22/11/2011 North West Tonight

Good evening, welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson and

Ranvir Singh. Our top story: Former Blackburn captain Garry

Flitcroft says press intrusion deepened the depression that led to

his father's suicide. It affected him a lot, something

was taking out of his life that you love to ring.

Comedian Steve Coogan tells the Leveson Inquiry that newspapers had

details of his bank withdrawals. Also in the programme:

Jailed for more than 80 years - the drugs gang who led police on this

chase through Liverpool. Everton two, Wolves 1.

As one broadcaster bows out, we meet the new voice of Saturday

afternoon football results. And as we prepare to up sticks, we

look back at our 30 years in Oxford Road and the faces who've made it

home The former Blackburn Rovers captain

Garry Flitcroft has told an inquiry that press coverage of his extra-

marital affairs had a devastating effect on his father, who later

committed suicide. Mr Flitcroft was giving evidence to

the Leveson Inquiry into press standards, set up in the wake of

the News of the World phone hacking scandal. The Manchester comedian

Steve Coogan also gave evidence today, as Rachel Foley reports.

Just to warn you, this report does include some flash photography.

His job as a former Premiership footballer put Garry Flitcroft in

the public eye. But today he told the press standards inquiry that

didn't mean his private life should be made public. If I had been done

for match-fixing or taking cocaine, that is in the public interest, but

I disagree with them putting it in. Mr Flitcroft believes journalists

discovered he'd had extra marital affairs by hacking his phone. But

he said he couldn't prove it. you have any firm evidential phone

was hacked? It is speculation, no evidence. Flitcroft's evidence

dates back to 2001, when he gained an injunction stopping the Sunday

People publishing details of his affairs. That November the paper

ran the story as an anonymous kiss and tell. Then in March 2002, the

ban on naming him was lifted. Soon after, Mr Flitcroft's father

stopped attending his matches because of the taunts being chanted

at his son. He suffered from depression, which grew worse. Six

years later, he committed suicide. It affected him a lot. Something

got it out of his life that he loved doing. Over the years, his

depression got worse. Manchester comedian Steve Coogan

also gave evidence today. He told the inquiry his personal details,

including his phone number and password, were recorded in the

notebook of the News of the World's private investigator. I saw a

redacted copy which had information about many I had withdrawn from a

cash machine, how much I had paid for a hotel built, what hotel I was

staying in and the precise amount of money I had withdrawn from the

cash machine which would suggest someone was looking over my

shoulder while I was doing it. inquiry continues tomorrow, and is

expected to take several months. A drugs gang from Liverpool who hid

cocaine in nappy bags and dealt drugs near a school have been sent

to jail for a total of more than 82 years. The gang included seven

members of the same extended family. Police also recovered an assault

rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from a car belonging to

one of the gang. Our Merseyside Reporter, Andy Gill, has the story.

Police video of the Mercedes being chased along busy roads. Eventually,

the driver is arrested. But not before he throws bags of heroin out

of the window. Police later recovered the drugs. The driver was

Mathew Mayor, one of 13 people now sentenced for their part in a major

drug conspiracy. They don't care where they are dealing. They are

dealing a young people. Again, very vulnerable people. Different

schools in the Anfield area. Respectable. In January this year -

- disputable. In January this year, police raided at home of the leader,

pole winning. Among the gang were seven members of the extended

Whitney family. Including Paul Whitney's father, mother and sister.

His mother Carol was video that they back later found to contain

thousands of Ecstasy tab tablets. The gang operated mainly on the

streets at Anfield, selling heroin and cocaine. Undercover police

discovered that they were so well organised they had separate phones

for day shifts and night shift so people could order drugs. A number

of raids were carried out in close proximity to a local school. When

police raided Leslie Whitney's home, his partner tried to pass a nappy

sack of cocaine wraps to her mother, Mary McCabe. On the same day

another gang member was filmed loading a case into school a's car.

Inside, is still an assault rifle and hundreds of rounds of

ammunition. -- it into Mary McKay but's car. Today, the gang were

jailed. Meanwhile, three men have been

jailed for running a drugs conspiracy that could have put more

than �3.5 billion worth of cocaine onto the streets of the North West.

Jamie Dale from Rochdale, John Cawley from Fleetwood and Barry

Hartley from Burnley were secretly filmed by police handling drums of

imported chemicals were to be mixed with pure cocaine. The Serious

Organised Crime Agency have made a further 52 arrests as a result of

the investigation. It's emerged tissue samples taken

during the post mortem examination of a number of Hillsborough victims

were retained for further examination without relatives being

informed. The Hillsborough Independent Panel, which is

reviewing the tragedy and its aftermath, has written to ten

families telling them their loved one was affected. It was standard

practice at the time but, following the Alder Hey organs scandal, it is

now illegal. It's been confirmed the Liverpool

Coastguard station will close. But a rescue team is being kept on

Merseyside. It's part of a re- organisation of the coastguard

service which will see the closure of eight stations. The station will

be phased out by 2015, despite months of campaigning from

residents. A man has been jailed after admitting riding a quad bike

around town with a three-year-old boy on the petrol tank.

