LWT News
Encyclopedia
LWT News was a regional news service provided by London Weekend Television
, serving the Greater London
area in various formats between January 1982 and 3 January 1993.
at 5:15pm, rather than the previous start time of 7pm. The Independent Broadcasting Authority's decision to award extended hours to LWT meant that the station became contractually responsible for providing the nightly regional news programme on Friday nights (up until December 1981, Thames aired a Friday edition of its nightly Thames News
programme at 6pm).
However, LWT claimed a lack of resources prevented them from producing its own full-strength news service (despite success in its local current affairs and social action output). Therefore, between 1982 and 1988, short London News Headlines bulletins were broadcast, usually in mid-afternoon and late evening slots. These bulletins consisted solely of the duty continuity announcer in-vision reading copy sourced from the Independent Local Radio
station LBC
and later, local wire agencies.
, which was launched in January 1982 and presented by Michael Aspel
with a team of various co-hosts and reporters including Danny Baker
, Janet Street-Porter
and Fred Housego
.
For most of its run, the programme also featured a 15 minute news bulletin (Thames Weekend News
) produced by Thames Television
. Although The Six O'Clock Show proved popular locally, LWT's overall approach towards local news provision was criticised by the Independent Broadcasting Authority
.
, who would later become ITV's controller of news and sport.
Presenters included Lynda Dryburgh, Pam Royle
, Anna Maria Ashe
, Ed Boyle and Linsday Charlton.
LWT News ceased operation on Sunday 3 January 1993 to make way for the launch of a new seven days a week news service jointly run by LWT and Carlton
, which became known as London News Network
.
with reporters Charles Colville, Rob Sprackling, Jeni Barnett
and Chris Serle
.
Originally intended to air for 50 weeks each year, the programme was axed after just ten months.
with reporters including Danny Baker, Jo Sheldon and Nick Owen
. Unlike its predecessor, the programme also incorporated LWT News bulletins.
Six O'Clock Lives last programme aired on Friday 21 August 1992 in preparation for the launch of London News Network
the following year, which would be run as a joint venture between LWT and the incoming ITV contractor for London weekdays, Carlton Television
.
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
, serving the Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
area in various formats between January 1982 and 3 January 1993.
London News Headlines
On Friday 1 January 1982, LWT began extending its broadcasting hours on Friday evenings - taking over from the ITV London weekday franchise Thames TelevisionThames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
at 5:15pm, rather than the previous start time of 7pm. The Independent Broadcasting Authority's decision to award extended hours to LWT meant that the station became contractually responsible for providing the nightly regional news programme on Friday nights (up until December 1981, Thames aired a Friday edition of its nightly Thames News
Thames News
Thames News was the flagship news programme of Thames Television, serving the Greater London region. It was broadcast between 5 September 1978 & 31 December 1992 and produced from Thames TV's headquarters at Euston Road in North West London and during its last few years in operation, from district...
programme at 6pm).
However, LWT claimed a lack of resources prevented them from producing its own full-strength news service (despite success in its local current affairs and social action output). Therefore, between 1982 and 1988, short London News Headlines bulletins were broadcast, usually in mid-afternoon and late evening slots. These bulletins consisted solely of the duty continuity announcer in-vision reading copy sourced from the Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
and later, local wire agencies.
The Six O'Clock Show
Rather than produce a conventional regional news programme on Fridays, LWT opted to air an hour-long local magazine show entitled The Six O'Clock ShowThe Six O'Clock Show
The Six O'Clock Show was a regional television magazine show broadcast in the Greater London area and produced by London Weekend Television between 1982 and 1988....
, which was launched in January 1982 and presented by Michael Aspel
Michael Aspel
Michael Terence Aspel, OBE is an English television presenter, known for his reserved demeanour and rich speaking voice. He has been a high-profile TV personality in the United Kingdom since the 1960s, presenting programmes such as Crackerjack, Aspel and Company, This is Your Life, Strange But...
with a team of various co-hosts and reporters including Danny Baker
Danny Baker
Danny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Since the late 1970s, he has worked for a wide range of publications and broadcasters including NME, LWT, the BBC, and Talk Radio....
, Janet Street-Porter
Janet Street-Porter
Janet Street-Porter is a British media personality, journalist and television presenter. She was editor for two years of The Independent on Sunday. She relinquished the job to become editor-at-large in 2002...
and Fred Housego
Fred Housego
Fred Housego is a former London taxi driver who became a television and radio personality and presenter after winning the BBC quiz Mastermind in 1980. His specialist subject in the final was 'The Tower of London'...
