.gif)
BBC Look North (Yorkshire and North Midlands)
Encyclopedia
BBC Look North is the BBC
's regional television news service for West
& South
Yorkshire
, parts of North Yorkshire
and the North Midlands. The programmes as produced and broadcast from the BBC Broadcasting Centre at St. Peter's Square in Leeds with journalists also based at newsrooms in Sheffield
, Bradford
and York
.It has been noted it is a very West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire biased show and it has been said on many internet forum sites to be "Leeds-centric".This has been subject of complaints to the BBC.
Look North can be watched in any part of the UK (and Europe) on digital satellite
channel 976 or 977 on the BBC UK regional TV on satellite
service.
and Radio Sheffield
. Due to the size of the North Yorkshire
county, the listenership of Radio York
is covered by the geographically-multitudinous Look North programmes from Leeds
and Newcastle
.
Many homes in southern areas of North Yorkshire such as York
and Selby
have their aerials directed at Emley Moor, meaning they receive the Leeds edition of Look North. In addition, central and southern parts of the Yorkshire Dales receive the Leeds edition of Look North through various relay transmitters. Areas further north such as Wensleydale
and some parts of the North York Moors
can get a better siginal from the Bilsdale transmitter
meaning they receive the Newcastle edition of Look North. Most viewers in Scarborough and Filey receive the Leeds edition from a relay transmitter at Oliver's Mount
and in some cases, the Hull edition for East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
.
For viewers on Freesat, extreme north areas of North Yorkshire (DL, TS, and YO21/22 postcodes) are allocated the Newcastle edition on both BBC One and ITV1. YO7 and YO62 postcodes are allocated the Leeds edition on BBC One and the Newcastle edition on ITV1. All other postcode areas of North Yorkshire (including York, Scarborough and Harrogate) are allocated the Leeds edition on both BBC One and ITV1.
at 27 and 57 minutes past each hour. A fifteen-minute lunchtime programme follows at 1:30pm before the main 27 minute edition at 6:30pm. A short 30-second headlines update during the 8pm BBC News Summary and a seven-minute late update is shown at 10:25pm, following the BBC News at Ten.
Look North also airs four bulletins during the weekend: a lunchtime bulletin on Saturday, early evening bulletins on Saturday & Sunday and a late night bulletin on Sundays, following the BBC News at Ten. The times of these bulletins usually vary.
The launch of a dedicated regional news service from Leeds allowed for greater coverage of the two distinct areas on each side of the Pennines. It also coincided with the decision to introduce a separate ITV contractor for the east of the Pennines, Yorkshire Television
, which went on air in July 1968 along with its own regional news magazine, Calendar. Prior to that, Yorkshire had been covered by the Manchester-based contractors ABC (weekends) and Granada (weekdays).
The first presenters and reporters of Look North Leeds includd David Seymour, Barry Chambers, James Hogg, John Burns and David Haig. Because Look North Leeds was carried on the powerful Holme Moss transmitter following its launch, it could be received in the north-west, Isle of Man, south to near Birmingham and even in parts of Northern Ireland as viewers' correspondence often testified (the Manchester programme then being carried from Winter Hill and restricted to the north-west).
Look North Leeds was the main programme for the whole of the 'BBC North' (later 'Yorkshire & Lincolnshire') region until 11 November 2002, when a new studio had been built in Hull
, and the programme split in two. A short opt-out service for the East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire had been in service since 2001.
The programme was first produced from All Souls Church
in Blackman Lane, Leeds, where part of the church was converted into TV studios with attendant equipment. Prominent local figures who made appearances at the studios included Jimmy Savile
and the rugby league commentator Eddie Waring
. The All Souls studio was only equipped for black-and-white.
In 1974 Look North moved to new studios at Broadcasting House on Woodhouse Lane, near the University of Leeds
and round the corner from All Souls Church. The new facilities, equipped for colour, remained the base for Look North Leeds
and other regional programmes until 26 September 2004. A brand new broadcasting centre was built near the West Yorkshire Playhouse
on St Peter's Square, with BBC Look North moving into the new premises on 27 September 2004. The move coincided with the introduction of a new BBC Yorkshire
region.
