UPDATE (October 2008): this podcast has ‘retired’ into the archives. I’ve left the production notes below.

Chris joins me to talk about:

* Queer Up North: Europe’s leading queer arts festival which starts here in Manchester in the next few days, with events throughout May.

* Peter Tatchell

* Our show Bargain Hunters: why we haven’t made any more since June.

* Big Brother

* The TV phone scandals that have engulfed Britain recently and the recent BBC Panorama programme on the subject.

* The Basement Social Centre

* The Conservative Party

* Scally wear: we find out, does Chris own a hoody or any trackies?

* Doctor Who and Torchwood

At least 127 people have been killed in five or more car bombings in Baghdad.

‘A Reuters photographer at the scene said many women and children were among the victims. More than 90 people were injured in the attack.’ (The Guardian).

Meanwhile 32 died in Virginia yesterday.

Gosh I wonder which of these tragedies will be headline news in America and Britain every day for weeks to come?

I really hate the drunkenness, violence and general thuggery that is everywhere in Britain now.

(more…)

Greater Manchester Police have put a video on YouTube in an attempt to get more information from the public about the murder of a 15-year-old schoolboy.

In the early hours of Saturday, September 9, Jessie James was shot three times in a park in the Moss Side area of Manchester. The clip includes a tribute from his mother and sister.