LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 22nd Dec

Good afternoon,

There's a decidedly Christmas feel in the London Tonight newsroom today .... Robin's baked a cake, Tamzin's made coconut ice, Alastair's eaten both ... and we've spent the past 5 minutes talking about Chilly the Hamster's great escape.....more on that later.

There's also a Christmas feel on the roads...and by that we mean they're busy, foggy and frosty. Yes, the great getaway's underway and for those STILL stuck at Heathrow it couldn't be less festive. We have a whole team of reporters out at ALL the major travel locations tonight for you and we'll try our best to get you home for Christmas in time and safely.

What's your favourite bit of Christmas dinner ? The Turkey ? The sausages wrapped in bacon ? The pud ? We bet it's not the sprouts...BUT maybe sprout ice cream might be a better bet ???? Maybe not - but we'll be tasting it for you to find out later, seriously.

James King's in the studio to tell us about Christmas at the cinema...

And we've had some fantastic news after yesterday's missing person's appeal, it'll be a great Christmas for one North London family.

Plus - a festive treat at the end of the show to get you all in the mood. So stay off the roads, trains and planes, at least until 6.30 and celebrate the start of the holiday with us.

See you at 6

Tamzin and Alastair

(P.S. London Tonight Tonight returns in 2007!)

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Thurs 21st Dec

A day of high-drama and an afternoon of technical hiatus: sorry for the second but join us with baited breath for the first:
a gang of teenagers storm a christening party in a robbery "steam" - they kill the auntie of the family as she nurses the child to be christened. They then rob most of the rest of the party and even steal food on their way out.
Justice done, hear what they got from the courts.

Almost as muddled and confused as our work-place this afternoon is Heathrow airport: hundreds of flights canceled again, thousands of people with holiday plans disrupted and the only things flying are the accusations over who is to blame. OK you can't solve the weather but you can plan for this sort of thing. Who didn't?

We are still running our hand-in-a-phone feature with our friends at the National Missing Persons Helpline and we have another amazing story of a woman who isn't missing but who's identity is: she just can't remember who she is or where she is from. See if you can help out.

McFly are with us, leaving it a bit late for a Christmas Number One but very good nevertheless.....

And Chrissie, having escaped the clutches of the London Gay Mens choir is helping Simon with the fog story and promises Things Can Only Get Better - yeah, she's off tomorrow.

See you at 6.. And sorry for being late.

Alastair and Katie

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 20th Dec

A very good afternoon to you all: cold it may be, foggy chaos at Heathrow there may be, but we had our first mince pies in the office this afternoon! OK, with builders tea but it does prove that Christmas is just around the corner.

So our thoughts turn to pressies, puddings and decorations: 'tis the season of goodwill.

And we have the tale of great, goodwill: superstar George Michael, who hasn't had the easiest of years, is leading the way with a FREE concert for NHS registered nurses at the Roundhouse tonight. It keeps a promise he made when his dear old mum died, nearly a decade ago, to say "thanks" to nurses, some of whom had been wonderful in his mother's hours of need. Good on you George! Jon Gilbert is the man with the Access all Areas pass.....

Less festive and positively Scrooge like are the goings on in Greenwich: residents of the Ferrier Estate have been told their's is a prime site for massive redevelopment with hundreds of new homes and a glistening and glorious future. Only problem is that those EXISTING residents have only been offered the market price for the properties which they bought when they were Council houses under the old Right to Buy scheme. And it is a take it or leave it scenario. Unhappy bunnies all round: Liz has been taking a look.

Also, entirely the wrong sort of decorations have been troubling British Transport Police: graffiti merchants cause what the owners call damage to their trains and stations while some, and only some, say their work adds to the colour and texture of city life. But, strictly speaking, it is of course wrong and rubs railway and tube companies up the wrong way.
What is to be done? Nick Thatcher poses the questions.

