:00:00. > :00:15.Run welcome to a special look North ahead of a special Great North Run
:00:16. > :00:22.weekend. We are on the banks of the team with a star`studded cast. It
:00:23. > :00:26.celebrates its millionth finish this weekend and we will talk to elite
:00:27. > :00:31.and amateur runners about what the event means to them. And we will be
:00:32. > :00:37.talking to the people making it happen. Thousands of tickets have
:00:38. > :00:41.been snapped up for the event. We will be able to celebrate otr
:00:42. > :00:50.community and has studied whth this. It is brilliant. Also on thd
:00:51. > :00:57.programme, 15 people are injured after a bus crashes into a cemetery
:00:58. > :00:59.and act union anger after hospitals close the glossaries. The union says
:01:00. > :01:14.it will have a devastating dffect. Good evening from the quayshde in
:01:15. > :01:21.Newcastle. In just under two hours, around 20,000 people will come in
:01:22. > :01:27.here to see the Great North Run Million sure. It is a landm`rk
:01:28. > :01:31.celebration in fact that thhs weekend, the Great North Run will
:01:32. > :01:37.see its 1,000,000th finisher crossing the line. It is a world
:01:38. > :01:43.first. It will be officiallx ratified by the world governing body
:01:44. > :01:51.of athletics. The whole show is basically about the north`e`st. It
:01:52. > :01:56.has been told through music and song and fireworks. They will also be a
:01:57. > :02:06.dozen floating vessels put on the time. It also features great local
:02:07. > :02:15.people such as Sting and local actors and 700 local voluntders Of
:02:16. > :02:18.course, we have got the verx best, two of the greatest televishon
:02:19. > :02:24.entertainers, intimidate, whll be opening proceedings.
:02:25. > :02:26.I mentioned that the story of the North East
:02:27. > :02:29.which will unfold here tonight was written by a local author.
:02:30. > :02:35.An award`winning writer, in fact ` Tyneside's David Almond,
:02:36. > :02:38.whose novel Skellig won Children's Book of the Year
:02:39. > :02:54.We're promised Olympic styld ceremony, which means an Olxmpic
:02:55. > :02:59.style preparation. The volunteer performers had their own drdss
:03:00. > :03:06.rehearsal. They will tell the story of the north`east through d`nce We
:03:07. > :03:12.go through the industrial revolution, rake through to the age
:03:13. > :03:18.of electricity. Have you done anything like this before? No.
:03:19. > :03:22.Never. For those behind the spectacular, this will be vdry
:03:23. > :03:30.special. I think it will be very stirring. I have been watchhng and
:03:31. > :03:35.hearing the stories. There hs a beautiful script. I think it will
:03:36. > :03:44.set the heroes of the back of the neck up. On the river, a flotilla
:03:45. > :03:52.representing the history of the area. What does being a Barbadian in
:03:53. > :04:00.Newcastle mean? I think it leans a lot of here, a lot of noise. I can
:04:01. > :04:04.do that. This would represent shipbuilding, so as it goes up
:04:05. > :04:11.towards the parting, pyrotechnics will create the effect of wdlding
:04:12. > :04:17.flashes. Apparently, the performers are not sure at what point they will
:04:18. > :04:21.be called in, but we think the shipbuilding installation m`y be
:04:22. > :04:27.part of Sting 's performancd. 2 ,000 will watch this show, as thd Great
:04:28. > :04:33.North Run prepares to celebrate its 1,000,000th runner. It is about
:04:34. > :04:35.ordinary people doing extraordinary things. 1 million people have done
:04:36. > :04:44.this. We're really looking to it. I mentioned that the story
:04:45. > :04:46.of the North East which will unfold here tonight was
:04:47. > :04:49.written by a local author. An award`winning writer, in fact `
:04:50. > :04:51.Tyneside's David Almond, whose novel Skellig won
:04:52. > :05:06.Children's Book of the Year It is a major production. Oh please
:05:07. > :05:28.tell you to see it come togdther? It is fantastic. Have you been working
:05:29. > :05:34.on a long? A few months now. Actually, as it was being planned,
:05:35. > :05:38.as salmon jumped up underne`th the bridge. It is clear brief ddtail the
:05:39. > :05:47.story of the north`east in ` mere half`hour. Yes, it is about the
:05:48. > :05:52.task. But we are also looking at the future. We have got this grdat
:05:53. > :05:57.cultural heritage, but it is not finished. We keep on going. That is
:05:58. > :06:03.why the Great North Run is such a good metaphor. We keep on going We
:06:04. > :06:08.keep on running. The north`dast has energy which will keep it going
:06:09. > :06:12.forever. Can you actually rdlax when all starts? I think the sunshine is
:06:13. > :06:18.going to help me. Thank you. Most of the musicians will be
:06:19. > :06:21.performing on stage on the Gateshead Sharuna Sagar's been watching
:06:22. > :06:35.them rehearse throughout thd day. Yes, there has been a steadx stream
:06:36. > :06:39.of musicians, famous and not so famous during the course of the day.
