David Dimbleby has grown used to the rough and tumble of dealing with politicians – including the BNP leader, Nick Griffin.

But the veteran broadcaster is to miss tonight's edition of BBC's Question Time after being knocked out by a bullock when it reared as he tried to load it on a trailer yesterday.

Dimbleby lost consciousness briefly and required stitches for a gash to his head. He was treated for concussion but was today said to be recovering well although he is staying in hospital as a precaution. The BBC said he was expected to return home soon and described the incident as "a minor farming accident".

Dimbleby, long-time anchor of the BBC's election coverage, also fronted A Picture of Britain, celebrating its art and landscapes, in 2004 and a follow-up on architecture, How We Built Britain, in 2007.

Dimbleby, 71, who lives with his wife Belinda Giles in East Sussex, said he hoped he would be back next week. "I haven't missed a Question Time in over 15 years. Trust my wife's bullock to take me out. I'll be giving bullocks a wide berth in future."

His place will be taken tonight by another whose style might be regarded as like a bull in a china shop – the Today programme and Mastermind presenter John Humphrys.

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BBC bosses are now desperately trying to find someone able to help Tess Daly present the show.

The much-loved presenter is said to be recovering at his home in Virginia Water, Surrey, with his wife Wilnelia caring for him.

A BBC source said: 'Bruce has got the flu and will miss the show on doctor's orders.

Bruce has often told how he puts so much into the show that he is forced to spend Sundays in bed to recover.

Speaking just a week ago, he revealed how he has to force himself to rest, saying: 'I can’t stay asleep because the adrenalin of doing a live show is still pumping round my body.

'Last Sunday, for instance, I got up at 6am. I was hungry, as I never eat much when I’m doing the show, so I went downstairs, made my porridge and watched Match of the Day.

'I watched television until about 9.30am, then went back to bed for a few hours. I got up for lunch, then went back to bed after lunch and watched football and golf on TV. Then in the evening, I got up again for an hour and had a cup of tea.

'Then it was back to bed for a normal night’s sleep. That’s my routine while I’m doing Strictly and on Monday mornings, I'm as good as new.'

He also follows a daily routine of exercises devised by Tibetan monks and is extremely careful about his diet, eating a breakfast of porridge, soya milk, raisins, cinnamon and dried blueberries.

BT boss has only broadband home

British Telecom (BT) has admitted its chairman is the only person in a village on the Oxfordshire-Buckinghamshire border with broadband.

Other people in Hambleden were told they could not have broadband because of the distance to the exchange.

BT said Sir Michael Rake's connection was part of a trial of new technology, and no company could afford to provide broadband to the area.

One local resident said it was not fair and that Sir Michael should resign.

'Preferential treatment'

In a statement, BT wrote: "Trials of new technologies are often conducted among a company's own staff so there is nothing unusual in this situation.

"BT has learnt a lot through the trial the chairman participated in and hopefully those lessons will benefit the residents of Hambleden in due course.

"We have sympathy for the residents of Hambleden.

"Several companies actually supply broadband from the exchange serving their village but the lines between the village and the exchange are simply too long to support a broadband service."

Gary Ashworth, who lives in Hambleden, said: "If I was a BT shareholder I'd be upset... I think one can live with it, if it's a level playing field it's not a problem.

"It's this preferential treatment that Sir Michael Rake has had that's upset most of the villagers."

In May research commissioned by the BBC found that about three million homes in the UK have no broadband or speeds of less than two megabits per second (2Mbps).

The government has promised to provide all homes in the UK with speeds of at least 2Mbps by 2012.

I'm not sure what to make of this!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8420053.stm

Why would anyone want to steal that?

Pyjama ban at Tesco

Tesco Extra in St Mellons, Cardiff, is the first in Britain to threaten to ban customers who can’t be bothered to change out of their nightclothes.

A stern notice at the store’s entrance declares: “To avoid causing offence or embarrassment to others we ask that our customers are appropriately dressed when visiting our store (footwear must be worn at all times and no nightwear is permitted).”

Many shoppers at the store yesterday told the Daily Express they were delighted with Tesco’s move against the slobby shoppers.

Source: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/154 ... n-at-Tesco