The bongs are back. ITV is to bow to public pressure by reviving News at Ten - complete with Sir Trevor McDonald.

Michael Grade, the ITV boss, described the decision to axe the famous bulletin in 1999 as a “shocking mistake”. The bulletin was shunted around the schedules and currently resides at 10.30pm. As ITV’s news ratings slumped, critics described the affair as “News at When”.

But after Mr Grade was appointed chairman of ITV this year, he told senior executives that he wanted to see the flagship bulletin restored to its former status.

Secret negotiations began with Sir Trevor, 68, who retired from news-reading two years ago but is regarded as a trusted face by viewers. In the revived bulletin, which is expected to begin next year, he is expected to be paired with Julie Etchingham, who is presently a Sky News presenter. The change of heart means that News at Ten will go head to head with the BBC’s flagship bulletin. The Ten O’Clock Newson BBC One consistently enjoys higher ratings than its ITV1 counterpart, partly because it is screened 30 minutes earlier.

Reviving News at Ten will reassert ITV’s public service credentials after the broadcaster admitted that phone-in competitions were rigged on some of its most popular shows. ITV would not comment on the schedule change but the timing of the leak is likely to be seen as fortuitous.

The move has also been resisted by some within ITV because it requires entertainment schedulers to rip up their plans. ITV1 has based its offering around 90-minute dramas, such as tomorrow night’s Frankenstein remake, which concludes at 10.30pm.

News at Ten was first screened in 1967. It was moved to 11pm in 1999 after regulators gave ITV permission to show ratings-boosting films, drama and football at 10pm. But politicians were outraged and ratings slumped. As a result it returned briefly to its 10pm slot but in a shortened 20-minute form.

The BBC had moved its news bulletin from 9pm to 10pm, making life even more difficult for its rival. ITV opted for a 10.30pm bulletin, with Mark Austin replacing Sir Trevor in 2005. Mr Austin, who is regarded as an ITV asset on a £300,000 contract, is expected to continue to present the 6.30pm ITV bulletin, but he may be a target for other broadcasters.

Sir Trevor is enjoying a fresh surge in popularity. He demonstrated a satirical side in ITV’s News Knight with Sir Trevor McDonald and presented Britain’s Favourite View.

Previous presenters of News at Ten have included Sir Alastair Burnet, Sandy Gall, Reginald Bosanquet, Selina Scott and Anna Ford.

Mr Grade said this year that moving News at Ten had been “a shocking mistake . . . it damaged ITV more than anything”. An ITV spokeswoman said: “We have no comment to make. There is always speculation over the schedules.”

Back from the edge

— Rod Hull’s anarchic puppet Emu returned this year alongside the puppeteer’s son, Toby

— Michael Parkinson did his first series of Parkinson in the 1970s. This run ended in 1982 but 16 years later he returned. The chat-show host jumped ship from BBC to ITV in 2004

— Ronnie Barker emerged after 15 years’ retirement to play Churchill’s butler, Inches, in a BBC drama in 2002

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