Daily Mail: BBC News' Huw Edwards 'practised and rehearsed' Queen's death moment

Story from Daily Mail:

BBC News broadcaster Huw Edwards is said to have been practicing the announcement of the death of the Queen in the bathroom mirror' for 'some time'.

The public service broadcaster had a total of 9.83million people tuned into BBC One at 6.30pm when the death of Queen Elizabeth II was officially announced.

Huw Edwards had anchored most of the day's coverage on Thursday after Buckingham Palace released a statement to say doctors were 'concerned' for Her Majesty's health, with senior royals seen rushing to Balmoral to be at her bedside.

Now it has been revealed that Huw Edwards had been reportedly preparing for this moment by 'rehearsing in front of his bathroom mirror for some time'.

The 61-year-old news presenter announced the news solemnly, looking into the camera to repeat Buckingham Palace's statement twice.

Alistair Campbell, the former spokesperson for ex-PM Tony Blair, revealed a conversation he had with the BBC newsreader a few months prior to yesterday's historical announcement.

In a tweet, he said: '[Huw Edwards] told me a few months ago he had been preparing, practising and even rehearsing in front of his bathroom mirror for this moment for some time.

'He said too that the Queen's death would be the biggest challenge to BBC News in its history. He did superbly.'

Mr Campbell also added that although he is out of the UK at the minute he has heard that the BBC's coverage has been 'absolutely brilliant' which should 'surprise nobody', he added.

After Buckingham Palace shared doctors' concerns for the Queen's health, the BBC suspended its regular programming and replaced it with continuous news coverage presented by Huw Edwards dressed in black and wearing a black tie.

The optics prompted veteran journalist Alastair Stewart to criticise the broadcaster for its decision.

Taking to twitter, he wrote: 'A black tie now is pre-emptive and misjudged. It is because of the BBC's Sissons memory.'

In response to a user who questioned whether it was to save time in the event of Her Majesty's death, Mr Stewart replied: 'We have all rehearsed it so many times. There is a built-in natural pause to make the appropriate changes.'

A total of 33 million people tuned in yesterday across major broadcasters as the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's death broke.

The millions of viewers tuned in to the BBC and other major news channels between the hours of midday and 2am, as broadcasters abandoned regular programming schedules to deliver the news.

BBC One has aired rolling news coverage today with a BBC News Special filling regular TV slots in between BBC News at One and BBC News at Six.

Other programmes have been moved to BBC Two instead including Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt.

The British ratings body Overnight.tv confirmed the figure of the 33 million viewers in a tweet.

It said: 'Across the BBC and major channels carrying news, a total reach of 33m people tuned in between midday and 2am, as the news broke of the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.'