English comedian, presenter, political satirist and journalist Mark Thomas spoke to Jason McCrossan about his latest show that he is touring the UK with called THE RED SHED which he is performing at the Gulbenkian theatre in Canterbury on 17th February.
The show celebrates the 50th anniversary of Wakefield Labour Club’s iconic Red Shed. It’s the story of where Mark first started to perform in public and where he politically came of age as a student involved in the miners’ strike.
Channel 4 is set to bring back its multi-award winning format Wife Swap for a one-off Brexit special. The show that allowed families to experience different lifestyles and perspectives on the world, returns for an intimate look at the nation’s biggest talking point – Brexit.
The 60-minute episode, due to air later this year, will be the first since the show ended nearly eight years ago.will see couples from either side of the Brexit debate swap households for one week and live with a family with very different views.
Emily Jones, Commissioning Editor, at Channel 4 said:” Wife Swap was largely about how people chose to run their homes, but it always had political undertones. Now the world has changed and recent events have brought political issues into the heart of every household. What better time to bring back this much loved format to explore Brexit and hear firsthand the conversations happening in every home”.
Wife Swap first arrived on Channel 4 screens in 2003 and quickly became a global phenomenon. The final series aired in the UK in 2009.
Siobhain McDonagh is the MP for MP for Mitcham and Morden who brought together a group of MPs to release the ‘National Living Rage’ Christmas campaign song to generate higher public awareness of some UK companies who have been cutting the total pay of their long-serving staff, as a result of the increases to the national living wage.
She spoke to Jason McCrossan on 106.9 SFM about the campaign and her desire to raise awareness of the fact that thousands of people in this country, who are already on low pay, are receiving a pay cut.
For more information: http://www.siobhainmcdonagh.org.uk/campaigns/nationallivingrage.aspx
Anthony Hamilton, the sports management entrepreneur who guided his son Lewis to Formula One World Champion, has turned his hand to football, and launched a device which allows children and adults of all ages to develop their football skills and control techniques while in the comfort of their own home – great for those dark nights and wet days.
He spoke to Jason McCrossan on 106.9 SFM about his KickTrix™ system – as well as discussing his earlier life and that of Lewis Hamilton.
You can find out more about KickTrix™ by visiting the website: http://www.kicktrix.com
http://www.jmccrossan.co.uk
Modern slavery is the great human rights issue of our time – so said our newest Prime Minister Teresa May. In 2014, the Home Office estimated there were between 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims of slavery in the UK – just 2,340 of those were officially reported and recorded.
Jason was joined on his Monday Matters radio show by Jakub Sobik from the campaign group www.antislavery.org
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has unveiled plans for three new Thames river crossings in East London.
After reviewing predecessor Boris Johnson’s plans, Mr Khan outlined plans for the new river crossings to be constructed in the next five to ten years in East London.
Mr Khan claims the move will ease congestion and cut pollution in the capital.
The plans include the fast tracking of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge linking Rotherhithe & Canary Wharf.
A Docklands Light Railway (DLR) crossing at Gallions Reach is also proposed to support the development of around 17,000 new homes across Newham and the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Further assessment work will be undertaken for a Barking Riverside-Abbey Wood London Overground crossing and a North Greenwich-Isle of Dogs ferry, supporting new development on the Greenwich Peninsula and the Isle of Dogs.
The plans also include the controversial Silvertown tunnel, which had been criticised previously for incurring a user charge by Mr Khan claiming it was “a tax on East and South East Londoners’.
The plans for the tunnel have been “enhanced” to encourage people to use public transport and include a low-emission bus zone and a cycle bus that will transport cyclists through the tunnel.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It’s no secret that London has long needed more river crossings in the east. With new homes and economic growth across East London, it becomes even more important that we deliver new greener transport links that allow Londoners to cross the river quickly and more easily.
“But we don’t want these to have a damaging impact on our environment, and that’s why I’ve reviewed and improved plans for Silvertown Tunnel and why I’m pushing forward with crossings that encourage public transport, walking and cycling.
“As we continue to unlock the massive economic potential of East London, we must secure the very best transport infrastructure that improves the quality of life for everyone living and working in the area.”
Alex Williams, Acting Managing Director of Planning at TfL, said London’s expanding population meant it was “vital” to support the plans. He commented: “The Mayor’s new vision for river crossings in East London is firmly rooted in supporting growth and providing better public transport links for all.
