iblog

Rushda: BBC Radio 4's newsreader Charlotte Green has caused hundreds of comments being sent in as she started laughing on air whilst presenting this morning. The well-known 50 year old reader, who incidentally has also been voted to have the "Most Attractive Female Voice on National Radio", was discussing an ancient recording of the human voice when she started giggling uncontrollably. She squirmed her way through her next news story which, to put the cherry on the cake, happened to be on a death. Here is the clip. Green, who is also said to have done a very similar thing ten years ago, is embarrassed about the incident. She says it was sparked by a colleague telling her that the sound was like a "bee buzzing in a bottle". Describing how difficult it was to keep a straight face when discussing the death of screenwriter Abby Mann, Green said:

"I'm afraid I just lost it, I was completely ambushed by the giggles. I did feel slightly embarrassed, knowing I have this reputation that I am prone to getting the giggles"

However, many listeners found the incident cheered up their day, with Today's editor, Ceri Thomas, saying that most listeners who contacted them said "how much they had enjoyed the moment". Not only that but Green's fit of the giggles was repeated on later in the day as there had been so many requests to hear it again. As Green says:

"People have been very sweet and everyone has been coming up to me said how much it has cheered up their Friday morning."

Whilst some may have found the incident insulting, I'm glad that most have been amused to witness their favourite dignified newsreader reduced to this state on air. Personally, I completely empathise with Charlotte as I know full well how difficult it is to stop laughing sometimes, and the more you try and suppress it, the worse it becomes! It is just unlucky how bad the timing was. Let's hope any offended listeners can take this very human behaviour with a pinch of salt.

Kayleigh: Famous Hollywood actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment yesterday. Twenty eight year old Ledger was booked in for a massage at his home when his housekeeper walked in on him to tell him, but found him lying unconscious next to a bottle of pills. Police are investigating the possibility that the Brokeback Mountain star took an overdose. Heath Ledger's father, Kim Ledger is devastated and said the death of his son had been "tragic" and "accidental". Speaking from Heath's home town in Perth, Australia, he said:  "Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life," he said. Fellow Hollywood actor Mel Gibson said: "I had such great hope for him. He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss." The people of Australia are also shocked and saddened to hear the news. The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, described the death as a tragedy, and said: "Heath Ledger's diverse and challenging roles will be remembered as some of the great performances by an Australian actor." The successful American actor John Travolta said: "I adored him. He's my favourite actor. I don't know how to compare his talent to others but he's touched me deeply as a talent and it's a great loss." The star leaves behind a daughter, Matilda, 2, whom he had with former Dawson's Creek star, Michelle Williams, who he spilt up with in September. Michelle's father, Larry Williams said: "My heart goes out to everyone in his family and my family. The saddest thing is that his daughter whom he loved dearly, Matilda will grow up without knowing her father." Ledger has starred in many Hollywood films such as 10 Things I Hate About You, Monster's Ball and A Knight's Tale, and had been nominated for an Oscar in his role in Brokeback Mountain. An autopsy is due to be carried out today.

Rushda: An actor who worked in a teddy bear suit on the highly popular children's programme "In The Night Garden", made by BBC's Ragdoll Productions, is taking the company to court after claiming that he was mistreated. Not only was the equipment faulty so he could not see whilst in the costume and thereby left to require hospital treatment after falling over, but he was also insulted by other cast members and managers, being forced to continue to work even whilst he insisted it was unsafe. For viewers, all they could see was the smiley face of the character Tombliboo. According to 28 year old Isaac Blake from Cardiff, however, the reality was much different. He claims that he was completely dependent on cameras to know what he was doing, but even they failed for several weeks and he was left fumbling in the dark in the costume, which was part robot and part puppet. When he complained he was rudely forced to continue and became injured as a result. He also says that another cast member called called him a "bitch" and a "faggot" but that the staff ignored this when he complained. The staff ultimately dismissed him for making a fuss. Ragdoll productions, which also produced the Teletubbies, has denied all allegations saying that none of the other cast members had experienced any problems and that Mr Blake was actually dismissed because he was rude to staff. Actress Elisa Laghi, 31, admitted she used the words "bitch" and "faggot" to refer to him, but said that she meant it jovially and not because Mr Blake was gay. Indeed she says:

"I'm bisexual myself so I don't have a problem with people being gay"

The tribunal now continues. If the allegations made by Mr Blake are true, then this is terrible news, particularly for those who have loved watching the programmes. To think that the actors are themselves suffering whilst producing such dramatic displays of optimism for children is saddening and I hope that any injustice on the part of the production team will not go unnoticed.

