Originally, The Live Desk aired twice at 9 am and 1 pm but from 11 January 2011 the Live Desk's 1 pm edition was cancelled and subsequently only one edition was broadcast at 9 a.m., presented by Charlotte Hawkins with Gillian Joseph on Friday.

The programme was replaced with a standard Sky News bulletin fronted by the same newscasters later in 2011.

The programme was a 60-minute round-up of the day's news, sport, and business, rather than discussions, interviews, or features.

From 11 January 2011, the Live Desk's original 1pm edition was axed in favour of a new political show with Adam Boulton and Sarah Hughes; the 9 a.m. edition remained until later 2011, presented by Charlotte Hawkins, Monday-Thursday, with Gillian Joseph on Fridays.

When the regular presenters were unavailable the show was hosted by Samantha Simmonds, Sarah Hughes, Stephen Dixon.