LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Good Afternoon and a very 'Happy Christmas Eve-Eve' to one and all.

Can't believe it. All the shopping's done. All the food's in. Just got a bit of wrapping to do now which I'll knock off when I get in later tonight. (And it is later tonight - the late bulletin's on at twenty five past eleven.) And all for one day. Seriously, why do we do it? Because it's fun, that's why. Whether you're with your family, round at your mate's or having a nice quiet one with the best of the year's TV... I hope you have a wonderful time.

That's all to come. There's the small matter of this evening's news programme to negotiate first.

And it starts tonight with pilots attempting to negotiate their way down onto the runway at Heathrow, in the face of the craziest of crazes that has only got worse this year. Increasingly often, pilots have been coming into land only to have a complete idiot firing a laser pen up into the cockpit from the ground. Even the low-powered laser-pens could completely disorientate the pilot, while the more powerful models could damage their eyes permanently. We've been up with the police in their helicopter, taking a look at their clever kit which can spot up exactly where the pens are being shone from.

Now, spare a thought for all those people who had plans to be elsewhere this Christmas. By elsewhere I mean somewhere significantly different to where they are now. Well, you know, people who were going to travel somewhere before the big day (don't know why I didn't say that in the first place) and can't because of the weally wintery weather we've been having. I'm still struggling to believe this but I'm told that earlier in the day the queue at St Pancras station (think Eurostar) stretched for over 2 miles. That's a big queue. Even longer if you're in it with small children.

And then the story of Eileen and Tom Allen from Hampshire whose son Martin disappeared 30 years ago. He was just 15 at the time. They were living in Kensington when he just disappeared. There was a huge police operation at the time, following a possible sighting of Martin with a man on the tube. But after all these years, they still don't know what happened to him. And they want to know. They really want to know.

We'll cover that and we'll also have a report on the crisis centres that are set up every Christmas for the capital's homeless people. We're told 8 thousand volunteers are giving their time and expertise to help people less fortunate than themselves this year. Very laudable - and we all take our hats off to them.

China figures in one of our reports tonight - the story of a man from Kentish Town, Akmal Shaikh who was caught carrying a substantial amount heroin through a Chinese airport. His punishment? The death penalty. In six days' time. The Prime Minister has joined the chorus of people appealing for clemency from the Chinese government, in light of the fact that Mr Sheikh has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder - an extreme form of depression which leaves him suffering from delusions.

We'll also have the final part of our special series looking at Londoners serving on the front line in Afghanistan.

And to play out tonight - something Christmassy...

See you at six,

Ben & Nina

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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Good Afternoon to you.

And if it is a good afternoon where you are, spare a thought for those who are fighting on the front line in Afghanistan, looking after those on the front line, keeping them fed and watered too. It is a massive operation and it will carry on regardless of Christmas. Well, this week, as we most of thoughts turn to decorations, fancy food and exciting presents, we're going to be shining the spotlight on all those who won't be enjoying the fruits of the festive period with their friends and family. Our reporter Ronke Phillips and one of our cameramen, Mike Field, are in Camp Bastion tonight where they're reporting on some members of the Territorial Army who normally live and work in our part of the world but this Christmas are on duty in a much more hostile part of the world. Keep your fingers crossed as we're then hoping to link one of them up with her colleagues at Brixton Prison.

We'll then have the latest on the woman who was questioned at Southwark police station last week. She organised for someone to come and look after her baby. But the police officers there then gave the little girl to, er, someone else. Someone not known to the family. A stranger in fact. Who then left the police station with her. The good news, the excellent news, is that the baby has been found and she's both safe and well. The bad news is that this happened. The Met are, unsurprisingly, looking into it.

Christmas - and the prospect of a less than jolly one - underpins another of our stories. A number of homeowners over Barnet way have lost their gas supply because of a flood. That's no central heating, not hot water, no cooker. How does a flood cut off your gas? We're trying to find out. The thing is - a lot of these people were given a little electric heater to combat the worst of the cold - but that then shorted their electricity supply too. And Christmas is just four days away now...

Someone who probably personifies the true message of Christmas is The Reverend Simon Boxall. His adopted daughter, Hosie, died when she jumped out of a window in Blackheath after two girls bullied her into it. It was a dreadful story and the two culprits were convicted of manslaughter last month. Most of us in the Reverend's position would struggle to say anything less than scathing about the pair of them but he has publicly forgiven them, because he said, someone has to break the cycle of bitterness. And he and his wife feel it should be them.

We've another story which suggests the spirit of Christmas isn't only something you read about in Dickens' novels.

You may remember we told you about some burglars who broke into a house in Islington recently and stole a TV, computer games and Christmas presents - right in front of a nine year old boy. Bailey Preston has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair, so was powerless to intervene. Well, when we broadcast the story we had a lot of people getting in touch, telling us how appalled they were. And a lot of them did more than that.

Oh, and we've also got some sewer workers singing a Christmas song. In the sewers. Now that's what I call Christmas.

See you at six,

Ben & Nina

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those of Independent Television News Limited unless specifically stated.
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or entity to which they are addressed.
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Please note that to ensure regulatory compliance and for the protection of our clients and business,
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Thank You.

London Tonight Tonight

Hi there.

We've dedicated a large chunk of tonight's programme to the resolution of the court case into the murder of Tulay Goren, the fifteen year old girl from east London who disappeared in 1999. It's a case we've been keeping a close eye on for some months and today her father, Mehmet Goren, was found guilty of her murder at the Old Bailey. His brothers, Cuma and Ali Goren - Tulay's uncles - were found not guilty of murdering her. Tulay was the victim of an 'honour killing' after she had a relationship with a man her father disapproved of. Tonight, as well as a report from Lewis Vaughan Jones who's been following the court case closely, Phil Bayles has an exclusive report from the remote area of Turkey from where the Goren family originally hail. He's been looking at the background of Mehmet Goren and speaking to his family about the traditions, culture and attitudes that may have influenced a father into murdering his teenage daughter in the name of so-called 'honour'. Tulay's body has never been found.

Our second special report comes from Ronke Philips who's been investigating a new unit at Scotland Yard, set up to look into the increasing number of 'honour killings' in the capital. It's already achieved successes, not least in challenging the attitudes of police officers.

Also tonight, the heartbreaking story of yet another family's loss as another soldier dies in Afghanistan. Rifleman James Brown, from Orpington in Kent, was just 18 when he and a comrade died trying to stop bombs going off in a packed marketplace. Rifleman Brown, who had only been in Afghanistan for a matter of days before he was killed, becomes the 30th serviceman from London and the south-east to die in the conflict.

Off the back of that story...will someone explain to me why a petition to give some of our soldiers the freedom of the borough of Epsom has been snubbed by the local council? More on that later.

Matt and Katie.

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

When it comes to the weather I think that for most people in the UK our instinct is to complain & we'll be given plenty of opportunity to do that over the next few days. Topics obviously change with the seasons (a sunless summer/autumn storms/the recent wet weather) & the main theme on the train in to London this morning was the ice in the roads in our neck of the woods.

 

Apparently the roads were pretty treacherous yesterday afternoon & near lethal this morning. I'm guessing that this applies to the more minor roads, because all the local councils have had ample warning of the current cold snap & the gritters should certainly have been out in force. They'll be out again now because the most significant snow of the winter so far will be hitting the south-east later tonight. It may well look like a winter wonderland when we all climb out of our beds tomorrow, but if we're not to have a collective sense of humour loss (something I'm never guilty of....) the roads will need to be passable.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

So, it's been snowing.

