our arts correspondent, david sillito, is in liverpool, one of the cities on the shortlist.ion song contest. europe thinks the british are reserved! the uk has a long history of staging the eurovision song contest. london, edinburgh, brighton, harrogate and birmingham have all played host. all right, so we know there are seven cities... and on today�*s shortlist, announced on radio 2, birmingham was — alphabetically — top of the list. glasgow, which recently hosted the cop climate conference, is also there. it�*s very, very exciting for the city. it�*s fantastic news. glasgow from the early days had been down as one of the favourites, but you never know until that shortlist appears. so, too, leeds, manchester, newcastle, sheffield and liverpool — much to the joy of one eurovision star. i am over the moon. my fingers are so crossed that it comes to liverpool. i mean, we tick all the boxes. we�*ve got the arena, we�*ve got the beautiful city. everything�*s on the doorstep. you know, we�*rejust going to have the biggest party ever. and, of course, liverpool does have a little b

david sillito, bbc news. there is much more on those stories on the bbc news website. news. hello there. it's turning even hotter this weekend with temperatures perhaps reaching 35, maybe 36 degrees. so dry, sunny, hot for most this weekend but in northern and western areas you could start to see a few showers developing, particularly through the day on sunday. now it's southern parts of britain that really could do with the rainfall, for example 0diham in hampshire hasn't seen any measurable rain for 42 days — so the ground is parched here, we really do need some rainfall. of course the met office amber extreme heat warning remains in force for large parts of england and wales up until around sunday. again with those temperatures reaching 35, maybe 36 degrees in the hottest spots on saturday afternoon. widespread sunshine then throughout saturday, any low cloud and mist in scotland and north—east england will burn back to the coast, maybe a slight chance of a shower across the scottish hills, maybe snowdonia, otherwise most places dry. high 20s in the north, 30 to 35—

david sillito, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's stav da naos.

david sillito, bbc news. good luck to everyone on that shortlist. a tip from me. see you in a bit. but in northern and western areas you could start to see a few showers developing, particularly through the day on sunday. southern parts of britain that really could do with rainfall, for example 0dium in hampshire hasn't seen any measurable rain for 42 days the ground is parched here, we really do need some rain. the met office amber extreme heat warning remains in force for large parts of england and well up until around sunday. those temperatures reaching 35, maybe 36 degrees in the hottest spots on saturday afternoon. widespread sunshine through saturday any low cloud and mist and will burn back to the coast, maybe a slight chance of a shower across the scottish hills, may be snowdonia, high 20s in the north, 35 to 36 degrees across england and wales. saturday night it will stay dry for most, a bit of low cloud, mist and work across eastern scotland, northeast england. temperature wise, again the low to mid teens in the north on 17 to 20 degrees for the south, really could be qui

david sillito, bbc news.an end for a suspect robber trapped in a tunnel. he was believed to have been burrowing towards a nearby bank. police say the man in his 30s is now in hospital and has been arrested along with three others. dozens of emergency workers had to dig a second shaft to free him after the tunnel collapsed, bringing disruption to the roads around the vatican. you can get much more on the stories on the bbc news website, or the bbc news app, news website, or the bbc news app, including all the latest on the condition of salman rushdie and the investigation into donald trump in the united states. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @richpreston. hello there. it's turning even hotter this weekend with temperatures reaching 35, maybe 36 degrees. dry, sunny, hot for most this weekend but in northern and western areas you could start to see a few showers developing, particularly through the day on sunday. it's southern parts of britain that really could do with rainfall, for example odiham in hampshir

david sillito, bbc news.or more hosepipe bans to be imposed. yesterday, the environment secretary at westminster urged water companies to follow the bans already in place. restrictions for southern water customers in much of hampshire and the isle of wight came into force last friday. about one million south—east water customers in kent and sussex will face measures from this friday. welsh water has announced a ban covering pembrokeshire and part of carmathenshire, starting on august 19th. other water companies across the uk say they are monitoring water levels closely. let's join our correspondent ellie price at a reservoir in kent. a0. then the baton is pass to australia, there will be lots of discussion as dan was saying about their lasting impact and legacy but for now in birmingham, it is the feel—good factor that reigns supreme. thank you. ellie. thankyou. ellie. ., ., ellie. thanks huw. here at the reservoir _ ellie. thanks huw. here at the reservoir we — ellie. thanks huw. here at the reservoir we are

