The BBC have always had a policy of opting out for local or regional news bulletins, in the sixties Nationwide sought to bring all of the different regions together but since the demise of that hour long show each region, usually after the main six o’clock evening news, has their own half hour news round up show. All of the regions (apart from BBC Points West) share the same title music.
The regional shows include:-
BBC East Midlands Today (1991 – continuing) This show grew out of the Birmingham centric Midlands Today (which now focuses on the West Midlands). Key presenters have been Anne Davies (since 2001), Kathy Rochford, Janet Mayo and Quentin Raynor. The area covers Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Southern Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.
BBC London (2001 – continuing) Originally known as BBC LDN the show came into being when the region split from BBC South East on 1 October 2001. Main presenters have included Emily Maitlis, Asad Ahmad, Matt Barbet, Riz Lateef, Mike Ramsden and Louisa Preston.
BBC Look East covers Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Suffolk and presenters have included Stewart White , Susie Fowler-Watt, Carol Bundock and Helen Morton
BBC Look North actually three separate Regional shows
1. Covers East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and began on 11 November 2002. Before that date viewers in these areas were served by Look North from Leeds. Main presenters have been Peter Levy, Lisa Gallagher (weather) and Jenny Hill.
2. Covers North East and Cumbria this version of Look North began in 1964 and for a long time was hosted by Mike Neville (who stayed with the show for years before being poached by ITV’s Tyne Tees in 1996), the show was originally called Home at Six (in 1963) and was hosted by Frank Bough who quickly left to become one of the BBC’s major sports presenters. Other presenters have included Carol Malia, John Lawrence and Wendy Gibson.
3. covers Yorkshire and North Midlands and began on 25 March 1968, presenters have included Christina Ackroyd (from 3 September 2001 – ), Clare Frisby, Philip Hayton and Harry Gration (most of the 1980’s and 1990’s). Sophie Raworth (now one of the BBC’s main news anchors) was also a presenter between 1995 and 1997.
BBC Newsroom South East (March 1989 – 2001) covered south east England and was cancelled when the BBC split the region into BBC London and BBC South East. Main presenters have included Mike Embley, Gwenan Edwards, Gillian Joseph, Tim Donovan, Heather Lima and sports presenter Rob Curling.
BBC North West Tonight covers Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and the Isle of Man. Initially another of the shows called Look North and then in 1980 Look North West then News Northwest in 1981 but settling on North West Tonight in 1984. Presenters have included Stuart Hall, David Davies and Philip Hayton as well as the Krypton Factor’s Gordon Burns.
BBC Points West covers Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire and from June 1991 to 22 May 2000 the show was named BBC News West (it’s also the only regional show to have its own individual theme music), presenters have included Michael Buerk, Chris Vacher, Alex Lovell and Amanda Parr.
BBC South East Today covers Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey and Essex. Launched on 3 September 2001 the shows roots were in BBC Newsroom Southeast. Presenters have included Laurie Mayer, Geoff Clark and Beverley Thompson.
BBC South Today covers Dorset, Hampshire, The Isle of Wight and West Sussex as well as parts of Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Wiltshire. A long runner (began in the early 1970’s) and presenters have included Sally Taylor, Roger Finn, Bruce Parker, Caroline Richardson and Pauline Brandt.
BBC Spotlight covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset as well as a special Channel Islands version of the show. The show began in 1961 and was known as South West at Six. Presenters have included Teresa Driscoll, Juliet Morris, Christopher Slade and Julia Peet.
BBC Wales Today covers Wales and began broadcasting in 1962. Presenters have included Jamie Owen and Sara Edwards.
