London

Producer jailed over sex DVDs

Producer Benjamin Wilkins

A BBC television producer who secretly filmed himself having sex with five different women has been jailed for eight months.

Inner London Crown Court heard Benjamin Wilkins was caught when his girlfriend found a stash of DVDs in his loft.

Judge Roger Chapple told Wilkins he had "betrayed" the trust of his victims.

The 37-year-old secretly taped a series of sexual liaisons with lovers, including TV and radio presenters, using a hidden camera in his bedroom. </p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Customers warned over NT hack

The National Theatre

More than 17,500 customers of London’s National Theatre have been advised to reset their online passwords after the organisation’s website was hacked.

A spokeswoman for the theatre said there had been a "security incident" which meant an "unauthorised user" accessed customers’ online accounts.

But financial details of customers were not compromised as that information is encrypted, the spokeswoman said.

The website, which was hacked on 20 February, has since been secured.

In an e-mail to customers, the National Theatre said: "We were notified over the weekend of a security incident that took place on Saturday 20 February which may have led to your National Theatre website account – e-mail, password, name and contact information only – being accessed by an unauthorised user.

"Your payment information is safely encrypted, so no financial or booking details have been viewed.

"The affected system has been secured, however we would ask you to change your password on the National Theatre site."

The 17,500 customers are 3% of the theatre’s registered members. </p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Tributes to ‘talented’ presenter

Kristian Digby

Tributes have been paid to BBC television presenter Kristian Digby who was found dead at his flat in east London on Monday morning.

The 32-year-old, who was also a film director, had worked on a number of property shows including BBC One’s To Buy or Not To Buy.

His sudden death has shocked friends, colleagues and fans who said he was "a much-loved presenter".

Police sources said his death was "unexplained" at this stage.

Raised in Devon

Mr Digby was pronounced dead at the scene after ambulance services were called to his flat in Richford Road, Newham, at about 0745 GMT on Monday.

His next of kin have been informed. His parents live in Torquay, Devon, where Mr Digby was raised.

The property expert, who was born into a family of property developers, worked on a number of other shows including Double Agents, Living In The Sun, House Swap and Buy It, Sell It, Bank It.

Dominic Littlewood, who was Mr Digby’s co-presenter on To Buy or Not to Buy, said: "There’s not a bad word I can say about Kristian.

"He appealed to the masses. He was well educated . He made gay acceptable to the middle class and that was a tough thing to do"

Julian Bennett, broadcaster

"He was a lovely fun, nice, jolly, decent person."

Mr Digby’s agent and friend Jo Wander said: "I am devastated by the loss.

"He was a lovely guy and a very talented presenter and director.

"I will miss him hugely and my thoughts at this time are with his family and his many friends. He will be sorely missed."

Mr Digby presented That Gay Show, in 2001, on former BBC digital channel BBC Choice and in 2006 he appeared in Simon Fanshawe’s The Trouble with Gay Men on BBC Three.

‘Energy and warmth’

"He did so much for the gay community," said Julian Bennett, fellow broadcaster and friend of Mr Digby.

"He appealed to the masses. He was well educated . He made gay acceptable to the middle class and that was a tough thing to do," he added.

"Being gay has never been a problem for him. He was a gentleman."

A spokesman for the BBC said: "Kristian was a much-loved and talented presenter for BBC Daytime.

"He brought a real sense of energy and warmth to all the shows he presented for us and will be sorely missed.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time."</p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

BBC presenter found dead in flat

Kristian Digby

BBC television presenter Kristian Digby has been found dead at his flat in east London, police have said.

The 32-year-old presenter was best known for the BBC One property programme To Buy or Not To buy.

Mr Digby, who co-presented the show, was pronounced dead at the scene when ambulance services arrived at his flat in Richford Road, Newham, earlier.

Police sources described the circumstances surrounding his death on Monday morning as "unexplained".

His body was found at about 0745 GMT on Monday. His next of kin have been informed.

‘Talented presenter’

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called to reports of a body of a man in his 30s found at an address in Richford Road, E15.

"Ambulance services attended and life was pronounced extinct."

The property expert, who was born into a family of property developers and worked in several property shows including Double Agents, Living In The Sun, House Swap and Buy It, Sell It, Bank It, was also a film director.

His short film Last Train to Demise won the Melbourne Film Festival Best Student Film in 1998 and Words of Deception won him a junior Bafta in 1997.

A spokesman for the BBC said: "Kristian was a much-loved and talented presenter for BBC Daytime.

"He brought a real sense of energy and warmth to all the shows he presented for us and will be sorely missed.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time." </p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Abbey Road studios ‘not for sale’

Abbey Road Studios

Music group EMI has said it is not considering selling London’s Abbey Road studios.

EMI released a statement saying the studios, made famous by a Beatles album, should stay under its ownership.

The firm added it had rejected a offer for the historic building last year and was working with "third parties" about funding a "revitalisation project".

It ends days of speculation after it was reported that struggling EMI would sell Abbey Road to ease debts.

The reports led to Facebook campaigns to try to save it, the National Trust said it would look into buying the property and even composer Andrew Lloyd Webber expressed an interest in owning the studio.

However, on Sunday EMI said that while it was looking for an investor in the site, based at 3 Abbey Road in St John’s Wood, it was not looking for a buyer.

‘Revitalise studios’

"In response to recent press speculation, EMI confirms that it is holding preliminary discussions for the revitalisation of Abbey Road with interested and appropriate third parties," the company said.

