London Tonight Tonight Wednesday 31st October

I know I said yesterday - that Al or Katie would be back... I told a little lie. It turns out they're BOTH too busy making themselves busy AGAIN - so you're stuck with me (Faye) I'm afraid.

 

Tonight's programme is one to make your blood boil. It's Halloween, so all sorts of strange things happen to the sang-froid that usually flows through our veins...

 

Let's start with the story of Mohammed Kendeh. He's a convicted sex offender. And tonight it turns out he can't be deported back to his native Sierra Leone because of the Human Rights Act. It's the second time the government finds itself in this position - wanting to rid the country of a foreign criminal, only to be told it is not so.
Phil Bayles talks to the brave victim who's spoken out about the injustices of this case... AND Simon Harris asks if Europe is controlling our every move?

 

Then Ben Scotchbrook has been to meet the 91 year old World War Two veteran who woke to find his house on fire because a couple of yobs had thrown a firework through his letterbox. With Bonfire night around the corner, we find out what the police are doing to protect the most vulnerable amongst us.
So if we were trying to make you mad - that should do it, eh?

 

Then just when you're ready to throw something at the telly - we'll hopefully take the wind out of those angry sails.

 

We've got a spooky tour of our Da Vinci Code landmarks with the writer who says he's a member of London's secret societies... We've got a bunch of Crusty Demons doing crazy stunts with Piers Hopkirk on board... AND there's Mr Sulu or George Takei as he's rightly known, in the studio.

 

It's a corker so please join Al and Katie and me (that is assuming they're still talking to me of course) at six.

 

Faye (The Producer)

 

London Tonight Tonight Tuesday 30th October

Well it's that time again.

Hello everyone and apologies that it's only little old me (Faye, the producer) writing to you today - Alastair's just far too busy making himself busy to stay in touch... Feeling neglected? Me too.

Anyway, Nina and I ARE here and this is what we've got for you.

We start with an horrific video filmed on an estate on the Isle of Dogs... Two painter/decorators set upon by a gang of youths. Hooded and with their faces covered, they carry out a brutal attack - leaving one man with a broken arm, and the other with a nasty gash to the head.
Residents there say they need more policing and they need it now. Glen is the man to find out what went on.

 

Simon Harris is inspecting the Mayor's fares freeze with a more critical eye. Is he playing an election game just six months before Londoners choose their Mayor. When you see the facts you might ask the very same question... I think Ken may be making some angry noises...

 

Talking of noise, turns out London is louder than ever. Phil Bayles has spent the day being bombarded by the sounds on our transport system, and he asks "why so loud?".

 

And Michael Ball's costumes are pretty loud too. He's not just dressing up, he's camping up. Playing a woman on the West End stage.

 

Plus would you ever spend twenty quid on a bottle of water? Well Scotchy will be taste testing the water list at one of the capital's top restaurants.
It's a real smorgasboard for you...

 

Al and Nina hope to see you at six,

 

Faye

(Don't worry Al will be back tomorrow so the quality will improve!)

 

London Tonight Tonight Monday 29th October

Good Afternoon one and all,

We hope your weekend was fun and you're not too down about Gabby getting the boot from Strictly or indeed, young Daniel singing his last on the X-Factor.

 

Tonight we start with a classic Health & Safety 'barney'.... 6 and 7 year olds get onto a footie course (run by Charlton) and parents buy them new footie boots. School then says - 'you can't wear those... they're not safe'. Who's right?

 

A couple of travel stories for you - we've talk of a fare-freeze across the capital. And we'll also tell you about what happens when you don't put your clocks back. Like Gatwick didn't yesterday. Should have happened automatically. Oops.

 

We'll also have police pictures of some VERY valuable fish in a man's house. Not mug shots. The fish haven't even done anything wrong - but the man may have.
 
You should also tune in to hear from Duran Duran and Lewis Hamilton - about a new album AND almost winning the Formula One Championship. Don't know about you, but we'd never heard Hamilton's first album...

 

See you at six,

 

Ben & Salma

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri Oct 26th

Good afternoon and welcome to the Friday blog.

To be frank, it is proving just a little hard to get much work done. To the chaps, he is a sort of bad-boy-done-good hero and to most of the women he is just pretty hunky. And he is on the show tonight.

I'll tell you who in a moment and not a word of a lie.

Imagine I was to tell you that a finance director, with a history of fraud, had landed a job as finance director of a marketing company only to skim hundreds of thousands from them, ostentatiously buying several Porsche cars and a fabulous kitchen she even got featured in a coffee table glossy. You wouldn't believe me.

