0:00:00 > 0:00:00rain were halted because police had failed to disclose key evidence.
0:00:00 > 0:00:01That's all from the News at Six
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Tonight on BBC London News.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09As police release more details about the case of a double murder
0:00:09 > 0:00:13of a father and daughter from Deptford, staff at the school
0:00:13 > 0:00:15where Marie worked say they're doing their best to support
0:00:15 > 0:00:18children and staff.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22One of the questions has been that no, we don't know who has done this
0:00:22 > 0:00:26and that is a very tough question to answer.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Also tonight...
0:00:29 > 0:00:31You know it's Christmas when engineering work on the railways
0:00:31 > 0:00:32brings huge disruption.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36We'll tell you all you need to know and where to avoid.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Relatives of the late singer George Michael say they do
0:00:39 > 0:00:45want the fan's memorial outside his home to stay.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48And the show must go on - how the neglected art of Variety
0:00:48 > 0:00:53performance has been given a new lease of life.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Good evening and welcome to the programme.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06I'm Alex Bushill.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Police are hunting a man with a backpack they believe may
0:01:09 > 0:01:11know something about the double murder of a father
0:01:11 > 0:01:13and daughter in Deptford.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Noel Brown's body was found next to his daughter Marie,
0:01:16 > 0:01:21at his home in Deptford.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Police believe Mr Brown's daughter, who worked at a nearby
0:01:23 > 0:01:26primary school, was also killed when she went to check on her father
0:01:26 > 0:01:28and may have inadvertently disturbed the killer.
0:01:28 > 0:01:29Tolu Adeoye has spoken exclusively to staff
0:01:29 > 0:01:37at the school where Marie worked.
0:01:37 > 0:01:43Who killed Marie and Noel Browne? More than two weeks after the father
0:01:43 > 0:01:47and daughter were found dead at his flat in Deptford, the police have
0:01:47 > 0:01:54made no arrests. Today, staff at the school where Marie was able creche
0:01:54 > 0:02:00worker, have spoken about how this has affected the school community.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05This was horrendous news to receive, completely devastated. Marie was an
0:02:05 > 0:02:11incredibly kind and loving person, very patient. Obviously, she was a
0:02:11 > 0:02:16very valued colleague, much loved friend, but we must not forget that
0:02:16 > 0:02:20first and foremost she was a much loved mum and we have two girls who
0:02:20 > 0:02:25have lost their mum and their grandfather.Marie's father was last
0:02:25 > 0:02:30seen alive on Thursday 30th of November at a betting shop he
0:02:30 > 0:02:35regularly visited. Police say he had likely been killed by the following
0:02:35 > 0:02:41morning. Marie Brown is thought to have visited her father's flat after
0:02:41 > 0:02:46she was worried that she could not get in touch with him. She was never
0:02:46 > 0:02:52seen alive again. Police leave she may have seen her father's attacker
0:02:52 > 0:02:56as they tried to dismember his body. Police say some body parts have not
0:02:56 > 0:03:02been found. They have released CCTV footage of a man seen behaving
0:03:02 > 0:03:07suspiciously in the area.The main suspect is seen in the early hours
0:03:07 > 0:03:11of Saturday morning and then he is seen here as he enters the estate,
0:03:11 > 0:03:16having avoided members of the public waiting underneath some bushes to
0:03:16 > 0:03:21enter and going to know's flat. The CCTV is not fantastic at the moment
0:03:21 > 0:03:28that you can see a clear big rucksack on his back. He has got it
0:03:28 > 0:03:33over his shoulder. I want police to focus on the detail, even though it
0:03:33 > 0:03:37is the back of him. They may know that person to be their neighbour,
0:03:37 > 0:03:44somebody they know or anybody.There are no clear motive is for the
0:03:44 > 0:03:48murders. Noel Brown is a convicted sex offender and the gamble but
0:03:48 > 0:03:53please do not believe those are reasons for his killing. The
0:03:53 > 0:03:58questions about who and why remain. The children have been asking
0:03:58 > 0:04:02questions we have been answering very honestly. One of the questions
0:04:02 > 0:04:07has been, no, we don't know who yet has done this, and that is a very
0:04:07 > 0:04:13tough question to answer.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Lots more to come including...
