The programme launched on 3 September 1984, replacing early evening news magazine Sixty Minutes and was originally presented by Sue Lawley and Nicholas Witchell. Both presenters have since moved on to other positions within BBC News and the BBC itself. Jeremy Paxman, who went on to present Newsnight in 1989, was relief newsreader from 10 September.
George Alagiah is currently the main presenter, presenting Monday to Thursday, while Fiona Bruce is its Friday presenter. Other BBC News presenters, including Sophie Raworth, Mishal Husain and Sian Williams also appear.
In late 2007 the length of the programme was shortened from 30 minutes to 28 minutes to allow for a news summary being shown on BBC One at 7:58pm.