History Newsroom South East BBC London News page 1 BBC London News page 2 South East Today South Today BBC London News, the regional news programme for London and the South East, finally arrived on 1st October 2001, around a year later than originally anticipated. In fact, its gestation period had been so long, it was renamed before it even took to the air! Originally to be titled London Live, in line with the capital's BBC radio station, the programme had a standard English regional 'flying map' title sequence produced, and would have used a conventional BBC news-style set. In the event, however, BBC London decided to go rather more radical... The programme is the final part of the BBC's tri-media set-up for the capital, and much of this is made on air, eg 'You're watching BBC London - on TV, on Radio, Online...' All very nice for those of us who don't live in the capital...unfortunately, the programme tends to ignore the surrounding areas of the South East even more than its predecessor.    
BBC London's regional ident selection, at launch (top row), and post-balloon (bottom row). Below, the opening title sequence. There were four variations; this is the winter daytime version.        
Watch the opening titles  The 'LDN' device (which was later dropped) was intended as a short form for 'London'. Do not be deceived - it was never the title of the programme, and the phrase 'LDN' was never spoken.    
Images from the 6.30 edition, with Emily Maitlis. Look - no desk, no chairs, no studio! BBC London News is presented from the two levels of the newsroom of the Marylebone High Street building, also used by BBC London 94.9. The first part of the programme is presented from upstairs - and everyone has to stand up, including interviewees. A variety of different camera angles are used.  
Since June 2002, BBC London News has had a dedicated weather presenter, Peter Cockroft - a first for the South East region. He is normally sent out onto the roof in the cold to present his forecasts; however on this occasion he's gone down the pub. Incidentally, the weather is about the only time in the programme the whole region, from Luton to Crawley and Reading to Southend, gets complete coverage!  
Later in the programme it's time to join Mark Bright in the comfy area for sports news (above right).  
As you can see, BBC London News became the first BBC regional news programme to move away from the corporate look that was rolled out across the country in 1999-2000, although the new look still clearly fits in with it - and the music must be the best intepretation so far of the 'drums and beeps' sound! 
Above: on the hottest day of the year, the BBC London News team decided to take their work outside! Instead of popping downstairs, Emily popped upstairs onto the roof of BBC London HQ in Marylebone High Street. Watch those papers!  
Left: the programme even has a more relaxed dress code than other news programmes - male presenters, such as Tim Donovan here, often do without wearing a tie. What would the Daily Mail say?! Right: Nina Hossain presents a breakfast bulletin. Less than a year-and-a-half after the show's launch, the image of the logo had permanently burnt into the plasma screen behind her, meaning that 'LDN' was now clearly visible whatever pictures were being shown on it! 
One week before the launch of BBC London News, Newsroom South East's breakfast travel service lost the daft web page graphic (see previous page) and changed to this rather more sensible format.  
In 2003, the travel presenter moved from Scotland Yard to present their updates from BBC London HQ. History Newsroom South East BBC London News page 1 BBC London News page 2 South East Today South Today | 