If I told you an entire army of American's, built like proverbial outdoor facilities, along with another army of rather elegant pom-pom juggling beauties in tow, had come to London to play grid-iron football you'd probably think I was guilty of another porky.

And if I told you Salma had yet again won our fiercely fought contest to present the unique and iconic fest that is What Not to Miss you - well, you might think it inconceivable that that could be true.

But all the above are absolutely de facto.

And Christian Slater, for it is he, is going to be in the studio.

So there's a treat for one and all.

Also tonight, James will review Sicko in which Michael Moore, of Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 fame, says the American health service is killing more people than it is curing, all in the name of profit.

Plus he looks at the chilling Eastern Promises which is about Russian mafia types and I can't wait to see it. Or they'll break my fingers.

They told me to write this. Not the fingers bit but the "I can't wait to see it " bit. There, I've said it. Be frightened. I am frightened.

As you all might be when Chrissie is taught to moon-walk by the guy who taught Michael Jackson to moon-walk.

Blood on the dance floor or a thriller? You'll have to be there to judge. Sorry Michael, bad memories: I should have said decide instead of judge.

As you all will have to over your choice of London's Best New Attraction: Salma is rooting for the gorillas and who am I, something of a professional chimp in her company, to demur?

See you from our side of the enclosure at 6.

Alastair & Salma.

London Tonight Tonight Thursday 25th October

Hello you.

Are you well? Having an easy day? A hard day? A 'can't wait until the bell goes' day? WE are having a busy day - although we feel that we're missing a 'planes' story. We've got trains and automobiles covered.

The trains story is all about Metronet. You remember - the private company getting lots of public money to fix rather a lot of the London Underground. Only, it went belly up - taking a lot of public money with it. Now, do you think those in charge of Metronet should get some sort of pay-off? No, we're not joking. Word has it, one or two of them are getting a rather handsome 'kiss-off'. To be fair, they didn't set the whole private/public arrangement up... And, here on London Tonight, we do like to be fair. YOU, however, can be as one-sided as you like, which is just as well. We want your e-mails later.

For 'automobiles', there's the M25...and plans to squeeze even more traffic onto it. Good idea? Mmmm, unconvinced. Well, they've trialled a scheme 'up north' (Birmingham way anyway) where they allowed cars to use the hard shoulder (empty lane on the left for 'emergency use' only) to alleviate the congestion. It worked there and they're thinking about trying it down our way now.

We'll also be looking at the relationship between Sir Ian Blair and his deputy. Word has it they don't get on. The Met says the word is 'rubbish'. You have a look at their body language on the programme... and come up with your own word.

You should also check out the mug-shot of one of America's Most Wanted - James 'Whitey' Bulger. Nice chap - they reckon he's killed 18 people. The FBI says he was spotted, er, in London - and they want our boys and girls in blue to help track him down.

All that... and the weather AND vampires - at SIX.

We hope you'll be watching.

Ben & Katie.

London Tonight Tonight Wednesday 24th October

Good afternoon!
Much debate at our early afternoon discussion over what gems to offer you this evening and what fool's gold to discard.

 

Jon, our vision mixer, has a thing about shoes and showed some very fetching new trainers to the gathering. Faye, our elegant and, in my view, gorgeous Producer is wearing some smart black trousers that would not look out of place as the lower half of a dinner suit - it is the satin stripe along the length of the sides that does it. Nina is wearing a seriously smart outfit - I think she is off to the ballet or the Ivy right after the show - and I am my normal, sartorially stunning self, risking a bold blue shirt with striking red tie.
None of us, however, owns a moped. None of us has, therefore, been involved in the spate of moped ram-raids which has resulted in this year's haute couture autumn collections being seriously reduced. Sonia Rykiel was last nights target, following Luella Bartley and Frost/French among others, totalling 35 in all. Liz is the lass with the coat-hangers and the crash helmet.

 

If whoever did the raids wanted to celebrate their grubby little crime they might have popped into an offy or even a garage to buy some beer. They'd have got it and got sloshed. So picture a Captain in the 16th Air Assault Brigade, wearing uniform and recently back from the front-line, being told he wouldn't be equipped for a bit of a session because the young man serving at the petrol station counter was anti-war. Shaken and stirred, the Captain reported the incident to an army charity only to be told he was not alone. Nick gathers the evidence and shouts "Attention!".

As will two older soldiers, one ex-SAS, the other an ex-Para, when they arrive at No10 Downing Street to protest at the way we treat our soldiers nowadays. Frankly, if I were Gordon Brown I'd cave in and not risk a full frontal assault on the famous black front door - or second floor balcony, given the SAS are involved. Tamsin has donned goggles and a black balaclava for this one.

