FW: weather blog

Good evening,

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

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

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

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

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

See you at six,

Matt and Nina

Weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

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

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

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

See you at Six.

Matt and Katie

london tonight tonight

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

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

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

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

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

See you at Six

Matt and Katie.
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Matt and Katie
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you at Six

Matt and Katie
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello. Welcome to the weekend

At the top of the programme tonight, we have the truely sad story of a five week old premature baby who died at Great Ormond Street Hospital following a series of blunders. Poppy Davies was born on Christmas Eve last year just 24 weeks into her mum's pregnancy. But in January, after she was recovering from a routine operation, a trainee nurse with just three weeks experience in the neonatal unit failed to set up the equipment properly. Poppy died of a glucose overdose on the first of February. Marcus Powell will have the full story for us later.

Now, we newsy types are often accused of giving teenagers a bad name. We're told we cover knife crime, gun crime, gang culture and ASBO's ad-infinitum, but rarely cover stories that show young people in a positive light. I don't happen to agree, I think we do plenty of positive stories on LT but I would say that, wouldn't I? Either way, The "Spirit of London" awards have been designed to mark the achievements of teenagers and young people from various walks of life in the capital and to celebrate some inspirational young role models. The judging panel comprises of an eclectic mix of people from the worlds of sport, music and politics and also include role models like Richard Taylor, father of Damilola Taylor. What's clear is that the judges have an incredibly difficult job ahead of the awards at the end of November. Tonight, we highlight one of the contenders, a really talented young musician.

Friday night is movie night and James King is here to review 'An Education', after we had screen writer Nick Hornby on the show on Monday. I went to the press screening with James earlier in the week, so I'm interested to find out if his opinion differs from mine. In case you missed Nick Hornby, the film is set in the early 60's and charts the romance between a 16-year-old Oxford hopeful, Jenny, and her significantly older suiter, David. I really enjoyed it, but James is the expert! One tip: if you ever find yourself in a press screening for a film don't try and leave before the end credits have completely finished...I did and nearly didn't make it out of there alive!

Also tonight, Sangeeta Kandola has fulfilled an ambition of mine by going to Ronnie Scott's jazz club in Soho. Jazz is a bit like musical Marmite, but I'm firmly on the 'love it' side and Ronnie Scott's is, quite simply, a iconic musical venue. One of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, Ronnie's has been thrilling audiences (although not always at the same location) for half a century. You can tell as much about the club's reputation by the list of people who've been in the audience over the years, as you can by the list of performers. On stage, the biggest names in music, not just jazz, have played there from Miles Davis, Stan Getz and Nina Simone to Nat 'King' Cole, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton. In the crowd, well, everyone from Judy Garland to The Beatles, over the years. No doubt, Ronnie Scott's will be celebrating their 50th birthday in style and Sangeeta never likes to miss out a party!

And...MORE PUMPKINS! The culmination of our week long search for London's best pumpkin carver today sees Nick Thatcher despatched to the one we deem the best. Just so that you know, this wasn't an official competition, merely a bit of fun and Katie, Nina and I have just come out of a darkened room having gone through the hundreds of pictures you've sent in. It took a while to come to agreement, so Nick has been holed up at a service station somewhere in the capital for several hours waiting with baited breath. Well, the decision's been made so now he's on en route to the winner's house. Let's hope you're in!

See you at Six

Matt and Nina
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello, welcome to Thursday's offering...

As well as all the top news stories from the capital, tonight we'll have memories of war past and present later as we approach Remembrance Sunday next weekend. First, Piers Hopkirk reports for us from Croydon after another of our regiments returned home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. The men from the 2nd Batallion, The Rifles, endured some of the fiercest fighting the British Army has seen since the Second World War and their homecoming will be another of mixed emotions with the families of thirteen servicemen mourning the deaths of their loved ones rather than celebrating their return. Also, we remember earlier conflicts by way of a re-union held today that highlighted an extraordinary story of how men and women now living in London survived under the Nazi occupation of Europe. Liz Wickham has more on that fascinating story for us.

Also on the programme tonight, British heavyweight boxing title contender David Haye will be live in the studio. He takes on the might of seven foot tall Russian man-mountain, Nikolay Valuev in Germany next weekend and victory will be some ask for the Bermondsey boy. Haye is nine inches shorter than Valuev and around eight stone lighter. Valuev has only lost once in fifty fights and has never been put on the canvas, let alone knocked out. This WBA title fight will only be Haye's second in the division after making the step up from Cruiserweight. It's being dubbed as 'David v Goliath', but anyone who's seen the movie 'Rocky IV', might recognise the plot of this fight as being even less believable. We'll be asking David how he assesses his chances and why he's decided to spend the last few months chucking insult after insult at the man dubbed 'The Beast from the East', effectively poking a sleeping giant with a great big stick! I hope there's a cunning plan, otherwise David Haye could be in for a world of hurt and end up with a face like a squashed...

...pumpkins galore on the show tonight, but with Glen Goodman allegedly on a day off, the baton's been handed to Murray Dron. The bar of pumpkin punnery has continued to rise throughout this week, thanks to Glen and some great pictures sent in by some of you (still time to get your entries in by the way so get carving). I spoke to Murray after last night's programme, just after he'd been given today's assignment. He was nervous, let me tell you. How do you compete with Glen's full pumkin head mask from Monday, or the pumkin Olympics of last night? Only time will tell - good luck Muzza, we're all rooting for you!

Matt and Katie.
Please Note:

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

Please note that to ensure regulatory compliance and for the protection of our clients and business,
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Thank You.

london tonight tonight

Good afternoon all...

Another busy programme for you tonight including a real acting legend in the studio.
News-wise, we report on the disturbing story of the teenage daughter of a London vicar who, a court has been told, plunged to her death while trying to escape two bullies. Part of the incident which resulted in the death of Rosimeiri Boxall, known as 'Rosie', was filmed on a mobile phone. The jury also heard that as Rosie lay dying on the ground, one of her attackers, a 13-year-old girl, shouted "serves you right". The girls involved deny manslaughter. Ronke Phillips reports from the Old Baily.

