It's truly outstanding how Michael Buerk casually strolls into the one o'clock news studio with only five minutes to air, is given an absolute cul-de-sac of a show to present, has frantic messages in his ear, whilst reading the top story, about how he's about to crash into a brick wall because nothing is ready to run, and a doesn't even break into a sweat. The viewer would just never know. A professional of the highest order at work, very impressive.

Michael Buerk, what a legend

This is mental!! I can't believe how fast-paced and pressurised the whole process is, and yet on screen it's silky smooth and polished. Well, it was in the 80s and 90s. Now they make balls-ups more often. I suppose there's no threat of Norden's Laughter File. Fantastic to see Michael Buerke preparing in amongst the team rather than lounging around or being a prima donna. He was one of THE news presenters.

There have been several references to the director's instruction "zoom 5 and animate charisma". Zoom 5 means Camera 5 zoom in and animate charisma means press the animate button on the digital video effects machine called charisma. If you look at what happens in the small image showing transmission in the box, you'll see the effects occurring. The programme starts on VT (video tape), finishing with an all white screen, the director calls MIX, to gently merge in the charisma generated image of the white from VT spliced with the feed from camera 5 showing red desk and presenter. They then perform a pre-programmed zoom (yes they had robot cameras in the news studio even in those days) and a pre-programmed charisma generated wipe out of the VT, the effect looks like the camera is flying in from above, the reality is the camera just did a zoom and someone did some very careful pre-programming of digital effects into the charisma machine............ pretty hi-tech stuff in those days, especially in live TV. The next animate charisma cue, pulls a played in VT out of the TV screen with the logo on behind the presenter during the headlines...... also looks very clever stuff, but easy if your camera can always be guranteed to be in the same and correct position (a benefit of using robot cameras). Hope that explains it to everyone!!

This a fascinating insight into TV news production at the BBC back in 1989. It still feels modern. Interesting show how BBC journalists cover stories concerning Packed Faced politicians.

'Charisma' was the DVE (Digital Video Effects) device in use.

I always thought Michael Buerk was the most serious, authoritative news presenter.

Classic Eighties news room! Striped shirts, white collars, braces, ties loosened! It's pure theatre. Love it!

Brillaint! It's great to hear and see what happens in the gallery with a programme.

Awesome video I love BBC I'm always in awe of our superheroes behind the scenes 👌 Thank you for sharing this gemstone!

Judging by the logo at the top left, this programme was still being repeated as recently as the late 1990s, which seems astonishingly late given how quickly technology changed during that time - even by 1999 this would have seemed ancient history.

I was just over a year old when this was broadcast. Thanks for this.

Thursday 26th October 1989 - Apparently they had to delay the broadcast of Blackadder Goes Forth episode "Plan E" that night, which was due to air at 9.30pm, but was shifted to a later slot due to the breaking news of the day.

Amazing work behind the scenes. Must have been even more challenging before mobile phones and the internet.

2:43

Amazing insight, simply riveting. I wish they had also filmed one when Thatcher resigned. Mark Damazer is pretty extraordinary, fully on top of it, delegates all the tasks and then: -Right, scatter on that! Also pretty revealing is the team's reaction to John Major's appointment - which gives you some semblance of the BBC's confidence in his credentials to lead the Treasury.

If you like this, there's a similar programme all about 1st November 1988.

@Visonu When he said: "the former Leader House and Chief Secretary", he meant Biffen was the former Leader Of The House and a former Chief Secretary, rather than being the current Chief Secretary who had previously been Leader.

A sad time nowadays when the viewer is encouraged to gather the news for the channel. The internet, social media and rolling news has tarnished what was once a quality, trustworthy, unbiased corporation.

Couple of shots of people smoking in the newsroom there, seems quite shocking it was still allowed at late as 1989!