Anyone suffering shock or even a heart attack as a result can rest easy as the London Ambulance Service have just been judged the best in the land at dealing with cardiac arrests. And did you know the city is littered with defribulators? Do you know what defribulators are? Emma may have a bit of a shock for you.

Sangeeta counts to seven as she drools over Theo Walcott and others at the Emirates. And Ned Boulting, hang your head! 2 nil? Bah, humbug.
Talking of footy, the new Wembly wants your vote.

A rock combo called Orson have moved from LA to Shepherd's Bush in an effort to spread their fame or boost their fortunes. Opinion is divided here. Steve will help you make your minds up.

Finally. Chrissie dons her salopettes and gloves, lowers her Ray Bans and soars off on her skillfully waxed blades at the London Ski & Snowboard show. Nina is a keen and rather fine snowboarder so I have hired a snow eagle which will swoop on and terrify Chrissie, thus allowing Nina to sweep in and take over.

I'll see you in the apres ski bar. Any time, any place, any where....

Alastair & Nina

London Tonight Tonight Tuesday 23rd October

Good afternoon -  over 40 people have signed up with Richard Branson's Virgin Galactica to go into orbit at a price of £200k, upfront. Surveys suggest the main reason they want to go is to take photos of the view.
Photos are at the heart of our top story, too. I hate school photos, even of my children. Charmless and characterless: not my children but the images, often taken as excuses to give often second rate snappers something to do of an afternoon. But harmless unless the little monster on the extreme right appears, seconds later, on the extreme left. "Laugh? We excluded him".
But what if the snapper asks the kids to line up according to skin colour? Darkest to the left, whitest to the right? Surely it couldn't happen in C21st London, could it? It did and Ronke is the lady under the dark cloth saying "Not much to SMILE about".

 

Nor for those who had planned to motor up to the 2012 Olympic Park to watch sport at it's best. Stop me and buy one takes on a new meaning: buy a ticket for an event and you get, in effect, a bus-pass - whatever your age. Harris is our man with the clamp.

Mind you, who needs a car in London these days with or without the congestion charge. All the roads are up. Robin has been humming Sgt Pepper's "now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" all day. We expose the 160 holes making life more miserable for the metropolis's motorists.

 

The mighty Arsenal are on duty tonight and we'll have pitch-side intelligence from Ned, while Chrissie has the weather and we have the papers.

 

Finally, the twin peaks of transcendatal meditation, director David Lynch and folksy-sixties-troubador Donovan, bounce across your screens tonight at six with Nick chanting Om Om to the melody of Mellow Yellow played by the Hurdy Gurdy Man. I never got into Twin Peaks but I liked the theme music and I actually purchased Donovon albums in my hippy youth. Universal Soldier was a favourite and, in some ways, is more David Lynch than Donovan. Only a thought.

 

See you at six unless you are away with the mystics or queuing while they fill in a hole somewhere.

 

Alastair & Katie.

 

London Tonight Tonight: Mon 22nd Oct

Good afternoon and it is good to be back, after a short break.

Some children have been on half-term, some are still on half-term and some behave, like mine, as if they are constantly on half-term! Not really, but sometimes it feels that way.

Some parents send their children to private schools because their families always have.

Some wouldn't do it if you broke every pencil in their pencil case because they just think it is politically wrong or they can't afford it.

But we are interested, tonight, in a very thoughtful and interesting group who have tried the state sector and found it not up to muster. Out come the little darlings and off they go to a private school. Big call but lots are doing it. Emma has chalk dust on her gown and says "Pay attention at the back!"

For the well behaved children, meantime, London is full of fabulous treats: Gorilla Kingdom at London Zoo or pop music and snacks at 02 are just two that have made it through to the final of Visit London's New Experience category in their annual awards. We are proudly sponsoring and will invite you to vote.

PSPs, X-Box and Wii are today's must haves for good and bad children: with Christmas getting ominously close, expect notes to be drafted to Santa that, if he is the age I believe him to be, he won't understand! Meantime the games they play on these machines generate as much cash, if not more, as music sales these days. Piers will be tickling the toggles and serving non-existant tennis balls into a non-existent tennis court at 6.

Our guest tonight has done it so many times that I am almost loathe to mention it but The Big Boss insists: Tom Cruise will be in Leicester Square tonight for the premiere of his new movie and I am sure he'll be chatting to Jasmine.

