Byline: LIz Thomas
AS the elder statesman of television news presenters, he might beexpected to be a model of sobriety.
But Sir Trevor McDonald has revealed that once the cameras stop rolling he issomewhat overfond of a drink - happily sinking a bottle of wine before he headsto bed.
'The problem with that is that it's never just a glass,' he says. 'I get homeat 11pm and then look at my watch and it is approaching midnight and I'm on myfourth glass.' He adds that he has a penchant for champagne breakfasts onSundays. 'I get told off for opening champagne at 11am but I get around it bysaying it is midday in Paris,' he tells Decanter magazine.
Despite his current thirst, 68- Despite his current thirst, 68- year-old SirTrevor admits that his lifestyle is far less boozy now than when he firststarted at ITV as a reporter in 1973 and it was normal for staff to spend hoursin the pub.
'There was a bar across the street and most people could be found there day andnight,' he says. 'My co-anchor Reggie Bosanquet had to be dragged out at fiveminutes to ten and persuaded to sit down. How we used to carry on working I'llnever know.' Bosanquet presented News at Ten in the seventies and read thefirst 'And Finally' section.
Silver Pendants JewelryRenowned for his gaffes and often-slurred delivery, he was nicknamed RonnieBeaujolais by Private Eye. He died of pancreatic cancer in 1984 aged 51.
Trinidad-born Sir Trevor, who has hinted that he will quit News at Ten at theend of the year, has no intention of cutting down his drinking in retirement.
He is keen to build up a substantial wine cellar at the 19thcentury convertedvicarage he shares with his second wife Josephine and son Jack, confesson..
ing: 'I discovered how quickly your stocks dwindle when you're home in theevenings.' He adds: 'There's an auction at Sotheby's I'm planning to attend.
I've been salivating over the catalogue for days.
'I buy at the higher end of the scale. I've decided that's the thing I want tospend my money
I'm very much a Burgundy man.' Earlier this year Sir Trevor told the Daily Mailit was 'very possible' that he will have left News at Ten by the New Year.
But he added: 'I just really haven't got there yet. It might be destabilisingif you announce long, long in advance when you are going.' He said: 'I am 69 inAugust and you have got to collect your freedom pass some time.' Sir Trevorstressed that ITV bosses were keen to keep him.
The news veteran first announced his departure in 2005 after 32 years.
He came out of retirement after intensive lobbying by ITV's executive chairmanMichael Grade, who made him an offer he could not refuse.
But sources close to Sir Trevor say he has found the late nights hard going andthey are taking a toll on his family life.
Dimmable LED Down Light K1017 - 3x1W / 3x3WNews at Ten has regularly been beaten by the BBC's Ten O'Clock News in theratings, despite the blaze of publicity surrounding its return.
The programme began in 1967 but was replaced by an 11pm bulletin in 1999 tomake way for films and sporting events. Viewers deserted in their droves and soNews at Ten was brought back in 2001.
From 2004 until this year, ITV1's nightly bulletin was shown at 10.30pm..
1991 - the year Sir Trevor first presented News At Ten