Not the sort of snow that brought London to a rather embarrassing standstill on 2nd February, giving lots of children (big and small) an excuse to dodge school and work and go snowballing and sledging instead. Alas, anyone hoping to get home this evening and rush straight out for snowballing is going to be sorely disappointed. Still, Mr McCallum tells me there may well be more to come tomorrow. As I speak, Robin is gathering his coat and scarf, ready to head off to Leyton to bring us the weather and a word or two on the gritters ready to hit the roads tonight.

So, that's Robin's duties laid out.

Our top story tonight (Murray Dron on duty) is Peter Tobin's conviction - found guilty today of murdering Dinah McNichol, from Tillingham in Essex. He was already in prison for murdering two other women, one of whom was found buried beside Dinah at his former house in Margate. Police are now relaunching 'Operation Anagram' which was investigating whether Tobin has many more victims to his name.

Piers Hopkirk has been working on the story of the RAF Nimrod that crashed in Afghanistan in 2006. The Government apologised for "failings" today to the families of 14 people who died. How would you feel if an official report into such a catastrophe ruled that it was an "avoidable accident"?

Sharon Thomas will bring us the background to an extraordinary statistic. It's been reported that one in five London drivers have been involved in an accident where some idiot has dropped something from a bridge onto a car passing below. She's been speaking to the partner of a lorry driver who died after it happened to him on the M3.

There was a crash in Battersea today - involving a lorry and a bus, a double-decker bus, that is - which ended up on its side. More than 20 people were injured so we sent Lewis Vaughan Jones down to get the full story.

Marcus Powell's brief is to bring us the low-down on one of those stories which turn your stomach. A grandmother who's going blind and who was fleeced by a conman of her life savings. About a million pounds' worth. Police reckon the man who took it all is somewhere in the south of France.

Carolyn Sim has been to Gatwick today to see someone sing - and she's just assured me that the Dagenham Diva (aka Stacey Solomon) can sing really rather well. She was promoting an internet competition to see who's the best at karaoke. From the X-factor to Karaoke in less than two weeks. There's fame for you. I'm kidding. She's getting paid to do it. I'd love to get paid to sing. I wouldn't bet on it.

And from the X-Factor to the 'aaah-factor'. Liz Wickham has been meeting three triplets who were born three months prematurely. All are now thriving thanks to the wonder team at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. And their parents have said thank you. By raising a quarter of a million pounds for the baby unit. There won't be a dry eye in the house. Or is that hospital.

See you at six,

Ben & Lucy

PS: By the way, our job is to keep things together. And interview the man who made "I don't believe it" a national catchphrase.

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

Snow's great. Especially at this point in December. As those of us who are perenially disorganised begin the panic of present buying, filled with self hatred at not having learnt from previous experience & resenting the fact that there are other people on the pavements too, it provides a welcome glimpse into how Christmas should look according to the cards & the movies. The practical horrors of last minute shopping are anaesthetised by soft white flakes falling from the sky & the frosted landscape demands that we take a moment to appreciate the magical transformation.

 

Then, of course, reality kicks in & the practicalities of getting to & from work/school/etc. overshadow everything else & the magic becomes tarnished at roughly the same pace as the snow turns grey & slushy. But then each time there is a fresh fall, our spirits are raised again & the cycle cranks into action one more time.

 

This will be the pattern over the next few days as the cold cuts, the frost bites & the snow flurries. Enjoy.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Good afternoon all.

First, tonight: police who say they broke up an Al-Qaida terrorism cell after catching a man filming on the Underground have released footage he took on his mobile phone. It follows a story Marcus covered for us last week about complaints police are using anti-terrorism laws to stop people taking photographs in London. So, with the police saying they may have averted a major atrocity - where do you stand now on just how far the police should be able to go? Marcus has the story for us.

Next, a man found guilty of a violent attack on a gay couple in their home in south east London back in March is facing life in jail tonight. Gerald Edwards was killed while his partner, Chris Bevan, only survived after having his heart massaged as he lay on the blood-covered floor of his flat. He was left with "catastrophic injuries" and police have commended his bravery in giving evidence by video-link to help bring 46 year old David Kilcullen to justice. Chris talks to us about the attack and the devastation of losing his partner of 18 years.

Also, as the World's leaders meet in Copenhagen to discuss climate change, Boris Johnson told delegates at the summit of his plans to make London the greenest city in Europe. And, as Boris rubbed shoulders with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the 'Johnsonator' also claimed that Londoners would soon all live within a mile of a charging point for an electric car...More power to him...

Elsewhere...the head teacher who suspended 300 children when he took charge of a failing Dagenham school has been knighted after turning it around and speculation about the future ownership of West Ham United continues following a bid by former Birmingham City owners, Davids Sullivan and Gold.

And, Lucy's been to meet former 'Sex Pistols' frontman, John Lydon, as he prepares to tour with the reformed 'Public Image Limited'. One of those interviews you might be a bit nervous about beforehand, but Lucy says he was totally charming, or utterly butterly wouldn't melt, perhaps? Sorry about the jokes, I can't believe they're not better...!

See you at Six

Matt and Lucy

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

Our local golf club is under new management. It's recently had a multi-million pound makeover to include an upgrade of all the sporting facilities, a rebrand & a new chef.

 

Of course there are, despite all these improvements, rumblings of discontent from the old guard who have a rather more traditional approach to the golf club concept. Interestingly, they are not unhappy about the inclusion of pilates classes or the new juice bar, it's the fact that there is now an army of high chairs in the dining room heralding a move away from the old gentleman's club atmosphere towards 'family dining'.

 

I do understand this resisitance to change, after all none of us adjusts easily, but in their shoes I would be much more troubled by the bold new sign at the entrance gates which proudly declares 'Sunday lunches; now being served every Sunday.'

 

There's a good chance play will be interrupted over the next few days because snow is on the way. Any time from tomorrow lunchtime onwards. Perhaps the dining room -despite the high chairs- will provide the ideal refuge.

 

See you later,

 

Robin 

 

LONDON TONIGHT

Afternoon all.

Not sure about you, but I'm starting to feel increasingly Christmassy. I spent last night cooking some stuff to put in the freezer ready for a family do on Boxing Day and stirred away happily, humming along to some classic Christmas tunes. What's your favourite? A bit of Chris Rea, 'Driving Home for Christmas'? 'Stop the Cavalry' by Jona Lewie? What about the Pogues and Kirsty Maccoll, 'A Fairty Tale of New York'? Classics! Actually, I think I'm the only person I know who'll even admit to liking 'Mistletoe and Wine'. At least Cliff was actually singing about Christmas.

Not for you? How about something more recent? What about last year's Christmas number one by Alexandra Burke? Or the year before when Leon Jackson was at the top of the charts? 2006? Leona Lewis. 2005 - Shane Ward. You get the idea. The Christmas chart is now almost certain to be topped by wheover wins the X-Factor and it's a source of severe irritation to many. When I was growing up, waiting to hear who had the Christmas number one was as much a part of the festive traditions as paper crowns, forgetting the batteries and numerous failed attempts to light the Christmas pudding (tip - light a ladle full of brandy before pouring over the pud, thus minimising the chances of setting fire to the table cloth.)

