Transcripts For GBN Jacob 20240704

A national treasure, sir michael graced the screen with his presence as the host of the show. Parkinson i will be joined by actor Christopher Biggins and journalist John Sargeant to share some of their fantastic insightful memories of the best. Also , how did you catch me also, how did you catch me and the gang at Parliament Earlier yesterday . Anyone on to downing street these days work . They myself Michelle Dewberry nigel farage Liam Halligan and bev turner. We all went to personally deliver a letter chancellorjeremy all went to personally deliver a letter chancellor jeremy hunt letter to chancellor jeremy hunt on behalf of almost 300,000 of you who signed our dont kill Cash Campaign to protect your right to use cash. Well, if you missed us, maybe you saw our giant inflatable piggy bank a little mascot to all of those who refused to be left behind. The race to erase physical tender by the way, when 91 people, 91 signatures away from hitting that 300,000 mark, i think were going to do it tonight. I have faith in you, for gb news forward slash cat. Get it signed, people get it signed and as the duke of sussex attempts to scrape back military support for his new Invictus Games , i will be asking, has games, i will be asking, has harry actually lost the support of veterans . Theyre kind of all he had left , arent they . And he had left, arent they . And finally, i will get my panels reaction to the Chess Federation. It gets more exciting. Dont worry. Checkmate themselves with a bizarre new policy suggesting that women arent as smart as biological men who would have thought that . And i thought the queen was the most powerful piece. Right. Okay but now, of course, it is time. But now, of course, it is time. Oh, no. Im going to tell you on my panel, ive got broadcaster and bbc journalist, the and former bbc journalist, the wonderful Michael Crick. Ive also tabloid journo, also got tabloid journo, journalist broadcaster journalist and broadcaster and fan now, fan favourite, mike parry. Now, remember, we want to hear from you. Me male mog on you. Email me male mog on gbnews. Com yeah, its going to kick right off this evening, but right now its the headlines with polly. With polly. Its just after 8 00 and here are your latest News Headlines and our top story from the gb news room today is that we can reveal exclusively that 80 migrants are currently being housed at a former raf base in essex. Its more than a month after the first group of migrants arrived there. The wethersfield, based near braintree in essex, is eventually meant to house up to 1700 people. The home office says therell be a gradual increase in numbers, but sources suggest that the pace will be significantly slower than first envisioned. The site has had reports of disease among the first group of migrants and problems with utilities not working properly. And gb news working properly. And gb news can reveal 550 people have crossed the English Channel today in ten small boats. Thats over the last 24 hours and it bnngs over the last 24 hours and it brings the total number of migrants whove made the dangerous crossing over the engush dangerous crossing over the English Channel this year to more than 17,500 uk border force are telling us theyre on red alert during an extremely busy time for asylum seekers. And they say a significant surge in crossings is expected this weekend as weather conditions improve. Now, as youve been improve. Now, as youve been heanng improve. Now, as youve been hearing , gb news has delivered hearing, gb news has delivered the dont kill Cash Campaign to downing street. The chancellor jeremy hunt, took delivery of almost 300,000 signatures from our presenters. On behalf of viewers and listeners whove joined the campaign, that number has now surpassed 300,000. Well, the letter calls on the government to protect the status of cash as legal tender and a widely accepted form of payment until at least 2050. The Saudi Crown Prince has reportedly been ianed crown prince has reportedly been invited to visit the uk , rishi invited to visit the uk, rishi sunak and Mohammed Bin Salman spoke earlier today and they discussed trade investment , discussed trade investment, defence and security cooperation. The Saudi Crown Prince has been accused of ordering the assassination of the Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi at the saudi consulate in istanbul in 2018, a charge he has denied. And as youve been hearing, tributes have been paid today to the legendary broadcaster sir Michael Parkinson , who died at Michael Parkinson, who died at the age of 88. Sir michael became one of the countrys most famous faces through his long running tv talk show , running tv talk show, interviewing some of the worlds biggest stars, including muhammad ali and Billy Connolly. Comedian stephen fry described him as an authentic genius and that it had been impossibly thrilling, as he said, to be a guest on the parkinson show. Sir David Attenborough also said parky went beyond regional class. He was just himself, sir michael died at home, surrounded by his family after a short illness with gb news across the uk. On your tv, in your car , on uk. On your tv, in your car, on your digital radio, and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. This