Welcome to London Tonight Tonight.

This is the official website of London Tonight, on ITV1 in London and the South East every weeknight at 6pm.


9.3.09

London Tonight Tonight

Good afternoon.

Bozza wants "more" green spaces in the Capital - he told us so, at election time. The people of the Kingshold estate, Hackney, just want "some" green space - they told their Councillors. "But you've got some", observed the Councillors, pointing to the nearby park. The "nearby park" is, to the law abiding citizens of Kingshold, what the north of Cyprus is to the Greeks living south of the Green line - we are talking "no-go-area". Nick puts on his flak jacket and heads North-East to discover why, and whether property development may have a small say in the matter, too.

Talking of which, the one upside to our collective half-trillion pound (that's £500,000,000,000) bailout of some of the Banks (and there are a few more still festering in the wings) is the instruction from the Government, on behalf of us "shareholders", that they get lending again, especially on mortgages. Do you see a property market, ablaze with interest? A banging down of estate agents' doors? Nope - it's still as lukewarm as yesterday's left-overs. Melanie Bien joins us to explore when things, at least hypothetically, may change.

There used to be a great programme on TV called "Hypotheticals" - they'd set a scenario and ask the great and the good what they'd do:
"An unknown virus is sweeping across the south of England. What do you do?".
"Move North?" would not have done.
Then they'd develop the scenario: "And we've run out of hypodermics"
"Bulk buy sugar cubes?" would have fallen short, too.
Anyway tonight we have the tragic story of the family that found itself playing a real-life version of "Hypotheticals" that ended in tragedy.
First scenario - "Dad is displaying stroke symptoms - slurred speech, limp limbs and so on. What do you do?".
"Phone the GP?"
"Good! But, actually, the GP is not there and an out-of-hours service has kicked in, instead. Now what do you do?"
"Give a bit of background and ask for advice?"
"Good. Your getting the hang of this. The out-of-hours service suggests paracetamol. What do you say to that?".
"Not happy. We'll phone NHS Direct. OK?"
"Good - NHS Direct tell you to take him to the Doctor".
" But he's too big to get out of bed - can we call for an ambulance?"
"Yes, but you'll never guess what the paramedics in the ambulance will tell you to do ........"

I am not going to give the punch line away but you reach it via wrong-headed diagnoses including vertigo, yet more recommendations of paracetamol, a trip to A&E, and then the screen fades to black.... Phil listens to the family who have spent more time recently talking to lawyers than medics.

Half a million of London's immigrants would rather not talk to lawyers, if you don't mind: they are illegals and make up two thirds of the national total. Bozza wants to call an amnesty. A lot of the illegals say they just want to stay, work and pay taxes. That, to some cynical old minds, may distinguish them, for the better, from a lot of our homegrown stock but I merely pass on the gossip in the snug... Harris takes a much more clinical, and never cynical, look at the challenge and asks if the election timetable has anything to do with other great political leaders keeping a bit mum on the whole thing.

Michael Ball doesn't do "mum" - he speaks boldly, sings loudly and celebrates, extravagantly, his 25 years in showbiz today. He is sweeping, histrionically, our way to have a natter before sweeping, wondrously, back to do "Hairspray" for the masses I see queuing at his theatre every night. We are lucky to have him, as are they.

We celebrate Chrissie's being with us - it is bright but very cold today. Why? Keep it simple, missy: I am getting on in years.
The papers will litter your screen before littering London until we all learn to do the right thing, assuming we can find a bin.

And we have a piece from a doctor who says we broadcasters get science wrong, though some get it more wrong than others. I like to think we are more a "nuclear fission will happen, one day" programme than a "flat-earth" believer's broadcast. And remember, E only equals MC squared if neither is a rapper nor an illegal drug.

The Oz felt the need for soup as I devoured a chocolate bar - she is wiser and healthier than I am. But I think I am still just a bit happier than her. Soup vs sweeties? Sorry, Doc: it's a no brainer.

