:00:00. > :00:32.Also coming up in tonight's Look North:
:00:33. > :00:37.Why not everyone is raising a glass to the pub selling beer at ?1.50 a
:00:38. > :00:40.pint. They're off. Nearly 50,000 people fly out of the
:00:41. > :00:44.north for the Easter weekend. It's a record!
:00:45. > :00:47.More than a million hot cross buns roll off this Cumbrian production
:00:48. > :00:51.line for the first time. And, in sport: Agony for Sunderland,
:00:52. > :01:01.as they come within minutes of a famous victory over Manchester City.
:01:02. > :01:06.Good evening, and welcome to Thursday's Look North. We're live
:01:07. > :01:09.tonight from Bents Park in South Shields where final rehearsals have
:01:10. > :01:14.been taking place for the Great North Passion. It's an extraordinary
:01:15. > :01:19.spectacle which will be broadcast live on BBC One tomorrow lunchtime.
:01:20. > :01:23.Extraordinary because it involves a dozen artists and 50 shipping
:01:24. > :01:26.containers. And one story, the story of the last moments of Christ's
:01:27. > :01:29.life. Thousands of people are expected to experience this unique
:01:30. > :01:43.re`telling of the story of the Passion, right here tomorrow. Well,
:01:44. > :01:46.Sharuna and I will be back a little later in the programme, when we'll
:01:47. > :01:53.be talking to some of those involved in this very special project. This
:01:54. > :02:01.is definitely all about the arts. They are showing some videos. We
:02:02. > :02:08.have poetry, sculptures are singing, dancing, photography, visual arts
:02:09. > :02:15.performances. There will also be a world premiere.
:02:16. > :02:20.But now, let's head back to the studio, for the rest of the day's
:02:21. > :02:23.news, from Stephanie Cleasby. Thanks, Jeff.
:02:24. > :02:26.Good evening. It's a controversial pub selling cheap beer which its
:02:27. > :02:34.critics claim will ruin a town centre. The problem is its name,
:02:35. > :02:37.Poundpub. But if those critics think it'll go away, they're about to be
:02:38. > :02:40.disappointed. Because Look North has learned that, in its first week of
:02:41. > :02:43.trading, business is booming. And the Poundpub model might now be
:02:44. > :02:46.rolled out in other towns and cities. From Stockton`on`Tees, our
:02:47. > :02:50.chief reporter Chris Stewart has the story.
:02:51. > :02:58.This street is full of independent shops, new business start`ups. This
:02:59. > :03:07.is what we want more of in Stockton. And this is what they want none of.
:03:08. > :03:12.The PoundPub. A half of beer for a ?1. A pint for ?1.50. Right next to
:03:13. > :03:15.a regeneration site which the local council hopes will help move the
:03:16. > :03:18.town centre upmarket. What's being spent here is one thing. What's
:03:19. > :03:30.being spent a few yards away is another. Stockton used to be
:03:31. > :03:34.brilliant for nights out. Hopefully it will cause the pub to bring their
:03:35. > :03:38.prices down and attract more people. I paid ?6 for two beers. You come
:03:39. > :03:43.here, you pay half, three pounds. This is bucking the trend. A trend
:03:44. > :03:47.which sees four pubs a day in the UK go out of business. But it doesn't
:03:48. > :03:52.fit in with what the independent traders want, and those traders are
:03:53. > :03:55.changing Stockton's image. Local people are putting in their
:03:56. > :03:58.time, their money, investment into Stockton and opening up independent,
:03:59. > :04:00.quirky pubs, and this pub doesn't fit in with it.
:04:01. > :04:05.Are you being snooty? I'm not, if you go down the High
:04:06. > :04:09.Street, there are lots of pubs, and not all of them are expensive.
:04:10. > :04:16.The business people behind this venture aren't local. They're based
:04:17. > :04:23.in Cheshire. They say, yes, the branding is a
:04:24. > :04:26.little bold. But no different to what you would expect in another
:04:27. > :04:37.high`street budget establishment. And it is certainly working. Their
:04:38. > :04:41.takings in three days have been more than they'd expect to take in seven.
