The West Tonight

The West Tonight was a regional television news and current affairs programme produced by ITV West. In 2009, it was replaced by The West Country Tonight following the merger between the West and Westcountry regions.

Broadcast times
As well as the main programme at 6pm, before the merger with Westcountry Live, ITV West produced news bulletins during GMTV (now Daybreak), an update at around 11:15am during This Morning, the lunchtime news at 13:55, a late news update from 22:30 - 22:35/22:45, as well as weekend news bulletins.

History
Previously known as HTV News and ITV West News, Incidentally the HTV general service broadcast the first half of Report West at 6.00pm followed by Report Wales at 6.15pm. With the arrival of S4C in 1982, HTV was able to fully concentrate on a 30mins duel English language news service, "Wales at Six" for Wales and HTV News for West.

1987

1994 HTV News is relaunched with a new set of titles and music with an orange set. The Programme moved to 6.25pm.

1997the The West Tonight name was originally introduced in 1997 as part of a relaunch to coincide with the opening of a digital broadcast centre at HTV's Bath Road studios in Bristol.

1999: The West Tonight branding was discontinued, and replaced by HTV NEWS once again.

2001: Cosmetic changes for HTV News in Bristol are introduced on-air on 3 September. 2004: By the start of 2004, the regional news in the West is the only on-screen reference to the HTV brand, which is sidelined in favour of ITV1 branding in October 2002.[2] The final HTV News bulletin is broadcast on 1 February, to be replaced the next day by the renamed ITV West News. The name change coincides with the merger of HTV's then-owner, Carlton, with Granada, to form ITV plc - as well as a comprehensive re-positioning of ITV News on a national and (in regions owned by ITV plc) regional level.

2005: While a new title sequence and presentation package to match the new identity of ITV News West are introduced in February 2004, it's not until July 2005 when a new set comes into use. A further change takes place on 12 November 2005, as the main programme is rechristened The West Tonight when Lisa Aziz rejoined ITV West from Sky News.; a title used as a subtitle for HTV News in the late 1990s. 2006: A mere two months after ITV regional news in the West of England settles into its new identity, further updates occur in line with other ITV plc-owned regions. A new title sequence featuring the newest ITV corporate logo, along with a fresh graphics package, come into on-air use on 16 January.[7] 2007: The last presentation update for The West Tonight as a stand-alone programme takes place on 2 December; the broadcast signal is upgraded to true 16:9 widescreen and suitable opening titles and on-air graphics are suitably introduced.[8] By this time, plans are already public for consultation into reducing the scale of ITV plc's regional news operations; this affects viewers of The West Tonight as they will merge with viewers in the Westcountry region for a universal service.[9] The final outcome of ITV plc and Ofcom consultations is indeed to combine the two regions. The first edition of The West Country Tonight is broadcast from ITV's existing base in Bristol, with The West Tonight presenters Steve Scott and Lisa Aziz selected as lead anchors.[10]

On air team

 * Lisa Aziz
 * Ellie Barker (The West Country Tonight)
 * Alex Beresford (Daybreak, ITV Weather & The West Country Tonight)
 * Bob Crampton (The West Country Tonight)
 * Rupert Evelyn (ITV News & The West Country Tonight)
 * Jenny Hull
 * Richard Lawrence (The West Country Tonight)
 * Richard Lyydon
 * Patrick O'Hagan


 * Claire Satchwell
 * Laura Sullivan (The West Country Tonight)
 * Robert Murphy (The West Country Tonight)
 * Charlie Neil
 * Steve Scott (ITV News)
 * Jane Solomons
 * Rachel Royce
 * Peter Rowell (jailed)
 * Fiona Wilson

Former HTV West presenters
Sherrie Eugene Bruce Hockin Alison Holloway[35][36] Sue King[37][38] Kevin Owen[39][40] Graham Purches[41] Claire Satchwell[42] Jane Secker[43] Richard Wyatt[44][45]