London Tonight: Monday January 22nd

Afternoon ...

It seems our streets could be safer today with the news - unconfirmed, of course - that the SAS have decided to have a permanent unit deployed in London, to counter the terrorist threat. Of course, we'd never know they were there anyway - but does it make you feel a bit more protected? Or does it worry you that it's necessary at all .. If it's true? Marcus has been investigating, and we want your thoughts.

Surrey is spending millions to upgrade its drains ... Not a glamorous job, granted .. But an urgent one, it seems, thanks to this increasingly odd weather we're having . So much rain, the drains can't cope. But who's paying for it all?

Now, if you're worried whenever you step out of your front door that you may be the next victim of casual street crime, or vandalism, then Damien could have found your dream home. He reports tonight for us from a new estate which has been designed specifically to reduce the risk of crime. Find out more at 6.

The skeleton of the poor little whale who got lost and swam up the Thames goes on show today; we've got the frankly unbelievable story of a studio flat in Chelsea on the market for 170 thousand pounds... I kid you not, it is the size of a snooker table; we have the West End's newest, brightest star in the studio, Connie Fisher ... And we've got an amazing competition for you.
That, and Chrissie with all the details of the proper winter weather that's on its way ...

See you at 6!
Katie and Alastair.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 19th Jan

Hello

Today - the calm (and chaos) after the storm...

The calm bit is TODAY's weather.. the chaos, we're sorry to tell you is that some train services are still being affected the night after the day before. The problem - trees on the tracks and broken power lines.

We've also the full, chilling story of a psychiatrist whose life was wrecked by an obsessed stalker. She broke into his home, flooded him with hate mail and texts, put such strain on his relationship that it ended and ultimately accused him (totally falsely) of rape. That accusation saw Dr Jan Falkowski arrested and bailed for months - before being cleared. Today the stalker, Maria Marchese was jailed for 9 years. One police officer branded her "the most dangerous woman he had ever met". We speak to Dr Falkowski AND get an exclusive reaction to the sentencing from the psychiatrist's ex girlfriend.

Phil Bayles has spent the day with a group of teenage gamblers who are benefiting from a brand new scheme. The first ever out-patients clinic that aims to help people with such an addiction....

Want to go to a star studded premiere and bag a PS2 as well as a game for it - well, watch the show and maybe that dream will come true. New animated movie "Arthur and The Invisibles" stars the voices of Madonna, Robert De Niro, David Bowie and Snoop Dog. And our competition tonight could see you stepping out onto the red carpet too.

Also - as it's Friday we thought we'd fill your screen with sport, showbiz, film reviews and a whole of ideas for weekend fun, aren't we good to you.

Have a great afternoon and we'll see you at 6

Tamzin and Alastair

London Tonight: Thursday January 18

Hello. Hold onto your hats for London Tonight tonight: gale force winds have blasted their way across our part of the world today with roofs ripped off, trees uprooted and transport in a right mess: To say "it's dangerous out there" is to underestimate it. Stay in for a great night's viewing and keep safe.
Simon has all the details and Chrissie will tell us why it happened and whether, no pun intended, there's more to come.
Alastair may also share with you the brutal attack he nearly suffered at the hands of a random flower-pot: so near, dear friends, so near!

Oil prices are falling and so electricty charges should come down before too long. So, Go Ahead, those lovely people who provide some of the trains in the South East, are levying a passenger surcharge due to high electricity prices: they say they just can't afford to carry the cost themselves. Excuse me, Mr. Go Ahead: how do you think your passengers feel? Well, we'll be asking for your e-mails so you can tell them!

And we have a mega-star in the studio: Kevin Spacey talking about the Old Vic's production of Twelth Night. Also with him, Ed Hall, son of the great Sir Peter Hall, who produced it.
If those aren't powerful enough reasons for staying in and watching you must be claustrophobic.

See you at 6.

Alastair & Tamzin

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 17th Jan

Good afternoon - we have, again, been holding a mirror up to life in the capital for you.

The odd thing about mirrors, of course, is that things look very different: back to front and not what you expect.
We are at Gatwick with British Airways who tell us that being a member of cabin crew is the most popular job in the land: little girls no longer want to be nurses, they want to be "trolley-dollies" and little boys don't want to drive steam engines anymore, they want to show you how to fasten your seat belt.
Now, I am sure this has nothing to do with the fact that, just two days ago, the existing army of cabin crew workers voted to go on strike....
Odd, that.

David Beckham signed to play for LA Galaxy so he can lift the footballing prospects of that soon-to-be-great club. So, no longer Manchester, no longer Madrid but now LA- Hollywood! Not the home of soccer but the home of ... movies.
Today we have a preview of David's latest offering on the silver screen.
Odd, that.

Down at City Hall, when the Tories wanted to grill the Mayors senior staff about those 2006 trips to Venezuela and Cuba, you'd have expected them to be poised, guns loaded and fists bared, to give the Livingstonians a right seeing to. And you'd have expected Ken's Gang to be there, primed and briefed with the perfectly reasonable explanation for why the Mayor did what the Mayor did.
But, no: Tory leader Brian Coleman had to call "time" due to an alleged lack of preparation on the part of the Livingstonians. Mr. Coleman is furious. Simon Harris (who else?) is on the case and we'll be talking to Brian on the show..

Down on the farm, what was entirely expected was the reaction of the authorities to a farmer who fed rabbit food, which contained cattle meat products, to ....his cattle: they ordered the slaughter of the entire herd. BSE, Mr. Farmer, BSE? It is a sad but proper reaction and Liz has been down on the farm.

And while Ben explains why a couple of Private Eyes are starting prison sentences tonight for seriously over-stepping the line when it came to prying, Marcus is trying to find out why another man nearly joined them - for leaving a tap running: honest, both tales will take your breath away....

As will Chrissie, doing a Tracey Emin for you with the weather - and it doesn't involve cats or beach-huts... not to be missed!

See you at 6.

Alastair and Tamzin.

London Tonight: Tuesday 16th Jamuary

Hello and hope you're having a good afternoon,

Tonight we hear testimony from the families of two young men who died on Friday Night.
Daniel Elgar and Bradley Chapman were killed after being hit by a train in Barking, the reason they were in harm's way - they were graffiti-ing at the station depot and ran into the path of an oncoming train.
A terrible story, whatever your thoughts on so called "tagging", the families are bewildered and share their thoughts and feelings with us later.

Now then - do you live in Richmond ? Do you own a 4X4 ? Is it parked outside your house ? If so your resident's permit bill could be about to rocket. Some owners are expected to be charged up to £300 a year .... Too much ? Or fair enough considering the environmental impact campaigners say these vehicles have. This is the debate we want to hear from you on tonight.

Glen's been out on the open seas...well on the Thames anyway. A year after the whale came upstream to visit London the RSPCA has launched its first boat dedicated to helping creatures in distress on the capital's river.

Any cheerleaders among you should get ready to star-jump into action. Yes, American Football is touching down in London Town. The NFL have announced they're playing one of their major league games HERE once a year from now on.

Another American export is next - an equally iconic one - Sly Stallone. Live. On the Red Carpet and talking to us. He's over here for the premiere of Rocky 6 (Rocky Balboa) and the man lucky enough to be standing next to him ... our very own Steve Hargrave

If we all recover from that we'll have Chrissie next... in among the blooms at the Winter Flower Festival and asking why some are out earlier than they should be.

That's all...we'll see you at six.

Tamzin and Alastair

London Tonight: Monday 15th January

Good Afternoon!

It's busy busy busy here and the Christmas break already seems a distant memory.
The trial's started today at Woolwich of six men accused of planning suicide bombs in London on the 21st of July 2005.
Phil Bayles has the detail on that.

Another court case - but this one sounds like the plot of a spy flick. It takes us inside the glamorous world of casinos and involves hundreds of thousands of pounds. The main characters - a trio of Poker cheats - who thanks to cameras hidden up their sleeves managed to net a QUARTER of a a MILLION pounds. Today however their luck ran out as they were sentenced today for cheating (yes there is actually a crime of cheating under gaming law!!!)
We will have the amazing pictures of this scam actually being carried out. Who needs 007 when you've got London Tonight !

Also....the 2021 Olympics. Who's going to pay for any overspends? The woman in Government in charge of this told Simon Harris today she doesn't know - and that they're "looking at a whole range of options".

Has the Tory's policy of allowing residents to buy up their council houses backfired twenty years later ? A report suggests that stocks of council housing stocks are seriously low and warns of a "timebomb".

The History Boys has been a massive hit - on both stage and screen and now it's playing on the West End. Tonight our studio plays host to its new star, Stephen Moore

And of course not forgetting Chrissie. She'll be here with the weather prospects.

That's your lot (and a very good lot it is too !)
See you at 6

Tamzin and Alastair

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 12th Jan

Good Afternoon,

Do you remember the school teacher Sarah Flooks who mysteriously vanished without a trace last March ? She'd left her home in Wanstead at 7 in the morning to go to work and not been seen again. Well today, tragically, we hear police believe they have found her body. The grim discovery was made yesterday in a woodland area in Wanstead Park. We will have a full report on the programme at 6.

Also - what would YOU think if photos of your house and car, with all details including number plates and any security features clearly visible, were made available on the internet. Well, if you live in Camden we have to tell you that those photos are out there. And what makes it worse in residents' eyes is that they are on a council website. We'll be asking for your views on this one.

The English National Ballet faced a protest today - from Anti-Fascist demonstrators. They were calling for one of their dancers to be sacked after she was exposed as a member of the British National Party. Simone Clarke WAS back on stage today but the debate continues about whether her political beliefs SHOULD have a bearing on her future career with the company.

As it's Friday we thought we'd give you a double dose of showbiz....reviews of this weekend's big releases, including Will Smith's latest AND Al Murray live in the studio talking to us about his new TV project.

PLUS all the sport from Willsy...Chrissie halfway up an ice-wall (possibly, if she's got the bottle) and details on what you can get up to in the capital over the next couple of days.

All just waiting for you at 6

See you then

Tamzin and Alastair

London Tonight: Thursday January 11th

Afternoon!

