LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Good Afternoon -

Do you ever feel like you didn't really have a weekend - that Saturday and Sunday flew passed so terribly quickly, packed with this and that which had to get done... So that's how I'm feeling today. That's not necessarily a bad thing, obviously, as it means we're back in the swing of things with lots of workdays straight ahead - he said quickly, in case anyone further up the pay-scale read the weekend comment in a negative light.

And to start the week: well, it's the sort of story that to those affected is hugely, hugely, important. Today is 'National Offers Day'. Blank looks from some of you... It's the day which sees thousands of parents sent news of which school their sons and daughters will be going to. Will it be there first choice? Will it be their second choice? Will they want to appeal? How do they appeal?

We'll be speaking to the Advisory Centre for Education for the latest on what parents should be doing.

We'll also be speaking to a couple from King's Cross whose house is falling down. They claim the chap next door was doing some building work which undermined their home, which is now splitting apart. He says it's nothing to do with him.

Problems with neighbours features in another of our stories - a chap whose front garden in a beautiful Surrey village is not so beautiful really as it's full of stuff that most of us would throw away. His neighbours aren't happy about it but the European Court of Human Rights is on his side.

There's also a doctor who used to work for BUPA who chucked in her presumably well-paid job to help a hospital at a women's prison Afghanistan where health insurance isn't really an issue.

We'll meet a teenager from Eltham who has just won the top Prince's Trust award. His life story will make you realise how very lucky most of us are.

And with all that, you'd forgive us all for going a bit Gaga - which is exactly what we'll do. The Lady herself is in town and she's been telling how happy she is to be here. Oh yes.

As are we, obviously.

See you at six -

Ben & Katie

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LONDON TONIGHT

Hi there...another day, another blog...

First on the programme, exactly a decade on from her death, a memorial service has been held to remember Victoria Climbie. The eight year old died of malnutrition and hypothermia after sustained abuse at the hands of her aunt and her boyfriend. She'd been beaten with belts and sticks and doctors found 128 separate injuries on her body. At the time, the "blinding incompetence" of London's authorities in not spotting the abuse she was suffering was highlighted. Today, the foundation that bears Victoria's name and who organised the memorial, is still fighting to improve child protection services. So, in the decade that has passed, how far have we come? Katie has been speaking with Lord Laming, who chaired the inquiry into Victoria's death to find out. In a chilling irony, the full story has emerged today about the death of another child, Khyra Ishaq, in Birmingham. Khyra starved to death while in the 'care' of her mentally-ill mother and boyfriend in May 2008. Both admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and an inquiry is ongoing into whether more could be done to protect the seven year old.

Elsewhere, whatever your religious beliefs, or lack of them, one of those terribly sad stories that you just can't fathom a reason for: the one year old baby boy we told you about on Tuesday who was crushed by a falling lamppost in Chiswick has died in hospital. Emma Waldon reports for us on what is being decribed as a 'tragic accident'.

Also on the programme tonight, civil rights activist and minister, Jesse Jackson, talks to our political correspondent, Simon Harris, while Lucy Cotter has a date on the red carpet with Johnny Depp, no less.

Sports-wise, what a fantastic game of football last night! Chelsea have it all to do after coming home from the San Siro having lost 2-1, but with the all-important away goal against Inter Milan. Jose Mourinho was even cooler than usual, barely celebrating Inter's goals. Was it out of respect for his former club or a recognition that the job is only half done? A bit of both, I suspect. Great to get back to talking about football with regard to Chelsea, although having said that, their former defender, Wayne Bridge has announced he's unavailable to play for England because of the shenanigans surrounding his ex-girfriend's alleged affair with would-be international team mate, John Terry. Bridge has fallen on his sword describing his position in the side as 'untenable and potentially divisive'. It causes England boss Fabio Capello somewhat of a headache though, with first choice Chelsea left back, Ashley Cole, currently nursing a broken ankle as well as a broken marriage. The Chelsea soap opera continues...

...our daily soap opera continues with Katie and me at six. See you then.

Matt

Good evening,

Down at the Met Office today's buzzword when describing the weather is 'changeable'. True enough no two days are the same at present; sometimes it's a case of showers, sometimes relentless rain, sometimes it's dry but cloudy & sometimes it's dry & sunny.

If the weather was a human being it would be suffering from a multiple personality disorder which would make a fascinating case study. Back in the real world it means we have to live with the risk of constantly being caught out by the weather which is more than a little frustrating, but if we choose to we could view the situation more positively & recognise the current instability as a sign of the gradual transition from Winter to Spring. That's not to say the transition will be smooth (or even logical) over the next few weeks, but I'm happy to believe it's underway supported by lighter mornings & later sunsets.

Bring on the daffs & the crocuses, after the winter we've had they're the very least we deserve....

Hope to see you later,

Robin.

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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Right...

A couple of stories that could be straight out of a Hollywood film tonight. Firstly, Marcus Powell reports on the trial at London's Blackfriars Crown Court of a mechanic accused of taking part in the biggest cocaine case ever seen in Ireland. The gang, including a retired MET police detective tried to smuggle more than £200m worth of cocaine into Ireland from the Caribbean, but failed spectacularly when the boat carrying the drugs capsized off the Irish coast. They were trying to land an incredible 62 bails of cocaine and simply sank under the weight of it all. Some of the gang swam to shore, one was picked up by rescuers and the retired MET man went on the run for months. They were all eventually brought to justice. Meanwhile, John Edney from Sutton-at-Hone in Kent, who was accused of supplying the cars used in the plot, was found not guilty of conspiring to supply class A drugs. It's not just me is it...that has to be made into a Harrison Ford movie?!

