Sunday Morning Live (British TV programme)

Sunday Morning Live is a religious and current affairs discussion programme.[3] The first series aired on BBC One from July 2010 to November 2010 after the end of the third series of The Big Questions.[4] Thereafter it has continued to air each year between June and November.[5]

Sunday Morning Live
Presented bySusanna Reid (2010–11)
Samira Ahmed (2012–13)
Sian Williams (2014–15)

Naga Munchetty (2016)
Sean Fletcher (2017–)
Emma Barnett (2017)
Cherry Healey (2018)
Ria Hebden (2019)
Sally Phillips (2020–)
Holly Hamilton (2022–)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerRichard Pattinson
Production locationsStudio V, Broadcasting House
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesBBC (2010–2016)
BBC Studios (2016–2022)
Tern TV (2022–)[1]
Green Inc. (2022–)[2]
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release11 July 2010 (2010-07-11) –
present
Related
The Big Questions

Format edit

The programme is produced at MediaCityUK, in Salford, United Kingdom by BBC Studios and features studio guests, filmed inserts and interactive viewer input from text messages, videophone, Skype, telephone and e-mail. Its debut edition included a guest appearance by ex-EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella.

For the 2014 series, the programme relocated to Broadcasting House in London (into studio V, the studio The One Show is broadcast from) with new presenter Sian Williams. The new format includes the old style discussions of religious and ethical questions and also new one-to-one interviews with special guests. Despite being broadcast from London, the programme's production base remains in Belfast.[6]

Presenters edit

Susanna Reid, a BBC Breakfast presenter, presented the first two series of the programme. When Sunday Morning Live was on air Reid did not present Breakfast at the weekends as she had to be in Belfast. In May 2012 Reid announced on Twitter that former Channel 4 News presenter Samira Ahmed would be hosting the third series when it returned in June 2012.[7][8] Ahmed continued to present the fourth series.

On 4 November 2012, Kate Silverton covered Samira Ahmed's presenting duties during an absence. On 4 August 2013, Sally Magnusson stood in for Ahmed when she was again indisposed, and on 27 October 2013 Katie Derham covered.

In June 2014 former BBC Breakfast presenter Sian Williams was confirmed[9] as presenter for the next series.

In November 2015, Sian Williams announced that she was leaving the BBC to replace Emma Crosby on 5 News and it was announced prior to the 2016 series that she would be replaced by BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty.[10]

In June 2017, it was announced[11] that Sean Fletcher and Emma Barnett were taking over presenting duties for the programme. They are joined by roving reporters including Wendy Robbins and Mehreen Baig. Cherry Healey replaced Barnett in 2018, followed by Ria Hebden in 2019, Sally Phillips in 2020 and Holly Hamilton in 2022.

Music edit

Rob May and Simon Hill wrote and produced the theme tune for Series 1–5. Kam Frantic composed the theme tune for Series 6–8.

Competitive Tender edit

As part of the BBC's "competitive tender" policy, the company put the tender rights for the program up for auction in September 2021. The tender would allow for 24 episodes to be produced in the next two years. BBC Studios, who produced the series at the time, decided not to bid on the rights.

On 16 March 2022, it was announced that two independent producers – Tern TV and Green Inc., had won the competitive tender to produce the programme as a co-production.[12][13]

References edit

  1. ^ "Zinc Media PLC - News - Tern Television and Green Inc win the competitive tender to produce Sunday Morning Live".
  2. ^ "Zinc Media PLC - News - Tern Television and Green Inc win the competitive tender to produce Sunday Morning Live".
  3. ^ Is celebrity culture damaging Britain? Will & Testament blog, BBC, 23 August 2010
  4. ^ Butt, Riazat (29 June 2010). "BBC launches new Sunday religious show". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  5. ^ "Sunday Morning Live: Series 2". BBC One. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  6. ^ Sunday Morning Live returns to BBC One with new presenter Sian Williams BBC Media Centre, 9 June 2014
  7. ^ I have news about Sunday Morning Live ... Twitter/@susannareid100, 29 May 2012
  8. ^ Series 3 begins on Sunday June 10th with the brilliant @SamiraAhmedUK at the helm Twitter/@susannareid100, 29 May 2012
  9. ^ "BBC – Sunday Morning Live returns to BBC One with new presenter Sian Williams – Media Centre". BBC. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  10. ^ "SML". BBC Press Office. BBC. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  11. ^ "BBC – Sunday Morning Live – Media Centre". BBC. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Outcome of the competitive tender to produce Sunday Morning Live".
  13. ^ "Zinc Media PLC - News - Tern Television and Green Inc win the competitive tender to produce Sunday Morning Live".

External links edit