The original London eye

LWT prided itself on deploying the same production values for local programmes as it did for nationally networked shows. This resulted in top quality news and local feature programmes for the London area.

The Six O' Clock Show, 1982-1988

Copyright © London Weekend Television/ITVplc

The flagship local magazine from 1982 until 1988 was The Six O' Clock Show, with Michael Aspel, Danny Baker, Janet Street-Porter, and later, Samantha Fox and Fred Housego, the clever cabbie of Mastermind fame. Incorporating a 10-minuite serious local news bulletin from Thames Television, the show was intended to be a light-hearted introduction to the weekend. It was succeeded by 6 O' Clock Live, hosted by Nick Owen and then Frank Bough, which ran until the end of 1992.

Thames Weekend News, 1982-1988

Copyright © London Weekend Television/ITVplc

LWT's earlier Friday start after the 1982 franchise changes gave it a slight problem with local news provision. Moving the change-over from Thames to LWT from 7pm to 5.15pm meant LWT became contractually responsible for providing the weekday evening local news programme/magazine on that day without the resources to do this. The solution was to contract rival Thames to produce it and hence 'Thames Weekend News' was born. During the autumn/winter season this was part of LWT's The Six O' Clock Show (see above) but in the summer months it was a standalone programme. So Thames would formally hand over to LWT and then less than an hour later LWT would hand back to Thames!

LWT News, 1988-1992

Copyright © London Weekend Television/ITVplc

Until the late 80s, LWT's local news coverage had been lacking, resulting in a ticking-off from the Independent Broadcasting Authority. It responded by hiring Screen News to produce daily weekend LWT News bulletins. Hosts included Anna Maria-Ashe, Pam Royle, and Lindsay Charlton. Here's Lynda Drybergh with a trail (she's a bit late on the cue) and a news bulletin from 1988.

Six O' Clock Live, 1988-1992

Copyright © London Weekend Television/ITVplc

The successor to LWT's popular Six O' Clock Show was Six O' Clock Live, which ran from 1988 until the end of 1992. The show was a slightly newsier version than its forerunner but also featured lighter and topical items. This edition is presented by Nick Owen, Kay Burley, Anna Maria Ashe at the newsdesk, and Danny Baker out and about.

The Weekend Show, late 1990s

Copyright © London Weekend Television/ITVplc

A light hearted magazine programme in the late 1990s, The Weekend Show focused on entertainment, music and the arts in the London area. Presenters included former children's BBC anchor Andi Peters, who was also a senior manager at London Weekend.

Coming of age

LWT came of age in 1989 and to celebrate its 21st birthday produced some special programmes fronted by Gloria Hunniford. These included 21 Live, the main event of the birthday weekend, and also the a special anniversary edition of The South Bank Show.

Police Five, 1970s and 1980s

Copyright © London Weekend Television/ITVplc

Police 5 was a pioneering, early version of Crimestoppers and Crimewatch, presented by former continuity announcer Shaw Taylor and produced in association with Scotland Yard. Local versions were also produced by ATV and then Central and also Southern Television.

The London Programme, 1970s and 1980s

Copyright © London Weekend Television/ITVplc

The London Programme built up a reputation for hard-hitting investigations into serious London issues during its long run in the 70s and 80s.

London Minorities Unit, 1980s

Copyright © London Weekend Television/ITVplc

The London Community Unit and the London Minority Unit gave airtime to local community groups and also provided an 'action desk' information service for Londoners. A rare 'London Minorities Unit' ident from the early 1980s in this video clip.

Youth, religion and local chat

In the 1970s, The London Weekend Show, presented by Janet Street-Porter looked at music, culture and yoof issues.

Gloria Hunniford's Sunday, Sunday chatshow and magazine provided a showcase for entertainment in the capital during the 80s.

LWT Area Information was the ideal way to find out what was happening at the weekend, and Night Thoughts was the epilogue which preceded closedown.

From 1 January 1993, local news for both Carlton and LWT was produced by London News Network. London Tonight is the main daily news programme, and it is supplemented by regular London Today bulletins.