Charlie Chaplin formed United Artists to give actors greater control and freedom over their work. Tom is the subject of a revival at the famous studios so, if he wants to talk to us, no-one can tell him he can't! So I think he will. Mission very possible for Ms Lowson.

Lights, camera action at 6.

Alastair & Katie.

London Tonight Tonight: Fri 19th Oct

Afternoon England fans. Oh, alright... and everyone else.

So. This time tomorrow, we'll be all set. In front of a TV somewhere. Beer, wine, Kia Ora at the ready (Delete as applicable).

Bucket of hotdogs, perhaps. Crisps even. Tick Tock... Tick Tock... the clock ticking down to... the X-Factor. We love it.

Then, friend, THEN there's the rugby. This evening, we'll have rugger fans for you, rugger players - even Jonny Wilkinson (sort of)... and a fine rendition of the England anthem. So, slip on your shorts, get out your 'Deep Heat' and get gargling...

And if you're not remotely interested in the rugby (eh?), fear not, we've got plenty for you too.

There's a lookahead to two of the weekend's big movie releases (together with Mr King's view on whether they're worth the bus ticket to see them).

We've got Patrick Kielty live in the studio telling us all bout his acting debut in the West End, we hope. And if that gets dull, he can always tell us a joke or two about an Englishman, a Scotsman and himself.

Plus, of course, there's all the day's news - including the sentencing of some very young teenagers after they stoned a man to death (what do YOU think about the current legal age of criminal responsibility?)... and we'll bring you the tale of a schoolfull of kids now going to a completely different school 3 miles away. Good for their education? Good for the community?

So, lots to get in to the programme.

Now, all together everyone... Swing Low, Sweet Chariot...

Salma & Ben (who's not at all jealous that his brother's just got a ticket to the game tomorrow. Oh no...)

 

 

London Tonight Tonight Thursday 18th October

Hello to you,

Hope you're all well. The weekend's just a day away everyone, and THEN... it's Rugby World Cup Final Day. Can't wait. Let's hope our boys do a little better than the footballers. I mean, really. Was that the best they could do? Sometimes they promise so much... before delivering less than a striking postman.

 

Anyway onto something a little more positive - our programme.

And when the bell goes they'll come out fighting over... boxing in schools. This evening a school in Bromley will stage the first inter-school boxing event in 60 years. Should it be allowed? Phil Bayles has been gauging people's opinions - and we'll be asking for yours.

 

As for the rest of the team -

Ronke Phillips put some questions to the Met Chief, Sir Ian Blair this afternoon. Not her questions but those of a mother who's son was murdered.

 

Piers Hopkirk tells the story of the man who assaulted Sir Alex Ferguson at Euston.

 

Lucy Cotter reports on a boy with prosthetic legs who has to miss out on some lessons at school because it's too exhausting for him to get to the classroom - on the first floor.

 

Glen Goodman went along to a really rather glitzy bash at Cartier on Bond Street last night - now the most expensive road to open a shop - in the world.

 

And Steve Hargrave will hopefully (they'd better not do a 'Kylie' on us) be speaking to Steve Buscemi and Sienna Miller about the London film festival.

 

Eh? Not a bad little line-up, is it?

 

Tune in at SIX and see if we can deliver a little better than our footballers...

 

Ben

London Tonight Tonight Wednesday 17th October

Hello, Good Afternoon and Welcome to 'London Tonight Tonight Tonight Tonight...etc'.,

 

Okay, it may seem like a long time since last night's programme but, believe us, 'We've been working our way back to you'...

 

And we're going to kick off tonight's show with a look at our secondary school selection system - as more parents in London say they're prepared to tell whoppers to get their kids into the school of choice. And if that leaves you steaming with anger, 'Save it for me' and send in an e-mail later.

 

Now, here's something else that might get you 'Swearin' to God' - a safe full of detonators (mini-explosives) have been found in Golders Green station. They're used by the maintenance workers. But someone left the safe unlocked. So anyone could have walked off with them... We'll tell you what people are saying.

 

We'll also tell you what our Mayor's been saying about speed-bumps. Once he assured us that they're crucial for saving lives. Today, he implied that climate change might have changed his mind. Could this spell a bumpy end?

 

Next up: the Hindhead Project - designed to bring much-needed relief on the A3. It is a HUGE undertaking with two tunnels being built under miles of countryside. The problem is there's quite a bit of our wildlife in the way. Of course, some might say sacrifices have to be made. We - and the people in Liz Wickham's report - say 'Let's Hang On (To What We've Got).'

 

And, of course, Robin will have the weather.

