It's very British to bang on about the weather all the time... and frankly, rather dull. However, I am British and I wouldn't want to disappoint so, here goes.
I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THE RAIN I WANT SUNSHINE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN UMBRELLA SURGICALLY ATTACHED WHAT HAPPENED TO SUMMER I LIKE BEING OUTSIDE I DON'T WANT TO WEAR WADERS TO WORK
There, that's better.
Shall we look at the programme now?
Actually two of our stories have an element of weather dependency today. We'll be live down at Somerset House as their 'Summer Screen' series gets under way - it's where they show films in tee open air. Rather brave this summer, don't you think? Anyway, we'll be chatting with a couple of people involved in the first film being shown. No, not the projectionist. Ever heard of Penelope Cruz? Lucy Cotter thinks she's "one of the most beautiful women in the world". I couldn't possibly comment. Anyway, I can tell you that she'll be there for a live chat, along with the director of the film. You get plenty of bangs for your showbiz buck on our show.
I'll come to another big name we're featuring in a moment, but let's just take care of that other story where weather plays a part. It all takes place in Trafalgar Square - between 5 and 6 o'clock this evening. I'm not going to encourage everyone to toddle off there now as you wouldn't back home in time to see the show. However, if you've got mates who're going to be in the area, then tell them to make their way over to the fourth plinth which will be holding up our reporter, Nick Wallis, as a shining example of 'man on plinth'. He applied for his slot along with thousands of others and came up trumps. He's even got his Mum going along. Should be fun. I wonder if she'll chuck a tomato at her little boy.
Now the other star I mentioned - lead singer of 'The Clash', otherwise known as Mick Jones. His Mum probably knows him as 'Michael'. Damien Steward - who's been chatting with him - says he's looking like a 'mid-period Humphrey Bogart'. Don't ask. I didn't, and Damien's gone back to his desk now. Anyway, Mr Jones is proof that rather well known adage - 'old rock stars don't die, they open little museums of their old memorabilia'. And you can see the proof of the programme.
I'm finding it rather difficult to concentrate at the moment as various members of the team are hovering round the desk - sticking great fistfuls of cake into their mouths. Toby - one of our freelance producers - is taking a bit of a break from his shifts with us, to go and get married. As a parting gift, the terribly decent chap has coughed for two fabulous cakes to chomp through. It would be un-gentlemanly of me to highlight who has been back for 'seconds'.
I've just seen the time - better run through the rest of the programme, very quickly.
We'll have the latest on the trains strike that's caused such a headache for people commuting in and out of Liverpool Station today. And will do tomorrow.
And we'll also be remembering a man who was born in London, married in Romford and worked in Dagenham. Henry Allingham had a fairly inauspicious life by and large but like too many of his generation he had to fight in the trenches in the 1st World War. He died last week - one of the last two Britons who could say "I was there. I knew what it was like". Sadly, the other wartime hero, Harry Patch died a matter of days later.
Well, Henry's funeral was held today, marking the end of a most extraordinary man.
See you at six.
Ben & Lucy
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