From 1988 onwards, Hayton presented the BBC's "One O'Clock News" nationally, as well as becoming one of the main co-presenters of both the BBC's "Six O'Clock News" and the "Nine O'Clock News" programmes. In 1989, after the latter programme's change of presentation, he became one of its main solo presenters. Following this, he left national news to become the main presenter of "BBC North West Tonight", but soon returned to the main news to present on BBC World and, eventually, BBC News 24. In addition, he hosted a mid-1990s BBC daytime quiz show entitled 'The Great British Quiz', which had previously been hosted by Janice Long.