 

Right, we're off for a 'Sherry'.

'Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)'...

 

Ben & Katie.

(Oh, and we'll be talking to Frankie Valli about a new musical featuring the music of the Four Seasons... Geddit?)

 

London Tonight Tonight Wednesday 16th October

Afternoon!

 

Talk about what if.... ? There was one heck of a near miss at Heathrow last night when 2 planes had a bit of a prang before take off. The wings brushed .. tips were damaged, but thank goodness the fuel tanks on the wings didn't ingite, and there were no injuries. But what does this tell you about the madness that is the world's busiest airport? Simon Harris has been investigating.

 

More on the trial of Levi Bellfield, accused of 2 murders; today more about the killing of french student Amelie De la Grange. Marcus is there.

 

If you thought lager louts in Newcastle were the problem drinkers of England.. they're not alone. You just need to look to leafy Runnymede in Surrey. The affluent borough tops the list of places where most adults are drinking to hazardous levels. Glen Goodman asks .. .why?

 

Liz has been to the palace with some poetic school children, Ben's been waving off his Costume Designing Angels into the big bad world of work, and Steve's been hanging out with Craig David, who's been telling him what he did on Monday. And Tuesday. And Wednesday .... sorry Craig... !

 

See you at 6,

 

Katie and Ben.

 

 

London Tonight Tonight Monday 15th October

Good Afternoon one and all,

Okay, who can remember what the weather was like last Thursday? No? What about last October 16th? No, neither can we.

However, 20 years ago tomorrow, is a different matter; you may well remember waking up to the aftermath of one of Britain's blowiest nights. It wasn't a hurricane, mind. You ask Michael Fish. Anyway, the 'October '87 Storms' did cause havoc across our region and this evening our Chrissie will be looking back at the pictures. We also want to hear about your experiences, so trawl your memory bank - and we'll share out your stories.

We're going to start our programme though with the experiences of a London Mum who's just lost her son. Lee Beckwith died last week after falling under a bus, a bendy bus. In an exclusive interview, she tells Phil Bayles exactly what she thinks about the buses. We'll also be hearing what TfL has to say too.

Marcus Powell, meanwhile, has been down at the Old Bailey all day to bring us the latest from the trial of Levi Bellfield. The jury's been hearing more evidence against him.

We'll also be getting the inside track on estate agents and the tricks they play, the fast ones they pull - all from a former agent who's come over from the dark side.

And, or should we say, AND...  live at the opening of the musical 'Rent', we'll be speaking to 'a bit of a star'. Actually, while she may not be a big person, she is a ENORMOUS star.

You'll have to join us at SIX to find out who she is...

See you then,

Ben & Katie

London Tonight Tonight: Friday 12th Oct

Hi there.

It's the Editor writing your update tonight - and I have to say there's some excitement in the office.

Earlier I was watching some pop videos of our studio guest - and gradually more and more people gathered round to watch and enjoy them.

We're talking 1990/1991 - and the phenomenon that was - boo mania.

The one and only Betty Boo is back - a new single - the same bob haircut - and she's live in the studio tonight. Did you know she wrote one of the fastest selling singles of all time that was a hit for Hear'say?

Also tonight - incredible pictures from Maida Vale where a burst water main turned a road into a river this morning - the A5 could be shut for some time - and the locals are fuming at Thames Water. The full story live from the scene tonight.

We're at the Old Bailey for the start of a major murder trial - and the story of a Bali bomb victim - five years on. Her story may well bring a tear to your eye - it certainly did to one or two people here in the office. Find out how she turned a tragedy into something positive.

All that - plus more - with Ben and Salma - live on ITV1 at six.

You know they'll be Doing the Do.

 

 

S

 

London Tonight Tonight Thursday 11th October

Good afternoon.
The numbers are mind numbing. So are the issues. Hundreds of millions of letters, postcards, parcels and parking tickets held up in mountainous backlog at places like Mount Pleasant.

The headache seems to be turning a nineteenth century business into one fit for the twenty first, when many of the staff still see it as a social service! It's a company that used to have a Minister in charge and is now run by an ex-Saatchi & Saatchi guy and the man who helped create Asda supermarkets. A recipe for disaster, you might think. How right you'd be. 
Liz is our fragrant philatilist and Marcus is on a hopeless search for the stamp of approval as wildcat action threatens to shut down London's postal system, again, from 6pm.

By which time all our lovely children should be home with you after another day at school. If you drive the little darlings right up to the front entrance your reason may be safety or convenience. If some have their way in Camden, you can forget it.
School entrances might become no-go zones for motors. Rediscover your feet and leg muscles with Nick, who likes a stroll.

