Calls made to Vanessa Feltz's programme on BBC London 94.9FM have led to a special edition of her programme next week highlighting problems the over-sixties are facing in London.
Teresa in Hackney called into Vanessa's programme earlier this month, disgusted she is being penalised in her old age for contributing to a pension, and saying that she has cut down on food and eaten sandwiches when she has had a large bill for heating.
She says: "When I retired I got both my pensions and I worked out that, by the time I paid my rent and council tax only, my living expenses that I had to live on was less than somebody that's never worked, and what the Government says an old age pensioner should have to live on."
She adds: "I went to my local authorities to ask for some help with my rent and what they did was put aside the national amount the Government says I should have to live on, which is £124 a week at the moment, and they swallowed the rest up in rent and council tax."
Vanessa says: "Teresa called my programme because she feels she is being penalised for working her whole life.
"She told me that sometimes she doesn't have a meal in the evening, she has a sandwich instead, because she is terrified of not being able to pay her bills."
Vanessa hopes BBC London 94.9FM will be able to help: "My programme on Monday will be a special programme looking at the problems over-sixties are facing today.
"Dame Joan Bakewell, appointed a champion of the elderly by the Government, and Mervin Kohler, special adviser for Help the Aged, will be joining me in the studio, and we'll also have a reporter at Teresa's home in Hackney to speak further to her and also to one of her friends also experiencing similar problems.
"I hope the programme will be able to help them, and other over-sixties across London facing similar problems, so that Teresa won't live in fear of her bills, and ensure she can have a proper meal at night."
Hear Vanessa Feltz on BBC London 94.9FM on Monday 24 November 2008, 9.00am to midday.
Listeners can call 020 7224 2000, text 07786 200949 or email vanessa@bbc.co.uk to have their say on the issue.
Courtesy of BBC Press Releases
Saturday 22 November 2008
BBC management statement on Brand show
BBC Management have submitted a comprehensive report to the BBC Trust on how two editions of The Russell Brand Show on Radio 2, which caused widespread offence, came to be broadcast.
The report, which again makes clear that the BBC Management regards this content as a very serious breach of its editorial standards, highlights unacceptable failures in editorial judgement and compliance which led to the offending broadcasts on the network.
A range of actions proposed by BBC management has been approved by the Trust. In addition, two very senior managers and a presenter have resigned and a major presenter has been suspended without pay for 12 weeks.
The BBC is determined to act on the lessons learnt from this incident, in particular to reinforce adherence to the BBC's compliance systems. This will be a major priority within the BBC's Audio & Music division.
The BBC Management accepts in full all the findings published by the BBC Trust today, including the decision of the BBC Trust to uphold the complaint against an edition of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, broadcast on 2 May 2008.
In particular we will consider carefully the BBC Trust's ruling on the use of language and audience expectations. Management will reinforce due consideration of the editorial guidelines, a strict adherence to the editorial referral process and will exercise considerable care over the use of language, especially of the most offensive words or phrases.
BBC Press Office
The report, which again makes clear that the BBC Management regards this content as a very serious breach of its editorial standards, highlights unacceptable failures in editorial judgement and compliance which led to the offending broadcasts on the network.
A range of actions proposed by BBC management has been approved by the Trust. In addition, two very senior managers and a presenter have resigned and a major presenter has been suspended without pay for 12 weeks.
The BBC is determined to act on the lessons learnt from this incident, in particular to reinforce adherence to the BBC's compliance systems. This will be a major priority within the BBC's Audio & Music division.
The BBC Management accepts in full all the findings published by the BBC Trust today, including the decision of the BBC Trust to uphold the complaint against an edition of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, broadcast on 2 May 2008.
In particular we will consider carefully the BBC Trust's ruling on the use of language and audience expectations. Management will reinforce due consideration of the editorial guidelines, a strict adherence to the editorial referral process and will exercise considerable care over the use of language, especially of the most offensive words or phrases.
BBC Press Office
Friday 21 November 2008
Burn After Reading Cinema Review
Burn After Reading is a bizarre film with a whole smorgasbord of top actors and actresses.Two gym employees, Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) land themselves in an unlikely situation when a disk containing the memoirs of a CIA official who has recently left his job, finds its way into their hands. They attempt to blackmail CIA official, Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) but, it doesn't quite go to plan.
