MUMBAI: UK broadcaster BBC veteran Huw Edwards has signed a new five-year deal with BBC News. Under the new deal, Huw will continue to anchor the BBC's flagship news bulletin the Ten 0'Clock News. From 10 April 2006, he will also present a slot on BBC News 24.

BBC News also announced that - from 10 April - the One O'Clock News and Six O'Clock News bulletins will join the Ten O'Clock in being simulcast on BBC News 24 and BBC One. All three of the BBC's flagship news bulletins will then be incorporated into the BC's rolling news channel.

BBC director of news Helen Boaden said, "Huw is an excellent and experienced journalist who brings enormous authority to BBC News. He has been a much loved part of BBC ONE's family of presenters for several years and I am delighted that he is now including News 24 in his portfolio. This is great news for our viewers."

BBC News 24 recently won the Royal Television Society's News Channel of the Year award. The addition of Huw to the presenter line-up follows recent announcements that Emily Maitlis and Ben Brown are also joining the channel.

Edwards said, "This is a dream combination for me. I get to rejoin News 24 which I helped launch back in 1997, and to keep on presenting the Ten O'Clock News is an enormous privilege."

Edwards has been presenting the Ten O'Clock News since January 2003. He joined the BBC in 1984 as a news trainee. In 1985 he joined the television newsroom in BBC Wales, and in 1986 became BBC Wales' Parliamentary correspondent.