See you at 6.

Alastair & Alex

Love London Awards: The Shortlist

The shortlist for the Love London Awards is out!

You can vote by clicking the link on the right hand side of this page.


Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: East Dulwich Tavern
Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: The Angel Inn
Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: The Holly Bush
Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: The Larrick
Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: The Spaniards Inn
Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: The Warwick Arms
Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: The Queen's Arms
Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: The George
Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: The Gun
Best Neighbourhood Bar/Pub: The Red Lion and Sun

Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Base Restaurant
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: El Parador
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Il Bordello
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Osteria Puccinella
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Rasa
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: The Depot, Barnes
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Gioberti
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Inside
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Moomba Bar & Kitchen
Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Chimes

Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: Islington Tup
Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: The Larrick
Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: The Well's Tavern
Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: William IV
Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: The Old Ship
Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: The Clarence
Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: The Duke
Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: The Dartmouth Arms
Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: The Noble
Best Neighbourhood Gastro Pub: The Drysart

Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: Bertie & Boo Cafe
Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: Chicchi
Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: Coffee cup
Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: Espresso Bar
Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: Flat White
Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: orli cafe
Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: Spence Coffee Shop
Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: The Corner Cafe and Deli
Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: Fly
Best Neighbourhood Coffee Shop: Bar Italia

Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Everyman
Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Ritzy
Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Greenwich Picturehouse
Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Renoir
Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Rio
Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Phoenix
Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Gate
Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Screen
Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Lexi Cinema
Best Neighbourhood Cinema: Watermans

Best Neighbourhood Theatre: Arts Depot
Best Neighbourhood Theatre: Bob Hope Theatre
Best Neighbourhood Theatre: Hackney Empire
Best Neighbourhood Theatre: Greenwich Theatre
Best Neighbourhood Theatre: South Bank Centre
Best Neighbourhood Theatre: Tricyle Theatre
Best Neighbourhood Theatre: Questors Theatre
Best Neighbourhood Theatre: The Mary Wallace Theatre
Best Neighbourhood Theatre: Chicken Shed
Best Neighbourhood Theatre: Broadway Theatre

Best Local Sports Centre: Alexandra Palace Ice Rink
Best Local Sports Centre: David Lloyd
Best Local Sports Centre: Esporta
Best Local Sports Centre: Seymour Leisure Centre
Best Local Sports Centre: Swiss Cottage Sports Centre
Best Local Sports Centre: Oasis
Best Local Sports Centre: The Spa
Best Local Sports Centre: Aspire Leisure Services
Best Local Sports Centre: Wavelengths
Best Local Sports Centre: West Wickham Leisure Centre

Best Local Music Venue: The O2/Indigo2
Best Local Music Venue: Wembly Arena
Best Local Music Venue: Half Moon
Best Local Music Venue: Roundhouse
Best Local Music Venue: Union Chapel
Best Local Music Venue: Jazz Cafe
Best Local Music Venue: Hammersmith Apollo
Best Local Music Venue: Jazz at Boaters Inn
Best Local Music Venue: The Bedford
Best Local Music Venue: The Hob

Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: Rosslyn Deli
Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: The Cheeseboard
Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: The Fat Delicatessen
Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: Fratellli
Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: Garcias
Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: Kennards
Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: La Fromagerie
Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: East Dulwich Deli
Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: The Ginger Pig
Best Neighbourhood Delicatessen: Deli Suz

Best Local Shop: Alfies Antique Market
Best Local Shop: Fancy That of London
Best Local Shop: Mystical Fairies
Best Local Shop: Owl and the Pussy Cat Book Shop
Best Local Shop: Frank Godfrey Family Butcher
Best Local Shop: You Don't Bring Me Flowers
Best Local Shop: Drings Butchers
Best Local Shop: Hindley Antiques
Best Local Shop: Love Me Again
Best Local Shop: Pip's Smoothies