Today's show 18/07/11

Another Monday, but it appears that your media colleagues threw you a lifeline yesterday...

1) SIR PAUL STEPHENSON RESIGNS - The Met chief, Sir Paul Stephenson resigns. Then he suggests what he did wasn't as bad as what Prime Minister David Cameron did : You know, the thing that puzzles me about the whole "phone hacking" thing (and I use that term loosely now as it seems to be encompassing all sorts of other dubious activities) is the continued media reporting that this story is confined to News International, and News International alone. There was mention last week of similar behaviour by the Daily Mirror and Piers Morgan, but that seems to have come to nothing again. At the forefront of the NI attacks is, of course, our dear old Auntie BBC. It is as though the BBC have an agenda to follow that includes seeing Murdoch destroyed and Cameron weakened, maybe even deposed. Here then is the patronising BBC trying to make out that NI was guilty of abuse of power when - in my opinion - it does exactly the same by forcing us (we have no choice, or do we?) to pay for its output and pumping out its own toxic brand of bias and deliberate misinformation every day. So, where is the mention of Lord Ashcroft's claims (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8634565/Lord-Ashcroft-again-accuses-Tom-Baldwin-of-blagging-bank-details.html) that Ed Miliband's ex-NI man Tom Baldwin obtained information to which he was not entitled? Conveniently forgotten about and/or ignored, I would suggest. I hope, pray and have everything crossed that the BBC end up embroiled in this mess, and if/when they do I will be laughing all the way to 6 Music. Next...

2) AQUAHOLICS - Are you an aquaholic who can't stop drinking water? Apparently Nigella Lawson has been. Find out more in this Daily Mail article : Monday, and a Daily Mail story in second place. No surprises there then. And I love your use of the word "apparently", which serves no purpose other than to cause that short moment of doubt about whether the story is true, or not. But hey, it was in the Daily Mail so it must be true. Anyway, and in answer to your question: No, I am not. Next...

3) THE TERRITORIAL ARMY - The government wants to increase the numbers in the Territorial Army. But to pay for it, we're going to have to cut the regular army. Who would you rather be defended by, Andy McNabb, or Gareth from 'The Office'? : Hmmm... Which I would rather be defended by, a retired soldier and best-selling author, or a fictional character? I'll get back to you on that one ... maybe. In the meantime, no surprise to see that your blatant stereotyping is alive and well, and I hope that some TA members put you right. Next you'll be telling us that Drop The Dead Donkey was a documentary and that all journalists are truthful and trustworthy pillars of society. Next...

4) COMING OUT - Coming out as gay when you’re old. Is this you, a friend, or even a parent?: In case you hadn't noticed, this is not news - but it is a typical JV Show Monday story. In answer to your questions: No, No and No.