London Tonight: Friday 20th October

Afternoon

A really sad story to start our programme with tonight. They were childhood sweethearts, with a grown up family enjoying a holiday together in Greece, when a freak storm hit. Keiron and Frances Conlon were overcome as they paddled in the sea and were drowned. Their children pay tribute tonight to the couple still very much in love.

Also...sentencing for a conman who walked away with over a hundred thousand pounds worth of precious gems from some of the city's most prestigious jewellers...simply by asking to borrow them. Marcus Powell will explain all later.

We all remember the tragic death of 10 year old Damilola Taylor...well now his Dad is taking time out to speak to London's kids, warning them of the dangers of carrying a knife. Ronke's spent the day with Richard Taylor as he tries to make sense of his grief and build a lasting legacy for Damilola

Glen Goodman's got a job many a woman would envy - he's live at the Young Vic with a certain Mr Jude Law

Sticking with Movie stars....Our film buff James King is getting ready to do his star turn on this weekend's releases..

We'll have all the sport ... a great competition for wine lovers...

And Chrissie with the weather.

Plenty to keep you entertained, See you at 6'

Tamzin and Willsy

London Tonight: Thursday October 19th

Good Afternoon, Good people of Greater London...

Thursday's here - so very nearly the end of the week, but not a single sign of a slowdown on the newsfront. Busy today, busy, busy...

Let's start with the Mayor - given the all-clear in the High Court, with the judge ruling that Mr Livingstone's likening of a Jewish reporter to a Nazi guard last year did NOT bring the Mayor's office into disrepute. End of story - now there's a row brewing over who should pay for all the legal shenanigans. Our man Harris will have all the detail on that.... before we ask what you think.

Meanwhile, Jon Gilbert will have the lowdown on a new fare-structure for the trains going in and out of the capital. It uses the tube zone network to standardise ticket - the idea is to simplify travel round the wicket. But will it?

Wembley next and... would you believe, we're not going to be tell you that opening day has been put back yet again...? In fact, after months of arguments and legal wrangling, the company that owns the place and the company that's building it have called a truce. The result is... well, Liz Wickham will have more on that.

Now, we all know the worst sound in the world is the high-pitch whine of a mosquito as it prepares to gorge itself on... well, you. But it seems some very clever technical chaps have now come up with their own high-pitched whine and are selling it in a box... called 'the mosquito'. Ealing Council says it terribly good for shooing noisy thugs off the streets. Straight up. The council says it works - and Ronke Phillips will tell you more.

We'll also be hearing from Dustin Hoffman in a rather 'off-the-wall' interview with our Tamzin... and just for you, we'll be testing the 'best filled chocolate' in the world, as voted by the Academy of Chocolate, obviously - it's a tough job but someone's got it do it.....

So plenty for everyone. Hope you can join us at six.

Ben & Katie

London Tonight: Wednesday October 18

Hello all,

Another senseless murder makes our programme tonight I'm afraid. You may remember this time last week the case of the cheerful 19 year old lad, walking his girlfriend home, stabbed for, it seems, no reason at all. His devastated girlfriend and mother have given an interview for the first time; Ronke spoke to them.

What's going on at Olympics HQ? The American businessman Jack Lemley, who was given the job of making 2012 a roaring success, has quit after just 7 months. Now .. These things happen... But this really has come as a bolt from the blue. Jon Gilbert has been investigating.

Building works at a hospital ...And a mysterious skeleton is unearthed. We have the tale of a 40 year old unsolved murder ..

Did you know that London is the most expensive place in Europe to go to the flicks? �17.50 at the Odeon Leicester Square... Unbelievable! But don't despair, Liz has been hunting for cheaper London nights at the pictures..

Simon Harris - along with the London Assembly - has been asking the question .. Is London Underground "consultant" Bob Kiley really worth 3,600 pounds a day? Yes, you read that right. Wonder what the answer is..

And Jasmine has been to meet Deacon Blue ... Those Scottish heartthrobs (if you are over 35..!) have a new album out.

Then of course we've the weather and the papers ... All the usual good stuff.

See you at 6.

Katie and Al .

London Tonight: Tuesday 17th October

Good afternoon to you.

Yet another busy old day in the capital.

