19/03/2012 North West Tonight

Good evening. Fares for Fabrice it - a football unites in shock to as

the midfielder fights for his life. All those kinds of things run a

three ahead and just feel powerless. They were a devoted couple - so why

did and 92-year-old husband kill himself and his elderly wife?

Show us your money - how to get shoppers spending on our high

streets again. And watch the programme a little

bit later and you can find out more about my exhibition at the House of

Annie Lennox. A in the heady world of Premier

League football we are used to headlines involving wealth, glamour

and scandal. But one footballer has brought the sport together in

prayer. Fabrice Muamba has survived civil war to shine in a game where

he has shown great promise. Tonight, he remains in hospital after

collapsing in front of millions of years whilst playing against Spurs.

Visitors have been at the hospital all day in London. People have been

arriving at the Reebok Stadium all day.

Some slightly more encouraging news about his condition from the club

just a short time ago. I statement was released by the

club earlier on this afternoon. Fabrice Muamba it remains in

intensive care at the London chest Hospital where he is showing some

signs of improvement. His heart is now beating without the help of

medication and he is moving house at arms and legs. His long-term the

prognosis will remain unclear for some time.

Football figures including the England defender Ashley Cole had

been among the many people visiting him today, along with on -- along

with club manager Owen Coyle. We all know he is such a wonderful

flat. He is a young man, I hope that will help in this brave fight

that he is undergoing at the moment. That here in Bolton, messages of

support are continuing to come end from throughout the world. A number

of football shirts down here - clubs from all over sending their

good wishes. Interestingly, in the last hour, the Sunderland coach

called up here. They have left assure it which says, get well soon.

It is signed by all the members of the Sunderland team.

At terrific gesture, and as many have said, football has been united.

Fabrice Muamba has had a tough upbringing. Tell us a bit more

about his journey. His rise to the top of his profession has been a

very difficult one. He was boring in what is now known as the

Democratic Republic of the Congo. He came over here aged 11 years as

an asylum seeker. He could not speak English at the time, despite

that he passed all his exams and went on to become a footballer. He

is regarded as a role model off the pitch, a very much tenacious

midfielder player on it. For almost two decades, they had

been a devoted couple. When 92- year-old Stanley Wilson stabbed and

strangled his wife Peggie there were should -- there was shock

among us family and friends in south Cumbria.

Today, an inquest said that he acted out of character following an

eye examination -- i operation. Why, in February last year did

Stanley kill his wife end what has been called by sustained and

violent assaults before turning the knife on himself?

Witnesses have said that he changed in the last few months of his life.

He was struggling with fading sight. Stanley had become paranoid,

accusing Peggie and his family of trying to poison pen and make

changes to his well. On February 17th, he was discharged from the

Royal Lancaster Infirmary. His friend said he was horrified when

he found out, because of the condition he had then Stanley in.

His son said that he phoned his father who was quite short with him.

The following day he be came round to check on him and find their

bodies in the front bedroom. Tomorrow, some of the medical staff

who cared for him in a spinal weeks will be giving evidence. The

inquest is expected to last for three days.

The Home Secretary Theresa May has ordered an inquiry into the leak of

confidential government documents which showed that a police officer

blamed drunken Liverpool fans for the Hillsborough disaster.

Information was in -- was part of a briefing to Margaret Thatcher. The

official inquiry blamed the police and not the fans.

The Victorian water means in high tenor are being restored. There was

a dramatic first last year, causing water to shoot 40 feet into the air,

flooding streets and affecting more than 200 homes and businesses.

A leading South Cumbrian politician has died suddenly. Brendan Jameson

was the Liberal Democrat -- the Liberal Democrat leader of Kendall

Fell. When it comes to the economy, we

could be at the forefront of expanding export opportunities. But

we also have more her empty shops and I street than anywhere else in

the UK. How can we exploit that potential

and effectively tackle our problems? That is the subject of a

north-west tonight special. We gathered together groups of

politicians, and members of the public.

On the face of it, though statistics look pretty gloomy.