Now, every few days recently, my feelings of festiveness have been enhanced by my walk past a new ice sculpture at St. Pancras station on the way home. So far, I've taken snaps on my phone to show the kids of a massive Christmas tree and a glistening Big Ben. Really impressive. But, what do you think the latest offering is? A huge present? Carol singers? Father Christmas? The Nativity scene? No...it's a life size sculpture of the X-Factor judges - adding further fuel to speculation that Simon Cowell won't rest until he's given a live television address every Christmas afternoon and children write to him with their wish-lists instead of Father Christmas.

Actually, that's a bit unfair. A quick look at the Christmas number ones over the past 60 years show everything from Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in 1975, to Pink Floyd's, 'Another Brick in The Wall' in 1979 and 'Return to Sender' by Elvis Presley in 1962, which, unless it was written by a disgruntled child about his present from Santa, isn't a Christmas record either? The X-Factor might be stopping other songs getting to number one at Christmas, but it isn't stopping anyone else releasing them. There's no shame in making the top ten!

So...while a sculpture of the judges is a little random, I'll grant you, I'm going to go with it. Partly because I love the show and can't wait for this weekend's final (how often do you get a programme you can sit with your seven year-old daughter and both enjoy watching?), partly because it's really impressive, and partly because we've sent Chrissie down to take a closer look and possibly try her hand a doing a sculpture of her own. Goodness knows what will greet me on the way home tonight!

See you later

Matt and Nina.
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Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent
those of Independent Television News Limited unless specifically stated.
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Thank You.

LONDON TONIGHT

Hi there,

Really busy afternoon so today's blog will be delivered in the style of the famous Andre Previn (or rather, 'Andrew Preview') sketch from the classic 1971 Morecambe and Wise Christmas special. If you havn't seen it, YouTube it, it's a classic.

On the programme tonight...

1. Rupert Everett and Colin Firth join Lucy on the red carpet at the premiere of 'St Trinian's 2'.
2. Robin has the weather.
3. Warnings that 144 ticket offices on the Tube network could be shut, costing 12 hundred jobs.
4. A man from East London found guilty of conspiracy to murder after he plotted to blow up planes mid air.
5. Police using anti-terrorism laws to stop innocent photographers from taking pictures in the capital.
6. And a new West End show to celebrate the life of the one and only Eric Morecambe.

There you go...all the right stories, not necessarily in the right order. "More tea Ern? Ho Ho!"

See you at Six

Matt and Nina
Please Note:

Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent
those of Independent Television News Limited unless specifically stated.
This email and any files attached are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual
or entity to which they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error, please notify postmaster@itn.co.uk

Please note that to ensure regulatory compliance and for the protection of our clients and business,
we may monitor and read messages sent to and from our systems.

Thank You.

London Tonight Tonight

Good afternoon,

What do a cat, some squirrels and Elton John's trousers have in common? They all feature on tonight's programme, of course (I could feel the company lawyers hovering over the panic button as they read that sentence). Before all that though, on the show tonight: the debate over a third runway at Heathrow rumbles on with campaigners challenging a report by environmentalists that says it wouldn't necessarily compromise long term UK emissions targets. Also, a London woman convicted of drugs smuggling in Laos has begun her appeal. And the independent review into the death of Baby P has found that the clinic where he was seen just two days before he died was understaffed at the time.

Also...after the immortal phrase on last night's programme, 'Tests show the Mr. Squiggles Go-Go Hamster may have toxic fur.' Tonight we have a story about a woman whose house has been over-run by squirrels...real ones. Actually, it really isn't a laughing matter for Sandra Munoz from Clapham, who's had to redecorate from top to bottom.

We're heavy on the entertainment tonight too. First up, Yusuf Islam -- previously known as Cat Stevens -- is playing the Royal Albert Hall later as part of his first tour for over 30 years. In the early 70s, Cat Stevens was an international superstar following hits like 'Wild World', 'Moon Shadow' and 'Father and Son' (It wasn't a Boyzone original!). In 1977, at the height of his fame, he converted to Islam after nearly drowning and later auctioned off all his guitars for charity. Now, Yusuf Islam is back on stage here in his home town, performing new material as well as some old classics.

Pop Trivia fact number 1 for you: In 1965, Cat Stevens wrote, 'The First Cut is the Deepest', but sold it to P.P. Arnold for £30 who went on to have a massive hit with it in 1967. Since then it's been covered by everyone from Rod Stewart to Leona Lewis.

Pop Trivia fact number 2: Cat Stevens was due to make his stage re-appearance at Live Aid in 1985 but was bumped from the line-up at the last minute because the concert was over-running (Elton John's fault, apparently?)

Talking of Elton, he's on the show tonight too. Well some of his trousers are, a few shirts, no doubt, some platform shoes and the odd pair of huge specs. A load of classic clothes from the largest wardrobe in music goes under the hammer for charity in what's surely the most flamboyant jumble sale in pop history. We sent Glen down to have a good old rummage through. Well, he's roughly the right size and if the cap fits...!

See you at Six.

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

I have a new 7 - day travel card (I've loaned the ITN limo that's usually assigned to me to Katie who says it's halved her journey time from the Pound Shop where she's sourcing all her Christmas gifts to the newsroom) but it doesn't work. Despite having a full 6 days still to run it won't open any automated barriers. As such I'm dependent on the kindness of strangers to operate the barriers manually. Some are delightful, some not. Some make me wait while they finish a conversation, some swing into action at once.

 

Inevitably it's all a test of my patience, not helped by the fact that I'm frequently made to feel as if I'm attempting to travel illegally, so I've decided to embrace the challenge. From now on I will approach my journeys as research into how helpful staff are at stations & once the results are analysed & collated I will pass on my findings to you. They'll probably bring you more joy than the weather, although having said that from Thursday onwards things are starting to settle down quite nicely. It'll be drier & brighter, but colder.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin.

 

London Tonight Tonight

Nightmare start to the week. Someone drove into a railway bridge somewhere near Luton and travel chaos ensued. I got into the office about an hour and a half later than usual so brevity is the key to today's blog. Luckily, all the bosses were in a planning meeting when I skulked in, so I think I got away with it by sitting down and starting to type purposfully... until confessing all on the blog, of course.

Most of you will recognise the desperation of a nightmare train journey and if you use the Jubilee Line regularly, you might want to sit down before you read the next bit: We've reported many times on the delays to improvement work as well as the millions of pounds in overspend. But now, Tube Lines - the company responsible for the work - says it needs more time to finish the job. And apparently that means the line could be shut for a further jaw-dropping 28 weekends?! Boris Johnson's not happy and there's a bit of water to un-muddy about whose fault it is. All, we hope, will become clear later.

In our top story tonight, Marcus Powell speaks to the family of murdered student Meredith Kercher. Marcus was in Perugia as the trial reached its conclusion at the weekend. Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were found guilty of murder but Meredith's family, now back home in Coulsdon in Surrey, have been talking about the life sentences they were served with when Meredith was taken from them two years ago.
We'll also hear from the family of 16 year old Ben Hitchcock who was stabbed to death in south London. It's still an unsolved murder and his family are renewing calls for help to catch his killer.

