Alastair Stewart has presented his last ITV London Tonight. He wrote in the London Tonight Tonight Email:

“This is my last blog as a London Tonight presenter and, unlike a hand-written letter, you won’t be able to detect the smudge of a tear on your screen. It has been an extraordinary 16 years and I am grateful for the opportunity to have done it and to have been honoured by your company.

“From Monday, Katie will be joined by Matt Teale, who you have already met. I first met him in a studio discussion at Setanta about the ultimate fight championships so I know he is more than capable of a few good moves and the occassional killer blow. Be kind to him and enjoy his company. Katie, who I treasure as a co-worker and very dear friend, has been a total and undiluted joy to work with. The good news is that she and I will continue to share the ITV Lunchtime News, though not at the same time. But I will miss the pleasure, fun, emotion, focus, gravitas, flexibility and sheer professionalism she has always brought to our joint efforts to inform and entertain you. She is just a wonderful and very beautiful person. Seriously beautiful…..

“I will bid you farewell at 6.30, confident of the future, secure in the knowledge that those who remain will be just as good, if not better, without me. But I will always treeausre it – from Stephen Lawrence’s murder to the glory of the London Eye; from the euphoria of Singapore to the shock and awe of 7/7; from Rowan Atkinson, Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra Junior to Camilla Batmangheligh, Neville Lawrence and all the other souls who make this great city an even better place; from Ken to Bozza; from our glorious parks to our still-in-need-of-attention housing; and all of you, whatever age, sex, race and beliefs: the most wonderful population to have attempted to serve. Thanks for having me.”

The programme ended with the usual goodbyes and the old London Tonight theme music.

Alastair will begin presenting the ITV Evening News with Mary from Tomorrow.