16,000 people became unemployed in January. That was the highest rise

in the UK. But it is not all bad. According to research by the BBC,

buckle -- when it comes to expanding export this region is

among the top three. EDM make a training and military equipment.

However, the boss says that the Government needs to do more to

support firms such as his. We need the Government to be

supportive and strategic for us and for business across the country, to

export our way out of the trouble that we are currently in. Despite

that trouble, more and more new businesses are starting up.

Warrington saw the most modest increase, and Stockport the biggest,

with more than 2,300 starting out there. But Stockport has another

claim to fame. The time has more empty shops and anywhere else in

the country, with almost one in three town-centre shops currently

vacant. This is Illyas Yusuf's shop in the town centre. He has seen

businesses all around him go under. He wants to know what can be done

to get customers back on to our High Street. It was one of the

questions raised during a special Northwest Tonight debate. We can

find solutions working in partnership with pencils and

businesses. We could do something about the 80. We recently abolished

parking dirges and retail sales went up by 25 per cent.

Travel link across the UK and in just seven days, it will arrive in

the north-west. We are talking about the Olympic -- the Olympic

torch. They are going to get their hands on it? It arrives in

Liverpool on the 1st June and that is where our reporter is now.

They are expecting huge crowds here in Liverpool when the torch arrives

on the 1st June. We are told there will be a very special performance

by air very special guest our guests, but we're not been told he

get. We will know more in a few weeks hopefully. 30 miles down the

road, it is Chester's big moment, that is where the tort enters the

north-west for the first time. Getting ready for an invasion of

torch-bearers - the north-west gets its first glimpse of the torch in

Chester on 29th May. The really takes inner-city sites and

culminates in a party at the racecourse. We have 500 dancers

from Cheshire, and we will end the evening on the most amazing display

of fireworks and music. I at large will enter and leave the

region three times. It will go to Bolton, then to Liverpool by at and

Mersey ferry, then over to the Isle of Man on June 2nd. On 21st June it

is back, this time arriving by boat. The next day it tends to Blackpool

and by June 23rd it travels through Preston on route to Manchester. It

will go to Leeds on the 24th. But he carries the torch like this?

From hundreds and nominated, these are just a few of the community

champions warming up for the really. To do something to be part of it is

just fantastic. Family and friends will be there, guys from the

regiment. It will be a fantastic day for everybody. They have got me

running around already. At four Phil details about the race

and the torch-bearers, Goto the BBC 2012 website. The organisers want

families and communities to come out - a bit like these guys. They

will be taking part on the day. the beat of the event, there is the

youth orchestra, then woo will have some dancing and singing workshops.

Fantastic. And on the day itself, what Toby -- what will we be

expecting? We will be performing the Greek ceremonies. There will be

dancing, fireworks, communities coming closer together.

I believe you even have a celebrity guest. We will also have Olympic

stick making. Would like the community to come

together, because it is an opportunity we will never see again.

You'll never get that opportunity again. I reckon it is 71 days until

the Taj enters the north-west for the first time. Make sure you lock

onto that website. You were almost in danger of being

Richard's here with the sport now. This weekend's results taking a

back seat with the health of Fabrice Muamba the top priority.

Yes, while Fabrice remains seriously ill everyone at the

Reebok is of course focussing on him and I think that's been

underlined today by the decision to postpone tomorrow night's match

against Aston Villa Bolton are still involved in a relegation

battle and remain in the FA Cup of course. Yes, they have a huge match

with Blackburn on Saturday in the Premier League. As for the FA Cup,

there have been suggestions the club may pull out of the cup as

players are too upset to return to White Hart Lane, although Captain

Kevin Davies says a decision hasn't yet been made. It is just

irrelevant at the minute, we will have to make that decision but the

immediate focus is with Fabrice Muamba and his family. We will make

a decision in the next couple of days but at the moment we can only

think of Fabrice Muamba. To matters on the field now and an all-

Merseyside FA Cup semi-final is on the cards - and Manchester United's

position at the top of the Premiership was consolidated

yesterday with a thumping win at Wolves. Mark Edwardson's been

looking at the action. When Luis Suarez gave Liverpool the lead

after a one-two with Maxi Rodriguez. But Peter Crouch was back to haunt

his former team with a header to give Stoke City an equaliser. In

the 57th minute Stuart Downing picked up Steven Gerrard's mis-

controlled backheel to drill the a fierce left-footed shot past

Sorensen. Two-one to Liverpool and a trip to Wembley booked. No. 1.

is Liverpool, against Everton or Sunderland. To play a Merseyside

derby at Wembley would be really special, we will see what happens.