:04:42. > :04:44.So, it looks as if it'll stay, and that there could well be more pubs
:04:45. > :04:48.with the same branding. The Crown pub has now applied for permission
:04:49. > :04:51.to open from 8am in the morning. In for a penny, in for another round of
:04:52. > :04:55.controversy. A body's been found in the River
:04:56. > :04:58.Ouse in York, by police looking for a missing soldier. 18`year`old Tyler
:04:59. > :05:01.Pearson's family has been told. He vanished three weeks ago. It's
:05:02. > :05:05.thought he went into the river, and tried to swim across it. This is the
:05:06. > :05:07.third death in the city's rivers this year.
:05:08. > :05:10.A man who claimed more than ?24,000 in disability benefits while playing
:05:11. > :05:13.cricket has been ordered to pay back ?16,000. Stewart Lorains, from St
:05:14. > :05:16.Cuthburt's Walk in Saltburn, claimed benefits for arthritis and diabetes,
:05:17. > :05:19.but was caught playing cricket for Boosbeck cricket team. Teesside
:05:20. > :05:22.Crown Court heard he scored 614 runs between 2009 and 2012, before
:05:23. > :05:29.Department Of Work And Pensions investigators photographed him
:05:30. > :05:33.turning out for the team. Armed police are looking for a man
:05:34. > :05:35.after an armed robbery at the Cumberland Building Society at
:05:36. > :05:39.Silloth. A member of staff was threatened with a knife, but no one
:05:40. > :05:43.has been hurt. The police helicopter is also involved in the search, and
:05:44. > :05:49.all roads out of Silloth have been blocked.
:05:50. > :05:52.It's the start of the Great Easter Getaway, with thousands of people
:05:53. > :05:55.taking to the North's roads, railways and airports. 46,000 people
:05:56. > :05:58.are set to fly in and out of Newcastle Airport over the bank
:05:59. > :06:01.holiday weekend alone. Katie Cole has been airside on one of the
:06:02. > :06:08.airport's busiest mornings of the year.
:06:09. > :06:13.6:30, the Easter getaway begins, with flights to Venice, Malaga, and
:06:14. > :06:16.even New York, leaving Newcastle this morning. The Easter Bunny is
:06:17. > :06:22.even here, to send them away with some chocolate. But, with a little
:06:23. > :06:26.sunshine predicted in the North East and Cumbria this weekend, why do
:06:27. > :06:30.people feel the need to jet off? Being in a bikini, walking around in
:06:31. > :06:34.hot weather. You don't fancy doing that on Tynemouth beach or in
:06:35. > :06:38.Berwick? No. We are off to Malaga, on the Costa
:06:39. > :06:41.del Sol. What are you looking forward to
:06:42. > :06:47.most? Going to the swimming pool when I
:06:48. > :06:51.get there. For many passengers, it is their
:06:52. > :06:54.first taste of the airport's new departure lounge. Phase one of a ?14
:06:55. > :07:03.million redevelopment has recently opened.
:07:04. > :07:06.The second phase is due to commence in September, with a brand`new
:07:07. > :07:09.layout, a number of new stores, as well as improvements to existing
:07:10. > :07:12.operations. We are seeing strong growth in retail and catering
:07:13. > :07:15.demand, and it's important we build that in the coming years.
:07:16. > :07:19.There's plenty more where they came from. 7,000 cups of tea and coffee
:07:20. > :07:22.will be drunk in the departure lounge over Easter weekend, 1,300
:07:23. > :07:26.sausage rolls eaten. 100 pairs of sunglasses will be bought.
:07:27. > :07:30.Between now and Monday, there will be 400 flights coming in and out of
:07:31. > :07:36.Newcastle Airport. That's a 5% increase on the same time last year.
:07:37. > :07:39.Unfortunately, I won't be on one. However, 46,000 people will, making
:07:40. > :07:45.Easter weekend of one of the busiest.
:07:46. > :07:50.A Cumbrian baker says sales of hot cross buns have increased by 30%
:07:51. > :07:54.this year. Bells of Lazonby, near Penrith, will have made more than a
:07:55. > :07:57.million hot cross buns by Easter, a record number for the company. It
:07:58. > :07:59.says continued success is vital to keep 240 local people in employment.
:08:00. > :08:12.Mark McAlindon reports. Demand has been so great that work
:08:13. > :08:19.at Bells of Lazonby is relentless. It seems the impact of a long
:08:20. > :08:23.session has finally lifted. Business is OK, our sales over 18
:08:24. > :08:30.months are up 30%. Hot cross buns are part of that.
