by Thinus Ferreira
From Monday 15 January Sky News (DStv 402 / StarSat 258) is overhauling its early morning programming blocks yet again with Breakfast with Kay Burley which will start an hour earlier at 08:00 and is adding new presenters and a new look.
Sky News' Breakfast, currently seen from 09:00 to 12:00 in South Africa, will add another hour from 15 January and now start at 08:00 from 15 January and run from 08:00 to 12:00 on weekdays from a new studio at Sky's Westminster bureau.
From 08:00 presenter Gareth Barlow and political correspondent Mhari Aurora will co-present Breakfast on Sky News. Gareth Barlow joins Sky News after having worked for 10 years with BBC News.
Both remain in studio from 9:00 to 12:00 when the timeslot's existing Kay Burley joins to do interviews.
Also joining Breakfast will be Wilfred Frost with previews of the day's news agenda. The Breakfast team will join Anna Jones for Breakfast every Friday to Sunday, along with Jacquie Beltrao who will deliver the sports headlines every weekend.
"We're really pleased to present Breakfast earlier each morning and delighted to welcome Gareth Barlow to our team," says David Rhodes, Sky News executive chairman, in a statement.
"From a new Westminster newsroom now - and a new studio in the coming months - Kay Burley, Gareth Barlow, Mhari Aurora, and Wilfred Frost will bring the whole range of Sky News to audiences each morning."
Kay Burley says "Breakfast is becoming even brighter here on Sky News. I'm excited to be presenting from a new state-of-the-art studio - and to be joined by a great new line-up. Gareth, Mhari and Wilfred will be with me, each bringing their unique brand of first-rate, quality journalism. It'll be the best breakfast show in the business."
Gareth Barlow says "I'm thrilled to be joining Sky News to work alongside Kay and the incredible Breakfast team".
"I can't wait to bring an even bigger and bolder Breakfast to our viewers around the United Kingdom. With elections in Westminster and Washington on the horizon - there will be no better place to keep up to date with the latest UK and international news, than the new look Sky News Breakfast."
Mhari Aurora says "This year will see an explosive election campaign and I am delighted to be a part of the incredible Sky News Breakfast team bringing viewers the twists and turns of UK politics as they happen, holding power to account with sharp snap analysis to cut through all the noise and make sense of the spin."
Wilfred Frost says "Sky News is the home for news across all platforms in the UK - but in my view, at breakfast, television remains the best place to digest your news. And I can't wait to be involved in delivering the news that matters to viewers and voters in a fun and friendly way with Kay and the team each day."
