Samira Ahmed not presenting Sunday Morning Live Series 5
george.millman
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So I was thinking about Sunday Morning Live recently, which alternates series by series with The Big Questions. Whilst I enjoy TBQ, I much prefer SML because it's more contained and I feel that the questions are more relevant. So I tweeted Samira Ahmed to ask if there will be a new series soon, and she responds, 'I think so, but I've found out not with me.'
I'm really disappointed actually. I'll watch the next series whoever the presenter is, but I thought Samira did such a good job. She was calm, professional, had good poise and handled the debates exceptionally well in my opinion. I didn't watch it much when Susanna Reid was hosting, but there was an episode last year when Samira was away and Sally Magnusson stood in, and the differences between them were so obvious. Sally just seemed a lot more flustered than Samira. If they have to have a new presenter, I'm hoping Katie Derham. She covered another episode last year, and I didn't think she was that bad, but I will really miss Samira.
I'm really disappointed actually. I'll watch the next series whoever the presenter is, but I thought Samira did such a good job. She was calm, professional, had good poise and handled the debates exceptionally well in my opinion. I didn't watch it much when Susanna Reid was hosting, but there was an episode last year when Samira was away and Sally Magnusson stood in, and the differences between them were so obvious. Sally just seemed a lot more flustered than Samira. If they have to have a new presenter, I'm hoping Katie Derham. She covered another episode last year, and I didn't think she was that bad, but I will really miss Samira.
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I'm not 'taken' with her as such, I just respect her as a presenter and think she does a really sterling job. It's difficult to arbitrate in debates, it takes a good deal of skill, and I have rarely seen anyone who does it as well as she does.
She is so much better on News Watch than Raymond Snoddy was as she seems more able to elicit answers from people.
Yeah, she did. I wasn't really watching it then though, I've only really got into it since Samira has done it. I saw one episode with Susanna, and it was nothing to write home about.
I used to watch Susanna on SML and its probably very unfair of me but I always got the impression she was too "nice" for shows where the debate could get heavy, awkward and maybe a bit nasty too. Arguably perfect for Breakfast where the items were largely short and the atmosphere just informal enough for a bit of banter. SML was almost the only project the BBC gave her outside of Breakfast and she only lasted two seasons -I might be wrong but I don't think the BBC had much of an idea of how to use her(outside of Breakfast ofcourse). And maybe she would not have been happy herself (with her politics law and philosophy background) being 4th reporter on some BBC consumer filler show.
In the end maybe the chance of leading the line on GMB was just too tempting-even though it looks like it will end in tears again for ITV.
Have you seen the series of SML with Samira?
Actually no. It was just my observation on Susanna.
I hope that this is the reason that they have made the decision, and not just because someone thinks SML needs new blood. The way she worded her tweet sounded as though it was the BBC's decision, not hers, for her to stop presenting the show. It will be hard to find someone as good to take over in my opinion, although as I said if I was the producer I would approach Katie Derham, as she did a pretty good job when she covered the show last year.
How do you know? Has she confirmed that? I hope you're right
But if it is the same Samira that presents Newswatch, Then I don't go a bundle on her.
Even though she works for the corporation, she never seems to agree, with how the BBC do things, which must go down wonders with her bosses.
Could it be because her job as Newswatch presenter is to represent the viewers not the BBC suits ? It's not her fault that the BBC consistently refuses to put up spokespeople to reply to viewers' complaints - which reflects on the management not on Newswatch.I believe there is no known record of any BBC spokesperson on Newswatch conceding a mistake has been made by the hierarchy. When the supine Ray Snoddy presented Newswatch he seemed to find it extraordinary that anyone would criticise the BBC and unerringly agreed with the BBC spokespeople.
TBQ makes me realise that Nicky Campbell is a really good and professional presenter as hosting that type of debate is not easy. (As often seen on SML!)
As ftv said, I respect that she expresses her own opinions on things, and doesn't just tow the party line. I'm sure it frustrates the BBC, but I think it takes guts when you're in her job to do that. Not many presenters do it, and I find it quite refreshing. I hope that isn't the reason that they've taken her off SML.
I have appeared on The Big Questions twice, and can personally vouch for how great Nicky Campbell is. When they turn the cameras off, he is just as fun and charismatic as he is onscreen, if not even more so. He chats to the audience members a bit before the show, and he really does come across as a really genuine nice man. I haven't really had a one-on-one conversation with him as there are a lot of people for him to talk to, but I've made eye contact with him a few times and he smiles and nods at me, which is quite pleasant. I think some presenters pretty much ignore the audience.
But as a format, I prefer Sunday Morning Live, for a few reasons: a) The questions are pretty much always relevant to what is going on in the UK, whereas The Big Questions has some that just go around in circles, such as this morning's 'Is there life after death?'; b) There is a smaller panel and no live audience, so there is less of people shouting over each other and more time for individuals to be heard; and c) There are opportunities for the viewers to take part in the debates, and you don't get that on The Big Questions. There are sometimes technical details with the Skype calls, but if you're contacting people who can't make it to the studio that is naturally going to happen sometimes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/sunday-morning-live
Points Of View surely?