Dirk's dream depends on Everton beating Sunderland in their replay

next week. David Moyes' side were 1-0 down courtesy of Phil

Bardsley's powerful free kick early in in Saturday's game. Tim Cahill's

skilful shot benefiting from a little good fortune redressed the

balance. And that's how it ended - way before Wembley, the Toffees

will pay a visit to the The Stadium of Light. In the Premiership,

Manchester United demolished Wolves 5-nil. Johnny Evans opened United's

account; Antonio Valencia and Danny Wellbeck helped themselves to one-

each; Javier Hernandez finishing with a brace. It's tight at the

bottom - and at the DW on Saturday, James McArthur's 54th minute goal

must have given Wigan hope they could be out of the drop zone by

tea-time. But the dream of three points evaporated when Latics old

boy, Paul Scharner equalised for West Brom. Sometimes with seven or

eight players, they would have chances. But they cannot score and

are always conceding. You can see why they are bottom. Full time, 1-1.

In the Championship Blackpool beat play-off rivals Brighton 3-1 to

move into 5th spot. Ian Evatt with Blackpool's first, Kevin Phillips

netting the other two. And Rochdale's relegation worries eased,

slightly, but at the expense of neighbours, Oldham. Latics' Reuben

Reid's volley may have been goal of the game. But Michael Symes hat

trick for 'Dale was unassailable in their 3-2 win.

Macclesfield Town have wasted no time in replacing their manager

Gary Simpson and have re-appointed former boss Brian Horton. Simpson

leaves the league 2 side without a win in 16 matches after their

latest defeat to Dagenham on the weekend. Horton who was recently

Preston's assistant manager re- joins the side he left in 2006.

And on the subject of sackings and one of our biggest rugby league

clubs took a very big decision today. St Helens are looking for a

new coach after dismissing Royce Simmons following the club's worst

run of form for 23 years. But it has shocked many in the sport. Last

season Simmons steered Saints to Super League's Grand Final. Just

seven games into the season, he may have expected more time, but after

four defeat in a row, the club have decided to his time is up. He has

not been very successful, not a surprise. I am surprised, we don't

wanted to go the way of soccer where people get sacked after four

matches. You cannot win every game but I don't think they have ever

played as bad as this. Saints fans are used to success, and with a new

stadium expectations are higher than ever. I can understand the

situation, a club like St Helens, in the run of form they are, worst

for 20 years, in a new stadium, a new era, you have to do something.

Nobody from the club was available for interview, the chairman is out

of the country, but he released a says -- statement where he thanked

the coach for his time, but he said it was better to act sooner rather

than later. The have turned to another member of the staff to lead

the team, the legendary former skipper alongside him. In Mike, you

have a man who has nurtured many of these young lads, development to a

fine art. Kieran is an old warhorse, he has been there and seen it and

knows how to win. Nathan Brown is another name widely mentioned as a

possible long-term replacement, but in the short term, the focus will

be on restoring some needed focus to a team normally full of it.

And you can see all the action from the weekend's Super League matches

in the Super League Show on BBC One at 11:45pm tonight. Talking about

sport relief. 50% of all the money you raise for Sport Relief is spent

in the UK and in 2010 that meant �2.4 million was used to fund over

300 projects right here in the North West. One of those projects

is M13 in Ardwick in Manchester. Their project workers organise and

run a competitive football club in an area where young people face

high levels of unemployment, violent crime and gang activity.

