Media
News at Ten will return on Monday putting it in direct competition with BBC One's 10 O'Clock News.
Mannion, speaking ahead of the showdown, promised ITV's offering would be more "exciting, enterprising and engaging" than the opposition.
And McDonald, who is coming back to present the show that made his name, added: "We're not in this to lose."
He admitted it would be a battle, however, since ITV had previously gifted the 10pm position to the BBC.
"Messing around over the years was disastrous," said McDonald. "We are conscious that the BBC have taken up the 10 o'clock slot.
"The BBC is a reputable organisation that has been doing news for longer than we have. We don't think we can just reclaim the slot."
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