The travellers on the site of the Olympics are finally travelling but it's been more of a marathon than a sprint. Simon Harris witnesses the passing over of the baton but some of the travellers remain deeply unhappy. As travellers you'd have thought they like to be on the move but choice is such an important thing, isn't it?

So we will also be showing you the choice between  paying thousands to have a suit made to measure in, let's say, Saville Row, and having one "finished" to your specification at your place of work. Glen is the man with the chalk and tape measures: "Suits you, Sir", I said to him. He blushed.

For a wedding you might settle for 'off the peg' unless you think "til death us do part" is only a figure of speech. Anyway, weddings are dear, in any measure, so a little known tradition in the City might help if you and your chosen one fit the bill. Just for you, Phil has something old, something new, something borrowed but never anything blue...

Steve meets Carbon Silicon which should keep him warm this winter. One part comes from the Clash, the other Generation X. I think it will be noisy but nostalgic.

Chrissie has the fog to explain which could take some time. It made us all a bit late this morning, or so some of them claimed. The papers and your thoughts on car bans at school entrances should give us all enough homework to do in the next couple of hours.

Grade us at 6.

Alastair and Katie

London Tonight Tonight Wednesday 10th October

Good afternoon. It is Wednesday. Mid-week. Salma is with me. Well, she's not because she's in make-up but she will be me later. At least I hope she will.

 

 "You can never rely on human beings" is, I think you will agree, a deeply depressing outlook on life but they are the words our delightful producer Faye uttered at our planning meeting. Nothing to do with whether Salma would make it back from make-up or not but about some cops who used the Police National Computer.
Isn't that what they are supposed to do and isn't that what it is there for, I hear you ask? Not if they are running a Private Detective Agency bugging their innocent victims with the help of some of their bent brother officers in Staffordshire. Glen's got the whole case to lay out before you.

Now their backers say they can carry more passengers than ever before, and they are conveniently snapped in the middle, held together with a great big hinge. On the downside, dishonest passengers have a choice of three doors to slip in and out of in an effort to avoid paying the fare. But when you take into account that several of them have caught fire and have been directly linked with a load of injuries you worry a bit. When people are losing their lives because of them the gags end and you might very well think that the time had come to park the entire fleet.
Simon Harris investigates the latest fatality linked to The Bendy Bus, we talk to the man who runs the fleet and then ask for your comments.

From deadly danger to the joy of life: we talk to Megan Blunt who very nearly wasn't with us but has turned her potential tragedy and the genius of her medical team, into one of the most brilliant and useful books I have ever seen.
She's on her way to a parents evening right now so we talked to her earlier.
I am still drying my eyes from tears of pride and emotion. 

So that will probably get me a P45 which will require me to seek a UB40 - or whatever the code is for "The Jobseekers Allowance". In the old days you knew where you stood: UB40 -Unemployment Benefit. Anyway the name of the form was lifted by a brilliant band of musicians who weren't really into protest music but rather good at a sort of white-boy's reggae. Lead singer Ali Campbell is in tonight to talk about a new album.
"I didn't know Tony Blair's former press secretary had had a career as a rock singer", I mused at the meeting.
"He didn't", said Faye, that savage dismisser of humanity.
I froze but have nearly recovered.

 

 

Salma is back from make-up and looks even more lovely than she did earlier. I shall take tea and hope to avoid looking out of place in her company. Dismissed by The Boss for my emotions, ridiculed by the delicious Faye for my ignorance, I cannot afford rejection by Salma for my appearance.
And remember, Faye, a glass can be half-full OR half-empty: here's to humanity.

 

See you at 6.

 

Alastair and Salma.

London Tonight Tonight Tuesday 9th October

Afternoon everyone...

Sorry, we'll have to be quick this afternoon as we've suddenly got very busy here.

Not that suprising... in the programme tonight we've got top-pop, basketball and nudity. (That's the second half of the programme taken care of.)

We start though with an exclusive interview with the athlete, John Regis - talking for the first time about the murder of his nephew Adam. The fifteen year old was 'number 8' in the list of 20 London teenagers shot or stabbed to death this year. Today, teenagers chatted with Government ministers to work out how we can bring a halt to this dreadful roll-call. Will that help? What can be done? It is one of the most important issues facing our capital today. And we'll be asking for your thoughts on that.

Phil Bayles checks out the new emergency teams ready to rescue people on the tube... Chrissie has the weather (more rain, do we think?) and there's so much more... Tune in at SIX and you'll see.