Now, love it or loathe it you can't really escape 'The X-Factor' at the moment. It's everywhere: Saturday night tv, Sunday night tv, all over the papers, all over the charts. And for residents of Golders Green in North London, all over the street and all over the walls as well! The acts are holed up in a multi-million pound pad to which hordes of mostly teenage fans gather day after day. But there is collateral damage with those living nearby complaining of lewd behaviour, rubbish and graffiti. We sent Ben Scotchbrook along to report, so now residents will have a camera crew, lights and a satellite truck to complain about as well. Let's just hope the crew don't contribute to the graffiti or lewd behaviour!

There's a bit of a sporting theme to the programme tonight too as Murray Dron reports on what is vastly becomming the curse of modern football. I suppose you could see it as the sporting equivalent of natural selection with the rich clubs becoming richer while the poor clubs become, well...obsolete, if they're not careful. Southend United are the latest to be dragged into the financial mire with the threat of administration looming large. Manager Steve Tilson has been banned from buying new players by the Football League and a court hearing relating to an unpaid tax bill totaling nearly £700,000 is due to be heard next week. But who's fault is it? The clubs? The authorities? The bankers? (we might as well try and blame them) And what impact will it have on the community? Murray will have all the details.

Also tonight, a former world heavyweight boxing champion on the show. Lennox Lewis has spent the day training youngsters at a gym in Central London with the West Ham born boxer giving masterclasses to children who are supported by the charity 'Kids Company'. We sent our very own journalistic heavyweight, Piers Hopkirk to shadow the man widely known as one of the nicest blokes in sport (well, you wouldn't say otherwise, would you - he's huge!)

Talking of heavyweights, in the acting world, they don't come much bigger than our studio guest tonight. He's an Oscar-nominated BAFTA winner who's made over a hundred films. John Hurt is quite simply an acting legend and he's recently been named a Fellow of the Britsih Film Institute. He's starred in some absolute classics including 'The Elephant Man', 'Midnight Express' and 'Alien', of course, but has also graced our screens in some of the biggest blockbusters of recent years too including the most recent Indiana Jones movie. He also played the wand selling Mr. Ollivander in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. We'll be chatting to him about his career, which has spanned over half a century and we'll try and get some goss on a couple of his upcoming projects including, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' parts one and two!!

See you at Six

Matt and Katie.

London Tonight Tonight

Brief blog today...bit of a busy afternoon!

Our top story centres on the BNP. We will, of course, be keeping an eye on the growing number of protesters gathering outside BBC Television Centre ahead of leader Nick Griffin's highly controversial appearance on Question Time later. But we'll also show you secretly shot footage of the BNP refusing entry to a group of non-white people to one of their meetings. It was taken on the same day that the BNP was forced to change its constitution to admit black and Asian members. The party says the meeting, held in a Dagenham pub, was members only, yet there are claims that a blonde haired, blue eyed Swedish women - the only white member of the group trying to gain entry but also the only non-British member - was allowed in. Curious. I should tell you that the shooting of the footage was orchestrated by a journalist (sneaky devils that they are), but tune in, take a look and judge for yourselves.

Also tonight, war is being waged on grotesque gardens in east London with Barking and Dagenham Council clamping down on those which might lower the tone of the neighbourhood. Council officers aren't taking any prisoners either, with people being ordered to clean up their fly-tipped and overgrown yards or face fines. What do you reckon? A good idea or 'get off my land!!' Get in touch after you've heard the full story from the green-fingered Emma Walden later.

Next up: Halloween's creeping up on us (spookily, no doubt) and although the practice of 'trick or treating' is seen as harmless fun by many, it really can be a complete nightmare for others. So much so that some people in Waltham Forest have been issued with "not interested" posters. The council has also issued a ban on the sale of eggs and flour to under 18s. I know a lot of people don't really understand why we follow this American tradition at all, but for younger children I think it's pretty harmless. My two are dressing up and heading round the village again, knocking on doors, but there are strict rules to follow: They'll be in a group and accompanied by adults (well, they are only 4 and 7); they'll generally only knock on the doors of people we know and they will be supremely polite at all times, on pain of death! Frankly, I'm not sure why children above the age of ten or twelve would want to go trick or treating anyway and I think the posters are a good idea, in theory. But you do have to wonder whether advertising the fact that you don't want to be visited by trick or treaters is somewhat asking for trouble.

Oh...and if you heard the steadily deteriorating tones of Katie on last night's programme, you won't be surprised to learn that Lucy is covering for her today. Katie's voice has completely gone now, apparently. She's saying nothing...and neither am I!

See you later.

Weather blog

 

Good evening,
 
It's almost as if the weather's trying to make a liar of me.
 
Following yesterday's mini rant in the blog about grey skies & near permanent semi-darkness, we're about to be treated to some very mild days & some decent spells of sunshine. It would be really quite disconcerting if it wasn't for the fact that we'll have to endure 36 hours of heavy showers before we get there; everything, even the weather it seems, comes at a price.
 
No sooner will the clocks have gone back to GMT in the early hours of Sunday morning, than we'll be offered a couple of sunny days with well above average temperatures.
 
It's an act of meteorological defiance that should be cause for celebration.
 
If you're thinking ahead to the weekend my advice to you, based on the current data, is indoors on Saturday (a trip to a Swedish funiture shop for a blazing row & a plate of cheap meatballs) & outdoors on Sunday (a long walk followed by a pub lunch & mumbled apologies).
 
Hope to see you later,
 
R. 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Hello there. A quick word on yesterday's programme first and how nice was Alexandra Burke, by the way? You may have heard me tell her that my seven year old daughter is a big fan and ask if she'd be able to do a turn at her December birthday party. Well, she can't do that, obviously so it'll have to be 'Billy the Balloonman' again, unfortunately. But Alexandra did take the time after the show to write her an early birthday card. My daughter had some of her little pals round to watch Alexandra on the programme last night and I gave her the card this morning before school. She was absolutely thrilled and took it to class for 'Show and Tell'. Daddy-points all round!

Right, tonight's programme then, and a second runway could be back on the agenda for Gatwick, after the airport was sold for a whopping 1.5 billion pounds. It's too early to talk about any possible plans say the new owners, but better services for passengers are the priority, as well as increasing capacity. It's set alarm bells ringing for residents in the nearby villages of Charlwood and Langley Green, which could be flattened by a second runway. Lewis Vaughan Jones has been out gauging the mood for us and reports live later.