0:04:15 > 0:04:17The faulty water pipes, the Essex estate and the £2,000
0:04:17 > 0:04:18council bill to repair them.
0:04:18 > 0:04:26Residents say the council has ruined Christmas.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Christmas comes but once a year - and sure enough, it's guaranteed
0:04:29 > 0:04:33to bring with it engineering works on the railways.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35This year is no different and Network Rail is drafting
0:04:35 > 0:04:39in thousands of engineers to carry out the work.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42It's of little consolation for those who will be caught up in one
0:04:42 > 0:04:44of the most disrupted Christmas gateways ever.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Our transport correspondent, Tom Edwards can tell us more.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50If you're going to try and get around the capital over
0:04:50 > 0:04:52the Christmas period, it might not be
0:04:52 > 0:04:54as easy as you think.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Beware Christmas disruption and the annual engineering works
0:04:57 > 0:05:02are just around the corner.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05London Bridge station much quieter than normal this morning.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09And next week, along with some major rail stations in the capital,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12it will be shut completely for ten days, while new
0:05:12 > 0:05:17signalling is fitted.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Traditionally, the railway has always carried out work
0:05:20 > 0:05:25during the bank holidays.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27We have to shut down during these periods
0:05:27 > 0:05:33because it is the quietest periods.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35They are the times that are traditionally less
0:05:35 > 0:05:38busy on the railway, so it is the most appropriate time.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40There is no public transport at all on Christmas Day,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43and over the break, most train timetables will be amended.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45There's also engineering work on the tube and industrial
0:05:45 > 0:05:52action on Greater Anglia, South-Western Railways and the DLR.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54South-Eastern services at London Bridge will be
0:05:54 > 0:05:56closed for ten days, as will Cannon Street Station
0:05:56 > 0:05:59and Charing Cross.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Paddington will also be shut for four days.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05In the Thames Valley tracks are being replaced and new power
0:06:05 > 0:06:08lines will mean these electric trains will be able to run
0:06:08 > 0:06:16on the Great Western.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19It's taking out the 1970s track and installing it with faster,
0:06:19 > 0:06:20more reliable equipment.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Network Rail says it is confident it will finish on time
0:06:23 > 0:06:26and the work is essential.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29So as ever, check before you travel.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31There is a lot of detail.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35If you want to find out more, you can go to our website
0:06:35 > 0:06:41or our Twitter page.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Good luck to anyone braving the Christmas getaway!
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Three men have been arrested following a series of police raids
0:06:48 > 0:06:50aimed at reducing the huge rise in moped crime.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53The men are believed to have stolen more than £60,000 worth of luxury
0:06:53 > 0:06:56items from shops in the City over the last few months.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Frankie McCamley joined officers during the dawn operation.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00A warning that Frankie's film contains flashing
0:07:00 > 0:07:04images from the start.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08One of four police raids in the early hours of this morning.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10It is part of Operation Winter Night, cracking down on crime
0:07:10 > 0:07:13and anti-social behaviour.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17The focus today, those using mopeds to carry out robberies.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19The man being arrested inside is alleged to have taken part
0:07:19 > 0:07:22in a series of smash and grab raids using mopeds and an axe,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25which police say they found just behind the front door.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28As officers retrieved the axe from the property,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31the 18-year-old is taken into police custody.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34He is one of three arrests made across the city.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38All are men aged between 17 and 20.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Officers believe the suspects were involved in four recent thefts,
0:07:41 > 0:07:45taking off with thousands of pounds worth of luxury merchandise.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50Each time, mopeds were used.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53The people involved in these type of offences are a real menace
0:07:53 > 0:07:56to society and they blight our communities, so we recognise we must
0:07:56 > 0:07:57do more to tackle this issue.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00An issue which not only involves theft but is often linked
0:08:00 > 0:08:03to knife and drug crime, and has seen what has been described
0:08:03 > 0:08:06as an extraordinary rise.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10In the last 12 months, mopeds have been involved
0:08:10 > 0:08:11in nearly 23,000 offences, compared with just
0:08:12 > 0:08:158000 the year before.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16That is near threefold increase.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19I think some it is generational.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22I also think there is a bit of a glorification
0:08:22 > 0:08:24associated with it as well.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28We have seen a lot of media reporting around that.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Also, it is the mode of transport around the mopeds.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34The Metropolitan Police Commissioner says the force is iplementing
0:08:34 > 0:08:37new tactics to crack down on the crime.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41There are a small number of people who have been involved in a very
0:08:41 > 0:08:42large number of offences.