:06:40. > :06:41.Mark Knopfler has been rehe`rsing and has just come off stage.
:06:42. > :06:45.He has got the honour of opdning the whole show, at around 8.30pm.
:06:46. > :06:48.And he will be playing Local Hero, the film soundtrack that has become
:06:49. > :06:50.a Geordie anthem and, of cotrse is very closely associated with
:06:51. > :07:05.He is not the only Geordie rock royalty here. Staying well be here.
:07:06. > :07:14.He has flown in from the Unhted States. He has found time to join in
:07:15. > :07:23.the celebrations. He will bd performing his title track, entitled
:07:24. > :07:30.by his childhood. He grew up in the shadow of the shipbuilding hndustry.
:07:31. > :07:35.He will be joined by a host of local musicians, including his frhend
:07:36. > :07:41.Jimmy nail. I am so pleased we were asked. We are doing a music`l about
:07:42. > :07:51.Tyneside, so to be as here to celebrate the for this, to celebrate
:07:52. > :07:55.her study together, it is great I am thrilled. What will you be
:07:56. > :08:06.performing. I am going to do the title song from the musical. I was
:08:07. > :08:16.actually going to try and rtn the run this year. But I am out of the
:08:17. > :08:25.country. What was your time? About two hours ten. Pretty good. You
:08:26. > :08:37.have you ever done? I had somebody do it for me! You are prettx fit.
:08:38. > :08:42.Yes, but I do not like runnhng long distances. I am more of a mdters
:08:43. > :08:49.Pearson. What you think it hs about the race captures the imagination? I
:08:50. > :08:55.remember when it started. It was just the ten mile run. I know that
:08:56. > :08:59.her study. I know that Brendan has been the architect of it. Btt people
:09:00. > :09:10.from all over the world know about it. It is fantastic. You excited
:09:11. > :09:15.about performing tonight? It is a bit nerve wracking coming home. I
:09:16. > :09:20.cannot quite explain why, btt coming back home to Newcastle was very
:09:21. > :09:26.special. There is a fear factor which is not normally they `re. I
:09:27. > :09:34.admit it. It is important for me. I want to do well for the people and
:09:35. > :09:38.for myself. Coming home is not easy. Tonight sure, you are one of the
:09:39. > :09:44.highlights. That is going to be a lot going on. What are you looking
:09:45. > :09:53.forward to? I am looking forward to seeing Mark playing local hdro. I am
:09:54. > :10:01.also wanted to hear the story of the local area, which was writtdn by
:10:02. > :10:09.David. It should be a great day I will let you get going and let you
:10:10. > :10:17.get on with the strange ple` for performance rituals you do. We had
:10:18. > :10:22.best not talk about that! . I did want to know what they were, but
:10:23. > :10:27.they may not revealing anything Stein insisted on doing the
:10:28. > :10:30.interview sat on the railings, practically overhanging than ever.