More cries of 'fat cats!' today with London's Olympic bosses defending themselves against claims they're raking in huge salaries and bonuses.
It provoked heated exchanges inside the London Assembly with the chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority asked to justify his quarter-of-a-million pound salary for working a three-day week. Our Political Correspondent Simon Harris (who pays ITN to work 8 days a week!) watched the proceedings at City Hall and will report back for us.

Now, yesterday we asked whether you were having any problems picking up a copy of the Evening Standard since it changed its distribution pattern after becoming free. The response on the emails and texts has been huge overnight and it would appear the answer is a resounding, 'Yes!' Just as an example: On the emails, Mike Spellman says he's 'gutted' because he can't get the Standard in any of his local stores around Windsor. Alex from Dulwich has the same problem and says he'd rather pay the 50p and be guaranteed to get hold of it. A sentiment echoed by Pat in NW11 on the text and Suzanne in Hertfordshire. And Brian in Carshalton wonders whether having to get the car out to go and hunt down a copy can be deemed as any sort of progress in the communications industry?

Showbiz and as promised, Daniel O'Donnell is on the sofa later. His musical stats are pretty amazing: In a career spanning a quarter of a century he's sold more than ten MILLION records and has had an album in the charts every year since 1988. He's looking to carry that on with his latest offering. Too quick fascinating facts that fans will no doubt already be aware of about Daniel, but apparently he throws an annual tea party at his home in Donegal for his legion of fans (I don't know if they're expected to bring their own biscuits or not?) And, if you write to him on his website and make a small donation to a children's charity, he'll send out a personally signed Christmas card on your behalf! I hate writing Christmas cards. How much to do the whole lot do you reckon?

See you at Six.

Matt and Katie.

Weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

There are fig trees outside the Houses of Parliament.

 

I noticed them on my walk to work this morning, next year's fruits already looking plump & healthy & the leaves looking waxy & strong. I was momentarily transported to warmer climes & memories of summer holidays.

 

I only mention this because the current weather (mild perhaps, but overcast & wet for many of us) seemed so at odds with this rather exotic tree. I realise that our temperate climate provides good growing conditions for a broad range of plants, but at this point in October with the clocks due to go back imminently, if the weather decides to turn overcast & damp it can get a little depressing. It feels like permanent dusk & we find ourselves living in -as a Spanish friend of mine rather poetically puts it- 'a land without shadows'.

 

So grab your sunshine wherever you can, even if it comes in the guise of a fig tree....

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Hello. On the programme tonight, we report on the case of five senior prison officers who are facing disciplinary action after vulnerable inmates were swapped between two London prisons to keep them out of sight of inspectors. Two of the prisoners went on to harm themselves after being shuffled between Wandsworth and Pentonville. Justice Secretary Jack Straw has ordered an investigation and described the practice as 'reprehensible'. Ronke Phillips will have all the details for us

After we bring you the day's other news, there's a bit of a South American theme to proceedings with the mayor of Rio de Janeiro in town to find out what it's like to run an Olympic city. Nothing out of the ordinary for Simon Harris to sink his teeth into there, you'd think, until Rio's answer to Bo Jo (Ro de Jo, maybe?) announced his desire to transport part of the Olympic stadium from London to Brazil after 2012?! All yours, Simon. Then, after mentioning him on yesterday's blog, Jenson Button joins us fresh from his Interlagos escapades at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Well, he's in Bluewater actually. The newly crowned F1 World Champion says if he and last year's winner Lewis Hamilton both have competitive cars next season, we could be in for quite a contest. Now, I like F1, but not half as much as Mr. Alastair Stewart (formally of this parish), who absolutely loves it! Time for a bit of a guest blogette...

"What a joy beckons for us F1 fans next year! The heir to James Hunt, naughty and charismatic, taking on the greatest natural talent currently in the game - and still so young! My only sadness is divided loyalties, having known JB longer than LH. But they are both men we, the sport and the nation can be excitedly proud of. Bring on the opening roar!"
AS

Thanks Mr. S!

Now, I'm genuinely excited about our studio guest tonight - former winner of X-Factor, Islington's own Alexandra Burke joins us to talk about her astonishing rise to fame since winning last year's competition. Not sure if you saw it, but Nina Nannar did a really interesting piece on News at Ten last night about how Simon Cowell has effectively formed his own breakaway wing of the music industry and how a lot of chart success now depends on either doing well on one of his shows as a contestant or, if you're an established artist, showcasing your new material in front of the waistbanded wonder live on the programme. We might touch on that with Alexandra later, but to be honest, she's got an amazing voice, gave a great performance on the programme last week and there seems to be very little that's 'manufactured' about her. I do think, however, that she owes me a favour. Considering my daughter spent all her pocket-money (and most of mine) voting for her last year, do you think it would be rude to ask if she could squeeze in a children's birthday party in December? I feel I've already paid for it!

See you at Six

Matt and Katie

London Tonight Tonight

Hello. Hope you had a great weekend. For me it was a rock n' roll mix of home made pizzas, ten pin bowling, pop corn and Madagascar 2. Brilliant, but a bit more sleep might have been nice, kids! A quick congrats to Jenson Button - a fantastic achievement to win the F1 World Championship. He may regret that awful rendition of 'We are the Champions', as he crossed the finish line, though!?

On the show tonight...more on the story of a doctor found guilty of attempting to spike his lover's drinks to make her miscarry. Married father of two, Edward Erin, from Kensington was found guilty at the Old Bailey this afternoon of attempting to spike his lover's coffee and orange juice. His mistress and former secretary, Bella Prowse, fell pregnant during their affair, but when she refused to have an abortion, Erin crushed up drugs and laced her drinks in the hope that she would lose the baby. She went on to have a healthy little boy. Erin will be sentenced at a later date.

Also coming up: a leading engineer has backed plans by Boris Johnson for an airport in the Thames Estuary and depressing news of a sharp rise in burglaries in the capital. We'll also report on plans to turn Battersea Power Station into thousands of homes, offices, shops and restaurants.