0:08:42 > 0:08:43Some of them are quite organised.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Some of them are frankly being exploited by organised criminals.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Some of them are little more opportunistic.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51It is not a huge number of people.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54We are bearing down on them, catching them, locking them up
0:08:54 > 0:09:01and also the public are becoming more alert in high crime areas,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03locking up their mopeds and being more careful
0:09:03 > 0:09:04around their phones.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06But with such a significant increase around these offences,
0:09:06 > 0:09:13this is still a problem which still needs addressing.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Now with just days to go before Christmas, imagine waking up
0:09:15 > 0:09:18to a letter through the post from your local council -
0:09:18 > 0:09:21asking for £2,000 by the New Year.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Well that's exactly what's happened to an entire estate in Essex.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Residents there have been told they need to pay to fix faulty
0:09:26 > 0:09:30external water pipes outside their homes.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Chris Rogers is in Basildon for us now with more.
0:09:33 > 0:09:42Chris, not much of a Christmas present?
0:09:42 > 0:09:50No, not really. Welcome to Basildon, Essex. There is not much Christmas
0:09:50 > 0:09:55cheer here where more than 5000 households are on a unique water
0:09:55 > 0:10:00system. There is a communal boiler to pump hot water into their homes
0:10:00 > 0:10:04and, no water pipes running underneath their houses. That makes
0:10:04 > 0:10:10them privately owned pipes which Basildon council needs access to so
0:10:10 > 0:10:15householders are responsible for maintenance and repairs. More than
0:10:15 > 0:10:20200 private residents received a bill for more than £2000 each. Merry
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Christmas, everybody. Some of the disgruntled residents have joined
0:10:23 > 0:10:32us. You have got your bill here. How did you feel when you opened it up?
0:10:32 > 0:10:37Quite gutted that it arrived 14 days before Christmas. It is a real shock
0:10:37 > 0:10:41that they sent it out that late and also there are people on fixed
0:10:41 > 0:10:48incomes on the estate. We do feel for them.They will be worried.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Steve, Basildon Council have told us today that you have known about this
0:10:51 > 0:10:56for five years and the works were completed in April.We have known
0:10:56 > 0:11:00about it but there were numerous aspects which had not been resolved.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04And there are lots of people who will not be able to afford that and
0:11:04 > 0:11:09as Gill said, to give us a bill of that size and weeks before Christmas
0:11:09 > 0:11:13is just ridiculous.Some are still not sure exactly what they are
0:11:13 > 0:11:17paying for, they have not had a proper itemised bill. That is
0:11:17 > 0:11:22something you are concerned about but you are worried about how you
0:11:22 > 0:11:26will pay to?Absolutely. I do not have that sort of disposable income,
0:11:26 > 0:11:38especially not at this time of year when you are
0:11:41 > 0:11:44trying to look after your family. I have no idea where I will find this
0:11:44 > 0:11:47from, even from a monthly payment, if that is the route we end up
0:11:47 > 0:11:49having to go.Basildon Council say they have offered these residents a
0:11:49 > 0:11:52financial plan so they campaign monthly. They have 28 days to get
0:11:52 > 0:11:55back to the council to decide whether to pay in full or in the
0:11:55 > 0:11:58monthly instalments. You are all feeling a bit bar humbug but you are
0:11:58 > 0:12:03going to try and have a good Christmas? We do wish you a Merry
0:12:03 > 0:12:09Christmas from BBC London. Alex, back to you.Thank you.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Still to come.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Dozens of balloons, pictures and letters left
0:12:12 > 0:12:15in tribute to George Michael - we'll find out what could happen
0:12:15 > 0:12:20to the memorial his fans have built near his home.
0:12:20 > 0:12:25And variety performance is not dead. Comedy chaos this Christmas,
0:12:25 > 0:12:30courtesy of slightly fat features.
