Veteran war reporter Kate Adie yesterday said the most "entertaining" aspect of television news was the presenters' pay packets.

The award-winning author and broadcaster told a Birmingham charity dinner that presenters getting paid money for "reading autocues" was "huge entertainment".

Speaking to The Birmingham Post after her speech at the Birmingham Rotary Club meeting, Ms Adie said her comments were intended as a "joke".

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The former BBC chief news correspondent said: "There are many elements to news. It enriches your knowledge of the world. It informs you and it perhaps entertains you - a bit.

"Well, the newsreader does, you can always discuss what you think of them. That is huge entertainment most of the time. It is huge entertainment when you realise that they are actually paid money for sitting and actually reading autocues.

"There is a future for us all when we decide to do absolutely nothing but read autocues."

Although Ms Adie did not name names, she is the latest in a line of 'field' television reporters to criticise newsreaders who lack journalistic experience.

Earlier this month, veteran Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow, speaking at the Royal Television Society, said: "We are seeing the rise of a generation of anchors who have never been in the field."

Ms Adie also spoke about her book, Nobody's Child, at the event held at the International Convention Centre.