Lenny Henry Attacks Britain's 'White' TV

Lenny Henry is calling for a reversal in the "paucity" of ethnic minorities on British television and comedy programmes.

The comic first spoke about improving diversity in film and television in 2008 but described his frustration that so little has changed to an audience at a Bafta lecture on Monday night.

Just 5.4% of the broadcasting industry is made up of black, Asian, minority and ethnic (BAME) people, he said.

"The evolution of BAME on TV seems to lurch one step forward and two steps back."

Henry said he had been "very blessed" but was speaking on behalf of 2,000 people who have left the industry due to a lack of job opportunities.

He compared US and UK programmes and how well they represent BAME talent.

Henry met the Queen at Buckingham Palace last month

While there is a "paucity" of black talent in British "high-end drama and comedy" such as Miranda and Broadchurch, the US has invested and nurtured talent which is evident in shows such as Scandal, Grey's Anatomy and Elementary.

Actor David Harewood, who has starred in the hit show Homeland, has been vocal about how few jobs he is offered in the UK.

Using Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech as inspiration, Henry said he has a "screen dream" and wants to hold executives and commissioners to account over their decisions.

"I have a 'screen' where the actors of the future are cast not by the colour of their skin but by their talent alone," he said.

Henry is taking a proposal to ring-fence budgets for BAME productions to the BBC director general Tony Hall and Ofcom today.

He said executives must meet two out of three criteria that 50% of on-screen and production staff are from an ethnic minority and that 30% of the company is controlled by black people.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

MP Evans 'Groped Man In Pitch Black Room'

By Mike McCarthy, North Of England Correspondent

A man who says he was sexually assaulted by former deputy speaker Nigel Evans has told a court that parliamentary workers had no confidence in the system of reporting complaints against MPs.

The man, who is legally granted anonymity, has been giving evidence in the trial of the MP, who is accused of sexual or indecent assault and rape.

The Westminster worker accuses Evans of forcing himself upon him after a drinking session in the House of Commons Strangers Bar in 2011.

The alleged victim said that Evans had invited him to see a new kitchen on the corridor when he was pushed into the "pitch black" room.

He told the court: "He then very quickly came towards me putting his arms all over me and tried to kiss me.  He then took my hand and placed it on his crotch.

Evans, centre, denies all the charges

"He said something like: 'You are gorgeous'."

Later he told the jury: "Then I gathered my senses. I was aware of what was happening and kind of pushed him off."

The man said that the MP approached him a few days later to ask if he was all right. He told the court: "Because of how much I liked Nigel I decided to convince myself it was a one-off and on the night he got carried away. He went way over the line but it was a one-off."

He went on to say: "People in Parliament don't have confidence in reporting anything about MPs.

"Parliament as an institution and MPs are more concerned about how things appear than what actually happens."

The alleged victim is the sixth of seven to give evidence in the trial.

He told the court that he was openly gay and at the time of the alleged offence it was an open secret that Evans was gay.

The MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire denies all charges.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sainsbury's Sales Slide Is 'End Of An Era'

Supermarket chain Sainsbury's has reported like-for-like sales down 3.1%, ending 36 successive quarters of growth.

The result for sales, excluding fuel, were for the 10 weeks to March 15 - its fiscal fourth quarter.

That compared to a rise of 3.6% in the same period last year.

The result was worse than analysts had forecast.

Including recently opened stores, the firm's total fourth quarter sales fell 1% excluding fuel.

CEO Justin King told Sky News: "We've had 36 quarters, that's nine years, of consistent growth so obviously it is disappointing to be reporting sales down for this quarter."

The company said sales at its convenience stores were up 15% but online sales growth slowed to 6%.

It said this was because of a reduction in marketing while a new web portal was launched.

The firm said it expects a challenging 12 months ahead but expects to outperform its rivals in the ultra-competitive sector.

Sainsbury's is battling with Asda to be the second biggest firm in the sector, behind market leader Tesco.

Number four group Morrisons reported a loss last week and saw its share price drop 10%.

It said it would invest £1bn in slashing prices over the next three years to lure back customers, prompting further fears of an expanded price war.

Smaller discount chains such as Aldi and Lidl have attracted shoppers while upmarket Waitrose and Marks and Spencer have also taken a bite from the main retailers.