Specialist correspondents
General reporters
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's regional television news service for West
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
& South
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, parts of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
and the North Midlands. The programmes as produced and broadcast from the BBC Broadcasting Centre at St. Peter's Square in Leeds with journalists also based at newsrooms in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.It has been noted it is a very West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire biased show and it has been said on many internet forum sites to be "Leeds-centric".This has been subject of complaints to the BBC.
Look North can be watched in any part of the UK (and Europe) on digital satellite
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
channel 976 or 977 on the BBC UK regional TV on satellite
BBC UK regional TV on satellite
The BBC broadcasts all of the BBC One and BBC Two regional variations on digital satellite television from the SES Astra satellites at 28.2° east; providing local news programmes and other regional programming with local continuity and presentation for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
service.
Coverage area
The Leeds programme covers the areas of Radio LeedsBBC Radio Leeds
BBC Radio Leeds is the BBC Local Radio service for the English metropolitan county of West Yorkshire.- Frequencies :It broadcasts from its studios at St...
and Radio Sheffield
BBC Radio Sheffield
BBC Radio Sheffield is the BBC Local Radio service for English metropolitan county of South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. This includes the city of Sheffield, plus Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham, Chesterfield and surrounding areas. It was the BBC local radio station, beginning on 15 November 1967...
. Due to the size of the North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
county, the listenership of Radio York
BBC Radio York
BBC York is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of North Yorkshire.- Early history :The station was launched at 6:30am on 4 July 1983 - a launch featured on the cover of the Radio Times...
is covered by the geographically-multitudinous Look North programmes from Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and Newcastle
BBC Look North (North East and Cumbria)
BBC Look North is the BBC's regional television news service for the BBC North East and Cumbria region. The programmes are produced and broadcast from the BBC Broadcasting Centre on Barrack Road in Newcastle upon Tyne with journalists also based at newsrooms in Middlesbrough, Durham, York and...
.
Many homes in southern areas of North Yorkshire such as York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and Selby
Selby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
have their aerials directed at Emley Moor, meaning they receive the Leeds edition of Look North. In addition, central and southern parts of the Yorkshire Dales receive the Leeds edition of Look North through various relay transmitters. Areas further north such as Wensleydale
Wensleydale
Wensleydale is the valley of the River Ure on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire, England.Wensleydale lies in the Yorkshire Dales National Park – one of only a few valleys in the Dales not currently named after its principal river , but the older name, "Yoredale", can still be seen...
and some parts of the North York Moors
North York Moors
The North York Moors is a national park in North Yorkshire, England. The moors are one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. It covers an area of , and it has a population of about 25,000...
can get a better siginal from the Bilsdale transmitter
Bilsdale transmitter
The Bilsdale transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, located at , close to Helmsley, North Yorkshire, England. It includes a guyed steel tubular mast that is primarily used for radio and television transmission. The height of the mast is to the pinnacle...
meaning they receive the Newcastle edition of Look North. Most viewers in Scarborough and Filey receive the Leeds edition from a relay transmitter at Oliver's Mount
Oliver's Mount
Oliver's Mount is an area of high ground overlooking Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It offers impressive views of the town, a tribute monument to the war dead, camping and caravanning at selected times of the year and a cafe but may be primarily known for its motorcycle races...
and in some cases, the Hull edition for East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
BBC Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)
BBC Look North is the BBC's regional TV news service for East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, north Norfolk and northeast Cambridgeshire produced by BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire...
.
For viewers on Freesat, extreme north areas of North Yorkshire (DL, TS, and YO21/22 postcodes) are allocated the Newcastle edition on both BBC One and ITV1. YO7 and YO62 postcodes are allocated the Leeds edition on BBC One and the Newcastle edition on ITV1. All other postcode areas of North Yorkshire (including York, Scarborough and Harrogate) are allocated the Leeds edition on both BBC One and ITV1.
Broadcast
On weekdays, Look North broadcasts six three-minute opt-outs during BBC BreakfastBBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel. It is presented live from BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items...
at 27 and 57 minutes past each hour. A fifteen-minute lunchtime programme follows at 1:30pm before the main 27 minute edition at 6:30pm. A short 30-second headlines update during the 8pm BBC News Summary and a seven-minute late update is shown at 10:25pm, following the BBC News at Ten.
Look North also airs four bulletins during the weekend: a lunchtime bulletin on Saturday, early evening bulletins on Saturday & Sunday and a late night bulletin on Sundays, following the BBC News at Ten. The times of these bulletins usually vary.