:10:31. > :10:43.What he wanted to do tonight was performed with the mercury light
:10:44. > :10:49.mercury prize band. Becky and Rachel join me know. How excited are you
:10:50. > :10:54.tonight? I do not think words can describe how excited we are. It is
:10:55. > :11:01.amazing to be here and to cdlebrate the millionth runner. To perform
:11:02. > :11:08.listing and Jimmy nail. It hs just great. I saw Lord of the volunteers
:11:09. > :11:11.walking down. It made me fedl quite emotional. There are so manx people
:11:12. > :11:18.involved in the celebration of the north`east. You had a big f`n of
:11:19. > :11:28.Sting, but he is an even bigger fan of your brand. You will be sharing
:11:29. > :11:32.the stage with him. We are `ll celebrating a wonderful night. It is
:11:33. > :11:40.less than two hours before xou're on stage, so I had better let xou go. I
:11:41. > :11:44.think we're better go and ptt on our make`up and dresses!
:11:45. > :11:49.Back to Jeff now at Newcastle Quayside.
:11:50. > :11:57.Now, it is time to go back to Stephanie Cleasby in the newsroom.
:11:58. > :12:03.15 people have been injured after a bus crashed through railings
:12:04. > :12:05.and ploughed into a cemeterx in Gateshead.
:12:06. > :12:07.The accident happened at around eleven o'clock this lorning
:12:08. > :12:13.Two people are being treated in hospital, but their injuries are
:12:14. > :12:21.Just how the bus crashed through railings, trees and gravestones
:12:22. > :12:24.and ended up here is what the police are now trying to find out.
:12:25. > :12:26.Abandoned in the middle of the cemetery, the windows
:12:27. > :12:32.The driver has now been interviewed by the police.
:12:33. > :12:34.Jim had been visiting his wife's grave
:12:35. > :12:41.and was just yards from his car when he watched the bus crash into it.
:12:42. > :12:54.I am still shaking. I just saw it flying through the railings and
:12:55. > :12:59.crashing down into the gravdyard. What was this seem like?
:13:00. > :13:01.Devastation. It was just not stopping. I have never seen anything
:13:02. > :13:03.like it in my life. 15 people were on the bus
:13:04. > :13:06.when it crashed. Gateshead Council is now contacting
:13:07. > :13:09.the 30 families, whose loved ones' Bus company Go North East s`id
:13:10. > :13:13.its thoughts were with the passengers and it has promised
:13:14. > :13:19.a full investigation. Unions say the closure of ntrseries
:13:20. > :13:23.at two Teesside hospitals whll have Nurseries at North Tees
:13:24. > :13:26.and Hartlepool hospitals will shut The nurseries have places
:13:27. > :13:31.for 180 children, but hospital trust managers say they
:13:32. > :13:49.have become uneconomic to rtn. This will mean over 50 job losses.
:13:50. > :13:56.It will have a devastating hmpact on employees and the other people who
:13:57. > :14:02.use the service. We see this decision has been rushed and we urge
:14:03. > :14:09.them to reconsider. We have a plan this year, efficiency targets of ?15
:14:10. > :14:13.million. It is ever more difficult to do that. We have been putting off
:14:14. > :14:17.this for years. There is nothing more we can do as an altern`tive.
:14:18. > :14:18.Meanwhile, a Teesside hospital is lookhng
:14:19. > :14:22.at whether high`intensity fhtness can help patients recover qticker
:14:23. > :14:28.Researchers at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough are carrying out a
:14:29. > :14:30.?250,000 clinical trial on patients who have abdominal aortic aneurysms
:14:31. > :14:35.` a potentially fatal swellhng on the main abdominal blood vessel.
:14:36. > :14:38.The hospital says it could change the way such high`risk patidnts
:14:39. > :14:47.Sport now and, despite the bookies offering odds on various candidates,
:14:48. > :14:50.it seems Carlisle United ard no nearer to naming a new manager after
:14:51. > :14:53.Monday's sacking of Graham Kavanagh. After Tuesday's win over Accrington,
:14:54. > :14:59.the club is hoping temporarx bosses Tony Caig and Paul Thirlwell can
:15:00. > :15:06.carry on the side's upturn hn fortunes. Mark McAlindon reports.
:15:07. > :15:08.Of course, there is more to football m`nagement
:15:09. > :15:11.than laying out the cones It is Tony Caig and Paul Thirwell's job to plot
:15:12. > :15:15.a course to victory on Saturday in the week the club lost a manager but
:15:16. > :15:35.We have prepared the team. H do not think there will be drastic change.
:15:36. > :15:36.They are a great bunch of l`ds, they are very professional.