The sales slide for Sainsbury's comes as Mr King prepares to leave the firm in July.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

EuroMillions: Neil Trotter Wins £107.9m Prize

The winner of the £107.9m EuroMillions jackpot has been revealed as mechanic Neil Trotter.

The 41-year-old from Coulsden, Surrey, was so confident he had won a prize that he told staff at his father's office on Friday lunchtime that "this time tomorrow" he would be a multi-millionaire.

And thanks to a Lucky Dip ticket, his dream has come true.

He learned he had won the huge prize at around 10.30pm on Friday night.

 "I've always thought I'd win big and I'd had a good feeling all week," Mr Trotter said.

The car lover plans to update his motor

"On Friday evening we were sitting at home when I checked the time and thought the draw must have taken place by now.

"I took out my ticket to check the winning numbers and amazingly, one by one they matched.

"I told Nicky, my partner, 'I've done it, I've won the lottery'. But she told me to shut up and to stop being an idiot.

"Apparently I turned white as a sheet and couldn't sit still, I kept walking round the house - I didn't know what to do with myself.

"I got her to check the numbers with me and she started screaming. 

"Next we called my Dad but he said I was being an idiot too and that I should stop drinking, but I hadn't had a drop."

Mr Trotter appeared at a news conference with Nicky Ottaway, his partner of eight years, and said he had decided to go public about the win because he did not want to have to keep the news a secret from his friends.

The delighted couple share a kiss

He said: "I didn't want to disappear and hide. I don't think it would have been possible and I didn't want to be deceitful to my friends. It would have got out ... it was just too much money."

When asked if such a figure was too much money for one person to win, Mr Trotter said: "I don't think it's too much.

"That's what makes people play the Euro lottery. It's a real life-changing amount. Everyone dreams of what they could do in the world to change things or help people out - family and friends - and with that sort of money you can do a lot of good."

The mechanic, who runs his own repair garage in Mitcham called Chameleon Coachworks, and Ms Ottoway said they were giving up work.

Mr Trotter said: "I worked my last shift on Friday repairing and spraying other people's cars.

"I have a few phone calls to make to let people down but this is my time now."

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Childcare: £2,000 Boost For Working Parents

Working parents are to get up to £2,000 of tax-free childcare in a move to target families who are "running to stand still".

The scheme will be worth up to £2,000 per child per year when it launches in autumn next year - £800 more than the £1,200 originally proposed last year.

The Deputy Prime Minister told Sky News the move would target hard-working parents who were "going out to work just to pay the nursery fees" saying many felt they were just "running to stand still".

It was only expected to apply to children under the age of seven, but parents will now be entitled to the money until their son or daughter's 12th birthday.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg will unveil details of the childcare scheme

Nearly two million families could benefit from the scheme - twice as many as the present voucher scheme, which is only available where adopted by an employer.

However, it has been criticised for excluding couples where one parent does not work and for applying to richer households with incomes of up to £300,000. Those where one parent earns more than £150,000 will not be able to take advantage of the scheme.

Speaking to Sky News Nick Clegg denied the scheme was unfair and said families on Universal Credit would now have 85% of their childcare costs met.

Mr Clegg said: "If you have two children and you have to pay their childcare costs then it's (the scheme is) worth up to £4,000 to you."

David Cameron said the policy, which effectively covers 20% of childcare costs up to a maximum of £10,000 a year, would help "hard-pressed families" and "provide financial security for the future".

Asked by Sky News whether he would be taking advantage of the tax-free childcare scheme for his children he replied: "I won't be taking it up." His salary crosses the £150,000 limit.

Earlier this month, the Family and Childcare Trust said parents now spend more on part-time childcare than their mortgage repayments.

How it works

However, Labour's Lucy Powell, the shadow minister for children, said the proposals were "too little, too late".

"Mr Cameron has cut support for children and families by £15bn since he came to office," she said.

"This Government has done nothing in this Parliament to help parents experiencing a cost-of-living crisis."

As well as the childcare tax break, the Government is to give an extra £50m to nurseries looking after the most deprived three and four-year-olds.

Families claiming Universal Credit will also have 85% of their childcare costs met, up from 70%.

The announcement comes as the Chancellor prepares to unveil this year's Budget.

