, and Scottish affairs is difficult to beat, while his hunger to get beneath the skin of a story will be a huge asset to the new programme. I’m delighted he’s chosen to join BBC Scotland at such an important time.
“What the two of them have in common is their energy, curiosity, drive to set the agenda, passion for original stories and desire to put the audience at the heart of their journalism.”
Gary Smith, head of News & Current Affairs at BBC Scotland, says: “The appointment of Rebecca and Martin is brilliant news. They’ll bring a commitment to bold, challenging and original journalism to the channel and our audiences. With Rebecca and Martin at the front of a talented team, the news at nine o’clock will be able to compete with the strongest TV news programmes in Scotland and anywhere across the UK.”
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