Also tonight - some big match build-up laced with yet more tinseltown tension as Chelsea face Inter Milan in the Champions League in a match with more sub-plots that an episode of 24. Andy Townsend will talk us through the drama, but basically it goes like this: It's the first time the idolised former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho has faced his former side since leaving on less-than-best terms in 2007. The current Chelsea boss, Carlo Ancelotti used to play for and manage Inter's arch rival's in the Italian League, AC Milan. The two managers don't get on with the enigmatic Mourinho convinced of some sort of Italian football establishment vendetta against him, of which he thinks Ancelotti is a part (Ancelotti has claimed every Italian non-Inter fan will be supporting the Londoners tonight). What with all that and the comments Mourinho's made about Chelsea being essentially made up of 'his players' and we've got a game on our hands! Another good movie plot, but who do we cast? Well, Andy Townsend can play himself. I reckon James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) as Carlo Ancelotti and how about Harrison Ford again as 'The Special One'?

Well, maybe we'll find out if he'll do it later because Harrison Ford's on the show too! He's been talking to Lucy about his new film, 'Extraordinary Measures', in which he plays a brilliant scientist trying to save the lives of two children, based on a true story. So, how was he? I always imagine Harrison Ford to be a bit surly, don't know why? Anyway, who cares, it's Harrison Ford! So, in homage to one of my favorite actors, here are my top five H.F. movie quotes in reverse order...

5) Han Solo, 'Star Wars: A New Hope' - "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
4) Indiana Jones, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' - "Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?"
3) President James Marshall, 'Air Force One' - "Get off my plane!"
2) Dr. Richard Kimble, 'The Fugitive' - "I didn't kill my wife!"
1) Indiana Jones, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' - Marion: "You're not the man I knew ten years ago." Indy: "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."

Legend. And he was a perfectly nice man, apparently.

OK, that's it - we're all clear. Now let's blow this programme and go home! (Han Solo - 'Star Wars'...sort of!)

Matt and Lucy.

_________

Good evening,

I've never paid much attention tom warnings of surface spray, but this morning I drove to the station through walls of water created by oncoming lorries & was then drenched by a passing bus as I waited to cross the road at Waterloo.

Be warned, there's a lot of standing water about at the moment (even on some pavements) & the chances of it being turned into flumes by fast moving vehicles -even bicycles- are high.

Sadly there's more rain to come (from time to time it will be pretty heavy) so the saturated ground will get worse before it gets better & driving conditions will occasionally be hazardous. Personally I plan to invest in a pair of waterproof gaiters so that in future I don't end up doing my bulletins soaked from the knees down, as I did this morning....

Hope to see you later,

Robin.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello all. Welcome to Friday. Is it me, or has it been a really long week? Must be me, either way, I'm very much looking forward to the weekend.

On the programme tonight we have the fascinating story of David Barry who was attacked by a gang wielding hammers. He suffered horrific injuries with one doctor describing them as the worst he'd ever seen on a victim who had survived. But, just six weeks later, his appearance has been transformed thanks to the astonishing skills of surgeons at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. The task, put simply, was to rebuild his head and there are astonishing 3-D X-rays of exactly how bad David's injuries were.

Also tonight, we'll mark the start of London Fashion week. But, the most breathtaking story of the day for me, is this one...

A spate of thefts in Middlesex have cost one man £200,000. So, what was stolen? His diamond collection? Rare art? His fleet of Ferraris? No...some pigeons. Elite racing pigeons, I'll grant you, but pigeons nonetheless. It's big business apparently with the most expensive bought in Britain costing £106,000. A hundred and six thousand pounds???!!!!! More later.

James King's in to talk movies and there are two Oscar nominees in action this week with Stanley Tucci nominated for his role in 'The Lovely Bones' and Jeff Bridges for his part in 'Crazy Heart'. Bridges plays a washed up country singer who finds love late in life while Tucci plays the creepy next door neighbor in Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's best selling book. James will tell us if they're nominations are deserved.

And, staying with the movie theme, actor James Purefoy joins us in the studio later. You might know him for his role as Edward, the Black Prince in 'A Knight's Tale' with Heath Ledger or, more recently, as Mark Antony in the beeb series, 'Rome'. Now he's playing the lead role in the new action movie, 'Soloman Kane' - a sword swinging, pact-with-the-devil-making, justice metering, medieval-type marauding his way around the...er...West Country? Apparently James thinks it's about time we had a West Country action hero which gives me hope, I must say. My accent's West Country-ish. Not sure it's going to catch on though. Do you remember David Prowse? He was the guy inside the Darth Vader suit in 'Star Wars' - he was from the West Country. Can you imagine what it would have been like if George Lucas hadn't dubbed his voice with the sinister growlings of James Earl Jones? I'm not sure Vader would have become one of the most infamous badies in cinema history if he'd have uttered the immortal words, "Luke, I aaam your faaaaaaatherrrr" in his glorious Gloucestershire twang?

Anyway - people in glass houses and all that...

See you between six and haaaaalf paaaaast. Matt and Nina
-----------
Good evening,

Wednesday was glorious. The sun shone all day (there was even a little warmth in it) & there were very few clouds. The winds were light & there was almost a feeling of Spring in the air. This, of course, was wishful thinking because it all went belly up yesterday & we were reminded that we are still in the depths of Winter. I think that's why I find this part of the year so challenging; I want a day of tepid sun & no rain to be followed by another & then another, getting warmer all the while....

It's fair to say that we've had quite a harsh winter so far, in fact I read somewhere that it's been the coldest February for 25 years & looking at the charts there's no sign of an improvement in temperatures over the next few days, so the onset of Spring remains elusive. Frustrating, but there's nothing we can do other than accept it & make sure that when conditions do finally improve we make the most of it....