George Osborne, who will set out the Government's spending plans for 2014-15 next Wednesday, has warned of "difficult decisions" to come.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Claudia Lawrence: Dad's Grief On Anniversary

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

The father of missing York woman Claudia Lawrence says her five-year absence is "like a cancer" that "just gets worse and worse".

Peter Lawrence, speaking at a news conference to mark the fifth anniversary of his younger daughter's last known contact with anyone, appealed for people who know what happened to come forward.

The 67-year-old said he often wonders: "Where are you Claudia? Are you safe? Is someone holding you? Have you been hurt? Even, of course, are you alive?"

He added: "It's actually, I suppose, a bit like a cancer and it just gets worse and worse because there is no resolution until we know what happened to Claudia."

Ms Lawrence, 35, was reported missing after failing to turn up for her shift as a cook at the University of York on the morning of March 28, 2009.

North Yorkshire Police believe she was murdered, but a long-running investigation which focused on her relationships with men drew a blank and a new team of detectives launched a cold case review in October.

The terraced home where Claudia lived alone in the Heworth area of York has been re-examined by forensic experts, and her family and friends have been re-interviewed.

In the most personal and emotional of the many briefings Mr Lawrence has given since 2009, he made a direct appeal to whoever is responsible.

"Please, please, do realise what it is doing to us," he said. "It just eats into you like a hole and it is torture."

Mr Lawrence, a solicitor, praised the thoroughness of the new police team which is understood to have uncovered new leads.

Last week, Claudia's 70-year-old mother Joan told Sky News she believes the investigation, led by Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, will end the mystery.

"I think if they don't (solve the case), they will have tried their utmost," she said.

"They're working so hard on it. I don't think they'll give up easily."

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bank Of England In Deputy Governor Shake-Up

The Bank of England has named two new deputy governors as part of a major shake-up under boss Mark Carney.

They have been revealed as the bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member Ben Broadbent and International Monetary Fund (IMF) deputy managing director Nemat Shafik.

Dr Shafik will be the first female MPC member since 2010.

Mr Broadbent is to replace Charlie Bean as deputy governor responsible for monetary policy, from July 1 onwards.

From August 1, Ms Shafik will be in the role of deputy governor for markets and banking.

They have the roles under five-year terms and will also sit on the BoE's Financial Policy Committee (FPC).

The FPC regulates banks and the rate-setting MPC.

She will replace current MPC member Paul Fisher, who is the bank's executive director for markets.

Prior to taking the IMF role in 2011, Ms Shafik was the Government's permanent secretary at the Department for International Development (Dfid), from March 2008 to March 2011.

Dr Shafik - who has Egyptian, US and British nationality - was previously the youngest ever vice president at the World Bank.

She will be responsible for the BoE's exit from the £375bn quantitative easing policy.

In addition, Dr Shafik will review intelligence-gathering on markets.

The BoE has come under increasing scrutiny over allegations that some traders in the City have manipulated key foreign exchange rates.

Mr Broadbent previously worked as an economist at Goldman Sachs and becomes the first external MPC member given a deputy governor role at the bank.

He will be responsible for analysis of the UK economy and bank notes.

The BoE also confirmed Sky News City Editor Mark Kleinman's report that Anthony Habgood would become chairman of its court of directors, from July 1.

Mr  Habgood is chairman of brewer Whitbread and publishing company Reed Elsevier.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Max Clifford 'Claimed He Slept With Diana Ross'

By Tom Parmenter, News Correspondent, Southwark Crown Court

A former model has told a court that Max Clifford claimed he had slept with US singer Diana Ross.

The woman, who cannot be named, was giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court about a meeting she had with the celebrity publicist in the early 1980s.

She explained how she was an aspiring 17-year-old fashion model who came to London from the north of England and was told Clifford could help her career.

She said: "I was trying to follow my dream."

Inside his New Bond Street offices, the woman said Clifford showed her framed newspaper front pages and pictures of celebrities on the walls and then claimed "he had slept with Diana Ross".

Clifford clearly shook his head in the dock when the allegation about the American superstar was made.

The former model told the court: "For me, Diana Ross was a very beautiful, famous woman, I couldn't imagine why she would sleep with him."

The woman claimed Clifford then said: "I need to see your figure ... I need you to take your dress off."

She said she eventually did take her dress off despite reservations about the underwear she was wearing.