A feast of footy fixtures and a relish of results for you, plus another invitation to give up your old cell' 'phones and help the National Missing Persons Helpline this Christmas.

160 gay men will be singing Christmas Carols for Chrissie who will then attempt to regain her composure and tell you when the fog will left. (there used to be a joke about the F in fog... But I can't quite remember it)

Finally, a cryptic end to the second trial of the youngster who has admitted killing Kiyan Prince but denied his murder. Can't say much for legal reasons but what we can say is fascinating.

Tune in for that and much more at 6.
Tamzin and I look forward to your company.

Alastair

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues 19th Dec

Good afternoon:

By the time we go on air at 6pm this e-mail may be out of date because the jury at the Old Bailey could have come to a verdict on the sixteen year old, accused of killing promising young footballer Kiyan Prince: the outcome, if there is one, live, with Phil.

The continuing saga of the Bishop of Southwark took an odd turn this morning, as, it is claimed, did the good Bishop a few nights back.
He often appears on the BBC's Today programme, offering his Thought for the Day. This morning he appeared as an interviewee, in an effort to explain just what happened between his leaving the Irish Embassy Christmas Party and appearing the next day, bruised, battered and not a little embarrassed. He says the answers are all on his Oyster Card. Others, including the owner of a Mercedes saloon, suggest a different story. We will try to unfathom the truth, because that's what we do. Up for the craic? Nick Thatcher is on the case of the curious cleric.

No connection, of course, but we are still running our feature with the National Missing Persons Helpline: hand in your old cellphone and NMPH get a fiver to help reunite loved ones who have run-off, drifted apart or ..... just can't remember who they are or why they left home.

Ricky Gervais on his latest escapade: a star role in a Hollywood film, which also features Ben Stiller. Is there no limit to the man's talent? Ricky's pretty hot, too!

We've also got an amazing competition: an all expenses paid trip to MUMBAI, a gem of a place in India. More details and the key to how to get there at 6.

Chrissie has the weather and Katie and I hope you'll join us.

Alastair

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 18th Dec

Afternoon one and all...

Well, this time next week, we'll all be pushing back from the Christmas table, stuffed to bursting with turkey and all the trimmings. Or we'll be sitting around getting hungrier by the second - arguing over who's job it was to turn the oven on.

That's NEXT Monday. THIS Monday though, we've got a very busy programme for you, starting with the sentencing of six smugglers. They smuggled people, in fact, but not hidden in the back of a lorry, driven off a ferry in Dover. These boys did it in style - flying their cargo in super comfy planes and landing them at air-strips around the M25. Glen Goodman has the low-down on all that.

Now, what's your opinion on organic food? Worth the extra cash? Are you confident that what you're paying for IS 100% organic? We ask because a top restaurant in Holland Park is now looking for £11,500 for a fine they've been given... because the 'organic' food they've been dishing up was about as organic as a bag of Quavers (not that we've anything against Walker's best selling snack, you understand. It's just a phrase). Jon Gilbert will have the full story.

All this week, we'll be covering a number of seasonal stories. Tonight, a story about the big day itself, and a charity's efforts to serve up 800 Christmas lunches to children who don't have the easiest of lives on the 364 others days of the year. It's a huge undertaking but that's what the Kids Company is trying to do. Piers Hopkirk will be speaking to the amazing woman who runs the charity.

Meanwhile, Phil Bayles has been getting into the Christmas spirit over in Docklands, listening to a (hopefully) unique concert of carols. There are members of the London Symphony Orchestra playing - that's good. And then there are some guys on their car-horns - that's, er, unusual. It's also rather entertaining.

We'll also be live in Leicester Square, ahead of the premiere of a new movie, produced by Sir Elton John and his other half... There's a chance to win a new 'hair-do' - yes, really... and Chrissie will have the weather.

Oh - and watch out for our Christmas Tree. The good people from John Lewis are in the studio right now putting it up for us.

