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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Thank You.

London Tonight Tonight

Hi there,

I've been a bit preoccupied today. My four year old boy has had a bout of sickness. Nothing serious, just a bug or something he's picked up but the little man spent most of yesterday throwing up and it's left him really drained and somewhat forlorn today. As a parent, all you can do in that situation is to get them the right medication, make sure they're comfortable and try to keep their spirits up. But imagine what it must be like to have a seriously ill child and be told that to give them the best chance of getting better, you not only need to raise over £300,000 for overseas treatment, but you need to do it by January. That's the dilemma facing the parents of seven year old Robyn Higgins from Frimley in Surrey. In May of this year, she was diagnosed with a very rare form of children's cancer called "neuroblastoma". In September, Robyn underwent a nine hour operation to remove a tumour and has also had nine debilitating bouts of chemotherapy. She's spent pretty much the last six months in hospital. At this point, things look ok, but her parents say she still needs further treatment in a specialist New York hospital -- and they need 300 thousand pounds to make that happen. Sally Rourke's been to meet Robyn and her family.

Some of the other stories we're covering tonight include a man who may have abused up to 400 children at a London care home who has apparently committed suicide on the eve of his trial; more commuter misery as First Capital Connect cancelled almost half of its trains after drivers refused to work overtime in a dispute over pay; and police in Australia say they're chasing up new leads in the hunt for the killer of London-born art curator, Nick Waterlow.

Also this evening, Armistice Day may be over for another year but the memorials go on and tonight Damien Steward reports on a very special service held at an Islington primary school. This is probably the right moment for me to correct something I wrote in yesterday's blog. I said that the recent deaths of three World War One veterans meant that 'The Great War' had passed from living memory into history. This is not the case. There are no surviving British WW1 veterans now living in the UK, but there is one living in Australia. Former Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer Claude Choules is 108 years old and lives in Perth. Nicknamed 'Chuckles' and born in Worcerstershire, he is the only surviving veteran in the world to have served in both World Wars. Mr Choules has just completed his autobiography entitled, 'Last Man Standing' and I think I ought to buy a copy to try and make amends. Sorry, Claude!

On the lighter side of life, Liz Wickham's been sent up probably the most famous clock tower in the world as Big Ben goes decimal. And Lucy Cotter's been to meet 'Strictly Come Dancing' judge and popstress, Alesha Dixon. What more could you want?

See you at Six

Matt and Katie

London Tonight Tonight

Good afternoon. On the programme tonight, we'll show you how the capital paid its respects on Armistice Day. It's 91 years since the end of the First World War but the death of the last surviving veterans over the course of the past twelve months means that this year marks the passing of 'The Great War' from living memory into history. Today, those who have lost their lives fighting for their country, including the continuing sacrifices made by our troops in Afghanistan, were remembered across the city.

And while our fallen heroes were remembered in the traditional way today, one World War Two soldier has been remembered in a very unusual one. London Indie rock band 'Athlete' have written a special song about the lead singer's grandad, who was seriously wounded in action. All the proceeds are going to the Royal British Legion and Liz Wickham has just promised me a very emotional piece.

Also tonight, Lucy will bring us up to speed on the latest film in the 'Twilight' saga, called 'New Moon'. For the uninitiated, 'Twilight' is something of a phenomenon with the films adapted from the books by Stephanie Meyer. The plot? Well, it's sort of an angst-ridden teenage vampire love story. Sorry, I'm not James King?! Think 'Lost Boys' for teenage girls and women trying to recapture their youth. And if you sense a little green-eyed, mid-thirties angst on my part it's because my other half is obsessed with the books, the films and particularly the smouldering young fop who plays the lead role, London's own Robert Pattinson. I've just asked Katie for her opinion on the one dubbed 'pasty-boy' in my house and she is supportively unimpressed. Katie says - and I quote - 'he's a little bit weedy' and 'not very swoonsome'. Unfortunately, it would appear the vast majority of women disagree and guiltily, I actually quite liked the first film. I thought I'd be dragged to this second instalment immediately upon its release, but when I suggested going to see it in what I thought a hugely magnanimous gesture, I was told that a girls' night has been planned and my presence isn't required! Charming! I'm with Katie. He's a little bit weedy...

