In 1981, traditional BBC newsreaders such as Richard Baker stopped presenting the Nine O'Clock News regularly and were replaced by journalists; initially John Humphrys and John Simpson, who were later joined by other journalists such as Julia Somerville, Sue Lawley and Michael Buerk.

Co-newcasters around this period included Harvey, Philip Hayton, Debbie Thrower and Moira Stuart The revamp on 31 October 1988 was more about content as well as style.

This programme and the late weekend bulletins were given a darker set and a stereo orchestral version of the previous mono title music.

A more comprehensive relaunch of all the BBC News output came on 10 May 1999, after which this programme shared a common theme and set with its daytime counterparts.

In August 2000, BBC Director-General Greg Dyke announced plans to move the bulletin to 10 pm,[1] initially scheduled for 2001.

[2] As a result the final bulletin, before the transition to the BBC Ten O'Clock News (2000–present), was presented by George Alagiah in Jerusalem and Peter Sissons in London on 13 October 2000.