Today we've been investigating the growing trend of girl gang violence. Why's it happening? Can it be stopped? We'll be talking to a teenage model who was recently attacked.

Plus could there be more tragedy on the Thames? The mum of a man killed in the Marchioness disaster takes a seriously brave step to protest at plans to reduce training times for boatmen. We'll be asking for your views on that one.

In sport we're down at Stamford Bridge, as Mourinho asks why it took so long for Petr Cech to get to hospital after that skull fracture. We'll also have the latest ahead of the Chelsea's match with Barcelona tomorrow night. Will the Blues pull it off?

If briefcases are your thing, companies want your advertising space. Find out how just carrying your bag to work could be a nice little earner.

Showbiz and Katie's been chatting to that Monty Python legend Eric Idle about his latest creation. It is of course Spamalot and it's a musical version of cult film the Holy Grail, and it's opening night tonight. It's already steaming ahead with ticket sales. Find out what all the fuss is about from the man himself.. and watch Katie lose her cool. Badly.

All that, plus tons more.

See you at 6!

Willsy and K x

LONDON TONIGHT: Monday October 16th

Afternoon to you all - it's been a right old trip down memory lane today, with Tamzin talking to that mountain of rock Meat Loaf! What a legend!
He's got the third of his 'Bat Out of Hell' albums out next week - can you believe the first one was released all the way back in 1977??? How heart-sinking was THAT for us,shall we say "experienced" ones, who can remember it like it was yesterday... (and yes, tragically, have been humming the hits and vroom vroom noises all day...)

Onto to the more serious news of the day - and if someone knocked at your door, looking for any information which might help police solve a particular crime, you'd probably assume they were police officers themselves - we've all seen The Bill - it's called "door to door" enquiries, Guv - well, a trial in Surrey using CIVILIANS for such jobs has been hailed a huge success - Marcus is onto that one for us and we'll be asking for your opinions.

Then there's everything from plans for double-decker trains for the capital (and yes, the bridges ARE a problem) to how you could have your very own waxwork image displayed at Madame Tussauds - not to mention to West End property that cost �45 - honest!

If you fancy tickets to the Chelsea-Barca game on Wednesday, you'll want to tune in for our competition, and don't forget, every night we bring you the headlines from London's THREE (count 'em) evening newspapers.

There's bundles more to squeeze in - but I'm getting the urge to give Al & Katie another rendition of "Paradise by the Dashboard Light".......

See you at 6.

Ed

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 13th Oct 2006

'Afternoon to you.

First up: what could be lurking in your loaf?

There's a safety alert at a Kent bread factory, after pieces of glass and a needle were found in the packaging for Kingsmill loaves. Accident? Sabotage?

The police and food standards watchdogs are investigating - we will, of course, have the very latest.

We now know the first winners AND casualties of the capital's newspaper war.
Circulation figures for The Evening Standard, London Lite and The London Paper have been announced.
The Standard's putting a brave face on them - but can it really be happy with how it's fared against the two new freebies?

And we've just got the name of the firm that's emerged as a favourite to build London's multi-million pound Olympic Stadium.
It's already had a hand in creating a landmark sports venue in north London - but don't worry: it isn't the team behind Wembley (or we might have to start thinking about our Olympics being in 2013..in Cardiff!). Talks have begun with the Team McAlpine Consortium, which is in line to be named as the venue's design and construction company in the New Year.

Tamzin's had a sit-down with Hollywood funnyman Chevy Chase, as he prepares for the Secret Policeman's Ball at the Royal Albert Hall tomorrow. Find out what he has to say about being involved in a British comedy institution.

Willsy will be delivering all the best sports news, as usual - including reaction from Spurs and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson to THAT blunder. He apparently says he can't understand why he's getting so much stick.

And we'll also be marking your cards about the very best of the weekend's entertainment - including our movie man James King's assessment of the latest releases.

See you at six!

FREDDIE (where's the) STARR..? by Ben Scotchbrook

"Over to Ben now who's live in Camden. Ben..." says Katie in the studio.

"Up yours..." may have been a somewhat unorthodox way to kick off, but that was the sort of mood I was in.

You see, I was at the Proud Gallery with Martin (one of our cameramen) to cover an exhibition celebrating 40 years of the Sun's front pages. Sounds great, and if we're honest, the 'love it or loathe it' champion of all-things tabloid has printed some crackers over the years, not least, "Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster".