You probaby noticed. It's a bit blowy out there. And in fact, the gales are leading the show tonight .. Because it has been windy enough to cause some pretty serious damage - enough to destroy at least one viewer's business. We want to hear your stories too.

That sad story yesterday about the bodies of a woman and 2 children in East Ham - some confusion, as the police say they're treating it as murder, and yet it could be suicide AND murder. We'll be investigating.

More on Colin Stagg - yesterday the news that he was going to get at least 250,000 pounds in compensation for the year he spent in jail, wrongly convicted of killing Rachel Nickell. Today, we hear from him about how he is hoping at last to rebuild his life with his new partner.

Do you worry that there are always cameras filming you? CCTV on every street corner? Well now there are mobile cctv cameras, fixed to little Smart cars... We've sent Liz Wickham to find out why.

Marcus Powell has been with the Met as they show journalists the new computer simulator for training police marksmen. The idea is it will show the general public just how difficult it is to make a split second decision whether to fire at a suspect or not. Good community relations? Or asking for trouble?

Ben's got more on modern culture in Moscow, and Tamzin's been in Florence as our Savile Row tailors teach those Italians a thing or two about suits.... They're a busy, well travelled lot, our reporters!

See you later, hold onto your hats out there..

Katie and Al.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 10th Jan

Greetings from the London Tonight collective.

"From each according to his/her abilities, to each according to his/her needs" - and "nothing is too good for the working classes". Those old school Commies knew a thing or two and we have spared no effort to bring you an heroic programme, taxing all our efforts and meeting, we hope, all your needs. Ben has even been to the Mother Land, Russia, to report on how the Reds intend to take over London, well Trafalgar Square at least, with a feast of entertainment. Alastair thinks it will begin in Trafalgar Square and spread across the nation: leopards, especially Russian ones, he says, don't change their spots. Anyway, the first of three Scotchbrook Specials airs tonight.

Then a hero in anyone's country: the Oldest Copper in the Land: he works at the Houses of Parliament and he's so good they have let him stay beyond retirement age. The REALLY OLD Bill is with Phil tonight.

Talking of old age, what is best for a pensioners contentment? A garret, groaning with gadgets or a friendly face, popping in now and then? Liz has been to some flats designed to help our senior citizens with modern technology but, like many of us, has a soft spot for the friendly approach, too. Her thoughts at 6 and we will be asking for yours, too.

Think wedding cakes and you might think layer upon layer of marzipan, looking not unlike a church, or even a cathedral. Tonight we meet the man who hasn't made a wedding cake but has made a cake version of St. Paul's Cathedral. It is big, has stained glass windows and would certainly do your waist-line no good at all. But it is a joy to behold and you can behold it with Glen tonight.

On a serious note, Colin Stagg, who was cleared of the killing of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common fourteen years ago but served a year in prison, is to receive damages from the Home Office - (not their day, week or year is it?)
Ronke has the details.

And, to lighten your evening, the ever glorious Victoria Wood on why she is taking Acorn Antiques on tour. The darling of stage, screen and cabaret is live in the studio with the two of us!

Chrissie on the weather and it is an offering we hope you will throng to like an invader horde.....at 6.

Alastair & Katie.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon Jan 8th

Hello and a very good afternoon to you all.

Full team here now Alastair is back from his holidays.

Two architectural stories that are miles apart but both fascinating:
First, we've the New York reconstruction of the London bombers flat which they are using for training purposes: why, then, don't the Met have one?
And we have the developers, designing obesity out of estates: a flat to make you fit! Now that makes sense even for Damien, who has the story.

Emma has the remarkable tale of the Billericay family who don't want their child to grow older or bigger. It involves hormone treatment and a lot of real moral dilemmas and pain. You won't want to miss it and we'll be asking for your e-mails, too.

Will Smith is in town and, naturally, has been talking to Tamzin.

And Glen has tracked down the Shetland pony who thinks he is a Labrador - and the labradors who are willing to play along with him. It could only be followed by Robin's weather and it is.

See you for all that and more, at 6.

Alastair & Katie

London Tonight: Wednesday 3rd January

Hello, Hello.

Hope you're all well and happy, despite the sort of weather that leaves you longing for a fortnight away on a hot sunny beach somewhere - with the only thing to worry about being which drink to have at the bar come sunset...

However, come six this evening, we'll have plenty to take your mind off the weather in a packed 30 minutes.

We start with an admission from the Met that they got it wrong. Only this mistake may have cost a young man his life. Almost 4 years ago, Scotland Yard had been warned that a gangland hit was being planned - and yet Jason Fearon was allowed to walk out of a nightclub in Clerkenwell to be shot in the street. It's though he wasn't even the intended target. Police say that, after a review of intelligence available to officers at the time, lessons have been learned. But Jason's family say 'too little, too late'. Marcus Powell has the details on that.

Nick Thatcher has had a day out by the sea. Down at 'Leigh-on-Sea' in fact, where fishermen who've been cockling for decades are worried about the future of their industry. They say say that plans to open up the trade by issuing more 'hand-raking' licences could see the area swamped by outsiders... and spell doom for the lot of them.

Now, how do YOU get about London? On the bus or tube? Naaah, fares have just shot up. In a car? Naaah, you have to pay the congestion charge AND you have to pay for parking. Are you one of the thousands who've switched to mopeds for a cheaper ride round the city. Screeeeeeeeeeech (that's brakes being slammed on)... Westminster City council now wants to CHARGE for moped parking, saying there are just too many bikes to avoid it. Damien Steward will look at both sides of the argument... before we ask you which side YOU'RE on.

What about 'Mayor Ken v Mike Read'? Yes... that's right, the former Radio One DJ who used to delight breakfast listeners with "You were my First Love" every morning. Anyway, Mike wants to be the Conservative candidate in the next mayoral election. Glen Goodman's been asking why anyone should vote for a man, not famous for his grasp on City Hall expenditure plans. And, for all we know, he may know more about it than we think.

Meanwhile, Liz Wickham has been to the Tower of London to report on the fall of a bastion of male reserve. It's been confirmed that... come September... for the first time in their 522 year history... the Beefeaters will number a... wait for it... WOMAN among their ranks. Extraordinary that it's taken this long perhaps, but can a woman Beefeater, er, cut the mustard?

So, quite a spread, we're sure you'll agree. The only place to get your teeth into all of it is ITV, at six.

See you then.

Katie & Ben

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 5th Jan

Good afternoon,

We have, as usual a very busy show for you tonight with a real mix of stories...starting with a tale that will strike fear into your heart if you've ever eaten in a certain Chinese restaurant in the West End. The Rong Cheng restaurant on Shaftesbury Avenue has been shown to be one of the filthiest in the West End. It's boss has been handed a suspended jail sentence after mice, cockroaches and mould were found in its kitchen. We have some shocking pictures of the state of the place - be warned you should save your tea until after this story.

Also....An absolutely horrendous killing.
A man's admitted to robbery and murder after gagging the wife of a close family friend and binding her face with parcel tape so tightly she died. Police have likened the tape to a "death mask" . Marcus Powell's been in court covering this story for us.

On a lighter note - a much lighter note - what are you planning to do with your Christmas tree ? The one in Trafalgar Square's about to be recycled...should we all be doing the same...have you already worked out where you can take your tree to be green ? Let us know.

It's Friday so it's showbiz day ! Steve Hargrave's going a couple of rounds with Amir Khan to find out if the release of Rocky 6 is going to make boxing the keep-fit trend of 2007....

Mark Eccleston's here with the movie review - including Renee Zelwegger as Beatrix Potter AND Mel Gibson's latest spectacular if somewhat historically inaccurate epic, Apocolypto.

AND we're at the Boat Show 2007 to find out what cool creations will be cresting the waves this year.

Enough to keep you entertained we're sure.

See you at 6.

Tamzin and Willsy

London Tonight: Thursday 4th January

Good Afternoon one and all,

It's Thursday and you can almost smell the weekend. Just as well because it's felt like a very long week, hasn't it? Even though most of us had our feet up on Monday, week's end has been a long time coming.

Now. This evening's programme starts on the story that's dominated the news across the country - this morning's tragic coach crash on an M4 sliproad. Two people were killed and many more were injured, some of them even losing limbs. The driver's been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. It's a desperate start to the year, and Phil Bayles has been following events for us.

We'll also have the latest on another, very sad, story. You may remember how Clare Bernal was shot dead while she was working in Harvey Nichols in September 2005. The man responsible - her ex-boyfriend - then shot himself. Well, Clare's flatmate told an an inquest into Clare's murder today that she was so worried about Michael Pech's behaviour that she had alerted security at the store. Could they have done more to protect Clare? Marcus Powell will have the detail on that.

Liz Wickham, meanwhile, has been in court for the sentencing of a married couple who were caught illegally selling a steroid-cream, which black customers bought to bleach their skin, but, in fact, was so dangerous it could have left them vulnerable to skin-cancer.

Then - a victory for 'People Power'. Hurrah and Ballyhoo! How many of us are fed up with a rail company making our lives a misery day in day out. Well, the good customers on the 'C2C' line no doubt had their 'fare' share of niggles as the trains chuffed in and out of Fenchurch Street... until the company changed the timetable. And that make them REALLY mad. So they complained. And complained. And then complained some more. And now, one month after dumping the old schedule, it's making a comeback. Nick Thatcher will report on that 'feel-good' story for us.

We'll also be chatting with Prunella Scales ("Basil!") about her latest stage-role... we've got a terrific 'behind-the-scenes' look at the work of Cirque du Soleil... and.. AND, Chrissie will have the weather.

And if THAT lot doesn't leave you gasping for the weekend... you can jog off.

See you at SIX,

Ben & Tamzin.

London Tonight: Tuesday 2nd January 2007

Hello and a Happy New Year to you all! Hope you had a great one - and if you're back at work that all those batteries are well and truly recharged.

In fact, if you ARE back at work, then you might be one of the millions who were greeted with a whopping fares rise on the buses and tubes! Now, TfL made no secret about the rises - they want to encourage more uptake of the Oyster Card of course - yet all the same, quite a few of you were caught unawares. We've got both sides of the argument and will be asking for your views on that one too.

