Spotlight is the BBC's regional news programme for the southwest of England, covering Cornwall, Devon, West Dorset, and Somerset. There is also a special version of the programme for viewers in the Channel Islands. The main version of the programme broadcasts between 18:30 and 18:58 on weekdays, with shorter bulletins at other times. The programme can be viewed anywhere in the UK (and Europe) on digital satellite channel 987/988 on the BBC UK regional TV on satellite service. Its main competitors are ITV Westcountry's main evening programme Westcountry Live in Devon, Cornwall and West Dorset and ITV Channel Television's main evening programme Channel Report in the Channel Islands. The ten minute opt out for the islands is a relatively new innovation and is based at the studios of BBC Radio Jersey in St Helier. While its mainland counterpart is considered successful it's offshore 'offshoot' has struggled to attract viewers from the long established ( 40+ years) ITV programme in the islands. This may be because the affluent self governing crown dependencies have little affiliation with the relatively provincial areas of South West England.
Spotlight is presented by Victoria Graham and Justin Leigh, with weather forecasts from David Braine. Sports news is presented by Natalie Cornah or Andy Breare, and both also stand in for the main presenters when they are absent. Sophie Long also appears regularly as a presenter. Presenters of the shorter bulletins include Rebecca Wills, Clare Casson, Carol Madge, Lucie Fisher, Carys Edwards, Aysha Iqbal, Amy Cole, Hamish Marshall, Julia Peet (who is married to weatherman David Braine) and Jenny Walrond.
Reporters for the programme include Simon Hall (Home Affairs Correspondent), Chris Rodgers (Political Editor), Adrian Campbell (Environment Correspondent), Neil Gallacher (Business and Industry Correspondent), Sally Mountjoy (Health correspondent), Marcus Wraight, Matt Pengelly, Hamish Marshall, Louise Walter, Eleanor Parkinson, David George, Philip Loat, Jonathan Hudston, Leigh Rundle, Johnny Rutherford and John Henderson.
Spotlight is broadcast from BBC Broadcasting House in Seymour Road, Plymouth - this is the main headquarters for all BBC South West programming, on TV, radio and online. There are also smaller studios in Truro, Exeter, Paignton, Barnstaple and Taunton.
The programme originally began as South West at Six in 1961.
From 1992 to 2000 Spotlight used a lighthouse within the opening titles of the programme. On 22 May 2000, Spotlight adopted the generic BBC regional news design. A new version of the lighthouse motif was established with new titles introduced on 2 May 2006, based upon the national news redesigned titles. The set, introduced based upon the national news in 2004, received a new window behind the presenters with a view looking out over Plymouth.
Past presenters include Teresa Driscoll, main presenter from early 1990s until 2005; Juliet Morris; Jill Dando; Angela Rippon; Craig Rich (weather forecaster); Sue Lawley; Hugh Scully; Fern Britton; Sue King; Chris Denham; Christopher Slade; Gillian Miles; Sheila Tracey and Kate Adie.
Spotlight is the title of a program that airs on Canadian music television station, MuchMusic. The program focuses on a specific individual music artist or a music group and features their earliest music videos, concerts, interviews and TV clips to the artist's most recent works.
Syndicated weekly country music series that essentially served as the country music equivalent to "This is Your Live." Each week, host Robbins would invite a guest from the world of country music onto his show. The guest would reminisce about his career and sing his biggest hits. Written by Brian Rathjen