See you at Six.

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

Having been driving for many years I've encountered a wide variety of motoring conditions. Standing water, ice, blizzard, flood, heatwave, gales & even fire, but this morning I had my first brush with the threat that fallen leaves can pose.

 

Like many people I'm guilty of an impatient & sceptical sigh at the mention of disruption to rail services due to leaves on the track, but (& I'm reluctant to admit this) I can see the sense of it after my near miss this morning.

 

My journey to work begins with a drive to the station & the leaves which have been steadily falling over recent weeks have now -thanks to a spell of damp weather- become a slimey pulp along some roads. So shortly after breakfast today I had to take evasive action as I rounded a corner to be greeted by a large, shiney 4x4 heading straight towards me. I wasn't moving very quickly but I needed to slow down before pulling into the verge & no sooner had I touched the brakes than I was sliding around with little control over my trajectory. It felt very like the time I aquaplaned my just-bought-with-my-first-pay-cheque car into the side of a milk lorry. Luckily on this occasion disaster was avoided but while the leaves & rain continue to fall I will proceed with extreme caution & urge you (although I suspect you don't need my advice) to do the same.

 

There'll be a bit of everything weatherwise over the next few days, but at least it'll be getting a little milder.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

A very big HELLO to you on this pretty chilly November afternoon.

Now - being left out in the cold has a certain exclusive ring to it. Unless, of course, being left out there is down to you. You know, when you've lost the keys or locked yourself out. So you can't get inside to your wife, who's giving birth in the bathroom. That's one of our stories tonight.

Another is that of an old soldier who won the Victoria Cross in the 1st World War. That was tribute 1 for his bravery. Tribute 2 is a statue being unveiled in his home town of Barking today.

We're leading on shoplifting tonight. Incidents in London have shot up recently - not so much by who you might consider the 'usual suspects' but middle class, middle-aged, women who are struggling to come to terms with the impact the recession is having on their lives.

Next up: Sharon Shoesmith is back in court - as is her claim for wrongful dismissal. You'll remember she was given the sack from her job as Head of Children's Services at Haringey Council. Well, in the big legal battle that has ensued it seems Ofsted didn't offer up all the papers they should have.

We're also reporting on the repatriation of Darren Chant - the Regimental Sergeant Major from Walthamstow who was killed by an Afghanistani policeman last week.

And we're talking to another old soldier. I recently saw Sir Michael Caine speaking very clearly about the horrors of the Korean War in which he served. He has a new film out which depicts a pretty grim lifestyle around Elephant and Castle. That's where he's from. That's what it's like, he says. Not so, say others.

So - lots for us to bring you tonight.

We will see you at six.

Ben & Katie

FW: weather blog

Good evening,

 

We have a prolific apple tree in the garden. Year after year the branches are laden with fruit from late summer to late autumn. It looks wonderful; the green of the apples, hinting at a certain sweet tartness, contrasting with the yellow & gold of the leaves.

 

Sadly, however, the apples are not good. In fact they are awful. They are thick skinned with a dry, woody flesh that is not improved by cooking- if anything they become more indigestible, turning leathery & flovourless after a few moments' stewing.

 

Not even a generous helping of blackberries saves the situation & this year we've finally conceded defeat. We must accept that the apple tree is ornamental, its fruit to be enjoyed by the wildlife before we are required to do the mind numbing job of clearing the windfalls which always seems to happen in a cold, steady drizzle.

 

Although there's more wet stuff tomorrow, things do look better for Thursday when it'll be milder too so perhaps that's the day for me to get out in the garden....

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Hi there. Hope you had a great and safe bonfire weekend. Not a big fan of fireworks, personally - certainly not the sort you get for the garden, anyway. For some reason, I don't think the mixture of small children and explosives is a good one, but, after much pestering I relented and my two children and their cousins were treated to half a dozen fairly limp offerings from a local supermarket.

