THE Oxford Mail campaign to bring back ITV Thames Valley Tonight, and popular presenter Wesley Smith, is picking up pace, with more than 170 readers joining on the first day.

Petition

I wish to show my support to the Oxford Mail campaign to bring back the old ITV Thames Valley news programme, which covered local news from Oxfordshire, and with it presenter Wesley Smith.

Full Name: Tel No: Email:
Why are you backing the campaign:
 
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The Thames Valley Tonight programme was scrapped in February when ITV merged three regional news bulletins into a single news programme, Meridian Tonight, which is broadcast from Southampton. It now covers eight counties.

Popular presenter Wesley Smith, who fronted the old programme alongside Hannah Shelswell and Mary Green, was axed and replaced by Fred Dineage and Sangeeta Bhabra.

So many people contacted the Oxford Mail complaining about the lack of Oxfordshire since the new show launched, we launched our Bring Back Wes campaign both online and via a tear out form in the paper.

Last night, 174 people had joined our online petition, the results of which we will present to ITV bosses, with more entries expected to arrive through the post.

Mr Smith, who worked for ITV for 20 years, said he was “bowled over by the response” and would watch the campaign with interest.