david sillito, bbc news. animal they came across was a tiny bit under the weather, as the bbc�*s tim allman explains. never has the phrase "bear with a sore head" seemed more appropriate. this is one animal that looks like it had quite a rough night. the female bear cub — a little worse for wear — was rescued from the forest in a province in north—east turkey. wobbling and whining, the animal looked... well, it looked like she was high. but why would she be in such a fragile state? time for a quick science lesson. these flowers are called rhododendron luteum and these are rhododendron ponticum. both of them contain a substance called grayanotoxin, which has hallucinogenic properties. add some bees to the equation and you end up with something called mad honey, a delicacy that really packs a punch. the somewhat disoriented bear was taken to a nearby vet to receive treatment. she�*s said to be in good condition and will be released back into the wild in the coming days. white rabbit by jefferson airplane plays

here's our media and arts correspondent david sillito.951, she had no idea what it would become. we were no idea what it would become. - were given a three—month contract and we thought it's only a sort of small thing, we can do lots of other work. it was an interesting little job, yes. i hope you don't mind me saying this, but you don't seem quite yourself. is there something on your mind? ., , ., ., , mind? now you mention it, there is one thing--- — mind? now you mention it, there is one thing--- 72 _ mind? now you mention it, there is one thing... 72 years _ mind? now you mention it, there is one thing... 72 years later, - mind? now you mention it, there is one thing... 72 years later, she - one thing... 72 years later, she finally saying — one thing... 72 years later, she finally saying goodbye - one thing... 72 years later, she finally saying goodbye to - one thing... 72 years later, she finally saying goodbye to her. finally saying goodbye to her character, peggy. i finally saying goodbye to her character, peggy.— finally saying go

david sillito, bbc news. that's return to the top story.john sudworth is in washington for us. what is the latest? ., , . latest? nothing further since the new york state _ latest? nothing further since the new york state governor - latest? nothing further since the new york state governor gave i latest? nothing further since the new york state governor gave a | latest? nothing further since the - new york state governor gave a press conference within the past hour, where she said that at that stage are understanding was that salman rushdie was still alive. we have no new updates but this will undoubtedly play a much more widely, possibly into politics and foreign policy, with democrats and republicans deeply divided over policy on iran, this could resonate there, but more viscerally in terms of that value of freedom of speech, with this attack being seen as highlighting the importance of it. the worlds of literature, human rights and politics anxiously await further news. rights and politics anxiously await further news-— rights and politi

david sillitoe, bbc news. some breaking news.will not oppose the release of documents related to the raid of the property in mar—a—lago. he goes onto say that he will encourage the immediate release of the documents, saying political weaponisation of law enforcement is inappropriate highly unethical. that is it. i will be back very shortly with all the day's top business stories. stay tuned. hello. we've seen the heat intensify day by day so far this week, and for many of you, the heat is set to peak, even through friday or indeed saturday. most places on both days sitting under sunny skies yet again. the main risk areas, of course, of the highest of the temperatures, the greatest impacts for health and transport, covered by the met office amber extreme heat warning, still in place, all the way through to sunday across a good part of england and east wales, where we start with the highest temperatures on friday morning. a little bit fresher on the countryside, particularly northern england, scotland and northern ireland. and, her

david sillito, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's stav da naos. been very hot today, we saw top temperatures of 3a in the south—east, may be up to 36 over the weekend. a chance of a few showers developing over scotland and northern ireland heading into sunday. southern britain really could do with the rainfall, sir salman in hampshire has not seen —— odiham has not seen any rain for 42 days. the amber met office extreme heat warning and force through large parts of england and wales with the peak of the heat likely to be on sunday afternoon. through the night it is likely to stay dry, some low cloud, mist and it is likely to stay dry, some low cloud, mistand murk it is likely to stay dry, some low cloud, mist and murk rolling in off the north sea across eastern scotland and north—east england, robert lee up towards the glasgow area by the end of the night. in the mid to high teens, one or two locations across the south might not fall below 19, so quite an uncomfortable night. plenty of sunshine across the board. the outside chance of some showers