Also tonight...chess. It's coming back into fashion apparently. Remember the good old days when international chess was an east meets west Cold War affair? I remember watching chess live on telly in the 80's - how dull must that have been? This story sparked a bit of a discussion in the afternoon meeting as to how many movies have featured chess scenes. 'From Russia With Love' is the obvious one. They play a kind of chess game with holographic monsters in 'Star Wars', not sure if that counts? The best piece of instant recall though came from Paul, the boss, who remembered that 'The Grim Reaper' plays chess with a knight in 'Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey'. That's the level of our afternoon meetings, just so that you know...

See you at Six.

Matt and Katie

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

So everyone - it's Friday.

How on earth did that happen? Seriously, it doesn't seem five minutes that I was desperately trying to get to sleep last Sunday night because the Monday morning alarm clock was set to go off at 4.30am... in time for me to see a rather large Christmas tree roll into Trafalgar Square.

If you watched last night, you'll have seen 540 little bulbs go on - lighting up 68 feet of Norwegian Spruce in all its glory. If you didn't, get yourself down there for a look. It's splendid. Be quick though - if time keeps racing past like it has this week, we'll be taking it down before you can say "But I don't like brussel sprouts".

Now, today's programme's Christmas offering comes in the form of two rap stars who are performing at the Jingle Bell Ball at the 02 this weekend. Tynchey Stryder and Chipmunk. I've yet to find out if we'll call him Mr Munk, or if he'll let us call him Chip. They are both giants in the world of rap music and we're looking forward to having a chat.

The other slice of showbiz - while we're on the subject - is served up in the form of a report on a young girl called 'Stacey'... Cue uncontrollable screaming and applause for one of the four acts still standing in this year's X-Factor songfest. This weekend, four go down to three. Stacey's a Dagenham girl and we've been back to her roots.

Two parents from Walton on Thames drove up to Heathrow today to meet their son, flying back from a rather unexpected trip to Iran. Ollie Smith was the skipper on the boat which drifted into Iranian waters, landing all 5 of the crew members in an Iranian prison. They're all out now - much to their relief of their families who went to meet them at Heathrow.

What else? What else?

Well, we'll have a look round the Thamesmead estate in East London was hailed as THE place to live back in the 60s and 70s. A number of documentaries have been made about the place, charting life on the estate over the years and a doco is about to released. We've been talking to the man behind it and to one of the residents who featured in the very first film made all those decades ago.

A bit topsy-turvy this - but our programme begins in Perugia, where the jury has gone out to decide if Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito murdered Surrey student Meredith Kercher. It's been a long trial and there's a lot of evidence to consider.

And the story we'd like you to share your opinions this evening on is Islington Council's decision to reduce the speed limit on nearly all its residential roads to 20 mph. Good idea? Watch our report and then let us know what you think.

So - lots of us to work on, so I'd better do my bit.

See you at six,

Ben & Nina

Please Note:

Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent
those of Independent Television News Limited unless specifically stated.
This email and any files attached are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual
or entity to which they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error, please notify postmaster@itn.co.uk

Please note that to ensure regulatory compliance and for the protection of our clients and business,
we may monitor and read messages sent to and from our systems.

Thank You.

London Tonight Tonight

Hiya,

First up tonight, three of our councils have been named, shamed and ordered to improve their care homes. Southwark, Bromley and Surrey are among the lowest-ranking councils in England according to the Care Quality Commission. Elsewhere in London, the picture is much better, but one council criticised has hit back at what it calls a 'seriously flawed' report. Emma Walden will try to get to the bottom of it for us.

Also tonight: News of a worrying trend in burglaries and hope for the family of a man left with severe brain damage after an attack in Crete, as they fight for justice. And a stark warning from a fire safety expert that home improvements could be putting us at risk.

Now, when is the right time to put up the Christmas tree? Too early and it's drooping by mid-December, too late and you fail to maximise the festive feeling. I'm not in tomorrow and the afternoon is set aside for buying and decorating the tree. Do you go for real or artificial? If you do go fake, do you buy green, silver, red or even black? There are some weird and wonderful trees out there. I saw an upside down one in a shop the other day, with the pointy end at the bottom. What on earth is that all about? Supposed to be artistic, no doubt? One colleague, who shall remain nameless, has bought a white tree with no needles on it? Surely that's just a painted stick? What is wrong with good, old-fashioned tradition?

The tree at Trafalgar Square, which we showed you hoisted into position (the right way up) earlier in the week, is now fully decorated and ready to be switched on. Ben Scotchbrook has been to Norway to follow the tree's journey to the capital. This is the 63rd year that Norway has gifted a tree to London as a thank you for our support during World War II. There you go - proper Christmas tradition. I'll be doing the same tomorrow - a real tree, even if it is bereft of all needles by Christmas Eve. If it is, I might have to paint it white, turn it upside down and call it 'modern'.

See you at Six

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

The lights are being illuminated this evening on the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree & I'll be there later on. Day by day London is looking increasingly Yuletastic.

 

The child in me would love the weather to do what it does in the movies at Christmas time & for there to be a light covering of washing powder white snow & stars twinkling in a winter sky.

 

Sadly we'll have to put up with cloud & spells of rain & perversely before too long it'll also be turning milder. Luckily December nights provide long hours of darkness which do a reasonably good job of masking disappointing & unseasonal weather, so as the lights go on tonight I'll be ignoring the cloud & the damp & imagining "earth as hard as iron, water like a stone" & the snow lying "round about, deep & crisp & even".

 

Sometimes it's good to be shallow.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Good afternoon.

As well as reporting on the release of the five British yachtsmen detained in Iran, including one who hails from Surrey, we'll bring you the shocking statistics from housing charity Shelter. They name Barnet as the worst place in the country if you're waiting for a council house saying it could take an astonishing 33 years for waiting lists to be cleared. Redbridge and Brent fare almost as badly. Lewis Vaughan Jones will have more for us.

Also, we'll report on a vigil held in Norway overnight calling for action over the murder of Martine Vik Magnussen in London last year. The prime suspect has fled to Yemen, which has no extradition agreement with Britain. We'll also have the curious case of the West Hampstead shop owner taking on the might of European football over the name of his business...sounds like a load of old Golden Balls to me.

Now, there was a time when folk music was thought to be the preserve of pipe smoking, sweater wearing types in organic sandals. Not any more. A new wave of talented folk influenced singer-songwriters are playing to sell-out crowds of young, cool people. Now, I've never been cool. You can tell that by the three uses of the word 'cool' in the last two sentences. If further evidence is required, look no further than my choice of magazine at the station this morning: Rolling Stone, NME, GQ, Empire? No, I went for 'The Good Food Chrismas Special'. Not very rock and roll, but the honey-glazed parsnips chould nail the Christmas lunch for me this year. On the folk front, Lucy's been to meet the next big thing, 'Mumford & Sons'.

And if all that isn't enough to make you watch - how about Glen Goodman's report on auditions for a new burlesque show in the West End? I've just seen him and he looked a little flustered. That must be worth tuning in for?!

See you at Six

Matt and Katie.

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

Katie mentioned Gonks on last night's programme. She had them on her desk for luck when sitting exams.

 

Matt claimed not to have subscribed to such nonsense (I don't buy it & will conduct a search of his briefcase when his back is turned) but he did -reassuringly- share the same panicky reaction to Maths as the rest of us.