:08:31. > :08:34.By the end of this week, a record number of hot cross buns alone will
:08:35. > :08:38.have left the bakery. The guys have had a bit of practice with one
:08:39. > :08:42.million hot cross buns, but I want to know how difficult this can be.
:08:43. > :08:46.I was expecting we'd have to give those away free to a coffee morning.
:08:47. > :08:48.But maybe they can still sell them. There are 300 lines of different
:08:49. > :08:53.products, the company constantly trying to meet changing market
:08:54. > :09:01.trends. In a rural area without many big employers, that is important.
:09:02. > :09:04.We employ 240 people in Lazonby. That puts us as the fifth biggest
:09:05. > :09:13.non`governmental employer in Edin district. It is important we do
:09:14. > :09:17.well. Easter demand may be dying now, but
:09:18. > :09:21.it is not long before planning for Christmas begins.
:09:22. > :09:24.Football now. And a late goalkeeping blunder prevented Sunderland from
:09:25. > :09:31.avenging their League Cup final defeat last night. They drew 2`2 at
:09:32. > :09:34.title contenders Manchester City, a result which wasn't much good for
:09:35. > :09:36.either side, and leaves the Black Cats six points from safety. Here's
:09:37. > :09:42.Mark Tulip. Gus Poyet had asked for a miracle to
:09:43. > :09:45.keep his Sunderland team in the Premier League, and his players
:09:46. > :09:49.nearly came up with one. The Black Cats may look doomed to relegation,
:09:50. > :09:52.but moneybags Man City have now beaten them only twice in the last
:09:53. > :09:56.nine meetings. It didn't look good for the bottom club as early as the
:09:57. > :09:59.second minute, when Fernandinho gave City the lead. But, to their credit,
:10:00. > :10:02.Sunderland's heads didn't drop and, with sharper finishing, they could
:10:03. > :10:05.have gone in ahead at half`time comfortably, with first John O'Shea,
:10:06. > :10:11.and then Fabio Borini going close. Was this going to be one of those
:10:12. > :10:15.nights? Well, actually, it wasn't. Poyet's second`half substitutions
:10:16. > :10:16.paid off. One of them, the under`achieving Emanuele
:10:17. > :10:19.Giaccherini, provided the ammunition for Connor Wickham, the young
:10:20. > :10:22.striker with the big price`tag, to slot home. And then, incredibly, the
:10:23. > :10:26.same players combined again. A superb counterattack, slide`rule
:10:27. > :10:35.pass, and excellent finish. It's come now, I've got my chance.
:10:36. > :10:38.The manager has given me a chance to start, and hopefully today I've
:10:39. > :10:40.shown him reason why I can be in that position.
:10:41. > :10:44.The away fans were in dreamland, like they were at Wembley. But the
:10:45. > :10:47.dream was shattered by the goalkeeper's usually safe pair of
:10:48. > :10:50.hands. A horrible, late fumble which will give the luckless Vito Mannone
:10:51. > :10:54.nightmares for weeks. Had City gone on to win it, it would have been a
:10:55. > :10:56.travesty. So, just a glimmer of hope for Sunderland, ahead of the equally
:10:57. > :11:05.tough trip to Chelsea. No such relegation worries for Alan
:11:06. > :11:08.Pardew, despite Newcastle's wretched run of form which has seen them
:11:09. > :11:13.gather just 13 points from a possible 48. Last week at Stoke, the
:11:14. > :11:16.fans turned their anger on the manager for the first time, and
:11:17. > :11:19.Pardew knows he can't afford another indifferent display at home to
:11:20. > :11:25.Swansea on Saturday. We just want to get our fans back
:11:26. > :11:30.onside, and we need to win games and score goals. I have been here three
:11:31. > :11:37.years. Some really good days, some days. At this moment, it is tough. I
:11:38. > :11:41.have got to be strong, I am strong in my mentality, to take this club
:11:42. > :11:48.forward. It's a big Easter weekend of rugby.
