Good afternoon.
The relationship between "man", in the generic sense of "humanity", and dogs is a rich source of great stories and always has been. With Lassie, at one end of the spectrum, the funny yet knowing Snoopy in the middle, and the touching literary heights of Greyfriars Bobby at the other, they are tales which bring a tingle to the spine and a glint to the eye. So our tragic lead story, tonight, is especially hard to tell: a man is dead and his Rottweiller did it. What is less clear is whether this was an attack by a representative of a breed not known for placid self-effacement or a tragedy following an effort by the dog to rescue it's master following a heart attack or some other cause of collapse. Glen has our report and we invite your reflections.
Why should the crisis in global capitalism, fuelled by the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market in America, have more people than is usual scurrying across Church roofs and striping them of lead? For the same reason that, as Northern Rock glides effortlessly towards the sidings of domestic banking, more and more trains are being delayed because someone has made off with the predominantly copper cabling. Still confused? Marcus and our special guest Jonathan Maitland will explain all.
No sensible explanation that we can think of will help you understand why yet another citizen has been slaughtered whilst asking some noisy kids to put a sock in it. Instead someone apparently put a knife in him. Tamsin has been talking to friends and family.
Gunzdown have been talking to, perhaps, some of the kids who do that sort of thing otherwise their mission is futile. Their ambition certainly isn't and the clue is in the groups names though they'll be just as pleased if you put Knivzdown, too. Ronke listens to their music and their message.
And here's a message for all of you who enjoyed High School Musical the TV show, the sound-track, the movie - now, at last, and in an entirely illogical order, we offer you High School Musical...The Musical!
Katie and her daughters assure me it makes perfect sense and is a perfect piece of entertainment. Jasmine gets down among the gifted youngsters to help you decide for yourselves; but, I must say, Katies little ones normally get this sort of thing right.
Which prompts me to remind you, Chrissie will have a weather forecast just before the London papers go crackers about the Securicor robbery in Kent and Jemima Khan protesting about a State visit. Only a guess.
It is Monday and I think this is a good start to the week. Hope you can stick with us for the whole week but do at least promise me you'll make a start with 30 minutes tonight at 6.
Alastair & Katie, a proud mother of talented kids with taste.