Next, a story that seems to be following me around today - on the radio as I got ready for work, in the paper on the train in and now on tonight's programme. That's not unusual as you try to keep across the news throughout the day, but every so often you hear an interview or read an article that stops you in your tracks. That was the case today with the story of Katie Piper. A former model and tv presenter, Katie was left fighting for her life after sulphuric acid was thrown in her face by the accomplice of a man who had previously violently raped and beaten her. She was left to rebuild her life while doctors used pioneering techniques to literally rebuild her face. She spoke eloquently on the radio this morning about her ordeal and how, while she was recovering in hospital and unable to speak, she wrote her parents a note asking them to end her life, such was her despair. Now, thirty operations later, she says she likes her new face even more than the old one because it means so much to her. Sally Rourke has been to meet Katie, who waived her right to anonymity so she could thank the surgeons at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Joining us in the studio later - Esther Rantzen. In the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal, she recently announced she's going to stand for parliament as an independent candidate for Luton South (the seat that will be vacated by gardening enthusiast Margaret Moran at the next election). Now, I think I speak for most of us when I say that the MPs' expenses scandal has left us all pretty livid and you have to admire anyone who's is willing to put themselves out there rather than just chunter about it over their cornflakes every morning, like I do. But there comes a point after announcing you're going to stand for parliament that you have to actually lay out the nitty gritty of the platform upon which you intend to do it - and that time has come for Esther.

Showbiz - and embarrassingly we have a really popular guest on the show, whose work I am not at all familiar with. After doing a quick internet search it seems that in folk and blues circles 'Seasick' Steve Wold is a bit of an icon. The Californian bluesman spent his working life as a farm hand, a funfair worker and busker, among other things, but found fame after moving to London in his 60's. Tonight he's playing the The Lexington, but took time out to talk to Sangeeta Kandola. I can only apologise for my ignorance. If it's any consolation, I've just spent half an hour trying to (legally) download some of his music on to my phone to experience on the journey home later...no joy as yet though.

See you at six, providing I haven't crashed the whole ITN computer system with 18 attempted downloads of Seasick's new album!

Matt and Katie.

Weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

I decided to make the most of today's dry weather (it's not going to last) & walk from my morning office near the Houses of Parliament to my afternoon office in Holborn. I won't bore you with the reasons for this peripatetic lifestyle but it provides a great opportunity to keep fit & get to know the city even better. It was very pleasant as I walked along the river. The streets were busy without being crowded & London was looking good. Up ahead I noticed a blue flashing light & as I approached it became clear that the police had pulled over a van driver. It all looked very amicable. The van driver & two police officers were talking & smiling while two other officers were standing next to the police vehicle & a final two policemen were examining the van. There hadn't been a crash. Nobody else (pedestrian/cyclist/etc) was involved & without wanting to rubberneck, it was difficult to establish what was going on. I did notice one rather bizarre detail, however. All the police officers were wearing gloves. Not unusual in itself you may think, but these were latex gloves. And not standard issue medical ones but eyecatching bright blue latex gloves. As blue as the Aegean sea in August. It's an image that will stay with me for a while because it struck me as so odd. There's no doubt an entirely reasonable explanation, but if I'm honest I'm not really interested. I'm happy to savour the Python-esque scene & leave logic to one side.

 

Stronger winds with rain later tomorrow & then a mixture of sunshine & showers.

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin

 

London Tonight Tonight

Hello

Last night, Simon Harris told you how Mayor Boris Johnson was likely to announce hefty fare increases on London's transport... today. Well, guess what - Simon was right. The 2010 fare package for Tfl says that bus and Tube fares will go up 12.7% and 3.9% respectively from the New Year and the congestion charge is likely to go up from £8 to £10 at some point soon as well. Some services will be cut with a reduction in bus schedules and fewer off-peak trains in outer London.

There are various caveats, price-freezes and some pre-paid savings to be had but the bottom line is that a single tube journey in zone one using a pay-as-you-go Oyster card will go up from £1.60 to £1.80 and single bus journeys using an Oyster card will go up to £1.20 hitting Londoners where it hurts at a time when they can least afford it. Boris says this is a necessary evil, blaming 'mistakes of the past' as well as the recession. The scheme is expected to raise £125m a year as Boris looks to shave five BILLION pounds off the Tfl budget by 2018. He says if we don't pay up now we'll end up having to shell out more later, but you can't help thinking there will be loads of Londoners who feel the '2010 fare package', should be re-branded the '2010 unfair package.'

Have your say at six.

Also tonight, we report on the nun who has crowds flocking top see her more than a century after she died.... and Ronke Phillips tells us how healthcare in east London has been ranked as the worst in Britain in a nationwide survey of the NHS.

On the lighter side of life, Sally Rourke - who can always be relied upon to unearth a good story - is literally digging into London's past later with a group of young archeologists. Apparently, everything from Roman artefacts to dinosaur fossils and sharks' teeth (?) have been found beneath the city's streets and Sally will be getting her hands dirty with her literal interpretation of how to make television history, later.

Someone else who would be quite happy getting hands-on with her assignment today is our Entertainment Correspondent Lucy Cotter. She's on the trail of Hollywood A-List artefact George Clooney. Lucy's interviewed him before and was, shall we say, quite taken with him. In fact, she asked him to marry her live on air and he said yes, but she's heard nothing since which is, frankly, rude Mr. Clooney! He's in town at the London Film Festival with his new movie, "Men Who Stare At Goats" premiering in Leicester Square later. Lucy will be staking her place in the media huddle tonight after scouring the city for a glimpse of her betrothed all day. Don't forget to tune in later for the Leicester Square premiere of Lucy's new movie: 'Women Who Stare at George Clooney!'

Matt and Katie

London Tonight Tonight

Good afternoon,

Coming up on the show tonight, news of a fairly uninformative, but fascinating Mayor's Question Time today with Boris Johnson seemingly having taken a vow of silence. We'll find out in the next 24 hours if Londoners are to face a treble whammy of transport charges with a hike in bus fares, Tube fares and the C-charge possibly be on the way. The normally verbose Boris was giving nothing away today, though, much to the annoyance of his London Assembly questioners. Let's hope that Simon Harris is more talkative than Boris, later!

It's sometimes easy to get a bit de-sensitized when watching the news on tele, but I defy anybody not to watch our next story with a degree of disbelief. 62 year old Ian Baynham was walking through Trafalgar Square with a friend two weeks ago when he was confronted by three youths. A woman was shouting homophobic abuse at him and when he stopped to talk to them, she and a man she was with are said to have attacked him. Mr. Baynham was left with severe brain damage and doctors had no alternative than to turn off his life support machine last night. The most shocking part, though, is that two of the three young people the police are looking for in connection with Mr. Baynham's senseless murder are teenage girls.

