In one of the most dramatic moments in the House of Commons in living memory, David Cameron said that he is 'profoundly sorry' for the 'double injustice' of the Hillsborough disaster. Speaking after the publication of an independent report into previously unseen documents about the tragedy, the prime minister said police had failed to do enough and had also deliberately tried to blame Liverpool fans for their own shortcomings. Ninety-six fans died after a crush at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in 1989. Odious scum Kelvin MacKenzie, the Sun editor when the paper ran a story three days after the tragedy blaming the fans, offered 'profuse apologies' for his notorious headline, The Truth. Albeit, twenty three years too late and having had plenty of opportunity to do so in the mean time and never previously taken it, it should be noted.
The report comes after twenty three years of campaigning from Liverpool fans and relatives of the victims to find out exactly what happened on the day of the disaster, which saw the biggest loss of life at any British sporting event. Liverpool FC chairman Tom Werner said: 'The world has heard the real truth about what happened at Hillsborough.' The Hillsborough Justice Campaign has welcomed the prime minister's - seemingly heart-felt - apology. Trevor Hicks, who chairs the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: 'We feel a breakthrough has been made. The truth is out today and the justice starts tomorrow.' But he rejected MacKenzie's apology as 'too little, too late.' MacKenzie wrote the headline The Truth on the controversial front page report, published in the days following the disaster, which voiced allegations that fans had picked the pockets of victims, urinated on police and fought with officers trying to save lives. The Sun's - anonymous - 'source' for their expose, is revealed to have came from a Sheffield news agency and Irvine Patnick the then MP for Sheffield Hallam, who were 'fed disinformation' by South Yorkshire police.
MacKenzie said in a statement that he had been 'misled' and added: 'I published in good faith and I am sorry that it was so wrong.' What's now almost forgotten is that several other newspapers also carried a version of the story - albeit, marginally less aggressively finger-pointing than the Sun. The Daily Scum Express, for instance, Police Accuse Drunken Fans, gave the odious Patnick's views coverage. In that, Patnick is said to have claimed the he had told the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whilst escorting her on a tour of the grounds after the tragedy, of the 'mayhem' had been 'caused by drunks' and that policemen had told him that they were 'hampered, harassed, punched and kicked.' Which, it would seem, they were not.
Following the disclosure of Patnick's role in creating what David Cameron called an 'unjust and untrue narrative that sought to blame the fans' Labour MP John Mann had written to Cameron asking that Patnick be stripped of his knighthood for his 'shameful and disgusting' behaviour. The report was compiled by the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which has been scrutinising more than four hundred and fifty thousand ages of documents for the past eighteen months. Eight years after the disaster it was revealed publicly for the first time that statements made by South Yorkshire Police officers were initially handwritten as 'recollections', then subjected to a process of 'review and alteration' which, seemingly, involving South Yorkshire Police solicitors and a team of officers. The report found that of one hundred and sixty four police statements identified for 'substantive amendment', one hundred and sixteen were 'amended to remove or alter comments unfavourable to South Yorkshire Police.' When Cameron revealed that statistic in the Commons there were, quite literal, gasps from the members present. In its summary the panel said:
'It is evident from analysis of the various investigations that from the outset South Yorkshire Police sought to deflect responsibility for the disaster on to Liverpool fans. There is no evidence to support this view.' The documents also reveal the 'extent to which substantive amendments were made' to statements by South Yorkshire Police to remove or alter 'unfavourable' comments about the policing of the match and the unfolding disaster. They went on to say that the wrongful allegations about the fans' behaviour later printed in some newspapers, particularly the Sun, originated from 'a Sheffield press agency, senior South Yorkshire Police officers, an South Yorkshire Police Federation spokesperson and a local MP.' White's, the Sheffield news agency in question, said in a statement: 'Several reporters from this agency had some involvement in covering the Hillsborough tragedy and the aftermath. In common with many other journalists, reporters from this agency spoke to the then Sheffield Hallam MP Irvine Patnick. A senior reporter, who has since died, and with long-standing police connections, also spoke to senior officers. As result, as a responsible and reputable agency, we did report the allegations to all the national newspapers and media outlets. The agency had no control over how the allegations were presented and were shocked by the way the story was presented by the Sun. Other newspapers reported the allegations in a different way. We welcome the publication of all documents relating to the Hillsborough tragedy and hope it brings some measure of closure for those affected.'
The panel said the Police Federation, 'supported informally by the South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable,' sought to develop and publicise a version of events derived in police officers' allegations of drunkenness, and violence among ticketless fans. 'The vast majority of fans on the pitch assisted in rescuing and evaluating the injured and the dead,' the panel said. One police officer said that he only accepted the changes to his own statement because he was suffering from post-traumatic stress and that he considered it 'an injustice' for statements to have been 'doctored' to suit the management of South Yorkshire Police, the report found. The panel added that their report raises 'profound concerns about the conduct and appropriateness of the inquests.'
The documents go on to reveal the original pathologists' evidence of a single, unvarying pattern of death was 'unsustainable.' Many of the victims families have always disputed the 'accidental death' verdict which followed the inquest. The Coroner took blood alcohol levels from all of the deceased, including children. The Panel found no rationale whatsoever for what it regarded as an 'exceptional' decision. The report stated clearly that the attempt of the inquest to draw a link between blood alcohol and late arrival of supporters into the ground was 'fundamentally flawed.' And, that alcohol consumption was 'unremarkable and not exceptional for a social or leisure occasion.' Cameron told the Commons that the panel found the safety of the crowds at Hillsborough had been 'compromised at every level' and a swifter response from emergency services could have saved lives. He said there were three main areas highlighted in the report - failures by the authorities in protecting those at the ground, a subsequent attempt to blame the fans and doubt cast on the original coroner's inquest.
Cameron said the independent panel's review found new evidence about how the authorities failed, including documents which show a delay from the emergency services when people were being crushed, shortcomings in the response by the ambulance service and other emergency services in addition to numerous failings by police, rescue attempts were held back by failures of leadership and co-ordination, victims' families were correct in their belief that some of the authorities attempted to create a 'completely unjust' account of events that sought to blame the fans, 'despicable untruths' about the behaviour of fans were part of police efforts 'to develop and publicise a version of events that focused on allegations of drunkenness, ticketlessness and violence', police officers carried out police national computer checks on those who had died in an attempt 'to impugn the reputations of the deceased.' There was, however, no evidence of any government - then, or since, trying to conceal the truth.