:11:49. > :11:51.Tomorrow afternoon, it's the West Cumbrian derby between Whitehaven
:11:52. > :11:54.and Workington. And in the evening, Gateshead Thunder host York City
:11:55. > :11:56.Knights. In Rugby Union's Premiership, second`bottom Newcastle
:11:57. > :11:59.Falcons hope to upset the odds with leaders Saracens, the visitors to
:12:00. > :12:01.Kingston Park on Sunday. Dean Richards' side are just seven points
:12:02. > :12:10.above the relegation zone. That's our news and sport. Let's
:12:11. > :12:13.head back to South Shields now, where final preparations are taking
:12:14. > :12:21.place for tomorrow's Great North Passion event. Jeff is live there
:12:22. > :12:28.for us now. Jeff. Welcome back to Bents Park where it
:12:29. > :12:32.has just gone very quiet, fortunately for us. Final rehearsals
:12:33. > :12:37.ahead of the Great North Passion tomorrow. A fantastic Easter event
:12:38. > :12:43.which we will be watching live from 12 noon tomorrow on BBC One. Apart
:12:44. > :12:48.from the actual event, it is part of an arts project called the Cultural
:12:49. > :12:51.Spring which is all about bringing art to communities in Sunderland and
:12:52. > :12:59.South Shields, to people who have never been touched by art before, to
:13:00. > :13:06.inspire them to take part. Which might go some way to explaining what
:13:07. > :13:12.these shipping containers are about. More will be revealed later. These
:13:13. > :13:17.shipping containers are here to provide a contemporary setting, to
:13:18. > :13:26.tell a traditional Easter story. It is the Passion.
:13:27. > :13:32.What does a red shipping container and Jesus's final days on Earth have
:13:33. > :13:35.in common? Well, quite a lot it, as it happens.
:13:36. > :13:39.We are going to be using some games consoles, some hats, to make a piece
:13:40. > :13:41.of sculpture, which will be in this container.
:13:42. > :13:44.This one, along with 49 others, will be the centrepiece of the BBC's
:13:45. > :13:49.ambitious retelling of The Passion, this Easter. Derived from the Latin
:13:50. > :13:50.word meaning "to suffer", it's the story of Christ's last moments, from
:13:51. > :14:03.his condemnation to his crucifixion. We are going to use this almighty
:14:04. > :14:05.crane to lift the box. Specially commissioned installations
:14:06. > :14:08.have been created by local communities from across the North
:14:09. > :14:11.East, each inspired by 12 Stations Of The Cross, which represent each
:14:12. > :14:17.stage of Christ's journey leading to his death.
:14:18. > :14:23.# When a stranger comes. Knocking at your door.
:14:24. > :14:28.The themes explored range from truth to kindness.
:14:29. > :14:32.We were given the theme, welcoming a stranger. I was very excited because
:14:33. > :14:37.I am from Africa and, in Africa, we love to welcome strangers.
:14:38. > :14:42.# We will offer shelter, drink and food.
:14:43. > :14:45.This Tees Valley choir will be performing live during the Great
:14:46. > :14:49.North Passion, when all eyes will be on South Shields for a unique
:14:50. > :14:54.spectacle of music, dance and even poetry.
:14:55. > :14:58.I think I am kind of kind. But really I am somewhere in between
:14:59. > :15:02.the saintly giving of Mother Teresa, and the bumbling awkwardness of Mr
:15:03. > :15:08.Bean. The transformation of Bents Park is
:15:09. > :15:12.complete. 12 art projects are ready, a cross to rival the size of St
:15:13. > :15:14.Paul's is in place. And a pop`up cathedral is now open to Christians
:15:15. > :15:32.and the curious alike. Hopefully it is all clear. Look who
:15:33. > :15:38.is with me, the presenter of the Great North Passion, Fern Britton. I
:15:39. > :15:45.can't believe you have made it here. I jogged from up there! What a
:15:46. > :15:51.fantastic rehearsal. It is so emotional. When you watch it
:15:52. > :15:55.tomorrow, you will cry. Why do think the story is so compelling? I really
:15:56. > :16:02.believe it has relevance to us still. I'm going to cry again, there
:16:03. > :16:07.is one scene where Mary, Jesus's mother, sees him on the cross, and
:16:08. > :16:19.she knows her son is going to cry. She is tiering up `` tearing. It is
:16:20. > :16:29.a story that speaks to everybody irrespective of their religion.
:16:30. > :16:35.Humiliation, isolation, kindness. It has a story which is eternal and
:16:36. > :16:40.universal and speaks to everybody. This is a huge cultural event, not
:16:41. > :16:44.just for the BBC but for the north east.