is britains news. Channel it is all action tonight. But im starting with this. We are on the brink of eight channel migrants overload several red alert days have already been issued for the coming weeks, which means that we will see a repeat of overflowing detention centres like we did exactly this time last year. Earlier, gb news exclusively revealed that just 80 migrants are being housed at raf wethersfield, a site that was due to have 1700. Now, part of the problem just part of it, by the way, is that anybody who claims to be a victim of Human Trafficking or modern slavery apparently cant be housed at these sites, which is basically everyone least everyone everyone or at least everyone whos a lawyer anyway. Whos spoken to a lawyer anyway. This means that more hotels will be used. Now, i have been following the events at this park hotel in llanelli in wales over recent months. 95 staff were sacked to make way for migrants at this four star hotel , but the locals fought back. Now they decided to blockade the hotel , the road around it, and hotel, the road around it, and theyve received praise from right across the uk for that. But things have been simmering in recent days and quite possibly reaching boiling point right now, the local residents who have been camping outside 24 over seven for weeks have been served with an injunction banning them from going on to the actual hotel site or security were positioned there to stop them. But they kicked up so much of a fuss that the security left and then they decided to storm the hotel and occupy it. And what they saw was devastating. The once Beautiful Hotel has been completely gutted, trashed and destroyed, stripped out to make way for the channel migrants arrivals. I dont know about you, but that doesnt look to me like it was ever going to be a temporary facility. They are absolutely gutting it, arent they . Now the hotel was at the beating heart of that community. Small, local welsh community. So when that community saw what had been done to it, they decided it that they were going to play a few beats of their own. They went in there and you can see the Police Looking at them. Where that torch is showing you is a Rooftop Party that they decided to hotel. And that to host in this hotel. And that supposedly went on into the small hours and maybe even still be going on now. Certainly would be going on now. Certainly would be if i had anything to do with that back in the day. But there is a very serious point here, a very serious point here as we stare down the barrel of a huge month of Channel Crossings again, an overflowing migrant accommodation. Some in accommodation. Some people in wales have now resorted to breaking the law, criminalising themselves to protect their local towns and villages. Thats certainly how they view it anyway. And i just think isnt it such a shame that its all come to this . But of course i want to know your thoughts. Dont forget to let me know what you think. Male mogg at gbnews. Com now, before i go to my panel, im going to go to this chap. Its called dan morgan. Hes a spokesperson for voice of wales have voice of wales who have been keeping bang to date with keeping us bang up to date with all of this. And thank you very much. Great to have you on much. Its great to have you on the just talk me the show. So just talk me through exactly whats been the show. So just talk me througonexactly whats been the show. So just talk me througon there, whats been the show. So just talk me througon there, because een the show. So just talk me througon there, because you guys going on there, because you guys decided some of you decided to well, some of you anyway, of storm into this anyway, kind of storm into this hotel and have a bit of a party. Oh,so i remember last time we so i remember last time we spoke, i said that it was reaching boiling point. And within days it had boiled over. Its got to the point now where people , theyre not getting the people, theyre not getting the support from the local authorities, their mps, their politicians police. Politicians and the police. Theres helping them or theres nobody helping them or offering any assistance. So they are having resort to taking are having to resort to taking matters into their own hands. Now the idea of the going into the hotel yesterday was its a civil matter because its trespass. So the police cant actually ask you to leave the security staff didnt ask them to leave. So they stayed. And then the security staff decided to leave. So as you can imagine, then the you know, the Hotel Grounds are all completely open. And thats what they did. They and thats what they did. They they went around the hotel. They they went around the hotel. They had even had their breakfast there in morning. Think there in the morning. I think some them had a picnic the some of them had a picnic on the balcony. So, know , there was balcony. So, you know, there was no damage or anything that i know of that was caused. It was simply just going in and making a statement that this is our hotel. Hotel. I just think it is such a shame for people that they feel as though they will have to resort to trespass or crimes or whatever, even if its civil matters in order to try to protect their own community. I mean, the reality is a lot of people