seotransport

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Pratchett to probe assisted death

15 April 2011 Last updated at 04:00 ET

British author Sir Terry Pratchett is to participate in a BBC Two documentary about assisted suicide, it has been announced.

The Discworld writer will travel to a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland with a 71-year-old who suffers from motor neurone disease.

Sir Terry, who was diagnosed with a form of Alzheimer's in 2008, said he was "a firm believer in assisted death" and wanted to learn more about it.

The film will be shown in the summer.

Dignitas, the Swiss group which assists terminally ill people to end their own lives, was founded in 1998. Many people from countries where assisted suicide is illegal travel to its clinic to die.

In the UK, assisting suicide is illegal and carries a jail term of up to 14 years.

But more than 100 Britons have gone to Dignitas and no family members or friends have yet been prosecuted.

"I believe everybody possessed of a debilitating and incurable disease should be allowed to pick the hour of their death," Sir Terry said.

"And I wanted to know more about Dignitas in case I ever wanted to go there myself."

Last year, a UK inquiry into the issue of assisted dying was launched with funding from Sir Terry.

The BBC's commissioning editor for documentaries, Charlotte Moore, said: "Assisted death is an important topic of debate in the UK, and this is a chance for the BBC Two audience to follow Sir Terry as he wrestles with the difficult issues that many across Britain are also faced with."

The documentary will also see the writer explore how different European countries deal with the issue.

It is not the first time assisted suicide has been addressed by a television programme.

In 2008, a Sky documentary called Right To Die? showed 59-year-old Craig Ewert, who also suffered from motor neurone disease, end his life.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/entertainment-arts-13088111

celebrity news celebrity gossip entertainment news showbiz news

Liam Gallagher praises Man City flop Mario Balotelli

Asked about MARIO BALOTELLI's antics by BBC Football Focus, the BEADY EYE singer said: "What a geezer. I mean, all that throwing darts at people.

"That's not cool - a water balloon would have done. You know what I mean?

"But I like characters. If the world was full of f***ing Gary Nevilles man, it would be bobbins, wouldn't it?

"He just looks like an estate agent."

He's got a point.

Foul-mouth Liam did defend the now retired Gary's former teammate WAYNE ROONEY though, after his four-letter rant into a TV camera.

The frontman said: "I don't know what the big fuss is about, you know.

"I suppose there's a lot of kids out there called Sebastian who will find it horrific that he's swearing down the camera.

"But it happens, young man."

Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3530667/Liam-Gallagher-praises-Man-City-flop-Mario-Balotelli.html

hollywood gossip rihanna lady gaga celebrity news celebrity gossip

Actor Trevor Bannister dies at 76

15 April 2011 Last updated at 11:37 ET

Are You Being Served? star Trevor Bannister has died aged 76, his brother has confirmed.

The actor suffered a heart attack on Thursday at his allotment in Thames Ditton, Surrey, John Bannister said.

The actor was best known for his role as ladies' man Mr Lucas in the 1970s BBC sitcom set in a department store but he also worked in the theatre.

"He was a good lad, we were all very fond of him," Mr Bannister told BBC News.

He added his brother had been doing some repair work on his shed when he became ill.

Frank Thornton, who appeared as Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served?, told the BBC he had "many, many happy memories" of his co-star.

"He was a very good friend over a long time," he said.

"We often met with him and his wife - he was recently at my 90th birthday celebrations in January and that was the last time we saw him. We shall miss him sorely."

Born in Durrington, Wiltshire, and the youngest of three children, Bannister did two year's National Service before going to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

During his career which spanned five decades, he appeared in TV shows including The Avengers, Dixon of Dock Green, The Saint and Z Cars.

He also made regular appearances in the theatre and in pantomime.

More recently, the actor had a stint in the long-running BBC series Last of the Summer Wine.

In 2009, the actor led the tributes to his Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard and gave a reading at her funeral.

Speaking to the BBC at the time about his experiences of working on the sitcom, he said: "The joy of that particular show was the fact that most of us had known each other before we came to do it.

"We loved working with each other and had a lot of respect for each other. I think that fun and enjoyment conveyed itself through the screen."

He is survived by his second wife Pam and three sons Simon, Timothy and Jeremy.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/entertainment-arts-13098312

entertainment news showbiz news hollywood gossip rihanna lady gaga

American channel snaps up Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and wants US version

TLC starts screening the Channel 4 series - which pulled in nine million viewers - next month.

The US edition will feature some of the country's one million travellers and is expected to be bought by C4.

It will be made by Firecracker, the UK production company behind the C4 series, which got British gypsies to talk US relatives into taking part.

TLC called it a chance "to explore the often misunderstood traveller culture".

The UK series is also to be shown in Poland, Romania, Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia and Italy.

Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3530253/American-channel-snaps-up-Big-Fat-Gypsy-Weddings-and-wants-US-version.html

showbiz news hollywood gossip rihanna lady gaga celebrity news

Gordon Burns to leave BBC TV role

15 April 2011 Last updated at 11:35 ET

Gordon Burns is to stand down from BBC North West Tonight after nearly 15 years presenting the programme.

The 68-year-old presenter announced he is to leave in September when he will take up a new role hosting a Sunday morning BBC radio show.

Aziz Rashid, head of BBC North West, paid tribute to Burns describing him as a "unique talent" and a "broadcasting phenomenon".

No decision has yet been taken on appointing his successor.

Burns said: "It will be a great wrench to leave the programme I have been proud to present for nearly a decade and a half.

"I've enjoyed it enormously and I regard it as a real privilege to have been in the homes of people across the North West for so many years delivering the news to them."

Nationally, Burns is best known for The Krypton Factor which ran on ITV for 18 years.

'Unique talent'

Since he became the face of BBC North West Tonight in 1997, he has has interviewed seven British prime ministers and picked up the Royal Television Society award for Best UK Regional Presenter (NW) on five occasions.

Mr Rashid said he was a "unique talent".

"Gordon's contribution to the success of North West Tonight has been phenomenal. In fact he is a broadcasting phenomenon.

"He has navigated millions of viewers through the issues that matter across the region."

David Holdsworth, controller of BBC English Regions, said: "The word 'icon' can be over-used - but not in this case.

"Gordon Burns is synonymous with regional broadcasting and viewers in the North West have adopted him as one of their own. He will be a hard act to follow."

Burns is married with two grown-up children and two grandchildren. He has lived in Manchester for over 30 years.

He will continue to work with the BBC presenting a new show broadcast simultaneously on Radio Manchester and Radio Lancashire, on Sunday mornings from September.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-manchester-13098045

celebrity news celebrity gossip entertainment news showbiz news hollywood gossip