<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Smooch at Ten</span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt">ITN gets physical in battle of the newshounds</span>
Dermott and Trevor - on-screen smacker could prove winner in the ratings war.
THE RATINGS WAR between the BBC's Ten O'clock News and ITV's News at Ten is set to hot up - when ITV screens the first gay kiss between newsreaders later this week.
In the shocking scene, viewers will see veteran anchorman Sir Trevor McDonald finish a report on a Guatemalan earthquake, before turning to give a lingering kiss on the lips to co-presenter Dermot Murnaghan.
ITN bosses are bracing themselves for an onslaught of complaints when 10 million viewers watch the controversial clinch at the close of the episode to be broadcast on Wednesday.
But they last night denied that it was merely a cheap ploy to bolster viewing figures for the flagship show.
"This gay kiss is no gimmick," insisted ITN chief Ian Bevitt. "We like to think that our news programmes reflect real life issues, and like it or not homosexual relationships are a part of everyday life.
<span style="font-size: 11pt">ITN gets physical in battle of the newshounds</span>
Dermott and Trevor - on-screen smacker could prove winner in the ratings war.
THE RATINGS WAR between the BBC's Ten O'clock News and ITV's News at Ten is set to hot up - when ITV screens the first gay kiss between newsreaders later this week.
In the shocking scene, viewers will see veteran anchorman Sir Trevor McDonald finish a report on a Guatemalan earthquake, before turning to give a lingering kiss on the lips to co-presenter Dermot Murnaghan.
ITN bosses are bracing themselves for an onslaught of complaints when 10 million viewers watch the controversial clinch at the close of the episode to be broadcast on Wednesday.
But they last night denied that it was merely a cheap ploy to bolster viewing figures for the flagship show.
"This gay kiss is no gimmick," insisted ITN chief Ian Bevitt. "We like to think that our news programmes reflect real life issues, and like it or not homosexual relationships are a part of everyday life.
I am not interested in seeing chicks telling the news in bikinis or journalists locking lips of whatever sexual persuasion. Why is that part of te news?
Comment