:15:37. > :15:47.So, is there still time to get the right man and be successful
:15:48. > :15:57.The two men say they did not want the job full`time, but what sort of
:15:58. > :16:03.character are you looking for? Whoever comes needs to have a effect
:16:04. > :16:16.straightaway. We want the tdam back where they belong. Is there still
:16:17. > :16:23.time to get someone in and be successful? When I came herd, we
:16:24. > :16:26.were bottom at christmas and ended up in the play`offs.
:16:27. > :16:30.Whoever ends up in charge, the season starts now.
:16:31. > :16:52.There will be more from me and highlights from the Quaxside
:16:53. > :16:59.The event started all the w`y back in 1981. People of all ages took
:17:00. > :17:05.part. There was not a separ`te junior run back in these daxs. It
:17:06. > :17:10.was a day to remember for the 1 ,000 who took part. It has now bdcome one
:17:11. > :17:19.of the most fantastic and wdll loved sporting events in the country. It
:17:20. > :17:26.was a local lad to put his name in the history books, is the fhrst
:17:27. > :17:32.finisher. No, the day we have been telling people the last four months.
:17:33. > :17:43.Here they are preparing for the army of competitors. There were ` lot of
:17:44. > :17:50.club runners on a lot of am`teurs. I was very excited in the run`up to
:17:51. > :17:57.it. When I wrote back, I cotld not believe the amount of peopld
:17:58. > :18:03.stretching out behind me. This time, the here is an adherent of people
:18:04. > :18:10.ready to run. I was preparing for the event with all sorts of
:18:11. > :18:14.strategies. My main intention was to win. As soon as the gun went, it was
:18:15. > :18:21.slightly downhill and I thotght I am off. I knew I had been in a big
:18:22. > :18:46.race and a fast race. The bridge was built in 1920 and you
:18:47. > :18:52.must have been the first person to run across the middle of it. The
:18:53. > :19:00.last person to have done th`t would be as horse and carriage. The only
:19:01. > :19:13.people I had the only peopld I had an
:19:14. > :19:21.by the time he reached the bypass, he decided no one was going to pass
:19:22. > :19:27.him. His main rivals are several young hundred yards behind. Already,
:19:28. > :19:36.he has won the 10,000 metres event in the town. This is home grown for
:19:37. > :19:44.him. As he forges even further ahead, make McLeod is getting a warm
:19:45. > :19:48.welcome and plenty of encouragement. It is much appreciated. The support
:19:49. > :19:55.from the spectators is to bdcome one of the outstanding memories of the
:19:56. > :20:00.day. It is all the help he needs. Even at the feeding station, he
:20:01. > :20:09.declaims the offers. He does not need it.
:20:10. > :20:20.The first winner and we are now coming up to 1 million. Can you
:20:21. > :20:28.believe it? Just over 30 ye`rs. It is such a great day. The only thing
:20:29. > :20:47.that is missing is the paint on the table. I bet you have not h`d that
:20:48. > :20:53.paint yet. I would not hold your breath.
:20:54. > :20:56.You won the second Great North Run and felt you should have won
:20:57. > :21:15.Yes, I ran the race the previous day and I was a bit complacent. That is
:21:16. > :21:19.a lesson to all athletes, do not get too complacent.
:21:20. > :21:22.You're here as part of an official ceremony to mark the
:21:23. > :21:26.along with two other famous faces from the world of athletics,
:21:27. > :21:27.Paula Radcliffe and Baroness Tanni`Grey Thompson.
:21:28. > :21:29.Tanni, the wheelchair race has changed beyond all recognithon
:21:30. > :21:33.since the first one back in 198 , when there were just a few people
:21:34. > :21:44.pein wheelchairs that took part ` many of them not athletes at all!
:21:45. > :21:53.There were not initially many races actually accepted wheelchairs. It is
:21:54. > :21:54.such a good home event. It hs straight and fast and easy to
:21:55. > :21:57.manoeuvre. You won eight GNRs. Was any one
:21:58. > :22:00.of those particularly speci`l? And your protege Jade Jones
:22:01. > :22:03.takes part this weekend. What a great season she's h`ving
:22:04. > :22:15.` bronze in the Commonwealth Games. She has done really well. She has
:22:16. > :22:23.done great things. I think she is hoping to break my record. H think
:22:24. > :22:25.she will definitely do it this weekend.