Now, many motorists already feel they get a pretty rough deal in the capital (see our top story!): speed, cameras, the congestion charge, maybe more road tolls on the horizon...the list goes on. So, being told that London has been named as Britain's car crime capital, may not come as a surprise to many. There are blackspots dotted around East London and if you live in Romford or Ilford, you're particularly at risk of having your car stolen or broken into. Chislehurst is statistically the worst area in the entire country where one in 25 people have been victims of some sort of car crime in the last year alone - double the national average. Marcus Powell reports on why and what's being done about it.

Also tonight: eight thousand young people have had a go at making sweet music together as part of the Primary Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Very commendable...but I'm glad I wasn't there to hear it! Don't get me wrong - I'm all in favour of little ones taking up an instrument, but the early days of scratching around on a violin or hammering away on a piano like a blacksmith can be a little tough on the old ears. My seven year old's just started keyboard and recorder lessons at school. The keyboard has a volume control and a headphone socket, so that's fine, but her early attempts at the recorder may well result in their dog-loving neighbours phoning the RSPCA. As for the Primary Proms, Sangeeta Kandola went along to find out if it was all tuneful symphonies from the youngsters or more like deafening sympathies to the parents!

See you at six...keep the volume control handy, just in case!

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

I got a telling off last night.

 

I drive to the station each morning to catch the train & as the car park is often full I park on a street nearby. I don't do this regularly & wouldn't choose to as it's not hugely convenient, but needs must....

 

As I unlocked my car on my return I was aware of a curtain twitching & then the rapid fire of purposeful footsteps. I was prevented from easing myself gratefully into the driving seat by what can only be described as a diatribe;

Did I know how selfish I was?

Did I know it was a residential street?

Didn't I know there was a car park?

Did I know that people like me made living in that road a misery?

And on it went.

I'm proud to say I didn't give in to my instincts but instead remained calm & apologetic but it made no difference. I did point out that I wasn't breaking the law & had parked as considerately as possible but to no avail. It was a stalemate so I decided to leave a question of my own hanging in the air;

Did my angry friend not know there was a station a quarter of a mile away when buying the house?

 

Not ideal, I know, but I was tired & hungry & getting cold -   talking of which, brighter but chillier by the end of the week. I must confess that any fleeting sense of victory I might have had was quickly replaced by dread at the same old parking dilemma this morning....

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin

 

Weather blog

Good evening,

 

It was a really beautiful start to the day today.

 

Clear blue skies (dotted with the now obligatory hot air balloons), mist along the riverbank & pockets of frost. All classic fare following a fine & chilly night but I'm left feeling worried. In all honesty I have to confess it's a very minor worry. My concern centres not around global warming or meteorological predictions for the coming winter, but rather my raspberries. When we moved into our current house we were delighted to discover raspberry canes in the garden. They are my favourite soft fruit & our plants seem to pay no heed to the weather yielding plump, magenta berries from early summer through to autumn. However, everything shudders to a halt with the first frost; the berries turning to black mush which even the birds ignore.

 

So it's last night's frost that has me worried. A sliver of hope comes in the knowledge that our garden escaped the worst of the frost & that the next couple of nights won't be as chilly, maybe permitting an extension to the growing season. But before long clear skies & low temperatures will return, meaning I'll have to accept the inevitable & settle down to the long, 9 month wait for the start of next season's harvest.

 

I promise you'll be the first to know when the 2010 crop is ripe for picking....

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Good afternoon to you. Right - lots on the programme, as ever, but the 'talking point' is what I want to concentrate on for a minute or two...

A 14-year-old Sikh boy has been told he can't wear his "holy dagger" to school and so has been withdrawn by his parents. The Compton School in Barnet say they fear the 5-inch long 'kirpan' could be used as a weapon, while the parents say it's no more dangerous than a pair of scissors. A blow to religious freedom or a victory for common sense? Discuss...

Info first...and the 'kirpan' is one of the five 'articles of faith' in Sikhism that must be carried at all times by those baptised into the religion. Symbolically, it represents the power of truth over lies, but also reflects the wearers' commitment to protect the defenceless. The school has suggested the boy wears a smaller version of the kirpan, with the blade safely welded into the sheath, a compromise that has been reached in similar cases in America. But the family say that isn't acceptable.

Two short arguments for you to consider.

1) The school has got it absolutely right. The knife may not be any more dangerous than canteen cutlery, as has been suggested, but it's the message that allowing anyone to carry a knife in school gives off. You've seen us report on the increasing numbers of knife related deaths and injuries in the capital over recent years as well as the subsequent initiatives trying to stop young people carrying knives. There is, of course, no suggestion that this A-grade student is anything other than a responsible young adult, but while we're imploring young people not to carry knives, to allow anyone to do so, for whatever reason, at best sends out mixed messages and at worst is irresponsible.

2) When we heard that cub scouts were no longer allowed to take penknives to camp for fear of accidental amputation, 'Political correctness gone mad' was the cry from much of Middle England. Trusting them to carry and use a knife safely and responsibly was an integral part of their outdoor education, we were told, and banning them from doing so was to judge them by the actions of others. Similarly then, doesn't banning a committed Sikh from carrying what is a key symbol of his religious commitment to truth, honour and decency, show a similar level of prejudice and preconception? Maybe his are exactly the type of values we should be trying to promote in schools?

Over to you. Get in touch and we'll bring you a snapshot of London's opinions later.

Other areas of note tonight, quickly? Murray Dron has donned (or should that be 'dronned'?) his wellies down on one of the nearly five hundred farms in the capital. Plus, award-winning rapper "Chipmunk" joins us on the show. His real name is Jahmaal, by the way. I'd rather hoped it might be Simon, Alvin or Theodore.

Matt and Katie.

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London Tonight Tonight

Hello. Welcome to another working week.

We start tonight's programme with news of London Mayor Boris Johnson's vision for London over the next quarter of a century. I've just been looking at it on the City Hall website and it really is a monster of a document, covering everything from from economic development and housing strategies to transport and environmental policies. It's only a draft at the moment and Boris is calling for our input (go to www.london.gov.uk).