Steve Robinson: When Sam Allardyce parted company with Newcastle United on Wednesday he became the eighth Premier League manager to lose their job in just five months of the current season. His removal has prompted outcries from the media and fellow managers alike that managers at Premier League clubs are under far too much pressure to produce results. The trend began in earnest in September when legend Jose Mourinho shocked English football by leaving high-fliers Chelsea, with the media touting poor relations between the club’s owner Roman Abramovich to blame. In the following months, Tottenham parted company with Martin Jol, Billy Davies left struggling Derby, and Birmingham, Bolton, Fulham Wigan all lost their managers. This latest management change has left many fans wondering how many more displacements there might be in this turbulent season.

"If you were put into a job in the city, the first thing you would ask for is time. It takes a while to gel. "In Sam's few months at Newcastle he might not have even found out the correct strength of the reserve side. He might have players injured that he doesn't know much about. "But with football, it's absolutely out of hand. It's so crazy now."

Martin O’Neil, Aston Villa Manager, speaking to BBC Sport

Many have asked why football managers have been under so much pressure this year. With a massive surge in money from advertising and TV revenue this season, Premier League clubs are all keen to avoid relegation and continue to reap the benefits of the extra cash. Unfortunately, this added competitiveness has meant that teams are under extra pressure to perform. Inevitably, pressure builds on the manager, with whom the buck stops, it appears. Allardyce took over from previous boss Glenn Roeder in May 2007, but saw a new regime in place within a month, as new owner Mike Ashley upped his stake and Freddy Shepherd stood down as Chairman. From then Allardyce was constantly under pressure from a new boss and from expectant Newcastle fans. However, Allardyce’s departure is a classic example of the lack of time now given to managers to settle into the role and develop the team. Allardyce was in charge for just 8 months and oversaw just 24 games, taking Newcastle to 11th in the division. Surely 8 months is not enough time to judge a manager? The departure leaves Newcastle searching for their seventh manager in 11 years. Many toon fans will hope that former Newcastle player Alan Shearer gets the role, although he is reported to be happy with his job at Match of the Day. Whoever gets the nod, it will be a tall order to impress a club with such lofty expectations. Whether we have seen the last management casuality of the Premier League 2007/8 season, however, remains to be seen. For those who are interested in football and need a sports grant then a new scheme called Cash 4 Clubs may be of some use. Image: Wikipedia

Rushda: It may be a very obvious part of raising a child but surprisingly many parents are neglecting reading stories to their children at bedtime. Experts say that the benefits to the child are easily underestimated as it not only boosts literacy but is also great fun. The schools secretary Ed Balls, as well as launching the first ever "national year of reading" in a decade, is also encouraging all parents to share a bedtime story with children daily as this could be one of the most important parts of their childhood. Balls has said that the dropping literacy standards in the UK compared to other countries in Europe is partly because children have been brought up to enjoy reading less. But he argues that a ten-minute read before bed every night would be enough to kickstart their enthusiasm, and it should be as routine as "brushing their teeth or having a bath". Indeed the success of such activities may be clearer when we see that many leading authors have sworn by their own experiences of bedtime reading as an essential part of growing up and forming their careers in later life. For example, the poet laureate Andrew Motion says:

"[I loved] the Mary Plain books, which my mum read herself as a child, and one book called Tim Minds the Shop. She started when I was very young. I went to bed, said my prayers and had a story. It went on 15 minutes and my brother and I always begged for it to go one longer. Perfect, really."

