LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 31st Jan

Hello and welcome to our mid-week e-mail prior to our mid-week edition of London Tonight.

When Ken first asked the overground railway companies to join in the Oyster card scheme he felt he was casting pearls before swine as they threw it back in his face. Well, they have eventually decided it makes sense for them to take part: when Alastair reached the office at 9am, Emma was already very exercised about the merits and demerits of the development, and she nearly came to verbal blows with Brendan, the news editor about it! So, with energy and passion, she will tell you why the railway companies have come on track and what it will mean for you - at 6.

Joining us in the studio, the delightful Esther Rantzen, again! Last time she was telling us about her campaign against bullying among kids: this time she thinks she has been the victim. And the Big Fat Boy in the playground? A Westminster parking warden. The tale of the broken meter, the long march, the ticket and telly presenter with the lady, herself.

Last night, Liz told you about artist Mark McGowan's plans to make a piece of performance art out of the July 7th bombings. None of us were happy about the idea. Liz was shocked and angry but told the story with her calm authority and characteristic objectivity. It got to Mark who called us after the programme to say he was going to cancel the show. But, and it is a big but, tonight we will tell you why we may still be shocked and saddened: find out why and how, at 6.

We've also an even more shocking story that involves a serial drink-driver, a case of manslaughter and some deeply troubling evidence of why tagging isn't foolproof let alone killer-proof.

Barges and French bicycles, the weather and the papers - rounded off with the chance to win tickets to the magnificent England Vs Scotland opener to the 6 Nations Rugby tournament. (Well not "rounded off" so much as "ovaled off" - you know, odd shaped ball! Oh.. You can win one of them, too.... and a shirt. (did Robin write this bit? Ed)

See you at 6!

Come on Scotland! (Alastair)
Shut up and get on with your work!(Katie)

London Tonight: Tuesday January 30th

Afternoon all!

Manchester!! Who'd have thunk it! Just imagine - Ben was in that bookies yesterday - he could have got 16-1 on it!
We will, of course, have all the reaction on that decision NOT to go with Greenwich for the super casino - and indeed the reaction to the lesser publicised fact that there WILL be a smaller casino in Newham.

But our top story tonight is one we think will get the emails and texts coming in. The performance artist Mark McGowan's latest project - re-enacting the 7th of July suicide bombing on the underground between Russell Square and King's Cross. He says it will help Londoners come to terms with the horrors - but is it in good taste? Is it an appropriate subject for art? We'd love your views.

There's stacks more to get through - from Emma taking up the cause of the elderly people in sheltered accommodation who're left freezing because of unreliable central heating - to a chat with the man in charge of London's future design - to a chat with the mayor about his new budget plans.

And last but not least..... The puns have been flying round the office all day...
"it'll be gold"
"true"
"yeah but to cut a long story short..."
You get the drift. But it's not Spandau Ballet that Tony Hadley's in live to talk about - it's his new West End role!

Do join us at 6 - it promises to be a good'un.

Ed

London Tonight: Monday January 29th

Greetings at the start of another week of London Tonight: eyes down looking for a terrific programme.
If you've ever played roulette, or seen the licence-to-throw-money-away game played, you'll know you can place a number of bets ranging from any number, 0-36, to different groups of numbers.
The easiest, even-money bet is simply black or red: and that is what the great, Super-Casino game looks to have boiled down to except it's green or black: Greenwich or Blackpool.
The decision is announced tomorrow but tonight we place our bets and link up with our friends at ITV Granada, in the north-west, too see what they reckon is at stake. Ben is your croupier.
We've all done it: something goes missing that really matters and you say you don't care who did it, you're not looking for a prosecution or even to apportion blame. You just want your stuff back. It happened to Dr Otto Chan who, amongst a whole lot of stuff including laptops, lost an irreplaceable collection of family photos. He put the matter in the hands of the police but also put up "Reward Offered - No Questions Asked" posters. When the Police visited he expected good news. Hear the staggering news he actually got, with Emma.
Once your blood has returned, from boiling point, to normal - let us know what you think!
Our competition tonight is to win a master class from the former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan. (Alastair asked "In what?" but was told off, by the Editor.)
Steve meets Beyonce who is in a film called Dreamgirls which is loosely the story of the 3 Degrees and Simon is on the trail of the pigeon feeders and the Mayor: Coo what a scorcher more than phew what a scorcher.
The ever engaging lottery that is Chrissie's weather forecast and the odds on making a profit when you turn a garage into a flat, with Kirstie and it is all there.
I'll bet we've left something out but there's enough there, we hope, to stop you from throwing your hand in.
See you at six.