More of a wish list of we'd like to projects than a firm commitment to all of them, a lot of the stuff in it sounds perfectly reasonable: more affordable housing, better transport links etc but as ever, the devil is in the detail...and there is plenty of detail. Thankfully, we have the ever meticulous Simon Harris on the case and we'll have Simon Milton, the deputy mayor for policy and planning on the programme to answer some of the issues raised. There are plans for Crossrail 2, despite the funding issues still surrounding Crossrail 1. There are proposals to extend both the Bakerloo Line and the Northern Line, but is south London again missing out on investment? What's happened to plans for an airport in the Thames Estuary? Oh, and that thorny perennial - road charging. The Mayor's Office has dismissed the notion of a toll of up to £1.34 per mile on some of our busiest roads, but the report clearly says it's under consideration. And, apparently Boris is offering a bar of chocolate a week for staff with the best ideas? So, I have a well known celestially named confectionary item on my desk that I'll award to the member of the London Tonight team that comes up with the best idea before I've finished the blog.

Elsewhere today, The Old Bailey trail of teenager Tulay Goren, allegedly murdered by her father and two uncles continues. Her boyfriend at the time of her disappearance ten years ago gave evidence from behind a screen today, telling of the strained relationship she had with her family. It's alleged she was murdered because of the couple's 'inappropriate' relationship in a so-called 'honour killing'. The girl's father and two uncles deny murdering her. Also, news of a man awarded over a million pounds in compensation after suffering serious head injuries when he fell from a night bus and Ronke Phillips reports on the part-time medics who put their lives on the line to treat our wounded soldiers in Afghanistan.

Now, I was a bit surprised at the station on my way in earlier to hear an Evening Standard seller shout the not very catchy slogan, "Anyone want a free Standard!?" As you might be able to work out, the Standard is free from today after 180 years of it costing Londoners. Phil Bayles - who's always happy to pick up a bargain - is on hand to see what changes, if any, we can expect. All that plus Keith Allen, Matthew Kelly, the Queen and a group of Bollywood dancers (not all in the same story) See you at six.

Matt and Lucy.

Oh - so who wins the chocolate? Well, technically producer Neil who suggested a cup of tea to go with the biscuits left over from the weekend shift, but as he went into a meeting leaving me to brew up - I've snaffled the Mars Bar and the chocolate Hobnobs!

end
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London Tonight Tonight

Afternoon all.

Lots to come tonight including: the start of a court case at the Old Bailey into the disappearance of a 15-year-old girl ten years ago. It's alleged that Tulay Goren was murdered by her father and two uncles in a so-called 'honour killing' after entering into a relationship with an older man. The men deny murder and also deny conspiracy to murder her boyfriend, Halil Unal. Tulay hasn't been seen alive since January 1999 and her body has never been found and now, a decade after the case was first investigated, the girl's mother is preparing to give evidence for the prosecution.

Also on the programme later: news of how the Government could end up in court and be slapped with unlimited fines if the River Thames isn't drastically cleaned up. The European Commission could take action over the amount of sewage pumped into the river on a daily basis. Apparently only five of the 6 thousand or so rivers in England and Wales are deemed clean enough according to a report by the Environment Agency, despite dramatic improvements and millions of pounds invested over the past ten years. The Government - which of course ultimately means us - could end up having to fork out a fortune in fines if 2015 targets aren't met. Phil Bayles, will be up to his wellies in...water...later on.

In the studio tonight - Olympic heavyweight boxing champ Audley Harrison, but he's not in to promote his next fight or to plug a book. Instead he's in talk about post-natal depression. Harrison was due to fight Reading's Michael Sprott at the Prizefighter series on Friday, but Sprott withdrew because his sister tragically committed suicide after suffering from the illness. Now, the fighters have come together to promote a new PND charity.

And none other than Shakespearean actor and Hollywood A-lister Patrick Stewart's on the show after talking to our very own A-List newshound Murray Dron. The more cultured among you probably know Mr Stewart best for his roles with the RSC - but for me, his star turns as the follically challenged Professor 'X' in the 'X-Men' movies and as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in 'Strar Trek' make him a bit of a Sci-Fi legend in my book. His latest mission? To boldly visit a group of enterprising London school children to give them a rare insight into his career.

Finally, how's this for a story? A 13 year old girl has beaten off competition from seasoned farmers to claim first prize in a ploughing competition. That's it in a nutshell - so how many puns do you reckon Producer Neil has worked into the script so far? Well, he's been having a field day, I can tell you! Farmers left with furrowed brows? She knew she could carve up the field? Unearthed as a ploughing star of the future? All those and more at six by which time Katie and I hope to have our groove on for you and if not, well, we'll just plough on regardless!

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

Good evening,
 
The neighbour who pumps water out of the river to irrigate his garden (remember? he's the one whose pump -operational noise of a coffee grinder crossed with an elderly vacuum cleaner- provided the soundtrack to our summer) evidently pays no heed to the weather forecast.
 
I don't take this personally, the media after all provide a huge daily selection of meteorological information. My mild irritation is not, therefore, fuelled by hurt feelings but by a degree of exasperation that prior to the last 3 days of accurately predicted leaden skies & outbreaks of rain, the pump had been on for 36 hours without a break. 2 days & 1 night of background mechanical buzzing which ultimately served very little purpose.
 
So as I huffed out with the dogs this morning enjoying the first blue sky since Sunday, I was grateful that our paths didn't cross obliging me to swallow my true feelings & offer a cheery (albeit tight lipped) 'Good morning'.
 
After a damp blip tomorrow afternoon things look pretty good for the weekend so there'll be a spring in my step again. Unless, of course, the pump is put back into service.
 
Hope to see you later,
 
Robin 

 

London Tonight Tonight

Good afternoon to you.

Now, my friends, it's the middle of the week already - and we find ourselves with a very full Wednesday programme on our hands. So, let's crack on.

Sharon Shoesmith is a name that is instantly recognisable to a lot of people. In charge of Haringey Council's Childcare services when Baby P met his appalling, and appallingly early, fate, Ms Shoesmith was sacked last December. The question is: should she have been sacked? She feels that she was treated unfairly and is taking legal action against the council. It is a highly emotive subject. After all, what no one questions is the fact that an entirely innocent baby boy died. It will be a difficult case for all involved. Ronke will bring us the details later.