Cameron added 'deficiencies' at the ground were 'well-known' and it failed to meet minimum safety standards. He apologised for the 'double injustice,' which was both in the 'failure of the state to protect their loved ones and the indefensible wait to get to the truth,' and in the efforts to denigrate the deceased and suggest that they were 'somehow at fault for their own deaths.' He said details of the report were 'deeply distressing' and said it showed the Liverpool fans 'were not the cause of the disaster.' Relatives of the Liverpool supporters who died at Hillsborough were handed the report at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Wednesday morning. It showed police and emergency services made 'strenuous attempts' to deflect the blame for the disaster on to innocent supporters. The panel said it found evidence the police's submissions to the original inquiry led by Lord Chief Justice Taylor 'emphasised exceptional, aggressive and un-anticipated crowd behaviour.' It said the first inquiry also emphasised 'large numbers of ticketless, drunk and obstinate fans involved in concerted action, even "conspiracy", to enter the stadium.' Cameron said the Attorney General Dominic Grieve would review the report as quickly as possible in order to decide whether to apply to the High Court to order a new inquest on the victims.
The families have always challenged the original inquest which concluded that all the victims were dead or brain dead fifteen minutes after the game had kicked-off at 15:00. By analysing post mortem test results, the panel found that twenty eight of the ninety six victims had 'no obstruction of blood circulation' and there was 'separate evidence that, in thirty one, the heart and lungs had continued to function after the crush.' Dr Bill Kirkup, panel member and associate chief medical officer in the Department of Health said that, if the emergency response had been swifter, almost half the victims could have had 'some chance' of survival. 'In total, forty one people therefore had potential to survive after the period of 3:15. What I can't say is how many of those could have been saved. But I can say is that the potential is of that order of magnitude.' Liverpool Walton Labour MP Steve Rotheram said: "'inally, we have the undeniable truth. The truth that many innocent people could and should have been saved. A truth that unequivocally confirms that Liverpool fans were not the cause of the disaster and that drink was not a significant factor.' He added: 'It is not about retribution it is about responsibility. Today we have made history but now we must change history.' Sheffield Wednesday FC issued an apology on Wednesday morning to all the families whose relatives were involved. The club said on its website: 'Throughout the compilation stage, the club has worked closely with the panel and the other donating organisations to ensure that, in line with the ethos of maximum disclosure, we have been totally transparent. The club would like to offer our sincere condolences and an apology to all the families who have suffered as a consequence of the tragic events of 15 April 1989.'
A number of the victims' families have been campaigning for the Hillsborough documents to be released for more than twenty years. Cabinet papers are not usually published in the UK until thirty years after they have been written but MPs agreed to their full, uncensored disclosure last year. Approval came after one hundred and forty thousand people signed a government e-petition, set up by Brian Irvine, to trigger a House of Commons debate on the issue. The panel, chaired by Bishop of Liverpool the Right Reverend James Jones, has now analysed more than four hundred and fifty thousand pages of documents relating to the disaster from more than eighty organisations. Ninety-five fans were crushed to death and hundreds more injured on the overcrowded terraces of the Hillsborough stadium, which was hosting an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The ninety sixth victim, Tony Bland, was left in a coma after the disaster and died in 1993. An independent inquiry led by Lord Chief Justice Taylor found the main cause of the disaster was 'a failure in crowd control' by South Yorkshire Police.
The apology from Cameron was welcomed by Sheila Coleman of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign. She said: 'With the clear evidence that fans could have been saved - and the evidence is there - he needs to give all of those ninety six victims their right under law, the right to a fair hearing. It needs a full inquiry into how they died. Where I am disappointed is there was no mention of Margaret Thatcher, Bernard Ingham or Colin Moynihan or the government's role in the cover-up. The Thatcher government is getting away scot-free. It was truly shocking to hear people could have been saved,' she added, calling for the inquest verdicts to be overturned. 'There are so many shocking aspects. But the fans were totally vindicated.' It was also revealed in the Cabinet papers release that Margaret Thatcher 'expressed concern' in Cabinet that the first inquiry into the disaster contained 'devastating criticism of the police.'
Cameron noted that the then Prime Minister was briefed by her private Secretary - Ingham - about the 'defensive and close to deceitful' behaviour of senior South Yorkshire officers – which was 'depressingly familiar.' The Government thought then chief constable Peter Wright should resign. But Cameron went on to acknowledge that that successive governments had failed the victims and their families. Speaking after the disclosure of the documents, the bishop said: 'We are not an inquiry. People have not appeared before us, people have not been questioned, people have not had legal representation. Our job has simply been to oversee the maximum possible disclosure of all the documents and to write a report which adds to public understanding and therefore our terms of reference don't actually allow us to make any recommendation. The documents speak for themselves.'
Toby Whithouse has suggested that The Doctor is 'more dangerous' than usual in new episode A Town Called Mercy. Whithouse offered a preview of Saturday's episode to SFX, suggesting that A Town Called Mercy shows a different side of the Time Lord.
'To write him as a slightly more kind of volatile and unpredictable character was really refreshing and exciting,' Whithouse explained. He also revealed that one scene from the Western-themed instalment sees The Doctor brandish a gun, a marked change from his usual distaste for violence. Whithouse said: 'The sequence where the Doctor is kind of forced to use a gun, giving the right sort of emotional journey to that took a lot of finessing, and that was the scene that, from draft to draft, would change the most regularly because the Doctor is a confirmed pacifist and so putting him in that situation is a wonderful opportunity in that it forces you to confront it, and provides you with enormous tension and drama which, as a writer, is what you want.'
