Dermot Murnaghan has come a long way since his early days in television as a researcher on a Channel 4 business programme in 1984. And taking on a new role as frontman on the BBC's Breakfast News has brought his career full circle - he first came to prominence presenting Channel 4 Daily, the predecessor to The Big Breakfast.

Some work colleagues have expressed surprise at Murnaghan's decision to swap ITN and its big teatime audiences for the tiny ratings of breakfast TV and the punishing early morning starts.

But sources say when the BBC approach came along Murnaghan didn't have to think too hard about it. It was evident he had made up his mind and, although his bosses at ITN told him they wanted him to stay, discussions didn't even get as far as money.

Murnaghan suffered a personal blow when ITN's 11pm news was axed to make way for the return of News At Ten, with Sir Trevor McDonald in the number one slot.

When he was signed up in 1999 to present the replacement for the News At Ten, the Nightly News, he hoped he had reached a pinnacle in his career. But the 11pm news programme turned out to be short-lived, and he returned to ITN's teatime slot.

Although the BBC's Breakfast News attracts just 1 million viewers, it is a high profile programme and carries the prospect of other top jobs within the corporation, which has significantly strengthened its position since launching the Ten O'Clock News five days a week.