 

I have to confess to not just one but an entire family of Gonks when I was at school (I was young & far from home) & I am convinced that they were entirely responsible for any small exam success I may have had; especially in Maths & Sciences which have always defeated me.

 

In fact I'm feeling a little defeated by the weather at the moment. The South East of the country has just endured its wettest November since 1940 & after a brief but cold respite yesterday it's turning wet all over again. So insp i red by last night's chat I now plan to mount a search for lucky Gonks in the hope that they might improve my weather bulletins in the way they did my exam results.

 

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

See you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Hello all.

The Christmas spirit I found yesterday lasted approximately four hours. As usual, I had half an hour to kill at St Pancras on my way home last night and in one shop, they've just started a new 3 for 2 promotion. Great, except that I'd bought a load of presents at full price there last week. How irritating is that?! Talk about penalising the organised (or those who spend too much time waiting for trains). I brought it up with the manageress and showed her my receipt, but she said there wasn't really a lot she could do about it. Humbug!

No wonder London's commuters have been revealed as a ruthless bunch of eyes-down-headphone-wearing travel mercenaries who have to psyche themselves up, just to board the Tube - they must have made the same mistake as me. We'll have more on the London Assembly report that says overcrowding brings out a 'survival of the fittest' mentality among commuters, later.

Also tonight, hundreds of mourners gathered in central London for the funeral of Darren Chant, from Walthamstow, who was one of five British soldiers shot dead by a rogue Afghan policeman last month. The Regimental Sergeant Major with the Grenadier Guards leaves behind three children and a pregnant widow.

And we'll be talking in a somewhat eclectic mix of musical talent as Spandau Ballet join us to talk about their recent revival as they prepare to take their tour global. The interview has actually been pre-recorded, so I can tell you that they were really nice guys. Hard to believe that wranglings over royalties meant they spent years not talking to each other, let alone performing together. I did cynically wonder if they would arrive separately, turn it on for the cameras, and then go their separate ways, barely speaking to each other. But they seem to be having the time of their lives together.

Also on the show, a very unlikely duo with The Quo's Rick Parfitt teaming up with Rolf Harris on a Christmas collaboration. Maybe that will get me back in the mood???

By the way, I have a plan re: the shopping - You get the cheapest item free, so I'm going to take everything back for a full refund. Then, I'm going to buy back the three most expensive items thus getting the cheapest - which was £18 - for nothing. Then, I'm going to buy back the other two items, but only after adding a third to the basket, getting that free too. Neurotic? Maybe, but it's the principle!

See you at six

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

The journey to work was something of a struggle this morning.

 

As the weather had been relentlessly bad over the weekend with rain continuing to fall on already saturated ground & further filling swollen rivers & waterways, I decided that in order to avoid missing my train (Iateness is top of my list for Room 101) I should allow extra time for my drive to the station.

 

There was a lot of traffic around & although the roads weren't flooded, there were parts where standing water caused all vehicles to slow to the pace of a brisk walk, so I felt my decision to leave neurotically early was a sensible one.

 

No sooner had this thought crossed my mind than I spotted ahead of me a long stream of tail lights whose blinking redness hinted at delay.

 

The impotent rage of being trapped & stationary kicked in quickly & was worsened by the looming departure time of my train (of course today would be the one day of the week it leaves on time) & given a further edge of exasperated bafflement by the knowledge that the roads on this part of the journey are usually faster & clearer.

 

It turned out to be road works. Perhaps not the most accurate term as the road wasn't actually being worked on but had been cordoned off in anticipation. Temporary lights were demonically restricting the traffic flow with the net result that I arrived at the station in time to watch my train heading slowly but punctually in the direction of Waterloo.

 

The platform was cold, wet & windy but I can console myself with the prospect that, should I be late again tomorrow (beta blockers on standby), it will still be chilly but at least the sun will be shining....

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Hello all. Good weekend, I hope?

Think I'm starting to feel a bit Christmassy. Not hugely, it's still November, but a spot of present buying on the weekend and a festive film last night and I'm definitely getting there. We had a discussion about when it was appropriate to start working our way through the Christmas DVD classics and we decided that we could just about get away with one last night. We haven't gone straight to the big hitters, obviously: 'It's a Wonderful Life' and 'Miracle on 34th Street' will be saved until much nearer the big day, but we did enjoy a quick blast of 'Santa Claus: the Movie'. Although it did provoke a few too many probing questions from my seven year old about the logistics of the big fella's chimney-scaling antics. So, with the first advent candle lit and the first presents bought and indeed returned (early duplication disaster), Christmas spirit has officially decended. Now all I have to do is maintain it for the next month...which may not be so easy.

Right, lots to get through tonight: We'll have details of more expected traffic problems in south east London tonight following the closure of the northbound Blackwall tunnel river crossing after a car fire yesterday. It's expected to stay shut until Wednesday.

Also, police are urging women not to make themselves easy targets for sex attackers as the party season gets underway. A woman who was raped outside the O2 Arena has spoken of her ordeal in a bid to stop other women suffering the same fate.

We'll look at the rising number of cases of people being ripped off over the price of secondhand gold - you could say they're at risk of being golden fleeced? Plus, we'll reveal the most complained about bus service in the capital. And, quite simply, one of the most successful British recording artists in history - Sir Cliff Richard is on the show - with The Shadows. What more could you ask for?!

See you at Six.

Matt and Katie.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello,

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the annual Bobby Moore Sports Quiz in Central London. The great and the good of sport and sports broadcasting turned out to raise money for bowel cancer research in the name of one of London and England's greatest sporting ambassadors. On hand to help - everyone from West Ham and England star, Matthew Upson to Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson. Loads of fun and loads of cash raised, but for me the night was noteworthy for two main reasons.

As a former sports presenter at both ITV and Setanta, the pressure was on for me to contribute to the team from Ladbrokes I was in. I wasn't called upon to answer very often, the bookies being pretty encyclopedic on their sport. During dinner, someone asked me which football team I support. "Hereford United, my hometown club", I replied proudly. They nodded their respectful approval.

Then came the next quiz question: "Who scored the first goal in the first leg of Hereford United's famous 1972 FA Cup clash with Newcastle United at St. James's Park?

A) Malcolm Macdonald
B) Brian Owen
C) Ronnie Radford
D) Ricky George

For anyone who doesn't know their football, Hereford's clash with Newcastle is the stuff of legend. Non-League Hereford drawn against the might of top-flight Newcastle United in the third round of the FA Cup. I knew the story well - my dad tells it at least twice a year: Hereford drew 2-2 at Newcastle, which was an astonishing result in itself. Before the replay at Edgar Street, Newcastle star, Malcolm 'Supermac' Macdonald had claimed he would put ten past Hereford and break the all time record. He scored first, but with eight minutes of the game left and with Hereford on the verge of crashing out, part-time carpenter Ronnie Radford booked his place in football folklore with a stunning thirty yarder (which gets further out every time my dad tells the story). Ricky George got Hereford's winner in extra time and the Edgar Street pitch was swamped with most of the county's inhabitants, including my dad and uncles, whose lamb chop sideburns are clearly visible on the 'Match of The Day' coverage, which was John Motson's first commentary, incidentally.