in lots of communities will feel very strongly about not having a migrant facility in their but wont feel their town but wont feel comfortable kind of crossing that line. Right. Whereas you guys were all right with that. Guys were all right with that. Yeah. Well, i think , you yeah. Well, i think, you know, the message that weve been seeing on social media as the protest, as, you know, the welsh, they do take things in, you know, natalie is famous for this you know, this sort of thing. You know, you the rebecca riots you have the rebecca riots started internationally. Youve got strike and the got the rail strike and the riots started there. You know, so theres a long history of the people, especially in that area so theres a long history of the petown,aspecially in that area so theres a long history of the petown, if3ecially in that area so theres a long history of the petown, if theylly in that area so theres a long history of the petown, if they dontthat area so theres a long history of the petown, if they dont want|rea of town, if they dont want something, its happening. Something, its not happening. And whether or not you know, theres other pictures that weve got where the whole hotel has been gutted and it does not look like its suitable for anybody at all to live in. But the these people, they still see it, obviously, as their their jewel in the in the crown of natalie because it was such a big pull to the area and it has such a big effect on the wider community. But theyre you know , theyre determined and what theyre doing , they should have theyre doing, they should have beenin theyre doing, they should have been in by now the migrant. Theyre not so theyre kicking the can down the road as much as possible in the hope that hopefully they wash their hands of it and say its not worth the hassle. Um, but were still yet hassle. Um, but were still yet to see whats going to come from the know exactly. Im, im hoping that we hope that we might able to just that we might be able to just see couple of those those see a couple more of those those images little bit of that images or a little bit of that video again, just for a bit of context. Yeah, there we go. Exactly. So theyve completely, completely the completely gutted it. Thats the kind that were kind of stuff that you were talking ive talking about there, dad, ive got ask, whats the state got to ask, whats the state of play got to ask, whats the state of play then . Having play now then . So having occupied that hotel, where are you up to with it . Whats going to well, a new Security Firm well, a new Security Firm came and the new security came in and the new Security Firm was the usual sort of firm that you see at these hotels. That you see at these hotels. They are all foreign nationals. They are all foreign nationals. Now, the ones that went into strategy were british and we knew that was best to sort of secure the property, make sure everything was okay and then move on. And the other guys would move in. So that was no shock. But believe it was shock. But i believe it was probably a sooner than probably a bit sooner than intended. Now people are still intended. Now people are still kind of sussing out the new security they seem to be getting on okay at the moment, but there are still, you know, the problems that are always going to be there, that these people are facilitate allowing these migrants into the community. Okay. Look, dan, thank you very, very much. Great to have you on the show. Appreciate you making time us as you do making the time for us as you do so regularly morgan, so regularly here. Dan morgan, there, a spokesman for the voice of wales. Highlight of wales. I wanted to highlight that that is that because obviously that is quite an extreme example of communities there pushing communities out there pushing back of this. But in back on all of this. But in light red alert days that light of the red alert days that weve in next weeks and weve got in the next weeks and weve got in the next weeks and we whats to going happen, we know whats to going happen, dont we, with huge levels of channel migrants coming across, theyre going have to be put theyre to going have to be put somewhere. Just wonder if somewhere. I just wonder if were see a more of were going to see a bit more of that it opens up a question, that and it opens up a question, doesnt it . Mean, is that doesnt it . I mean, is that justified . That morally justified . Is that morally right . To those right . Would you go to those lens . Would criminalise lens . Would you criminalise yourself in order to try to, in yourself in order to try to, in your protect your your view anyway, protect your local now by my local area . Im joined now by my panel of broadcaster, former bbc journalist Michael Crick and tabloid journalist, broadcaster as both of as well, mike parry. Both of you, you very, very much. You, thank you very, very much. Its introduce you both its hard to introduce you both because youre both called Michael Crick. For you Michael Crick. Ill go for you first. You make . Are you first. What do you make . Are you concerned that were going to end civil end up seeing more civil disobedience, . Not disobedience, trespassing . Not necessarily case, but in necessarily in this case, but in some of this potentially