NEWS RELEASE
2 May 2014
ROSE NEILL JOINS PAUL CLARK TO FRONT UTV LIVE AT 6
Rose Neill is the new presenter of Northern Ireland’s favourite news programme as she joins Paul Clark to anchor UTV Live at 6 from Tuesday (6 May).
Rose has been part of the UTV Live presentation team since 2009, most recently presenting on Friday evenings with Marc Mallet. She will now co-present UTV Live most week nights at 6pm with Paul Clark with Marc Mallet and Sarah Clarke presenting on Friday evenings.
Rose said: “UTV is my television home, my Alma Mater. It’s where it all began for me and it is so reassuring that the same high standards and principles which helped me all those years ago, are still a priority in the UTV newsroom.
“I feel honoured to be part of a professional hard-working team where everyone is dedicated, cheerful and very skilled at what they do. I have been part of television news for nearly 35 years and it is a real privilege and honour to continue bringing the news to the viewers of Northern Ireland.”
Michael Wilson, Managing Director, UTV Television said: “Rose is a true broadcasting professional, her integrity and news presentation credentials are second to none, we are all delighted that she is now taking on this main presenting role with UTV. Her experience within the broadcasting industry will be a real asset to the fantastic team we have in place including Paul Clark, Marc Mallett and Sarah Clarke.
“UTV Live is by far the first choice for viewers in Northern Ireland regularly attracting more than 200,000 viewers at 6pm. Last year we saw our audience share increase to 35.5% - a five year high for the programme - which is a third ahead of BBC Newsline (26.7%) and almost double that of ITV network at that time.”
Paul Clark said: “I have worked with and known Rose for more than 35 years and it will be an absolute pleasure to present the teatime news every Monday to Thursday at 6pm alongside such a talented broadcaster.”
Rose has worked in Northern Ireland broadcasting for the past 35 years having started her career with UTV back in 1977. Almost 8 years later Rose moved to the BBC where she worked for 25 years before leaving in early 2008. Rose has been a freelance presenter with UTV Live for the past 5 years and is a firm favourite with viewers.
When she first joined UTV, Rose was the youngest newscaster in the UK at the age of just 18 years old. Rose has fronted children's educational programmes and various documentaries and presented the flagship news programme at the time, UTV Reports, as a newsreader.
Rose currently lives near Strangford Lough with husband Ivan and has two sons, Roger (27) and Henry (25).
Rose begins her new presenting role on Tuesday 6 May at 6pm on UTV Live.
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For further information, contact Orla McKibbin, UTV Communications on Tel: 028 90 262188.