And finally . . . Sir Trevor McDonald is quitting News at Ten at the end of the year after being back at the helm for only 12 months.

The veteran broadcaster, 69, is expected to leave ITV’s flagship news programme for the second time after growing tired of working late nights.

He is likely to be replaced by Mark Austin, 49, who will jointly host the show with Julie Etchingham, the former Sky News presenter. Austin was recently voted the most attractive male newsreader of all time.

An official announcement confirming the changes could be made as early as this week, according to insiders.

McDonald, however, is planning to go out on a high note. He will be anchoring coverage of the US presidential election next month and is hoping to secure an exclusive interview with Barack Obama, the Democrat candidate who is ahead in the polls.

McDonald, Britain’s first black newsreader, first left News at Ten in 2005 after 32 years at ITN, having started his career as a reporter.

He was persuaded to return by Michael Grade, the ITV boss, when the programme was relaunched - complete with the famous Big Ben bongs - at the start of the year.

News at Ten is regularly watched by 2.3m viewers - consistently fewer than watch the BBC’s Ten O’Clock News.

Austin presents ITV’s early evening news and stands in for McDonald on the later bulletin when he is away.

An ITV spokesman said: “We do not comment on speculation.”

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