POPULAR former television presenter Wesley Smith tonight said he was “extremely touched” after almost 1,500 joined an Oxford Mail campaign to get him back on air.

Mr Smith presented the ITV Thames Valley Tonight programme, which was scrapped in February when the television company merged three regional news bulletins into one programme.

The new show, Meridian Tonight, is broadcast from Southampton and covers eight counties.

Mr Smith, who worked for ITV for 20 years, and fronted the bulletin with Hannah Shelswell and Mary Green, was replaced by Fred Dinenage and Sangeeta Bhabra.

So many readers contacted the Oxford Mail complaining about the lack of Oxfordshire news on the show and lamenting the loss of 45-year-old Mr Smith, that we launched the Bring Back Wesley campaign, both online and via a tear-out form in the paper.

Today, just five days after we launched the campaign, 1,466 people had joined – demanding better TV news coverage for Oxfordshire, and calling on ITV to reinstate Mr Smith.

Mr Smith said he was “bowled over” by the response.

He added: “I am extremely touched. It’s incredible.

“The tremendous response shows just how valued ITV regional news is by the people of Oxfordshire.”

Betty Barrett, from Kidlington, is among those supporting our campaign.

She said: “I miss Wesley. He is just the best.”

Janet Gray, of Trinity Road, Headington, Oxford, also registered her support.

She said: “I loved watching Wesley. He was always happy and interesting.

“Now there is no news about Oxford, so I watch BBC.”

Muriel Owens, of Drayton, near Abingdon, wrote: “I miss the friendliness of Wesley and his team. Until changes are made, I’m boycotting ITV.”

Janet Welby, from Old Marston, Oxford, said: “Wesley was so popular.

“There is nothing relevant to us on the programme anymore.

An ITV spokesman said he was aware of the campaign and said Oxfordshire news was covered at the beginning of each programme.

He added: “On-screen changes often generate comment and debate, and this has been no exception.

“But the proposals for Meridian were subject to extensive consultation.”

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/wesley_petition/