criminal etcetera, criminal damage, etcetera, as people Migrant Hotels . People resist Migrant Hotels . Concerned , i think, im very concerned, i think, and the situation could get a lot, lot uglier than that if the migrants had been housed in the hotel and the hotel had been stormed by protesters and, you know, you could have seen a battle going on, violence worse i and i mean, just going back to basics , the numbers coming to basics, the numbers coming across the channel have gone down a bit. And it looks like the albanians have been deterred. But lets face it, no party has a workable solution to this. And the country is going to have to cope with it. And the best way the country can cope with it is by spreading out the responsibility throughout about these isles. As much as we can. And i think in the years ahead, were going to see more cross channel migrants, not fewer. And cross channel migrants, not fewer. And unless youre proposing to have machine gun posts every ten yards along the south coast, i dont actually think theres much you can do about it. And you have to accept now it may not be that these are the most deserving cases , but the most deserving cases, but these are the ones that have got here. Lets hope we can here. And we lets hope we can also bring some deserving also bring in some deserving a lot of deserving other deserving cases well. But i mean , there cases as well. But i mean, there is no easy answer. I mean, i say to you, i would say to is his name down . Yes. Yeah. I mean, where you they should where do you think they should go instead . This is this is well, this is this is this is the thing. I mean, we can we can get into all of that. Mike, do you that people are you think that people are justified in taking action . Frankly, if frankly, that breaks the law if they that strongly . They feel that strongly . Michael makes a very good points. One reasons why points. One of the reasons why so people come here is so many people come here is because most tolerant because we are the most tolerant country in the world, and therefore , they know when they therefore, they know when they get here, these sort of situations are least likely to happen here than they would in other European Countries like france. We know theres a huge immigration problem in france and there are battles on the streets many, many nights, most nights in those communities around paris where local people protest and rise up. They happen too often now. They dont even get reported in the in the engush get reported in the in the english newspapers. But the point id make is we are so tolerant because were the fairest country in the world. I dont want to sound brutal in the sense that, as michael said, you hold up pikes and stop them coming abroad. But weve got to make this country less attractive for people to come to. Now, im not saying that that means youve got to have people roaming the streets threatening people who come here as immigrants. Im saying that the economic structure of the country has to be changed so country has got to be changed so that when they come they that when they come here, they dont good a deal as they dont get as good a deal as they get. Now, this week in the get. Now, only this week in the newspapers, people newspapers, youve seen people trying or seek asylum trying to seek or seek asylum here, holding up placards saying we deserve a home. Well, so do the Homeless People in this country. The balance is gone. All right. Look both of you, thank you very much. Were off to a flyer. We could have done an entire show on this. And in many ways, i wish that we did, actually. But weve got loads more through. So thank more to get through. So thank you much. Ill be seeing you very much. Ill be seeing you very much. Ill be seeing you very much. Ill be seeing you very shortly. And you both very, very shortly. And dont forget to let me know what you think. Morgue at you think. Male morgue at gbnews. Com up. I be gbnews. Com coming up. I will be paying gbnews. Com coming up. I will be paying one of paying homage to one of britains well, britains best and, well, frankly, ever, really. Frankly, the best ever, really. Journalist Michael Parkinson journalist sir Michael Parkinson and be joined some of and i will be joined by some of his friends in the his oldest friends in the industry, almost 300,000 his oldest friends in the inryou y, almost 300,000 his oldest friends in the inryou love , almost 300,000 his oldest friends in the inryou love people|ost 300,000 his oldest friends in the inryou love people have 00,000 his oldest friends in the inryou love people have signed� of you love people have signed our dont Cash Campaign. In our dont kill Cash Campaign. In fact, getting something fact, im just getting something in weve done it. In my ear now. Weve done it. Yes, weve 300,000. Yes, weve hit 300,000. Fantastic. Done, everybody. Fantastic. Well done, everybody. Party popper time. We delivered party popper time. We delivered it and delivered it to downing street on today. But street earlier on today. But next i will be speaking to a next up, i will be speaking to a man loves contactless man who loves Contactless Payments much that had man who loves contactless peimplanted much that had man who loves contactless peimplanted inuch that had man