Alastair and Katie.

London Tonight: Friday 26th January

Hello, Good Afternoon and a very Happy Weekend (nearly)

London Tonight will take you there with a packed programme...

The first thing we're tackling tonight is something that may well have affected you at some point in your life, it might even be something you're worrying about now. Debt. We've obtained figures that show Londoners are getting into more and more trouble with debt, repossessions and bankruptcies. The latter has risen FIVE FOLD over the last year. Staggering figures. Why is this happening and what can be done ? We've a full report PLUS information and advice from an expert. We'll also be asking for your experiences and your advice.

Stoke Newington Church Street has always been a haven for the one-off, the unique, the individual shop, bar, cafe or restaurant...until now. Residents say they're horrified to discover that there are plans for a Starbucks to move into a recently vacated building. In fact they're so horrified that they've occupied the space and are refusing to move on until the issue's resolved. Phil Bayles will be with the protestors for us tonight.

Marcus Powell is feeling the wind through his hair and experiencing the joy of the open road...well he's at Alexandra Palace actually, but he's there for the Superbike Motorcycle Show so he'll certainly be revving his engines... and for afficionados, we'll be giving away some free tickets.

Movie man James King is in the house for his usual Friday films chat...Willsy has his Friday sports roundup and there's the lookahead to weekend activities in What Not to Miss...can you tell it's nearly the end of the week !!

And we've a real treat in the studio for comedy fans... Mr Bill Bailey - he of Black Books and Buzzcocks fame. Here to tell us about a slightly more serious undertaking. He's about to take to the stage in a Harold Pinter play. Tune in at 6 to hear all about it.

We'll see you then

Tamzin & Alastair

London Tonight: Thursday January 25th

Afternoon all! Alastair's been behaving very strangely today.... his answer to most questions is a low "brrr" sound.
He's not cold - the central heating here is lovely and toastie. No.... it's motor noises he's making .. he has a fascination with Plymouth Barracudas and Ferraris - and something in tonight's show has piqued his interest.... all will become clear at 6...if my - and Lizzie the news ed's - patience lasts that long!!

So the big news is - more trouble for British Airways. The dispute with cabin crew - over their sick leave policy, among other things. The union blames BA - BA blames the union - and as usual, it's the hundreds of thousands of people planning flights next week who suffer. Phil's at Heathrow with the very latest on that one - and we're really keen to hear your views on the dispute. Who's in the right?

It's been a bitterly cold night and though Chrissie tells us the next few days will get a BIT milder, this cold snap is really taking it's toll on the vulnerable. Chris Rogers has been speaking to some of them - and has some good advice on staying safe in this weather.

Liz is on the case of the curious am-dram theft. Who would want to steal the entire costume collection from a theatrical group? And why? Not exactly easy to offload, you'd have thought..... But they have, and it's jeopardising their next performance.

There's another great competition to win a European short trip - and we'll bring you that Bow Street report from Ben that we promised yesterday and woefully weren't able to show you last night.

It's shaping up to be a goodie - so do accept our invitation to join us 6.

Ed

London Tonight: Wednesday January 24th

Afternoon - and what a chilly one it is!

We've been inundated today with your fantastic snapshots of the snow where you live - with lots of kiddies and snowmen - thanks for that, they've been really lovely to look at and made a great change from everyone moaning about their tube journeys in this morning.

