Critics herald ‘promising start’ for new BBC Scotland nightly news programme The Nine

BBC Scotland’s new flagship news programme The Nine showed a “promising start” which was “informal, interesting and thoroughly professional” on its debut last night, critics have said.

The hour-long nightly news programme launched last night with a title sequence featuring the faces of ordinary Scots, reflecting its mission to “get a sense of the whole country”.

One reviewer described The Nine as a “hugely positive step forward”.

Led by presenters Rebecca Curran and Martin Geissler, the show opened with the latest on Brexit from newly hired Westminster correspondent Rajdeep Sandhu and Europe correspondent Jean Mackenzie (all pictured).

It also featured an investigation into drug dealers using the internet to “flood Scotland with legal pills” and an interview with Iceland’s prime minister who spoke about the consequences of a no-deal Brexit.

Sports presenter Amy Irons gave the first indication of the show’s more informal feel when she stopped in with Curran and Geissler for a chat which teased an interview coming up later in the show.

Also featured was an informal item with consumer affairs correspondent Laura Miller (who will present the show on Fridays with John Beattie) about the fall in “Scottie dog” ownership, fulfilling the Scottish angle.

The programme also took a brief look at the top national and international headlines of the day, as well as the sport headlines and weather.

The Scotsman’s Ross McCafferty was largely positive about the programme, forgiving the odd technical glitch and awkward encounters on the purple sofa, where he warned “three’s a crowd” after Irons joined the hosts.

But he praised a drugs investigation from social affairs correspondent Chris Clements, formerly of the Daily Record and STV News, taking it as “a very positive sign about the kind of work the Nine can and will do”.

Overall, he said: “There may be well-earned doubts about the future of the new BBC Scotland channel, but only the terminally cynical would regard The Nine as anything other than a hugely positive step forward.”

At The National, Shona Craven described The Nine as a “promising start from a team not afraid to ask the right questions”, saying the opening Brexit story felt “fresh and distinctly Scottish”.

Lesley Riddoch, also for the National, praised Sandhu’s “relaxed and convincing” delivery but highlighted some “slight format problems” such as presenter’s talking over each other during one interview.

The Times’ Mike Wade gave the programme four out of five stars, saying there is “no need to go online… the team from Nine are worthy of your time”.

He described the show as mostly “informal, interesting and thoroughly professional”.

On Twitter, some viewers raised concerns with the 9pm time slot, which is traditionally when channels air primetime entertainment – the programme clashed with return of Alan Partridge on BBC One – and some formatting issues.

Great start for the @BBCScotNine. Congrats @mmgeissler – now time to switch over for Alan Partridge, hope you understand!

— Lewis Vaughan Jones (@LVaughanJones) February 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/Gavin_Brownlie/status/1100141085114986503

But many, including former Sunday Herald news editor Angela Haggerty, were largely positive.

It's brilliant to see such a great response to @BBCScotNine – the new BBC Scotland channel is bringing investment into journalism in Scotland we need it. A lot of hard work has gone into #TheNine and I really hope it'll become a regular slot in our telly-watching schedules 👍

— Captain Haggerty (@AngelaHaggerty) February 25, 2019

A good start for #thenine, or is it #nine? The hour didn’t drag for me. Excellent packages on drugs and HIV. Confident presenters. Nice combo of authority and bantz. But I feel i now need News at Ten and Newsnight to tell me what I need to know on Labour/Brexit in detail.

— Kenny Farquharson (@KennyFarq) February 25, 2019

Adding to the chorus of people saying well done to the team behind @BBCScotland #TheNine. Achieving the seemingly impossible and finding a new way to do the news.

— Bryan Burnett (@bryanb1965) February 26, 2019

Well done to everyone at @BBCScotNine for their first programme. A promising start. The informal format is more familiar in many other European countries' current affairs output. Very strong investigative stories, but I hope they can avoid becoming a "magazine" show. #TheNine

— Patrick Harvie 🇪🇺🌈 (@patrickharvie) February 25, 2019

Impressed with #TheNine on @BBCScotland so far. Will take a while to fully find it's stride but it's great to have Scottish news programme that can look into issues in depth. V. Different vibe to anything we've had before. Good luck to it

— Niall Sommerville (@niall_som) February 25, 2019

It is sooooo refreshing to hear diverse Scottish accents and see important issues like Scotland's high drug deaths rate, social media and fake pills covered on @BBCScotNine. Off to a good start. #TheNine #Stopthedeaths

— Hannah Graham (@DrHannahGraham) February 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/rachelcoburn_/status/1100143309614444544

https://twitter.com/RhiannonV/status/1100145198112432142

Loving @BBCScotNine so far. Totally different, stories given the space they deserve. Not following a formula. Great stuff #TheNine

— Paris Gourtsoyannis (@PGourtsoyannis) February 25, 2019