who loves contactless peimplanted in his that had man who loves contactless peimplanted in his own had man who loves contactless peimplanted in his own hand. Ad it implanted in his own hand. And even doesnt want to kill and even he doesnt want to kill cash. Stay to news. Radio you. You. You. Yes. Welcome back to state of the nation. Youve been getting in touch with your thoughts. Ive only got time for one. Adrian says when the law is used to harm people, the people have no choice but to break the law. And light of the and that is in light of the story that i brought you. Story that i brought to you. A little bit earlier on from wales, where the local community have absolutely risen up, not afraid the law, to afraid to break the law, to protect their area as they would see a migrant hotel. Is see it from a migrant hotel. Is it justified, though . Are we going see more of it . But going to see more of it . But now, that of course, now, yes, that news, of course, that will all know by now, that you will all know by now, which is broadcaster sir which is that broadcaster sir michael passed Michael Parkinson, passed away at the world has at the age of 88. The world has lost true icon. He peacefully lost a true icon. He peacefully passed of his passed in the company of his family last night following a brief encounter with illness. Now legend british now a legend of british television. Sir michael, formerly journalist, graced television. Sir michael, forn screen journalist, graced television. Sir michael, forn screen with|alist, graced television. Sir michael, forn screen with his;t, graced television. Sir michael, forn screen with his presence television. Sir michael, fornscreen with his presence as the screen with his presence as the screen with his presence as the host of the renowned talk show parkinson. Across more than show parkinson. Across more than 800 episodes, the cherished tv host, affectionately known as parky , interviewed some of the parky, interviewed some of the worlds most high profile figures. His interviews became a timeless tapestry of the era, connecting us with the likes of muhammad ali, sir elton john, tom cruise, george michael. I tom cruise, george michael. I mean, you could go on forever. Really i am pleased to be joined by Christopher Biggins, who worked with sir michael and appeared multiple times on the hit show give us a clue. Biggins thank you very much. How are you, sir . Nowadays man, how are you . Its very good to speak to you. So this very sad day weve lost someone terribly, terribly important. I mean, what was wonderful about michael, he was he listened. He was interviewed. Listened. He was interviewed. Someone he would listen to them. And it was very important that and he was so special. I remember being in australia with him in sydney, and i ianed with him in sydney, and i invited him to a party with mary and they got rather inebriated and they got rather inebriated and i now my one of my visions, which ill always hold dear to me was him crawling on all fours to the lift to leave the hotel we were staying in. And that night he gave up drink. I think he went back to it a little later, but he was the wonderfully amusing , fabulous wonderfully amusing, fabulous quy wonderfully amusing, fabulous guy. You ever likely to meet. And he was brilliant. I mean, and he was brilliant. I mean, theres never been a chat show host like him. I mean, the guests that hes had are just unbelievably memorable. Fantastic and what was he like in his unguarded , potentially unguarded, potentially occasionally inebriated moments as well . Begins he was charming. He was he was charming. He was absolutely charming. He was such absolutely charming. He was such good company. He would have he was a raconteur that had wonderful stories about not only his life, but everyone elses life. And when you consider i saw a clip today where he had betty davis on now betty davis was an icon and she came on and she stood up and she absolutely took the applause and stood up again. When the applause got louder and louder. I mean, she was absolutely fantastic. But he was absolutely fantastic. But he was fantastic. He knew how to handle these great, great stars i what what do you think hed make of this outpouring of love and affection for him . The constant replaying of a variety of different clips, including one of him being attacked by an emu i listen, he would love it. Listen, he would love it. He would , absolutely. And of he would, absolutely. And of course , im pleased youve course, im pleased youve mentioned emu, because that was well, didnt know how pleased he was about that, mind you. But it was about that, mind you. But it was one of the Great Television moments ever. I mean i can still when i saw it today on television earlier on, it was just wonderful. He took control and absolutely annihilate parky who was always so much in control. Not on that day. He control. Not on that day. He wasnt indeed emu took took charge. Charge. Now indeed. Now look begins. Ive got to read you something that michael said about you. Okay. So he said, michael apparently said i turned down all star mr and mrs. He says on you he says that he loved you so much but it was only a limited amount of time that it was ever able to spend with you. Much as i love him, couldnt