Breakfast Time (British TV programme) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Breakfast Time |
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| Genre | Breakfast television |
| Presented by | Frank Bough (1983–87) Sue Cook (1983–86) Jill Dando (1988–89) Fern Britton (1983–84) Debbie Greenwood (1985–86) Sally Magnusson (1985–89) John Mountford Jeremy Paxman (1986–89) Nick Ross (1983–86) Mike Smith (1983–86) Selina Scott (1983–86) John Stapleton (1988–89) Kirsty Wark (1988–89) Francis Wilson (1983–89) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 150 minutes (1983–86) 120 minutes (1988–89) |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Original release | 17 January 1983 – 29 September 1989 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Breakfast News |
Breakfast Time was the very first national breakfast TV show in Britain. It aired on BBC1 across the UK from January 17, 1983, to September 29, 1989. This show started just over two weeks before another breakfast TV station, TV-am, began its service. That show was called Good Morning Britain.
On October 2, 1989, Breakfast Time changed its name and became Breakfast News.
Contents
What Was Breakfast Time Like?
Breakfast Time was a unique mix of serious news and fun, easy-to-watch segments. It had a really friendly and relaxed feel. The set often featured comfy sofas and bright colours.
Presenters and Style
Unlike traditional news, the presenters usually wore casual clothes. This was different from the formal suits seen on other news shows. Key presenters included Frank Bough, Selina Scott, and Nick Ross. The show also had popular regular guests. These included Russell Grant for astrology and Diana Moran, known as the "Green Goddess." She got her nickname from the green leotard she wore for her fitness segments.
News and Weather Updates
Debbie Rix read the main news headlines. Viewers could also watch short local news updates. These regional news bulletins aired every quarter past and quarter to the hour.
The weather segment was called Window on the Weather. Francis Wilson was the main weather presenter. This part of the show also had a relaxed vibe. It even used modern projection graphics, which was quite advanced for the time. Other weather presenters like Michael Fish and Bill Giles sometimes filled in.
First Broadcast and Guests
On its very first day, January 17, 1983, Breakfast Time received good luck messages. These came from other breakfast shows around the world. Shows from Australia, Canada, the United States, Hong Kong, and Japan sent their greetings. One of the special guests on the first show was Jane Pauley. She was a presenter from NBC News' Today in the United States.
Show Times
Initially, Breakfast Time aired every weekday morning. It ran from 6:30 am until 9:00 am. On February 18, 1985, the show's times changed slightly. It then started at 6:50 am and finished at 9:20 am.
A New Look for the Show
On November 10, 1986, Breakfast Time got a big makeover. It became more serious, with a news desk and presenters wearing suits. Experienced journalists like Jeremy Paxman and Kirsty Wark joined the team. The show started focusing more on in-depth discussions about the day's news, especially politics. This new version of the show also began later, at 7:00 am. It would then finish sometime between 8:30 am and 8:55 am.
Breakfast Time vs. TV-am
The commercial breakfast show TV-am launched on ITV just two weeks after Breakfast Time. Even though TV-am had some very famous presenters, Breakfast Time was more popular with viewers.
Breakfast Time was praised for its live coverage of a major incident at a political conference in 1984. Meanwhile, TV-am was criticized for not covering the event well.
Unlike TV-am, Breakfast Time usually only aired on weekdays. Weekend mornings on BBC1 were typically used for educational programmes from The Open University. However, on two special occasions, Breakfast Time did broadcast on weekends. These were to cover important news events: the Zeebrugge ferry disaster and the Hillsborough football disaster.
Olympic Breakfast Time
During the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympic Games, Breakfast Time changed its focus. The show was almost entirely dedicated to Olympic coverage. Only the regular news, weather, and regional news segments remained.
1984 Olympics Coverage
In 1984, due to the time difference, Olympic Breakfast Time showed highlights from the overnight events. Frank Bough presented this special version of the show. David Icke provided "Olympic Action Summaries" at specific times.
1988 Olympics Coverage
In 1988, Olympic Breakfast Time aired when it was the middle of the afternoon at the Olympic games. So, the show mixed live coverage with highlights from overnight. Steve Rider was the presenter, and David Icke again gave Olympic summaries. During both Olympic Games, Olympic Breakfast Time also aired on the weekends.