Speaking of which... Can you believe that virtually every single line on the underground was hit by delays except one? It's being put down to the over weather - but tube bosses aren't happy with Metronet. And with more snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow - is more travel chaos on the cards? Ronke will have the lowdown on that one - plus some thoughts from less than happy commuters this morning.

Tonight we really want to hear from you about the London Olympics funding row. A select committee of MPs has published a pretty critical report - saying the spiralling costs should have been foreseen. They also say extra costs shouldn't be met by London council tax-payers OR the Lottery - so who pays?

We've sent Ben to clink - he's checking out the former Bow Street Magistrates Court where they're offering hotel stays - in the old cells!

Phil's looking at a new crime-busting initiative in Islington - where members of the public can contact the CCTV control room directly from the street if they see a crime happening. It means the control room staff can whizz the cameras round quickly and catch the offenders in the act.

We also meet the South East London man who's been collecting celebrity autographs for 30 years. Now he's decided to flog them - and you won't believe the price they're expected to fetch.

Tune in at 6 with Al and Tamzin to find out.

Ed

London Tonight: Tuesday January 23rd

Hello. It's cold again, really cold. Chrissie told us it would be, last night, but the greyness of the sky and the chill wind still seem to make it worse.
So, it falls to us to keep you in, warm you up and entertain you.
And I think we might.
Tonight, twenty twelve year olds, (geddit? 2012?), on their hopes and dreams for the London Olympics. Today, there are just 2,012 days to go so they'll be about 16 or 17 come the Games and they are terrific kids. We think you'll enjoy meeting them because Emma certainly did.

Kirstie Allsopp is back, having had her baby, to talk about the year ahead in the property world. Tips, warnings and ever useful bits of guidance from Mama K.

Fancy owning a bit of a Turner and saving the masterpiece for the nation? Tate Britain have come up with an ingenious way of raising the nearly £5 million needed to stop it going into a private collection abroad. Phil, who has done his bit already, will tell you how you can do your bit.

It is day two of our fantastic competition to win a Business Class jet trip to New York with hotel accommodation laid on in the Big Apple. Tune in to have a chance to win one of three pairs of tickets.

And the battle of the giants: Wycombe Wanderers meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for a place in the final of the Carling Cup. Probably the best tie in the world, as the brewer might say. The ever impartial Gooner, Marcus, is there and you will want to share in the fizz.
It'll be like a warming football supporters scarf, wrapped round your chilly chin.

All that and more, as they say, at 6. See you then!
Alastair and Katie.

London Tonight: Monday January 22nd

Afternoon ...

It seems our streets could be safer today with the news - unconfirmed, of course - that the SAS have decided to have a permanent unit deployed in London, to counter the terrorist threat. Of course, we'd never know they were there anyway - but does it make you feel a bit more protected? Or does it worry you that it's necessary at all .. If it's true? Marcus has been investigating, and we want your thoughts.

Surrey is spending millions to upgrade its drains ... Not a glamorous job, granted .. But an urgent one, it seems, thanks to this increasingly odd weather we're having . So much rain, the drains can't cope. But who's paying for it all?

Now, if you're worried whenever you step out of your front door that you may be the next victim of casual street crime, or vandalism, then Damien could have found your dream home. He reports tonight for us from a new estate which has been designed specifically to reduce the risk of crime. Find out more at 6.

The skeleton of the poor little whale who got lost and swam up the Thames goes on show today; we've got the frankly unbelievable story of a studio flat in Chelsea on the market for 170 thousand pounds... I kid you not, it is the size of a snooker table; we have the West End's newest, brightest star in the studio, Connie Fisher ... And we've got an amazing competition for you.
That, and Chrissie with all the details of the proper winter weather that's on its way ...

See you at 6!
Katie and Alastair.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 19th Jan

Hello

Today - the calm (and chaos) after the storm...

The calm bit is TODAY's weather.. the chaos, we're sorry to tell you is that some train services are still being affected the night after the day before. The problem - trees on the tracks and broken power lines.