0:12:40 > 0:12:50It was the healthy fried chicken shop helping to limit child obesity.
0:12:50 > 0:12:57But Chicken Town will close its doors.
0:12:57 > 0:13:04It is almost last orders at Chicken Town, Tottenham's health fried
0:13:04 > 0:13:09chicken shop.Setting up a new business is a challenge. I feel sad
0:13:09 > 0:13:13that Chicken Town is closing down. We have strong relationships with
0:13:13 > 0:13:18families, primary schools and other people in the area.And 2015, this
0:13:18 > 0:13:26has sold chicken to schoolchildren, subsidised by the other customers.
0:13:26 > 0:13:33Haringey Council has given them £340,000, part loan, part grant.
0:13:33 > 0:13:39Other zoos are not happy.Working here for 17 years, we have not been
0:13:39 > 0:13:42given anything. There is another chicken chop next door, another one
0:13:42 > 0:13:47here, everywhere is the chicken shop.The money was part of the
0:13:47 > 0:13:50fund, set up to provide employment in Tottenham, but opposition
0:13:50 > 0:13:55councillors say it would always be risky. Fire macro as you can see,
0:13:55 > 0:14:01there are hardly any footfall around here and there are 34 fast food
0:14:01 > 0:14:07places in a mile radius and we could not see how it would be successful.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11Haringey Council said they decided to invest in Chicken Town after
0:14:11 > 0:14:15reviewing a business plan and they did monitor its funding. You are a
0:14:15 > 0:14:20young teen comedy drink you were naive when you set out to create a
0:14:20 > 0:14:28restaurant? -- you are a young team, do you think you were naive?I do
0:14:28 > 0:14:32not think it is about naivete, I think it is about the severity of
0:14:32 > 0:14:36the challenges that you face when trying to create a positive
0:14:36 > 0:14:44business.The £210,000 loan and the team here will be taken on by the
0:14:44 > 0:14:50new owner. The community projects will continue but the £130,000 grant
0:14:50 > 0:14:57has gone and very soon so will Chicken Town.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59A teenager from north London, is calling on the Prime Minister
0:14:59 > 0:15:02to give free sanitary products to all girls - who already
0:15:02 > 0:15:03receive free school meals.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Amika George says she was taken aback at the number
0:15:05 > 0:15:07of women who simply can't afford these products.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10We'll be speaking to her in a moment but first here's Alpa Patel,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14who has been looking at the cost of having a period.
0:15:14 > 0:15:20On average, tampons and towels cost 13p each. According to one
0:15:20 > 0:15:26organisation, one in ten girls aged between 14 and 21 cannot afford
0:15:26 > 0:15:31sanitary products. Using the BBC's period calculator, on average a
0:15:31 > 0:15:37woman will spend at least £1600 on products throughout her life.
0:15:37 > 0:15:43Campaigners say that means that some go without. Which results in some
0:15:43 > 0:15:47girls and women using substitutes like toilet roll or clothing, which
0:15:47 > 0:15:59can lead to rashes and other health issues. We are just opposite Downing
0:15:59 > 0:16:04Street and there are hundreds of people here all in solidarity of
0:16:04 > 0:16:08women and their periods. There are banners, there are balloons. There
0:16:08 > 0:16:13are women and men here, women of all ages and from all over the world. We
0:16:13 > 0:16:18will speak to the young campaigner who is behind this. She is 18 years
0:16:18 > 0:16:27old. She is Amika George.My campaign is called hashtag free
0:16:27 > 0:16:31periods. It is asking the government to provide free menstrual products
0:16:31 > 0:16:36for all girls on free school meals. They are the people from the lowest
0:16:36 > 0:16:40income families. We know they are from the lowest income families and
0:16:40 > 0:16:43they are the ones who are most likely to be suffering from period
0:16:43 > 0:16:47poverty. This is when people miss school for up to a week every single
0:16:47 > 0:16:52month just because of their periods or they force themselves to go to
0:16:52 > 0:16:57school using tissue, toilet paper, T-shirts, newspaper, horrible
0:16:57 > 0:17:01alternatives which are obviously hugely damaging.And you have seen
0:17:01 > 0:17:11this in your own school?I have. It is not just London. It is going on
0:17:11 > 0:17:14all around the world and all over the UK. I think that is what has
0:17:14 > 0:17:17shocked a lot of people. The issue came to light because of a charity
0:17:17 > 0:17:20which was providing free products to schoolgirls in Kenya had to redirect
0:17:20 > 0:17:23them to schoolgirls in Leeds and I think that sharp contrast is what
0:17:23 > 0:17:28shocked a lot of people. Here, we like to think we are very
0:17:28 > 0:17:31prosperous, we are the fifth largest economy in the world, everyone is
0:17:31 > 0:17:35fine and then an issue like period poverty comes to light and it proves
0:17:35 > 0:17:38that there is real abject poverty. There are people living in horrible
0:17:38 > 0:17:42destiny to conditions and that needs to be addressed. -- destitute
0:17:42 > 0:17:48conditions.