1978, the soundtrack of which is still one of the world's best—selling albums. 0ur correspondent david sillito her life and remarkable career. # summer loving, had me a blast. # summer loving, happened so fast. # i met a girl crazy for me. # met a boy cute as can be.# sandy in grease was clean—cut, fresh—faced innocence, and it was john travolta who knew who would be perfect to play this slightly naive american teenager — a 29—year—old australian, olivia newton—john. # if not for you, the winter would hold no spring.# herfirst hit was in 1971, seven years after she left school aged 15 determined to be a singer, something which rather shocked her academic family. her grandfather had won a nobel prize for physics. # country roads, take me home to the place i belong...# born in britain, she'd grown up in australia, and after years of touring clubs, made her name in america as a country singer. music. blonde, wholesome, family friendly, easy listening — no wonder eurovision came knocking. # you better shape up, cos i need a man...# and then came grease. it was huge at the box office. there were si

our arts correspondent david sillito looks back at his life.ical, heart—warming, and at the end, the snowman melts. # we're walking in the air... a very raymond briggs twist. he was a children's author who was never writing for children. i don't think about what children want. you get an idea and you just do it. you don't think, "oh, children of 10 won't want this," or... you don't think like that at all. you don't think about the audience. couldn't possibly. it was his father christmas that was raymond briggs' breakthrough, but this was no jovial gift—bearer. this father christmas moaned, swore and drankjust a bit too much. the bogeymen are stirring in their beds... and then fungus — a gloriously disgusting story of a bogeyman having a midlife crisis. nice cold, filthy water! good head of scum on it this morning. raymond briggs had for a while worked in advertising and hated it. he illustrated children's books but loathed the saccharine stories. he had his own vision, and one friend who worked with him on the animations saw how much of it was

david sillito, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with tomasz 28 degrees.ry as well. the heat is building in an area of high pressure that's going to keep it dry about everywhere and occasionally we'll get some of these were into the far northwest of scotland. hotter than we've got across most of europe as the heat builds up in the next few days and hot air as we pick up next few days and hot air as we pick up across southern areas the week as well. these are the temperatures as well. these are the temperatures as we head to the part of the evening and, the sunshine, i play hard for the sunshine in northern ireland but to be more cloud in scotland but for many parts of the uk, just a little bit more shiloh fairweather cloud building today and will see more of that this evening. and this could be a bit more cloud across scotland and president northern ireland and there could be a bit more rain running into the far northwest of scotland mailing the highlands once again. very mild night here. in the temperatures in rural parts of england and wales, dipping wei

our arts correspondent, david sillito, looks back now at her life. # summer loving, had me a blast # met a boy cute as can be.# sandy in grease was clean—cut, freshfaced innocence. and it wasjohn travolta who knew who be to play this slightly naive american teenager, a 29—year—okd australian, olivia newtonjohn. # if not for you, the winter would hold no spring.# herfirst hit was in 1971, seven years after she left school aged 15 determined to be a singer, something which rather shocked her academic family. her grandfather had won a nobel prize for physics. # country roads, take me home to the place i belong...# born in britain, she grew up in australia and after years of touring clubs, made her name in america as a country singer. music. blonde, wholesome, family friendly, easy listening — no wonder eurovision came knocking. # you better shape up, because i need a man...# and then came grease. it was huge at the box office, there were six hit singles and the premier, a near riot ensued. this was a new level of fame. back off. there was then naturally huge interest in her next musical

our arts correspondent, david sillito, looks back at his life.heart—warming, and at the end, the snowman melts. # we're walking in the air... a very raymond briggs twist. he was a children's author who was never writing for children. i don't think about what children want. you get an idea and you just do it. you don't think, "oh, children of 10 won't want this," or... you don't think like that at all. you don't think about the audience. couldn't possibly. it was his father christmas that was raymond briggs' breakthrough, but this was no jovial gift—bearer. this father christmas moaned, swore and drankjust a bit too much. the bogeymen are stirring in their beds... and then fungus — a gloriously disgusting story of a bogeyman having a midlife crisis. nice cold, filthy water! good head of scum on it this morning. raymond briggs had for a while worked in advertising and hated it. he illustrated children's books but loathed the saccharine stories. he had his own vision, and one friend who worked with him on the animations saw how much of it was an exp

