The BBC has outlined its plans to cover Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday, with Huw Edwards, the newsreader who broke the sad news of her death to millions of viewers at home, one of the hosts.
Popular broadcaster Huw had been on air for more than five hours when at, just after 6.30pm on Thursday, September 8, he interrupted ongoing updates on the Queen's health, to announce that she had passed away at Balmoral, at the age of 96. All programmes were shelved on BBC One from lunchtime on Thursday, after it was revealed that Her Majesty was under medical supervision and Huw looked visibly moved as he read a statement out from Buckingham Palace to confirm her passing.
Huw has been an almost constant presence on screen ever since, as the BBC has devoted substantial airtime to events that have followed the Queen's death, including the proclamation of Prince Charles, Her Majesty's journey home to Buckingham Palace and the moving service at Westminster Hall on Wednesday, before members of the public started to file in to pay their respects.
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And, now after ITV confirmed its plans to cover the Queen's funeral and Sky News did the same, the BBC has outlined details of its coverage for the state event on Monday, September 19. Coverage on BBC television will be led by Huw, as well as Kirsty Young, Fergal Keane, David Dimbleby and Sophie Raworth.
Huw and Fergal will be covering events from London, Kirsty and David will be in Windsor, Sophie will be at Parliament Square, with other BBC presenters Anita Rani at the Long Walk at Windsor and JJ Chalmers at Wellington Barracks.
The BBC's nine hour broadcast will run from 8am - 5pm and include build up to the Queen's funeral, t he Westminster Abbey service itself and then the procession to Windsor, where the Queen will be laid to rest alongside Prince Philip.
For radio audiences, a special programme presented by Martha Kearney will capture the key events in London and Windsor.
Allan Little will be inside Westminster Abbey, with analysis from Royal Correspondent Jonny Dymond and commentary from different points along the procession route from Ken Bruce, Mishal Husain, Emma Barnett, Clive Myrie, Adele Roberts, John Murray, Mike Costello, Rachel Burden, Nuala McGovern, Chris Mason, Jamie Coomarasamy, Andrea Catherwood and James Naughtie.
Eleanor Oldroyd will be inside St George’s Chapel, with commentary from different points along the procession route from Naga Munchetty, Paddy O’Connell, Alistair Bruce-Ball, Julian Worricker, Anna Foster and Tony Livesey.
The special programme will be simulcast on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Scotland from 9am.
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