0:17:48 > 0:18:00This is a great protest, there are politicians, actors here.It is a
0:18:00 > 0:18:04shame and a disgraceful stop there are girls in the added kingdom that
0:18:04 > 0:18:08regularly don't go to school because they cannot afford sanitary
0:18:08 > 0:18:13products. It's a disgrace we still have sales tax on sanitary products.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18It's absolute disgrace that so many people are made to feel ashamed and
0:18:18 > 0:18:22taught to feel ashamed of their bodies from the youngest age.Just
0:18:22 > 0:18:26quickly, one last word from you. You want Theresa made to listen to your
0:18:26 > 0:18:30protest.The reason we have done this protest is to get the
0:18:30 > 0:18:32government's attention, the Conservatives have been dismissive
0:18:32 > 0:18:37of period property and we are presenting a solution, free
0:18:37 > 0:18:40menstrual products to all children on free school meals and the whole
0:18:40 > 0:18:44reason for the protest is to get her to respond, to get Theresa May or
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Justine Greening to look at period poverty and realise it an issue. It
0:18:48 > 0:18:57would be amazing to get a meeting with her and gas curd to address it.
0:18:57 > 0:19:05-- get her to address it.Thank you, Alpa Patel.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08A relative of George Michael has said people should be able to gather
0:19:08 > 0:19:11and add their own messages and mementos to a memorial
0:19:11 > 0:19:13outside the late singer's house in North London.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Fans have looked after it since it appeared after his
0:19:15 > 0:19:16death last Christmas.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18There had been some reports which suggested
0:19:18 > 0:19:19it should be removed.
0:19:19 > 0:19:20Tarah Welsh reports.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21We loved him so much.
0:19:21 > 0:19:22It's been really tough.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26He was such a big part in our lives, you know, all of us.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28He was like all of our rock, to be honest.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30That's what sort of man he was.
0:19:30 > 0:19:39MUSIC: Never Gonna Dance, by George Michael
0:19:39 > 0:19:41A year ago on Christmas Day
0:19:41 > 0:19:44George Michael passed away at just 53 years old.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47His music is famous around the world and is still
0:19:47 > 0:19:50topping charts.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52But his fans say they need somewhere to visit to
0:19:52 > 0:19:55celebrate his life and this has become it.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59A garden outside the star's home.
0:19:59 > 0:20:04What's important for fans is we have somewhere we can
0:20:04 > 0:20:07go and sort of like pay our respects, because, you know, without
0:20:07 > 0:20:10anything official being done by anybody else this is all we have.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Different groups take turns to keep the area tidy.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17A lot of us are actually still in denial and this
0:20:17 > 0:20:21gives us a focus.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23This became a sort of unofficial memorial garden after
0:20:23 > 0:20:25George Michael passed away.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27So many flowers and tributes were left
0:20:27 > 0:20:29outside this home.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32The fans move them over here.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Now, this is private land and it belongs to George
0:20:35 > 0:20:35Michael's private estate.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Michael's estate.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41But there have been media reports that some
0:20:41 > 0:20:42neighbours aren't happy.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Well, I think the row's been very talked up.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45I haven't had any complaints.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Of course, there are conservationists
0:20:48 > 0:20:54who say they don't want this to happen, but actually most people
0:20:54 > 0:20:56I've spoken to think it is absolutely fine.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58George wouldn't want a fallout with anybody, you
0:20:58 > 0:21:02know, about it.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05But his fans were very important to and if this makes
0:21:05 > 0:21:07them happy he'd be very grateful.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10But what have locals in the pub opposite been saying?