spend two i love him, i couldnt spend two weeks jungle with weeks in the jungle with Christopher Biggins or indeed volunteer celebrity medical volunteer for celebrity medical nightmares or celebrity rehab. So obviously indeed he so he obviously did. Indeed he did he probably did like you, but he probably thought bit thought you were a little bit much every now and again. But what was it to actually what was it like to actually work just a quick work with him . Just a quick anecdote. Give a clue. Well, he was a wonderful host to give a clue. Give us to give us a clue. Give us a clue. As one of my favourite things to do in the world. And he absolutely fantastic and he was absolutely fantastic and he was absolutely fantastic and he knew to how handle it. And once again, he he was generous. Host goodness. Look at host oh my goodness. Look at that goodness. Oh, we that clip. My goodness. Oh, we should bring back. Give us a should bring back. Give us a clue. Give us a clue. Should come back and id like to host it. Can arrange that for me . It. Can you arrange that for me . Ill click fingers and ill click my fingers and consider done. Consider it done. Goodness. Look at oh, my goodness. Look at that. Fantastic brilliant. No, he was so good. Unlike blair, he was so good. Unlike blair, who was terribly upset if we lost, he would get so upset. Lost, he would get so upset. Oh, because i can see you reminiscing there. Im going. Im going to leave you alone with your thoughts. Now christopher. But thank you very, very pleasure. Very much. Always a pleasure. You care. Thank you for you take care. Thank you for making us. Im very making the time for us. Im very pleased to say that im actually joined studio now by joined in the studio now by another icon, john another absolute icon, John Sergeant, and colleague sergeant, a friend and colleague of sir john, great to of sir michael. John, great to have you in show. Thank you have you in the show. Thank you very, very much. You were lucky enough to we had long history enough to we had a long history of didnt you . But you of michael, didnt you . But you were interviewed with him as well, you, on an all well, werent you, on an all star it must said. Star cast . It must be said. I was. I was. I was. I mean, it was it was like a raw command. You know . Would you like interviewed my. Like to be interviewed by my. Well, and then sort of well, yes. And then sort of after it, said, else after it, you said, who else will be well, goldie hawn. Will be on . Well, goldie hawn. Oh, good, good. And john oh, yes. Good, good. And John Travolta. Oh, my gosh. So i thought, oh, no, id written a book about my life apart from other things, but my involvement with Margaret Thatcher. So that was the sort of that was why i was the sort of that was why i was there. But i thought, this is going to be tricky. How am i going to put myself in front of these people . The audience, these people . The audience, studio audience, about 600. And of course , the moment goldie of course, the moment goldie hawn was interviewed first, the moment i then came on sit to next her, the if i said even something remotely funny, she would laugh and be flirtatious. And so of course i thought it was marvellous and michael was just terrific at knowing, although i was obviously the local boy , the audience warmed local boy, the audience warmed to me because i knew i was completely outclassed by these hollywood stars. And he hollywood stars. And he skilfully then just said, oh, but there was that time when you did this with Margaret Thatcher and you did that and so on, and he brought all the stories out, which i had briefed him on before. With which before. But the skill with which he did it showed his overall skill. It was the skill of a journalist. Wanted story to journalist. He wanted a story to be told and therefore , if bits be told and therefore, if bits of the story were left out or if they werent emphasised enough , they werent emphasised enough, he would jump in. But it was a journalist skill and thats he was a brilliant journalist. And was a brilliant journalist. And the fact that he was at home in a studio all right. But it meant that he was forever looking to see has the story been told . Have we done that bit or can we move on now . Because weve told that story and thats what gave him this tremendous ease and skill. So he knew where we were skill. So he knew where we were going with all these stories. He knew what the beginning was. He knew what the beginning was. He knew what the end was, and he knew what the end was, and he knew he can flick something in. And at the same time, he looked always terribly calm and some unflappable, unflappable, unflappable, unflappable, unflappable , apart from unflappable, apart from debatably the emu thing, which i do find quite funny because he did. Its funny. And hes then did. Its funny. And hes then thrown. But of course he then skilful man that he is. He knows thats the story. So he refers to it quite a lot , thats the story. So he refers to it quite a lot, as if hes not embarrassed. He was in not embarrassed. He was in control. It was okay. Of course, it must have been quite startling for him and he must have felt, look, actually, know. I know what i think it was with him. He summed it up quite nicely. He