So, "Who scored the first goal in the first leg of Hereford United's famous 1972 FA Cup clash with Newcastle United at St. James's Park?

They stared at me hopefully...and I had absolutely no idea. I should have listened more intently to my dad.

It was B) Brian Owen...after 17 seconds.

And the second noteworthy part of the evening? Me gesturing to a waiter and accidentally bidding £1,300 on a signed picture of the 2009 Ashes winning squad!!!! Thankfully, someone else bid more!

Tonight - news, movies and Bill Bailey in the studio. Should be good.

Matt and Nina

London Tonight Tonight

Hi there,

First tonight, more than three hundred people were forced to flee their homes after a huge fire broke out on a housing estate in Peckham this morning. One eye-witness told us the area looked "like a war zone". At its peak, nearly two hundred fire fighters were tackling multiple fires, but the estate has been left almost completely destroyed. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but today's events have not only left hundreds sleeping in temporary accommodation, but were also a stark reminder of the tragedy at Lakanal House in nearby Camberwell in July. Then, six people died after a fire ripped through a block of flats and serious questions were asked then about the design of high-rise buildings. Southwark Council were ordered to improve fire safety standards in three other blocks of flats by London Fire Brigade and now, more questions are being asked about fire safety in the borough. We'll put those concerns to Kim Humphreys, the deputy leader of Southwark Council later.

Also tonight, London's Olympic Stadium has been included in London's bid to host 2018 World Cup football matches if England's seemingly faltering bid is successful. Despite initial plans to reduce its capacity and turn it into an athletics venue post 2012, the Olympic Stadium joins Arsenal's Emirates, Spurs' proposed new ground and Wembley as London's preferred choices. If approved - and that's far from a certainty, even if England win the bid - it'll mean something of a legacy revamp for the Olympic centrepiece. Who shouted 'white elephant'? Come on...own up!

More People's Millions as well as Glen Goodman struggles with yet another giant cheque before highlighting two more hopefuls.

See you at six.

Matt and Nina.

London Tonight Tonight

Good afternoon

Nurses at an east London hospital say staff shortages are putting their lives at risk after one staff member was strangled by a patient. Senior nurses at the City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health have staged a protest saying they've been warning about the developing crisis for months. Staffing levels, a shortfall in beds and security fears are just some of the problems facing the East London NHS Foundation Trust and tonight we'll be asking Baroness Molly Meacher - the Trust's chair - what they're doing about it.

Now, news that will surprise few, perhaps - London has officially been labelled as the parking fine capital of Britain. In fact, the country's ten highest-charging councils are all in the capital. Now, I've picked up one or two parking fines in my time - some legitimately for going over or parking where I shouldn't, others infuriatingly and officiously harsh (in my opinion)! But the amount of money councils are coining in is staggering. According to the 'TaxPayers Alliance' - who've carried out the survey - £328m was collected in parking fines in the UK last year with Westminster raking in the most at £35m and Kensington and Chelsea creaming the most per head (of daytime population) at around £85 each. In the interests of balance, the overall figure is actually 16% down on last year, but still - £328m quid?!

Anyway, with all that talk of money flying out of our wallets, let's cheer some people up by handing some cash over. More People's Millions tonight as we reveal the result of last night's vote. Producer Neil has spent the last ten minutes nervously writing out the massive cheque to the lucky winner. The pressure of the spelling mistake when you only have one blank giant cheque! How do you pay one of those in, by the way? You'd never get it under the window at the bank, would you?

See you later.

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

It seems that the language of the comedy photo is a universal one.

 

My walk to work takes me past the London Eye & Big Ben & these landmarks are, inevitably, must sees for the tourists. Recently the strong winds & driving rain have curtailed photo opportunities with only the hardiest visitors grinning gamely at the camera from under the hoods of their Kagools while everything behind them has been reduced to a grey blur. Today's brighter conditions, however, have seen the photographers & their subjects out in force once again & almost all of them appear to be wearing the Eye as a halo or holding it in the palms of their hands or leaning nonchalantly against Big Ben or holding it delicately between thumb & forefinger.

 

And the photo oppportunities will continue for the rest of the week as things are looking reasonably fine, if a little chilly. Maybe we'll be treated to the Houses of Parliament draped in a cashmere scarf....

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin

 

London Tonight Tonight

Hi there,

On the programme tonight: as we go to press, as they say, the convicted murderer Jane Andrews is still on the run, we speak to the brother of her victim, the man she was hoping to marry.

Plus the shocking story of a four year old boy stabbed to death in south London. His body was found at his family's home in Southwark last night. His 17-month-old sister was thankfully left unhurt, but the boy's parents were also found to have suffered stab wounds. Murray Dron is at the scene for us later.

Also coming up: warnings from our friends across the channel that a city-wide bike hire scheme in London could attract thieves and vandals. Police in Paris say eight thousand bikes have been stolen while an astonishing 18 thousand have been trashed by vandals.

Bit of history for you tonight too: If you saw Sunday's evening programme, we had the author of a fascinating book of photographs of London through the ages, some of which showed the destruction caused during the Blitz. It was mostly the East End which came to symbolise the capital's defiance, but another part of London suffered at the hands of the Luftwaffe. Now, the hundreds of civilians who died in Willesden have finally been given a permanent memorial. Lewis Vaughan Jones has been to find out more.

Most excitingly, though - our first grand People's Millions reveal! Lottery grants of tens of thousands of pounds are on offer and yesterday Glen Goodman showcased two very worthy contenders: Romford's Drum and Trumpet Corps and the Pedro Music Project in Clapton. The phone votes have been counted and Glen is no doubt spending the afternoon hiding behind a bin somewhere waiting to jump out and share the good news with one of the contenders! He'll also be showing us two more hopefuls, as well.

Also, a treat for Queen fans as Feltham remembers Freddie.

See you later,

Matt and Nina

FW: weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

We've got a stormy night ahead of us.

 

More rain. "Squally" is how the Met Office is describing it, which for some reason puts me in mind of crossing the Atlantic in a rowing boat. The winds will be very strong -gusts of 50mph inland- which does at least mean that the rain will be fast moving. Small comfort perhaps if we wake up to find branches down or (worse) roof tiles missing.

 

Tomorrow morning will look altogether different; dry, bright & sunny but it'll be feeling colder. The temperature is comparative because values will be hovering around the seasonal average, but given that it's been mild recently we are certainly going to notice the change. Mind you it'll be good to see a slice of blue sky & despite the showers over the next few days there will be bright spells too. Hurrah.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin

 

London Tonight Tonight

Hi there. Good weekend, I hope? We start the week with another packed show.

Last week, we brought you the shocking story of a murdered mother of two left mutilated in the street in Greenford. Tonight, the understandably emotional family of Geeta Aulakh have spoken of their 'living nightmare' since the 28-year-old was attacked on her way to picking up her two young sons from the child minder.

Also tonight, we report on the extension to the Oyster card scheme and the confusion that even Boris Johnson seems to have over where and when exactly it can be used? And the end of an era at Heathrow as Terminal 2 shuts before a one-billion-pound redevelopment project. Quick stat for you - 316 million check-ins over 54 years at T2! It's seen lots of history too - it's where those iconic shots of the Beatles being mobbed were taken back in the 60's and it's also seen the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly pass through it over the years. Plus, of course, Lewis Vaughan Jones.