History
The Leeds edition of Look North has been broadcast from Leeds since 28 March 1968. Beforehand, the region had been served by regional television news in Manchester, launched in September 1957 with daily News from the North bulletins for the entire north of England. The start of a seperate programme for the North East & Cumbria in 1962 allowed North at Six (later renamed Look North) to focus on the North West and Yorkshire & Lincolnshire areas.The launch of a dedicated regional news service from Leeds allowed for greater coverage of the two distinct areas on each side of the Pennines. It also coincided with the decision to introduce a separate ITV contractor for the east of the Pennines, Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
, which went on air in July 1968 along with its own regional news magazine, Calendar. Prior to that, Yorkshire had been covered by the Manchester-based contractors ABC (weekends) and Granada (weekdays).
The first presenters and reporters of Look North Leeds includd David Seymour, Barry Chambers, James Hogg, John Burns and David Haig. Because Look North Leeds was carried on the powerful Holme Moss transmitter following its launch, it could be received in the north-west, Isle of Man, south to near Birmingham and even in parts of Northern Ireland as viewers' correspondence often testified (the Manchester programme then being carried from Winter Hill and restricted to the north-west).
Look North Leeds was the main programme for the whole of the 'BBC North' (later 'Yorkshire & Lincolnshire') region until 11 November 2002, when a new studio had been built in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, and the programme split in two. A short opt-out service for the East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire had been in service since 2001.
The programme was first produced from All Souls Church
All Souls, Blackman Lane
All Souls' Church, Blackman Lane, in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England is a large Victorian Church of England parish church.-History:All Souls Church was built by public subscription in one of the poorest districts of Leeds, the Leylands, as a memorial to Dr W. F. Hook, Vicar of Leeds for some 22...
in Blackman Lane, Leeds, where part of the church was converted into TV studios with attendant equipment. Prominent local figures who made appearances at the studios included Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile
Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG was an English disc jockey, television presenter and media personality, best known for his BBC television show Jim'll Fix It, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC music chart show Top of the Pops...
and the rugby league commentator Eddie Waring
Eddie Waring
Edward Marsden "Eddie" Waring was a British rugby league football coach, commentator and television presenter....
. The All Souls studio was only equipped for black-and-white.
In 1974 Look North moved to new studios at Broadcasting House on Woodhouse Lane, near the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
and round the corner from All Souls Church. The new facilities, equipped for colour, remained the base for Look North Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and other regional programmes until 26 September 2004. A brand new broadcasting centre was built near the West Yorkshire Playhouse
West Yorkshire Playhouse
The West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, England is a theatre which opened in March 1990 as part of the regeneration of the Quarry Hill area of the city...
on St Peter's Square, with BBC Look North moving into the new premises on 27 September 2004. The move coincided with the introduction of a new BBC Yorkshire
BBC Yorkshire
BBC Yorkshire is one of the English regions of the BBC. It was formed from the division of the former BBC North region into BBC Yorkshire and BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, based in Hull.-Television:...
region.
Breakfast Bulletins
Regular presenters: Clare Frisby Clare Frisby Clare Kathleen Frisby is a newsreader for Look North based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. She presents the regional opt-outs during BBC Breakfast and The Politics Show in Yorkshire and the North Midlands-Career:... (Mon-Thu); Amanda Harper (Fri) |
Relief presenters: Amanda Harper ,Tom Ingall , Phil Bodmer |
13.30 Bulletin
Regular presenters: Christa Ackroyd Christa Ackroyd Christa Ackroyd is a British television and radio presenter. She is one of the main presenters for the BBC Yorkshire regional magazine programme Look North.-Early life:... , Harry Gration Harry Gration Harry Gration is a television presenter based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He is one of the main presenters for the BBC Yorkshire regional magazine programme Look North.-Early life:... |
Relief presenters: Danni Hewson, Jenny Hill Jenny Hill (journalist) Jenny Hill is a British news reporter and television journalist who works for the BBC. She is a reporter for BBC Breakfast as well as being a crime correspondent and regional reporter for the North of England region... , Amanda Harper |
18.30 Bulletin
Regular presenters: Christa Ackroyd Christa Ackroyd Christa Ackroyd is a British television and radio presenter. She is one of the main presenters for the BBC Yorkshire regional magazine programme Look North.-Early life:... , Harry Gration Harry Gration Harry Gration is a television presenter based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He is one of the main presenters for the BBC Yorkshire regional magazine programme Look North.-Early life:... |
Relief presenters: Tanya Arnold, Phil Bodmer, Amanda Harper, Jenny Hill Jenny Hill (journalist) Jenny Hill is a British news reporter and television journalist who works for the BBC. She is a reporter for BBC Breakfast as well as being a crime correspondent and regional reporter for the North of England region... |
22.25 Bulletin
Regular presenters: |
Relief presenters: Amanda Harper, Phil Bodmer |
Saturday Bulletins
Regular presenter: Keeley Donovan |
Relief presenters: Amy Garcia |
Sunday Bulletins
Regular presenter: Amanda Harper, Phil Bodmer |
Weather Presenters
Regular presenters:
|
Relief presenters:
|
Reporters
District correspondents- Phil Bodmer (Bradford and West Yorkshire videojournalist)
- Tom Ingall (South Yorkshire)
- Cathy Killick (North Yorkshire, utilised with BBC North East and CumbriaBBC North East and CumbriaBBC North East and Cumbria is the BBC English Region covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, North Yorkshire, Teesside and all but the southern part of Cumbria...
