I think it stems from documentary programmes where the producer/director is talking to the person in front of the camera. You sometimes hear the voice off asking questions. When this is edited to lose the off-screen voice, you still get the impression the subject is talking to someone else, and we're listening in. I'm okay with that, as the subject isn't "presenting" in the traditional sense.

There's so much that annoys me about TV presentation these days.

There's a fashion on the BBC News channel to namecheck everyone when handing over. For example, the anchor will hand over to the business presenter across the studio, who will thank them profusely: "Tim, Molly, thank you very much indeed."

It's a wonder they don't namecheck the floor manager and camera operators as well. Such a cosy love-in annoys me intensely, because it's like the viewer is an afterthought.

And what about when they give their names at the start of a show? The one speaking will physically look at their colleague, as if to say "That's so-and-so, there, right there, sitting next to me, that's their name that is, not my name or me, but them."

I reckon most of this rubbish comes from across the pond. It's an affectation we really don't need. I really shouldn't get started.

Ooh! Ooh! Here's another!

Anchor: Breaking news, over to Mike, our reporter on the spot. It's been bad, hasn't it, Mike?

"Yes, absolutely right, Sophie. It's been really bad, what's happened, now here's something I recorded earlier which says everything I've just said all over again."

(Cuts from VT back to reporter on the spot.)

"Yes, now, here's a summary of my report without adding anything of substance to what you just saw, in case you didn't understand what I was saying. Back to you in the studio, Sophie."

Anchor: Thanks, Mike. That was Mike, there, on the spot, thank you.

Argh!

Didn't someone raise this issue earlier? In another thread?

Apparently the lens flare in Star Trek wasn't CGI. It was deliberate.