Lookaround

Lookaround is the title used on some local news bulletins produced by ITV Tyne Tees and Border for viewers in the Border part of the region, served by the Caldbeck, Selkirk and associated transmitters. Since 2009 and the merger of the Tyne Tees and Border regions, only the Monday to Friday programmes at 18.00 and 22.30 carry the Lookaround name. All other weekday and weekend bulletins are broadcast as Tyne Tees and Border News

Weekdays

 * 06.05, 06.25 and 07.25 - Tyne Tees and Border News during Daybreak; 2 minutes
 * 13.55 - Tyne Tees and Border News after ITV News at 1.30; 5 minutes
 * 18.00 - North East Tonight before ITV News at 6.30; 30 minutes
 * 22.30 - Lookaround after ITV News at Ten; 5 minutes

Weekends

 * Saturday - Tyne Tees and Border News during late afternoon/early evening; 10 minutes
 * Sunday - Tyne Tees and Border News late afternoon/early evening; 10 minutes

History
Lookaround begin broadcasting on 1 September 1961.

1993: Border's regional news service retains the same opening titles and graphic package for over eight years.[4] This period of Lookaround sees the retirement of long-serving presenter Eric Wallace, as well as the return of former presenter Fiona Armstrong following a career presenting on national television. 2001: Early in the year, an updated title sequence and graphic style is introduced to Border News bulletins - different to Lookaround, which continues with the 1993 graphics package for a few further months. By October, both looks are replaced with a consistent presentation package. 2004: The rebranding which takes place across local news services in ITV plc-owned regions on 2 February leads to a set redesign for Lookaround to accompany the new titles, graphics and opening theme. Border is the last region to receive a set which matches the news studios of all other ITV plc-owned local stations on 5 December 2005, in time for the next rebrand. 2006: On the day ITV introduces its new logo across all its networks, fresh title sequences and graphics are introduced on Lookaround.

2007: In line with all ITV plc-owned regions, Lookaround receives a new presentation package to mark a full upgrade to 16:9 widescreen broadcasts.[10] The year also sees emerging reports that to reduce costs across ITV plc, the Border region will be merged into a new super-region with Tyne Tees.[11]

2008: Among those opposing the decision to combine the Border and Tyne Tees regions are councils on both sides of the English-Scottish frontier[12][13][14] and broadcasting union BECTU. Station staff, local politicians and even the region's other media are involved in campaigns to "Save Lookaround". Ofcom backing and subsequent confirmation of the Border-Tyne Tees merger is issued in September 2008 and January 2009 respectively. 2009: The final standalone Lookaround is broadcast on 24 February. Presented by Tim Backshall and Fiona Armstrong, they sign off the programme: Armstrong: "'Lookaround' [is] back at six o'clock tomorrow with a brand new line-up. Pam Royle and Ian Payne will be presenting the show." Backshall: "So quite a few changes... but Fiona and I, and other familiar 'Lookaround' faces, will continue to bring you the stories from our region - so we hope you'll be with us too."

With the merged programme broadcasting from the Tyne Tees studios in Gateshead, the Carlisle studios are put on the market by ITV, with the thirteen retained staff moving into a smaller bureau in another part of the city. Border on-screen talent Tim Backshall, Fiona Armstrong and Helen Pearson remain as presenters and reporters on the newly-merged service; although Armstrong soon leaves to join the BBC. July sees Border's news coverage lose its pitch on the Isle of Man after 44 years when the island's residents choose to receive Granada's service instead; a move attributed to the merger of the Border and Tyne Tees regions. Lookaround and North East Tonight receive a cosmetic overhaul with network-matching opening titles and presentation on 10 December that same year.

2011: The ITV Border news team receive the Royal Television Society Television Journalism Award for Nations and Regions News Programme for their coverage of the mass shootings committed by Derek Bird around Cumbria in June 2010. Their ongoing coverage of the incident is also nominated in the category of Nations and Regions Current Affairs and News Event in the same ceremony.

Current on air team
On 3 December 2008, it was announced that the presenters for the South edition of North East Tonight (ITV Tyne Tees), Ian Payne and Pam Royle, would become the main anchors for the new service. They also act as alternate newscasters of the lunchtime and late night bulletins.

On 13 January 2009 it was announced Lookaround presenters Tim Backshall and Helen Pearson would be redeployed as reporters.

As part of the merger, six district reporters were appointed - woking from home unless based in Edinburgh or Carlisle. The district reporters announced were Hannah Lomas in Carlisle, Lee Madan in Selkirk, Stuart Pollitt in Whitehaven, Victoria Hoe in Kendal, Olivia Richwald in Dumfries and Kathryn Samson in Edinburgh.

Former on air team
Listing former presenters/reporters for Lookaround and their subsequent employers.


 * Fiona Armstrong (BBC News)
 * Craig Austin
 * Vanessa Black
 * Jo Blythe (ITV Granada)
 * Susannah Boccaccio
 * Sally Bowman
 * Andrew Burns
 * Sarah Elliot
 * Andrew Farmer
 * Kate Fisher (ITV Central)
 * Gillian Fraser
 * Simon Gilbert
 * Andrew Glover
 * John Harkins
 * Ruth Holliday (Sky Tyne & Wear)
 * Russell Hookey (ITV Anglia)


 * Nina Hossain (ITV London and ITV News)
 * Jennifer Humphries
 * Kim Inglis (freelance journalist)
 * Angela Johnston
 * Ross Kelly
 * Matthias Kurth (ITV West & Westcountry)
 * Heather Larcombe
 * John Lawrence
 * Debbie Lindley (The Pulse)
 * Courtnay Macleod
 * Penny Macmillan
 * Lee Madan (BBC Wales)
 * Richard Madeley
 * Alistair Mann
 * Nick Martin
 * Lee McKenzie (BBC Sport)


 * Jon Mitchell (ITV Yorkshire)
 * Helen Pearson (ITV Tyne Tees)
 * Stuart Pollit (BBC North West)
 * Victora Pollit
 * Adam Powell
 * Olivia Richwald (BBC Yorkshire)
 * Chris Rogers
 * Penny Smith
 * Kenny Toal (ITV Tyne Tees)
 * Philippa Tomson (Sky News)
 * Kate Walby (ITV Yorkshire)
 * Eric Wallace
 * Alex Watson
 * Jonathan Willoughby
 * Miranda Wilson