She alleged Clifford quickly became excited about the holes in her tights and she claimed he started saying: "Oh my God, what a turn on, what a turn on."

Clifford said he slept with Diana Ross, claimed an alleged victim in court

The woman said he groped her chest area and arms, adding: "At this point I'm feeling utterly stupid, totally in shock, I'm just not doing anything."

The publicist then performed a sex act while he took a telephone call from his wife, the ex-model added.

Unlike other earlier witnesses the former model said she remembered Max Clifford as "well endowed."

Her detailed descriptions of the sex acts led to several jury members collapsing in laughter in court prompting an adjournment.

After they had composed themselves the judge told them he understood their outburst but asked them to "settle down and remember where we are and what we are dealing with".

Following the alleged sex acts, she claimed Clifford insisted she should come to dinner with his wife and American film producer Cubby Broccoli.

Clifford allegedly told her that Broccoli could get her a role on a James Bond film if she performed sexual favours for him.

The woman told the court she "loathed" the Bond movies and had simply wanted to be a fashion model.

She added that she later ignored multiple phone calls from the publicist to go to the dinner and only reported her allegations to the police when she saw Clifford had been arrested in December 2012.

Clifford is accused of 11 counts of indecent assault against seven women and girls.

He denies all the charges and his trial continues.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Saturated Fats And Heart Disease: No Link Found

By Joe Tidy, Sky News Reporter

A massive international study of 600,000 people's diets has found saturated fats like butter may not be as unhealthy as first thought.

For decades, health advice has been to cut down on saturated fats - found in butter, biscuits, fatty cuts of meat, cheese and cream.

And instead people were urged to eat polyunsaturated fats - found in olive and sunflower oils and other non-animal fats.

However, research led by Cambridge University scientists, indicates there is no evidence to support current guidelines which restrict eating saturated fats to prevent heart disease.

The team collated results from 72 unique studies from 18 different countries and also found "insufficient support for guidelines which advocate the high consumption of polyunsaturated fats (such as omega 3 and omega 6) to reduce the risk of coronary disease".

The findings are at odds with decades-old advice on how to eat healthily to take care of our hearts.

Current NHS guidelines say a diet high in saturated fat can raise the level of cholesterol in the blood and increase the risk of heart disease.

For decades, health advice has been to cut down on saturated fats

Men are not recommended to eat more than 30g of saturated fats and women no more than 20g.

However, most of us eat 20% more than this, which is considered to be unhealthy.

Dr Rajiv Chowdhury, the lead author of the research, said: "These are interesting results that potentially stimulate new lines of scientific inquiry and encourage careful reappraisal of our current nutritional guidelines.

"In 2008, more than 17 million people died from a cardiovascular cause globally.

"With so many affected by this illness, it is critical to have appropriate prevention guidelines which are informed by the best available scientific evidence."

The British Heart Foundation, which commissioned the research, says the findings could mean it is time to look into this accepted wisdom.

The organisation is calling for more studies to clarify what is good and bad for our hearts.

But is stresses that the findings do not mean it is fine to eat lots of cheese, pies and cakes.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kevin Spacey To Perform Solo Show At Old Vic

Kevin Spacey is to take to the stage at the Old Vic in a one-man play.

The 54-year-old will star in Clarence Darrow to mark his 10th year as artistic director of the London theatre.

The House Of Cards actor, who steps down next year, will play the "larger than life" Darrow in a tale about a pioneering lawyer in 19th century America.

Double Oscar winner Spacey played the same character on stage in Inherit The Wind and 22 years ago in the television film Darrow.

Kristin Scott Thomas is also performing as part of the programme

The Old Vic will also show a "visceral re-imagining" of Arthur Miller's famous play The Crucible, directed by Yael Farber, and has signed up Kristin Scott Thomas to star in Electra, a production of the Greek tragedy by Sophocles directed by Ian Rickson.

Spacey, who has previously appeared in several Old Vic productions including Richard III and The Philadelphia Story, said that he was "thrilled to be returning to The Old Vic stage ... as I celebrate 10 years at the helm of this very special theatre".

The American Beauty star, who will be performing in the round for the first time at the London venue, added: "I know our audience will be excited by this programme and I can't wait to be back on stage myself."

Previews of Clarence Darrow begin on May 28, while The Crucible follows on June 24 and Electra on September 20.

23.17 | 0 komentar | Read More