)
Specialist correspondents
- Tanya Arnold (Sport, also news reporter and BBC BreakfastBBC BreakfastBBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel. It is presented live from BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items...
Relief Sports Reporter - Penny Bustin (Health)
- John Cundy (Crime and Social Affairs)
- Jenny HillJenny Hill (journalist)Jenny Hill is a British news reporter and television journalist who works for the BBC. She is a reporter for BBC Breakfast as well as being a crime correspondent and regional reporter for the North of England region...
(Crime & North of England network correspondent) - Paul Ogden (Sport)
- Len Tingle (Political Editor)
- Alan Whitehouse (Transport)
General reporters
- Ian Bucknall
- Jamie Coulson (also BBC Inside Out Yorkshire presenter)
- Ben Cryer
- Emma Glasby
- Amanda Harper (Videojournalist)
- Danni Hewson
- Charlotte Leeming
- Kersti Mitchell
- Mark Simpson (also national BBC North of England correspondent)
- Neil Smallburn
- Marco van Belle
- Sam Wichelow
Former presenters
- Khalid AzizKhalid AzizKhalid Aziz LVO DL started his career as a journalist, becoming the youngest producer in the BBC at Radio Leicester. And at the age of 24, the youngest presenter of a 6 o'clock BBC TV regional news programme, Look North from Leeds...
- Brian BainesBrian BainesBrian Baines was a British television newsreader and continuity announcer.As well as regular newsreading duties on the early evening Look North programme, Baines was also one of the main announcers for BBC North television during the 1970s and early 1980s when the BBC's English regions utilised...
- Philip HaytonPhilip HaytonPhilip Hayton is a British television presenter. He was born in Keighley in Yorkshire and was educated at Fyling Hall School, an Independent school near Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire in Northern England.-Career:...
- National BBC News presenter before he left the corporation in 2005. - Mike McCarthy - now on Sky NewsSky NewsSky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
. - Peter Levy - now the main presenter for Look North in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire based in HullKingston upon HullKingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
. - Sophie RaworthSophie RaworthSophie Jane Raworth is an English newsreader and journalist who works for British broadcaster the BBC. She is the main presenter of the BBC News at One, presenting Tuesday to Friday, and regularly appears on the BBC News at Six and occasionally on BBC News at Ten.-Early life:Born in Surrey to a...
- between 1995 and 1997 - now main presenter of the BBC News at One. - Mike SmarttMike SmarttMike Smartt OBE is a journalist and broadcaster, and was the founder and editor-in-chief of BBC News Online, the BBC's Internet news service. With Project Director Bob Eggington , and held the post of editor-in-chief of BBC News Interactive, which also encompassed interactive television news, until...
- between 1976 and 1982 - later correspondent and presenter at BBC TV News and then founder and editor-in-chief of BBC News Interactive - Barrie Redfern (now TV channel launch specialist & creative consultant)
- Judith Stamper - now runs a degree in Broadcast Journalism at the University of LeedsUniversity of LeedsThe University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. She left in 1995. - Ian White Presented 22:25 bulletin, his last bulletin was on 23 June 2011