We'll also be hearing from Lord Coe on how he rates last year's progress on the London Olympics - and what we can expect to see happening to the Stratford site in the coming year.

And if you're still feeling the excesses of the festive period then check out our resolutions double-whammy - Liz Wickham on joining a gym - AND how to stick to it - and Robin Ross on the pubs trying to ease smokers in gently to the inevitable ban this summer. Go on... You know it's good for you...

And apologies in advance if you're a hammer - but what a monumental, resounding defeat at the hands of Reading!! Six-Nil!! SIX. Unbelievable - and more than a few glum faces around the office today - but they're an optimistic bunch and already talk's turning to Curbs and the transfer window.... Bless.

It's Katie and Willsy in the hot seat tonight - see you there.

Ed

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 22nd Dec

Good afternoon,

There's a decidedly Christmas feel in the London Tonight newsroom today .... Robin's baked a cake, Tamzin's made coconut ice, Alastair's eaten both ... and we've spent the past 5 minutes talking about Chilly the Hamster's great escape.....more on that later.

There's also a Christmas feel on the roads...and by that we mean they're busy, foggy and frosty. Yes, the great getaway's underway and for those STILL stuck at Heathrow it couldn't be less festive. We have a whole team of reporters out at ALL the major travel locations tonight for you and we'll try our best to get you home for Christmas in time and safely.

What's your favourite bit of Christmas dinner ? The Turkey ? The sausages wrapped in bacon ? The pud ? We bet it's not the sprouts...BUT maybe sprout ice cream might be a better bet ???? Maybe not - but we'll be tasting it for you to find out later, seriously.

James King's in the studio to tell us about Christmas at the cinema...

And we've had some fantastic news after yesterday's missing person's appeal, it'll be a great Christmas for one North London family.

Plus - a festive treat at the end of the show to get you all in the mood. So stay off the roads, trains and planes, at least until 6.30 and celebrate the start of the holiday with us.

See you at 6

Tamzin and Alastair

(P.S. London Tonight Tonight returns in 2007!)

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Thurs 21st Dec

A day of high-drama and an afternoon of technical hiatus: sorry for the second but join us with baited breath for the first:
a gang of teenagers storm a christening party in a robbery "steam" - they kill the auntie of the family as she nurses the child to be christened. They then rob most of the rest of the party and even steal food on their way out.
Justice done, hear what they got from the courts.

Almost as muddled and confused as our work-place this afternoon is Heathrow airport: hundreds of flights canceled again, thousands of people with holiday plans disrupted and the only things flying are the accusations over who is to blame. OK you can't solve the weather but you can plan for this sort of thing. Who didn't?

We are still running our hand-in-a-phone feature with our friends at the National Missing Persons Helpline and we have another amazing story of a woman who isn't missing but who's identity is: she just can't remember who she is or where she is from. See if you can help out.

McFly are with us, leaving it a bit late for a Christmas Number One but very good nevertheless.....

And Chrissie, having escaped the clutches of the London Gay Mens choir is helping Simon with the fog story and promises Things Can Only Get Better - yeah, she's off tomorrow.

See you at 6.. And sorry for being late.

Alastair and Katie

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 20th Dec

A very good afternoon to you all: cold it may be, foggy chaos at Heathrow there may be, but we had our first mince pies in the office this afternoon! OK, with builders tea but it does prove that Christmas is just around the corner.

So our thoughts turn to pressies, puddings and decorations: 'tis the season of goodwill.

And we have the tale of great, goodwill: superstar George Michael, who hasn't had the easiest of years, is leading the way with a FREE concert for NHS registered nurses at the Roundhouse tonight. It keeps a promise he made when his dear old mum died, nearly a decade ago, to say "thanks" to nurses, some of whom had been wonderful in his mother's hours of need. Good on you George! Jon Gilbert is the man with the Access all Areas pass.....

Less festive and positively Scrooge like are the goings on in Greenwich: residents of the Ferrier Estate have been told their's is a prime site for massive redevelopment with hundreds of new homes and a glistening and glorious future. Only problem is that those EXISTING residents have only been offered the market price for the properties which they bought when they were Council houses under the old Right to Buy scheme. And it is a take it or leave it scenario. Unhappy bunnies all round: Liz has been taking a look.

Also, entirely the wrong sort of decorations have been troubling British Transport Police: graffiti merchants cause what the owners call damage to their trains and stations while some, and only some, say their work adds to the colour and texture of city life. But, strictly speaking, it is of course wrong and rubs railway and tube companies up the wrong way.
What is to be done? Nick Thatcher poses the questions.

A feast of footy fixtures and a relish of results for you, plus another invitation to give up your old cell' 'phones and help the National Missing Persons Helpline this Christmas.

160 gay men will be singing Christmas Carols for Chrissie who will then attempt to regain her composure and tell you when the fog will left. (there used to be a joke about the F in fog... But I can't quite remember it)

Finally, a cryptic end to the second trial of the youngster who has admitted killing Kiyan Prince but denied his murder. Can't say much for legal reasons but what we can say is fascinating.

Tune in for that and much more at 6.
Tamzin and I look forward to your company.

Alastair

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues 19th Dec

Good afternoon:

By the time we go on air at 6pm this e-mail may be out of date because the jury at the Old Bailey could have come to a verdict on the sixteen year old, accused of killing promising young footballer Kiyan Prince: the outcome, if there is one, live, with Phil.

The continuing saga of the Bishop of Southwark took an odd turn this morning, as, it is claimed, did the good Bishop a few nights back.
He often appears on the BBC's Today programme, offering his Thought for the Day. This morning he appeared as an interviewee, in an effort to explain just what happened between his leaving the Irish Embassy Christmas Party and appearing the next day, bruised, battered and not a little embarrassed. He says the answers are all on his Oyster Card. Others, including the owner of a Mercedes saloon, suggest a different story. We will try to unfathom the truth, because that's what we do. Up for the craic? Nick Thatcher is on the case of the curious cleric.

No connection, of course, but we are still running our feature with the National Missing Persons Helpline: hand in your old cellphone and NMPH get a fiver to help reunite loved ones who have run-off, drifted apart or ..... just can't remember who they are or why they left home.

Ricky Gervais on his latest escapade: a star role in a Hollywood film, which also features Ben Stiller. Is there no limit to the man's talent? Ricky's pretty hot, too!

We've also got an amazing competition: an all expenses paid trip to MUMBAI, a gem of a place in India. More details and the key to how to get there at 6.

Chrissie has the weather and Katie and I hope you'll join us.

Alastair

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 18th Dec

Afternoon one and all...

Well, this time next week, we'll all be pushing back from the Christmas table, stuffed to bursting with turkey and all the trimmings. Or we'll be sitting around getting hungrier by the second - arguing over who's job it was to turn the oven on.

That's NEXT Monday. THIS Monday though, we've got a very busy programme for you, starting with the sentencing of six smugglers. They smuggled people, in fact, but not hidden in the back of a lorry, driven off a ferry in Dover. These boys did it in style - flying their cargo in super comfy planes and landing them at air-strips around the M25. Glen Goodman has the low-down on all that.

Now, what's your opinion on organic food? Worth the extra cash? Are you confident that what you're paying for IS 100% organic? We ask because a top restaurant in Holland Park is now looking for £11,500 for a fine they've been given... because the 'organic' food they've been dishing up was about as organic as a bag of Quavers (not that we've anything against Walker's best selling snack, you understand. It's just a phrase). Jon Gilbert will have the full story.

All this week, we'll be covering a number of seasonal stories. Tonight, a story about the big day itself, and a charity's efforts to serve up 800 Christmas lunches to children who don't have the easiest of lives on the 364 others days of the year. It's a huge undertaking but that's what the Kids Company is trying to do. Piers Hopkirk will be speaking to the amazing woman who runs the charity.

Meanwhile, Phil Bayles has been getting into the Christmas spirit over in Docklands, listening to a (hopefully) unique concert of carols. There are members of the London Symphony Orchestra playing - that's good. And then there are some guys on their car-horns - that's, er, unusual. It's also rather entertaining.

We'll also be live in Leicester Square, ahead of the premiere of a new movie, produced by Sir Elton John and his other half... There's a chance to win a new 'hair-do' - yes, really... and Chrissie will have the weather.

Oh - and watch out for our Christmas Tree. The good people from John Lewis are in the studio right now putting it up for us.

Right - time for a mince pie.

See you at six.

Ben & Katie.

London Tonight: Friday December 15th

Good afternoon - a special, pre-Christmas offering for you tonight: cautionary tales and not a little levity and merriment, beside.

First, a staggeringly cautionary tale of the dangers of the demon drink.
We've all done it, or nearly done it: you have a bit too much to drink, or a heck of a lot too much, and getting home becomes your sole your ambition.
It's not that easy: lamp-posts, low-hanging branches, slippy pavement slabs - all out to get you. You might even fall asleep on the train.
Well, falling asleep ON the train is one thing....
But now we get serious. Tonight, we have the man who ticked all the boxes above but went one worse: he fell asleep, not ON a train, but on..... a railway line!
What happened next, at 6!

I fear tomorrow we may face more of the same because tonight, according to all the experts, is the pre-Christmas night when we let our hair down more than any other night: next Friday, true to tell, lots of you (not me!!!) won't be coming to work so you go off on one tonight.... and how!
It is the worst night of the year for office parties and general, bacchanalian bonkers-ness.
But, again, we get serious: London's great ambulance service are worrried for you and for their ability to deal with your worst antics. Some serious words of caution from the people that know, at the LAS.

Also on the show tonight, the one hundredth anniversary of the Piccadilly Line... We look forward to the one hundredth anniversary of the repair work to the Northern Line, too - can't be far off.

We talk to Cliff Richard about his hopes for another Number One - which would make six decades in a row in which he has had a Number One, the '50s being his first.
"Take that!" he might say to all other recording acts, if he pulls it off.
Take That might say "We'll see about that", in reply....

James King is popping in to share his views about movies Branded and Deja Vu to help you decide whether or not to go to the movies tomorrow - if you aren't still nursing your head.
And Tamzin, as always, will delight and tempt you with her collectable confection of clever clues for a carefree or creative weekend in What Not To Miss: don't miss it!