Anyway, as Martin and I walked in, we were looking forward to doing a live wandering round a gallery... rolling in a bit of a pre-recorded interview with former editor, Kelvin MacKenzie... and THEN chatting live with Freddie Starr: the big question - did he or didn't he? Excellent. That's what had been planned - that's what we were looking forward to.

Only, as we're lugging the camera-kit up the stairs to the gallery, the phone goes, and news-editor Lizzie tells me "Freddie's not coming. His agent says he's decided not to do it. He won't get in the car and he's turned his phone off". While I'm saying "B****r", Lizzie doesn't have time for such niceties and is already phoning around for someone to fill our 'live-sized' hole.

Meanwhile, Martin and I are walking into the gallery - only the gallery is a barn-like marquee on top of a building, with blow-ups of Sun frontpages sprawled around the edge. (Anyone who found themselves out and about on this particular Wednesday may remember the heavens not so much opening as emptying across London - which explained the army of people mopping up and putting out heaters.) Don't get me wrong - Sun-lovers should go see, but it just wasn't the TV-tastic environment we always hope for.

So, gone was wandering around the gallery: seats in the way, digital link wasn't going to work here. Gone too was Freddie (behaves like a) Starr: I frankly no longer care WHAT he snacks on. And teetering on the edge was the 3 and half minutes I'd been asked to supply for the programme: that has to merit a loud "B*****r".

However, all was not lost... while Martin and I wandered and wondered how we were going to bring a bit of life to this rather damp looking live, Lizzie had chased one of the six PR companies (could the Sun make a headline out of that?) who in turn had chased Kelvin MacKenzie... who in turn had agreed to do a turn... again. Now, there aren't many journalists who've wanted to hug MacKenzie over the years but when he was standing there, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with me, I could even have given him a light peck on the cheek. So...

"Over to Ben now who's live in Camden. Ben..." says Katie in the studio.
"Up yours... Delors", I say. As if I'd say "Up Yours" to Ms Derham, live on air. Round the office may be.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 12th Oct 2006

Good afternoon one and all.

It is not the lead story, in the sense that it isn't the most important news story, but it is the one that most people in the Office have been talking about most, if you see what I mean.... (apart from the spoof video by a Birmingham Labour MP about the leader of the Conservative Party - for that, stay with ITV1 After London Tonight!)...........but back to the Not The Lead Story story: Spurs fans blame the grass, a poor pass from a ManU player...Gooners and pretty well everyone else say it was all the fault of the TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR goalie who had turned out for England against Croatia but then boarded a space-ship to another planet: all you need to know at 6.

Now what we are leading on is a fascinating mix of terror related tales: all interesting in their own right, even more interesting when taken together.A Willesden man pleads guilty to plotting acts of terror at home and abroad; a woman tells her emotionally powerful tale of how she realised the love of her life hadn't survived the terror attack in Bali; London's finest turn out to unveil a plaque in memory of the victims of terror here in London; and the case against the Met' over the killing of Brazillian Jean Charles De Menezes will procede despite interventions by the Met' Police Authority and the Attorney General. A potent mix.

We also have Summer and Smoke, the Tennessee Williams revival in the West End starring, among others, Ms Rosamund Pyke, the beautiful double agent in Bond movie Die Another Day.

And some boxing, with a twist...

Top it off with a Polish language paper for London's growing polish community and Chrissie's weather and we can't think of a thing that is missing.

Hope you agree and join us at 6.

K&A

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 11th Oct 2006

Afternoon..

Our top story tonight it shocking. You remember that awful crane collapse a couple of weeks ago in Battersea? We talk to the mother of one of the men killed in the accident. Because the scene of the incident was so dangerous, her poor son's body wasn't recovered for five days. FIVE DAYS. She is, understandably, and on many levels, very upset. She talks to Phil Bayles.
In fact, do you know how many people have been killed on building sites in the last five years? Over 500. It's an enormous figure, isn't it? For the first time, there is a memorial to them. It's being unveiled today, and we'll be there.

I'm afraid we've another horror story for you too .. the young pregnant woman from High Wycombe who was, allegedly, thrown off a balcony while on holiday in Crete. She landed on railings below .. and is still extremely ill. Ronke has the full, appalling story.