I had much higher hopes of explosives between Bermondsey boxer David Haye and seven foot Russian man-mountain, Nikolay Valuev as they squared up for their heavyweight title fight in Germany on Saturday night. As a fight, it was less than sparkling, but Haye did a fantastic job of dodging the Russian's lumbering bombs and landed one or two stealth missiles of his own on his way to a fantastic points victory and a world title belt. He told us when he came into the studio last week that he was going to do it, but after several years as a sports reporter I've learnt to take most pronoucements with a pinch of salt. Katie was less sceptical and was convinced after speaking to him that he would make good on his prediction. "I can see it in his eyes", she said. She was right! We'll congratulate David later.

Talking of fireworks, we'll be talking to Boris Johnson live on the programme tonight as a 24-hour bus strike over pay continues in the capital. Seven hundred and fifty buses from the East London Bus Company are off the roads causing disruption to tens of thousands of people. With crisis meetings also taking place to try to avert further Tube strikes, we'll be asking the London Mayor whether he's lost his grip on the city's transport network. We'll also report on one council's plan to tackle crime by signing up two thousand local people to become 'neighbourhood champions', (or official snoopers, depending on your point of view). Plus the depressing news that pubs in the capital are closing faster than anywhere else in the country - at a rate of six per week.

Finally, the sad news of the death of a much-loved member of one local community, callously mown down by a hit-and-run driver. His passing is being mourned through poetry, shrines and internet tributes as Dorking pays its respects to... Albi the albino squirrel??? What can I say, except that Glen Goodman's on the case so it's bound to be worth a watch. I just hope the shop where he got his full size pumpkin mask last week doesn't do squirrel outfits with angel wings attached. Seriously, I bet he's put the call in!

See you at six,

Matt and Nina

Weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

I've got a very elderly car which I use to drive to the station. It's like an old friend; totally reliable but not above playing the odd trick.

 

The most recent practical joke was to do with the lights. It happened yesterday evening (6-ish; properly dark) as I was driving along a country lane & hit a pothole. The resulting jolt caused all the lights -interior & exterior- to fail. There was something very eerie about it being as pitch black inside the car as it was out. Obviously I pulled off the road (no indicators or hazards) & got out in order to be able to assess the situation.

 

I am to mechanics what John & Edward are to opera, so after staring cluelessly at the bonnet & a spot of light swearing I climbed back into my jalopy & did the only sensible thing I could think of which was to start it up again. Miraculously it purred effortlessly & comprehensively back into life & I was able to continue my journey through the light drizzle (more of that to come tomorrow by the way) without further incident.

 

Obviously I was delighted the car was fully operational once more, but I'm left feeling nervous; it's happened once & it could happen again & lights are only ever going to fail when you really need them.

 

Perhaps it's time it went on ebay. The perfect vehicle for anyone planning a motoring holiday next summer to the land of the midnight sun....

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Good Evening. All the day's news from in and around London coming your way at six, but for the moment, I have a bit of a confession to make: I'm not wearing a poppy today. It's not on any moral grounds, a lack of support for our current troops or a lack of respect for our former ones - I simply keep losing them. I must have bought at least five already, which is in no way unusual for me. I expect to have to buy at least two more before Sunday which is, of course, all good for the British Legion, as I happily cough up my cash each time one either drops off or ends up in the washing machine. I was about to say that maybe it's time to update the traditional poppy and pin ensemble in favour of an all-in-one badge design, but that would, of course, stop people like me buying more than one!

One thing I have noticed on my repeated visits to poppy sellers in various cities in the last ten days or so, is that they seem to be busier than usual. In the past, I've sometimes felt a bit sorry for the aging veteran in my local supermarket as he tried in vain to encourage people to support the Poppy Appeal. This year, I had to queue patiently before the same veteran proudly pinned on my poppy (not securely enough as it turned out), and confirmed that he'd been busier than ever.