We've also the full, chilling story of a psychiatrist whose life was wrecked by an obsessed stalker. She broke into his home, flooded him with hate mail and texts, put such strain on his relationship that it ended and ultimately accused him (totally falsely) of rape. That accusation saw Dr Jan Falkowski arrested and bailed for months - before being cleared. Today the stalker, Maria Marchese was jailed for 9 years. One police officer branded her "the most dangerous woman he had ever met". We speak to Dr Falkowski AND get an exclusive reaction to the sentencing from the psychiatrist's ex girlfriend.

Phil Bayles has spent the day with a group of teenage gamblers who are benefiting from a brand new scheme. The first ever out-patients clinic that aims to help people with such an addiction....

Want to go to a star studded premiere and bag a PS2 as well as a game for it - well, watch the show and maybe that dream will come true. New animated movie "Arthur and The Invisibles" stars the voices of Madonna, Robert De Niro, David Bowie and Snoop Dog. And our competition tonight could see you stepping out onto the red carpet too.

Also - as it's Friday we thought we'd fill your screen with sport, showbiz, film reviews and a whole of ideas for weekend fun, aren't we good to you.

Have a great afternoon and we'll see you at 6

Tamzin and Alastair

London Tonight: Thursday January 18

Hello. Hold onto your hats for London Tonight tonight: gale force winds have blasted their way across our part of the world today with roofs ripped off, trees uprooted and transport in a right mess: To say "it's dangerous out there" is to underestimate it. Stay in for a great night's viewing and keep safe.
Simon has all the details and Chrissie will tell us why it happened and whether, no pun intended, there's more to come.
Alastair may also share with you the brutal attack he nearly suffered at the hands of a random flower-pot: so near, dear friends, so near!

Oil prices are falling and so electricty charges should come down before too long. So, Go Ahead, those lovely people who provide some of the trains in the South East, are levying a passenger surcharge due to high electricity prices: they say they just can't afford to carry the cost themselves. Excuse me, Mr. Go Ahead: how do you think your passengers feel? Well, we'll be asking for your e-mails so you can tell them!

And we have a mega-star in the studio: Kevin Spacey talking about the Old Vic's production of Twelth Night. Also with him, Ed Hall, son of the great Sir Peter Hall, who produced it.
If those aren't powerful enough reasons for staying in and watching you must be claustrophobic.

See you at 6.

Alastair & Tamzin

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 17th Jan

Good afternoon - we have, again, been holding a mirror up to life in the capital for you.

The odd thing about mirrors, of course, is that things look very different: back to front and not what you expect.
We are at Gatwick with British Airways who tell us that being a member of cabin crew is the most popular job in the land: little girls no longer want to be nurses, they want to be "trolley-dollies" and little boys don't want to drive steam engines anymore, they want to show you how to fasten your seat belt.
Now, I am sure this has nothing to do with the fact that, just two days ago, the existing army of cabin crew workers voted to go on strike....
Odd, that.

David Beckham signed to play for LA Galaxy so he can lift the footballing prospects of that soon-to-be-great club. So, no longer Manchester, no longer Madrid but now LA- Hollywood! Not the home of soccer but the home of ... movies.
Today we have a preview of David's latest offering on the silver screen.
Odd, that.

Down at City Hall, when the Tories wanted to grill the Mayors senior staff about those 2006 trips to Venezuela and Cuba, you'd have expected them to be poised, guns loaded and fists bared, to give the Livingstonians a right seeing to. And you'd have expected Ken's Gang to be there, primed and briefed with the perfectly reasonable explanation for why the Mayor did what the Mayor did.
But, no: Tory leader Brian Coleman had to call "time" due to an alleged lack of preparation on the part of the Livingstonians. Mr. Coleman is furious. Simon Harris (who else?) is on the case and we'll be talking to Brian on the show..

Down on the farm, what was entirely expected was the reaction of the authorities to a farmer who fed rabbit food, which contained cattle meat products, to ....his cattle: they ordered the slaughter of the entire herd. BSE, Mr. Farmer, BSE? It is a sad but proper reaction and Liz has been down on the farm.