We've an intriguing tale of one way to live cheaply in London that none of us here in the office had heard of before. It's kind of legal squatting.. for a peppercorn rent .. and its all official. Did you know that buildings like the old Manchester Square fire station now have ordinary folk living in them? No, neither did we. Apparently it's more effective than having lots of security men patrolling..

Simon Harris has been talking to some of the 200 businesses that are being forced to make way for the 2012 Olympics; Ben Scotchbrook's been laughing at the fabulous exhibition of famous Sun newspaper frontpages.. Tamzin's been to meet Mr Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher (apparently he didn't like the rain, poor love) .. And we've the story of the miniature pony found roaming free on Wood Green High Road. No, really.

See you for all of that at 6.

Katie and Al.

ps - if you've taken any pictures of today's storms - then email them to us at londontonight@itvlondon.com

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 10th Oct 2006

Hello from the London Tonight team... its another packed show with some truly powerful stories.

For example how do you feel about the new advert showing the bus blown up in Tavistock Square with the line, "Last year, four suicidal British men got our attention. Unfortunately, 983 others didn't". It's been created to highlight mental illness. It certainly does that but we'll be asking if it goes too far.

Then there's the appalling injuries to Mark Dietrich. His crime was to ask for a van, blocking the road, to be moved. It resulted in Mark having every bone in his face broken as his attacker jumped on his head with both feet. Not surprisingly, police are desperate to catch this maniac.

Remember Lotfi Raissi. He was the pilot from West London who was jailed on suspicion of teaching the September the 11th hijackers how to fly. After five months in prison the Algerian was freed without charge. Now he wants compensation but the Home Office is saying no. We'll be hearing from Lotfi at the start of the case he hopes will finally bring him justice...and cash.

We'll also be catching up with the Von Trapp's...not the originals you'll understand but the cast of the new West End show "The Sound of Music". It promises to be another huge hit for Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Its all coming up in London Tonight for you at 6. Hope you can join Katie and me then.

Willsy

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 9th Oct 2006

Hello and welcome to another week of London Tonight.

Richard and Gloria Taylor are remarkable people: it was their son, Damilola, who was killed on a stairwell in Peckham six years ago.

They have displayed a quiet dignity throughout, despite the horror of what happened to their son and the faltering progress in bringing his killers to justice. They've put up with a lot. And today they heard their son's young killers had got 8 years, of which they will have to serve 4. And that might be it.
We've been talking to Richard and you can hear him at 6.

Right. Time for a break.

You go to a pub' or a wine bar or a restaurant and you know from June next year if you smoke .... Well, you can't anymore.

But you thought if your habit was strong enough you could step out onto the pavement and satisfy your craving. Not if Westminster have their way. Based on reports from Scotland that the celtic fringe gets a bit noisy when it steps out onto the pavement for a ciggie, Westminster say "not on our patch!" Alastair is not alone in being up in arms about it, though he and his crew are a declining gang.

But, more important than him ( "What!", screamed AS) we'd like to hear what you think: a ban too far or should the polluters be run out of the restaurants, off the pavement and into the Thames? (thats enough from the antis! Ed) We look forward to hearing from you at 6 and readings the best bits out at the end of the programme.

That'll be just after Gary Barlow tells Tamzin about his autobiography and the first single from Take That in about a decade.

We'll also sort out the competition we had a bit of a telecom-problem with last week: sorry about that. Chrissie will have the results with her weather forecast so whether you win or not will depend on you tuning in... See you then!

A&N

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: 6th Oct 2006

Afternoon,

It's far too wet out there to go out. So stay on the sofa, make a cup of tea and tune in at 6 !

We've a packed programme for you...starting with a transport story we think you'll all have a view on. CCTV cameras on buses have often proved invaluable, capturing images vital for police investigations and helping to solve crimes. But bus companies want to charge a flat fee to the police for the footage. They say it's expensive and time consuming to make the pictures available. Police chiefs are said to be furious. What do you think ? Is it fair enough or does it show a lack of social responsibility ?

We've an interview with the 24 year old from Southend who's become the youngest man to be treated for breast cancer. He tells his story to Ronke Phillips.