Okay. Indicate. Mirror. Manoeuvre. Or try to. Just wait a bit. Wait a minute... the junction's closed. Getting anywhere on the M25 can be a challenge, some might say, that rivals journeying to the North Pole on your ownsome, carrying nothing but half a Twix and an extra vest. Until today, we all thought that (yes, we did). Well, now we know that. It's official. The AA says it is Britain's worst motorway for road closures. If it's facts and figures you're after, Lewis will have them for you.

Mr Harris, meanwhile, is looking to the skies. Who wants a new skyscraper built next to Canary Wharf? Tower Hamlets Council doesn't. Boris Johnson does. So does Crossrail. You see, if the developers get their way and West India Quay does get built, those same developers have to cough up a not inconsiderable £4,000,000 for the Crossrail coffers. Hardly a make or break donation, perhaps, when the overall bill is north of £16,000,000,000. But have you got £4,000,000 to spare? Should that be a deciding factor in granting the planning permission? You'll get your say on this tonight.

You'll probably have your own thoughts on another of our stories. Chantal McCorkle has just been moved to Holloway Prison after being held in an America jail for 11 years. She and her husband, William, were found guilty of fraud and money-laundering and jailed for 24 years in Florida back in 1998. But William said his wife's role in their property scam was minimal and there's been a concerted campaign first to cut her sentence and then get her sent home to Britain. Her family in Slough are delighted she is back in the country but they're now fighting to get her released altogether. Has she done the right time for doing the crime? Marcus will have the low-down.

What else? What else?

Well, we've one story that offers hope born out of the sort of heartache none of us want to face but so many have to. This afternoon, down at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, 25 models took part in a fashion show. So far, so good. But every one of them has had or is now living with breast cancer. The point of what is a glitzy, glamourous, event is to 'recast' people's perception of breast cancer: both those suffering from it and others close to them. We're expecting Sally Rourke to come back with an inspirational report.

Finally, we have two 'piano' stories. Two very different piano stories. One involves a 10 year old boy in Woking who writes and plays music about his budgies. The other involves a hugely popular and flamboyant pianist from, er, beyond the grave. I know, I know. But with Glen Goodman covering it, it should make some great television.

Tune it for it at six.

Ben & Katie

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Right - be warned. I have a cold, I think it might escalate into full-blown man-flu and am in a bit of a grump because of it. On the show last Friday, we heard from Chris Evans who, in his new book, suggests that people in London walk faster than those anywhere else. Nonsense, because today people in my vicinity seem to be wandering around aimlessly in a complete and utter day-dream. My daily routine involves getting off the train at St Pancras and hiking up the hill to ITN Towers, but it's becomming a daily gauntlet that has to be run between groups of people who insist upon stretching themselves across the width of the pavement, like some kind of police cordon, while they saunter along at a snail's pace. It's annoying. Single file or pick up the pace, people!

A speedy look through the running order then and the day after Boris Johnson appeared at the Tory Party Conference to outline £5b of savings, one of his former deputy mayors has pleaded guilty to misusing his expenses. Ian Clement quit as deputy mayor for external relations in June. He admitted three offences under the Fraud Act when he appeared in court, effectively coughing up to cheating London taxpayers. Ben Scotchbrook has the details for is.

Also tonight, the latest development in the hunt for the killer of Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler. 13 year old Milly vanished on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames in March 2002, her body was found six months later in Hampshire woodland. Today, police have been searching a small fishing lake near Heathrow airport after a tip-off that the car used to abduct Milly may have been dumped there. The main suspect of her killing, Levi Bellfield, is now serving life for murdering two students. Marcus Powell will fill us in.

Now, I took a bit of a double-take at this next story...Heath Ledger's new film? I thought his role as 'The Joker' in the last Batman movie - for which he won a posthumous Oscar - was the last work of the actor who died of an accidental overdose in January 2008? In fact, he was part-way through shooting 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus', directed by Terry Gilliam. Following Ledger's untimely death, the movie was almost abandoned, but a hasty re-write and the inclusion of three of Ledger's close friends - Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, no less - saw the project saved. The three Hollywood heavyweights fill the void in the fantasy adventure story by morphing into Ledger's character whenever he steps through a magic mirror. Sounds like typically surreal Gilliam stuff. Lucy Cotter will be walking up the red carpet in Leicester Square for us later, but I shall be telling her not to saunter - you know how it annoys me!

Footnote: Katie's just brought me a piece of lemon drizzle cake...I wouldn't normally partake, but the sugar might help me make it through until 6.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello all. Hope you had a good weekend? I spent part of mine at my niece's 5th birthday party where my son invented a new dessert that he's proudly named 'Chocolate Hedgehog Cake'. It's a fairly simple recipe - all you do is get a massive piece of chocolate birthday cake - gooier the better - and stick loads of choclate fingers in it. Then - and this bit is crucial to the overall enjoyment, it would seem - you have to eat it in no more than three bites. It really was a sight to behold...and absolutely nothing to do with tonight's programme, sorry.

Last week Brighton, this week Manchester as our politcal correspondent, Simon Harris's whistle-stop Party Conference tour of the country continues. It's the Conservative Party's turn this week and while they are keen to discuss welfare reform, everyone else seems to want to discuss Boris Johnson. It looked like our Mayor was on course to put a spanner in the works over Europe yesterday, but today he's the conference darling....although, admitedly it is only day one! He's outlined £5b of savings from Transport for London over the next 9 years by "reducing office costs, restructuring and more efficient working". Popular in the conference halll, not so with the Unions who say such savings are bound to have an effect on frontline services. So, is Boris just headline-grabbing or do his sums add up? Simon's on hand with a big red pen to check the maths!

Ten years ago today, 31people died when two trains crashed head on near Ladbroke Grove in West London. At 9 minutes past 8 on October the 5th 1999, the driver of a Thames train accelerated through a red signal - which an inquiry later ruled was hard to see - with tragic consequences. Survivors and relatives of those killed gathered in silence at a memorial to pay their repects this morning. We report on what was an emotional day for all of them.

Reading the stories of survivors of the Paddinton crash and the heroic actions of the emergency services and members of the public is inspirational stuff, which brings us on to tonight's Pride of Britain Awards. The Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister will be on hand later to honour the winners including that of ITV's Feelgood Factor Award. Just a few weeks ago, a panel of experts chose London's candidate: Andrew Amers-Morrison, who founded Samba Street Soccer to get youngsters playing football. You may remember the scenes of elation when we told him he was our nomination a couple of weeks ago. He's been to Downing Street today and is gearing up for tonight's celebrity-studded ceremony where the real stars are the award-recipients themselves. It's on ITV1 on Wednesday at 8pm...and be warned - you will need tissues!