Meanwhile, Ozzie's wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) is having an affair with Treasury agent Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney) who is a bit of a love rat, to say the least. He later finds himself meeting up with Linda Litzke as she attempts to find herself the perfect man.
Burn After Reading is an interesting, clever and funny film. It develops at a steady pace and, despite all the madness going on in each of the characters lives, their story lines intertwine with one another with ease.
It is a weird and random story filled with weird and random characters but, it is a brilliant watch nonetheless.
Thursday 20 November 2008
TOTP back for Christmas and New Year
The BBC announced today that Top Of The Pops will be returning to BBC One this Christmas with two special, one-off shows – one on Christmas Day and one on New Year's Eve.
The Top Of The Pops Christmas Special is an hour-long celebration of all things pop.
Hosted by Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates and filmed in BBC Television Centre, it will feature exclusive performances from some of the year's biggest stars and will count down the chart to the all important Christmas number one.
The Top Of The Pops New Year's Eve Special is a brand new show that will review the year in pop.
Fearne and Reggie will take in the year's smash hits, highlights from music festivals such as BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend and Glastonbury, as well as unique performances from BBC sessions.
This hour-long special marks the first time BBC One has shown a New Year's Eve edition of Top Of The Pops.
Both shows are part of an extended musical line-up on the BBC this Christmas, which includes TOTP2 and Jools Holland's annual Hootenanny on BBC Two alongside The Big Finish on BBC One.
Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, said: "With shows on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, Top Of The Pops has never been bigger.
"The shows will form the centrepiece of a massive musical offering during the festive season that we hope viewers are really going to enjoy."
TOTP host Fearne Cotton added: "I am beyond excited at the thought of a return to the mighty TOTP studios for these one-off shows.
"Reggie and I feel truly honoured to be able to introduce this year's number one – both shows are going to be huge!"
The Christmas and New Year's Eve specials are one off programmes. There are no plans to bring back TOTP full-time.
(BBC Press Release)
The Top Of The Pops Christmas Special is an hour-long celebration of all things pop.
Hosted by Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates and filmed in BBC Television Centre, it will feature exclusive performances from some of the year's biggest stars and will count down the chart to the all important Christmas number one.
The Top Of The Pops New Year's Eve Special is a brand new show that will review the year in pop.
Fearne and Reggie will take in the year's smash hits, highlights from music festivals such as BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend and Glastonbury, as well as unique performances from BBC sessions.
This hour-long special marks the first time BBC One has shown a New Year's Eve edition of Top Of The Pops.
Both shows are part of an extended musical line-up on the BBC this Christmas, which includes TOTP2 and Jools Holland's annual Hootenanny on BBC Two alongside The Big Finish on BBC One.
Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, said: "With shows on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, Top Of The Pops has never been bigger.
"The shows will form the centrepiece of a massive musical offering during the festive season that we hope viewers are really going to enjoy."
TOTP host Fearne Cotton added: "I am beyond excited at the thought of a return to the mighty TOTP studios for these one-off shows.
"Reggie and I feel truly honoured to be able to introduce this year's number one – both shows are going to be huge!"
The Christmas and New Year's Eve specials are one off programmes. There are no plans to bring back TOTP full-time.
(BBC Press Release)
John Seargent leaves Strictly
After the controversy surrounding the popularity voting in Strictly Come Dancing and the risk that John Sergeant might unfairly win the competition over the more talented dancers, he decided to step out of the limelight and leave the BBC show.
Sergeant yesterday made a statement about his decision. He said: "I am sorry to say I have decided to leave Strictly Come Dancing. It was always my intention to have fun on the show and I was hoping to stay in as long as possible."
"The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition." he added, "Even for me that would be a joke too far. I would like to thank Kristina and all those viewers who have been rooting for me through the series."
Jay Hunt, Controller at BBC One said: "John has told us of his plans to leave Strictly Come Dancing and we are very sad to see him go. He has been an entertaining contestant and is hugely popular with the viewers. We would have liked him to stay but we respect his decision to leave. John and Kristina will be performing a farewell dance this Saturday on the show."