our correspondent david sillito looks back at her life and remarkable career. # summer loving, had mepened so fast. # i met a girl crazy for me. # met a boy, cute as can be.#. sandy in grease was clean—cut, fresh—faced innocence, and it was john travolta who knew who would be perfect to play this slightly naive american teenager — a 29—year—old australian, olivia newton—john. # if not for you, the winter would hold no spring...# herfirst hit was in 1971, seven years after she left school, aged 15, determined to be a singer, something which rather shocked her academic family. her grandfather had won a nobel prize for physics. # country roads, take me home to the place i belong...#. born in britain, she'd grown up in australia, and after years of touring clubs, made her name in america as a country singer. # ..take me home, country roads. # all the kids like ten tin sodas in a row. # followed hand in hand... blonde, wholesome, family—friendly, easy listening — no wonder eurovision came knocking. # you better shape up, cos i need a man...# and then came grease. # and my heart is set on y

career included four grammy awards and sales of more than 100 million records. 0ur correspondent david sillitomer loving, had me a blast # summer loving, happened so fast # i met a girl crazy for me # met a boy, cute as can be... sandy in grease was clean—cut, fresh—faced innocence, and it was john travolta who knew who would be perfect to play this slightly naive american teenager — a 29—year—old australian, olivia newton—john. # if not for you, the winter would hold no spring... herfirst hit was in 1971, seven years after she left school, aged 15, determined to be a singer, something which rather shocked her academic family. her grandfather had won a nobel prize for physics. # country roads, take me home to the place i belong... born in britain, she'd grown up in australia, and after years of touring clubs, made her name in america as a country singer. # ..take me home, country roads # all the kids like ten tin sodas in a row # followed hand in hand... blonde, wholesome, family—friendly, easy listening — no wonder eurovision came knocking. # you better shape up, �*cause i need a man... and t

this report from our arts correspondent, david sillito, contains some flashing images. # summer lovingion, she was and always will be, sandy from grease. # cute as can be... and today, her castmates have been remembering her. among them, didi conn, who played frenchy, here on the right. i had been ill this year and she didn't know. i and when she found out, - she sent me an orchid plant, and that was about two months ago. and just friday, the plant, - which had lost all its beautiful buds, a new one popped up. and i thought of olivia - and i thought how lucky i have been to be her friend. # look at me, i'm sandra dee. also stockard channing, who played betty rizzo. i was always struck by her warmth, her sunniness. and i did say she was like summer. she had warmth and grace. that sunny personality had been there from the beginning of her career more than 50 years ago. it was also what helped sustain her campaigning and fundraising through many years of ill health. she was first diagnosed with cancer in 1992. # you better shape up... and while she'd had so much success over the years, it

more from our arts correspondent, david sillito. # summer loving, had me a blast # summer loving, happenedonjohn. which is why it has been off and on, a part of the west end in the last 50 years, but last night there was the sandy of 2022 who was the bearer of sad news. i am so sorry to have to share the incredibly sad news that 0livia incredibly sad news that olivia newton john incredibly sad news that 0livia newtonjohn has this evening passed away. 0livia newtonjohn has this evening passed away. olivia newton newtonjohn has this evening passed away. 0livia newtonjohn and john travolta are such big figures in my life, growing up, and my love of musicals, so, iwhen life, growing up, and my love of musicals, so, i when i got thisjob, i was like, oh, my gosh, but also i could not wait to embody the character of sandy and on the absolute legendary portrayal that 0livia absolute legendary portrayal that olivia newton absolute legendary portrayal that 0livia newtonjohn did. [30 absolute legendary portrayal that olivia newton john did.— olivia newton john did. do you really think— olivia newton

decided it wouldn't be possible to stage it in the winning country ukraine. 0ur arts correspondent david sillito0 presented by katie boyle. good evening ladies and gentlemen. 0n boyle. good evening ladies and gentlemen. on behalf of the bbc i welcome you all to the fifth annual eurovision song contest. the welcome you all to the fifth annual eurovision song contest.— welcome you all to the fifth annual eurovision song contest. the uk has a lona eurovision song contest. the uk has a long history _ eurovision song contest. the uk has a long history of _ eurovision song contest. the uk has a long history of hosting _ eurovision song contest. the uk has a long history of hosting the - a long history of hosting the contest. edinburgh, harrogate, birmingham, all over. the question is where next?— is where next? there are seven cities on the — is where next? there are seven cities on the shortlist. - is where next? there are seven cities on the shortlist. the - cities on the shortlist. the shortlist — cities on the shortlist. the shortlist was _ cities on the shortlist. tte: shortlist was announced on

