London Tonight Tonight

2009-12-17T16:54:00.001Z

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

2009-12-17T15:09:00.000Z

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

2009-12-16T16:56:00.001Z

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

2009-12-16T16:13:00.001Z

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

2009-12-15T16:47:00.001Z

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

2009-12-15T14:36:00.001Z

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

2009-12-11T16:41:00.000Z

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.
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

2009-12-09T17:23:00.000Z

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:

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

2009-12-08T16:22:00.001Z

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

2009-12-08T15:59:00.001Z

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

2009-12-07T17:10:00.001Z

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

2009-12-04T17:21:00.001Z

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:

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

2009-12-03T16:20:00.001Z

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

2009-12-03T16:18:00.001Z

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

2009-12-02T15:47:00.001Z

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

2009-12-02T14:27:00.001Z

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

2009-12-01T15:44:00.000Z

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

2009-11-30T16:55:00.001Z

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

2009-11-30T16:51:00.001Z

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

2009-11-27T17:01:00.000Z

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

2009-11-26T16:51:00.001Z

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

2009-11-25T17:11:00.001Z

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

2009-11-25T15:49:00.001Z

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

2009-11-24T17:19:00.001Z

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

2009-11-24T16:20:00.001Z

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