.
For most of its run, the programme also featured a 15 minute news bulletin (Thames Weekend News
Thames News
Thames News was the flagship news programme of Thames Television, serving the Greater London region. It was broadcast between 5 September 1978 & 31 December 1992 and produced from Thames TV's headquarters at Euston Road in North West London and during its last few years in operation, from district...
) produced by Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
. Although The Six O'Clock Show proved popular locally, LWT's overall approach towards local news provision was criticised by the Independent Broadcasting Authority
Independent Broadcasting Authority
The Independent Broadcasting Authority was the regulatory body in the United Kingdom for commercial television - and commercial/independent radio broadcasts...
.
LWT News
In early 1988, LWT responded to the IBA's concerns by introducing a full-strength weekend news service for the first time. Production of LWT News was outsourced to the news agency 'Screen News' and later, Chrysalis Television, with bulletins now airing at regular times throughout the day. The bulletins were later supplemented by a weekly in-depth review programme entitled LWT News Weekend. At the time, LWT's head of news was Mark SharmanMark Sharman
Mark Brian Sharman is a British broadcasting administrator.-Career:Sharman first worked as a journalist with the Derby Evening Telegraph and Birmingham Evening Mail before entering television journalism with ITV in 1976, where he edited coverage of Football World Cups and the Olympic Games...
, who would later become ITV's controller of news and sport.
Presenters included Lynda Dryburgh, Pam Royle
Pam Royle
Pamela "Pam" Royle is a British television presenter, journalist and voice coach.She is currently employed by ITV Tyne Tees & Border.-Biography:...
, Anna Maria Ashe
Anna Maria Ashe
Anna Maria Ashe is a former British television presenter, best known as a newsreader for the local news programme, London Tonight, originally produced by the now defunct London News Network.-Announcing and newsreading in Scotland:...
, Ed Boyle and Linsday Charlton.
LWT News ceased operation on Sunday 3 January 1993 to make way for the launch of a new seven days a week news service jointly run by LWT and Carlton
Carlton Television
Carlton Television was the ITV franchise holder for London and the surrounding counties including the cities of Solihull and Coventry of the West Midlands, south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire,...
, which became known as London News Network
London News Network
London News Network was a television news and facilities organisation in London. It was created in 1992 as a joint operation between London's two ITV contractors, Carlton Television and London Weekend Television, with each company holding a 50% stake...
.
Friday Now
As part of the launch of LWT News, The Six O'Clock Show was axed in July 1988 and replaced on 7 October 1988 by a smaller-scale current affairs programme entitled Friday Now, presented by Pam RoylePam Royle
Pamela "Pam" Royle is a British television presenter, journalist and voice coach.She is currently employed by ITV Tyne Tees & Border.-Biography:...
with reporters Charles Colville, Rob Sprackling, Jeni Barnett
Jeni Barnett
Jeni Barnett is an English actress and TV presenter who grew up in Borehamwood. She is married to Yorkshire-born actor Jim Bywater and has one daughter, Bethany.-Acting career:...
and Chris Serle
Chris Serle
Christopher "Chris" Richard Serle is a former BBC TV presenter, reporter and actor. Serle was educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied modern languages...
.
Originally intended to air for 50 weeks each year, the programme was axed after just ten months.
Six O'Clock Live
Six O'Clock Live was an hour-long news magazine programme launched on Friday 1 September 1989 and presented by Frank BoughFrank Bough
Frank Bough is a retired British television presenter who is best known as the former host of BBC sports and current affairs shows including Grandstand, Nationwide and Breakfast Time, which he fronted alongside Selina Scott.-Early life:...
with reporters including Danny Baker, Jo Sheldon and Nick Owen
Nick Owen
Nicholas "Nick" Corbishley Owen is an English television presenter and newsreader, best known for presenting the breakfast television programme TV-am and the BBC's local news show Midlands Today since 1997...
. Unlike its predecessor, the programme also incorporated LWT News bulletins.
Six O'Clock Lives last programme aired on Friday 21 August 1992 in preparation for the launch of London News Network
London News Network
London News Network was a television news and facilities organisation in London. It was created in 1992 as a joint operation between London's two ITV contractors, Carlton Television and London Weekend Television, with each company holding a 50% stake...
the following year, which would be run as a joint venture between LWT and the incoming ITV contractor for London weekdays, Carlton Television
Carlton Television
Carlton Television was the ITV franchise holder for London and the surrounding counties including the cities of Solihull and Coventry of the West Midlands, south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire,...
.