You've probably seen the posters all around town - Meryl Streep's new and much talked about movie "The Devil Wears Prada" is out today. We talk to its young star Anne Hathaway and get our movie expert's verdict too.

Willsy's got on his bike and headed for eXcel in Docklands - he'll be bringing us all the sport from there.

If you fancy a stay at a brand new, top notch hotel right in the heart of the capital - watch out for our great competition...we're throwing in a slap-up meal too

PLUS we'll update you with details of exciting things to do in town this weekend....let you know if the weather's going to get any better AND give you a look at the headlines from this evening's papers.

Plenty to keep you interested.

We'll see you at 6.

T&A

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Thurs 5th Oct

Good afternoon - infact, what a horrid afternoon! A very good reason to stay with your tele' from 6pm for an hour of news and a bit of light-hearted banter to raise your spirits and keep you up to date with all you need to know.
Or, go out for a stuff walk and get cold and wet.
No, thought not.

So, we start on the serious side with two amazing challenges to the forces of law and order.
A muslim copper in the Diplomatic Protection Squad tells his boss he's not happy standing guard outside the Israeli Embassy. The boss says OK and moves him to other duties. His wife is Lebanese, his dad's Syrian, he's got more family in Lebanon and Israel is pumping rockets, tanks and soldiers into the battle zone while Hezbollah are pumping rockets back at Israel.
But none of this is happening in Knightsbridge. The Israeli Embassy has always been one of London's most secure buildings. He wears uniform.
But he says he was frightened.
Or did he, as some have suggested, have another agenda? A moral objection?
Met' Commissioner Sir Ian Blair is investigating and so are we: we also wants your thoughts on this one, tonight at 6.

The second dilemma has been unfolding in Windsor these last couple of nights: the muslim owner of a dairy wants to put a mosque in his factory so his workers can pray. This has met with some serious local objections and a fair bit of opportunist racism. But its a tough one to police as Marcus Powell will explain.

Equally difficult to explain is why a mum, who contacted an out of surgery hours health service with tummy pains, saw 2 doctors, spoke with 6 others and still died. She was told she had all sorts of things but that she was getting better. She wasn't, she had septicaemia and it proved fatal.

No connection, I promise, but on Day 2 of Ken Livingstone's appeal we also report on the publication of the follow up to Peter Pan's Adventures in Wonderland...

Some Kung Fu monks seem the only way to round that lot off: so we'll be asking them to do just that.

See you at 6.

A and K

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Weds 4th Oct

Hello there!

Well.. first up, it's the Mayor again. Remember that incident with the Evening Standard reporter last year? Likening a Jewish journalist to a concentration camp guard? And the huge outcry that followed those comments? Accusations of anti-semitism - hotly denied? Well at the time he was suspended from duties for 4 weeks, and today he starts his appeal. And the outcry hasn't got any quieter ... Ironically its on a day that is the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, when thousands of protestors in the East End decided they wouldn't tolerate Oswald Mosley's fascist Black Shirts, with extremely violent results. Marcus Powell has been talking to a man who was there.

A turkish man got 8 years today for people smuggling. He and his gang helped get .. wait for it .. 100,000 illegal Turkish immigrants into the UK in the last 10 years. Its not human trafficking.. these people definitely wanted to come here.. but the scale of the crime is unbelievable nonetheless. We'll have all the details.

We've got all the background on the con artist who scammed his way into a royal premiere... even managed to have a chat with Charles and Camilla.. he says he did it for a bet.. for 100,000 pounds, apparently.. Liz has been to meet him.

We've a sneak preview of the newly restored architectural gem of a Hawksmoor church, the one in Bloomsbury. For years it's been the home of vagrants and has looked distinctly sorry for itself .. believe me, you won't recognise it now.

And Tamzin is off to meet those lovely Laydeez from Little Britain, ahead of the London leg of their sell out tour .. yes, she'll be on stage with Matt and David... anything could happen!

See you at 6.

Al and Katie.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Tues Oct 3rd

Hello.

Remember the Police raid on a semi' in Forest Gate?

Two men taken into custody, one of them shot? Dozens of Police officers, forensics and explosives experts?

Outcome: pretty thin and the only charges involved porn and not terrorism.

Tune in tonight to hear Liz explain just how much it all cost and then send us your thoughts on whether it was money well spent or not.