Hope to see you later,

Robin.

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello there.

What a coup by Lucy Cotter last night to get Robbie Williams live on the BRIT's red carpet! I've just caught up with her for all the gossip and despite her usual air of complete calm on telly, apparently it was a nightmare down there. These things can be a bit of a bun fight as the world's press scrap it out for interviews with the celebs. Lucy will have been running round for hours persuading the right PR person to deliver the stars she wanted to talk to at the precise moment she needed to talk to them. If they bring them over to her too soon, there's a danger they'll be dragged away by some unscrupulous, (non-London Tonight) reporter just as we're about to go live. If the guest turns up just a minute too late...well...they miss it. Very stressful!

Lucy was promised a chat with JLS - who went on to scoop two awards for London last night - and she knew there was an outside chance of getting the man of the moment, Robbie. But fifteen seconds before the director was due to cue Lucy to start speaking, she was on her own. Luckily, just as she started to speak - no doubt with her mind racing with various versions of the sentence, 'what the heck do I do now?!?!' - the JLS boys mobbed her and gave a great interview.

The next problem though, when you're broadcasting live to the capital with the hottest band of the moment, is how do you then grab the attention of this country's most successful male recording artist to also come over for a chat? Answer? You expertly wrap up JLS and throw to a pre-recorded clip of interviews with other stars to give yourself precisely 1 minute 34 seconds of breathing space during which Lucy turned on the charm. When she came back into vision, there was Lucy alongside the man absolutely everyone was desperate to speak to. Genius. Lucy...I mean...but Robbie's was pretty good too!

So - how do we follow that tonight? With the day's top stories, a belly-dancing 90 year old and a chat with Andy Townsend ahead of Arsenal's Champions League match against Porto. What's not to love?

See you at six,

Matt and Katie.
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello. So, Pancake Day. How do you like yours? Personally, a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of brown sugar will do nicely. That, or a drowning of golden syrup. I'm not into savoury pancakes. I'd rather have an omelette and be done with it. Are you giving anything up for Lent? A quick ask around the office sees Producer Ken going all out to give chocolate, crisps and ice cream a wide berth - good luck with that one - while Nina says she's going to give up stress? Can't imagine Nina getting stressed, to be honest? I always say I'll lay off the beer, but my birthday falls between now and Easter, as does the rest of the Six Nations, so it's tricky. Are you allowed a day off? Rather defeats the object, I suppose.

A quick look at Shrove Tuesday's programme then...

We start with more on the case of five men accused of attempting to murder a British holidaymaker in Crete who were today ordered back to Greece to face justice. They're accused of stabbing footballer Robert Hughes with a broken bottle before stamping on his head. Robert, who played for Sutton United, suffered brain damage and was left in a coma for two months after three operations to save his life. Today a judge said there was no reason why the five suspects, all from Surrey and West Sussex, should not be extradited.

We also have the sad story of a teenager from Kent who was killed by an avalanche on a mountain in Scotland yesterday. 18 year old Stephen Young, a keen scout from Borough Green near Sevenoaks, was leading a walking trip when he was hit by sliding rocks. Ronke Phillips will have more for us.

We'll have the latest on the Olympic legacy with no news on who'll take over the running of the stadium after the Games and fresh concerns that local people could lose out. One company set up to provide barges to ferry materials to and from the 2012 site say they've been left high and dry.

Also tonight, reports that the world famous Abbey Road recording studios have been put up for sale. And, we look ahead to the 30th anniversary BRIT Awards on ITV1 at 8 O'clock. It promises to be a great show with a celebratory trawl through three decades of classic performances as well as a cracking line-up of live acts. Jay-Z, Lady Ga-ga and Robbie Williams are all doing turns, but what of the London contingent? Well, where do we start? Pixie Lott, Florence and the Machine, Lily Allen, Leona Lewis, Dizzee Rascal, Mika, JLS, La Roux, Tynchy Stryder, N-Dubz, Alesha Dixon and Alexandra Burke are all up in various categories, so the capital could be boasting several awards by tomorrow morning? Lucy Cotter (who else) is will be live at Earl's Court for us later on her continuing quest to bring you the cream of the showbiz crop.

The must-see footage tonight, though, is of a weatherman in America. Talk about o.t.t.?! He screams his way through the Baltimore bulletin to a backdrop of dramatic classical music. It really is quite odd. So, will Chrissy be following suit? I doubt it somehow...thankfully!

See you at six. Matt and Nina.
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

A very good Friday afternoon to you -

Wow. Friday already. I know I've said this before but the weeks go by faster and faster. Have they taken a day out? Did I miss some sort of Act of Parliament saying "It's official: We can't afford Wednesday anymore so let's skip it. The budget will go a bit further?" Anyway, the 'up' side is that the weekend is here.

And if you're a sucker for soppy love then fill your boots up, my friends. It's Valentine's Weekend. Yes, the schmaltz-fest is normally restricted to just the 24 hours. I suspect it's going to stretch across the full 2 days this year. Good news for florists, restaurants and jewellers. Bad news for people who think Valentine's is a load of phooey. You pays your money - and takes your choice. Or not.

Of course, our Friday programme comes complete with a look at a couple of the big movies out this weekend. (So you can always go and cry in the darkness of your local picture house if the Valentine's bit doesn't work out. And if it does, you can still take advantage of the darkness...) So, there's one film about a young lad called Percy and his Olympian chums. Have to say the trailer looks right up my street. And then there's Valentine's Day. This one - to me, at least - looks like a poor man's 'Love Actually'. Don't take my word for it though - Mr King will be here with his expert opinion.