Right - time for a mince pie.

See you at six.

Ben & Katie.

London Tonight: Friday December 15th

Good afternoon - a special, pre-Christmas offering for you tonight: cautionary tales and not a little levity and merriment, beside.

First, a staggeringly cautionary tale of the dangers of the demon drink.
We've all done it, or nearly done it: you have a bit too much to drink, or a heck of a lot too much, and getting home becomes your sole your ambition.
It's not that easy: lamp-posts, low-hanging branches, slippy pavement slabs - all out to get you. You might even fall asleep on the train.
Well, falling asleep ON the train is one thing....
But now we get serious. Tonight, we have the man who ticked all the boxes above but went one worse: he fell asleep, not ON a train, but on..... a railway line!
What happened next, at 6!

I fear tomorrow we may face more of the same because tonight, according to all the experts, is the pre-Christmas night when we let our hair down more than any other night: next Friday, true to tell, lots of you (not me!!!) won't be coming to work so you go off on one tonight.... and how!
It is the worst night of the year for office parties and general, bacchanalian bonkers-ness.
But, again, we get serious: London's great ambulance service are worrried for you and for their ability to deal with your worst antics. Some serious words of caution from the people that know, at the LAS.

Also on the show tonight, the one hundredth anniversary of the Piccadilly Line... We look forward to the one hundredth anniversary of the repair work to the Northern Line, too - can't be far off.

We talk to Cliff Richard about his hopes for another Number One - which would make six decades in a row in which he has had a Number One, the '50s being his first.
"Take that!" he might say to all other recording acts, if he pulls it off.
Take That might say "We'll see about that", in reply....

James King is popping in to share his views about movies Branded and Deja Vu to help you decide whether or not to go to the movies tomorrow - if you aren't still nursing your head.
And Tamzin, as always, will delight and tempt you with her collectable confection of clever clues for a carefree or creative weekend in What Not To Miss: don't miss it!

Willsy has all you need to know about who London clubs face in the Champions League, why Ronnie O'Sullivan did a runner and West Ham's prospects this weekend, under Icelandic ownership and Curbishley control.

And finally, Chrissie braves all for you in Wimbledon with Captain "the Fonz" Hook - "oh no she doesn't, oh yes she does"- and gives her own rendition of Peter Pan.
I hope.
I really hope.

See you at six.

Alastair and Tamzin

London Tonight: Thursday 14th December

Good Afternoon,

Hope you've all got your stockings ready to hang out for Santa - not much time left now. And we hope they'll be filled with all the things on your list....For some people though the thing on their list isn't the latest playstation or a bottle of fancy perfume. Instead what they want most for Christmas is an organ transplant. And campaigners are using this festive season to highlight the cronic lack of donors in the country - and urging people to come forward to offer help. Liz Wickham's been to meet Helen, an ex City Fund Manager who's now in desperate need of a kidney...we''ll bring you her story later.

Meanwhile - organisers are now under starter's orders for the 2012 Olympics. Today demolition work got underway along with warnings that there still may be a bumpy ride ahead.....

Puff Daddy...P Diddy....Puffy....whatever you call the US rapper we've discovered one very definite thing about him....It's not easy having a conversation withe the man. Our showbiz reporter Steve Hargrave had to work very hard to get any blood out of this particular stone. But once Diddy did start chatting we got to hear all about his friendship with Becks AND why he's now a Gunners fan.

Do you want to pppppick up a Penguin this Christmas ? If you were at Madam Tussauds this morning you'll have seen a bunch of the little black and white fellas arriving by limo and waddling up the red (actually it was white) carpet. Jon Gilbert got the showbiz opportunity of his life today as he went to meet the "Happy Feet" lookalikes.

We continue our campaign to help the National Missing Person's Helpline ...

And Chrissie continues HER love affair with Panto. Tonight she's within heckling distance of a Dame. Live with Trigger from Only Fools and Horses, otherwise known as Roger Lloyd Pack as he prepares to don a dress for his role in Dick Whittington.