The BBC's Radiophonic Workshop, which created theme tunes and sound effects for programmes including Doctor Who and Blake's 7, is to reopen after fourteen years. Composer Matthew Herbert, known for his use of 'found sounds', has been appointed creative director. One of his first commissions is a 'sonic memorial' to the BBC's Bush House building which, until recently, was the home of the World Service. The original workshop was known for its pioneering use of electronic sounds. Founded in 1958, it was best-known for creating the eerie swoosh of the Doctor Who theme tune, but its compositions were also used in numerous radio dramas, The Goon Show and The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. As well as music, the workshop created sound effects - from champagne corks popping to the distorted, strangulated voices of The Daleks. While the first workshop was based in the BBC's Maida Vale studios, the new incarnation will live online, at The Space, a new digital arts service developed by the Arts Council and the BBC. Herbert will lead 'seven fellow cutting-edge collaborators' in making new sounds and music.
The composer is known for his experimental sound collages, which often have socio-political themes. On last year's One Pig film and CD, he recorded the life of a pig from birth to its slaughter at twenty weeks, and its subsequent serving as a meal. In a live performance at 2004's London Jazz Festival, he drove a tank over a replica of a meal Nigella Lawson had cooked for Tony Blair and George Bush. High concept. More conventionally, he has worked on records at the innovative edge of pop, including Bjork's Vespertine CD. His first work for The New Radiophonic Workshop takes audio from twenty five previous projects featured on the website - from theatre performances to poetry readings - creating a 'curious murmur of activity. It is the perfect time for the rebirth of the workshop,' he said. 'The rapid pace of change in technologies has meant our imaginations are struggling to keep up. By bringing together the people making the technology with people making the music, we are hoping to find engaging answers to some of the modern problems associated with the role of sound and music on the Internet, in certain creative forms and within broadcasting.' The other artists joining Herbert in the New Radiophonic Workshop are Mica Levi, from the band Micachu and The Shapes, Yann Seznec, Max de Wardener, theatre director Lyndsey Turner, Patrick Bergel and broadcast technologist Tony Churnside.
The future of BBC comedy Outnumbered is yet to be decided. Tyger Drew-Honey previously suggested that the show's fifth series would be its last. However, a representative for the show has stated: 'Hat Trick are filming an Outnumbered Christmas special in November and series five later next year,' adding that 'no decision' has been made on the show's future beyond that. It was announced in June that the popular BBC family comedy would return for a Christmas special and a new series in 2013. Drew-Honey originally told the Digital Spy website: 'This series is the last series. Never say never, but the directors and writers have said that they don't want to do another. Some [shows] do go on too long and some of them are just making [more] series for the sake of it.' The actor who plays Jake added that the gap between Outnumbered's fourth series in 2011 and the show's final 2013 run will allow 'more scope for storylines. Outnumbered hasn't been on in ages now and series five isn't going to be out till next May,' he explained. 'They've purposely made a point of holding it off - with the ages that Dan [Roche, who plays Ben] and Ramona [Marquez, who plays Karen] are now, they can take advantage of the fact that from the last time they were seen on TV to now, they've changed so much. If it was just six months later, it's all the same kinds of storylines. In series one, I was considered "the old one," getting my first girlfriend, now Ben might be having a girlfriend. So they wanted to allow it enough time, so they'd have more scope for storylines.'
An ex-security guard for News International has been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in connection with the Met Police's phone-hacking investigation. Lee Sandell will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday. He was the sixth defendant to be charged over events in July last year, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Ex-News International boss and well-known Crystal Tipps lookalike Rebekah Brooks and her husband, millionaire Old Etonian Charlie have also been charged. Sandell, twenty six, from Caterham, Surrey, was arrested in July last year. He was charged at Sutton police station on Wednesday. 
In a statement Alison Levitt QC, from the CPS, said it had reviewed the file from the Met Police about Sandell, received on 9 August, and decided there was 'a realistic prospect of conviction.' The six people charged are accused of conspiring together between 15 and 19 July 2011, to pervert the course of justice, namely to conceal documents, computers and other electronic devices from police officers investigating allegations of phone-hacking, corruption of public officials and other nefarious skulduggery in relation to the Scum of the World and the Sun newspapers. Publisher News International closed the disgraced and disgraceful Scum of the World after the hacking revelations emerged.
BAFTA winner Rolf Harris will make a return to TV presenting on Channel Five, it has been revealed. The legendary broadcaster has been given access to The University of Liverpool's Vet School to host Rolf's Animal Clinic. Harris famously hosted hit BBC1 series Animal Hospital during the '90s.
His new Channel Five series will 'follow teams of highly-skilled professionals and students whose daily work involves dealing with medical emergencies and treating the injuries and ailments of a wide variety of animals - from domestic pets and farm livestock to exotic zoo creatures.' Speaking about his TV return, Harris said: 'The welfare of animals is something that has always been close to my heart and it's wonderful to be presenting this series which covers the fascinating and skilled work of the vets dealing with such an amazing range of animals.' Commissioning editor Ian Dunkley added: 'The series gets to the emotional heart of what it is to be a vet - from the drama of life-saving equine surgery, to how best to deal with an overweight pet. Having Rolf as the presenter is a fantastic addition to the series.'
NBC has defended its decision to interview a vacuous waste-of-space reality TV person instead of observing a minute's silence marking the eleventh anniversary of 9/11. While other networks aired live silent footage of memorial events, NBC's Today show broadcast a segment with Kris Jenner from Keeping Up With The Kardashians. An NBC spokeswoman said Tuesday's show had 'dedicated a considerable amount of time to 11 September coverage.' The network is already under fire for its crass and disgraceful coverage of the Olympic and Parlympic Games. In keeping with recent tradition, ABC, CBS and FOX paused their morning programming at 08:46 EST on Tuesday to mark the minute, eleven years ago, when the first of two hijacked aeroplanes struck New York's World Trade Center.
NBC, in contrast, showed presenter Savannah Guthrie witlessly quizzing Jenner about her breast implant replacement surgery, though the network did show footage from the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan in some US regions. Viewers took to social media to express their displeasure over what one Twitter user described as 'a major fail.' 'So much for "Never Forget,"' wrote Village Voice blogger James King, while the Denver Post's Joanne Ostrow decried what it called 'a wrong-headed decision.' NBC recently faced criticism for omitting a tribute to victims of the 2005 London bombings from its coverage of the Olympic Opening Ceremony and for pausing the Closing Ceremony to broadcast a sitcom. It also drew censure for not showing any live action from the Paralympics, despite holding exclusive rights in the US. The International Paralympic Committee said it would 'scrutinise' future broadcast partners more carefully as a result. 'Are we proposing to talk to NBC? Well, let's hope NBC are proposing to speak to us,' said IPC president Sir Philip Craven. 'Everyone has seen what has gone on here and we're waiting for them to knock on the door.'