Meantime, Police are focused on an extraordinary shooting. The victim was a millionaire businessman and it has all the appearance, it seems, of a professional "hit". Piers is in Earlsfield where it happened.

No Police required in the search for a leisure centre at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium: there isn't going to be one. But they said there would, I hear you say. Well, instead the Gunners are giving a big cheque to Islington Council to help kids with leisure activities. But no centre. It is NOT a bung but it is not a kids training centre, EITHER! Chris is looking for answers.

The Tories are STILL looking for a Mayoral candidate: Simon Harris is observing, with characteristic impartiality.... and only a bit of a grin.

Tamzin has a great interview with Kinks legend Ray Davies. The tape went missing for a while, and we worried it might never see the light of day. But it turned up, and you'll see the results at six.

And you can win tickets to Cancer Research's fantastic celebrity knees up at Madam Tussauds: there will be tons of "faces" there as well as all the wax-work dummies. Some, we accept, may prove difficult to tell apart....

See you at 6!
A&K

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Mon 2nd Oct

Good Afternoon from the London Tonight newsroom.

First - in a story that sounds frighteningly similar to the Peter Woodhams case, a father's been murdered outside his own home, after an apparent scuffle with a gang of youths. Piers Hopkirk's been on the scene in Hackney since this morning - he'll update us at six.

"Toni" was, as far as his wife was concerned, a loving husband. He cried at black and white movies. He secretly brought her favourite teddy along to their wedding. But Anthony Imiela was also known as the M25 rapist. Today, his wife's spoken for the first time - she accepts he is the man behind those shocking crimes. But she is also standing by him. Find out why tonight.

Now George Michael. First of all - a confession. I've already got my tickets for his concerts in London later this year. So I admit that I am a bit of fan. But still, I don't really understand why someone quite so famous manages to get caught out quite so many times. This time, arrested in his car (stopped at those lights on Cricklewood Lane where it meets Hendon Way, if you know that bit of North London) and taken to hospital. Oh George.

So all that - plus "The Devil Wears Prada" - we talk to it's young star - and Simon Harris on the Tory A List.

That's London Tonight at six with Alastair (back from Africa) and Katie. Don't miss it..

Stuart (the one they call "Editor")

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Fri 29th Sept

Hello - the weekend's almost here and London Tonight is on air at six with lots for you.

Tamzin and Willsy are your guides through thirty minutes of news and more.

We've been out to meet a mother - who is still recovering after her baby was snatched and threatened during a mugging. Ronke will have the full story.

There's the story of the squatters who've cut a deal with the owners of the nine million pound mansion that's going to allow them to stay put - for now. Ben's got the tale.

We're live in Ealing where dozens of people have been evacuated from their homes - find out why at six.

In sport, find out why Brentford are picking a fight with Chelsea. James King is in the studio looking at this week's movies.

Then, we're off to see the wizard. Well, witches really. The stars of "Wicked" are in the studio - it's the hugely successful Broadway musical that's a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" just arrived in the West End. Find out what all the fuss is about by tuning in.

Don't forget we're always interested in hearing your stories - londontonight@itvlondon.com or, if you've a consumer nightmare you'd like us to try and fix, email onyourside@itvlondon.com

That's it for now - tune in and six and have a great weekend.

Stuart (The Editor)

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT: Thurs 28th Sept

Afternoon all,

We've got the most mixed of mixed bags this evening, and we kick off with an exclusive.

Now, when you're walking home tonight, take a good look at the houses and homes down your road. Nice curtains in the windows perhaps. Well-kept front lawn with fresh paint on the front door, even. Ever wonder if it's all as proper INSIDE...? Well, the 'London Tonight' cameras were the only cameras there when the police smashed down the front door of an innocent looking home in Enfield this morning - Glen Goodman will tell you what they found.

Now, while Sir John Betjeman, famously, was no fan of Slough, local councillors argue it must have something going for it... Why else would huge numbers Polish immigrants be heading there? In fact, the council says it desperately needs more cash from the government to cope with the population growth. But, how are councillors proving they've got their figures right? Phil Bayles will have the rather unsavoury answer.