:16:45. > :16:50.There is a lot of pressure on you. The pressure is on me but on
:16:51. > :16:54.everybody taking part, these are people who have created something
:16:55. > :16:57.amazing. They are not professional performers mostly, they are giving
:16:58. > :17:08.something of themselves must thank you.
:17:09. > :17:20.They have been rehearsing all afternoon for tomorrow. Watching it
:17:21. > :17:25.come together was Peter Harris. After all the work, the final dress
:17:26. > :17:35.rehearsals. Next time, it will be live on national television.
:17:36. > :17:43.A bit nerve wracking, but I have my family supporting us. We have been
:17:44. > :17:51.rehearsing in school. Will you sleep tonight? Probably not.
:17:52. > :17:54.As well as the logistical task of bringing in all these units ready
:17:55. > :17:58.for the show itself, tomorrow is also a big television event, live on
:17:59. > :18:10.BBC One. So, there are lots of camera crews, 11 cameras, to make
:18:11. > :18:15.sure everything goes to plan. It it is such an unusual project, we
:18:16. > :18:20.are still making some of it up, some things are coming together last
:18:21. > :18:25.minute. We have polished some bits, it will all come together in the
:18:26. > :18:31.dress rehearsal. It will be all right on the night. The Great North
:18:32. > :18:36.Passion is a big deal for the BBC, and here to make if you final
:18:37. > :18:42.checks, the Director General. I profoundly believe art is for
:18:43. > :18:48.everybody, and taking part in the arts is a really good thing.
:18:49. > :18:52.When the BBC acts as an enabler, a friend, to help people to do things
:18:53. > :18:56.they want to do but are not too sure how they can, that is brilliant.
:18:57. > :19:03.There are some kids of their reading poetry, a wonderful bunch. Tomorrow,
:19:04. > :19:10.they will be going to the entire UK on BBC One. Great for them and great
:19:11. > :19:23.for us. The work is done, cameras, lights, South Shields is ready.
:19:24. > :19:28.And Alexandra, winner of the X Factor, what is your role tomorrow?
:19:29. > :19:34.Tomorrow will be a spectacular morning.
:19:35. > :19:39.It displays why we are here and what Easter is about, it's not about
:19:40. > :19:44.Easter eggs, it's about Jesus. A beautiful way to celebrate that and
:19:45. > :19:48.remember that. For those who may not have that knowledge, it is good to
:19:49. > :19:55.remind people. It is an honour to be part of it. You have probably never
:19:56. > :20:09.sung in a setting like this. Do you know what, no! I love it.
:20:10. > :20:18.Raise Spencer, what is it about this part of the world that is so
:20:19. > :20:24.talented `` Ray. We have a rich heritage and culture. We will see
:20:25. > :20:30.that in this show. It is so moving and we will see such creativity.
:20:31. > :20:35.Communities from all over the region will show what they are made of,
:20:36. > :20:42.sharing their stories. It is going to be emotional. The Cultural Spring
:20:43. > :20:49.is about introducing people to art and great music. What it means to
:20:50. > :20:56.the people of the communities if they can stand on a national stage
:20:57. > :21:01.with the stars, and what they believe has a value and they will
:21:02. > :21:08.share that with the nation. That is the legacy. Some brilliant work will
:21:09. > :21:15.be produced. I am very excited, it has been a great day rehearsing,
:21:16. > :21:19.tomorrow will be even better. I am looking forward to taking part with
:21:20. > :21:33.the community and sharing their talents.
:21:34. > :21:40.We wish you all the best. Look at this, how impressive.
:21:41. > :21:47.Shipping containers, this is part of a project, let us speak to the
:21:48. > :21:52.people responsible. Sandy? We work with members of the community to
:21:53. > :21:59.come together using the artforms of spray paint, dance and music.
:22:00. > :22:04.Reverend Jim, I understand you are the only art chaplain in the
:22:05. > :22:08.country. I help people to share their own personal stories through
:22:09. > :22:15.the medium of the arts, to help them connect with the gospel. You have
:22:16. > :22:19.been working with these lads. Hello, boys. I understand this is some of
:22:20. > :22:25.your handiwork, how much have you enjoyed being part of this project?
