Sunrise (British TV programme)

Lore & Background

Sunrise began in February 1989 running from 5:00 am to 9:30 am. In 1991, it became one of only two slots across Sky's 20-year history to have its own individual graphics, which were swiftly withdrawn after being deemed too gaudy. The programme later used slight variations of channel graphics, such as in 1997 and 2005.

When Sky News relaunched on 24 October 2005, Eamonn Holmes and Lorna Dunkley became regular weekday presenters, with Steve Gaisford and Emma Crosby fronting weekends. Over the years, presenters changed: Dunkley moved to weekend coverage in January 2007, Charlotte Hawkins joined Holmes, then left in March 2014 to join Good Morning Britain, replaced by Isabel Webster. Weekend presenters included Mark Longhurst, Gillian Joseph, and Stephen Dixon.

In October 2016, Sunrise relaunched with Sarah-Jane Mee and Jonathan Samuels on weekdays, and Stephen Dixon with Isabel Webster on weekends. The programme extended to 10 am. In August 2017, it was rebranded with a new logo, and weekday editions became mostly single-headed. In January 2019, most editions returned to 6–9 am, except Saturdays. The last episode aired on 13 October 2019, presented by Stephen Dixon and Gillian Joseph.

Reader's Guide

Sunrise was a cornerstone of Sky News' morning schedule for over 30 years, reflecting the evolution of British breakfast television. Its significance lies in its longevity and adaptability, surviving multiple presenter changes, studio moves, and format shifts. The programme was notable for its occasional use of unique graphics and its role in launching or showcasing presenters who later moved to other major networks, such as Charlotte Hawkins to Good Morning Britain. Its replacement by multiple programmes in October 2019 marked the end of an era for Sky News, though some of its presenters continued with new breakfast slots. Sunrise also had intermittent simulcasts on Sky One and was broadcast on Channel 5 from 2002 to 2006, extending its reach beyond Sky News viewers.

Did You Know?

• From 2002 to 2005, the 6:00 am hour of Sunrise was broadcast daily on Channel 5, with Saturday simulcasts ending in 2005.
• Since 1989, Christmas editions of Sunrise were presented by various hosts, including Kay Burley, Eamonn Holmes, and Lorna Dunkley.
• The programme moved to the main Sky News desk permanently on 9 February 2015 as part of a studio redesign and rebranding.