When Vinny Derrick left his wife and baby son to go on a night out

in Manchester, he kissed them goodbye, saying he would return the

next morning. Vinny hasn't been seen since.

Eight years later, his wife Vicki says her life is still on hold.

Today she asked MPs at Westminster to change the law to help the

relatives of those who disappear without trace. Naomi Cornwell

reports. One day I was part of the family

and the next day I was a single mum. Vicki Derrick's life has been in

limbo since her husband Vinny disappeared. After a night out in

Manchester city centre in 2003 he caught a taxi to a friend's house

but never arrived. A police investigation was launched but

found no clues to his whereabouts. In the eight years since, Vicki

Derrick has gone through the courts to dissolve their marriage but

despite a lengthy legal struggle she is still unable to come trained

-- to gain control of their joint bank account or mortgage. Today she

gave evidence to the House of Commons justice committee as they

looked at a possible change in the law. You are not only living with

the fact that your husband has gone missing, you don't know why or what

happened. We had a two-and-a-half- year-old little boy at the time.

There is a lot of pressure and not enough help out there. In Scotland,

relatives can obtain a legal certificate citing the person is

officially presumed dead. That is not always possible in England.

can get a declaration of the dissolution of your marriage on the

basis that your husband has died, but that is a different application

to making one for a presumption of death to enable you to deal with

his investments or life policy, for example. So yes, there can be a

number of applications and the court procedure is, blacks.

Somebody like me would not normally do something like this -- it is

complex. I hope we will get a positive outcome that everybody

deserves. Vicki Derrick hopes other families will receive the help that

families will receive the help that The Employment Minister was in

Liverpool today, saying now is the time to get tough in the fight to

get people off benefits and into work.

Chris Grayling says he'll do more to help the unemployed to find a

job, but those people have to do more to help themselves. The

question is, are there enough jobs out there? In a moment we'll hear

from Mr Grayling himself. First, here's our Economics Correspondent

Jayne Barrett. Youth unemployment has hit a

million, UK unemployment is at a 17 year high. In Liverpool today, this

was not the kind of chit-chat the Employment Minister was used to.

The truth is, in my first day I got an interview. Stephen is the

perfect poster boy for the work programme. Out of work for 12

months, he is finally back in a job. They said from day one, we can get

you a job in a matter of months. It was less than that, less than a

month before I started a sheet. long since she worked? But Stephen

is in a minority. This is one of the work programmes provided,

private companies pay to get people into work. Of that of hundred

through their doors, they found jobs for just 100. Is that good

enough? I say it could always be better. Are their jobs out there?

There are jobs out there. number of people signing on

jobseeker's allowance here has garnered 10% Ind of months. The

government might want people to find a job but there is concerned

those jobs do not exist -- has blown up 10% in the last 12 months.

And up-skilling cause for the unemployed. Some are here because

they want to be, others are here because they risk losing benefits.

There are concerns some work targets are unrealistic. People are

falling over each other for jobs. The expectation is you apply for

three jobs a week, I am lucky if I can find three a month.

government says half of those told to do a compulsory four week work-

experience did not turn up. Now is the time to get tough. The aim is

to send a clear message, we want to help you get back to work but if

you will not expect -- accept hub, you cannot expect payments.

Prime Minister is clear, if people refuse to go to a recommended job,

they will have to pay a price. No more can people pick and choose.

Expectations will have to change to match the jobs out there.

Last night you heard how tribunal courts were awash with appeals

against benefit decisions. I asked Chris Grayling if he thought people

were falling victim to a benefit system failing to cope with the

recession and welfare reform. Clearly we face the challenges and

there has been an increase in the numbers of people on jobseeker's

allowance but overall the system is capable of coping. The government

is losing almost 40% of benefits appeals. That is an awful lot of

genuine claimants being forced to fight for what they are entitled to.