Also, 'The People's MIllions' make a welcome return tonight, with the chance for community projects here in the capital to benefit from grants of up to fifty thousand pounds. We'll highlight four very deserving projects this week and then you can help us decide who benefits. Glen Goodman will be employing utter impartiality!

And, live in the studio tonight - an international rock star who's sold millions of records worldwide and has been shocking audiences for over forty years. None other than Vincent Furnier will be on the programme. You know, Vincent Furnier? Massive golf fan, son of a pastor? No? Ok - try his stage name: Alice Cooper - how's that?

Not quite sure what to expect from Mr Cooper, to be honest. I've read the back-in-the-day hell raising stories and I like the classic hits, 'School's Out' and 'Poison'? But you've got to be a tad nervous when someone who's been theatrically killed on stage more than 60,000 times comes on a live 6 O'clock news programme to promote a tour entitled, 'Theatre of Death'? I mean, what could possibly go wrong?! Still, I also hear that in recent years, his love of golf and a quiet cuppa have replaced his rock n' roll ways. So, will the real Vincent Furnier please stand up? Or, better still, sit down and tell us all about it.

See you at Six

Matt and Lucy

By the way, can someone tell Lucy to stop singing Christmas songs, it's November?!?!?! Although, someone's just broken out the Quality Street...ho, ho, ho!

Weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

We had something of a Railway Children moment at the weekend.

 

It didn't involve making flags out of our underwear or stealing coal from the local station, but we did witness a (very minor) landslide. We were driving along a lane, luckily very slowly owing to the stormy weather, when about 10 metres ahead of us the bank gave way & a large old oak fell directly across our path.

 

My immediate reaction was that we were incredibly fortunate not to have been a couple of moments earlier which would have meant that the car & its occupants would have been flattened.

 

It all happened in a matter of seconds but it seemed, like the Railway Children landslide moment, to unfold in slow motion. Although we were involved we felt more like observers & it was only after we'd turned around to retreat home that the shock & relief of our near miss kicked in.

 

Given the recent rainfall & the strong winds our experience is probably not uncommon but it will, hopefully, become more of a rarity over the next few days as conditions turn a little brighter albeit a touch colder.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Good evening,

We've got a densely packed show tonight so I'll press on.

Simon Harris will be in Barking where a BNP meeting will be taking place later this evening. Ahead of that he will be getting the latest from Messrs Griffin & Barnbrook as they visit the area where they hope to win their first Parliamentary seat .

As a nation of dog lovers many of us will be disturbed by the story of a guide dog being attacked at Cricklewood tube station. What would you do if your dog (God forbid) was the aggressor? It won't be easy viewing but maybe lessons can be learned.

Emma Walden will be in Paddington where a schoolgirl from Slough received treatment for swine flu. This story does not have a happy ending as the girl, tragically, has died.

And the theme of violence on the streets continues with traffic wardens (always easy targets) being subjected to both physical & verbal attacks not only by motorists but also passers by. Phil Bayles will fill us in.

The poor souls who lost their homes in Friday's fire in Bockingham Green may have been given temporary accommodation but, as Murray Dron will explain, they are feeling somewhat abandoned.

Liz Wickham has been in Croydon where Dawn Morgan, who was diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago but who has since, thankfully, been given the all clear has become a poster girl for Cancer Research UK.

The future of beleaguered Southend Pier looks shaky. Despite plans being drawn up for a revamp it looks as though the funding to make the proposals a reality are not forthcoming as Damien Steward will explain.

We'll be tackling Christmas from 2 very different perspectives this evening. Sally Rourke will have the latest on the threat of tube & bus strikes which would inevitably bring chaos and misery once again. And Lucy Cotter will be doing a round-up of the panto offerings around the region over the next few weeks. Joy.

So there you are. A veritable feast which I hope you'll enjoy at 6 tonight.

See you then,

Robin & Katie.

London Tonight Tonight

Afternoon all,

First tonight, you are being watched. We all know we live in a CCTV society, but you might not be aware to what extent. Ours is one of the most watched societies in the world with an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in the UK, that's roughly one for every 14 people. It's also estimated each one of us makes up to three hundred appearance on CCTV cameras each day as we go about our daily business. They're on our streets, in our shops, at cashpoints, on buses, on tubes, pretty much everywhere -- and now they're being installed in some homes in an effort to combat anti-social behaviour. Croydon council are trialling the scheme in unidentified houses in an area where they say residents' lives are being made a misery. But privacy campaigners say it's an infringement of human rights. Where do you stand? You might as well tell us, because you're probably being filmed as you stand there, anyway!

Among our other stories tonight: services at private 'out-of-hospital' centres across the whole of north London have been suspended while an inquiry is carried out into whether negligence by a private contractor led to the death of an elderly patient. And a PE teacher at an East London school is annoyed that fifty of her pupils who were taken on a trip to watch a gymnastics competition had to pay for their own travel. Transport for London say the pupils didn't qualify for a free travel scheme because sports events were not deemed to be 'educational'?

One man who won't have to worry about how he pays for his travel for a while is Stuart Tinner. He was plucked out of the crowd at Saracens game against South Africa last night to take part in a half-time competition and ended up £250,000 richer. The 24 year old Job Centre worker had to kick a ball onto the crossbar of the uprights - a virtually impossible task for anyone other than Johnny Wilkinson. But not only did Stuart manage it, he managed it in his socks! He says he's going to blow part of his new fortune on a house and a new car...as well as a Saracens season ticket - the least he can do for relieving the club of a quarter of a million pounds!

And continuing the Rock Gods theme of this week, Status Quo are on the programme as they kick off yet another tour. They're in Croydon tonight so we've sent a camera down there and Lucy will have a chat with the boys for us. They never seem to take themselves too seriously, Status Quo. I mean, their latest album is called 'In Search of the Fourth Chord'. More randomly though, Quo have a triple-cd Christmas album out soon featuring 60 festive classics as well as a new single featuring Rick Parfitt and...er...Rolf Harris!
See you at Six

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

I'm not sure I understand wind chimes.

 

Occasionally I have come across them making a soft tubular sound in a gentle breeze. It's not unpleasant but I still don't see the point. For me the unadorned sounds of the outdoors are enough on their own.

 

As usual I was out with the dogs just before sunrise this morning. The overcast skies ensured that there was little evidence of dawn breaking & the wind, as predicted, was howling. Admittedly it wasn't the sort of weather one would necessarily choose but it had a wildness to it I like.

 

In fact, I'd take cloud, wind & even rain any time over the breakdown-inducing noise from one garden I walked past where several sets of wind chimes, blowing horizontally in the wind, were competing to outdo each other. The sound is difficult to describe. Although still intrinsically delicate, the gusts of wind gave the chimes an angry intensity that came in bursts & which could be heard well beyond the confines of the host garden.

 

I'm glad I'm not a neighbour because unless the offending chimes are mothballed within the next 24 hours, with conditions turning increasingly stormy by the end of the week, the dawn chorus in that neck of the woods will be enough to drive people to drink.

 

On the plus side, it will be staying mild.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Hello...