Similarly the best-selling author Philip Pullman, famous for his His Dark Materials trilogy has said that he was always read to by his Mother, favourites including Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling. He said:

"Children don’t need simple language, they need beautiful, rich language,"

He also warned that parents shouldn't get excited about using the stories as a way of teaching their children phonetics at the expense of the actual story:

“Reading is not about phonics, it is about fun. It is about the jolly japes the cat in the hat gets up to, not about CAT.”

Parents should take note that reading is essential as a way of encouraging children to use their imagination and have some fun as well as become more proficient at language. In today's busy world where parents don't seem to have much time for their children, it is also something that brings family members together, and it doesn't matter what age you are, for being able to enjoy a story can be appreciated at all ages.

Kayleigh: Britney Spears has gone crazy after losing her court battle against ex husband Kevin Federline to gain sole custody of her two sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. The famous pop star has also lost the right to visit her young sons. Police and ambulances were called to her LA mansion after she refused to hand over her sons after a monitored visit to Kevin's bodyguards on Thursday. Britney locked herself and her two children in her bathroom and it took four hours for police and medics to get her out. Britney is now in hospital after being stretchered out of her LA home. Britney may now have to face up to 30 days of mental evaluation, and has been placed on "5150 hold", meaning she is considered a danger to herself. A source told us.magazine.com, "They had to strap her down like a mental patient and she was going between laughing and hysterics. She just went crazy." According to The Daily Star newspaper, reports showed Britney had attempted to take her own life by mixing drink and drugs. A friend of Britney's said: "We're so worried. She's acting weird and may never get full custody of her boys again after taking them hostage. "She desperatley needs help. These are not the actions of a well woman." Federline and Spears married in September 2004 and had a rocky marraige before they divorced in July 2007. Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Kaplan said: "I'm not happy about any of these events. There's no winners here." The events follow after a turbulant year for Britney, who shaved off all her hair in February 2007, before smashing a car up with an umbrella. The 26 year old's singers mum, Lynne Spears, said: "Let's just say prayers." A new custody hearing has been set for January 14th. Whilst I do believe that primarily children should be with their mother, Britney has been going off the rails for some time now. She needs to clean up her act before she can be taken seriously by any US court for custody of her children. The priority in this case is the children's safety.

Rushda: The Nintendo Wii is the most sought after present this Christmas, with stocks heavily running out by the hour and many distressed parents not able to secure one before the big day. Though like all novelty gadgets, the hype is often disproportionate to the product, but it is easy to see why the Wii is in so much demand. It marks a revolution in gaming as now players can feel truly involved in their games by being able to use the Wii in a variety of innovative ways. Whether you want to play tennis or bowl, fight or drive, all these things can be simulated with the Wii in more realistic ways than pressing buttons. Furthermore, an extra appeal is that the Wii has been marketed as an "active" console, with players no longer slumped motionless on the couch. Though this may be true to some extent, it is very important to take this claim with a pinch of salt and understand that the Nintendo Wii cannot replace other forms of more strenuous exercise. Young people are at particular risk from obesity and require at least an hour of exercise a day which cannot be taken from playing on the console. Indeed a new British Medical Journal study has found that in fact Wii players only use 2% more energy than players of other consoles. This may promote an "every little help" image, they admit, but it is wrong thinking that it is enough. As a spokesperson for the study said:

"These increases were of insufficient intensity to contribute towards recommendations for children's daily exercise. Although this figure is trivial it might contribute to weight management. New generation computer games stimulated positive activity behaviours - the children were on their feet and they moved in all directions. Given the current prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity, such positive behaviours should be encouraged."

The obesity crisis in Britain has hit children the worst, with more than a third of twelve year olds overweight. Whilst the Wii may provide more activity than conventional consoles, it is perhaps still more dangerous to believe, and let children believe, that playing games on the Wii is enough. Well, so much for childrens' hopeful dreams!