Adding weight to the weekend theme is a sofa chat with, well, he's an old friend of the programme now. Pop sensation, Lemar, will be here. Lovely voice. Lovely man. He's got a new single to tell us about.

On the news front, we've got the latest on the blasting Eurostar suffered today, with a report on the way it handled the appalling weather we had before Christmas. Trains stuck in tunnels. Passengers left in ignorance.

There's a report on a little girl who was sent to hospital suffering from terrible burns. But that hospital was in Haiti - when the earthquake struck. Well, she's at Great Ormond Street now where her future is looking somewhat brighter.

Plus we've the latest on a woman's fight to be treated fairly (she says) when it comes to wearing a cross to work for British Airways. There're the school children who couldn't believe their lucky when Michelle Obama turned up for Assembly last year and now they really can't believe their luck - they're going to meet her again. At the White House. I think the most exciting school trip we had was to the local woods where there used to be Bronze Age settlement. I can remember the teacher now "Why are you yawning, Scotchbrook?"

One more story to tempt you with - Status Quo, receiving their honours at the Palace today. That's Status Quo B E. (Blame that one on Brendan, our news editor. It's been a long week).

Got to go. Got to go to make-up. I know. A grown man too.

See you at six.

Ben & Nina

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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Ok - REALLY short blog today, sorry. I was late in, no point trying to hide it, I had a quick hospital appointment. Nothing exciting, just a check up on my bad back...which turns out is still bad. I could have told them that and saved myself two hours. On a brighter note: This morning I had an unexpected letter from my bank. Usually that sort of thing never ends well - the last one said that the annual review of my overdraft facility has now been conducted and that the bank were 'delighted' to inform me that the service will remain in place and unchanged. The cost for the review was £25 which duly put me over my limit costing me...another £25. Genius! Anyway, today's letter was different: apparently, the year long savings account I've been paying into, but had completely forgotten about has matured and there's a whopping £500 with my name on it! Great news...I might book that weekend break. Then I picked my car up from it's annual service and MOT. An oil change here, two new tires there and a bill for £498.43. So, any ideas as to what to do with my sudden £1.57 windfall?

Anyway, tonight's programme - all the news from the capital, of course, plus a fascinating piece from Marcus Powell about how The Prince of Wales does a bit of Tai Chi. He's been seeing how non-traditional remedies are being used to help former members of our Armed Forces. Tai Chi and acupuncture are just two of the methods employed by a charity based in Fulham to that claims to aid recovery from physical and mental trauma.

Also, Daisy Gray reports on at least one London council that, staggeringly, isn't prepared to cope with yet more freezing weather, should it materialise, despite the chaos of last month. You'd have thought the lessons had been learnt...but they're still awaiting delivery of salt ordered in December. And, as the temperature plummets again, we'll attempt to warm the cockles of your hearts with an exclusive chat with the gorgeous star of Hollywood and the West End, Anna Friel. She ended a five-month run in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' last night, but rather than jetting off to a beach somewhere to relax, she made time for Glen Goodman. Well, who wouldn't?!

See you at six

Matt and Katie

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hi there...

Quick blog then with an Olympic theme...

Simon Harris has been on the Olympic trail again with news of another raid on the seemingly bottomless contingency fund.
This time up to 160-million pounds could be needed partly to balance the books between the time of the completion of the Olympic stadium to when whoever takes over the running of it after the Games. Overall though, the latest figures show the building work is actually on budget. Not sure how does that works, which is probably why I'm not allowed anywhere near the household finances. I'm confident Simon will have a his head round the figures, although he was last seen with his shoes and socks off in the corner.

Also tonight, dramatic audio from the air traffic control recording of the "Mayday" call from the cockpit of the BA jet that crash-landed at Heathrow two years ago. You'll remember it barely cleared a fence before belly-flopping onto the grass. A report today confirmed that the crash was caused by a build-up of ice on the fuel lines.

And we'll have more news on the foreign embassies in the capital who've run up a 40 million pound congestion charge bill. Blimey, I thought I was bad...

We'll also have news of a scheme to inspire inner city school children to become Olympic rowers (as in boats, not as in professional arguers). Finally, we're joined on the programme by a Bond and a Bond girl. The Bond is Pierce Brosnan who's starring as a Greek god in new film, 'Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief'. We spoke to the former 007 about the new movie, 'the newby', Daniel Craig and how he feels about wearing tights?!?

The Bond girl? Lucy Cotter, of course. She interviewed Mr. Brosnan and joins me on the sofa tonight. Does that make me the next Bond? As good as, surely? It's about time we had a 5'9" slightly graying Bond with a dodgy back, don't you think?

Shee you at shix...Matt and Looshy!
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LONDON TONIGHT

Afternoon all. Hope you had a good weekend? Personally, it was very satisfying. We have quite a Welsh contingent here on London Tonight; including today's producer, Hannah, Lewis Vaughan Jones and Lucy Cotter. They were all chippy as you like on Friday ahead of England's clash with the old enemy at Twickenham as this year's Six Nations got underway, but are all strangely quiet today? Hannah's pretending she's really busy working on tonight's programme, while Lucy's been headphones on, pretending to edit something showbizzy for the last hour. I haven't seen Lewis yet. It wasn't exactly vintage from England, but we'll take a win to get the campaign underway.

Elsewhere sporty over the weekend, John Terry. More revelations about his private life in the Sundays, but you can't knock his performances on the pitch. 'Me against the world', I guess. I even saw some Arsenal fans lauding his abilities on London Tonight yesterday. A great win for Chelsea that, by the way.

Ok - briefly, tonight's programme is comprised as follows...