And while Ben explains why a couple of Private Eyes are starting prison sentences tonight for seriously over-stepping the line when it came to prying, Marcus is trying to find out why another man nearly joined them - for leaving a tap running: honest, both tales will take your breath away....

As will Chrissie, doing a Tracey Emin for you with the weather - and it doesn't involve cats or beach-huts... not to be missed!

See you at 6.

Alastair and Tamzin.

London Tonight: Tuesday 16th Jamuary

Hello and hope you're having a good afternoon,

Tonight we hear testimony from the families of two young men who died on Friday Night.
Daniel Elgar and Bradley Chapman were killed after being hit by a train in Barking, the reason they were in harm's way - they were graffiti-ing at the station depot and ran into the path of an oncoming train.
A terrible story, whatever your thoughts on so called "tagging", the families are bewildered and share their thoughts and feelings with us later.

Now then - do you live in Richmond ? Do you own a 4X4 ? Is it parked outside your house ? If so your resident's permit bill could be about to rocket. Some owners are expected to be charged up to £300 a year .... Too much ? Or fair enough considering the environmental impact campaigners say these vehicles have. This is the debate we want to hear from you on tonight.

Glen's been out on the open seas...well on the Thames anyway. A year after the whale came upstream to visit London the RSPCA has launched its first boat dedicated to helping creatures in distress on the capital's river.

Any cheerleaders among you should get ready to star-jump into action. Yes, American Football is touching down in London Town. The NFL have announced they're playing one of their major league games HERE once a year from now on.

Another American export is next - an equally iconic one - Sly Stallone. Live. On the Red Carpet and talking to us. He's over here for the premiere of Rocky 6 (Rocky Balboa) and the man lucky enough to be standing next to him ... our very own Steve Hargrave

If we all recover from that we'll have Chrissie next... in among the blooms at the Winter Flower Festival and asking why some are out earlier than they should be.

That's all...we'll see you at six.

Tamzin and Alastair

London Tonight: Monday 15th January

Good Afternoon!

It's busy busy busy here and the Christmas break already seems a distant memory.
The trial's started today at Woolwich of six men accused of planning suicide bombs in London on the 21st of July 2005.
Phil Bayles has the detail on that.

Another court case - but this one sounds like the plot of a spy flick. It takes us inside the glamorous world of casinos and involves hundreds of thousands of pounds. The main characters - a trio of Poker cheats - who thanks to cameras hidden up their sleeves managed to net a QUARTER of a a MILLION pounds. Today however their luck ran out as they were sentenced today for cheating (yes there is actually a crime of cheating under gaming law!!!)
We will have the amazing pictures of this scam actually being carried out. Who needs 007 when you've got London Tonight !

Also....the 2021 Olympics. Who's going to pay for any overspends? The woman in Government in charge of this told Simon Harris today she doesn't know - and that they're "looking at a whole range of options".

Has the Tory's policy of allowing residents to buy up their council houses backfired twenty years later ? A report suggests that stocks of council housing stocks are seriously low and warns of a "timebomb".

The History Boys has been a massive hit - on both stage and screen and now it's playing on the West End. Tonight our studio plays host to its new star, Stephen Moore

And of course not forgetting Chrissie. She'll be here with the weather prospects.

That's your lot (and a very good lot it is too !)
See you at 6

Tamzin and Alastair

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 12th Jan

Good Afternoon,

Do you remember the school teacher Sarah Flooks who mysteriously vanished without a trace last March ? She'd left her home in Wanstead at 7 in the morning to go to work and not been seen again. Well today, tragically, we hear police believe they have found her body. The grim discovery was made yesterday in a woodland area in Wanstead Park. We will have a full report on the programme at 6.

Also - what would YOU think if photos of your house and car, with all details including number plates and any security features clearly visible, were made available on the internet. Well, if you live in Camden we have to tell you that those photos are out there. And what makes it worse in residents' eyes is that they are on a council website. We'll be asking for your views on this one.

