David Dimbleby, BBC
… This is live as it happens. The Prime Minister with Denis Thatcher. [Cheers as she leaves her car.] And she's arriving at her seat in Finchley. And she looks as though she's heading tonight for this record of being elected three times running. Hasn't happened since Lord Liverpool, way back in the nineteenth century. It also looks—if she remains Prime Minister—that she'll soon break the record for the longest serving Prime Minister in the twentieth century—eight years, eight months or so, H.H. Asquith. So a formidable record for Mrs Thatcher. … [Tape stops and then resumes] And she looks fairly cheerful. Yesterday evening she said that these very first results kept them all on the edge of their seats while they waited to see what happened. She's no doubt had news of the Torbay result as she arrived and perhaps it is already showing in relief on her face.
[MT climbing the steps to the count. John Simpson approaches her:]
John Simpson, BBC
Good evening. Do you think we are going to have a close result tonight?
MT
I'm just going to wait and see. Just wait and see. Very cautious as you know.
John Simpson, BBC
Cautious but presumably not … sounds almost pessimistic.
MT
Cautious but optimistic. Thank you.