Newsroom South East

Overview

Newsroom South East was the name of the BBC's regional news programme for southeastern England. It was launched in March 1989 as the successor to London Plus, the South East's previous news programme. The programme was in turn replaced by South Today in the Oxford coverage area from October 2000, South East Today in the Bluebell Hill and Dover coverage areas from September 2001 and BBC London News in the Crystal Palace coverage area from October 2001. For all but the last two months, the programme was broadcast from the BBC's Elstree Studios, near Borehamwood in Hertfordshire. In August 2001 the future home of the successor BBC London News programme - a new and purpose built broadcast centre on the Marylebone High Street - was used alongside radio station BBC London Live. To provide continuity to staff prior to the launch of BBC London News, the Elstree set was temporarily placed in the Marleybone Road studios for these few weeks, although the smaller space meant that there was only space for one presenter. Following the 1999 BBC News relaunch, the main bulletin aired between 6.30 and 6.55pm after the BBC Six O'Clock News. Other bulletins followed the BBC One O'Clock News and the BBC Ten O'Clock News. Main presenters included Mike Embley, Gwenan Edwards, Gargy Patel, Gillian Joseph, Tim Donovan, Heather Lima and sports presenter Rob Curling.