Ofcom has awarded the first licences to run local TV services to bidders in Brighton and Grimsby. Latest TV - based in Sussex - and Lincolnshire Living for Grimsby will be broadcast on Freeview and have been awarded twelve-year licences. In total, Ofcom received fifty seven bids to run the new US-style local TV stations across the UK. It said further licences would be awarded in the coming months and hoped the channels would be on air next year. The media regulator initially invited operators to submit their applications covering twenty one areas in May, however as no bidders came forward in Swansea or Plymouth, only nineteen licences will be awarded. They will be based on a set of criteria including the provision of local news and current affairs, programme proposals, launch date and commercial viability. Brighton and Grimsby were the first to be announced as both areas only attracted one bid and there were no competing bids to consider. Lincolnshire Living is an extension of the Grimsby-based Channel Seven local TV service which has been broadcasting on Virgin Media for the past fifteen years as Seven. Executive producer Lia Nici told the BBC the channel was 'over the moon' to be awarded the licence. 'We're one successful model of local TV in the UK so now we can continue to extend our service and be available to a wider audience,' she said. 'We intend to make sure programming is either locally relevant or locally produced.' Latest TV has run as an online-only service for the past two years and recent episodes of its Brighton Lights programme have featured interviews with former Spice Girl Mel C and Brighton local, Norman Cook. 'At last Brighton and Hove will have its own television station with its own studios in the heart of the city,' director Bill Smith said in a statement. 'We look forward to delivering the latest news and sport, top class entertainment, documentaries, education, comedy, music and everything that the people of Brighton and Hove expect from a quality TV station.'
England manager Roy Hodgson claims that he is more confident his side will reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after the 1-1 home draw with Ukraine. Frank Lampard's late penalty salvaged a point for an understrength England to leave them second in Group H. Despite a lacklustre display, Hodgson said: 'I was very pleased with many of the aspects of the play tonight. I leave Wembley a lot more confident that we have a group of players who will take this England team to Rio.' England were without a number of regulars, including forwards Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott and the defensive duo of John Terry and Ashley Cole. Hodgson was forced to call up midfield trio Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana and Jake Livermore - none of whom have represented their country at senior level before - and selected inexperienced duo Tom Cleverley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to face Ukraine. 'At the end of the day, we have had two youngsters starting the game. They have come off and we have replaced them with three other youngsters,' continued the England boss.
'We have a whole team off the field, who, under normal circumstances, would have been competing for places.' After starting their World Cup qualifying campaign with a convincing 5-0 win in Moldova last Friday, there were high hopes that England would continue with a victory over Ukraine, the team many believe will provide the main competition in the group. However, Hodgson's side lacked the fluency they demonstrated in Chisinau and looked to be staring at defeat following Yevgeni Konoplianka's superb twenty five-yard opening goal in the first half. They had a Jermain Defoe goal ruled out for a rather soft foul, but Lampard rescued a point when he converted from the spot after Yevgeni Khacheridi handled in the area. As England pushed for a winner, Steven Gerrard was sent off for a second bookable offence. 'I'll concede that the first ten, maybe even the first fifteen minutes, we weren't at our best. We started slowly,' said Hodgson. 'But the next seventy five minutes, we dominated the game totally. I thought we controlled the game, we kept playing, we kept probing, we kept trying to play our football. We created chances throughout the game, we had a goal disallowed, we hit the post three times and in the end we got an equaliser. You could have argued we might have had more because of some of the chances we missed were good chances. I suppose it is two points dropped because you want to win your home games. But the fact is we played against a good Ukraine team. They had the benefit of a super goal that put them on the front foot which meant our task became harder.' Hodgson was also critical of referee Cuneyt Cakir, who awarded six yellow cards to England players, two of which resulted in Gerrard's dismissal. 'We didn't have a lot of help out there tonight,' said Hodgson. 'We had five bookings and a sending off, which is enormous, considering the way we played. I hardly saw a foul in the game.' England's next World Cup qualifier in Group H is on 12 October, when they host San Marino, beaten 6-0 at home by Montenegro on Tuesday. Four days later, England travel to Poland, who beat Moldova 2-0 on Tuesday after drawing 1-1 with Montenegro last Friday. In other resutls, Wales manager Chris Coleman said he was 'embarrassed' by his side's 'criminal' display in the 6-1 defeat by Serbia. The 2014 World Cup qualifying setback in Novi Sad was Wales' worst defeat since their 7-1 hiding by the Netherlands in 1996. Scotland's chances of qualifying hang by a thread after just two matches following a second home draw in four days. Macedonia's early goal by Nikolce Noveski should have been chalked off for offside, but they were good value for the lead. Kenny Miller levelled before the break for the Jocks having been set up by Jamie Mackie. And, funniest of all, Ryan McGivern's late own goal gave Luxembourg an unlikely World Cup draw with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.
Human remains have been found by archaeologists searching for the lost grave of Richard III. The king died at the battle of Bosworth in 1485 and was recorded as being buried in a Leicester church, which was later demolished. Last week a team from the University of Leicester located traces of the building under a council car park. Now it has been confirmed work in the church's choir - where Richard was buried - has found human bones.
As the defeated foe, Richard was given a low-key burial in the Franciscan friary of Greyfriars. This was demolished in the 1530s but documents describing the burial site have survived. Richard III (1483-1485) was the last Yorkist king of England, whose death at the age of thirty two in Bosworth effectively ended the Wars of the Roses. The excavation, which began on 25 August, has uncovered the remains of the cloisters and chapter house, as well as the church. Work focused on the choir area, in the centre of the church, where it was indicated Richard was interred. A spokesman for the university confirmed human remains had been found and more details will be given at a press conference on Wednesday. Philippa Langley, from the Richard III Society, said: 'We came with a dream and if the dream becomes reality it will be nothing short of miraculous.' Any bones which are thought to be those of the king will have their DNA tested against descendants of Richard's family. Like, you know, the Queen, for instance.
