New breakfast show Rises

Mark Durden-Smith (centre) with Kirsty Gallacher and Colin Murray

Rise, the new morning show that replaces The Big Breakfast on Channel 4, has been launched.

It was given a low-key start at 0655 BST, and featured a mix of hard and soft news stories and topical items, without the stunts that characterised its predecessor.

Gallacher is the sports presenter

Sky Sports rugby presenter Mark Durden-Smith headed the team of seven presenters, who appeared in a high-tech studio with a breakfast bar instead of sofas.

They chatted informally, talking about everything from the Middle East to David Beckham's new clothes and whether Pakistani president General Musharraf wore a wig.

Another Sky Sports presenter, Kirsty Gallacher, presented the sport, while the team also included MTV host Edith Bowman and former Newsround frontman Chris Rogers.

They all took turns in presenting the weather.

Producers expect viewers to dip in and out of the show rather than watch it at length, and it prides itself on having no title music.

It started shakily, I thought I was still watching The Hoobs

Fiona Whitty
The Sun

Instead, when going into breaks, they sometimes showed live pictures of the M27 motorway outside Southampton, accompanied by music by Eminem.

Two TV critics who the presenters spoke to on air gave a mixed reaction to their progress.

"I think it started shakily, I thought I was still watching The Hoobs," said The Sun's Fiona Whitty.

"We expected it to start with a bang and there wasn't a bang. But it has picked up.

"It's certainly offering something that none of the other channels offer in the mornings, something that will appeal to 20-somethings."

Heat magazine's Boyd Hilton said: "It's been a little bit more free-wheeling than we were led to believe."

Edith Bowman interviewed Denis Leary

There were some features, such as Kylie-based weather, that he did like, and others, such as a cartoon featuring celebrity characters, that he did not, he said.

Executive producer Sebastian Scott said: "This show is for people who want to know about Bin Laden, Beckham and Britney Spears.

"It won't be perfect on Monday - I can guarantee it. But it will come together and get people talking and once we start it up, it will be brilliant."

The presenters roamed the studio, between a big screen, a desk, stools and a breakfast bar, discussing news items and often cracking jokes.

Sky News correspondents from around the world were also seen, while the only studio guest was US comedian Denis Leary.

Entertainment news

The presenters also had hand-held e-mail devices which allowed viewers to contact them directly.

Durden-Smith is the son of Wish You Were Here presenter Judith Chalmers.

Bowman covers entertainment news with Colin Murray, the face of Channel 4's programme strand 4 Music, taking charge of features.

Reporters Liz Bonnin and Henry Bonsu will also appear regularly.

BSkyB and Princess Productions are behind the new show.

The Big Breakfast, which has been fronted by presenters including Chris Evans, Zoe Ball and Richard Bacon, was dropped last month because of poor ratings after 10 years on air.