Calvert to edit Five News after Sky takeover

for Five News in the run-up to the satellite broadcaster’s takeover of the contract from ITN in January.

Mark Calvert, a former programme editor of Channel 4’s breakfast programme Ri:se and executive producer of Sky News’ Live at Five bulletin, will takes up the reins from ITN’s Gary Rogers, editor of the news programme since 1998.

ITN chief editor-in-chief and “Gary will continue to manage Five News operations until the end of the year and ensure a smooth transition to Sky. He is an enormously talented editor who has won deep respect, not just across the whole of ITN, but within the broader media industry,” Wood said.

Calvert joined Sky News seven years ago as a senior producer on the early morning Sunrise bulletin from the BBC, where he was a producer and reporter for regional and network news and documentaries.

Chris Shaw, Five’s senior programme controller, who awarded the five-year contract – worth more than £7m – to Sky in March to commence next year, said he had been impressed by Calvert’s work “on the original Sky News proposal to run Five News. I’m sure he’ll make a very dynamic editor and take Five News forward with Sky.”

Nick Pollard, head of Sky News, said Calvert’s seven years with the broadcaster “will ensure Five News is authoritative and exciting. In his new role, he will be able to draw on both new and existing resources”.