News & weather
From 1992 until 2002 the shows news bulletins were contracted out to independent news provider ITN. Every 20 minutes viewers would received a fast paced look at the world news in 2 minutes provided by a stream of regular and the occasional stand in presenter hosted from the ITN studios in London. Following the bulletin the new presenter would throw back to the Big Breakfast house wherein a lively handover, usually at the newsreaders expence would commence. While Peter, Phil & Jasmine will be remembered as the main news anchors there's a good selection of also rans:
Peter Smith
1992-1996
The original newsreader on the show from September 1992 right up until 1996. Upon leaving The Big Breakfast Peter Smith was awarded his own game show Incognito which was broadcast on BBC 1 until 1997 .
Since then Peter seems to have vanished from TV. If anybody knows what happened to good old Pete Smith please email us now!
David Bobin
The first ever stand in for The Big Breakfast news. Replaced Peter Smith for two days in 1992. The Big Breakfast was one of David's final terrestrial TV appearances before he moved to Sky Sports where he has remained until this day often seen fronting coverage of Spain's La Liga and as a newsreader on Sky Sports News.
Angela Rippon
Angela was the show's first 'regular' stand in newsreader. Angela replaced Peter on a number of occasions when he was away or on holiday in the early years of The Big Breakfast. In recent years Angela has presented daytime show Cash In The Attic and took part in the 2010 series of Dancing On Ice. In 2011 she was reunited with Chris Evans when she started hosting a weekly viewer's news section on BBC's The One Show entitled Rippon's Britain.
Jan Leeming
Throughout the 80s Jan was one of the UK's best know newsreaders thanks to her long stint on BBC News, Pebble Mill and even hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in 1982. In 1987 she left BBC News and disappeared from television. In the 1990s pretty much her only TV appearances were as stand in for The Big Breakfast news. In 2006 she returned to prime time as a contestant on ITV's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and in 2010 appeared on Channel 4's Come Dine With Me.
Phil Gayle
January 1996 - 2000 , March 29th 2001 & September 10th 2021
Phil was the regular new reader ever since Peter Smith left. Started his career as a mobile DJ by the name of Paul Benson and then moved on to modeling knitting patterns. Sadly Phil decided to leave The Big Breakfast in 2000 in order to work his way up ITN and was much missed!
Phil holds the honour of reading the last ever news bulletin on The Big Breakfast when he made a guest appearance on the final show and was the only returning member of the classic days when the show was revived in 2021.
Phil has since worked on BBC 1's Crimewatch Daily.
Denise Van Outen
Weather Presenter: September 1996 - Dec '96.
Main Presenter: Jan '96 - Jan '99 & 11th Sept 00 - 12th Jan 01
Princess Denise of Basildon originally started as a The Big Breakfast's weather presenter touring Britain in her massive chopper. But from Christmas 1996 she was promoted to phone room duties and offering dating services and viewer interaction. Slowly as Sharon left the show Denise took on main presenting duties until Sept 1997 when she was teamed with Johnny Vaughan. Together they boosted ratings and made the brekkie must see. Denise left on January 1st 1999 to pursue her own projects including sitcom Babes In The Wood On September 11th 2000 she sensationally returned to The Big Breakfast for a final four months with Vaughan.
John Craven
Legendary ex BBC Newsround presenter. John filled in for Phil Gayle for a week in early 2000. He had the honour of his own news jingle - using the classic 1970s Newsround theme. John can still be found on television presenting BBC's long running Countryfile.
Saxon Baines
Saxon often filled in for Phil Gayle on his various excursions to the 'Dam.Baines began her journalistic career during the Gulf War working in BBC News and Current Affairs at BBC Television Centre in London. Additionally, she presented London Today on GMTV's morning news, the late news following ITN's News at Ten, and she co-anchored ITN's half-hour flagship program London Tonight.Baines received her bachelor's degree from University College London. She also earned a degree in journalism at the London School of Journalism. She is now the first ever full time female host of CNN's World Sport Report.
Carol Barnes
Was an ITN news veteran. She was with the company from 1974 until 2004 and was even the launch newsreader on The Big Breakfast's predecessor The Channel 4 Daily. Barnes sadly died aged 63 in 2008 following a stroke from which she never recovered.
Bridgid Nzekwu
Bridgid first joined ITN in 1997 as a producer for The Big Breakfast News after a career as a multimedia consultant.
Brigid briefly replaced Phil Gayle then vanished when a permanent news reader, Jasmine Lowson, was hired.
Since the Big Breakfast Bridgid's status has grown; she is extremely respected in the industry. Bridgid was the UK’s first mixed-race female newsreader, initially presenting bulletins for 5News and joining Channel 4 News in 1999. She is best known as a presenter and reporter for Channel 4 News for 10 years and has also anchored ITV News and 24-hour rolling news programmes.
Jemma Woodman
When Phil left the news team there was a period when the news was read by one of a number of Newsreaders. Jemma is one of these and was much liked by Richard Bacon - though she rarely returned the sentiments. Jemma remained with ITN after the Big Breakfast and presented Westcountry Tonight, ITV's local news service for the south-west on England until it ended in 2009. She has also presented on the main ITN News broadcasts.
Kelly Dalglish
1st January 2000
Kelly, daughter of Liverpool FC legend Kenny Dalglish read the news on The Biggest Breakfast Ever. It was obviously one of Phil Gayle's "I've lost my contact lenses" occasions. Since her stint on The Big Breakfast Kelly, now known as Kelly Cates since marrying in 2007, has become a respected sports reporter on both Sky & ITV. She worked for ITV during the FIFA 2010 world cup and does charity work promoting football in Africa.
Simon Fielder
Hosted the weather for The BB after winning the competition 'Find Me A Weather Presenter'. Simon was the last person to be sent to the Steps of Woe when he failed to predict the floods that swept through The Big Breakfast House in October 2000. Simon appeared hosting the weather after ever news bulletin, usually from a large purple map in the garden. Simon's final regular slot was on Johnny & Denise's final show. After the 2001 revamp Simon appeared irregularly in guest slots on the show.
Jasmine Lowson
From mid 2000 to March 29th 2002
Jasmine served as The Big Breakfast's final newsreader. She was nicknamed 'Monobreast' for a while thanks to a pattern on one of her tops Jasmine was also The Big Breakfast's first 'nude newsreader'.
Jasmine saw a lot of changes to the look of her news room thanks to a re-launch half way through her time on the show.
It was Richard Bacon who got Jasmine the job after meeting her at a party. Since the end of The Big Breakfast Jasmine has hosted ITN's London's tonight and showbiz news on ITV2.
Valerie Singleton - UNCONFIRMED
Did she really present the BB news? I can't find evidence but Nick Parkin seems to think so, if you can provide the details please get in touch!