said, of all of the greats that ive interviewed, ill be remembered for that bird. Well, would, but he would well, he would, but he would sort of say that, you know, as a sort of say that, you know, as a sort of say that, you know, as a sort of self deprecating, the skill was say, im just sort skill was to say, im just sort of a guy helping and of of a guy helping along. And of course wasnt. Much, course he wasnt. He was much, much than he had much more than that. He had tremendous also, tremendous sensitivity. Also, theres an old street theres an old fleet street saying that you know, what kills off good reporters . What is it . Off good reporters . What is it . What about what is it about their faults that make them no longer good reporters . And the longer good reporters . And the conventional answer is , oh, conventional answer is, oh, drink. They start Drinking Alcohol , finish them. But in alcohol, finish them. But in fact this is the old fleet fact and this is the old fleet street saying, its not that its not drink, its self imposed dance. And i think michael fought against this all his professional life , that he his professional life, that he was there to find out about other people , to tell the story, other people, to tell the story, to be curious. And his skill was a young reporter skill. What is this . What happens now and then . Where do you go . What do you do next . And he just would use all that and all that enthusiasm and passion for story telling. So everybody knew when they were watching the parkinson show that they would see these very famous people. Jimmys stuart or whoever it was, or Billy Connolly or famous actors. And they would they think, oh , we they would they think, oh, we all know well get to know more about this person, not more about this person, not more about Michael Parkinson. So in about Michael Parkinson. So in that way, he was absolutely true to his young self as a young reporter. And i remember when i started reporting, i thought, well , i started reporting, i thought, well, i didnt know any reporters, but i did know him from his television shows. From his television shows. And so he had a massive influence, massive effect on me. Thought, gosh, you and i thought, gosh, you know, but but do you have to be an actor . Do you have to be a comedian . Know what of comedian . You know what sort of person to be to a person you have to be to be a reporter, which is what i wanted to and of course, he was in to be. And of course, he was in a way, people think of a curious way, people think of him showbiz figure. But in him as showbiz figure. But in fact, me, was an fact, for me, he was an archetypal rich porter and a brilliant one indeed, and fascinating to have have seen him interact with these stars as well. Never starstruck , always in never starstruck, always in control , always composed as control, always composed as well, and an absolute master at work. Wasnt he really . What was he like behind the scenes of these things . Or did he did he spend a lot of time with the stars behind doing the prep . Well, what . Yes, he did a lot of the preparation. And so when id written this book, id read one book biography and book of order biography and another he sort of had another book and he sort of had taken exactly taken notes and knew exactly where he wants to go. Where he what he wants to go. And you could see on the autocue. So youre sitting there and all these other people are coming on and goldie hawns giggling can see his giggling and you can see his autocue that you can just see out of your side of your eye. You can see, ah, yes. And thats egging me on to the next little story or the next that he story or the next point that he wants to make. So it was, it wants me to make. So it was, it was it was hard concealing art. You know, this was this was a man who knew exactly what he was doing. He would do lot of doing. And he would do a lot of the preparatory himself. The preparatory work himself. And was because he and because he was because he knew about stories and he wasnt he wasnt waiting for someone to tell him in his ear or ask about this. He perfectly well this. He knew perfectly well what good stories were and what the good stories were and what the good stories were and what wanted you to produce. What he wanted you to produce. But seeing these sort of little notes that count. So it was not a cue. Ask him this. It was notes on. Go to this next story. Now next story. Now the. Now the next story. Now the next story hes going to tell and the audience, course, on and the audience, of course, on the that i was involved in, the show that i was involved in, they were thrilled to bits with all stuff because all their stuff because they could see i was the you could see that i was the you know, the number three by far of these stars. These stars. Dont dig yourself down. Dont dig yourself down. I tell you who was annoyed, John Travolta wasnt pleased. He came me, really. And he came on after me, really. And he put his hand out to shake my hand. Never had such hand. Ive never had such a crushing handshake, really. So goldie thought it was all good fun. I travolta fun. But i think travolta thought, who this guy . Thought, who is this guy . Getting all the laughs, upstaging him . There go. Well, well, there you