BBC Nine O'Clock News
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The BBC Nine O'Clock News was the flagship BBC News programme from 1970 until 2000 when it was controversially moved to Ten O'Clock.
Famous presenters included Robert Dougall, Richard Whitmore (1973-1981), Richard Baker (1970-1982), Kenneth Kendall (1969-1981), Jan Leeming, John Humphrys (1981-1993), Martyn Lewis (1986-1999), Moira Stuart(1985-1993), Peter Sissons (1993-2003), Michael Buerk (1987-2002).
The first Nine O'Clock News was screened on the 14th of September 1970, having been moved from 20:50 as a response to the launch by ITN of the News at Ten. The set used by the bulletin was designed to differentiate from the day's other bulletins, for example in the 1980s, the Nine O'Clock bulletin had a wooden effect whereas other bulletins used a plain blue background instead. It was also the only bulletin to have a closing set of music, earlier bulletins would link to weather at the end instead.
In 1993, as part of a relaunch of all the BBC news bulletins which created a more uniformed look, the bulletin was the only one with variety, having a darker set and more authoritative title music. A larger relaunch of all the BBC's news output came in 1999 when the programme once again shared a common theme and set with the other daily programmes.
On 2 October 2000, the BBC Nine O'Clock News went widescreen, and on 16 October the flagship evening news bulletin was moved to Ten O'Clock, becoming BBC Ten O'Clock News. The final BBC Nine O'Clock news was presented by Peter Sissons.
The show was carried on BBC One and inspired a 1979-1982 BBC Two comedy show running at in the same timeslot to take the name Not the Nine O'Clock News.