And, then there's yer actual Keith Telly Topping's 45 of the Day, dear blog reader. Here's good old Mad-As-Toast Uncle Roy Wood and his many Wizzards - check out, for instance, the great Rick Price, the roller-skating angel on bass. Along with The Suedettes and a couple of blokes in gorilla suits for no obvious reason, live on Top of the Pops on Christmas Day, 1973. Glam, slam. Pity it's got Noel Edmonds on it, however.
The report comes after twenty three years of campaigning from Liverpool fans and relatives of the victims to find out exactly what happened on the day of the disaster, which saw the biggest loss of life at any British sporting event. Liverpool FC chairman Tom Werner said: 'The world has heard the real truth about what happened at Hillsborough.' The Hillsborough Justice Campaign has welcomed the prime minister's - seemingly heart-felt - apology. Trevor Hicks, who chairs the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: 'We feel a breakthrough has been made. The truth is out today and the justice starts tomorrow.' But he rejected MacKenzie's apology as 'too little, too late.' MacKenzie wrote the headline The Truth on the controversial front page report, published in the days following the disaster, which voiced allegations that fans had picked the pockets of victims, urinated on police and fought with officers trying to save lives. The Sun's - anonymous - 'source' for their expose, is revealed to have came from a Sheffield news agency and Irvine Patnick the then MP for Sheffield Hallam, who were 'fed disinformation' by South Yorkshire police.
MacKenzie said in a statement that he had been 'misled' and added: 'I published in good faith and I am sorry that it was so wrong.' What's now almost forgotten is that several other newspapers also carried a version of the story - albeit, marginally less aggressively finger-pointing than the Sun. The Daily Scum Express, for instance, Police Accuse Drunken Fans, gave the odious Patnick's views coverage. In that, Patnick is said to have claimed the he had told the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whilst escorting her on a tour of the grounds after the tragedy, of the 'mayhem' had been 'caused by drunks' and that policemen had told him that they were 'hampered, harassed, punched and kicked.' Which, it would seem, they were not.Following the disclosure of Patnick's role in creating what David Cameron called an 'unjust and untrue narrative that sought to blame the fans' Labour MP John Mann had written to Cameron asking that Patnick be stripped of his knighthood for his 'shameful and disgusting' behaviour. The report was compiled by the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which has been scrutinising more than four hundred and fifty thousand ages of documents for the past eighteen months. Eight years after the disaster it was revealed publicly for the first time that statements made by South Yorkshire Police officers were initially handwritten as 'recollections', then subjected to a process of 'review and alteration' which, seemingly, involving South Yorkshire Police solicitors and a team of officers. The report found that of one hundred and sixty four police statements identified for 'substantive amendment', one hundred and sixteen were 'amended to remove or alter comments unfavourable to South Yorkshire Police.' When Cameron revealed that statistic in the Commons there were, quite literal, gasps from the members present. In its summary the panel said:
'It is evident from analysis of the various investigations that from the outset South Yorkshire Police sought to deflect responsibility for the disaster on to Liverpool fans. There is no evidence to support this view.' The documents also reveal the 'extent to which substantive amendments were made' to statements by South Yorkshire Police to remove or alter 'unfavourable' comments about the policing of the match and the unfolding disaster. They went on to say that the wrongful allegations about the fans' behaviour later printed in some newspapers, particularly the Sun, originated from 'a Sheffield press agency, senior South Yorkshire Police officers, an South Yorkshire Police Federation spokesperson and a local MP.' White's, the Sheffield news agency in question, said in a statement: 'Several reporters from this agency had some involvement in covering the Hillsborough tragedy and the aftermath. In common with many other journalists, reporters from this agency spoke to the then Sheffield Hallam MP Irvine Patnick. A senior reporter, who has since died, and with long-standing police connections, also spoke to senior officers. As result, as a responsible and reputable agency, we did report the allegations to all the national newspapers and media outlets. The agency had no control over how the allegations were presented and were shocked by the way the story was presented by the Sun. Other newspapers reported the allegations in a different way. We welcome the publication of all documents relating to the Hillsborough tragedy and hope it brings some measure of closure for those affected.'The panel said the Police Federation, 'supported informally by the South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable,' sought to develop and publicise a version of events derived in police officers' allegations of drunkenness, and violence among ticketless fans. 'The vast majority of fans on the pitch assisted in rescuing and evaluating the injured and the dead,' the panel said. One police officer said that he only accepted the changes to his own statement because he was suffering from post-traumatic stress and that he considered it 'an injustice' for statements to have been 'doctored' to suit the management of South Yorkshire Police, the report found. The panel added that their report raises 'profound concerns about the conduct and appropriateness of the inquests.'
The documents go on to reveal the original pathologists' evidence of a single, unvarying pattern of death was 'unsustainable.' Many of the victims families have always disputed the 'accidental death' verdict which followed the inquest. The Coroner took blood alcohol levels from all of the deceased, including children. The Panel found no rationale whatsoever for what it regarded as an 'exceptional' decision. The report stated clearly that the attempt of the inquest to draw a link between blood alcohol and late arrival of supporters into the ground was 'fundamentally flawed.' And, that alcohol consumption was 'unremarkable and not exceptional for a social or leisure occasion.' Cameron told the Commons that the panel found the safety of the crowds at Hillsborough had been 'compromised at every level' and a swifter response from emergency services could have saved lives. He said there were three main areas highlighted in the report - failures by the authorities in protecting those at the ground, a subsequent attempt to blame the fans and doubt cast on the original coroner's inquest.Cameron said the independent panel's review found new evidence about how the authorities failed, including documents which show a delay from the emergency services when people were being crushed, shortcomings in the response by the ambulance service and other emergency services in addition to numerous failings by police, rescue attempts were held back by failures of leadership and co-ordination, victims' families were correct in their belief that some of the authorities attempted to create a 'completely unjust' account of events that sought to blame the fans, 'despicable untruths' about the behaviour of fans were part of police efforts 'to develop and publicise a version of events that focused on allegations of drunkenness, ticketlessness and violence', police officers carried out police national computer checks on those who had died in an attempt 'to impugn the reputations of the deceased.' There was, however, no evidence of any government - then, or since, trying to conceal the truth.