david sillito, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here�*s tomasz schafernaker.ot might it get this week? yes, so not the how hot might it get this week? 1&1: so not the extraordinary heights we saw last time, so not the a0 degrees, but i think certainly the mid 30s, 35, maybe 36 degrees is possible later in the week. in some ways, the heatwave might be more prolonged for some of us than the last one. we will see quite a sustained period of temperatures above 30 celsius, perhaps a week�*s worth also. the high pressure is not shifting, it is keeping the weather fronts at bay. interestingly on this occasion, the hot air is notjust coming in from the south but also an easterly direction and the breeze will spread the heat into parts of wales and the south—west of england as well, so some very high temperatures could be realised here through the week. these are today�*s temperatures, maybe pipping 30 degrees, but for most of us it is the low to mid 20s and any rain clouds our way to the north, orkney, shetland. south of that into tomorrow it stays clear. 16 degrees i

david sillito looks back at his life.l, heart—warming, and at the end, the snowman melts. # we're walking in the air # a very raymond briggs twist. he was a children's author who was never writing for children. i don't think about what children want. you get an idea and you just do it. you don't think, "0h, children of ten won't want this," or...you don't think like that at all. you don't think about the audience. couldn't possibly. it was his father christmas that was raymond briggs' breakthrough, but this was no jovial gift—bearer. this father christmas moaned, swore and drankjust a bit too much. the bogeymen are stirring in their beds... and then fungus — a gloriously disgusting story of a bogeyman having a midlife crisis. nice cold, filthy water! good head of scum on it this morning. he'd worked in advertising, and hated it. he illustrated children's books, but he didn't like the saccharine stories. he had his own vision and one friend who worked with him on the emanations saw and much of it was an expression of his o

our correspondent david sillito looks back at his life. the snowman melts. # we're walking in the air # a very raymond briggs twist. he was a children's author who was never writing for children. a strip cartoon, raymond briggs, children's department. that's been the attitude in england — a strip cartoon, children's book. but we're growing out of that a bit now. i don't think about what children want. you get an idea and you just do it. you don't think, "oh, children of ten won't want this," or...you don't think like that at all. you don't think about the audience. couldn't possibly. you've just got this idea in your head and you could do it how you want it. it was his father christmas that was raymond briggs' breakthrough, but this was no jovial gift—bearer. this father christmas moaned, swore and drankjust a bit too much. what i normally do with most of my things is have something that's fantastical, like father christmas, like fungus, and imagine it to be wholly real and follow it through logically from there. it's a fouljob, out all ni

here�*s our media and arts correspondent, david sillito.? now you mention it, there is one thing, yes. 72 years later, she�*s finally saying goodbye to ambridge and her character, peggy. i should get on with the cleaning. yes, i rather think you should. originally married to jack archer, his explanations of farming to his new—to—rural—ways wife was his way of pressing agricultural issues into the plot. since then, june spencer has seen her character gradually develop from left—wing new arrival to wealthy matriarch. i know what�*s going on, brian. of course you do, peggy. i�*m sure you think it is easy to for me. # happy birthday to you...# and in 2019, june spencer celebrated her 100th birthday, still a member of the archers�* cast. but all things come to an end, and this — her farewell storyline, aged 103. i hope it would show our two little stars, nova and seren, that they will always be very precious to the family, to me and to god. david sillito, bbc news. june spencer�*s voice delivering her last lines over the weekend. now it�*s time

our media and arts corrrespondent david sillito joins me now in the studio.y have this cartoon — fixture of christmas! yes, they have this cartoon and _ fixture of christmas! yes, they have this cartoon and it _ fixture of christmas! yes, they have this cartoon and it has _ fixture of christmas! yes, they have this cartoon and it has become i fixture of christmas! yes, they have this cartoon and it has become a i this cartoon and it has become a fixture every christmas and become part of christmas. quite how it's become part of christmas is more due to channel 4 than raymond briggs. of course, the career of aled jones when he sang the famous song. but i think what you probably have to think what you probably have to think about is that he's often been talked about as a children's author and he's very much not a children's author and never considered himself author and never considered himself a children' author. if you look at his stories, they are about loss, nuclear war, his stories, they are about loss, nuclearwar, unhappiness. his stories, they are about