We'll see you at 6

Tamzin & Ben

London Tonight: Tuesday 12th December

Hello from the London Tonight team ..Another full programme coming up at 6 for you.
First the dreadful realisation that a gunman who murdered a gang rival is none other than the cousin of Donnel Carty, who killed the lawyer Tom Ap Rhys Price.
We'll go live to our reporter Ronke Phillips who will tell us how
Lloywen Carty was one of three men convicted of murder at the Old Bailey today for the murder of Subaran Lee - known as Gangsta.
In other news West Ham are wasting little time in finding a replacement for Alan Pardew who was sacked yesterday. In keeping with East End tradition they look like keeping it in the family. Former player and ex Charlton boss Alan Curbishley was at the club today to discuss the post.
Tonight we want to hear whether or not you think Princes William and Harry's idea of a concert in memory of their mother Diana Princess of Wales is a good thing...or do you think there should be a more fitting tribute to the Queen of Hearts?
In addition there's an intriguing and deeply worrying tale of 13-year-old Nordine Bansar. Nordine became separated from his family in the crowds Christmas shopping in Oxford Street on Saturday and he hasn't been seen since. As you'd expect both family and police are desperately concerned for his welfare.
The Dome has a new name....no longer will it be called a hideous White Elephant...now it will be known as the O2 centre.
We'll be taking our latest look at Pantomime in the capital and - wait for it - live in the studio we'll be joined by Prince and Princess Charming themselves, Peter Andre and Katie Price who will be talking about their new record.
Finally we'll be doffing our cap to our very own Alastair Stewart who was up at the Palace today to pick up his very own OBE. Well done Al!
Looking forward to seeing you at 6.

London Tonight: Monday 11th December

Hello.
The Lloyds Insurance building divides opinion like few others: we all love St Pauls and we all hate the Barbican (I await your corrections!) but Lloyds? Inside out and lumpy ugly! Anyway, the appearance of the building has nothing to do with tonight's programme but what goes on inside it has... and how.

Up in what's left of Kensal Rise, hundreds of people are poring over their Policy Documents to check and re-check those 'exclusion clauses', 'limitations' and 'notes on submitting a claim'. Most will be OK but some will be excluded and will have a fight on their hands.
But what if you had no cover?
What if you were unemployed, with a young child and your wife had another on the way?
What if your only explanation was that you were trying to stretch the budget and make ends meet?
No brainer: your fault!
But, hey, we're all human and tonight Piers talks to just such a couple and hears how they hope to go forward.

(Meanwhile, up in Hemel Hempstead, lots of families and businesses who DID have insurance are wondering if our Kensal Rise couple might have been right all along: despite having what they thought was comprehensive cover they are still waiting for settlement - some in hotels - some having been told to move back into homes that are still not fit for survivors. And that, a year on!)
So, tonight we ask how good is your house insurance? Damian has all the questions you should be asking to be on the safe side.

Alan Pardew has been fired by West Ham. Interesting that around the newsroom there was a buzz of "he's FINALLY got the boot" so poor have things been for the Hammers of late. Well the new Icelandic owners appear to have bitten the bullet and put the man's career on ice. Sharon, a former Sunderland supporter, has the story - we like to be impartial but Hyper-Hammer Ken Hayes is acting as Sharon's little helper. (Sharon won't mind my saying it is her last report before going off to become a very proud mum: she goes with all good luck and all our love!!!)
We've a great campaign from those wonderful people at the National Missing Persons Helpline: details below**.
All proceeds go on helping find people who, for whatever reason, have slipped out of someone's life. And there's a significance to the phones: sometimes all you need is a call to know your missing loved one is fine but just wants to make a fresh start.
And then there's The Fonz! Oh yes, the great Henry Winkler is in the studio talking to us about..... being Captain Hook in panto! That has to be worth tuning in for.
As is Ed Speleers, the dashing young star of ERAGON which premieres in Leicester Square tonight - Jasmine's there, but is she safe?
And "nights are fair drawing in" defines a dull conversation in some quarters but when we asked Chrissie why, we got a wonderful talk on the winter solstace, druidic revelry and the burgeoning anticipation of the pagan and theocratic season: well, to be fair, she said "it's nearly Christmas so it gets dark!"
More detail at 6!