First, the resolution of a case we've been following from the beginning - that of police Commander Ali Dizaei, found guilty today of threatening and falsely arresting another man in a row over money. In July 2008 Dizaei attacked Al Baghdadi and had him arrested for no reason. Dizaei even stabbed himself in the stomach and blamed it on Mr. Baghdadi to make his story seem more plausible. Marcus Powell reports on an unbelievable betrayal of public trust.

Also, more on another heartbreaking story out of Haiti that we featured on yesterday's London Tonight. Three month old Landina was left orphaned after last months earthquake. Her arm had to be amputated and she has severe head injuries. She's being looked after by a surgeon from the Chelsea and Westminster hospital, David Nott, who says she needs to be flown for life-saving treatment here in the capital as soon as possible. The authorities won't allow it because she has no official papers, but her situation is getting more critical by the day. We've spoken to some of Mr. Nott's work mates at the Chelsea at Westmister hospital about what treatment Landina would receive were she to be flown here, as well as what they think about their colleague's humanitarian efforts in Haiti.

And we report on the rise of Mephedrone, better known as 'meow meow': a plant food that's being used as a drug. Legal and cheap it's becoming more and more popular with London teenagers, but its effects could be deadly. Most worryingly, if you ask medical experts what the consequences of long term use are, they'll tell you they don't know, there's been very little research. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence on the internet, with various forums citing nosebleeds, chest pains, breathing problems and panic attacks among the side effects. So, how easy is it to get hold of Mephedrone? Worryingly, as Sally Rourke found out.

Also tonight...after a star-studdied week last week, Lucy Cotter's keen to reach the same dizzy showbiz heights this week with actors like Sacha Baron Cohen, James Mcavoy and Oscar hopeful Carey Mulligan all expected at tonight's Evening Standard film awards. I reckon she's just trying to keep out of my way, though. Sure we bet a coffee on the rugby result?!

See you at six

Matt and Katie
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello all.

A very quick blog today - a busy afternoon and a packed programme. We'll be looking at great depth into the issue of out of hours doctors and the care they provide after shocking figures illustrate just how few there are. We hear from a man whose wife died of a heart attack hours after being seen by a doctor and told that she had a shoulder strain. So how is it in your area? Tune in to find out.

Also tonight, as the man who murdered a north Londoner and cut up his body is given a life sentence, his truly grizzly criminal past comes to light - and it's shocking stuff.

And we'll have more on the story dominating the papers over the weekend - the allegations about England and Chelsea captain, John Terry's off-field activities with the ex-partner of an England team mate. Debate rages as to whether he should be stripped of the England captaincy by boss Fabio Capello. After reading the pages upon pages of comment and conjecture over the last few days the key questions are whether we expect too much of our sports stars? Probably. But, do most of them seem happy enough to be put on a pedestal if it means the accumulation of vast wealth and fame through sponsorship and merchandising? Almost certainly, I would argue.

Showbiz-wise - Lucy's been busy, as ever: Colin Firth joins her on the red carpet at the premiere of his new movie - while Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon chat with her about their new film, 'Invictus' on tomorrow night's programme....but more of that later.

See you at six

Matt and Katie
Please Note:

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LONDON TONIGHT

Good Afternoon to you...

As I write this, there is an open box of chocolates sitting next to me. I've had three already. I know, I know, but it is Friday and it's the first chocolate I've had all week... a desperate attempt to shrug off the excess pounds that came with Christmas.

One of our producers, who's in training for the London Marathon (I would, honest, but I've got a dodgy knee), has been on rather a strict diet and has managed to lose the best part of a stone before Christmas. Cut out all sorts of fattening food - and booze. That's commitment for you. And frankly, rather dull.

So, moving on to the programme. It's Friday so we'll be looking at a couple of the big movies coming out this weekend. One's for children. One's for their parents. I'm looking forward to seeing both actually.

And sticking with the entertainment world, Ms Cotter has been to Canvey Island to find out how it changed the history of rock music. I know what you're thinking. I thought the same when I read the prospects for today's programme. We'll find out more together on the programme.

There's also a lot of 'weighty' stuff in the run-down.

You'll have done well to miss the fact that former Prime Minister Tony Blair is being grilled by the Chilcott Inquiry about what he said, thought and did in the build-up to and during the war in Iraq. Well, no one will be following what he says today more closely than Roger Bacon, whose son Major Matthew Bacon was killed in action in September 2005. He's never forgiven Mr Blair for the war and how it was conducted, even calling for him to be prosecuted. Roger has gone down to the QEII centre in Westminster to hear Mr Blair's testimony - in person - and we'll speak to him afterwards for his conclusions.

We'll also have the latest in the trial of two people accused of killing a kitchen salesman, chopping up his body and then spreading the parts round Leicestershire and Hertfordshire. And the latest is fairly dramatic. One of the defendants who had previously admitted chopping up the body but denied murder... has now pleaded guilty to the murder as well.

The story we'd like you to share your opinions on this evening is the commitment made by Community Police Officers in Bexley. They have promised to visit every home before the year. Good idea? Waste of money? Frightening prospect? Watch Lewis' report and then let us know.

And the other reports I have to tell you about is a special report from Emma Walden who is in France today. You may remember the discovery of a mass war grave in Fromelles two years ago where the bodies of thousands of 1st World War soldiers had lain unmarked for 90 years. Through painstaking research, some of those men have now been identified and Emma has been on an emotional journey with a family from a village called The Lee in Buckinghamshire. A grandson paying his respects to his grandfather who died for his country.

So - a very full, very varied programme.

