BBC1 may axe Good Morning programme as loser in 'sofa war' with ITV

Abstract

THE BBC is considering jettisoning its cosy coffee morning pairing of Anne Diamond and Nick Owen in a revamp of its daytime output.

In a ratings war, dubbed the Battle of the Sofas, BBC1's Good Morning with Anne and Nick has been trailing badly behind ITV's This Morning, presented by the slicker husband-and-wife partnership of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.

But Good Morning with Anne and Nick, which began four years ago and attracts a peak of 900,000 viewers against ITV's 1.9 million, is regarded as the weakest link in the BBC's morning line-up, which also includes Kilroy and Pebble Mill.

THE BBC is considering jettisoning its cosy coffee morning pairing of Anne Diamond and Nick Owen in a revamp of its daytime output.

In a ratings war, dubbed the Battle of the Sofas, BBC1's Good Morning with Anne and Nick has been trailing badly behind ITV's This Morning, presented by the slicker husband-and-wife partnership of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.

The BBC said reports that its programme would be axed in May were speculation. A spokeswoman said yesterday: "We scrutinise our output all the time as a matter of course, and daytime is no exception.

"Various ideas during this process are currently under consideration, but there are no firm decisions yet . . . In the meantime all our BBC1 weekday programmes will continue as planned into next year."

But Good Morning with Anne and Nick, which began four years ago and attracts a peak of 900,000 viewers against ITV's 1.9 million, is regarded as the weakest link in the BBC's morning line-up, which also includes Kilroy and Pebble Mill.

Ms Diamond and Mr Owen first formed their television partnership when they came to the rescue of the ailing TV-am in the 1980s.

The BBC says in its forward-planning blueprint, People and Programmes, that the daytime priority is to "devise fresh formats for discussion and talk programmes to ensure the key national talking points are effectively covered."

The importance of This Morning to ITV was demonstrated last week when Mr Madeley and Ms Finnigan were rewarded with a new two-year contract said to be worth pounds 1 million.

The programme is to move to London in the autumn, from Granada studios at Liverpool's Albert Dock, to guarantee more showbusiness and celebrity interviews. This has caused dismay in the North-west. Robert Wareing, Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, protested at the weekend that it would add to Merseyside's unemployment problems.