Willsy has all you need to know about who London clubs face in the Champions League, why Ronnie O'Sullivan did a runner and West Ham's prospects this weekend, under Icelandic ownership and Curbishley control.

And finally, Chrissie braves all for you in Wimbledon with Captain "the Fonz" Hook - "oh no she doesn't, oh yes she does"- and gives her own rendition of Peter Pan.
I hope.
I really hope.

See you at six.

Alastair and Tamzin

London Tonight: Thursday 14th December

Good Afternoon,

Hope you've all got your stockings ready to hang out for Santa - not much time left now. And we hope they'll be filled with all the things on your list....For some people though the thing on their list isn't the latest playstation or a bottle of fancy perfume. Instead what they want most for Christmas is an organ transplant. And campaigners are using this festive season to highlight the cronic lack of donors in the country - and urging people to come forward to offer help. Liz Wickham's been to meet Helen, an ex City Fund Manager who's now in desperate need of a kidney...we''ll bring you her story later.

Meanwhile - organisers are now under starter's orders for the 2012 Olympics. Today demolition work got underway along with warnings that there still may be a bumpy ride ahead.....

Puff Daddy...P Diddy....Puffy....whatever you call the US rapper we've discovered one very definite thing about him....It's not easy having a conversation withe the man. Our showbiz reporter Steve Hargrave had to work very hard to get any blood out of this particular stone. But once Diddy did start chatting we got to hear all about his friendship with Becks AND why he's now a Gunners fan.

Do you want to pppppick up a Penguin this Christmas ? If you were at Madam Tussauds this morning you'll have seen a bunch of the little black and white fellas arriving by limo and waddling up the red (actually it was white) carpet. Jon Gilbert got the showbiz opportunity of his life today as he went to meet the "Happy Feet" lookalikes.

We continue our campaign to help the National Missing Person's Helpline ...

And Chrissie continues HER love affair with Panto. Tonight she's within heckling distance of a Dame. Live with Trigger from Only Fools and Horses, otherwise known as Roger Lloyd Pack as he prepares to don a dress for his role in Dick Whittington.

We'll see you at 6

Tamzin & Ben

London Tonight: Tuesday 12th December

Hello from the London Tonight team ..Another full programme coming up at 6 for you.
First the dreadful realisation that a gunman who murdered a gang rival is none other than the cousin of Donnel Carty, who killed the lawyer Tom Ap Rhys Price.
We'll go live to our reporter Ronke Phillips who will tell us how
Lloywen Carty was one of three men convicted of murder at the Old Bailey today for the murder of Subaran Lee - known as Gangsta.
In other news West Ham are wasting little time in finding a replacement for Alan Pardew who was sacked yesterday. In keeping with East End tradition they look like keeping it in the family. Former player and ex Charlton boss Alan Curbishley was at the club today to discuss the post.
Tonight we want to hear whether or not you think Princes William and Harry's idea of a concert in memory of their mother Diana Princess of Wales is a good thing...or do you think there should be a more fitting tribute to the Queen of Hearts?
In addition there's an intriguing and deeply worrying tale of 13-year-old Nordine Bansar. Nordine became separated from his family in the crowds Christmas shopping in Oxford Street on Saturday and he hasn't been seen since. As you'd expect both family and police are desperately concerned for his welfare.
The Dome has a new name....no longer will it be called a hideous White Elephant...now it will be known as the O2 centre.
We'll be taking our latest look at Pantomime in the capital and - wait for it - live in the studio we'll be joined by Prince and Princess Charming themselves, Peter Andre and Katie Price who will be talking about their new record.
Finally we'll be doffing our cap to our very own Alastair Stewart who was up at the Palace today to pick up his very own OBE. Well done Al!
Looking forward to seeing you at 6.

London Tonight: Monday 11th December

Hello.
The Lloyds Insurance building divides opinion like few others: we all love St Pauls and we all hate the Barbican (I await your corrections!) but Lloyds? Inside out and lumpy ugly! Anyway, the appearance of the building has nothing to do with tonight's programme but what goes on inside it has... and how.

Up in what's left of Kensal Rise, hundreds of people are poring over their Policy Documents to check and re-check those 'exclusion clauses', 'limitations' and 'notes on submitting a claim'. Most will be OK but some will be excluded and will have a fight on their hands.
But what if you had no cover?
What if you were unemployed, with a young child and your wife had another on the way?
What if your only explanation was that you were trying to stretch the budget and make ends meet?
No brainer: your fault!
But, hey, we're all human and tonight Piers talks to just such a couple and hears how they hope to go forward.

(Meanwhile, up in Hemel Hempstead, lots of families and businesses who DID have insurance are wondering if our Kensal Rise couple might have been right all along: despite having what they thought was comprehensive cover they are still waiting for settlement - some in hotels - some having been told to move back into homes that are still not fit for survivors. And that, a year on!)
So, tonight we ask how good is your house insurance? Damian has all the questions you should be asking to be on the safe side.

Alan Pardew has been fired by West Ham. Interesting that around the newsroom there was a buzz of "he's FINALLY got the boot" so poor have things been for the Hammers of late. Well the new Icelandic owners appear to have bitten the bullet and put the man's career on ice. Sharon, a former Sunderland supporter, has the story - we like to be impartial but Hyper-Hammer Ken Hayes is acting as Sharon's little helper. (Sharon won't mind my saying it is her last report before going off to become a very proud mum: she goes with all good luck and all our love!!!)
We've a great campaign from those wonderful people at the National Missing Persons Helpline: details below**.
All proceeds go on helping find people who, for whatever reason, have slipped out of someone's life. And there's a significance to the phones: sometimes all you need is a call to know your missing loved one is fine but just wants to make a fresh start.
And then there's The Fonz! Oh yes, the great Henry Winkler is in the studio talking to us about..... being Captain Hook in panto! That has to be worth tuning in for.
As is Ed Speleers, the dashing young star of ERAGON which premieres in Leicester Square tonight - Jasmine's there, but is she safe?
And "nights are fair drawing in" defines a dull conversation in some quarters but when we asked Chrissie why, we got a wonderful talk on the winter solstace, druidic revelry and the burgeoning anticipation of the pagan and theocratic season: well, to be fair, she said "it's nearly Christmas so it gets dark!"
More detail at 6!

Al

** We're launching a really special campaign this week with our friends at LBC radio.
If you're getting a new mobile this Christmas - don't just let the old handset gather dust in a drawer - do some good with it. Every old phone donated raises £5 for the National Missing Persons Helpline and someone in the developing world gets an affordable mobile. Tune in at 6 to find out more details.

London Tonight: Friday 8th December

Hi there, and a thousand apologies for being late with this! The reasons, in a way, explain why we have a fascinating programme for you - in 45 minutes time!

I spent the morning at No10 Dowing Street with four London Tonight viewers. We went to hear the PM, who had just got back from Washington, talk about race relations. We had been invited to meet the man himself afterwards and, exclusively, to talk to him: just the five of us!
Hear what your fellow viewers had to say and what the PM had to say back to them.
Then I was right into the studio with Tamzin and another Tamsin (note the different spelling: my Tamzin is hot on that!). The other Tamsin is Tamsin Greig, the crazy but lovely dark haired woman doctor in Green Wing. She'll be talking about her new role with the Royal Shakespeare Company: a really fascinating and wonderful lady.
Then we were looking at Phil and Jon's amazing material from Kensal Rise and hearing about the mighty row brewing up there over broken houses and broken promises.
Tamzin is crafting her unmissable What not to Miss as I write and we'll have two terrific sports stories too.
Again, sorry to keep you waiting but I think you'll find the programme is well worth waiting for.
See you shortly!
Alastair

London Tonight; Friday 8th December

Hi there, and a thousand apologies for being late with this! The reasons, in a way, explain why we have a fascinating programme for you - in 45 minutes time!

I spent the morning at No10 Dowing Street with four London Tonight viewers. We went to hear the PM, who had just got back from Washington, talk about race relations. We had been invited to meet the man himself afterwards and, exclusively, to talk to him: just the five of us!
Hear what your fellow viewers had to say and what the PM had to say back to them.
Then I was right into the studio with Tamzin and another Tamsin (note the different spelling: my Tamzin is hot on that!). The other Tamsin is Tamsin Greig, the crazy but lovely dark haired woman doctor in Green Wing. She'll be talking about her new role with the Royal Shakespeare Company: a really fascinating and wonderful lady.
Then we were looking at Phil and Jon's amazing material from Kensal Rise and hearing about the mighty row brewing up there over broken houses and broken promises.
Tamzin is crafting her unmissable What not to Miss as I write and we'll have two terrific sports stories too.
Again, sorry to keep you waiting but I think you'll find the programme is well worth waiting for.
See you shortly!
Alastair
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London Tonight: Thursday 7th December

Afternoon all - sorry we're a bit late this evening. The small matter of a tornado - in suburban North London!! What's going on with the world??

Katie's going to be live in Kensal Green where it happened this morning - for something that lasted just a matter of moments, the damage has to be seen to be believed.

That's pretty much the bulk of the show - thanks to all of you who've sent in your pictures, we're running those along with ones our own crews have been filming - and we'll be asking Chrissie why it happened - and how significant it is.

We've got plenty of other news to pack in - AND Denzel Washington's been chatting to Steve.

I'm out of breath just thinking about it - do join us at 6, it's promising to be a great watch.

Ed

London Tonight: Wednesday 6th December

Afternoon friends of London Tonight.

Hope you're all well - we're looking to the future tonight - of the tube and in the air.
Tomorrow's tube train - judging by images and information released today - is spacier and, get this, air-conditioned!! Of course, it'll take years to happen and even then only on certain lines, but it's something - so long as it lives up to the billing!!! We want to know what you think about that one - and your horror stories too!

Air-side, the future is streamlined check-in - using biometric technology - fingerprints, iris recognition - that kind of thing. It should see an end to the queues - but do you WANT all your information on file??

On the more serious side of things, it's now a week since Laila Rezk was attacked in her home in Kingston Vale. She died a day later from her horrendous head injuries and the police have no idea who did it. Ronke's live there tonight with police as they carry out a new push for witnesses.