See you at six,

Ben & Nina... hey, wait... don't go yet. Read on - because Mr McCallum is up next:

Good evening,
At the station this morning I was asked by a fellow commuter if I'd be able to gave a talk on meteorology at his son's school. My gut instinct is always to fight shy of such requests, not because I resent being asked (after all it's very flattering) but because I feel a bit of a fraud. I'm not a forecaster as such (that requires a meteorology degree & an aptitude for science which I lack) but merely a presenter who trained in Broadcast Meteorology in order to qualify for my current job. However as we chatted it became clear that the talk required is less about meteorology & more about weather presenting as a career & therefore I probably could cobble together a handful of useful pointers.
In addition to general advice on television presenting there are a couple of specific skills which weather presenters need to master; top of the list should be having a pithy rejoinder always to hand for remarks like "I suppose we've got you to thank for this" & "Got it wrong again didn't you?" & "Can't you do something about the weather then?" followed closely by knowing what to leave out of the forecasts as too much detail is guaranteed to lose you your audience. Ultimately what we really want to know is whether we need coat, umbrella or suncream....
With that in mind it's coat for the next couple of days. It's going to be nippy.
Hope to see you later,
Robin.
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello all.

First up tonight, we'll have more on the General Medical Council's ruling today that the doctor who first published evidence linking the MMR jab and autism acted 'dishonestly and irresponsibly' while carrying out his research. Dr Andrew Wakefield's 1998 study, that has since been discredited, caused vaccination rates to plummet and cases of measles to rise, but some parents still support his research as they look to prove a link they're convinced does exist. Whether or not to get your child vaccinated is a subject that really divides opinion, not least in the afternoon meeting we've just had about tonight's show. It's certainly not our place to pass comment on that, but you can have your say via the e-mails later.

Now, anyone caught up in the unpredictability of First Capital Connect's train services over the last few months will want to tune in later as we hear from the company for the first time. We've being chasing them to come on for ages. First, to comment on the situation last year when drivers refused to work their voluntary weekend shifts, causing severe disruption. And, more recently, to speak about the snow-induced commuter chaos to their services. Disgruntled members of the public get their chance to grill company bosses later, too. There's nothing like a good rant to make you feel better!

Also tonight, beer and comedy - a classic combination! First, we meet the East End pensioners, turned brewers, whose first batch of ale was so popular in the trendy bars that stocked it, reserves have run completely dry. They grew their own hops on a patch of ground at their community housing project in Tower Hamlets, evoking memories of when they used to go hop-picking in Kent. 'Old Hopper Brew' was the result and it's proved very popular indeed. I grew up in rural Herefordshire, a 'hop-bed' of beer and cider production, where I still organise a charity food festival each summer partly so that I can sample the latest brews on offer. Phil Bayles managed a taste test of 'Old Hopper' and said it was quite 'zesty'. None left to bring back for the rest of us, apparently, although I'm sure I just heard Phil clanking his way to his locker...?

On the comedy front, Andrew Maxwell joins us on the sofa. Not only an upstanding member of the stand-up community, but a regular on panel shows like 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks' and 'Have I got News for You'. He also organises the regular comedy show, 'The Fullmooners' which is timed to co-incide with...the full moon. The next one is this Friday, so we'll get Andrew to tell us what newcomers can expect.

Beer and comedy. Now, if someone could just rustle me up a curry - the weekend can start early!

See you at six

Matt and Nina
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello all.

Mayor Boris Johnson is has announced he's standing down from his role as head of the Metropolitan Police Authority despite pledging in his election campaign that he would personally take charge of the fight against crime in the capital. It represents quite a turnaround but one that some will welcome. He's been heavily criticised for overly politicising the police authority by combining his role as Mayor with that of head of the MPA. But you have to question whether standing down now suggests the doubters were right all along? No comment from Boris, but we do have an interview with former mayor Ken Livingstone over which Simon Harris will cast a politically impartial eye.

Some really bad news for drivers looking to cross Waterloo Bridge any time soon because three lanes will be shut for the rest of the year. Workers are carrying out structural work to the bridge that was built during the Second World War and survived the bombings. Lewis Vaughan Jones (or Ronaldo as we've been calling him since last nights 'keepy-uppy's), had the job of canvassing motorists....can't imagine what they said about it?! Your thoughts welcome later.

And following the desperately sad news that little Imogin Appiah has lost her battle with leukaemia, Glen Goodman's been speaking to her mum about how the fight to recruit more potential bone marrow donors will continue in her memory.

In sport, we'll have more on the problems at Crystal Palace following yesterday's news that the administrators have been called and in showbiz, we're joined by the woman once voted among the top ten 'hottest' on the planet. It's an image lads-mag legend Abi Titmuss is working hard to shed and she's in promoting her new play, 'Stage Fright'. It'll be interesting to hear how her new career as an actor is going - she got good reviews for playing Lady Macbeth recently and now she's turning her hand to comedy.

'And Finally'...Ben Scotchbrook is on Oxford Street with a load of anamatronic dinosaurs...which hopefully haven't been anywhere near Waterloo Bridge, or we could have a new lead story!

See you at six.

Matt and Lucy
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LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello. Welcome to the weekend.

A mixed bag in store for you tonight. The award for the oddest story of the day goes to an investment group, supported by Boris Johnson, to get the Bloomsbury, Holborn and St Giles areas of London collectively renamed. 'Midtown' is what they've got in mind...yes, that's what I thought, too! The idea is to get local businesses to put into a purse to improve the area, which seems reasonable enough. But why the ridiculous re-branding? Do they not know that Holborn has been called for over a thousand years?! And if you have to change the name - 'Midtown'? I mean, there are obviously numerous similarities bewteen Midtown New York and Bloomsbury, Holborn and St Giles: For NYC - Times Square, The Empire State Building, Broadway, Grand Central Station? The London areas, well, don't they don't have those, let's be honest. Your thoughts welcome on the email and perhaps your suggestions too. What do you think would be an appropriate new name? Keep them suitable for tea-time viewing please!