(Statements courtesy of BBC Press Office)
Sergeant yesterday made a statement about his decision. He said: "I am sorry to say I have decided to leave Strictly Come Dancing. It was always my intention to have fun on the show and I was hoping to stay in as long as possible."
"The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition." he added, "Even for me that would be a joke too far. I would like to thank Kristina and all those viewers who have been rooting for me through the series."
Jay Hunt, Controller at BBC One said: "John has told us of his plans to leave Strictly Come Dancing and we are very sad to see him go. He has been an entertaining contestant and is hugely popular with the viewers. We would have liked him to stay but we respect his decision to leave. John and Kristina will be performing a farewell dance this Saturday on the show."
(Statements courtesy of BBC Press Office)
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Blink 182 set for comeback?
Mark Hoppus, former bassist of Blink 182, has revealed on his site, 'hi my name is mark', that Travis Barker's near-fatal plane crash has put a whole new perspective on things.
He wrote: "In the midst of everything else that has happened lately, Tom, Travis, and I have all spoken together. First through a number of phone calls, and then a couple of weeks ago we all hung out for a few hours. they’ve all been great, very positive conversations. We’re just reconnecting as friends after four years of not talking. It’s a good thing."
He added: "Obviously the first question for a lot of people will be “does this mean a blink-182 reunion?” the answer is none of us know. We haven’t talked about it at all. Right now it’s just good for the three of us to see one another, reconnect, and let the past be the past. The events of the past two months supersede everything that happened before. Life is too short."
This is a positive step for the former bandmates and fans can only hope that good things will come of this.
A Blink 182 reunion? Please say it's so!
He wrote: "In the midst of everything else that has happened lately, Tom, Travis, and I have all spoken together. First through a number of phone calls, and then a couple of weeks ago we all hung out for a few hours. they’ve all been great, very positive conversations. We’re just reconnecting as friends after four years of not talking. It’s a good thing."
He added: "Obviously the first question for a lot of people will be “does this mean a blink-182 reunion?” the answer is none of us know. We haven’t talked about it at all. Right now it’s just good for the three of us to see one another, reconnect, and let the past be the past. The events of the past two months supersede everything that happened before. Life is too short."
This is a positive step for the former bandmates and fans can only hope that good things will come of this.
A Blink 182 reunion? Please say it's so!
Monday 17 November 2008
Another new Harry Potter 6 trailer
Warner Bros have released a new Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Trailer to offer us a taste of what we are in for next July.
The trailer gives us a different bit of the story to the previous trailer, so take a look at it at MuggleNet.
Enjoy!
The trailer gives us a different bit of the story to the previous trailer, so take a look at it at MuggleNet.
Enjoy!
Happy Feet 2
The Age have revealed that Happy Feet 2 is due to be made in a new digital production facility in Sydney.
George Miller will be back to direct the sequel to the Oscar-winning Australian blockbuster about a dancing penguin.
Happy Feet 2 will be one of the first of many productions to be made in the new 'Dr. D' studio.
The Age writes: "The new digital production facility is expected to provide a significant boost to the local movie industry, which has been criticised for a lack of investment in recent years."
NSW Minister of State Development Ian Macdonald "said Happy Feet 2 and the new "Dr D" digital production facility, which he said were secured through a payroll tax assistance package, have put Sydney 'once again front and centre of the national film industry.'"
The project is expected to require some 438 staff over three years, including 230 computer-generated imaging artists.
George Miller will be back to direct the sequel to the Oscar-winning Australian blockbuster about a dancing penguin.
Happy Feet 2 will be one of the first of many productions to be made in the new 'Dr. D' studio.
The Age writes: "The new digital production facility is expected to provide a significant boost to the local movie industry, which has been criticised for a lack of investment in recent years."
NSW Minister of State Development Ian Macdonald "said Happy Feet 2 and the new "Dr D" digital production facility, which he said were secured through a payroll tax assistance package, have put Sydney 'once again front and centre of the national film industry.'"
The project is expected to require some 438 staff over three years, including 230 computer-generated imaging artists.
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