There's a whole bundle of other stuff to get in tonight - from the lollipop lady's big day at the Palace, to Robin Williams talking penguin..... Please don't ask me to explain - just tune in at 6.

Al, Katie and Chrissie are all in the house for your viewing pleasure - so please make it a date.

Take care

Ed

London Tonight: Tuesday 5th December

Good Afternooon,

It's a bit miserable out there so we think you'd be much happier curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea...and London Tonight !

First off - it sounds like parking heaven. In Maidstone there are no parking wardens.....you'd think that would be making a lot of drivers smile. It's actually making a lot of drivers curse. The reason, with nobody to enforce parking restrictions, it's turned into a free-for-all - cars stopping wherever they fancy blocking roads, doors, driveways etc and ultimately causing traffic chaos. The council have said they WILL take over the enforcement but red tape is holding things up. And in the meantime there are fears the current state of affairs could end up causing really serious problems for emergency vehicles.

10 years ago 17 year old Krista Ocloo died from acute heart failure at the Royal Brompton Hospital. The hospital's been cleared of any wrongdoing but Krista's mother still doesn't know exactly why her daughter died...and after spending the past decade fighting for answers she's set up a body campaigning for patient's rights....Glen Goodman's been to meet her.

We hear from a 71 year old mini cab driver who's calling for the same rights as black cabbies. He wants to be able to use bus lanes for example and is fed up with being fined for pulling over in the wrong place to drop off or pick up his fares. He's got other mini-cab drivers on board and they're planning to march for their rights.

We've a competition for all you Lionel Richie fans out there - come on you know you are !!

AND we'll be talking to Hollywood superstar Cameron Diaz, LIVE on the red carpet at the premiere of her new movie.

All that plus the ultimate eco restaurant, Chrissie with the weather, Robbie Earle with the build up to tonight's Champion's League clash at Stamford Bridge and the rest of the days news....

We're exhausted just telling you about it .... join us at 6 for the real thing

A&T

London Tonight: Friday 1st December

Good Aftenoon and Merry Christmas (it's the 1st of December you know).

24 shopping days .... and counting. So where are you planning to carry out this seasonal chore? Your local high street? the web? or are you planning to go up West? Well retailers in the heart of the city are determined to intice you to spend your hard earned cash with them...and they'll be telling our reporter Phil Bayles how they plan to persuade you.

Next - a tale with no seasonal cheer. In fact it's horrific. Laila Rezk was viciously attacked in her own home. The mother of two from Putney suffered serious head injuries and died yesterday. Police now want your help to find those responsible. Ronke will have the details at 6.

We've got the usual Friday fare of sports and movies...Willsy will have all the latest on the first ever North London derby to be played at the brand spanking new Emirates Stadium. While Mark Ecclestone will be splashing around in the city's sewers with the latest Aardmon creations for new movie Flushed Away. Well he'll be in the studio actually but it's a interesting image.

Jools Holland, multi platinum selling artist and all round superstar, is playing the Royal Albert Hall tonight but he's promised to pop into our studio first to tell us all about his latest album.

We've a compeition which should sort out all your christmas tree and decoration needs....there's a thousand pounds worth of vouchers poised to wing their way to you. You have to enter first though so tune in for the details.

That should be enough to keep you entertained !

We'll see you at 6

T & A

London Tonight: Thursday 30th November

Evening all!

We're topping off with a pretty serious warning tonight - we all know drugs are bad, and we all know that those who want to take them will do - regardless.
But police are really worried about the newest fashion drug sweeping part of clubland - it's killed two people in the last two months, and caused at least 15 collapses.
It's really bad stuff and we've got all the information you need to avoid it - and maybe help others avoid it too.

Onto our talking point for the night - bus drivers.
Now, we know that they do keep London running and we don't want to bash them unfairly - but anyone who uses a bus knows that they do jerk around as the stop and start - and the driver does drive off before you get to your seat. Now, a group of pensioners in Surrey is taking them on. Glen has the details - and we'd like your thoughts please.

Pigeons: Feathered Friends or Rats With Wings?
Westminster Council is firmly in the second camp and the battleground is Trafalgar Square.
Feeding pigeons there is banned, except for a small patch on the Square's north side - and the council wants to close the loophole that allows it!

We'll also be telling you which London landmark has just been sold for 400-million pounds - which means a 390-million pound profit for its former owner.

We'll also keep you entertained by speaking to legendary singer Dionne Warwick, plus one-time world and Olympic ice skating champions Torvill and Dean are with us live in the studio.

So, tune in and catch up at six o'clock.

Al & Katie

London Tonight: Wednesday November 29th

Afternoon and greetings from the hothouse of news.

And quite a popular little newsroom we are today... you see, word's gone round that star of the West Wing Richard Schiff - aka Toby Ziegler - is live in our studio tonight ... and suddenly people from all sorts of different departments are finding reasons to pop over! Who knew there were so many die-hard fans of the US political drama here.
In case you're wondering, he's soon to join the ranks of American actors on the West End stage and he's in to tell us all about it.

And as if that's not enough celebrity for you, we're also talking to the delicious Irish actor James Nesbitt live at a movie awards in town tonight.

But before we can get to all that - we'll have a sumptuous menu of hard news to dish up, from spectacular aerial pictures of the inmates' disturbance at Harmondsworth immigration detention centre - and we're hoping to be speaking to someone who's been inside and seen what's going on.

You may remember two months ago, that terrible accident in Battersea where a crane collapsed, killing one man. Marcus has been speaking to his father.

And finally - the mysterious contents of the female handbag. They may be out-of-bounds to men - but as Ronke found today that doesn't include the police - or pickpockets! There's a valuable lesson to be learnt, so don't miss it.

Willsy & Katie will be your hosts for the evening, so please accept our invitation to be there.

Ed

Tonight's Competition

The winners in tonight's competition:

"Darren", Jamie Chamberlain, Eddie Brock, Anna Holloway, Suzan Noorooya, Caroline Barrett, Aarti Pal, Caroline Evans, Kelli Hartley, Jackie Wolf.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues 28th Nov

Good afternoon,

Yesterday the men responsible for the pointless, violent death of promising young lawyer and husband-to-be Tom Ap Rhys Pryce were found guilty. Today they were sentenced. Donnel Carty got a minimum of 21 years, Delano Brown 17. Marcus Powell was there for us and will update us with what went on in court....including the reading of a statement from Tom's grief-stricken fiancee. It spoke of the "indescribable pain and absolute devastation" his death had caused. Heartbreaking.

Now...remember ex Olympic boss Jack Lemley....he quit his post out of the blue last month THEN later said reason he'd done so was because the project was "running late and over budget". Well today we got the latest in this saga. Mayor Ken has revealed the US businessman had suffered a stroke and "was not the man he'd been before", that he "wasn't on top of the job". Mr Lemley, your move !

Other Olympic News and it was a right royal affair this morning in Greenwich Park. The Duchess of Cornwall unveiled the venue for the equestrian events AND presented her niece Zara Phillips with a trophy for Equestrian Olympic Athlete of the Year.

One for men of a certain age next. The lady who made dungarees sexy and wellies footwear to covet...Yes Barbara Good, otherwise known as actress Felicity Kendal is in the studio talking about her latest stage role. We may have to restrain Mr Stewart.

Fancy a great night out tomorrow ? We can fix it for you if you tune in. The Sugababes, McFly and Amy Winehouse are waiting to entertain the winners of our competition.....The gig is at the Forum in Kentish Town, we've 10 pairs of tickets to give away.

Also in our bag of goodies....Fergie from US band "The Black Eyed Peas" talks to us about her struggles with drugs, her love for London AND her new album, Chrissie has the weather and we reveal why there are a few sore heads in the newsroom today...

See you at 6

A & T

London Tonight: Tuesday 28th November

Good afternoon,

Yesterday the men responsible for the pointless, violent death of promising young lawyer and husband-to-be Tom Ap Rhys Pryce were found guilty. Today they were sentenced. Donnel Carty got a minimum of 21 years, Delano Brown 17. Marcus Powell was there for us and will update us with what went on in court....including the reading of a statement from Tom's grief-stricken fiancee. It spoke of the "indescribable pain and absolute devastation" his death had caused. Heartbreaking.

Now...remember ex Olympic boss Jack Lemley....he quit his post out of the blue last month THEN later said reason he'd done so was because the project was "running late and over budget". Well today we got the latest in this saga. Mayor Ken has revealed the US businessman had suffered a stroke and "was not the man he'd been before", that he "wasn't on top of the job". Mr Lemley, your move !

Other Olympic News and it was a right royal affair this morning in Greenwich Park. The Duchess of Cornwall unveiled the venue for the equestrian events AND presented her niece Zara Phillips with a trophy for Equestrian Olympic Athlete of the Year.

One for men of a certain age next. The lady who made dungarees sexy and wellies footwear to covet...Yes Barbara Good, otherwise known as actress Felicity Kendal is in the studio talking about her latest stage role. We may have to restrain Mr Stewart.

Fancy a great night out tomorrow ? We can fix it for you if you tune in. The Sugababes, McFly and Amy Winehouse are waiting to entertain the winners of our competition.....The gig is at the Forum in Kentish Town, we've 10 pairs of tickets to give away.

Also in our bag of goodies....Fergie from US band "The Black Eyed Peas" talks to us about her struggles with drugs, her love for London AND her new album, Chrissie has the weather and we reveal why there are a few sore heads in the newsroom today...

See you at 6

A & T

And the winner is...

The more observant among you may have seen that at the end of the programme we used to bring up a little caption that said "Programme Of The Year". Last month we replaced it with the address of this website.

Why? Well - I always like to take that label off of our programme when the annual RTS award ceremony is close. It's all about tempting fate.

Well, the 2006 awards were last night. Thirteen of us got all dressed up (which was interesting as we had a table for twelve). And my, what a night we had. ITV London took home seven of the ten awards.

For us - the big two are the "News Story of the Year" and "Programme of the Year" awards. We knew we'd win "News Story Of the Year" - as we had all three nominations on the shortlist. We were delighted that our coverage of the Heathrow terror plot took that prize.