One man who will be happy to learn about my poor poppy practices is Ben Hancock, who's in the studio later. He's the brain behind 'London Poppy Day', essentially a concerted effort by people in the capital to raise even more money for the British Legion's charity work in supporting both serving members of the Armed Forces and their families. Over 200 volunteers and more than 50 serving soldiers are out in force trying to raise £50,000 today alone. Just under £20,000 was raised when they did the same thing last year so they'll be doing well to more than double it this time. We'll find out how Ben think's they've done later on. So, if you're reading this early enough, dig deep on your way home. They'll be stationed at 21 tube stations around the capital during rush hour. To be honest, though, if they're a few quid short, I might as well buy whatever's left, just in case!

See you at Six.

Matt and Katie

london tonight tonight

Hello. Quick word on last night's programme. Not sure if you saw our Christmas lights switch-on extravaganza, but what a stirling job by Lucy and Ben at St Paul's and Leicester Square! Those sort of things are always a bit of a nightmare, but it looked great from the front row sofa I was on. But how scary was it to see the Christmas lights on and hear carols - we're only just in November? In the words of the Disney adaptation that was clearly the driving force behind last night's epic....'Humbug!'

Ok - lots to cram in tonight and in addition to shocking new figures on gun crime in the capital, we have more on the story of five British soliders killed in Afghanistan. Three were from The Grenadier Guards, based in Central London, the others were from the Royal Military Police.The men were shot by a rogue Afghan policeman they were thought to be training inside a checkpoint in Helmand Province yesterday. The Prime Minister told the Commons earlier that the Taliban have claimed responsibilty for the attack and that the shooter could have been a Taliban infiltrator. A total of 92 UK servicemen have now been killed this year, the highest annual figure since the Falklands War in 1982. Lewis Vaughan Jones will have more for us later.

The latest losses in Afghanistan make the days leading up to Remembrance Sunday even more poignant and tonight, a sometimes overlooked military hero is taking centre stage in Trafalgar Square. Sir Keith Park commanded the RAF squadrons in and around the capital during the Battle of Britain and his role was crucial to the defence of London during the Second World War. So why has his statue on the fourth plinth, in the shadow of Horatio Nelson's, been made out of glass fibre? Not sure, but don't panic - a larger bronze one is being erected next year, the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, in Waterloo Place. Ben Scotchbrook's been to have a look.

Also on the programme tonight, more on the story we brought you yesterday about a woman who was rescued by Boris Johnson from an attack by a group of teenage girls in Camden in North London. Franny Armstrong has called the Mayor her 'knight in shining armour' after he stepped in to chase away a group of teenage girls, one of whom was brandishing an iron bar. The Mayor reportedly chased them away on his bike while shouting 'Oiks!' It's a funny story and great PR for Bozza, but there's a serious question to be asked about when chivalry or a sense of civic duty becomes foolhardy. By stepping in, at least Boris was following his own advice: In 2007 he urged people to 'take a risk' when it comes to standing up to thugs, pointing out that the chances of being stabbed were 'microscopic'. Then he was criticised by police. What do you think? Step in or stand aside? Email us your thoughts.

Finally on the programme tonight, Liz Wickham's been sniffing out a cracking yarn about perfume and Hounslow R & B singer, Jay Sean's on the show. He's already had a number one single in America.

See you at Six

Matt and Katie.
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello. On the programme tonight there will be news and lots of it, obviously. But one subject seems to have everyone in the office on tenterhooks today - the London Christmas lights switch-on!

We've dedicated a large chunk of tonight's show to it and it will no doubt be fantastic, but it's an annual favourite that's been known to reduce producers, presenters and reporters on news programmes up and down the country to gibbering wrecks. I mean, it sounds simple enough: at a designated time, say 6.15, a celeb flicks a switch and the city centre in question goes from autumnal darkness to illuminated festive brilliance. There are loud, 'Ahhhhs' all round, the reporter says, "back to you in the studio", the presenter replies, "Thanks very much, time for the weather." Simple.

But there are a catalogue of things that can and do go wrong on these occasions that range from the ceremony simply running late, leaving us with less than inspiring shots of dark streets, to the celebrity not turning up on time, to us accidentally blowing the power supply to four local boroughs. I once reported on the 'grand switch-on' in one East Midlands town (that shall remain nameless) only to discover when the button was pressed that the 'stunning display' amounted to little more than a fibre-optic Christmas tree in the window of Greggs the bakers with half of its lights missing. But this is London, the capital, where nothing is done by halves and nothing has been left to chance. Trust me, it will be stunning.

