BBC North West Tonight

Quite obvious that the Weather on the Lunchtime was pre-recorded, as it was Dianne Oxberry, who's usually on GMR at the same time, Nicola Dixon or Heather Scott not available today?

Yes, no wide shots when crossing over to the weather and at the end of the bulletin no Dianne at the screen, just a few seconds later. Obviosuly recorded.

Shame, no weather word game to keep Gordon occupied during the forecast!

Well I was going into Tesco Extra at Warrington today with my dad and happened to notice Stuart Flinders and a cameraman on the Car Park, though we didn't go over, he looked annoyed as he was on his mobile phone, probably waiting for the OB van, as he was only there in his car. But I put NWT on at 1.30pm and they were doing a live link. Though I was on the verge of shouting 'Wheres Gordon?'

Anyway, not a bad NWT tonight, still a bit too much on the old flowers at the minute, a report on flowers and then the Weather had flowers, as the graphics are 'unpopular'. Granted I'm not keen on the graphics but they made more sense then pictures of flowers!

Is Alan Titchmarsh Editor or something?

apparently they had technical problems with the weather graphics and used the flowery shots as a last minute replacement...

They do seem to have a thing with gardens and flowers dont they

Continuing the technical problems Tuesday's NWT was beset by sound problems. The live outside broadcast from Liverpool was barely audible, presenters microphones seemed to decrease in volume from time to time and the end music failed to play.

Why doesn't the local BBC news at least have end credits so we can identify those responsible for such shoddiness?

The end music also failed to play on Tuesday's lunchtime programme, the whole ending seemed a bit iffy, Gordon seemed as if he didn't know when to stop talking and say bye.

I wish they would sort out the lighting in the studio too. When there is a wide shot there are dark patches all over the place. And the spotlights by the projector screen near the desk need sorting out. I think that whole area looks messy where the screen sticks out - and then the set just ends right after the screen meaning you often see big black space if someone is standing at the screen.

Speaking of standing at the screen, Gordon now seems confined to the desk, I can only remember one time in the last few months when he used the screen standing up when Glazer took over Man Utd. In the end few months of the life of the 2002 - 2004 set Gordon was always at the (dodgy) big screen - sometimes for no reason thou.

In fact, the sofa/bench area of the set is rarely used nowdays - except for sport. The Breakfast and 3.20 bulletins where soon to return to the desk after the relaunch.

The team are probably too concerned about slipping a story about gardens or flowers into the programme rather than making the show look good

Good show tonight. I've noticed they've started using more guests in the studio to give their expertise and are including more news.
What does everyone else think?

The live OB in liverpool was done through a non BBC Sat Van, using freelance staff.........

And staying on the theme Gordon apologised tonight for, in his word, ''not bringing you a story as one of their tape machines wasn't working''.

What a shambolic bunch.

It's not the first time that has happened, he has said before that the taped got jammed, but BBC Manchester's equipment is long overdue to be upgraded, though I don't think anything is happening here until the BBC makes a decision whether to move Childrens, Sport and Five Live to Manchester. Though I don't think its fair that other Regions such as London, Midlands, East and Yorkshire have been given major upgrades in the past five years, but North West is left behind, considering we are a major Region.

The best proof of the poorness was when Acrobats started playing with the old NWT music (2002-2004 version) and then chose to rewind on air!