Then - the big one. Programme of the Year. The nominations were two for London Tonight and one for BBC London. They played the clips. They opened the envelope. And before I knew it we were up on stage picking up the award.

So when you see the title "Programme of the Year" at the end our broadcast tonight, you'll know why it's back.

Thanks for watching - we all work very hard every day to produce a programme that we hope you will want to watch.


Stuart
Editor, London Tonight

London Tonight: Monday 27th November

Good afternoon and welcome to another week of London Tonight.

Dramatic developments in the mysterious killing of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko: in the House of Commons this afternoon the Home Secretary John Reid said that radioactive polonium had been found in several more locations. It's believed they could include, possibly, an office block in the West End and at an address in Mayfair.
We'll have the latest live at 6.

Also this evening , within a star studded, action packed programme, we have the good, the bad and the ugly.
In reverse order, the ugly: Rotten landlords who don't give you back your deposit! Find out about the new law that means that will soon be a thing of the past.
The bad, and it really is bad: a promising young lawyer, Tom Ap Rhys Pryce, was walking home in January from the tube station in Kensal Green after a night out.
He was set-upon and stabbed to death. An act of ghastly violence prompted by sheer jealousy and greed.
Today, two teenager were found guilty of his murder and robbery.
Justice tempered by deep sadness for a loving family.

And the good: on the 6th Anniversary of the killing of Damilola Taylor, the great Rio Ferdinard goes public in urging youngsters to give up knives and the life-style that goes with them.

Star studded? Win tickets for Christina Aquillera's sell-out concert AND the chance to try-out her life-style: lots of pampering, a limo on call, a make-over and massage plus much more besides.
Rik Mayal auditioning would-be Tony and Cherie Blairs for his stage show of the New Statesman.
And Take That in London ahead of their big TV extravaganza on Saturday and celebrating beating U2, the Beatles and Oasis to the Number 1 slot in the album chart!

Chrissie has the weather with dramatic flooding in the home counties - you won't even want to make a cup of tea or pour another glass of champagne between 6 and 6.30!
See you then.

A & T

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 24th Nov

Hello: what an amazing day!

The international intrigue and sadistic murder that has dominated the national TV and press for days finally boils down to a house, a restaurant and a hospital in London.

Alexander Litvinenko was the former KGB spook who died last night - he'd made London his home and his headquarters for attacking the Russian regime of his old boss, former spy-master and now President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. In a death-bed note, Litvinenko said it was Putin, thousands of miles away in Moscow, who ordered his death, here in London. Piers has been putting the pieces together of a story that John Le Carre and Ian Fleming would have been proud of.

Moving breathlessly on, not a little anger in the newsroom about another of our top stories: think Piccadilly Circus, think neon ads; think Leicester Square, think movie posters the size of mountains and yet more neon lights; think Trafalgar Square and, with the recent brief exception when the Column was under repair, you think... great, no ads! Not any more! And, to make matters worse some think, the ads will be on the side of St Martin's in the Fields. OK, it will pay for repairs but a price too far? Glen is on the case.

A full news round up, via continuing problems for Anton Ferdinand and a bunch of Health and Safety types at Tower Hamlets who say putting up Christmas decorations is just too dangerous so they won't be allowed, and we come to last nights Visit London Awards: will Gordon Ramsey turn the air blue when he hears the results? You'll have to be there to find out!

As you will have to be if you want to win tickets to Christina Aguilera's sell-out gig at Wembley Arena. But, because it's Friday, we are throwing in the chance for you to live the CA life-style for a day with personal shoppers, trips to Harrods and a limo' at your beck and call. I'm breathless again...

Just time to tell you we have a movie review, Tamzin's spectacular What Not to Miss and Willsy previewing the Premiership battle of the giants: Chelsea vs some bunch in Red from up north... Well, the north west to be fair!

And Robin says the gales will be even stronger than Chrissie warned last night: that'll put the breath back in you...

See you at 6!

A & T

London Tonight: Thursday 23rd November

Afternoon all.

Well! That was a very heated debate we've just had in our afternoon meeting - and it's our top story that's causing division in the newsroom.

Here's the deal. You own a property and a mobile phone company offers you a big pile of cash to put one of their masts on your roof.
Now, you don't need planning permission - so it's up to you to say "yes" or "no" - right?

But what if YOU don't live in the property - your tenants do - and they don't want a mobile mast over their heads - I mean, whatever officials say, you can't deny a lot of people are still worried about potential health risks of the masts.

Well that's exactly the situation a group of people in Wimbledon find themselves in - and they're not happy with the landlord's proposed solution: "I'll say no to the mast - but YOU have to match the money I WOULD have got from the phone company."

Who do YOU have sympathy with? Chris Rogers has been speaking to all sides.
And our email and text question tonight will be: "What's the worst thing a landlord's ever done to you or asked you to do?" Get thinking..... And keep it clean!

News-wise there's sensational footage of Britain's biggest ever counterfeiting operation - the gang got phenomenal sentences in court today; We speak to a woman injured in the July 7th bombings who was sacked by her bosses for under-performing - she says they didn't take into consideration what she'd been through and is suing.

With warnings of gales on the way, we want your help - Chrissie will have all the details - as well as the numbers you need to send us your mobile phone footage if you see anything dramatic - she's happy to give some of the best a mention on air.

And saving the most tantalising 'til last..... If you screamed for Jason Orange, or pined for Mark Owen... let them RELIGHT YOUR FIRE - in person - next week.
We have a totally money can't buy prize to give away - but you need to tune in at 6 if you want a piece of the action. And with some of the female staff in this newsroom, we're keeping the prize under lock and key just to be on the safe side.....

You really won't want to miss us tonight, so we'll see you same time (6pm) same place (ITV1).

Til then.. Yours
A&T

London Tonight: Wednesday 22nd November

Afternoon!

If you're an uninsured driver ... Beware! More than 1000 cars have been confiscated in the last few weeks in a major blitz to try to beat this crime... And many of those have ended up in the crusher. You have been warned... Marcus has all the info.

As the financial gloom seems to be gathering over the Olympics, and as you seem to be getting crosser and crosser at the prospect of having to stump up for the Games, today the organisers of the Olympics have hit back, telling us how much good the event will do the city. Tune in to Simon Harris, and see if you are convinced.

We've an extraordinary story of a mother so desperate to solve her son's death, she's turned private detective herself, to try to find his killer; the inspiring tale of a primary school in Edmonton that's turned itself round in just 6 years from dreadful to top of the league; the millionth ticket sold for Billy Elliott, Esther Rantzen live in the studio ... Oh, and Her Majesty righting the wrongs of 200 years ago in a moving ceremony with a Native American indian. In Southwark. You'd better watch at 6!

Katie and Alastair.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues 21st Nov

Afternoon to you,

Time to take a look at what we're serving up in this evening's programme. Brace yourselves: there's a lot to fit in.

First up. Who cheered and cheered when London won the 2012 Olympics? Well, with the Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell, being grilled by some MPs today, it's emerged... guess what... the preparations are already over budget - to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds. And take another guess at who's stumping up at least SOME of that cash. Londoners. So, who's cheering now? Simon Harris has the full story.

Willsy, meanwhile, will have the latest on the Hammers going under the, er... hammer. A consortium from Iceland has bought the club for 85 million complete with its debts of over 22 million. What does it mean for the team and those who follow it...? Willsy will tell us.

And sticking with footy for the moment, we'll have a pitchside report from Robbie Earle ahead of Arsenal's Champions' League game at the Emirates Stadium.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have been along to Great Ormond Street Hospital today to check out a brand new wing. As for the young patients - it made their day. Liz Wickham will have the details.

Now, do you ever wonder what actors do when they're not acting..? Well, some of them, at least, play the part of 'person answering phone'. A call-centre which makes, and takes, calls for various businesses is celebrating its 21st birthday - and the only people with a hope of getting a part there are out-of-work actors. Jon Gilbert has that.

Lemar though does NOT have to worry about work drying up. With a bagful of awards to his name, and his records in rather a lot of people's collections, he'll be in the studio talking about it all.

Plus: Chrissie will be giving us the weather forecast - on ice. We kid you not.

See you at SIX.

Ben & Katie.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 20th Nov

Hello and welcome to another week of London Tonight.

We start with chaos on London transport but end with high hopes for a new departure. Metronet are in deep ordour again for falling badly behind with engineering work at the weekend and causing endless strife on the tube this morning. A strike by some bus crews added to the pandemonium - I am amazed any of us got here! Piers has the details, assuming he is able to get to his location.

The upbeat element is the launch of a consultation on a cross-London tram network, and the interesting twist is that the route in North-South. Answers on a postcard to TfL please! Simon Harris is our "clippy" tonight.

Still with the transport theme, Westminster Council are removing many of their parking meters because some people out there have started the process already! Take a chain-saw to them and the bad guys can yield as much as £20k a street: I always thought parking was too expensive! Anyway, they are going to try texting instead which does seem a good idea.

We also have the good idea of some of the big hotel chains talking to some of the homelessness charities about how they might help with one of London's most enduring and unacceptable problems. It isn't just a hand-out: it's brain-storming for some lasting solutions as Damien will explain. We're up for that, too!

Beyonce has been talking to Steve Hargrave and we have a thousand pounds worth of shopping to give away, with a personal shopper to help you blow the lot at Debenhams.

Chrissie's weather and the rest of the days news are also in the mix.

Compelling reasons, we hope, for you to be with us at 6!

A & K

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 17th Nov

It is Friday, but you know that.

So, Alastair and Tamzin hereby issue you with their customary invitation to an hour of great news and entertainment on ITV1.

What you might not know is that our fantastic Peoples' Millions feature comes to a glorious end tonight: another winner you voted for and the best runner-up. We've really enjoyed doing this with the Big Lottery Fund people and it has warmed even the hardest hearts to see the faces of the winners when Glen tiptoes in with a cheque that is bigger than he is under his arm. We're going to give you a lovely reminder of the unbridled joy the winners showed when they got the goodies from him. Not a dry eye in the house!