So this is the plan, as explained to me by Ken the producer who, if he pulls this off, should be knighted in the New Year's Honours List. It goes something like this...

The lights are due to be switched on, on Regent Street, at St Paul's Cathedral and on Oxford Street one after the other in 'a cascade of illumination' (Ken's words). It'll happen at 6.15 and 50 seconds, 6.17 and twenty eight seconds and 6.18 and sixteen seconds precisely. On Oxford Street with his finger on the button will be star of Disney's new film, 'A Christmas Carol', Jim Carrey - although goodness knows what Ebenezer Scrooge would have made of the electricity bill. Fellow star Colin Firth is currently tightening the bulbs on Regent Street while rumour has it Bob Hoskins is up a ladder outside St Paul's, as we speak. The movie itself premieres in Leicester Square later while also on hand to entertain the crowds will be the casts of 'Sister Act', 'Hairspray' and 'Oliver', 'Spandau Ballet' and 'The Saturdays'. Oh, and Andrea Bocelli and the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir are on hand to sing the whole thing out for us while attempting to break the world record (which currently stands at 7,514) for the most people singing a Christmas Carol at one time. Following this so far?

Lucy Cotter will be live for us at St. Paul's, while Ben Scotchbrook takes charge of Leicester Square. We also have cameras on Regent Street and Oxford Street, while Katie and I sit in the studio with everything crossed and armed with a string of fascinating facts about lightbulbs, just incase it all goes pear-shaped.

So, strap yourselves in at 6pm sharp and wait for the fireworks to begin. Hang on, are there fireworks? I bet no one's told Ken!

Matt and Katie
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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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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,
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Thank You.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello all. Hope your Halloween weekend was a good one? I had a fancy dress get-together at home that culminated in a very rare visit to a nightclub. Wasn't keen on the idea, to be honest - I'm far too old - but a good time was had by all. Too much of a good time if my inablity to get off the sofa for much of yesterday was anything to go by. Shall we have some quiet time in front of a DVD, children? Still, that's the going out for 2009 finally got out of the way. Katie, Nina and Robin had threatened to turn up un-announced just so they could witness the full horror of me dressed up like an idiot. Thankfully, I was able to keep the address a secret and all cameras were rigorously confiscated at the door.

Right, tonight's programme starts with a problem that's becoming more and more prevalent: the extraordinary lengths some parents will go to to get their children into popular schools. To some, bending the rules or stretching the truth to give your child an educational leg-up is perfectly justifiable. To others it's a deviousness that denies places to 'legitimate' students. As well as simply supplying false information about a home address to put the child within the right catchment area, some parents have gone as far as renting a property near the desired school, faking a marital break up or even claiming a cousin or non-ralated child with the same surname is a sibling. It's a problem that is especially acute in London but after a government inquiry, published today, are we any nearer coming up with a suiltable solution? We'll have a full report later and would love to hear some of your experiences.

Also tonight, claims of bullying at The Tower of London with the city's first female Beefeater in over a thousand years allegedly the target of a campaign of harassment. Moira Cameron was made a Yeoman Warder two years ago. Two Beefeaters have been suspended while an investigation takes place with a third also being investigated by The Tower. Nick Thatcher will have all the details.

We'll also have details of a benefit fraud officer being sentenced today for..er...benefit fraud.

Showbiz-wise, the Brixton Academy is the place to be tonight...so, obvioulsy, we sent Lucy! 'The Concert for CARE' boasts some of the biggest names in entertainment including Gary Barlow, David Walliams, Rob Brydon, the Kaiser Chiefs and Dara O'Briain. London's own Speech Debelle, who we had on the programme when she scooped the Mercury Music Prize recently also joins the line-up. Care International is the brainchild of composer David Arnold and operates in over 70 countries, helping 55 million people each year find a way out of poverty.

So, all that and more to look forward to and not a pumpkin in sight!

See you at Six

Matt and Katie
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,
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Thank You.