0:21:10 > 0:21:13It's just part of the Highgate furniture now and it's a real
0:21:13 > 0:21:15destination spot.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18A lot of tourists who come into the public house may
0:21:18 > 0:21:20be families who have travelled from Australia,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23South Africa, but this is
0:21:23 > 0:21:28a destination more so than Highgate Cemetery.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Both fans and family agree a more permanent tribute would be
0:21:31 > 0:21:36needed eventually.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39But for now this seems to bring some comfort to so
0:21:39 > 0:21:40many affected by the loss of George Michael.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Tarah Welsh, BBC London News.
0:21:43 > 0:21:49A lottery winner from Slough who works as a care worker,
0:21:49 > 0:21:51says she'll still do her 12-hour shift on Christmas Day
0:21:51 > 0:21:56because she loves her job - caring for the elderly.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Patricia Aldridge and her husband Robert won £1 million
0:21:58 > 0:22:00in the Lotto raffle - but say they won't
0:22:00 > 0:22:03give up the day job.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07I was already rotaed to work Christmas Day,
0:22:07 > 0:22:10so I'm just going to carry on doing my shift and, you
0:22:10 > 0:22:13know, so I've got no plans to give up work.
0:22:13 > 0:22:14I love what I do.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16You never think you're going to win it but
0:22:16 > 0:22:19yeah, we won it, and it's going to be nice.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22First we had music hall and then variety performance,
0:22:22 > 0:22:27now most of us probably can't remember the former,
0:22:27 > 0:22:29but Variety was until quite recently packing out theatres across the
0:22:29 > 0:22:30West End.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32These days, there's only a handful left.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34The most famous - the Royal Variety Performance -
0:22:34 > 0:22:35was on TV last night.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38As Wendy's been finding out one cabaret group is now trying
0:22:38 > 0:22:41to reinvent the genre.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Well, I have to be very careful what I say
0:22:43 > 0:22:45here being as I'm in the
0:22:45 > 0:22:53middle of the show.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54They cool themselves Slightly Fat Features.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59I didn't call them that!
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Juggling is not the only thing you'll see on the stage.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03Stop, stop, ringmaster!
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Tell us, what else will we see?
0:23:06 > 0:23:08At Slightly Fat Features we've got comedy, cabaret and chaos.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10We've escapologists, people escaping from things.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Things like this.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19We've got magicians, illusionists doing amazing things.
0:23:19 > 0:23:27Things like this.
0:23:27 > 0:23:28There will be weird and wonderful things.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33Things like this.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36As you can hear we have original live music throughout the
0:23:36 > 0:23:38show tonight and putting the eat into the beats...
0:23:38 > 0:23:39DRUM ROLL.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Oh dear.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44It's traditional variety, isn't it?
0:23:44 > 0:23:46We know it has a history.
0:23:46 > 0:23:47Does it have a future?
0:23:47 > 0:23:48It definitely has a future.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Tonight we're going to pack out the theatre with
0:23:50 > 0:23:53grandparents, grandchildren, comedy, cabaret, chaos.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56We've been at the Palladium this year, we've been to
0:23:56 > 0:23:58France, we've been to Montreal doing variety and it's working, so it's
0:24:01 > 0:24:02come back.
0:24:02 > 0:24:03It's not old-fashioned?
0:24:03 > 0:24:04Definitely not.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06This is comedy, it's cabaret, it's chaos, it's a mixture
0:24:06 > 0:24:07of stuff.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Kind of a little bit of a nod to the old times.
0:24:10 > 0:24:11But it's a new feel.
0:24:11 > 0:24:12Proper variety then?
0:24:12 > 0:24:13A proper variety show.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16OK, you're going to give us a finale, aren't you?
0:24:16 > 0:24:17We are.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18Go and get set up.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20These guys are going to be on stage at the
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Leicester Square Theatre until the 23rd and if nothing else
0:24:23 > 0:24:25some silly fun on stage rather brightens up the
0:24:25 > 0:24:27gloomy days in the run-up to Christmas, doesn't it?