We are also taking a look at the Euro Millions Lottery: 28 of the top 40 busiest ticket sales sites are in London, and most of them are in Canary Wharf or the City! Haven't they got enough already???? Marcus seems to think so. (Truth to tell, we have a little newsroom flutter on it too - but, given top ITV News West Ham fan Ken is in charge, relegation rather than riches seems the most likely outcome...)

We'd like to relegate, from the human race, the people who have been smuggling rare and endangered creatures and letting some of them die. It is a hideous story but one Ronke will tell with compassion if not a little anger.

James will tell us what he thinks of Casino Royale and Willsy has all the sport including a great competition for youngsters who fancy their chances in training with the tennis prodigy Andy Murray.

A round up of the rest of the news and Robin with his surreal weather would seem to bring it to a perfect outcome.

Just need that winning line and we WON'T see you next week: so, see you at 6 ...... AND on Monday, probably!

A & T

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 16th Nov 2006

Good afternoon,

We start Thursday's programme with a murder that could have been, in fact SHOULD have been prevented.. Denis Finnegan was killed as he cycled through a London park. Stabbed to death by John Barrett, a mentally ill man who should never have been at liberty to kill. Tonight we've details of what an inquiry has called "serious failures" on the part of Springfield secure hospital in Tooting.

We've also a gruesome tale of a Surrey pig farmer who's today been sentenced to life for murdering his wife, even though her body has never been found. The jury heard testimony from his ex-wife that he'd threatened to kill HER and feed her to his animals. Marcus Powell has more at 6.

Our very own Olympic Athlete (otherwise known as political correspondent Simon Harris) has taken a plane to sunny Barcelona, to catch up with Seb Coe and Tessa Jowell on a fact finding mission. It's been a bad few weeks for the team....as costs seem to spiral out of control. Can they learn anything from our Spanish friends ?

And a showbiz double Whammy...first Sting tells us of his work for the Princes Trust. Then (much to Alastair's over-excitement) Nelly Furtado joins us in the studio for a chat about her win at last night's World Music Awards and Michael Jackson's bizarre appearance there.

All that AND we give away thousands of pounds to a very deserving cause with the latest of our People's Millions cheques.

We'll see you at 6

Tamzin and Alastair

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 15th Nov

Good afternoon.

Bad news, I'm afraid. Many of you are going to say "I told you so" tonight. Because we've done the sums, and it seems that the London Olympics are going to cost TWICE what was thought. Yes, twice. The bill now looks set to be a massive 5 billion pounds, and of course the games are still 6 years away. The Olympic Delivery Authority have admitted that costs will be "substantially more " than expected. And I think we can all agree that double IS "substantially more". We'll be asking for your thoughts on this ... I suspect you'll have lots to say.

Good news though for another worthy winner of the People's Millions tonight.. Didn't you love those excited kids who'd won last night? And 2 more hopefuls for you to vote for too.

Chris has been talking to Sting about all sorts of stuff ... including the environment and playing the lute..

Tamzin's at the World Music Awards at Earl's Court. And no, it's not a celebration of Peruvian nose flute music. We're talking HUGE stars .. Beyonce and the like. It's the first time they've been held here, but the really big news is that Michael Jackson is going to perform. Yes, Wacko himself, on stage for the first time in this country in 9 years, and for the first time anywhere since he was cleared of the child molestation charges. History indeed...

And of course, the papers, Chrissie with the weather... Hope to see you at 6.

Katie and Al.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues Nov 14th

Good afternoon !

We are safely back on terra firma after our Lusty lurch into the land of the tar: hope you enjoyed it even if it was a bit cold!

Now, in the spirit of warmth and pre-Christmas kindness, tonight's programme is most generous in its offering to you: we will take you, live, to the premiere of the new James Bond movie: Tamzin will be there and she's got Daniel Craig in her sights...

We will have a competition for those Oasis fans among you: tickets to a screening of the new documentary film about the boys and the chance to quiz Noel on one of the greatest bands of the 90s.
As if that wasn't enough, we reveal who has won the first tranche of the People's Millions and offer you another couple of candidates to choose between: Up to £50k on offer! Glen is in command but it's your call.

So, where is our less loving side? Where does our brutal journalism cozy up to our loving side?

Ken and Caracas - we still think there are questions to answer and Simon is still asking them. Why the Venezuala trip and then why was it cancelled? And a London Embassy in the Venezualan capital? Our report and your thoughts at 6.

Chrissie with the weather and the rest of the news, including the latest on Eurostar: Zut Alors! Anywhere else to be than ITV1 at 6.

See you there.

A & K

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 13th Nov

Hello from the London Tonight team.

It was a very different journey to work for Alastair today. Forget South West Trains, leaves on the line in Woking, iced up points around Norbiton and a broken down train at Earlsfield (before SWT complain, I should point out there were none of those problems this morning. That I know of). For Alastair, this morning it was a Chinook ride onto HMS Illustrious on the Thames.

Why? Well, we've a very special programme tonight, live from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier.

We'll show you Alastair's flight - we'll see a day in the life of the flagship - and we'll talk live to the Captain.

All that - plus the People's Millions is back - tonight you can vote for the project you want to get a fifty thousand pound "Big Lottery Fund" grant.

And we're on the Cutty Sark to find out how the renovations are going on that unique vessel.

All that - live from Illustrious - at six.

Stuart
Editor, LT.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 10th Nov

Good Afternoon,

It's chilly outside, so stay in with us. There's plenty to keep you informed and entertained on tonight's programme.

We start with a terrifying tale of robbers who snatched people off the street and forced them to hand over their pin numbers - before raiding their bank accounts. Full details at six.

Elsewhere, a tale we think is a bit of a talking point. An animal centre in Kensal Green claims it's under threat .... because of new parking restrictions. The problem, a residents parking zone will mean ambulances, on standby for sick creatures, will no longer be able to park outside for free. The solution, so say its supporters, is to make the Mayhew Animal Centre a special case and exempt it from the new rules. We'll be bringing you the details and asking for your opinions.

It's all aboard The Illustrious for our reporter Phil Bayles. The aircraft carrier's in the Thames ahead of Poppy Day on Sunday and Phil's live in Greenwich for us with a sailor's eye view of the Royal Navy Flagship.

It's Friday so a bumper hamper of entertainment's on offer. We've an interview with dance act Faithless, a trip to the movies with our critic James King AND of course our usual whizz round a whole raft of ideas for things to keep you busy in the capital this weekend.

Chrissie's getting into the nautical spirit too...she's broadcasting her weather report live from the Cutty Sark.

Oh, and a great competition for you.

All waiting for you at 6 o Clock.

T&W

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 8th Nov

Good Afternoon and Welcome to our mid-week message!

Gone but not forgotten, our dear Mayor winged his merry way to Venezuela to finalise the oil-for-public-services-advice deal last week...... but then decided he'd go via Cuba to have a chat about the Olympics..... and pop in to see how Fidel Castro was doing.
Now Ken is a serial election winner in Brent and for London Mayor but, hard to believe, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez suddenly decided Ken might not help HIS election prospects so the visit was cancelled. Odd? It gets odder. Arriving back at Gatwick this morning, not a word passed the normally over-worked lips of our Mayor. Instead he just hummed. And hummed. Simon Harris is trying to get to the bottom of this Latin American-cum-Cuban mystery.

Fighting gun crime is an absolute priority for the Met because it is an absolute priority for most Londoners. Rock stars, fashion icons, youth leaders - all have spoken out against gun-crime in an effort to dissuade young Londoners from carrying and using guns.
So why are Puma producing a new trainer with an image of a machine gun on them, with the slogan 'I Steal For A Living'? And why are they launching the new fashion-shoe in London? We are concerned and think you might be, too. So Phil is on the case and we want to know what you think.

Different sort of fashion: you'll need a dinner suit or long-frock if you win tonight's spectacular competition: tickets for the premiere of latest Bond blockbuster Casino Royale. Strut your stuff on the red-carpet but you must be dressed to the nines. Details at 6.

Is your hospital on the hit-list of possible closures in the latest round of health service reforms? The Department of Health didn't want you to know nor did they want us to know. But we do and so you will... if you tune in.

Southend 1 Man U 0! Say no more! Well, actually, we will be saying quite a bit more: Glen is in giant killer mode from the home of the country's longest pier and shortening odds for Cup glory.

And, a dream come true: Chrissie, not only on the weather, not only on a white Christmas but really, truly, honestly.... on ice-skates!
StratoCumulous and a dollop of double salkos, just for you.

Toe-loop your way in our direction at 6.

Don't forget the Black tie and evening gown!!!!

A & K

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues 7th Nov

Hi there.

Its a dreadful question but what do you think is the biggest killer of young people in London. Cancer? Drugs? Alcohol? Or what about violence....knives or guns?

Well its none of the above. Watch at 6 to find out...you'll be shocked and surprised as London Tonight highlights the campaign to tackle it.

Now Mayor Ken Livingstone might be a long way from the capital but he's never far away from the headlines. This time Ken is in hot water...or perhaps that should be oil over a visit to Venezuela where he was supposed to be discussing a supply of the black stuff for London. All sorts of excuses have been given but the long and the short of it is Mayor Ken didn't meet with President Chavez and now he's got to justify the cost of the trip. We've more on this tonight.

On the lighter side of life we've got an amazing James Bond competition with a trip to Nice and loads of goodies for the winner, we'll be taking a look at a massive night in the history of Southend United as they entertain Premiership leaders Manchester United in the Carling Cup and then there's the latest band to re-unite, Genesis are getting back together, Phil Collins and all, for a World tour.

Oh yes and Chrissie Reidy's been up in a flying boat as well!

See you at six!

W&K

PETER PAN COMPETITION WINNERS

Well done to Jan Walters, Rosemary Rose, Maureen Aylen, Emma Holmes, Sharon Payne, Kate Wyatt, Ross Powell, Jack King, Neil Francis and Simon Morosoli. You'll be hearing about the family tickets to Peter Pan very soon.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 9th Nov 2006

Hi there.. could cracks be appearing in London's plans for the 2012 Olympics?

Two weeks ago Olympic Delivery Authority chairman Jack Lemley resigned after less than a year in the job. Today one of the country's most famous Architects says he's thinking about boycotting the Games.