The English National Ballet faced a protest today - from Anti-Fascist demonstrators. They were calling for one of their dancers to be sacked after she was exposed as a member of the British National Party. Simone Clarke WAS back on stage today but the debate continues about whether her political beliefs SHOULD have a bearing on her future career with the company.

As it's Friday we thought we'd give you a double dose of showbiz....reviews of this weekend's big releases, including Will Smith's latest AND Al Murray live in the studio talking to us about his new TV project.

PLUS all the sport from Willsy...Chrissie halfway up an ice-wall (possibly, if she's got the bottle) and details on what you can get up to in the capital over the next couple of days.

All just waiting for you at 6

See you then

Tamzin and Alastair

London Tonight: Thursday January 11th

Afternoon!

You probaby noticed. It's a bit blowy out there. And in fact, the gales are leading the show tonight .. Because it has been windy enough to cause some pretty serious damage - enough to destroy at least one viewer's business. We want to hear your stories too.

That sad story yesterday about the bodies of a woman and 2 children in East Ham - some confusion, as the police say they're treating it as murder, and yet it could be suicide AND murder. We'll be investigating.

More on Colin Stagg - yesterday the news that he was going to get at least 250,000 pounds in compensation for the year he spent in jail, wrongly convicted of killing Rachel Nickell. Today, we hear from him about how he is hoping at last to rebuild his life with his new partner.

Do you worry that there are always cameras filming you? CCTV on every street corner? Well now there are mobile cctv cameras, fixed to little Smart cars... We've sent Liz Wickham to find out why.

Marcus Powell has been with the Met as they show journalists the new computer simulator for training police marksmen. The idea is it will show the general public just how difficult it is to make a split second decision whether to fire at a suspect or not. Good community relations? Or asking for trouble?

Ben's got more on modern culture in Moscow, and Tamzin's been in Florence as our Savile Row tailors teach those Italians a thing or two about suits.... They're a busy, well travelled lot, our reporters!

See you later, hold onto your hats out there..

Katie and Al.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 10th Jan

Greetings from the London Tonight collective.

"From each according to his/her abilities, to each according to his/her needs" - and "nothing is too good for the working classes". Those old school Commies knew a thing or two and we have spared no effort to bring you an heroic programme, taxing all our efforts and meeting, we hope, all your needs. Ben has even been to the Mother Land, Russia, to report on how the Reds intend to take over London, well Trafalgar Square at least, with a feast of entertainment. Alastair thinks it will begin in Trafalgar Square and spread across the nation: leopards, especially Russian ones, he says, don't change their spots. Anyway, the first of three Scotchbrook Specials airs tonight.

Then a hero in anyone's country: the Oldest Copper in the Land: he works at the Houses of Parliament and he's so good they have let him stay beyond retirement age. The REALLY OLD Bill is with Phil tonight.

Talking of old age, what is best for a pensioners contentment? A garret, groaning with gadgets or a friendly face, popping in now and then? Liz has been to some flats designed to help our senior citizens with modern technology but, like many of us, has a soft spot for the friendly approach, too. Her thoughts at 6 and we will be asking for yours, too.

Think wedding cakes and you might think layer upon layer of marzipan, looking not unlike a church, or even a cathedral. Tonight we meet the man who hasn't made a wedding cake but has made a cake version of St. Paul's Cathedral. It is big, has stained glass windows and would certainly do your waist-line no good at all. But it is a joy to behold and you can behold it with Glen tonight.

On a serious note, Colin Stagg, who was cleared of the killing of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common fourteen years ago but served a year in prison, is to receive damages from the Home Office - (not their day, week or year is it?)
Ronke has the details.

And, to lighten your evening, the ever glorious Victoria Wood on why she is taking Acorn Antiques on tour. The darling of stage, screen and cabaret is live in the studio with the two of us!

Chrissie on the weather and it is an offering we hope you will throng to like an invader horde.....at 6.