0:24:27 > 0:24:28Take it away, chaps.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31Here we go, we are Slightly Fat Features at the Leicester Square
0:24:31 > 0:24:32Theatre until the 23rd of December.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Here we go.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35Drum roll, please.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36DRUM ROLL.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37Oh, yes!
0:24:37 > 0:24:39APPLAUSE
0:24:39 > 0:24:44Slightly Fat Features, thank you very much.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46And I can reassure you no reporters were hurt
0:24:46 > 0:24:49in the filming of that report.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Now onto much safer terroritory with the weather with Ben Rich.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Safe but not that inspiring at the moment, if you were looking for
0:24:57 > 0:25:01bright skies today you would probably have to look pretty hard I
0:25:01 > 0:25:05couldn't find many from our weather watcher pictures, that was the scene
0:25:05 > 0:25:09in London early on and in Sudbury, grey skies, mist and murk earlier
0:25:09 > 0:25:12this morning, and expect more of the same the next few days, generally
0:25:12 > 0:25:17cloudy, often murky, that it will stay pretty mild. Here is your
0:25:17 > 0:25:21satellite picture from earlier today. Some rakes in the cloud as
0:25:21 > 0:25:24you look closely enough but for the most part we kept grey skies and as
0:25:24 > 0:25:28we go through the evening and tonight the cloud will be extensive,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31it will lower down onto the hills giving mist and fog and perhaps the
0:25:31 > 0:25:35odd spot of drizzle as we head into the first part of the morning. Look
0:25:35 > 0:25:39at the temperatures, nine or 10 degrees, those are your overnight
0:25:39 > 0:25:43lows, in mild night for this time of year. Into tomorrow we will start
0:25:43 > 0:25:54off with lots of cloud,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08mist and murk, the odd spot of drizzle around, and I'm not that
0:26:08 > 0:26:11optimistic things will brighten up, we will be lucky to see much in the
0:26:11 > 0:26:13way of sunshine, largely dry into the afternoon at temperatures not
0:26:13 > 0:26:15doing too badly, 11 or 12 degrees at best. Heading into tomorrow evening
0:26:15 > 0:26:18you've guessed it, more of the same and cloudy conditions and mist and
0:26:18 > 0:26:21murk, and perhaps some more drizzle. That takes us into Friday. For the
0:26:21 > 0:26:23first part of Friday we might see a bit more extensive light rain and
0:26:23 > 0:26:26drizzle but it will not last long. Actually there is a better chance on
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Friday that skies will brighten a bit. You can see the map writing and
0:26:29 > 0:26:31in English touched so there may be some sunshine, still double-digit
0:26:31 > 0:26:33temperatures, and you may have travel plans into Saturday and
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Sunday, Christmas Eve, of course. The weather is fairly plain sailing
0:26:36 > 0:26:38but more of a chance of seeing brightness, some sunshine at times,
0:26:38 > 0:26:45and then what about the big day itself? The pressure chart looks
0:26:45 > 0:26:47like this, wriggling weather front up to the north taking training to
0:26:47 > 0:26:50the north-west of the British Isles but it looks like we will stay
0:26:50 > 0:26:52largely dry through the day and pretty mild as well. In the run-up
0:26:52 > 0:26:55to Christmas it looks pretty quiet but not that inspiring, a lot of
0:26:55 > 0:26:56cloud, some wrist and murk at times.
0:26:56 > 0:26:57but not that inspiring, a lot of cloud, some wrist and murk at times.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02And a weekly weather front! Thank you, Ben.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Now the main headlines:
0:27:04 > 0:27:07The Metropolitan police, is reviewing all its current sex
0:27:07 > 0:27:09offence investigations after the collapse of two rape cases
0:27:09 > 0:27:16in the space of a week.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20Police are keen to speak to a man with a backpack who they believe may
0:27:20 > 0:27:30know something about the deaths of a father and his daughter last week.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33It is thought the men are responsible for more than £60,000
0:27:33 > 0:27:39worth of thefts over the last few months in mopeds related crime. That
0:27:39 > 0:27:44is it from me. I will be back with much more after the ten o'clock news
0:27:44 > 0:27:46but for now have lovely evening.