Find out why Lord Rogers is angry at six.

And where do you stand in the red and white debate? Wearers of the traditional poppy are being accused of glorifying war and are being urged to consider going for the white version as more Christian sign of peace and remembrance.

Then there's the changing of the guard. Forget sombre think secret service. For a change the soldiers did their thing to the tune of 007 movie's today....find out if they were shaken or stirred by the experience.

Another major switch on is taking place at Oxford Street...once again the best place to watch the turning on of the Christmas lights is live on London
Tonight - and we've also got another fantastic competition - tickets to see the fabulous Peter Pan on Ice.

Look forward to telling you all about those stories at six.

W&T

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 6th Nov

Afternoon everyone.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend with lots of very loud fireworks. Shame they went on until 5 in the morning...

And it looks like there'll be fireworks at City Hall for some time to come. Remember last week's surprise when the Mayor of London rocked up in Cuba? "We weren't expecting that", we said. "Well", says Ken, "that's because we wanted the media to concentrate on my trip to Venezuela"...
Fair enough. So we did. Only now he's not going. We're TOLD the trip's been cancelled at the 11th hour because elections in Venezuela mean President Chavez won't have enough time to chat with our Mayor. Seems a bit strange to us... AND to Simon Harris who was waiting in Caracas with open microphone. He'll have the full story nonetheless.

Next, a horrific story about bullying - not just name-calling or pushing and shoving in the playground. Last November, Natashia Jackman was stabbed in the eye with a pair of scissors at school in Surrey - and she talks about her experience for the first time today, even claiming the school tried to make her feel responsible.

Marcus Powell reports on the tragic tale of Charlotte Adams - hit and killed by a car as she walked home from a Christmas party. At the wheel, one Emmanuel Amoah, wasn't qualified to drive and he ran from the scene. But there was no running from justice today as he was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.

In a very different vein, anyone who saw 'X-Factor' on Saturday will have seen a very cross Simon Cowell indeed - the 'King of the Caustic Comment' not a little put out that one of his acts got the old 'heave-ho'. He's rather optimistic about the prospects of a new signing of his though - a choir of kids called 'Angelis'. Jasmine Lowson's been to meet them.

Now - question: What do you want from a home? Well, it seems ladies want one thing - and men want something completely different. Cue lots of jokes. Architects designing flats though take it all very seriously indeed, actually tailoring blocks of flats to boys'... or girls' needs. Damien Steward has the low-down on that.

And what's more - Phil Bayles will have news to put a smile on green-campaigners living in the Heathrow flightpath... one of London's biggest stores puts a smile on the faces of those who lost thousands when a Christmas savings company collapsed... and let's hope Chrissie can put a smile on all our faces with her look at the weather.

We'd better get cracking. See you at SIX.

Ben and Katie.

DATELINE CARACAS by Simon Harris

Well, it makes a change from City Hall. We have been here 24 hours now awaiting the arrival of Ken Livingstone, so what are my first impressions of this extraordinary city? It is very chaotic and certainly dangerous. Consider this: the local off licence next to the hotel does not have grills and bars as protection but a very powerful man with a bullet proof vest, a sawn off shotgun and a belt full of cartridges!

Most of us when we travel rely on a checklist of essential items to ensure nothing vital is left at home. Passport, currency, suntan lotion etc. For this trip I added one extra item. A poppy. After all we are just days away from November 11th. It turned out to be a big mistake. Caracas is a violent place (see above) and never more so than during an election campaign. Venezuela goes to the polls on December 3rd and the campaign is in full swing. It is almost certainly one reason why Ken Livingstone is here. The current president, Hugo Chavez is a left-winger with some explosisve anti-American opinions. Our mayor is his new best amigo. There are almost two dozen candidates but the front runners are Chavez (champion of the poor) and Manuel Rosales (favourite of the middle classes). Rosales' supporters wear blue, the Chavistas dress in red. They haven't heard of the British Legion here, let alone Poppy Day. So if someone walks through arrivals at Caracas airport with a red flower in their lapel it can only mean one thing. He must be a Chavista. That almost certainly accounts for the chilly reception I got from the front desk at the hotel. But it could have been worse. A colleague from another news organisation was lucky to escape a severe beating from a Chavez supporter. His crime? He was wearing a Nike baseball cap. Blue.

I am afraid to say the poppy will not be making another appearance in Caracas.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri Nov 3rd

Hello!

Friday November 3rd - and just forty eight hours from Bonfire Night. Lots of us have been chatting about Sunday night - some are going to school events, a few are off to the Battersea bash and others are planning something in their own back gardens.

It's fireworks, bonfires, warm wine, hot chocolate and marshmallows time again.
Unless you live in Tower Hamlets.

The Council have funded a firework event for sometime but this year the organisers don't want a Guy... nor do they even want a fire. That's because it would bring back memories of the 17th century Catholic plot, led by Guy Fawkes, to blow up the Houses of Parliament as King James 1st ( 6th of Scotland, and a Stuart points out Alastair ) performed the State Opening of Parliament, and the cruel and unusual punishments meted out to poor old Guido and his incendiary buddies.
So, instead, there will be the reading of a Bengali folk tale.

The temperature of the "politically correct Vs politically incorrect" debate in our office was enough to mull a gallon or eight of wine and roast a million marshmallows.
Marcus will report and Tamzin and Alastair will ask you for your views

Old Man River should pull his weight a bit more when it comes to global warming, some say. And London's network of Canals. Well he and they will, Estelle tells us. Think less Eddie Stobbart and more Ancient Mariner and you'll be on the right track.

Its enough to make you cry.... Tracks of My Tears and.... Tears of a Clown: it must be a case of smoke getting in your eyes..... sorry, I'm off on one: Tamzin has been talking to vocal legend Smokey Robinson. Ah - what a combination.

Mark Eccelston takes us to the movies and, yes, we will have his take on Borat.....

Chrissie has her weather and, finally, we will give you a special edition of What Not to Miss!!! All the firework displays and parties we could find.... apart from Tower Hamlets.

See you at 6.

A & T

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 2nd Nov 2006

Afternoon: sorry we are a little later than usual but we have been rushing around trying to make sense of some complicated stuff....
....not least the shooting of an alleged armed robber - (we have to say 'alleged' for legal reasons which is just a small example of how careful we have to be with stories like this).
Anyway, it seems the team, or some members of the team, who shot Jean Charles de Menezes dead at Stockwell Tube station were in action a few days back at a building society in New Romney, Kent. A man was shot dead and there's to be an investigation - that is par for the course. But there's an almighty row about whether it was a Stockwell Team member who fired the fatal shot: and, if it was, was it a bit early for him or her to be back on the job....? Ben will make sense of it for you.

You may have heard the very moving readings on radio of letters a dad wrote to his daughter, despite the fact that she had been killed in a level crossing accident. Jasmin has been to meet him and I defy you not to be touched by his love and passion.

The Olympics will bring no quick fix to London's tourism industry so says the European Association of Travel Agents. Kill joys or the bringing of wise and sober warnings? Estelle speaks a number of languages and will let you know.

Ken is going to Venezuela: we knew but were told to keep it a secret for security reasons which we did until he blurted it out on the radio (That's two mentions of the radio: Ed.) (That's because I listen to radio in the morning rather than watch TV: Alastair). Marcus wants to know why and so do we and we think you might too. Apparently it is about oil for transport advice. With me now is a Black Cab driver... Or not, perhaps!

Jeremy Clarkson gets very Jeremy Clarkson about fast cars, petrol cans and other utterly riveting things from the MPH show. Divided opinion on this one so you decide but I'll warn you, even the antis think it's funny.....

And Chrissie will, on this freezing November evening, tell us why September and October were the hottest on record and what lies ahead in her magic world of meteorological mystery!

See you at 6 ; gosh, that's getting a bit close......

A & K

London Tonight: Wednesday November 1st

We start with a couple of shockers: Michael Stone the convicted Ulster Loyalist killer tells us, in his first TV interview, why he had Ken Livingstone in his sights: literally.
And American Jack Lemley, the former Head of Delivery for the 2012 Olympics, quit amicably two weeks ago. Now he's told American journalists it was all because of meddling politicians and spiralling costs. Not a word of that was said when he left amid back-slapping and glad-handing. Who was spinning whom and what is the real truth? Simon Harris is on the case.

Also this evening Jon Gilbert looks at a dramatic rescue and recovery exercise on the Thames that just left the survivors and victims' families of the Marchioness disaster asking why so many of the safety promises, made in the wake of the tragedy, remain unfulfilled.

And the premiere of a movie which is a kind of SpinalTap for the 21st century: Steve Hargrave treads the red carpet as Tamzin stays in the warm alongside Alastair.

See you at 6!

A and T

London Tonight; Tuesday 31st October

Afternoon!

Now then. His dad's a notorious rabble rousing Muslim cleric, challenging convictions for incitement to murder and race hate offences. He himself was jailed for a terrorist offence in Yemen, plotting to bomb targets in the US and the UK. And yet he manages to get a job on the London Underground. He doesn't work there anymore... But now Mayor Livingstone has waded in with both size 10's, saying that he doesn't have a problem with this young man working for London Underground, as he doesn't actually have a criminal record in Britain. We speak to one woman who lost her sister on July 7th ... And she is extremely upset by the Mayor's comments. We'd like your views on that one too.

We've day one of the trial of 2 teenagers charged with killing young lawyer Tom ap Rhys Price just yards from his home earlier this year, stabbed at Kensal Rise tube station.

We've reports of a really serious health warning on a new shock horror flick out this week: Saw III .. Not my favourite kind of movie I must confess .. And it seems I'm not alone. The London Ambulence Service have already had so many call-outs from people who've either fainted or felt queasy during the film that they're telling people not to go if they're faint hearted. Is this a case of any publicity is good publicity?

We're at the footy as Chelsea take on Barcelona, and with Angels the costumiers on their busiest night of the year... Pumpkin suit, anyone?!

And then for a touch of showbiz, we're live on the red carpet at TV's oscars, the National TV awards.. Hosted by Sir Trev, attended by a galaxy of your favourite telly stars. Gorgeous.

See you at 6!