:22:26. > :22:29.It has been brilliant, starting off with the container and evolving it
:22:30. > :22:36.into a wonderful piece of art. It has been really good, doing the
:22:37. > :22:42.different colours, getting involved. Let is quickly go over and talk to a
:22:43. > :22:52.booming presence, Graham, opera singer, acquire master
:22:53. > :22:57.extraordinary. `` choir. Might have been working with Saint Andrew 's
:22:58. > :23:01.Church, a fantastic experience working with students from the
:23:02. > :23:07.University of Sunderland, one of the partners in this project. We have a
:23:08. > :23:14.lovely composer, Will Todd, from Durham. A good element of the north
:23:15. > :23:24.east is involved. You have got all these people together to form a
:23:25. > :23:29.choir. Yes, getting them all together. With a newly composed
:23:30. > :23:36.piece of music. A fantastic morning. I couldn't let you go without asking
:23:37. > :23:45.you to belt out a number. Are you sure about that?
:23:46. > :24:08.# I am searching for a love. # A love that was lost. # A love we have
:24:09. > :24:10.known from the start. One of the great performers you can
:24:11. > :24:13.catch tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, BBC Newcastle's
:24:14. > :24:17.Alfie and Charlie will be live here, from 9am until 12, bringing you the
:24:18. > :24:21.stories of the performers and communities involved in the staging
:24:22. > :24:24.of the live event. And you can see the Great North Passion live from
:24:25. > :24:27.Bents Park in South Shields on BBC One, between 12 and 1pm tomorrow.
:24:28. > :24:32.There'll also be further information online at BBC local live.
:24:33. > :24:43.Time now for the weather with Hannah.
:24:44. > :24:49.Beautiful spring scenes here in Bents Park. And we have more to show
:24:50. > :24:55.you from around the region, this is how you have been enjoying the
:24:56. > :25:10.Easter sunshine. Thank you for sending in your photos. We will
:25:11. > :25:14.bring you more photos later. This is the headline for tomorrow, Good
:25:15. > :25:19.Friday, long spells of sunshine around the North East and Cumbria. A
:25:20. > :25:30.great start to the long holiday weekend. Overnight, it is clear and
:25:31. > :25:37.dry, starry skies, still a chance to spot the planet Mars over the waning
:25:38. > :25:41.moon. Temperatures will dip to just above freezing. First thing on
:25:42. > :25:48.Friday morning, it looks bright and fine. A beautiful start to the
:25:49. > :25:54.weekend. Long spells of sunshine. And it stays dry across the region.
:25:55. > :25:58.Nothing more than if you scraps of fair weather cloud. Notice the
:25:59. > :26:05.temperatures at the end of the afternoon, just eight Celsius in
:26:06. > :26:11.many spots along the coast, despite that Sun. In Cumbria, it will be a
:26:12. > :26:18.touch milder, 13 Celsius is the high on Good Friday. Light and variable
:26:19. > :26:24.winds everywhere. This is the pressure sequence. High pressure is
:26:25. > :26:30.dominating the forecast tomorrow and Saturday. Through Sunday, a low
:26:31. > :26:33.pressure system will work in from the south, bringing potentially
:26:34. > :26:38.outbreaks of rain to the North East, although Cumbria should stay
:26:39. > :26:44.dry. In the north`east, it could be a little cloudy on Easter Monday. In
:26:45. > :26:49.detail, our outlook for the next couple of days is that in Cumbria,
:26:50. > :26:54.we will see bright sunshine on Saturday and on Easter Sunday, but
:26:55. > :26:59.increasing amounts of cloud at the end of the day. In the north east, a
:27:00. > :27:02.bright day on Saturday but if you shower is that in Cumbria, we will
:27:03. > :27:05.see bright sunshine on Saturday and on Easter Sunday, but increasing
:27:06. > :27:06.amounts of cloud at the end of the day. In the north east, a bright day
:27:07. > :27:30.on Saturday but a few this place will be full of 3000
:27:31. > :27:34.people, it will be buzzing. It is a ticket event but they have all gone.
:27:35. > :27:40.So you won't be able to turn up, but you can watch it live on BBC One
:27:41. > :27:44.from 12 noon tomorrow. From Bents Park in South Shields and the Great
:27:45. > :27:46.North Passion, have a great Easter weekend. Goodbye.