Cameron added 'deficiencies' at the ground were 'well-known' and it failed to meet minimum safety standards. He apologised for the 'double injustice,' which was both in the 'failure of the state to protect their loved ones and the indefensible wait to get to the truth,' and in the efforts to denigrate the deceased and suggest that they were 'somehow at fault for their own deaths.' He said details of the report were 'deeply distressing' and said it showed the Liverpool fans 'were not the cause of the disaster.' Relatives of the Liverpool supporters who died at Hillsborough were handed the report at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on Wednesday morning. It showed police and emergency services made 'strenuous attempts' to deflect the blame for the disaster on to innocent supporters. The panel said it found evidence the police's submissions to the original inquiry led by Lord Chief Justice Taylor 'emphasised exceptional, aggressive and un-anticipated crowd behaviour.' It said the first inquiry also emphasised 'large numbers of ticketless, drunk and obstinate fans involved in concerted action, even "conspiracy", to enter the stadium.' Cameron said the Attorney General Dominic Grieve would review the report as quickly as possible in order to decide whether to apply to the High Court to order a new inquest on the victims.The families have always challenged the original inquest which concluded that all the victims were dead or brain dead fifteen minutes after the game had kicked-off at 15:00. By analysing post mortem test results, the panel found that twenty eight of the ninety six victims had 'no obstruction of blood circulation' and there was 'separate evidence that, in thirty one, the heart and lungs had continued to function after the crush.' Dr Bill Kirkup, panel member and associate chief medical officer in the Department of Health said that, if the emergency response had been swifter, almost half the victims could have had 'some chance' of survival. 'In total, forty one people therefore had potential to survive after the period of 3:15. What I can't say is how many of those could have been saved. But I can say is that the potential is of that order of magnitude.' Liverpool Walton Labour MP Steve Rotheram said: "'inally, we have the undeniable truth. The truth that many innocent people could and should have been saved. A truth that unequivocally confirms that Liverpool fans were not the cause of the disaster and that drink was not a significant factor.' He added: 'It is not about retribution it is about responsibility. Today we have made history but now we must change history.' Sheffield Wednesday FC issued an apology on Wednesday morning to all the families whose relatives were involved. The club said on its website: 'Throughout the compilation stage, the club has worked closely with the panel and the other donating organisations to ensure that, in line with the ethos of maximum disclosure, we have been totally transparent. The club would like to offer our sincere condolences and an apology to all the families who have suffered as a consequence of the tragic events of 15 April 1989.'
A number of the victims' families have been campaigning for the Hillsborough documents to be released for more than twenty years. Cabinet papers are not usually published in the UK until thirty years after they have been written but MPs agreed to their full, uncensored disclosure last year. Approval came after one hundred and forty thousand people signed a government e-petition, set up by Brian Irvine, to trigger a House of Commons debate on the issue. The panel, chaired by Bishop of Liverpool the Right Reverend James Jones, has now analysed more than four hundred and fifty thousand pages of documents relating to the disaster from more than eighty organisations. Ninety-five fans were crushed to death and hundreds more injured on the overcrowded terraces of the Hillsborough stadium, which was hosting an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The ninety sixth victim, Tony Bland, was left in a coma after the disaster and died in 1993. An independent inquiry led by Lord Chief Justice Taylor found the main cause of the disaster was 'a failure in crowd control' by South Yorkshire Police.
The apology from Cameron was welcomed by Sheila Coleman of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign. She said: 'With the clear evidence that fans could have been saved - and the evidence is there - he needs to give all of those ninety six victims their right under law, the right to a fair hearing. It needs a full inquiry into how they died. Where I am disappointed is there was no mention of Margaret Thatcher, Bernard Ingham or Colin Moynihan or the government's role in the cover-up. The Thatcher government is getting away scot-free. It was truly shocking to hear people could have been saved,' she added, calling for the inquest verdicts to be overturned. 'There are so many shocking aspects. But the fans were totally vindicated.' It was also revealed in the Cabinet papers release that Margaret Thatcher 'expressed concern' in Cabinet that the first inquiry into the disaster contained 'devastating criticism of the police.'Cameron noted that the then Prime Minister was briefed by her private Secretary - Ingham - about the 'defensive and close to deceitful' behaviour of senior South Yorkshire officers – which was 'depressingly familiar.' The Government thought then chief constable Peter Wright should resign. But Cameron went on to acknowledge that that successive governments had failed the victims and their families. Speaking after the disclosure of the documents, the bishop said: 'We are not an inquiry. People have not appeared before us, people have not been questioned, people have not had legal representation. Our job has simply been to oversee the maximum possible disclosure of all the documents and to write a report which adds to public understanding and therefore our terms of reference don't actually allow us to make any recommendation. The documents speak for themselves.'
Toby Whithouse has suggested that The Doctor is 'more dangerous' than usual in new episode A Town Called Mercy. Whithouse offered a preview of Saturday's episode to SFX, suggesting that A Town Called Mercy shows a different side of the Time Lord.
'To write him as a slightly more kind of volatile and unpredictable character was really refreshing and exciting,' Whithouse explained. He also revealed that one scene from the Western-themed instalment sees The Doctor brandish a gun, a marked change from his usual distaste for violence. Whithouse said: 'The sequence where the Doctor is kind of forced to use a gun, giving the right sort of emotional journey to that took a lot of finessing, and that was the scene that, from draft to draft, would change the most regularly because the Doctor is a confirmed pacifist and so putting him in that situation is a wonderful opportunity in that it forces you to confront it, and provides you with enormous tension and drama which, as a writer, is what you want.' The BBC's Radiophonic Workshop, which created theme tunes and sound effects for programmes including Doctor Who and Blake's 7, is to reopen after fourteen years. Composer Matthew Herbert, known for his use of 'found sounds', has been appointed creative director. One of his first commissions is a 'sonic memorial' to the BBC's Bush House building which, until recently, was the home of the World Service. The original workshop was known for its pioneering use of electronic sounds. Founded in 1958, it was best-known for creating the eerie swoosh of the Doctor Who theme tune, but its compositions were also used in numerous radio dramas, The Goon Show and The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. As well as music, the workshop created sound effects - from champagne corks popping to the distorted, strangulated voices of The Daleks. While the first workshop was based in the BBC's Maida Vale studios, the new incarnation will live online, at The Space, a new digital arts service developed by the Arts Council and the BBC. Herbert will lead 'seven fellow cutting-edge collaborators' in making new sounds and music.