our arts correspondent, david sillito, takes a look back at her career. # summer loving, had me a blastng, happened so fast. olivia newton—john. for anyone of a certain generation, she was and always will be sandy from grease. # cute as can be. and the person that knew from the beginning she was the one was her co—star, john travolta. # summer heat. now a0 years on, paying tribute, saying... olivia newton—john was born in britain, grew up in australia. she began singing as a teenager and she was a successful country artist. # all the kids like ten tin soldiers in a row # followed hand in hand. blonde, wholesome, family friendly easy listening. no wonder eurovision came knocking. # you better shape up # cos i need a man... but grease changed everything. # and my heart is set on you... it was huge, six hit singles, millions of records sold. and the premiere, a near riot ensued. this was a new level of fame. come on, back off! marker. there was then, naturally, huge interest in her next musical. xanadu gave her a hit single. the film, it was the inspiration for a new awards ceremony, the g

our arts correspondent david sillito has more. eurovision 1960, presented by katie boyle.ng contest. the uk has a long history of hosting the contest. edinburgh, harrogate, birmingham, all over. the question is where next? there are seven cities on the shortlist. the shortlist was announced on radio 2. birmingham, glasgow, leeds, manchester, newcastle, sheffield and liverpool. that's it! that was really tense. they were more than pleased, especially one local eurovision star who came close to winning in 1993. i am over the moon! my fingers are so crossed that it comes to liverpool. we tick all the boxes. we have the arena, the beautiful city, everything's on the doorstep. we are going to have the biggest party ever. liverpool does has a musical heritage. there is romance to their bid. but the winner will be determined by practicalities. these days, eurovision is huge. glasgow has proved its ability to host major events with the recent cop international climate conference but the fact so many cities have the facilities to be in the running says something. it's a great sign

her co—starjohn travolta has described her impact as "incredible". 0ur arts correspondent, david sillitogacy. # summer loving, had me a blast # summer loving, happened so fast... olivia newton—john. for anyone of a certain generation, she was and always will be sandy from grease. # cute as can be... and the person that knew from the beginning she was the one was her co—star, john travolta. # summer heat, boy and girl meet... now 40 years on, paying tribute, saying... my dearest 0livia, you made all of our lives so much better. your impact was incredible. i love you so much, we will see you down the road and we will all be together again. yours, from the first moment i saw you and for ever, your danny, yourjohn. olivia newton—john was born in britain, grew up in australia. she began singing as a teenager and she was a successful country artist. # all the kids like ten tin soldiers in a row # followed hand in hand... blonde, wholesome, family friendly easy listening. no wonder eurovision came knocking. # you better shape up # cos i need a man... but grease changed everything. # and my hear

our arts correspondent, david sillito, has more. eurovision 1960, presented by katie boyle.ll the boxes. we have the arena, the beautiful city, everything's on the doorstep. we are going to have the biggest party ever. liverpool does has a musical heritage. there is romance to their bid. but the winner will be determined by practicalities. these days, eurovision is huge. glasgow has proved its ability to host major events with the recent cop international climate conference but the fact so many cities have the facilities to be in the running says something. it's a great sign for the north. a lot of tourism in the uk is london centric and the fact there are so many northern cities on the shortlist is a good sign that people are seeing the north for the tourism that it can bring. and whoever is finally chosen in the autumn, that's only the beginning. modern eurovision is rather larger than it was when the uk last hosted in 1998. i asked steve holden, host of the official eurovision song contest podcast, how the final nine were decided. they would have looked at how adaptable e

this report from our arts correspondent, david sillito, contains some flashing images. # summer lovingthem, didi conn, who played frenchy, here on the right. i had been ill this year and she didn't know. i and when she found out, i she sent me an orchid plant, and that was about two months ago. and just friday, the plant, i which had lost all its beautiful buds, a new one popped up. and i thought of olivia - and i thought how lucky i have been to be her friend. # look at me, i'm sandra dee. also stockard channing, who played betty rizzo. i was always struck by her warmth, her sunniness. and i did say she was like summer. she had warmth and grace. that sunny personality had been there from the beginning of her career more than 50 years ago. it was also what helped sustain her campaigning and fundraising through many years of ill health. she was first diagnosed with cancer in 1992. # you better shape up... and while she'd had so much success over the years, it was grease that changed everything. and from the beginning, the person who wanted her to play the role was her co—star, john trav

