London Tonight 2004 – 2006

Monday 2nd February 2004 was the date on which Granada and Carlton, the two biggest ITV companies, merged to form ITV plc. A re-design of the ITV national and regional news bulletins was timed to take place on the same day, based on the network’s colours of yellow and blue. Each region adopted the same graphic look and generic ITV News music, along with a new generic set design. All except for the London bulletins.

With ITN set to absorb the local news operation, why have LNN change the set in February and then change it again a month later, when the operation was due to switch studios to ITN’s Gray’s Inn Road premises? So, for one extra month, London Today and London Tonight were hosted from the original London Studios set, with its familiar black and red desk, and iconic city skyline seen through the studio windows… The big story on this particular day was the court appearance and eventual fining of George Best, for drunk driving. Plus, traffic protests on major routes by divorced fathers seeking to influence a change in divorce laws, and the arrival of Jack Nicholson and Mel Brooks on promotional visits.