You've probably heard the recent horror stories about dogs attacking small children. One poor girl was killed by rottweilers in Leicester, while a little boy from Chichester was hideously scarred when another rottweiler mauled him. This evening, Liz Wickham tells the story of yet another toddler - from Dartford - savaged by a pit bull terrier. His parents are livid because, while the dog has been destroyed, its owners will not be punished, at all. Do you think they should be? Well, this is the story we'll be asking for your opinions on this evening.

Edward Forbes Smiley - the third. Sounds very grand, doesn't he? Certainly had the reputation of a gentleman - and a scholar, in fact. An expert in antique maps, respected around the world... right up to the point experts realised he'd been stealing antique maps around the world - the British Library among the noted institutions he targeted. He's just been jailed in America for 3 and half years. Piers Hopkirk on that.

Perhaps though the jewel in this evening's crown is a visit from a true legend. A movie actor who carved out his eternal reputation as the gentleman with a twinkle in his eye in not one but two series of comedy classics. Younger viewers may recognise his honeyed tones as the voice of the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter movies. He's just released his autobiography. It's called 'Hello'... of course. Ladies and Gentleman, Leslie Phillips will be live in the studio.

Carry on everyone,

Ben & Tamzin

London Tonight: Wednesday 27th September

Hello to you from the news factory -

Hope you're well and not TOO busy this afternoon.

This evening's programme begins with a horrific mystery - what caused a 160 foot crane to collapse in Battersea, killing two people? The driver was thrown from the cab. Another man was crushed by the debris. An investigation is underway and Piers Hopkirk will have the latest on that.

Now, you've probably noticed the nights are drawing in and the days are getting cooler. Good Lord, summer's most definitely over. Mind you, the upside is that a bit more rain might help fill up our reservoirs because boy, do they need it. Not that it'll help the residents of a flat in Hackney who've been without running water since last Thursday. Liz Wickham looks at how everyone's coping - including Thames Water.

Simon Harris, meanwhile, continues his reports on machinations in Manchester and how the Labour Party conference could affect us down in London. Today, our own Mayor has raised air-pollution as a talking point, and with four of the country's busiest airports on our patch - that could be a big, and expensive issue.

Glenn Goodman's been hanging around public toilets today - all in the name of sound journalism of course. You see, some of the older residents of Kilburn had got a little fed up with the lack of loos available to the public when they're out shopping. They drew up a brochure of the best and worst. Mr Goodman went undercover to see for himself. What you might call 'inBOGnito'....

Moving swiftly on and the story of, well, a woman who was going nowhere fast when her car key-fob stopped working. Bit strange, as she'd just put a new battery in. It was the AA man who worked out the problem. The solution was a dog called George, as Phil Bayles will explain.

Tamzin's in Leicester Square for the premiere of 'Click' - Adam Sandler & Kate Beckinsale's new offering. And Chrissie's on weather duty.

Time now for a little cup of tea.

See you later,

Ben & Katie.

London Tonight: Tuesday September 26th

Afternoon all!

The jokes have been flying round the newsroom this afternoon - "The Drain....more like Money Down the Drain"
This, a reference to the news that since the re-opening of the underground's Waterloo & City Line - known as The Drain because of its shape - there's only been ONE day without disruption.... So what DID they spend that �40 billion on... And what WERE they doing for the five months it was closed.... we've set Piers the challenge of getting to the bottom of that one - which also got the gags going.. I won't explain...

London Tonight looks north this evening - we've sent Simon to Manchester for Labour's Party Conference. Blair's last speech to conference today - and we were all glued to the live feed in our newsroom.
Simon's been soaking up the electric atmosphere - and chatting to the London MP who's already started HIS campaign to replace TB (or at least keep Gordon out of No. 10).

There's bling... And then there's the Rio Tinto diamonds. Extremely rare, prohibitively expensive - and on show to a select few at a secret location in London, and guess who got an invitation? Phil takes you where the other news programmes just can't reach...

Jessica Simpson and baby sis Ashlee make the programme - Ashlee's just taken over as Roxie Hart in Chicago - and we're giving away tickets to tomorrow night's sell-out Jay-Z gig at the Albert Hall - Chris Martin will be making a guest appearance on stage - should be a great night!

There is - as always - much much more, but we don't want to spoil ALL the surprises, do we now.....

It's Alastair & Katie tonight - make it a date at 6.

Ed.