And - as a result of their good work - over 300 13-25 year olds

benefit directly from the money you give to Sport Relief. This was

formed years ago, we work primarily on the streets. It is categorised

as a poor area because of issues such as unemployment, low education

and drug addiction. Gang involvement and incidence of

violent crime to. I was involved, not so much with gangs but I was

affiliated with them. The area suffered from gang culture. Many

people were suffering. I knew somebody who was murdered, and that

challenged us to think about how life was and what we wanted from

life. Walk-in so we are a bit warmer, please. Reaching young

people through football is of massive benefit, we work with

people from neighbouring areas and they come together as one team.

certain players might have come in initially and had issues in regards

to temperaments, timekeeping. The coach is trying to challenge us,

and, we feel in a place where we are accepted. We have been stable,

consistent, a place of belonging over a long period of time. We have

been there when they have fallen and there to pick themselves up.

Really, it has gone to the places where other organisations might not

have been able to access. That is why we have made a difference.

If that's inspired you to do your bit for this year's appeal then log

on to bbc.co.uk/sportrelief and sign up to do a sport relief mile

next Sunday - that's March 25th. And I'll be joining Graham Liver on

his tandem later in the week as he cycles from the Olympic Park in

London to Preston to raise money for local Sport Relief projects.

Log on now to bbc.co.uk/lancashire to find out how to donate. We will

see you and Ted Robbins. She is one of the most successful

musicians in the world who can pull audiences in the thousands. But

Annie Lennox chose to perform an intimate gig in front of just 50

local people from Salford. The gig launched a major exhibition about

her life and work at the Lowry. It's a collection of treasured

objects which has inspired her to write songs that have sold over 80

million records around the world. Eno Eruotor's been to meet her.

Sweet dreams definitely are made of this, an OBE from the Queen, 17

albums recorded and 80 million records sold. Annie Lennox is

renowned for her music and her iconic personal style, during the

Eighties and Nineties. A I always had ideas about how I wanted to

present myself. I was resistant about anybody saying this was the

latest style. I have these cabinets of curiosity, I read about them in

the 17 hundreds, I wanted to do my own. The East exhibition is all

about the world of Annie Lennox, this is the House of Lennox. We

have an Ivor Novello award, and we have some handwritten lyrics here,

at Annie Lennox's desk. Some of the most fabulous outfits that she has

warned. The Union Jack suits which we war, for the lifetime

achievement award at the Brit, there is some humour in creating

them from a flag. I hope I do not seem as po-faced as I might have

seemed. 50 people will have gone to a kick so intimate we are not

allowed to film it. It was like having had at your home. In your

living-room. A I have been two concerts where you are 100 yards

away. This was unbelievable. It was a little bit surreal, to be fair.

love that thing about performance, the suit was about empowerment. I

am as good as a man. You will not mess with me. If you want to go to

the House of Lennox, it is open until 17th July. To say that she

was gloating is an understatement, she saw all seven songs. Should we

read anything into it Diane's outfit. I don't think this week

will be bad, but it is just a will be bad, but it is just a

We have a weather front tonight, if you watch the warm air, coming in

from the south-west, it changes and we start to get Continental as the

week goes on. It will be dry and the Pennines will break up the

cloud cover. We will see more in the way of sunshine, we saw it

through the day, but if you watch how the wind does change to become

South easterly, it does look quite promising as the week goes on.

Always a but in a weather forecast, we have this weather front to come

through, through the day to day after a really chilly start. Cloud

cover is broken quite nicely, we are waiting for this weather front,

moving down across the region tonight. It is decaying as it comes

in, falling apart, most of the rain for most of us will be light and

patchy. Over Lancashire way could be patchy, but not a massive factor

for most. Temperatures will be up through the night, much better than

last night, about eight degrees. That weather front will be around

in the morning, with cloud cover but room for improvement. Pass

lunchtime, cloud cover starting to thin and break just about

everywhere. Much brighter skies, there will be some nice bells of

sunshine. Not wall-to-wall sunshine, but enough to make a big difference.

The temperatures, the further south, the better. It could make 15 in