The composer is known for his experimental sound collages, which often have socio-political themes. On last year's One Pig film and CD, he recorded the life of a pig from birth to its slaughter at twenty weeks, and its subsequent serving as a meal. In a live performance at 2004's London Jazz Festival, he drove a tank over a replica of a meal Nigella Lawson had cooked for Tony Blair and George Bush. High concept. More conventionally, he has worked on records at the innovative edge of pop, including Bjork's Vespertine CD. His first work for The New Radiophonic Workshop takes audio from twenty five previous projects featured on the website - from theatre performances to poetry readings - creating a 'curious murmur of activity. It is the perfect time for the rebirth of the workshop,' he said. 'The rapid pace of change in technologies has meant our imaginations are struggling to keep up. By bringing together the people making the technology with people making the music, we are hoping to find engaging answers to some of the modern problems associated with the role of sound and music on the Internet, in certain creative forms and within broadcasting.' The other artists joining Herbert in the New Radiophonic Workshop are Mica Levi, from the band Micachu and The Shapes, Yann Seznec, Max de Wardener, theatre director Lyndsey Turner, Patrick Bergel and broadcast technologist Tony Churnside.The future of BBC comedy Outnumbered is yet to be decided. Tyger Drew-Honey previously suggested that the show's fifth series would be its last. However, a representative for the show has stated: 'Hat Trick are filming an Outnumbered Christmas special in November and series five later next year,' adding that 'no decision' has been made on the show's future beyond that. It was announced in June that the popular BBC family comedy would return for a Christmas special and a new series in 2013. Drew-Honey originally told the Digital Spy website: 'This series is the last series. Never say never, but the directors and writers have said that they don't want to do another. Some [shows] do go on too long and some of them are just making [more] series for the sake of it.' The actor who plays Jake added that the gap between Outnumbered's fourth series in 2011 and the show's final 2013 run will allow 'more scope for storylines. Outnumbered hasn't been on in ages now and series five isn't going to be out till next May,' he explained. 'They've purposely made a point of holding it off - with the ages that Dan [Roche, who plays Ben] and Ramona [Marquez, who plays Karen] are now, they can take advantage of the fact that from the last time they were seen on TV to now, they've changed so much. If it was just six months later, it's all the same kinds of storylines. In series one, I was considered "the old one," getting my first girlfriend, now Ben might be having a girlfriend. So they wanted to allow it enough time, so they'd have more scope for storylines.'
In a statement Alison Levitt QC, from the CPS, said it had reviewed the file from the Met Police about Sandell, received on 9 August, and decided there was 'a realistic prospect of conviction.' The six people charged are accused of conspiring together between 15 and 19 July 2011, to pervert the course of justice, namely to conceal documents, computers and other electronic devices from police officers investigating allegations of phone-hacking, corruption of public officials and other nefarious skulduggery in relation to the Scum of the World and the Sun newspapers. Publisher News International closed the disgraced and disgraceful Scum of the World after the hacking revelations emerged.BAFTA winner Rolf Harris will make a return to TV presenting on Channel Five, it has been revealed. The legendary broadcaster has been given access to The University of Liverpool's Vet School to host Rolf's Animal Clinic. Harris famously hosted hit BBC1 series Animal Hospital during the '90s.
His new Channel Five series will 'follow teams of highly-skilled professionals and students whose daily work involves dealing with medical emergencies and treating the injuries and ailments of a wide variety of animals - from domestic pets and farm livestock to exotic zoo creatures.' Speaking about his TV return, Harris said: 'The welfare of animals is something that has always been close to my heart and it's wonderful to be presenting this series which covers the fascinating and skilled work of the vets dealing with such an amazing range of animals.' Commissioning editor Ian Dunkley added: 'The series gets to the emotional heart of what it is to be a vet - from the drama of life-saving equine surgery, to how best to deal with an overweight pet. Having Rolf as the presenter is a fantastic addition to the series.'NBC has defended its decision to interview a vacuous waste-of-space reality TV person instead of observing a minute's silence marking the eleventh anniversary of 9/11. While other networks aired live silent footage of memorial events, NBC's Today show broadcast a segment with Kris Jenner from Keeping Up With The Kardashians. An NBC spokeswoman said Tuesday's show had 'dedicated a considerable amount of time to 11 September coverage.' The network is already under fire for its crass and disgraceful coverage of the Olympic and Parlympic Games. In keeping with recent tradition, ABC, CBS and FOX paused their morning programming at 08:46 EST on Tuesday to mark the minute, eleven years ago, when the first of two hijacked aeroplanes struck New York's World Trade Center.