The issues around the appeal process, the numbers of Appeal that

are successful, are part of the system we inherited. The changes we

put in place this year will, I hope, make that different. Their stock

about the work programme where anyone out of work for a year is

mandated to do certain things every week or they lose benefits. Most

people would say that is fair, but we spoke to someone in Rochdale who

said he is forced to apply for four jobs a week or were -- all will

lose his benefits but says he is lucky to see four jobs a month to

go for. This programme is providing people with tailored support. They

sit down with a tailored job coach, go through preparation and training

sessions for individual sectors. But that is a problem, in the

private sector there are not enough jobs. The truth is I have just come

from a centre in Liverpool where, as we speak, they are helping

people get into work. That is happening around the country.

there enough jobs in the private sector? People are saying to us

that while there reforms are encouraging them to apply to more

jobs, there simply are not enough in the private sector for them to

go for. So they are going to lose their benefits whether they want to

work or not? That is simply not correct. When you go to a work

programme provider, we do not apply rules to the interaction, it is for

them to tailor a programme that works for you individually. If you

visit the providers and listen to what they are doing, they are

succeeding today, right now, in all parts of the UK in helping people

find Chris Grayling, many thanks. -- in helping people find jobs.

Still to come on North West Tonight: We meet the man with a

voice that will soon be familiar to football fans across the country.

And the changing face of news in the North West by the people who

know it best. Some wonderful I think Stuart Hall might be

interested in this next item. His beloved Manchester City are

involved. Manchester City and Manchester

United play in the Champions League tonight with qualification for the

next stage of the competition a real possibility for both clubs.

City are in Italy as they prepare to face Napoli, while Manchester

United host Benfica at Old Trafford, from where we can now join our

reporter Ian Haslam. Welcome to Old Trafford, about an

hour to go ahead of the most romantic of European football

fixtures if you are a Manchester United fans. It is a repeat of the

famous 1968 European Cup final which United won against Benfica.

Not as much at stake tonight there Manchester United know if they can

get a win here it could seal qualification for the knockout

stages of the Champions' League. Meanwhile Manchester City in their

first ever Champions' League campaign know a win in Napoli will

take them three. Winning at Napoli is something no

team has managed in Europe for 17 years but the stains it seems

anything is possible in Manchester City. There is no doubt this has

been a dream season for Manchester City's their fire and it keeps

getting better. Tonight they have the chance to make history. It will

be a very hard game but we know that if we play very well, it is

important for us to play a very well. It is the biggest thing we

have to them. There is not a City supporter who is not buzzing about

it. There is no limit to what we could do. We are excited, but take

nothing for granted as a City fan. Taking nothing for granted but

aware of the importance of continued progress in Europe is one

of the most popular former players. It probably has gone above our

expectations but the guys know what they need to do, they know what it

takes, we have got a lot of experience in our side. It has been

a building process and if we get through it will be a fantastic

achievement and kick-start the new year. Of course, making the

knockout stages has been a must for Manchester United. If Basel failed

to win, victory over Benfica will be enough for Alex Ferguson's side.

It is a very pressing game for both teams, both want to win, so it

should make it an open match. Hopefully we will get the result we

won. -- result we want. A big night ahead here at Old

Trafford and in Italy where Manchester City are in action

against Napoli. A warning has gone out to Manchester City fans to be

on their guard after a number of stabbing incidents involving

foreign football fans in Italy over the previous seasons. We hope all

of the City fans return home safe and well with the result they want.

Fall match commentary is on BBC Radio Manchester and we will talk

about both matches on tomorrow night's show.

Thank you. It's a surprising fact that, in all

the years the football results have been read out on BBC television,

only two people have been employed to do it. They have had a few

people in some time to time to cover sick leave.

You were one of them. I was, but you are about to meet

the third. One of the most familiar voices to the nation's football

fans put down his microphone for the final time last weekend. For 16

years, Tim Gudgin has been the man delivering the news that could make

or break your weekend. East Fife, 4. Forfar Athletic,

Time for the finals course, read by Tim Gudgin. Aston Villa and which -

- and West Bromwich Albion, match postponed because they are playing

tomorrow. The pools Panel said a home win. Surrey, a no-score draw!

That is a fine start! And here is the man who will be

doing it from this Saturday. Mike West, as you know, from BBC Radio

Lancashire. Congratulations. That is very kind of you. I did not know

you had done this job! Nowhere near as well as you will do it, I am

sure! Glen Martin was the first, then Tim Gudgin. Just two in 50

years, so no pressure. You will be an old man when you finish! I hope

so! Two consummate professionals. It is great to have a job like this,

it is an iconic moment in the broadcasting week, the Saturday

results, but you think, I am following a public treasure who is

such a good professional. We have got some results for you, we

thought maybe you could read them. In the real thing you have got to

read them off the screen that the viewers will see? I have, do I have

to do that now? I was worried you might give me the Chinese First

Division! But these results are from the FA Cup quarter-finals and

That is a TV exclusive! Nobody has heard you do that before. No.

have been walking around practising, even the other day in Preston in a

quiet street, I thought, I will have a go. There was a man behind

me who thought I was bonkers! Now I only practise indoors. Do you have

to gargle? When you have a hot lemon? I have read Tim's interviews,

he says he does nothing at all, he has got such a good voice. 82,

still going strong. I have taken some advice about some old wives

tales, some people say that spring vinegar and olive oil, sprays that

you can get, so I am looking into it. I notice they didn't ask me, so

obviously I didn't do a good job when I filled in! How did you get a

job like that? I think the editor of the programme wrote to the local

radio sports editors and kindly my sports editor at Radio Lancashire

came to me one day and said, do you fancy doing this? I said, well, yes.

