[Kojak]

That would make sense, as George seemed to be the designated fill-in for the Nine/Ten during the cream and red era. Even then, he only did about ten programmes a year - as we all know, it was very rare for both Peter and Michael Buerk to both be absent.

I would think this must be the next day. The edition he refers to in his book suggests apart from a very brief pre-recorded piece he didn’t appear at all.

I've got his book in front of me now. You are indeed correct. This apparently happened on Friday 11th September 1998. The video I linked to above is from Monday 14th - so Peter must have stayed in the States over the weekend. In any case it wouldn't have been Alagiah standing by in the studio on the Friday - I imagine Ed Stourton would have done that Nine also.

It was apparently Michael Buerk presenting from the studio on the night of the Concorde disaster (again, according to Sissons' book).