Broadcast timeline
ITV — ITV News at Ten
Tuesday 21 July 2026 · 22:00 BST · 30m · 7 stories · 15 annotated moments · 30 of 30 min on news stories (100%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
The broadcast led with the first day of the new Labour government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, focusing on its signature policy to remove VAT from the electricity portion of household energy bills. The policy was announced as a cost-of-living measure, but its funding was immediately questioned by Darren Jones, the former chief secretary to Keir Starmer, who said the plan had not been properly funded. The government insisted it was affordable, though independent experts agreed with Jones. The report also noted internal party tensions, with Burnham having sacked several ministers loyal to Starmer and promoted those who had called for Starmer's resignation, undermining his promise to end factionalism.
Other stories included a special report on rising recorded assaults against women and girls on public transport, with British Transport Police recording 14,200 violence and intimidation offences in the past year, an 18% increase. The court revealed that former politician Ann Widdecombe was killed by 21 hammer blows to the head; a suspect appeared in court. The broadcast also covered the ongoing US-Iran conflict, with the US conducting a tenth straight night of bombing and Iran retaliating, while Houthi rebels threatened shipping in the Red Sea. A drought update reported that Thames Water would impose hosepipe bans on 10 million customers from Thursday, as eight regions of the UK were classified as being in prolonged dry weather. The programme also included a tribute to former footballer and manager Kevin Keegan, who had died, and a feature on the new musical adaptation of Trainspotting.
- 0:00
- 2:28
Charged quote Andy Burnham cuts VAT on electricity and appoints cabinet on first day
the cost of living there was an announcement early this morning on removing VAT from the electricity bit of home energy bills. But breakfast was barely digested when there was backstabbing from the backbenchers. The newly sacked right-hand man of Keir Starmer his former chief secretary said the plan had not actually been
ITV1, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 2:28-2:36
- 2:41
Charged quote Andy Burnham cuts VAT on electricity and appoints cabinet on first day
backbenchers. The newly sacked right-hand man of Keir Starmer his former chief secretary said the plan had not actually been properly funded. Ouch. So much for the end of factionalism. The government insisted yes it had. Influential independent experts though agreed with Mr Jones. Applauded into his first
ITV1, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 2:41-2:46
- 5:42
Contested quote Andy Burnham cuts VAT on electricity and appoints cabinet on first day
funded. But the fault line was leapt on by the Tory leader. We want to bring down the cost of energy for households as well as businesses, so it still falls short and it seems to not be funded. If Darren Jones says there is no money for it, Andy Burnham has to go back to the drawing board. It's one headache
ITV1, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 5:42-5:56
- 9:02
- 13:13
- 15:43
Claim US strikes Iran for 11th consecutive night; Houthis threaten Red Sea shipping
The US hit 170 Iranian targets over 48 hours, mainly near the Strait of Hormuz.
ITV1 HD, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 15:43-15:56
- 15:43
Claim US strikes Iran for 11th consecutive night; Houthis threaten Red Sea shipping
The US hit 170 Iranian targets over 48 hours, mainly near the Strait of Hormuz.
ITV1 HD, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 15:43-15:56
- 15:49
- 16:17
Claim US strikes Iran for 11th consecutive night; Houthis threaten Red Sea shipping
Iran retaliated by striking Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.
ITV1 HD, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 16:17-16:31
- 16:17
Claim US strikes Iran for 11th consecutive night; Houthis threaten Red Sea shipping
Iran retaliated by striking Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.
ITV1 HD, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 16:17-16:35
- 18:04
Claim US strikes Iran for 11th consecutive night; Houthis threaten Red Sea shipping
Three US soldiers were killed in Iranian attacks: two in Jordan and one in Iraq.
ITV1 HD, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 18:04-18:12
- 19:29
Claim US strikes Iran for 11th consecutive night; Houthis threaten Red Sea shipping
Houthi rebels threatened Red Sea shipping, forcing ships to turn around.
ITV1 HD, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 19:29-19:38
- 20:27
- 20:51
Charged quote Thames Water announces hosepipe ban; Environment Agency upgrades drought status
England is one step away from drought. Some parts of southern England haven't had any rain for 33 straight days we may not have thought it at the time. Thank goodness for a wet spring. With the exception of one week in June it hasn't rained at all since February in this scorched section of Suffolk. At Watterson Hall Farm
ITV1, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 20:51-20:53
- 21:23
Charged quote Thames Water announces hosepipe ban; Environment Agency upgrades drought status
early. And that means smaller potatoes? Smaller potatoes reduce yield at the end of the day yeah. Our country is facing a double whammy the longest dry spell since 1995 combined with a 30% increase in water demand during the heat waves. We're probably half what we normally would be. What happens when that runs out?
ITV1, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 21:23-21:34
- 21:38
Charged quote Thames Water announces hosepipe ban; Environment Agency upgrades drought status
demand during the heat waves. We're probably half what we normally would be. What happens when that runs out? Well then we're in trouble real trouble because we have no other reserves realistically. Last week three areas of the UK were classified as in prolonged dry weather. The designation just below full drought. That's now
ITV1, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 21:38-21:45
- 22:07
Contested quote Thames Water announces hosepipe ban; Environment Agency upgrades drought status
of Wales. From Thursday the UK's biggest supplier Thames Water will impose restrictions on its 10 million customers. Inevitable it says after 60% less rainfall than usual this year. Many reservoirs appear to have plenty of water in because they were charged up by one of the wettest winters on record. But look closer
ITV1, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 22:07-22:15
- 23:13
Charged quote Thames Water announces hosepipe ban; Environment Agency upgrades drought status
losses like that. For the public the ban means no hosepipes at all for car washing, paddling pools or the garden. The tomatoes are suffering. I've got two water butts which have now dried out. The lawn is dead. The plants have given themselves up so I'm just waiting for it to rain but we don't think we're getting any. Forecasters say
ITV1, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 23:13-23:19
- 23:32 Story begins Kevin Keegan dies at 75 after cancer battle
- 26:54 Story begins Trainspotting musical adaptation opens in West End
- 27:10
Claim Trainspotting musical adaptation opens in West End
Irvine Welsh said social media addiction now affects more young people than heroin addiction did when he wrote the book.
ITV1 HD, ITV News at Ten, 21 July 2026, 27:10-27:22
Source: ITV1, "ITV News at Ten", Tuesday 21 July 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.