Al

** We're launching a really special campaign this week with our friends at LBC radio.
If you're getting a new mobile this Christmas - don't just let the old handset gather dust in a drawer - do some good with it. Every old phone donated raises £5 for the National Missing Persons Helpline and someone in the developing world gets an affordable mobile. Tune in at 6 to find out more details.

London Tonight: Friday 8th December

Hi there, and a thousand apologies for being late with this! The reasons, in a way, explain why we have a fascinating programme for you - in 45 minutes time!

I spent the morning at No10 Dowing Street with four London Tonight viewers. We went to hear the PM, who had just got back from Washington, talk about race relations. We had been invited to meet the man himself afterwards and, exclusively, to talk to him: just the five of us!
Hear what your fellow viewers had to say and what the PM had to say back to them.
Then I was right into the studio with Tamzin and another Tamsin (note the different spelling: my Tamzin is hot on that!). The other Tamsin is Tamsin Greig, the crazy but lovely dark haired woman doctor in Green Wing. She'll be talking about her new role with the Royal Shakespeare Company: a really fascinating and wonderful lady.
Then we were looking at Phil and Jon's amazing material from Kensal Rise and hearing about the mighty row brewing up there over broken houses and broken promises.
Tamzin is crafting her unmissable What not to Miss as I write and we'll have two terrific sports stories too.
Again, sorry to keep you waiting but I think you'll find the programme is well worth waiting for.
See you shortly!
Alastair

London Tonight; Friday 8th December

Hi there, and a thousand apologies for being late with this! The reasons, in a way, explain why we have a fascinating programme for you - in 45 minutes time!

I spent the morning at No10 Dowing Street with four London Tonight viewers. We went to hear the PM, who had just got back from Washington, talk about race relations. We had been invited to meet the man himself afterwards and, exclusively, to talk to him: just the five of us!
Hear what your fellow viewers had to say and what the PM had to say back to them.
Then I was right into the studio with Tamzin and another Tamsin (note the different spelling: my Tamzin is hot on that!). The other Tamsin is Tamsin Greig, the crazy but lovely dark haired woman doctor in Green Wing. She'll be talking about her new role with the Royal Shakespeare Company: a really fascinating and wonderful lady.
Then we were looking at Phil and Jon's amazing material from Kensal Rise and hearing about the mighty row brewing up there over broken houses and broken promises.
Tamzin is crafting her unmissable What not to Miss as I write and we'll have two terrific sports stories too.
Again, sorry to keep you waiting but I think you'll find the programme is well worth waiting for.
See you shortly!
Alastair
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London Tonight: Thursday 7th December

Afternoon all - sorry we're a bit late this evening. The small matter of a tornado - in suburban North London!! What's going on with the world??

Katie's going to be live in Kensal Green where it happened this morning - for something that lasted just a matter of moments, the damage has to be seen to be believed.

That's pretty much the bulk of the show - thanks to all of you who've sent in your pictures, we're running those along with ones our own crews have been filming - and we'll be asking Chrissie why it happened - and how significant it is.

We've got plenty of other news to pack in - AND Denzel Washington's been chatting to Steve.

I'm out of breath just thinking about it - do join us at 6, it's promising to be a great watch.

Ed

London Tonight: Wednesday 6th December

Afternoon friends of London Tonight.

