Afternoon all,
It's Wednesday. A pretty dreary one too. Grey. Grey. Grey. With a bit more grey thrown in.
But, are we downhearted...? Best not answer that one. Especially as a we've got one man asking us each in turn to get out of our seats - so he can do some drilling... which is nice. And then, over in the other corner, a team from building services are investigating a smell. Not just any smell, either. It's a stinker...
We've also had a technical problem or two... cup of tea anyone? Ooh, and a nice bit of music too perhaps - we're talking to 'Boyz II Men' on the programme this evening. They've shifted over 60 million records in their time - and now they're back on song with a collection of Motown classics. Just been listening to a couple of tracks. Mellow. Nice. Just what we need.
We've also had a technical problem or two... cup of tea anyone? Ooh, and a nice bit of music too perhaps - we're talking to 'Boyz II Men' on the programme this evening. They've shifted over 60 million records in their time - and now they're back on song with a collection of Motown classics. Just been listening to a couple of tracks. Mellow. Nice. Just what we need.
Oh the smell-hunters have gone... and taken the source of the smell with them. Don't ask.
Bit of breaking news - just about to sign this off and send it when it flashed on the newswire that police have charged a 41 year old man with the murder of Rachel Nickell. It's 15 years since she was stabbed to death on Wimbledon Common. You'll remember that the case against Colin Stagg was thrown out by the judge and her family have been waiting for justice ever since. Well, now Robert Napper has been accused. We'll have all the detail for you.
There's also the truly dreadful story of Laila Rezk - the mother battered to death in her own home by a teenager who followed her from the bus. Her son and daughter found her on the floor when they got in. They've been talking to Ronke Phillips about how they tried to save her life. It's a story that sends a chill down your spine - and your heart out to Laila's family.
There are a couple of very different stories about schools. In one of them, down in Crawley, a fourteen year old boy has allegedly been arrested after taking a gun into school. Yes, what you're thinking now is what we were all shouting at the programme meeting earlier. Anyway, on closer examination, it turned out to be a replica - but that's covered by the school rules too. Unsurprisingly, the staff haven't been falling over themselves to talk to us. Emma Walden has been talking to some parents this afternoon.
In the other, slightly more cheery story we've got a school in Fulham which has had a bit of a makeover. Well, the kids have. Recently returned to a regime of wearing blazers, the headteacher says it's a happier, better-behaved AND... more successful school. Coincidence? She thinks not.
And it's ITV People's Millions time... after you all voted last night, we'll be giving lots more lottery lolly away to either the Phoenix Garden in Hemel Hempstead or the Sensory Garden Annexe project in Streatham. Both wonderful projects but there can only be one winner and it's... yeah, like we'd tell you now. Even THEY don't know yet.
Join us at SIX - and we'll tell you and them.
Ben & Katie
PS Just looked out the window. It's black now! Oh dear - better watch London Tonight, we'll try to cheer you up!
