Express changes name again in 5m revamp
The Express on Sunday is to change its name back to the Sunday Express and undergo a redesign.
The move follows an announcement that Express Newspapers is to invest 5m on marketing the Sunday title this year.
Michael Pilgrim, executive editor, who is editing the paper following the departure of Amanda Platell, says: “It’s not ready yet,” and refuses to comment further.
A spokeswoman for Express Newspapers refuses to confirm plans to alter the title of the Sunday publication. But she adds: “We have been talking about it since Christmas, but we have no major plans to announce.”
Some changes were made to the Sunday format last weekend. The paper now has TV listings on the back page instead of a page of sports, which was used to lure readers into The Express Sport supplement.
Platell was dismissed from her post as executive editor last month, days after the latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations for December revealed the grim news that sales had dipped below 1 million for the first time to 973,846.
Express Newspapers has denied suggestions there was pressure to axe her and, former colleague, associate editor, Ian Walker, because of a story about Peter Mandelson’s alleged friendship with a Brazilian man.
The Express on Sunday’s average net circulation for the six months to December was 1,027,049 down 9.93 per cent on the same period last year.