Alastair & Katie.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon Jan 8th

Hello and a very good afternoon to you all.

Full team here now Alastair is back from his holidays.

Two architectural stories that are miles apart but both fascinating:
First, we've the New York reconstruction of the London bombers flat which they are using for training purposes: why, then, don't the Met have one?
And we have the developers, designing obesity out of estates: a flat to make you fit! Now that makes sense even for Damien, who has the story.

Emma has the remarkable tale of the Billericay family who don't want their child to grow older or bigger. It involves hormone treatment and a lot of real moral dilemmas and pain. You won't want to miss it and we'll be asking for your e-mails, too.

Will Smith is in town and, naturally, has been talking to Tamzin.

And Glen has tracked down the Shetland pony who thinks he is a Labrador - and the labradors who are willing to play along with him. It could only be followed by Robin's weather and it is.

See you for all that and more, at 6.

Alastair & Katie

London Tonight: Wednesday 3rd January

Hello, Hello.

Hope you're all well and happy, despite the sort of weather that leaves you longing for a fortnight away on a hot sunny beach somewhere - with the only thing to worry about being which drink to have at the bar come sunset...

However, come six this evening, we'll have plenty to take your mind off the weather in a packed 30 minutes.

We start with an admission from the Met that they got it wrong. Only this mistake may have cost a young man his life. Almost 4 years ago, Scotland Yard had been warned that a gangland hit was being planned - and yet Jason Fearon was allowed to walk out of a nightclub in Clerkenwell to be shot in the street. It's though he wasn't even the intended target. Police say that, after a review of intelligence available to officers at the time, lessons have been learned. But Jason's family say 'too little, too late'. Marcus Powell has the details on that.

Nick Thatcher has had a day out by the sea. Down at 'Leigh-on-Sea' in fact, where fishermen who've been cockling for decades are worried about the future of their industry. They say say that plans to open up the trade by issuing more 'hand-raking' licences could see the area swamped by outsiders... and spell doom for the lot of them.

Now, how do YOU get about London? On the bus or tube? Naaah, fares have just shot up. In a car? Naaah, you have to pay the congestion charge AND you have to pay for parking. Are you one of the thousands who've switched to mopeds for a cheaper ride round the city. Screeeeeeeeeeech (that's brakes being slammed on)... Westminster City council now wants to CHARGE for moped parking, saying there are just too many bikes to avoid it. Damien Steward will look at both sides of the argument... before we ask you which side YOU'RE on.

What about 'Mayor Ken v Mike Read'? Yes... that's right, the former Radio One DJ who used to delight breakfast listeners with "You were my First Love" every morning. Anyway, Mike wants to be the Conservative candidate in the next mayoral election. Glen Goodman's been asking why anyone should vote for a man, not famous for his grasp on City Hall expenditure plans. And, for all we know, he may know more about it than we think.

Meanwhile, Liz Wickham has been to the Tower of London to report on the fall of a bastion of male reserve. It's been confirmed that... come September... for the first time in their 522 year history... the Beefeaters will number a... wait for it... WOMAN among their ranks. Extraordinary that it's taken this long perhaps, but can a woman Beefeater, er, cut the mustard?

So, quite a spread, we're sure you'll agree. The only place to get your teeth into all of it is ITV, at six.

See you then.

Katie & Ben

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 5th Jan

Good afternoon,

We have, as usual a very busy show for you tonight with a real mix of stories...starting with a tale that will strike fear into your heart if you've ever eaten in a certain Chinese restaurant in the West End. The Rong Cheng restaurant on Shaftesbury Avenue has been shown to be one of the filthiest in the West End. It's boss has been handed a suspended jail sentence after mice, cockroaches and mould were found in its kitchen. We have some shocking pictures of the state of the place - be warned you should save your tea until after this story.

Also....An absolutely horrendous killing.
A man's admitted to robbery and murder after gagging the wife of a close family friend and binding her face with parcel tape so tightly she died. Police have likened the tape to a "death mask" . Marcus Powell's been in court covering this story for us.