In more serious news, Nick Thatcher looks into reports that British Airways are training up baggage handlers to act as cabin crew to combat possible strikes and we'll have more on the impending misery for Jubilee Line users as maintenance crews prepare to stage a series of walkouts over pay...during Monday rush hours/.

There's another exciting F.A. Cup weekend in the offing and Lewis Vaughan Jones previews the fourth round clash between Crystal Palace and Wolves and looks at whether the magic of the F.A. Cup still exists. It's 20 years since Palace got to the final at Wembley. They drew 3-3 with Manchester United and lost the replay. It was United's first major trophy under Alex Fergusson and the closest Palace have ever come to major silverware. My prediction for the Wolves game? A hard fought match...I'm not falling for that one!

James King's in to talk all things movies and we have some budding young journalists in the studio for a chat too. They've been part of a national competition to find the next generation of talented reporters. Who's silly idea was that, by the way? Better not mess it up tonight, then - what with ready-made replacements literally waiting in the wings!

See you at Six.

Matt and Nina

PS Palace to win 1-0 - I must be swept up in the magic of the Cup!

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Afternoon all. Short blog today, sorry.

Now, what price an apology? 'Sorry seems to be the hardest word', according to Elton John. It's certainly a hard word to say and really mean, but it's not a hard word to say. Most of us say it numerous times a day and don't really mean it. Am I sorry it's a short blog today? Not really, to be honest - sorry...I meant it that time! So, how hard was it for two teenagers who threatened, harassed and assaulted staff at shops in East Ham to say sorry to their victims? It depends if they meant it and only they can answer that, but they've written letters of apology as part of their punishment. We'll find out later what their victims made of the letters. And feel free to contribute your two-penneth in the usual fashion.

Talking of apologies, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said sorry for William Gallas' horror tackle in last night's 4-2 win over Bolton. That's massive news. I mean, it was an absolute shocker of a challenge that saw Mark Davies stretchered off and how Gallas wasn't shown a red card, I'll never know. I've got a lot of respect for Arsene Wenger, and well done Arsenal for going top of the table, but he does have a history of selective eyesight when it comes to this sort of thing. So, fair play to him - apology accepted Arsene. But then, I don't suppose it was directed at me, really?

Also tonight, Lucy catches up with Sir Ian McKellen and Matthew Kelly who are starring in Samuel Beckett's groundbreaker, 'Waiting for Godot' at The Theatre Royal, Haymarket.

Matt and Katie

PS - I've just watched the interview Arsene Wenger gave on Match of the Day last night and it goes as follows...

Question: "Owen Coyle (the Bolton manager) feels that William Gallas 'assaulted' his player. What do you make of that?"

Arsene Wenger: "I don't think so. If it was like that, I regret it and I'm sorry but it didn't look like that during the game."

Hmmmm. Sing it again, Elton. Not sure the message has quite got through, yet!

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello all.

Plenty to get through tonight and it's all pretty serious stuff.

We start with the backlash against the Met following an Independent Police Complaints Comission report into their handling of the Warboys case. Black cab driver, John Worboys, was convicted of one rape and 11 sex assaults in March last year and jailed indefinitely. But the IPCC report has highlighted a catalogue of errors that could have prevented the attacks on dozens of women, one of whom says her initial complaint was met with derision by officers who laughed at her. 'Lessons have been learned', say the Met and five officers have been received written warnings and 'advice', which hardly seems punishment enough. The most worrying aspect though, is the 'mind-set' within the Met talked about in the report. Another investigation into how the unidentified 21 year old woman's complaint was handled has now been ordered and there are plenty of questions for us to ask Commander Simon Foy, who's head of the Met's homicide and serious crime investigations unit, when he joins us live later.

Next, the mother who killed her brain-damaged son by injecting him with heroin has been found guilty of murder and sentened to a minimum of nine years in prison. Tom Inglis suffered severe head injuries when he fell out of a moving ambulance and his mother Francis, told the jury she had "no choice" other than to end his suffering.

We'll have more on the murder of teenager Asha Muneer, whose body was discovered by a riverside footpath in Reading on Monday night. Tributes have been paid to the teenager who was stabbed to death as she walked home. A 19-year-old man is being questioned on suspicion of murder. And we'll have more on how the tragedy in Haiti is still affecting people from London.

Finally tonight, a spot of light relief as we examine the connection between the best athletes in the world and a group of quilt-making ladies from Hertfordshire??? All will be revealed, not least to me?

See you at six. Matt and Katie.
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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

Hello all.

Firstly, apologies for the rather abrubt end to last night's programme. One minute we were hearing from Lucy Cotter at the O2 about the BRIT nominations, the next we were off air without so much as a 'goodbye from us'! No, we weren't all off down the bookies to place bets on Lucy's BRITs tips, but there was a minor drama with a fire alarm. Katie and I were, of course, prepared to keep broadcasting until the bitter end, but we were told to join the orderly queue marching to the assembly point outside. So, apologies for that, but I understand you were left in the capable hands of Fred Dineage and the 'Meridian Tonight' team? I also understand that Fred signed off by thanking viewers in London and urging you to stay with them as theirs is 'a much better programme anyway'. He's a real card, Fred...no really, hilarious! ;-)

So. Tonight then...

We'll have details on the murder of a woman in Reading. The 19-year-old was found on a footpath next to the river Kennet at about quarter past nine last night. Forensic teams spent this morning searching the scene and police are asking for anyone who saw anything to get in touch. Murray Dron will have the very latest for us.