Ben and Katie

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 8th Oct

 

Good afternoon.

 

Last week a remarkable woman came on the programme: she is an advisor to Trident, the anti black on black gun crime unit in the Met. She said it isn't just black on black, anymore. It isn't just gun crime, anymore. It is everywhere and it is a problem for everyone.

 

The family of seventeen year old Rizwan Darbar now know she spoke the painful truth. He become the twentieth young victim of random, brutal, fatal violence in our great city on Sunday night.

250 people took to the streets to protest about it in West Ham.

 

Rizwan was listening to music but someone wanted his cell-phone. And, for that, they were prepared to kill. Where are we going? Marcus asks the hard questions at 6.

 

Also asking hard questions is Alison Thorpe who has two daughters: one is a bubbly, giggly girl who had a great time when she came into our studio with her mum who was on the Lunchtime News. The other, teenager Katie, has cerebral palsy. She smiles a lot but never giggles. Her sister asked tons of questions. Katie asked none. She can't.

Her mum wants the courts to agree that she should be allowed to have a hysterectomy to save her the discomfort and possible embarrassment of monthly periods. Others say that is a breach of Katie's human rights. Before becoming a journalist, I wanted to be a barrister: am glad today I am not a Judge. Emma will guide you through this emotional and legal mine-field.

 

A crack has appeared in the floor of Tate Britain. It happens. The magnificent building that is now Tate Britain used to be a mighty power-station and the room in which the crack has appeared used to house a mighty pair of turbines. Weighty turbines. I think it makes sense that a crack has appeared and they should accept it and just send for the builders. Tate Britain, on the other hand, have declared it a work of art. Both sides of this argument, one of which is true and the other of which is a mad fantasy on my part, will be set before you by Phil Bayles, our very own cross between Brunel and Breugal.

 

What impact will Crossrail have on property prices? The line goes underground at Paddington and I suggested turning that part of London into a building site might lead to improvements. "Nothing wrong with Paddington", said Katie. "I used to live there." Stunned silence and very naughty observations which cannot be repeated followed... the entirely clean and useful thoughts of Louise at 6.

 

Plus Jasmine meets Editors - a music combo, I gather, rather than the worthy cabal of men and women who decide what you read of a morning.

 

Read, and hear, all about it all - at 6.

 

Alastair and Katie.

 

 

 

 

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri Oct 5th

Good afternoon, a little later than normal for which I apologise.

But not as late as the massive civil engineering project that Mr Brown promises will arrive by 2017. A couple of American tourists, viewing Magna Carta , asked when it was signed. "1215", explained the guide. "Gee", said the American glancing at his watch, "We just missed it!"

The Boss  had to explain to quite a few people that Crossrail wasn't due to arrive just minutes before twenty past eight this evening and those dear souls are now stacking non-biodegradeable coffee cups in the kitchen.

Simon Harris is our mole on this one and he is very excited. I have postponed my retirement but still wonder if it has any bearing on the timing of a General Election?
Talking of excitement, Salma has had to answer some dark and angry charges of cheating because, once again, it is she who has won (others are saying 'secured' or even 'stolen' ) the right to present What Not To Miss, your indispensable guide to diary filling for the weekend.

Licking his wounds and counting his blessing this weekend will be the PC from Farnham who flagged down a car on the A31 only to end up doing a passable impression of the Rolls Royce Spirit of Ecstasy on the front of it. He is OK but there is a bizarre twist to the saga: Phil is the man with the chamois leather.

Lip readers tune in for our coverage of Ian Wright's off-pitch activities that involve parking rather than passing.

And movie buffs unite: you have nothing to lose but your indecision as James takes you through the celluloid wonderland.

Chrissie says it'll be a lovely weekend. Is that the weather or has she got something naughty but nice planned? I don't know but will be as keen as you to find out at 6.

If you feel the need for a 'paper or three we'll have them too but don't forget WNTMiss - I'd have paper and pen at the ready for that!.

Salma and I await your judgement.

 

A & S

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Thurs 4th Oct

 

Hello. It's Stuart, Editor of London Tonight writing tonight's email - and I'm going to start with an apology.

 

Our technology has been letting us down recently - and this email hasn't always reached your inbox in the last couple of weeks. It's not that we've not bothered to write it - it's always been crafted - just not always delivered. The experts have fixed the problem, and I'm hoping that our normal, reliable service has now been resumed.