Rushda: Many avid followers of the X Factor on ITV will have been shocked at the result of the final last night as Leon Jackson has been crowned winner of the show, beating ten thousand contestants and winning a one million pound record deal for his singing. The eighteen year old from Scotland was as surprised as everyone else when he was announced as the winner of the show. His new single, which he also sung on the show, is "When you believe" previously sung by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, and may well be number one this Christmas. Rhydian Roberts from Wales came second, even though he was the Bookies favourite to win by a long way, and cheery brother and sister duo Same Difference came third. More than 12 million people across Britain tuned in to watch what was one of the most tense finals of the X factor ever seen. Bookmakers Ladbrokes were startled by the results. Speaking of Leon, spokesman Nick Weinberg said:

"[This was] the biggest shock in the history of reality TV betting. He saved us from a bumper payout. He'll definitely be top of our Christmas card list."

Leon, who broke down crying when the results were announced says:

"I decided to pursue this because I loved singing. Then, as it went along, I knew I could potentially change my mum's life and I've just done it."

Funnily enough, despite the fair voting it seems that most people seem to be upset by the results. Leon doesn't have the smiles and personality of Same Difference nor does he have the incredible singing talent of Rhydian. How he scraped through to number one is beyond me, and like many other disappointing reality show wins in the past few years (Michelle McManus for example) I very much doubt that anyone will remember him and his mediocre personality in a few months time. Hopefully both Rhydian and Same Difference will be back on our screens in no time as they were both memorable and talented!

Kayleigh: The England football team are out of Euro 2008 after they were beaten 3-2 by Croatia, leaving the nation in a state of mourning. England's manager Steve McClaren has also been sacked as has his Assistant coach Terry Venables. The England manager said: "It is a sad day to have been relieved of my duties but I understand the decision of the FA. I have huge been a disappointment for the nation and fans. But I will learn from my failure." Chief Executive of the FA who sacked McClaren, said: "I'd like to apologise to the fans personally. I care about this passionately, it has never been just a job. I'm in it because I care about football, football fans and football teams." Peter Crouch, England's striker, was very disappointed with the result. He said: "The fact we expected to qualify and we haven't done is the most disappointing thing. Once we get it out of the system we can look at where we went wrong in the other games as well." The England players were saddened to hear the news that McClaren had been sacked. Micah Richards, England defender said: "I was sorry to see Steve McClaren sacked as England manager but, after we failed to qualify for Euro 2008, I wasn't shocked. The players definitely thought he was the right man for the job but when you are England manager you get assessed on results." Even the Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe had something to say about the game: "It's hugely disappointing not to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals." Fans are not so forgiving however and many are blaming the performance of England on Steve McClaren, and are angry he has been given a £2 million payout. Peter Cooper, a football fan from Manchester said: "McClaren was rubbish; everyone knew it from the start." England haven't failed to qualify for a major tournament since the 1994 World Cup. The FA have now started to recruit for the next England manager. Potential candidates include Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill, former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, and even Alan Shearer. When it comes to the World Cup and the Euro, I think we all want the boys to do well. It is very unfortunate we will not be in the competition next summer. Let's just hope the boys work hard and we get a good manager who will lead us into the World Cup in 2010. For more Football news - please visit TalkFootball.co.uk

Kayleigh: The online bookseller Amazon has created a digital bookreader - The Kindle- which can store up to 200 books. Amazon's aim was to create a devicethat could provide its consumers with a wider variety of entertainment, like the Ipod does with music. The device is about about the same size as a standard paperback, weighs around 290g, and offers access to about 90,000 books and 11 daily newspapers. "We've been working on Kindle for more than three years," said Amazon boss Jeff Bezos. "Our top design objective was for Kindle to disappear in your hands -to get out of the way so you can enjoy your reading." Once you have bought a Kindle, however, (which is £195) that doesn't mean you get to read these books for free. Costs range from 75 cents to download a national newspaper and classic books cost around $1.99 each. Best sellers are naturally pricier, and can be downloaded for $9.99, but it is still cheaper than books bought in a store. The device also offers access to online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, and about 300 blogs. It can also play MP3 music files and has a slot so it can store a memory card which enables it to hold hundreds of books. “We want to make sure everything anyone wants to read is on the Kindle,” said Laura Porco, Amazon’s director of digital text. “We won’t stop until we can offer millions of books.” Although I think this is a good invention, and is good for book lovers, I myself will not be buying one. Why buy a device that costs almost £200 when you can read the books for free online on your laptop?