On a lighter note - a much lighter note - what are you planning to do with your Christmas tree ? The one in Trafalgar Square's about to be recycled...should we all be doing the same...have you already worked out where you can take your tree to be green ? Let us know.

It's Friday so it's showbiz day ! Steve Hargrave's going a couple of rounds with Amir Khan to find out if the release of Rocky 6 is going to make boxing the keep-fit trend of 2007....

Mark Eccleston's here with the movie review - including Renee Zelwegger as Beatrix Potter AND Mel Gibson's latest spectacular if somewhat historically inaccurate epic, Apocolypto.

AND we're at the Boat Show 2007 to find out what cool creations will be cresting the waves this year.

Enough to keep you entertained we're sure.

See you at 6.

Tamzin and Willsy

London Tonight: Thursday 4th January

Good Afternoon one and all,

It's Thursday and you can almost smell the weekend. Just as well because it's felt like a very long week, hasn't it? Even though most of us had our feet up on Monday, week's end has been a long time coming.

Now. This evening's programme starts on the story that's dominated the news across the country - this morning's tragic coach crash on an M4 sliproad. Two people were killed and many more were injured, some of them even losing limbs. The driver's been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. It's a desperate start to the year, and Phil Bayles has been following events for us.

We'll also have the latest on another, very sad, story. You may remember how Clare Bernal was shot dead while she was working in Harvey Nichols in September 2005. The man responsible - her ex-boyfriend - then shot himself. Well, Clare's flatmate told an an inquest into Clare's murder today that she was so worried about Michael Pech's behaviour that she had alerted security at the store. Could they have done more to protect Clare? Marcus Powell will have the detail on that.

Liz Wickham, meanwhile, has been in court for the sentencing of a married couple who were caught illegally selling a steroid-cream, which black customers bought to bleach their skin, but, in fact, was so dangerous it could have left them vulnerable to skin-cancer.

Then - a victory for 'People Power'. Hurrah and Ballyhoo! How many of us are fed up with a rail company making our lives a misery day in day out. Well, the good customers on the 'C2C' line no doubt had their 'fare' share of niggles as the trains chuffed in and out of Fenchurch Street... until the company changed the timetable. And that make them REALLY mad. So they complained. And complained. And then complained some more. And now, one month after dumping the old schedule, it's making a comeback. Nick Thatcher will report on that 'feel-good' story for us.

We'll also be chatting with Prunella Scales ("Basil!") about her latest stage-role... we've got a terrific 'behind-the-scenes' look at the work of Cirque du Soleil... and.. AND, Chrissie will have the weather.

And if THAT lot doesn't leave you gasping for the weekend... you can jog off.

See you at SIX,

Ben & Tamzin.

London Tonight: Tuesday 2nd January 2007

Hello and a Happy New Year to you all! Hope you had a great one - and if you're back at work that all those batteries are well and truly recharged.

In fact, if you ARE back at work, then you might be one of the millions who were greeted with a whopping fares rise on the buses and tubes! Now, TfL made no secret about the rises - they want to encourage more uptake of the Oyster Card of course - yet all the same, quite a few of you were caught unawares. We've got both sides of the argument and will be asking for your views on that one too.

We'll also be hearing from Lord Coe on how he rates last year's progress on the London Olympics - and what we can expect to see happening to the Stratford site in the coming year.

And if you're still feeling the excesses of the festive period then check out our resolutions double-whammy - Liz Wickham on joining a gym - AND how to stick to it - and Robin Ross on the pubs trying to ease smokers in gently to the inevitable ban this summer. Go on... You know it's good for you...

And apologies in advance if you're a hammer - but what a monumental, resounding defeat at the hands of Reading!! Six-Nil!! SIX. Unbelievable - and more than a few glum faces around the office today - but they're an optimistic bunch and already talk's turning to Curbs and the transfer window.... Bless.

It's Katie and Willsy in the hot seat tonight - see you there.

Ed