Bit tired today. I was up until 2am with Genesis, who were on the programme yesterday. Technically, I wasn't actually with the band - just in case you had visions of me, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford in some Soho club 'til the early hours. But after the thrill of meeting them yesterday, I went home and started to work my way through their back catalogue. Ok, so it wasn't actually 2am either, it was more like quarter to eleven...not a great story that, sorry! On to tonight's programme then, no classic prog rockers unfortunately, but plenty of other stuff:

On the news front: as a 16-year-old boy fights for his life, the latest victim of knife crime in the capital, the number of primary school children stopped and searched by police has almost doubled in the last year. According to new Met figures, officers detained more than 750 ten year olds in the twelve months to April. Some say police are in danger of adding to the problem by alienating young people, others argue that anything that reduces the number of knives on our streets has got to be worth doing. We want your thoughts later.

Elsewhere, we'll have more on the political row brewing in Romford after a Labour politician described The Queen as "vermin" and a "parasite". They were made on the Facebook page of local Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, by Labour's Peter White, who's due to stand for election to Havering Council next year. Mr White has been told to explain the comments by Party officials and faces the sack.

Also on the programme: two of the worst train stations in the country are right here in London. We sent Murray Dron to investigate, but he hasn't come back yet; the Beatlemaniac who's unearthed some photographic gems in his loft; and two become one when a couple were inspired to become half the people they used to be after they broke their bed. Oh, and Robin delivers the weather forecast whilst skating. Dancing on isobars, you could say?!

See you at Six

Matt and Katie

FW: weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

It's mid November so London is already well into the Yuletide countdown. Window displays & street lights are signalling the imminent arrival of Christmas, tinsel & baubles are everywhere & now the seasonal open air ice rinks are declaring themselves open for business.

 

Today it's the turn of Somerset House & the plan is for me to bring you the weather from this stunning location. It has been suggested that I don skates which could make for interesting viewing because, despite having had to learn to skate for a film role years ago (my on screen skating partner was Eva Gabor would you believe....), I have never really mastered it. In truth I think I would be better at diving for pearls in the Pacific, but if the boss wants me to do it who am I to refuse?

 

Ironically the weather is mild at the moment (wet & windy soon too) so although I'll be surrounded by ice & Somerset House will be a winter wonderland I won't be feeling cold. Instead I'll be channelling my energy into keeping fear at bay & dignity intact.

 

Hope to see you later.

 

I think.

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Right. Only one topic for the blog today: our studio guests. None other than rock Gods 'Genesis'. Well, two of them, anyway.

Sorry, didn't you hear me? Genesis are on the show?

Why is no-one else as excited as I am?

Older viewers might know keyboardist Tony Banks and guitarist Mike Rutherford best from the band's 1970's prog-rock early days when Tony would do endless keyboard solos and then frontman Peter Gabriel would confuse audiences with a variety of outlandish costumes. Others might be more familiar with the later Phil Collins-led era where the success of singles like 'Invisible Touch', 'Land of Confusion', 'I Can't Dance' and 'No Son of Mine' made them global chart-toppers. Others...well, let's just say Genesis tend to divide musical opinion and are seen by many as firmly driving down the middle of the rock and roll highway...slowly.

For me though, their 1986 'Invisible Touch' album was the first I ever bought. We were in Newquay on a family holiday and mum and dad gave my brother and I a few quid to spend. I bought a black ghetto-blaster (with high-speed dubbing) and a copy of 'Invisible Touch' on tape. I played it constantly and gradually started to explore their massive back catalogue. They were never seen as particularly cool by my friends and I've never really advertised my love of them. But hey, I'm in my mid-30's and am officially the uncoolest person I know (see use of word, 'uncool'), so who cares? I'm therefore proud to say that I love Genesis - like millions of other people - and they're on the show later to talk about a new collection of live performances out on CD and DVD. We'd ask them to play something for us, but Tony might get started on one of his keyboard solos and we only have half an hour.

Oh...and all the day's news too!

See you at six.

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

There are many seemingly futile domestic chores, but we all do them despite this knowledge in a bid to keep standards high, make life pleasant & impose order on chaos.

 

Over the last few days I think I have discovered the most pointless of all these activities & one which provides only the most fleeting sensation of a job well done before the process needs to be started once again from scratch.

 

Raking leaves.

 

Our garden is surrounded by mature deciduous trees which are currently doing what you'd expect. On Thursday not one blade of grass was visible under the carpet of golden brown leaves, so I grabbed the rake & spent the morning clearing the decks. It was mindless & repetitive but at least I was outside & getting some exercise & by lunchtime things were looking good. However a sandwich & a cup of coffee later it was as if the garden hadn't been touched, the only evidence of my endeavours being assorted sacks of leaves waiting to be taken to the tip.

 

Thoroughly demoralising & yet I find myself wanting to get back out there & do it all over again. Perhaps before embarking on such folly I should take heed of my own forecast which is promising only a brief respite from the recent stormy conditions with a dry & bright day tomorrow, before a return to rain & strong (leaf stripping) winds later in the week.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Welcome to the weekend. I hope you are managing to safely negotiate Friday the 13th.

Tonight, we highlight the best and worst of human nature: Our top story demonstrates callousness in the extreme with shocking CCTV footage of a woman stealing a poppy collection box - with the help of a child that appears to be no more than six years old. It happened at a florists in west London and shows the boy edging the box along the shop counter to a woman who then stuffs it in her bag before making off with it. Dinos and Aphrodite Georgiou who run the shop in Queen's Park were left sickened by the cynical act and have been talking to Marcus Powell.

Elsewhere, Frances Lawrence, the widow of murdered head teacher Philip Lawrence, has received an MBE from the Queen for her tireless charity work. Mr. Lawrence, you'll remember, was killed when he stepped in to break up a fight outside his school 14 years ago. Since his death, Francis Lawrence has championed the achievements of young people through the Philip Lawrence Awards. Speaking after receiving the tremendous honour, Francis Lawrence was even able to spare a thought for her husband's killer, Learco Chindamo, saying she, "hoped for the best" when he is released. Chindamo, who was fifteen at the time, has now served a minimum 12 year sentence.

Also tonight we report on a fire that swept through a block of flats in Basildon. Thankfully no one was badly injured, but Piers Hopkirk reports for us on the material loss that has left families facing the night in an emergency shelter.

Guest-wise. Actress, author, presenter, wine expert, Helen Lederer joins is in the studio to talk about the latest re-birth of 'Calendar Girls' in the West End. Her back catelogue reads like a who's who of British tv comedy from Ab Fab, Bottom and Naked Video to The New Statesman, Harry Enfied - the list really does go on an on. We'll ask her if it was tricky slotting in to a show that had already been such a big hit as well as the strategically placed iced buns!

Finally, James King's in later to talk us through the latest movie releases. I took him at his word on last week's 'A Christmas Carol' recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed it - thanks, James! I was worried that early November was simply too soon for something quite so festive but it was just what was needed to get the pre-Christmas spirit flowing. Well, that and the fact that we'd done a bit of Christmas shopping beforehand so I sat through the film with a giant Christmas cracker between my legs?! You can get crackers big enough for eight people to share, did you know that? Massive it is. Anyway, a word of warning on the film. It might be an animated adaptation starring the vocal talents of Jim Carrey, but it's quite dark in places. it is a ghost story, after all, but I don't think it's suitable for smaller children, despite its PG rating. Muppets Christmas Carol, it isn't!

So, let's see what James can offer up today. My weekend may well depend on it. See you at Six.

Matt and Nina.
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