The takeover at West Ham by former Birmingham City owners, David Gold and David Sullivan features heavily this evening. They've got some task on their hands with the previous Icelandic owners leaving things in a pretty sorry state at Upton Park. There was the usual press conference rhetoric earlier which ranged from Premiere League survival in the short term to world domination in the long, but they're well aware of the task ahead. Sullivan estimates the club has debts in excess of a hundred million pounds and has inheritted a squad in need of serious bolstering. On the bright side for West Ham fans, what you have got in David Sullivan is a man committed to the cause. I interviewed him several times up in the Midlands while he was at Birmingham City and he was never shy of telling anyone of his aspirations to one day own West Ham. He's been waiting over twenty years. They aren't the sort of owners who sack managers either - two in sixteen years at Birmingham - and in Karen Brady, West Ham's new Vice Chairman, the club has one of the shrewdest operators in the business. What is interesting, is Mr. Sullivan's desire to move the club into the Olympic stadium...although without the athletics track. Quite what that does to the all-important legacy that was key to London's bid, only time will tell.

We'll have the Surrey family who are twenty six million pounds richer after winning the lottery...maybe we'll put them in touch with West Ham? Also, Lucy has the lowdown on new play, 'Six Degrees of Separation' - openning at the Old Vic tonight. And Robin will be going round in circles to bring us the weather as he marks the tenth anniversary of the London Eye. He'll be broadcasting live from one of the pods...a podcast then, surely?

See you at Six

Matt and Katie. And Robin...and Robin again...oh look, there's Robin...!

LONDON TONIGHT TONIGHT

Hello all. Plenty on the show tonight...

Boris Johnson joins us live on the show tonight as he announces plans to completely eradicate London's dependence on landfill sites to dump our rubbish by 2025. With over four hundred million tonnes generated a year at a cost of over £600m to process, London has the worst recycling ratio in the country, something Bozza says we have to change. At the moment though, there's a massive discrepancy between the performances of different London Boroughs when it comes to recycling rubbish, so how's Boris going to do it? We'll ask him.

Also tonight, the passing of one of the capital's most colourful characters has been marked with what was much more a celebration of his life than a mourning of his death. For more than thirty years Peter Moore was the London's town crier, adorning events with his eye-catching garb and ear-splitting announcements. Mr. Moore died five days before Christmas, at the age of seventy and today, family, friends and fans gathered for his funeral.

And, the remarkable story of Nicholas McCarthy from Surrey who's chasing his dream to become a concert pianist. Admirable, but not that remarkable, you might think? But Nicholas only has one arm. Now, I had piano lessons as a youngster, so I know a bit about just how good you have to be to get to that level ('Easy to Play Christmas Carols' can be pretty taxing too, though, let me tell you) and I just can' t see how that's possible? Luckily, for me, Carolyn Sim can...

Also on the show tonight, Lucy's at the O2 for the announcement of this year's BRIT Award nominations which are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. The tv ceremony was always a must-see in our house and for some classic BRITs nostalgia, check out 'The BRITs Hits 30' on ITV1on Saturday night. It'll showcase some of the best performances from the past three decades. I don't know if Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood's cringeworthy attempts to host the show or Jarvis Cocker's infamous bum-wiggling stage invasion during Michael Jackson's performance make the list...but they should do! In terms of this year's nominations, what of London's chances? Well, La Roux, Dizzy Rascal, Tinchy Stryder and JLS have all got to be in with a shout (according to Lucy...I really have no clue). Bromley's Pixie Lott performs at the launch party tonight too, so plenty for us to shout about. Nominations are annouced while we're on air, so prepare for another classic tv moment as Lucy's left with nothing to announce if things are running late...good luck!

See you at six. Matt and Katie.

LONDON TONIGHT

Good Afternoon everyone,

Hope you're all well - looking forward to the weekend, devoid of snow and ice, we hope.

Got to be a quick round-up for this evening's programme - so here goes.

We've been speaking to the cousin of a UN worker who was on duty in Haiti. She hasn't been heard of since the quake that has killed thousands. No one can imagine the anguish her family is going through.

A family in anguish is also at the heart of another story tonight - the cousin of Sukhwinder Singh is appealing for help in catching his killers. You may remember the young father died in Barking last Friday after he gave chase to muggers who'd just made off with a lady's handbag. He caught up with them. They stabbed him.

There's also the battle between some homeowners who haven't had their rubbish collected. For 7 weeks. It stinks. How fair is that? We've been speaking to the council involved. Harrow, for your information.

Speaking of what's fair and what isn't fair... West Ham have today been fined £115,000 for the violent clashes between their fans and Millwall fans at Upton Park last year. Lots of debate in the office on how much impact that will actually have on the club.

And James King will be in talking about two new movies you might want to catch this weekend.

Robin McCallum will be out talking about what he can do with a block of ice and a chisel.

And Marcus Powell will be 'under' the water...

Find out why - at six.

Ben & Nina

Good evening,

There's been much talk of the thaw over the last couple of days. In Central London there's little, if any, evidence of the recent snow & ice but you don't have to travel too far out of town to find icy pavements & untreated minor roads still deep in snow.

Ironically fresh snow (I have discovered) is much easier to drive & walk on than the mushy grey sorbet that's still about, lying stubbornly on top of a frozen crust. In my neck of the woods driving anywhere other than on A roads remains quite a challenge - the thick slush makes it almost impossible to anything other than move very slowly forwards in a straight line. Turning a corner is alarming because the moment you leave the tracks left by the other cars it becomes the vehicular equivalent of Round 1 of Dancing on Ice.

We've got wind & rain on the way, though, (HURRAH) so with any luck the temperatures will improve & the snow might be washed away. Let's just hope it doesn't lead to flooding....

Hope to see you later,

Robin.