Anchors away as Beeb decides flagship faces

THE NEXT phase of the review is to announce which star presenters will be rewarded with key programmes, and which are to be dropped. The BBC denies that it has a "love list" of names which elevates Jill Dando and Michael Buerk, and downgrades lunchtime presenters Justin Webb and Edward Stourton, but none the less there is certain to be a shake-up.

Jill Dando is a strong contender to anchor the revamped Six O'Clock News. She is liked by viewers, considered sexy too, and is a favourite of the director-general, Sir John Birt.

Dando's salary is said to be about pounds 400,000 and the BBC will be keen to put her in a key position. The new weekly current affairs programme will also be presenter-led, and she is a possibility for that.

Another possibility is Channel 5's Kirsty Young, who is hot property and is being courted by the BBC and other channels.

Research is said to show that audiences like to see well known and trusted reporters like Kate Adie to the fore, and she may well feature prominently in the revamped news. Michael Buerk, apparently also has a face and a voice that people trust.

Nicky Campbell, the former Radio 1 DJ is also touted as a high-flyer and a possible presenter of the restyled Breakfast News bulletin.

Martyn Lewis and Anna Ford have been mentioned as the anchors most likely to lose out in the restructuring, although both might find a home in other places in the programme schedule.

The BBC is likely to sign up presenters to highly lucrative contracts, but demand more flexibility from them in return. Michael Buerk is an example of possible future trends.

Not only does he present news bulletins, but he is also to be found on 999 and on various Radio 4 programmes. Jill Dando, too, seems to be as at ease on the Six O'Clock News as she is presenting Holiday.

Among the losers may be the BBC specialist reporters who do a consistent, workmanlike job, but lack star quality and retain a strange, anonymous quality despite being on-screen most days of the week.