"Abbey Road studios had, for a number of years, been losing money and we have developed plans to revitalise the studios.

"These plans would involve a substantial injection of new capital."

The company said it also welcomed reports that English Heritage was accelerating plans to list the site, and said it had been holding discussions over the regeneration plans since November.

It added: "In mid-2009, we did receive an offer to buy Abbey Road for in excess of £30m but this was rejected since we believe that Abbey Road should remain in EMI’s ownership."

The Beatles used Abbey Road for 90% of their recordings, naming an album after the studios in 1969.

EMI bought the property for £100,000 in 1929, transforming it into the world-famous studios that have hosted artists as diverse as composer Sir Edward Elgar in 1931, to Pink Floyd and Blur.

EMI, which counts Robbie Williams and Coldplay among its artists, posted a £1.75bn loss for the year to March 2009 in accounts earlier this month.</p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

National Gallery strike planned

National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London

Staff at the National Gallery in central London have announced plans to strike next week in a row over pay.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union intend to walk out for two hours on 16 February to protest at their pay rates.

Union members said some of the workers’ pay fell 60p short of London’s so-called "living wage" of £7.60 an hour.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said staff were "sick and tired" of working long hours.

He said: "Staff who protect important artworks and assist the public are sick and tired of working 50 to 60 hour weeks and having to take second jobs to earn a living wage.

"The refusal by management to reopen pay talks and its imposition of the pay award, just days before Christmas, has left staff feeling angry and betrayed."

A National Gallery spokeswoman said: "The gallery will do all it can to keep disruption to the public to a minimum during the industrial action."

"However we are hopeful that the gallery will continue to open."

London Mayor Boris Johnson set the London Living Wage at £7.60 an hour in May 2009.

The scheme recommends the minimum wage employees should be paid in London.

It is nearly £2 higher than the national minimum wage which is set at £5.80 per hour for workers over 22 years old.</p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Man ‘harassed’ actress Knightley

Keira Knightley outside the Comedy Theatre

A man has been arrested and charged with harassment following a complaint by actress Keira Knightley.

Marek Daniluk, 41, a Polish national, of Godolphin Close, Enfield, was charged with harassment on Friday.

Knightley, 24, is currently appearing in The Misanthrope at the Comedy Theatre on Panton Street, London.

The Metropolitan Police said Mr Daniluk was due to appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 6 February. </p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Doherty filmmaker found dead

A member of the Goldsmith dynasty, who was making a documentary about singer Pete Doherty, has been found dead.

The body of a 27-year-old woman, named in reports as Robyn Whitehead, was discovered in a flat in Hackney, in east London, on Sunday night.

It is understood drugs paraphernalia was found at the flat, which was reported to have been rented by a friend of Doherty.

Ms Whitehead is the granddaughter of the late Teddy Goldsmith.

Mr Goldsmith was an environmentalist and writer who founded The Ecologist magazine.

Ms Whitehead, a photographer and filmmaker, is also and great niece of the late billionaire financier Sir James Goldsmith.

Her mother, Dido Whitehead, is a cousin of Jemima Khan and Zac Goldsmith, and her father is 1960s filmmaker Peter Whitehead.

Police were called to the flat by the London Ambulance Service at 0810 GMT.

Scotland Yard said the death was not being treated as suspicious.

"The woman was 27 and from the Northampton area. Next of kin have been informed," a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

"We are awaiting formal identification. A post-mortem will be carried out in due course." </p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Teacher turns down Johnny Depp

Saci Lloyd

A teacher from east London has turned down a proposal from Hollywood actor Johnny Depp – who wanted to turn her novel into a film.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star hoped Saci Lloyd, who teaches at Newham Sixth Form College, would let his company film her book The Carbon Diaries 2015.

But Ms Lloyd, 42, was against it being set in the US and opted for a UK film company. It will be shown on the BBC.

The book features a female heroine in a world stricken by climate change.

Ms Lloyd said: "Much as I love Johnny Depp and it was a wrench, it was a ‘maybe later, Jonny’.

"These books are really about London. It’s a heightened reality, but the idea is it’s close to things that could really happen."

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp’s production company Infinitum Nihil had been in negotiations to bring the book, which has a cult teenage following, to screen.

But she eventually chose Company Pictures, which has produced the Channel 4 youth series Skins.

Ms Lloyd’s media studies students are just glad to have a successful novelist as a teacher.

Samiruz Zaman said: "She helps us out a lot – and she is just a great teacher."</p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Police investigate Emin forgeries

Tracey Emin

A forgery ring specialising in works by artist Tracey Emin is being investigated by police.

Scotland Yard began an inquiry after concerns were raised about several paintings offered for sale.

Det Sgt Vernon Rapley said: "We have identified a number of fakes of her work and that is under investigation."

Two men, aged 21 and 23, were arrested in Manchester in November on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and money-laundering. They were given bail.

Emin, 46, is based in Spitalfields, east London.

Her 1998 work Unmade Bed – a replica of her bed complete with used condoms – was nominated for the Turner Prize.

Some paintings by the artist are worth tens of thousands of pounds.</p


This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.


Copyright © 2010 New Years Eve Manchester, Events Listings, Parties & Venues In Manchester 2009 / 2010. Our mission is to provide you with the most comprehensive New Years Eve listings for Manchester, if you are looking for bars, pubs, clubs or even somewhere to eat - we've got it all here, comprehensively, on one easy to use website - www.new-years-eve-manchester.co.uk, part of the Tonight In My City Network. Sitemap



Put A Donk On It