Jono spots the Anglia News ending
Scott credited Jono from unofficialmills.co.uk for finding an unusual ending to ITV Anglia’s local news.
Presenter Jonathan Wills had invited viewers to contact the programme and meant to say that the team always loved hearing from them.
Instead, he signed off with: “Love you. See you again tomorrow.”
The following evening, Wills acknowledged that he might have been over-familiar with viewers. He said he was fond of the audience but intended to restrict himself to an ordinary goodbye.
What happened after the credits
The programme also obtained the studio audio from after the microphones were supposedly switched off.
Wills asked whether he had really said what he thought he had said. His co-presenter confirmed that he had told everyone he loved them and encouraged him not to be embarrassed.
Scott said the accidental intimacy improved the news and argued that more programmes should finish the same way.
Suggested examples included The Apprentice ending a firing with “but I love you”.
Spreading the idea
Listeners working on other ITV regional programmes began trying to persuade their presenters to say “I love you” at the end of their own bulletins.
Scott specifically mentioned Fred Dinenage in the Meridian region and Lucy Meacock in the North West as potential participants.
The Anglia clip became the start of a wider challenge to spread affectionate sign-offs across local television.
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