“We will now work hard to develop the designs for these new crossings, as well as identify potential funding opportunities, to allow them to be constructed more quickly.”
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News organisations descended onto a street in London to report on the latest terror attack to strike Europe recently.. A women in her 60s lay dead and 5 other people suffered stab wounds. Professor Charlie Beckett is Head of Polis a journalism think tank at the London School of Economics, and he spoke to Jason McCrossan on 106.9 SFM
Your mother may have told you to tidy your room, and she was right. Sleep guru Alison Francis, who is better known by her guru name, Anandi confirms the reasoning behind keeping the bedroom free from clutter.
A lack of sleep can come down to a number of contributing factors such as stress and an unbalanced diet.
The bedroom should be a place for sleep and relaxation, however a cluttered or dusty setting will not lead to a good night’s slumber. The feeling of being soothed and refreshed when entering a tidy beautiful space allows the build-up of the day’s stresses to diminish.
Anandi said, “Your bedroom is a sacred space. As soon as you walk across the threshold you should feel the tension melt away. Having scented candles, flowers and something that represents the spirit – such as a small altar with perhaps a crystal, or an image of a great spiritual teacher – can help you relax and sleep better.
“Curing sleep issues is a question of balance and absolutely holistic. One thing on its own is unlikely to work, but addressing all areas in your life will bring your body and mind back into equilibrium.
“Sleep deprivation can affect your weight, in that your metabolism can become out of balance. Two hormones in particular can cause this this to happen – Ghrelin and Leptin. Ghrelin, sends messages that tell you to go and eat and tends to be more present when you are sleep deprived. When there are higher levels of Ghrelin within the body, you will crave more food and in particular, sugar. The hormone Leptin sends messages that tell you to stop eating which is less present when sleep deprived.”
Anandi has written her first book called the ‘Breathe Better, Sleep Better’. It offers many practical tools including how to help detox the digestive system, how to calm the nervous system and how to stimulate your circulatory system.
Anandi’s journey started in the fitness industry in 1986. A born leader and teacher, she found herself teaching others throughout her career in fitness, beauty and wellness. She now lives in Italy and runs workshop and retreats, in Italy and London. Anandi is Alison Francis’s spiritual name given to her by her guru in India in 2007.
Useful links
Anandi: http://www.thesleepguru.co.uk/
Prince Charles has “mini Buckingham Palace” built at Poundbury, in honor of his late Grandmother.
A block of luxury flats, built as part of Prince Charles’ architectural project in the village of Poundbury village in Dorset, have been likened to Buckingham Palace.
Prince Charles styled the building as the centrepiece of Queen Mother Square, in honour of his late Grandmother, the Queen Mother, whose Father, Claude Bowes-Lyon was the 14th Earl of Strathmore.
The building is yellow and white, which separates it from Buckingham Palace in London, however the façade shows the true resemblance, with the same pillars, a classical and traditional style and the same doorways and shape. Strathmore House also features a large open balcony and the Royal crest.
The eight properties each have two or three bedrooms, high ceilings large windows and “rare attention to detail”, designed by the leading classical architects Quinlan & Francis Terry.
Simon Conibear, from the Duchy of Cornwall, said: “The square has been planned since the inception of the project. It is physically in the centre of Poundbury and will include a statue of the Queen Mother. His Royal Highness wanted to commemorate his grandmother.”
The luxury flats were quickly sold, at a price ranging between £575,000 – £650,000 each.
A spokesman for Parkers estate agents said: “The building has attracted a lot of attention, both locally, nationally and internationally. The apartments have sold to a variety of purchasers, with over half of them moving from within Dorset, and two others international.”
Once the square is completed, a statue of the Queen Mother will be placed in the centre.
Poundbury sits on 400 acres of land owned by Prince Charles, who created the traditional British village due to his strong ideas on environment and architecture.
A separate block of flats and a spa is being built on the other side of the square, and will be named the Royal Pavilion.
The Poundbury plan will result in a total of 2,500 homes when it is completed, which is expected to be 2025.
TheBank of England has cooked them in ovens, drowned them in red wine, stuck them in the microwave and run them through a 90C washing machine cycle with Persil washing power. It reckons the new £5 plastic notes – which go into circulation on 13 September – will be warmly welcomed by the British public. Jason chats to about the new £5 which is due to be released later in summer. Jason speaks to Jonathan Calloway from the International Bank Note Society.
Jason McCrossan 