NBC, in contrast, showed presenter Savannah Guthrie witlessly quizzing Jenner about her breast implant replacement surgery, though the network did show footage from the 9/11 memorial in Manhattan in some US regions. Viewers took to social media to express their displeasure over what one Twitter user described as 'a major fail.' 'So much for "Never Forget,"' wrote Village Voice blogger James King, while the Denver Post's Joanne Ostrow decried what it called 'a wrong-headed decision.' NBC recently faced criticism for omitting a tribute to victims of the 2005 London bombings from its coverage of the Olympic Opening Ceremony and for pausing the Closing Ceremony to broadcast a sitcom. It also drew censure for not showing any live action from the Paralympics, despite holding exclusive rights in the US. The International Paralympic Committee said it would 'scrutinise' future broadcast partners more carefully as a result. 'Are we proposing to talk to NBC? Well, let's hope NBC are proposing to speak to us,' said IPC president Sir Philip Craven. 'Everyone has seen what has gone on here and we're waiting for them to knock on the door.'Ofcom has awarded the first licences to run local TV services to bidders in Brighton and Grimsby. Latest TV - based in Sussex - and Lincolnshire Living for Grimsby will be broadcast on Freeview and have been awarded twelve-year licences. In total, Ofcom received fifty seven bids to run the new US-style local TV stations across the UK. It said further licences would be awarded in the coming months and hoped the channels would be on air next year. The media regulator initially invited operators to submit their applications covering twenty one areas in May, however as no bidders came forward in Swansea or Plymouth, only nineteen licences will be awarded. They will be based on a set of criteria including the provision of local news and current affairs, programme proposals, launch date and commercial viability. Brighton and Grimsby were the first to be announced as both areas only attracted one bid and there were no competing bids to consider. Lincolnshire Living is an extension of the Grimsby-based Channel Seven local TV service which has been broadcasting on Virgin Media for the past fifteen years as Seven. Executive producer Lia Nici told the BBC the channel was 'over the moon' to be awarded the licence. 'We're one successful model of local TV in the UK so now we can continue to extend our service and be available to a wider audience,' she said. 'We intend to make sure programming is either locally relevant or locally produced.' Latest TV has run as an online-only service for the past two years and recent episodes of its Brighton Lights programme have featured interviews with former Spice Girl Mel C and Brighton local, Norman Cook. 'At last Brighton and Hove will have its own television station with its own studios in the heart of the city,' director Bill Smith said in a statement. 'We look forward to delivering the latest news and sport, top class entertainment, documentaries, education, comedy, music and everything that the people of Brighton and Hove expect from a quality TV station.'
England manager Roy Hodgson claims that he is more confident his side will reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after the 1-1 home draw with Ukraine. Frank Lampard's late penalty salvaged a point for an understrength England to leave them second in Group H. Despite a lacklustre display, Hodgson said: 'I was very pleased with many of the aspects of the play tonight. I leave Wembley a lot more confident that we have a group of players who will take this England team to Rio.' England were without a number of regulars, including forwards Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott and the defensive duo of John Terry and Ashley Cole. Hodgson was forced to call up midfield trio Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana and Jake Livermore - none of whom have represented their country at senior level before - and selected inexperienced duo Tom Cleverley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to face Ukraine. 'At the end of the day, we have had two youngsters starting the game. They have come off and we have replaced them with three other youngsters,' continued the England boss.
'We have a whole team off the field, who, under normal circumstances, would have been competing for places.' After starting their World Cup qualifying campaign with a convincing 5-0 win in Moldova last Friday, there were high hopes that England would continue with a victory over Ukraine, the team many believe will provide the main competition in the group. However, Hodgson's side lacked the fluency they demonstrated in Chisinau and looked to be staring at defeat following Yevgeni Konoplianka's superb twenty five-yard opening goal in the first half. They had a Jermain Defoe goal ruled out for a rather soft foul, but Lampard rescued a point when he converted from the spot after Yevgeni Khacheridi handled in the area. As England pushed for a winner, Steven Gerrard was sent off for a second bookable offence. 'I'll concede that the first ten, maybe even the first fifteen minutes, we weren't at our best. We started slowly,' said Hodgson. 'But the next seventy five minutes, we dominated the game totally. I thought we controlled the game, we kept playing, we kept probing, we kept trying to play our football. We created chances throughout the game, we had a goal disallowed, we hit the post three times and in the end we got an equaliser. You could have argued we might have had more because of some of the chances we missed were good chances. I suppose it is two points dropped because you want to win your home games. But the fact is we played against a good Ukraine team. They had the benefit of a super goal that put them on the front foot which meant our task became harder.' Hodgson was also critical of referee Cuneyt Cakir, who awarded six yellow cards to England players, two of which resulted in Gerrard's dismissal. 'We didn't have a lot of help out there tonight,' said Hodgson. 'We had five bookings and a sending off, which is enormous, considering the way we played. I hardly saw a foul in the game.' England's next World Cup qualifier in Group H is on 12 October, when they host San Marino, beaten 6-0 at home by Montenegro on Tuesday. Four days later, England travel to Poland, who beat Moldova 2-0 on Tuesday after drawing 1-1 with Montenegro last Friday. In other resutls, Wales manager Chris Coleman said he was 'embarrassed' by his side's 'criminal' display in the 6-1 defeat by Serbia. The 2014 World Cup qualifying setback in Novi Sad was Wales' worst defeat since their 7-1 hiding by the Netherlands in 1996. Scotland's chances of qualifying hang by a thread after just two matches following a second home draw in four days. Macedonia's early goal by Nikolce Noveski should have been chalked off for offside, but they were good value for the lead. Kenny Miller levelled before the break for the Jocks having been set up by Jamie Mackie. And, funniest of all, Ryan McGivern's late own goal gave Luxembourg an unlikely World Cup draw with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.Human remains have been found by archaeologists searching for the lost grave of Richard III. The king died at the battle of Bosworth in 1485 and was recorded as being buried in a Leicester church, which was later demolished. Last week a team from the University of Leicester located traces of the building under a council car park. Now it has been confirmed work in the church's choir - where Richard was buried - has found human bones.
As the defeated foe, Richard was given a low-key burial in the Franciscan friary of Greyfriars. This was demolished in the 1530s but documents describing the burial site have survived. Richard III (1483-1485) was the last Yorkist king of England, whose death at the age of thirty two in Bosworth effectively ended the Wars of the Roses. The excavation, which began on 25 August, has uncovered the remains of the cloisters and chapter house, as well as the church. Work focused on the choir area, in the centre of the church, where it was indicated Richard was interred. A spokesman for the university confirmed human remains had been found and more details will be given at a press conference on Wednesday. Philippa Langley, from the Richard III Society, said: 'We came with a dream and if the dream becomes reality it will be nothing short of miraculous.' Any bones which are thought to be those of the king will have their DNA tested against descendants of Richard's family. Like, you know, the Queen, for instance.And, then there's yer actual Keith Telly Topping's 45 of the Day, dear blog reader. Here's good old Mad-As-Toast Uncle Roy Wood and his many Wizzards - check out, for instance, the great Rick Price, the roller-skating angel on bass. Along with The Suedettes and a couple of blokes in gorilla suits for no obvious reason, live on Top of the Pops on Christmas Day, 1973. Glam, slam. Pity it's got Noel Edmonds on it, however.
