As reported on How-Do, news of the proposed relocation broke yesterday when James Laidler, a BBC producer, tweeted "Awful mood in office today - emerges Breakfast is very likely moving to Salford by 2012 and we'll have 6 months to decide if we go too.”
Grim up north?
In a demonstration of the power of social media - which can't have been lost on Laidler, who handles "all things social media for BBC Breakfast" - the story then spread with some speed and ferocity, appearing across numerous industry and gossip sites and blogs.
Today it proved to be the turn of the mainstream press to respond, led, in it's own inimitable style, by The Sun.
Staff were, readers were told, both "fuming" and "furious" at news of the plans, with one unnamed insider commenting: "This is utter madness. To say people are upset is an understatement."
In an open display of clear neutrality on the matter, the title also pointed out that BBC Breakfast was "already in for an autumn battering from ITV's sexed-up GMTV with Christine Bleakley."
You can judge the paper's standpoint here. How-Do thinks its choice of pictures to illustrate the comparison between MediaCityUK and the BBC's London base is, well... interesting.
The Independent meanwhile offered a more sober assessment of any planned relocation, noting that Breakfast's move could "provide a more visible reminder that the corporation's national output does not all emanate from London."
Making the move
Torin Douglas, BBC media correspondent, was quoted as opining: "If BBC Breakfast were to move to Salford, viewers could really start to notice that the BBC was making more of its programmes in the North.
"Breakfast runs for three hours a day on BBC 1 – and the Salford Quays waterfront and new buildings could provide a highly visible backdrop for the programme."
However, issuing a note of caution the title noted that "persuading the programme's famous guests to travel far from the capital will not be easy, as ITV show This Morning found when it broadcast from Liverpool.
"Producers of breakfast radio and television are accustomed to sending early morning taxis for interviewees, but an appearance on Breakfast might in future necessitate a journey north the night before and an overnight stay."
It also noted of the show's presenters: "It remains to be seen whether Williams, Stayt and other star Breakfast presenters such as Bill Turnbull will be prepared to follow the programme north."
Senior Picture Publicist Lime Pictures, one of the UK’s largest independent producers, with Channel 4’s HOLLYOAKS and being produced at its Liverpool base, is looking for a Senior Picture Publicist to join its busy publicity team.
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