Faces change at BBC News

Huw Edwards: Moves from Six O'Clock News

The BBC's revamped line-up of TV news presenters make their official debuts in their new roles from Monday.

Huw Edwards is anchoring the flagship Ten O'Clock news on BBC One, replacing Peter Sissons and Michael Buerk who have both stepped down.

Edwards, 41, will present the programme from Monday to Thursdays, with Fiona Bruce in charge on Fridays and often at weekends.

George Alagiah and Sophie Raworth will jointly present the Six O'Clock news in a change of format on Britain's most watched news programme.

Bruce: May attract younger female viewers

It attracts an audience of about six million each teatime.

Anna Ford is continuing to host the One O'Clock programme, and Darren Jordon remains the second presenter.

Dermot Murnaghan and Natasha Kaplinsky are already fronting BBC One's Breakfast. Sian Williams and Bill Turnbull present the show from Fridays to Sundays.

BBC officials have decided against altering the format of the Ten O'Clock show, although each of the main bulletins will have a new set to refresh the look of the programmes.

The Ten O'Clock news is also launching a website to coincide with the appointment of its two fresh faces.

Users will be able to view the programme in video and on demand, and read about the presenters and correspondents.

Alagiah will anchor TV's biggest news programme

They will also be able to access links to the day's top news stories.

Edwards and Bruce were appointed amid speculation that the Ten O'Clock News needed to attract a more multicultural audience and younger female viewers.

Their boss Richard Sambrook, director of BBC News, admits that they have "a hard act to follow" in succeeding Buerk and Sissons.

The veteran newsmen announced last year that they were to leave the Ten O'Clock programme.

Sissons, 60, who has been with BBC News for 13 years, is moving to its rolling TV news service News 24.

In a parting shot, he accused the BBC of "ageism" in an interview with the Observer newspaper.

Buerk, 56, one of the best-known faces of BBC News for 20 years, decided it was time to leave after presenting more than 4,000 editions of the programme.

"It's more than enough," he said.

Buerk will continue working as a presenter on BBC Radio Four, on news specials and possibly on assignments abroad.

Speaking of his appointment, Huw Edwards said it was "a huge privilege" to follow in their footsteps.