This article is about the BBC TV programme of the 1950s hosted by Cliff Michelmore. For other uses, see Tonight (disambiguation).
Tonight was a British current affairs television programme, presented by Cliff Michelmore, that was broadcast on BBC live on weekday evenings from 18 February 1957 to 18 June 1965. The producers were the future Controller of BBC1Donald Baverstock and the future Director-General of the BBCAlasdair Milne. The audience was typically seven million viewers.
Tonight was, like Six-Five Special, created by the BBC to fill in the "Toddlers' Truce" closed period between 6.00pm and 7.00pm (the 'Truce' was officially abolished only a few days before Tonight was first broadcast). Tonight began broadcasting from the Viking studio in Kensington, known by the BBC as "studio M". It eventually transferred to one of the main studios in Lime Grove, Shepherd's Bush, west London.[1]
The programme received the Guild of Television Producers and Directors (now BAFTA) award for best factual programme in 1957 and 1958. The style was informal with no attempt to hide studio equipment. Michelmore gave a very relaxed performance, sometimes perching on the edge of his desk, seemingly unfazed by the ringing of his desk telephone letting him know about technical problems. There were regular appearances by Rory McEwen, Cy Grant, singing a "topical calypso", and folk singers Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor. Michelmore became known for his catchphrase when closing the show, "That's all for tonight, the next 'Tonight' will be tomorrow night. Until then, good night!"[2]
A new programme under the name, presented by Sue Lawley, Denis Tuohy and Donald MacCormick, was launched on BBC1 in September 1975, in a late evening slot. When Lawley left to have a baby, Valerie Singleton replaced her on the show, which continued until July 1979.[4]Newsnight, which launched six months later on BBC2, was its replacement.
References
^History of TV Studios - Lime Grove, retrieved 18 February 2010.
^Tonight, whirligig-tv.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
^Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "Bob Dylan- BBC Tonight Show- With God on Our Side (1964)". YouTube.
tonight, 1957, programme, this, article, about, programme, 1950s, hosted, cliff, michelmore, other, uses, tonight, disambiguation, tonight, british, current, affairs, television, programme, presented, cliff, michelmore, that, broadcast, live, weekday, evenings. This article is about the BBC TV programme of the 1950s hosted by Cliff Michelmore For other uses see Tonight disambiguation Tonight was a British current affairs television programme presented by Cliff Michelmore that was broadcast on BBC live on weekday evenings from 18 February 1957 to 18 June 1965 The producers were the future Controller of BBC1 Donald Baverstock and the future Director General of the BBC Alasdair Milne The audience was typically seven million viewers Contents 1 BBC TV background 2 Content and style 3 Later BBC series 4 References 5 External linksBBC TV background EditTonight was like Six Five Special created by the BBC to fill in the Toddlers Truce closed period between 6 00pm and 7 00pm the Truce was officially abolished only a few days before Tonight was first broadcast Tonight began broadcasting from the Viking studio in Kensington known by the BBC as studio M It eventually transferred to one of the main studios in Lime Grove Shepherd s Bush west London 1 Content and style EditThe programme covered the arts and sciences as well as topical matters and current affairs There was a mixture of incisive and light hearted items unscripted studio interviews by Derek Hart Geoffrey Johnson Smith and Michelmore himself and filmed reports Reporters included Alan Whicker Fyfe Robertson Kenneth Allsop Chris Brasher Julian Pettifer Brian Redhead and Polly Elwes The programme received the Guild of Television Producers and Directors now BAFTA award for best factual programme in 1957 and 1958 The style was informal with no attempt to hide studio equipment Michelmore gave a very relaxed performance sometimes perching on the edge of his desk seemingly unfazed by the ringing of his desk telephone letting him know about technical problems There were regular appearances by Rory McEwen Cy Grant singing a topical calypso and folk singers Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor Michelmore became known for his catchphrase when closing the show That s all for tonight the next Tonight will be tomorrow night Until then good night 2 It was during an edition of Tonight broadcast on the evening of Friday 22 November 1963 that BBC television broke the news of the assassination of United States President John F Kennedy to UK viewers although Granada Television had already broadcast the news in its northern ITV region In 1964 Bob Dylan appeared on the programme and sang With God on Our Side 3 Later BBC series EditMain article Tonight 1975 TV programme A new programme under the name presented by Sue Lawley Denis Tuohy and Donald MacCormick was launched on BBC1 in September 1975 in a late evening slot When Lawley left to have a baby Valerie Singleton replaced her on the show which continued until July 1979 4 Newsnight which launched six months later on BBC2 was its replacement References Edit History of TV Studios Lime Grove retrieved 18 February 2010 Tonight whirligig tv co uk Retrieved 25 May 2009 Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine Bob Dylan BBC Tonight Show With God on Our Side 1964 YouTube BBC Genome Project BBC1 listings 5 July 1979External links Edit BBC portalBBC History of TV news in the 1950s Museum of Broadcast Communications Tonight Whirligig TV TV 1950s nostalgia Tonight Tonight at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tonight 1957 TV programme amp oldid 1120722351, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