Hope you're all well - we're looking to the future tonight - of the tube and in the air.
Tomorrow's tube train - judging by images and information released today - is spacier and, get this, air-conditioned!! Of course, it'll take years to happen and even then only on certain lines, but it's something - so long as it lives up to the billing!!! We want to know what you think about that one - and your horror stories too!

Air-side, the future is streamlined check-in - using biometric technology - fingerprints, iris recognition - that kind of thing. It should see an end to the queues - but do you WANT all your information on file??

On the more serious side of things, it's now a week since Laila Rezk was attacked in her home in Kingston Vale. She died a day later from her horrendous head injuries and the police have no idea who did it. Ronke's live there tonight with police as they carry out a new push for witnesses.

There's a whole bundle of other stuff to get in tonight - from the lollipop lady's big day at the Palace, to Robin Williams talking penguin..... Please don't ask me to explain - just tune in at 6.

Al, Katie and Chrissie are all in the house for your viewing pleasure - so please make it a date.

Take care

Ed

London Tonight: Tuesday 5th December

Good Afternooon,

It's a bit miserable out there so we think you'd be much happier curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea...and London Tonight !

First off - it sounds like parking heaven. In Maidstone there are no parking wardens.....you'd think that would be making a lot of drivers smile. It's actually making a lot of drivers curse. The reason, with nobody to enforce parking restrictions, it's turned into a free-for-all - cars stopping wherever they fancy blocking roads, doors, driveways etc and ultimately causing traffic chaos. The council have said they WILL take over the enforcement but red tape is holding things up. And in the meantime there are fears the current state of affairs could end up causing really serious problems for emergency vehicles.

10 years ago 17 year old Krista Ocloo died from acute heart failure at the Royal Brompton Hospital. The hospital's been cleared of any wrongdoing but Krista's mother still doesn't know exactly why her daughter died...and after spending the past decade fighting for answers she's set up a body campaigning for patient's rights....Glen Goodman's been to meet her.

We hear from a 71 year old mini cab driver who's calling for the same rights as black cabbies. He wants to be able to use bus lanes for example and is fed up with being fined for pulling over in the wrong place to drop off or pick up his fares. He's got other mini-cab drivers on board and they're planning to march for their rights.

We've a competition for all you Lionel Richie fans out there - come on you know you are !!

AND we'll be talking to Hollywood superstar Cameron Diaz, LIVE on the red carpet at the premiere of her new movie.

All that plus the ultimate eco restaurant, Chrissie with the weather, Robbie Earle with the build up to tonight's Champion's League clash at Stamford Bridge and the rest of the days news....

We're exhausted just telling you about it .... join us at 6 for the real thing

A&T

London Tonight: Friday 1st December

Good Aftenoon and Merry Christmas (it's the 1st of December you know).

24 shopping days .... and counting. So where are you planning to carry out this seasonal chore? Your local high street? the web? or are you planning to go up West? Well retailers in the heart of the city are determined to intice you to spend your hard earned cash with them...and they'll be telling our reporter Phil Bayles how they plan to persuade you.

Next - a tale with no seasonal cheer. In fact it's horrific. Laila Rezk was viciously attacked in her own home. The mother of two from Putney suffered serious head injuries and died yesterday. Police now want your help to find those responsible. Ronke will have the details at 6.

We've got the usual Friday fare of sports and movies...Willsy will have all the latest on the first ever North London derby to be played at the brand spanking new Emirates Stadium. While Mark Ecclestone will be splashing around in the city's sewers with the latest Aardmon creations for new movie Flushed Away. Well he'll be in the studio actually but it's a interesting image.

Jools Holland, multi platinum selling artist and all round superstar, is playing the Royal Albert Hall tonight but he's promised to pop into our studio first to tell us all about his latest album.

We've a compeition which should sort out all your christmas tree and decoration needs....there's a thousand pounds worth of vouchers poised to wing their way to you. You have to enter first though so tune in for the details.

That should be enough to keep you entertained !

We'll see you at 6

T & A