:22:26. > :22:28.Paula, you have won the GNR twice, most memorably in the Millennium
:22:29. > :22:31.Race of 2000, with a record` breaking time, abd still hold
:22:32. > :22:34.the course record. How does it rank in your impressive list
:22:35. > :22:50.It is right up there. It is the fastest I've ever ran over the half
:22:51. > :22:58.marathon distance. It fitted in my plans for the half marathon. I had
:22:59. > :23:05.grown up doing the cross`cotntry runs. I had always planned to run
:23:06. > :23:13.the Great North Run. It was a no`brainer. It gets behind sport in
:23:14. > :23:20.general and athletics in particular. Could this be another battld between
:23:21. > :23:23.the two leading athletes thhs weekend? Yes, I think it is going to
:23:24. > :23:33.be a very good race and a vdry fast time. Thank you all very much. We
:23:34. > :23:42.have a great weather today `nd we are hoping it will be like that for
:23:43. > :23:44.the rest of the weekend. A fantastic collection of athletes and `
:23:45. > :23:56.fantastic collection of med`ls I would guess. Earlier on tod`y, it
:23:57. > :23:58.was a fantastic day, but we are hearing that people should wrap up
:23:59. > :24:09.if they are coming this evening Brendan Foster just a band gave me a
:24:10. > :24:15.thumbs up. I think he is pldased I have brought a good band of weather.
:24:16. > :24:22.The weather always plays a part but more so because of this big concert
:24:23. > :24:29.tonight. The temperature totched 22 Celsius in some parts. Take a look
:24:30. > :24:34.at the chart for this evening. Thicker cloud over to the wdst. We
:24:35. > :24:43.could see a few showers in Cumbria. Most places will be dry. A few Mr
:24:44. > :24:53.frog perches developing unddr clear skies. Temperatures typically don't
:24:54. > :24:58.to 11 or 12 Celsius. Fairly straightforward overnight tonight.
:24:59. > :25:04.Tomorrow, we start again with some early mist and is a list, wd will
:25:05. > :25:09.see some sunshine. They will probably not last as long as they
:25:10. > :25:12.have done in previous days. The thicker cloud will bring sole
:25:13. > :25:20.outbreaks of rain during thd course of the afternoon. Mostly spread in
:25:21. > :25:26.the northern part of the region The further south you come, the odd
:25:27. > :25:41.shower, but they will be fewer and further in between. Not a cold day
:25:42. > :25:47.tomorrow. Still about 20 Celsius. Take a look at the pleasure sequins.
:25:48. > :25:55.You can see the sequins bringing us this thicker cloud. Most pl`ces will
:25:56. > :26:03.start to brighten up again. That weather front returns to northern
:26:04. > :26:07.areas, but of it will stay just on the fringes of the region. Let us
:26:08. > :26:13.take a look at the outlook generally for the weekend. A lot of dry and
:26:14. > :26:24.great weather, I would not rule out the odd shower. The temperatures,
:26:25. > :26:29.much fresher than it has bedn. The wind will be light from the north.
:26:30. > :26:36.On Sunday, for the race itsdlf, it is a fine dry and sunny start. Maybe
:26:37. > :26:45.a bit chilly to start with. But it should stay dry for the racd. The
:26:46. > :26:51.light breeze keeping the temperatures down and the rtnners
:26:52. > :26:54.and spectators cool. Dry and great day on the cards for most others the
:26:55. > :26:58.weather is looking good. It is going to get very noisy and
:26:59. > :27:12.quite called. If you are coming
:27:13. > :27:14.down to the Quayside to watch the show, organisers are promising
:27:15. > :27:17.you a real treat. And we would love you to sh`re
:27:18. > :27:20.your photos and comments with us If you do not have a ticket,
:27:21. > :27:24.you can follow it online And on the BBC Look North F`cebook
:27:25. > :27:30.page. There will be also highlights
:27:31. > :27:32.of the GNR Million show And you can watch it on Sunday
:27:33. > :27:36.during the BBC's coverage of what promises to be
:27:37. > :27:39.a memorable Great North Run.