 

So - to tonight's programme. Yesterday we led off with the story of the Polish care nurse, caught in the crossfire in New Cross. This evening - we return to the scene for more reaction and the latest on the investigation. Sadly, it's just one of three elements of our programme that will focus on gun crime tonight. We'll also talk to the family of the hero bouncer shot outside a bar in July. The sub machine gun used hasn't been seen in Britain before - it's often used in drive-by's in places like L.A. We'll also follow the latest in the Peter Woodhams case, and the investigation into what his family say the police didn't do when he was the victim of crime before he was murdered.

 

After all that - the colleges that aren't really colleges. We were there as police raided a college today - the detectives are looking for places that aren't really educational establishments - they're just ways to get visas for people to stay in the UK. Jon Gilbert tells that story.

 

We're at Great Ormond Street Hospital who announce their biggest single donation EVER. Find out how much, from who - and what it will build at six.

 

Plus Jamie Foxx - yes he who played Ray and got an Oscar for it - on his latest movie. Unlike Michelle Pfieffer (who was late last night) we hope Jamie will join us on the red carpet tonight. Only this evening it's Steve, as Tamzin's now left to await the patter of tiny feet.

 

So there we are - Thursday's London Tonight is live from Studio 4 at six. We'll have all that - and anything that happens between now and then too.

 

Thanks for reading - and before I go a couple of reminders. Firstly, if you miss it on ITV1 - you can watch the programme later at http://www.itvlocal.com/london . And don't forget we're always looking for your stories. If you've a general news story you think we should cover then email it to londontonight@itvlondon.com - if it's a consumer problem then drop us the details to onyourside@itvlondon.com and we'll see what we can do.

 

Bye for now

 

 

Stuart

 

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 3rd Oct

Good afternoon.

Cross-fire killed a care-home worker last night in New Cross. Tragic. Ben will make it is a clear as such a sad and pointless act of violence can be.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Boris Johnson are two gentlemen I wouldn't want to fall out with. Nor would I want either of them calling me nasty names or saying nasty things about me. One of them did about the other. Which one and what? Be amused or bemused at 6 in the coming of Simon "I am already back" Harris.

We've extraordinary picture of a young man who very nearly couldn't utter that famous Arni assertion after he took his bike on a railway station platform and it all went horribly wrong. Emma has her clips on at 6.

Tamzin, who presented her last show on Friday, presents her last interview today before heading home to become a mum. We so wish her well, we really do. I , personally, had hoped she might have had an emergency but safe call this afternoon so I could sweep to her rescue and take her place in Leicester Square. Who is on the Red Carpet that has brought this generous offer on my part? Think slinky singers on top of pianos: fabulous! Well, Tamzin is well and she'll be there with one of the most beautiful creatures to grace the silver screen.

Papers and Chrissie's weather should round it all off nicely.

See you at 6.

Unless I get that emergency call to Leicester Square. Prayer, bribery, cancelling her car: all have gone through my mind and all have been put back in the drawer. I'm not that naughty.

Alastair and Katie.

 

TEST1

This is just a test.

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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues 2nd Oct

Good afternoon.

The Hollies, Flanders and Swann, even The Who have all celebrated, in song, the contraptions that seem to have woven their way into a lot of our programme tonight.

One "variety" has rediscovered it's capacity to catch on fire; elsewhere, a company has set up a training centre in Warsaw, the capitol of Poland, to teach Poles how to drive them; and Spurs and Arsenal, two great teams we feature on the show tonight, use them to get to matches. The glorious omnibus: if bendy, it can be down-right dangerous; if operated by a Pole, it will be as safe as a safe bus should be; and, if occupied by football players, it will almost certainly be that distant cousin, the luxury coach. Glen and Mike are among the clippies pinging the bell for you, at 6... which is 2 LESS than the number of goals that featured in an extraordinary footy comeback you will enjoy watching, unless you are a brummy. In which case, tough.

Plus, we'll have expert views on whether Arsenal have travelled to yet more glory tonight.

The 2012 travelling people, who now want to travel from their disputed site, can't. The boys from the blackstuff who want to do a good job once the travelling people have travelled, can't either.

It is getting very silly out east and Simon Harris has been digging into why yet more digging has caused such mayhem.

Mayhem, too, around Exhibition Road where plans to turn it into a naked street, which has nothing to do with sex but everything to do with Holland, has caused uproar among those of you who are dependent on guide dogs.

What Katie Melua will make of it all, I dread to think but I guess we'll find out together when she joins us live at 6.

See you then.

Alastair & Katie (Derham, that is: not Melua - she's not here until 6 !)

PS: I know the Hollie's song title included the word Stop but permit the poetic license....

ping-ping.