And Lucy's been talking to Shakira. Lots for them to talk about, including Shakira's new song and video "She Wolf" - nuff said.

See you at six.

Matt and Katie.

London Tonight Tonight

Afternoon.

Lots on the programme, as ever, including more on the row we brought you yesterday about the locations of 2012 Olympic events, a shocking murder in Croydon and a fascinating exhibition by a Dalston-born photographer whose subjects have included Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols.

First up, though, a topic that will no doubt provoke a huge response on emails when we ask for them later - London-wide road tolls. The RAC say asking drivers to fork out more will significantly ease congestion in the captal. Boris Johnson has dismissed the idea, but the RAC says he should stop focussing on cyclists and his plans to scrap bendy buses and concentrate on road tolls. Anyone have a view on this?

Showbiz - wise, Ricky Gervais is the celeb to grace the show tonight as he promotes his new movie, 'The Invention of Lying'. The premise of the film is fairly simple: It's set in a world where nobody lies...ever. Not even polite little white ones. Gervais plays a hapless screenwriter who tells the world's first ever lie and then wields his new-found power to fib his way to fame and fortune. Miss Cotter went to meet Mr. Gervais and says he seemed a really nice fella (unless she was telling porkies). The killer question from Lucy was: 'What's the biggest lie you've ever told?' Now there's a thought. A quick ask around the office reveals that when Producer Neil was in short trousers, his school used to fine children who didn't do their homework. Whenever Neil transgressed he used to dip into his pocket money for the £1 fee and forge the return slip from his parents so they would be none the wiser. More of a deceit than a lie, though, I would say - plus he was doing himself out of sweet money? When I asked the Angelic-faced Miss Cotter the same question her response was, 'how many do you want, there've been sooooo many!' Me? Well, if we're sticking to harmless school days lies (which is probably best!) - I had a PE teacher who used to get me confused with my asthma-suffering older brother. When asked if I wanted to sit out cross-country runs week after week on account of my wheeziness - I, for some reason, never felt the urge to put him straight?!

See you at 6....honest!

Matt and Lucy.

London Tonight Tonight

Hello again,

Our top story tonight is about a murder, the details of which read like something out of a film. Quiet caretaker Charalambos Christodoulides was brutally killed for no other reason than the pure greed of a playboy property developer who saw him as standing in the way of a big bucks deal. The killer, Thanos Papalexis - who once held a fundraising event for Hilary Clinton - stood to go bust owing millions unless a deal to sell on a near-derelict warehouse in Kilburn went through quickly. The body of Mr. Christodoulides, who'd lived there most of his adult life, was found in a garage inspection pit. He'd been tied to a chair, tortured and strangled. London-born Papalexis confessed his crime to a former lover and was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, in November following years of police investigations. Marcus Powell will have the full details.

Also tonight, a massive row is brewing about Olympic funding. Put simply - Boris Johnson wants to shave 32 million pounds off the budget, unsurprisingly the organisers of London 2012 don't. Boris says he can save the cash by insisting certain sports take place at certain venues. He wants to move shooting from the Royal Artillery barracks in Woolwich to Barking, and wants badminton and rhythmic gymnastics to take place in Wembley Arena rather than building a purpose-built 6,000 seater stadium. Sports bodies say Wembley is too far from the Olympic village, but Boris says not to use Wembley Arena would be ludicrous. Add to that the fact that Tory leader David Cameron has come out in support of Bozza today and the Olympic authorities, particularly Lord Coe (the Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee and a former Conservative MP, of course) could be put in a tricky position if the Tories win the next election. To save or not to save...that is the question. Simon Harris will try to find the answers.

As well as the rest of the day's news, we'll have our usual blast of showbiz and I'm genuinely excited about the guest in the studio tonight - none other than Motown soulstress Gladys Knight is in town and popping in to say hello. She's had an amazing career, both with 'The Pips' and as a solo artist, but says her upcoming concerts are part of a farewell tour. I confess I'm not a total Motown officianado, although various family members are, so I'd better do the interview justice! Even I know, though, that Gladys Knight has had a hand in some seminal musical moments. Hits-wise, did you know that 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine' was a hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips before it was a hit for Marvin Gaye? Also, did you know that 'Midnight Train to Georgia' was originally called 'Midnight Plane to Houston' before Gladys changed the lyrics? On the list of questions has to be the claim that it was Gladys Knight who persuaded Motown boss Berry Gordy to sign 'The Jackson 5'. Apparently he wasn't keen, saying he already had the cute young male singer market sewn up with 'Little Stevie Wonder'. One other question for Gladys, if there's time...'Who's your favourite James Bond?' Everyone berates me when I say mine has always been Timothy Dalton. Gladys, of course, sung the theme song to Dalton's 'Licence to Kill'. Is that the best Bond theme...another good question. But after a quick straw poll in the office, no would appear to be the answer. Katie says, 'Goldfinger', as does Ben Scotchbrook. Producer Neil says, 'Live and Let Die'. I'm with Neil. 'Diamonds Are Forever' is another candidate. So, 'Licence to Kill' is everyone's second favourite Bond theme, then. Sorry Gladys! If only they'd made a Bond film called, 'Midnight Plane to Houston'!!!

See you at six.

Matt and Katie

Weather blog

 

Good evening,

 

I've been talking to someone in the office who's planning a wedding. Luckily she's reasonably sensitive to the limited interest this topic holds for everyone bar the bride & groom, so a fork in the thigh in a bid to stay awake wasn't necessary. The current quandary is which month to hold it : December or May. The favourite is May because the venue boasts beautiful terraced gardens which should be bathed in glorious late  spring sunshine providing the ideal setting for perfect wedding photos. I pointed out - in a practical rather than killjoy kind of way - that logic has no place where weather is an important factor.

 

December can yield a day of blue skies & bright sun just as May can offer up howling wind & horizontal rain, so she'd be better off organising it all around availability of favourite guests & cheap flights to honeymoon destinations. Or do it tomorrow afternoon because it's looking good, not as mild as it's been recently but still nice enough for a glass of bubbly on the lawn.

 

I've a feeling I won't be on the guest list....

 

Hope to see you later,

 

Robin