david sillitoe is in liverpool and daniel rosney is in glasgow. erpool - 1993, yes. so close. one vote away. now, do you think liverpool should i now, do you think liverpool should have the _ now, do you think liverpool should have the eurovision song contest? | have the eurovision song contest? i think liverpool should be way up there. it takes all the boxes. the music history along. look at the location. it's fantastic. everything is a stone's throw away. the city centre is here. we have got everything going for us. we have got to get it. we really have. let’s everything going for us. we have got to get it. we really have.— to get it. we really have. let's go back to the _ to get it. we really have. let's go back to the 1990s, _ to get it. we really have. let's go back to the 1990s, 1993. - to get it. we really have. let's go back to the 1990s, 1993. for- to get it. we really have. let's go i back to the 1990s, 1993. for people who have _ back to the 1990s, 1993. for people who have never experienced eurovision song contest, it is more thaniust_

more from our arts correspondent david sillito. # summer loving, had me a blast # summer loving, happenedigures in my life, growing up, and my love of musicals, so, i when i got thisjob, i was like, oh, my gosh, but also i could not wait to embody the character of sandy and on the absolute legendary portrayal that 0livia newtonjohn did. do you really think so, renshi? it's also been a moment of reflection for castmates from the film. i had been ill this year and she didn't know. i and when she found out, - she sent me an orchid plant, and that was about two months ago. and just friday, the plant, - which had lost all its beautiful buds, a new one popped up. and i thought of olivia, - and i thought how lucky i have been to be her friend. # you better shape up... and finally, john travolta, and this tribute, from danny to sandy. # sandy, you must start anew... "my dearest 0livia, you made all of our lives so much better. "your impact was incredible. "yours from the first moment i saw you, and forever, "your danny, yourjohn." the singer and actor dame 0livia newtonjohn, who died yesterday at

david sillito reports. it's become part of christmas — the snowman that comes to life.hildren's author who wasn't really writing for children. oh, strip cartoon, raymond briggs — children's department. that's been the attitude in england now — a strip cartoon, children's book. but we're growing out of that a bit now, about half a century too late. it was his father christmas that was raymond briggs' breakthrough. but this was no jovial gift bearer. this father christmas moaned, swore and drankjust a bit too much. what i normally do with most of my things is have something that's fantastical, like father christmas, like fungus, and imagine it to be wholly real and follow it through logically from there. it's a fouljob, out all night on your own, flying about in icy temperatures, landing on rooftops, going down filthy chimneys. can you imagine climbing down a chimney not once, but hundreds of times. he's going to be fed up with it. the bogeymen are stirring in their beds. fungus the bogeyman was a beautifully drawn celebration of snot and farting. fungus with his wife, mi

our arts correspondent david sillito looks back on her life. # summer loving, had me a blast # summerar australian, olivia newtonjohn. # if not for you, the winter would hold no spring. # herfirst hit was in 1971, seven years after she left school aged 15 determined to be a singer, something which rather shocked her academic family. her grandfather had won a nobel prize for physics. # country roads take me home to the place i belong... # born in britain, she grew up in australia and after years of touring clubs made her name in america as a country singer. music. blonde, wholesome, family friendly, easy listening, no wonder eurovision came knocking. # you better shape up, because i need a man... #. and then came grease. it was huge at the box office, there were six hit singles and the premier, a near riot ensued. this was a new level of fame. back off. there was then naturally huge interest in her next musical. xanadu gave her a hit single, the film, it was the inspiration for a new award ceremony, the golden raspberries. music. and then there was physical. she was terrified it would

our arts correspondent david sillito takes a look at his life. it has become part of christmas.himneys. can you imagine climbing down a chimney not once but hundreds of times? he is going to be fed up with it. the bogey men are i staring in their beds. fungus the bogeyman was a beautifully drawn celebration of snot and farting. they breakfasted on flaked corns and leech flavoured yuck. - raymond briggs studied at the slade school of art. he'd worked in advertising and hated it. he illustrated to children's books, but he did not like saccharine stories. he was much happier with cartoons that had a little darkness to them. take when the wind blows, a story of a couple's attempts to follow government advice in a nuclear attack. i have never heard such language in all my life. for god's sake, shut up. oh, dear, i've left the oven on! get in, get in, get in. the cake will be burned. come on, dear, get in. i don't like to. and then ethel and ernest, which, like many of his works, was adapted for the screen. can we afford that mortgage business? it was a depiction of the life and death