Didn't think any more about it, a few days later, can you send a

tape? Then, can you send another take? You know Gary Phillips macro

I did, we used to work together -- you know Gary... Well, very well

done. Thank you, I am looking forward to it. My team, Everton,

are the first result I will read out a. We will listen out for any

bias in your voice! Now, over the years many people

have occupied these seats. But not for much longer as the BBC bids

farewell to these studios in Oxford Road and moves to MediaCity UK in

Salford Quays. Dave Guest is spending this week

wandering down memory lane. He has been here a few years himself. And

he's been meeting some former residents of this studio.

It is 1981 and there is a new arrival at the BBC's Oxford Road HQ.

Look not West and its successor, North West Tonight, which would be

resident here for the next three decades. To come to a brand new

building with brand new equipment and dressing rooms, the luxury of

having somewhere to get changed every day before the programme was

fantastic. Welcome to the North West Tonight presenters dressing

room. Glamorous, isn't it? Over the years, people have come and gone.

Imagine how many famous faces must have stared into this mirror. Some

numerical, others you may not, but there is one face no one could

forget. Good evening to you. After the most dramatic party conference

season for many years... I have always said it should be

seen as, the division between network and regional television. --

it should be seamless. We formed a great team, some wonderful

broadcasters came through. Detectives investigating the murder

in Castle to... It is 1983 and a new kit has arrived on the block. I

wonder what happened to him. But the other new arrival in this year

was this. With regional news bulletins every half-hour through

the morning, the Manchester team had to be expanded. We were

scratching our heads, thinking, does anybody want to watch at this

ungodly hour? But yes, they did, in quite big numbers. A few years

later, it Malk into North West Tonight, with a now familiar double

act at the helm. People used to compare us to Morcambe and Wise but

that was more about comparing him to a brash seaside resort and me

Winifred Robinson always aimed to be thought-provoking and she was

determined to be taken seriously as a journalist. I remember once being

sent to an exhibition of Japanese artefacts and the producer asking

if I would dress in a kimono. I remember saying to him, well, which

you ask one of the male reporters to dress in a kimono? Well, some of

the chaps were not averse to dressing up. These little fellas

are all authentic, aren't they? Hello, Chester. The annual food

appeal was popular for many years that almost cost Stuart Ward dear.

He contracted bronchitis was on the road and a reaction to medication

had extreme effects -- almost cost Stuart Hall dear. My wife and son

came down and said, what have you been doing? I said, the food appeal

almost cost my life! In 1997, a new, and yet strangely familiar face

took over at north-western like. was daunting, first and foremost,

because I had not done live television for a long time -- took

over at North West Tonight. When I went home every night in this first

two weeks, I was like an old grandad because, as I sat down when

I got time, I would fall asleep in a chair because it is very mentally

stretching doing a live programme. Well, stretching or not, Gordon was

to spend 15 years in the hot seat. Tomorrow, we will be meeting some

of the reporters who go to any I can't believe he put himself in

that! He was just showing how good- looking he was back in the day!

Lots of presenters, but perhaps only one weather presenter.

I have been through Gordon, and the pair of you, I will be 156 and

still standing here! If you are looking for a change in

the weather, we will see it tonight because we are heading into a

The many places, it has been a fairly pleasant afternoon. Tomorrow,

the temperatures will be better, but the weather will not look so

good. We have hardly a cloud in the sky for many places for quite as

the hours tonight. This is when temperatures start to dive down. In

rural areas, easily down to zero, so we are looking at a widespread

frosts in rural areas. Towns and cities, a three for most places,

perhaps a six along the coast. For many people it will be the first

serious frost of the season and you will notice it tomorrow. Away from

that chilly start, the sun is up at 7:48am, later and later at the

moment. Perhaps as bottom drizzle in northern Lancashire and Cumbria,

but anywhere to the south of that predominantly cloudy, predominantly

dry. The best of the weather today in the Isle of Man and Cumbria,

tomorrow it will be Merseyside and Cheshire. Couple of hours of

How many times as your wardrobe changed?

Very rarely! Not often enough! Can you remember your first day?