New Meridian, BBC South & South East Thread

South Today are back in their usual studio tonight. As expected, there doesn't seem to be any changes to the set. However, you can tell that they've been doing work on the lighting as it seems brighter than it was previously.

After 15 months Polly Evans has returned to presenting South East Today. Sad news to report though sports reporter Neil Bell has lost his battle to cancer.

An excellent tribute to Neil "Belly" Bell at the end of the 6.30.

Anyone else noticed that Polly seems be have a ''wobbly'" voice since she returned?

I saw a bit of the show on Monday and she sounded incredibly nervous, though she looked perfectly fine. Perhaps it still is some nerves after 15 months off screen.

SET having editorial area issues again. Lead story from Hither Green, which is well within BBC London's remit, the alleged killed burglar was also from the BBC London area.

A London story with a tenuous connection to their region.

ITV News Meridian have just had a report on the return of World of Sport Wrestling.

It's being filmed at Epic TV in Norwich (the old Anglia TV studios), and the report was by Natalie Gray (an Anglia reporter), and the report didn't seem to have any relevance to the Meridian region, so it just seems like nothing more than a promotion for a network programme.

It's not the first time they've done this sort of thing. They've had similar reports before for things like Dancing on Ice.

Meridian only has to show a certain amount of local news during their bulletin, otherwise they can pad it out with copy from other regions, which is the case for the majority of ITV regions except London, Channel and Granada.

Natalie Gray was a former TVS/Meridian reporter/presenter...perhaps that's the (very tenuous) link? 😉

End of BBC South Today tonight, Sally Taylor signed off with; ‘I don’t often say this, but you can turn over now’

Another London story on SET this afternoon from Bexley. They have a thing for covering outer SE London stories, including anything from Biggin Hill. They also covered the Hither Green burglary, despite being well in BBC London's editorial patch.

Meridian reporter Martin Dowse passed away on September 3rd.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/16860239.meridian-reporter-martin-dowse-dies-aged-50/