go. Well, absolutely. John, thank absolutely. Look john, thank you very, much. To great have very, very much. To great have you fabulous you on the show. Fabulous to hear more the legend hear a bit more about the legend himself a legend yourself, himself from a legend yourself, John Sergeant there right. John sergeant there right. Coming up, i was speaking to a man. This is a shift in tone, man. This is a shift in tone, let me tell you, with 35 Contactless Payments in plants. Why . Well, because weve just hit our 300,000 mile proposition to dont kill cash. But this to dont kill cash. But this guy, believe it or not, doesnt actually want to kill cash and a governing body chess. Governing body for chess. I think this is quite funny. Has banned trans women from taking part in all womens chess competitions. I cant believe competitions. I cant believe im saying this. Presumably presumably because they want to figure out whether or not men have bigger brains, what could be the physical impediment . Is that not one sport where actually it doesnt matter if youre trans. Stay tuned. Youre trans. Stay tuned. Looks like things are heating up. Boxed boilers proud sponsors up. Boxed boilers proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hi there. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast , well notice the forecast, well notice the increased humidity during the nights next few nights. Windy and cloudy conditions are starting to appear as well and an increased risk of showers and thunderstorms as the weekend approaches. High pressure moving away, lower pressure approaching, isobars tightening. The wind picks up overnight. That window is bringing higher humidities across the uk, an increase in the cloud as well. Some showers affecting eastern parts of britain, but heavier downpours arriving by the end of the across northern the night across Northern Ireland, central and ireland, wales into central and southern england. And its a muqqy southern england. And its a muggy sleeping 1718 muggy night for sleeping 1718 celsius the south, 13 to 15 celsius in the south, 13 to 15 celsius in the south, 13 to 15 celsius in the north. Those winds of concern, especially across parts of northwest wales, as we go through friday, 50 mile per hour wind gust, perhaps more in some of the gusty spots could impact travel, tourism and so on and heavy showers, even some thunderstorms across parts of central and southern england dunng central and southern england during friday morning. Frequent lightning, heavy rainfall as well. They diminish into the afternoon. Its a warm and humid day, but a lot of cloud and that breeze will limit temperatures then on friday night. So thats when a action takes when a lot of action takes place. Heavy sweeping place. Heavy rain sweeping through risk of some very lively thunderstorms the east thunderstorms in the east of england rain england and the persistent rain on saturday continues into the north of scotland , northern north of scotland, Northern Ireland and some, well, heavy rain at times throughout the weekend across northern parts of the. Further south, its the uk. Further south, its sunny spells showers and sunny spells and showers and still quite warm. Still staying quite warm. Looks like things are heating up. Boxed boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news listening to news radio. Welcome back , patrick welcome back, Patrick Christys here. This is state of the nation. Youve been getting in touch. Your thoughts on the late, great sir Michael Parkinson. James says so many of my childhood memories come from that , real british treasure. That man, real british treasure. I couldnt agree more. Actually, i couldnt agree more. Actually, i more. But gb i couldnt agree more. But gb news the fight to news are continuing the fight to protect britons who protect vulnerable britons who only use cash or would like to use it most of the time anyway, and who being left behind. And who are being left behind. Gb news dont kill Cash Campaign wants to the status of wants to protect the status of cash as legal tender is cash as legal tender and is a widely accepted form of payment until at least 2050. This morning myself Michelle Dewberry nigel farage, Liam Halligan and bev turner all went to personally deliver a letter to number 11 on behalf of all 300,000 of you lovely listeners and viewers who have joined and supported our dont kill Cash Campaign. So important for a variety of different reasons. The elderly especially, are being left behind. Were also, being left behind. Were also, of course, seeing Homeless People receiving less money, something that maybe people dont always think too much about. Theres rather a lot going on here, i think as well in light of nigel farage de banking scandal, its highlighted need be highlighted how you need to be able actually be able to hold able to actually be able to hold on to your own personal finances. But i am joined now by a rather unusual chap. I hope he doesnt mind saying that. Doesnt mind me saying that. Its who support our its a man who does support our campaign, apparently, but paid to 35 microchip in his body to have 35 microchip in his body so that he could pay contactless. He with them. Thank contactless. He with them. Thank you very, very much for joining me on the show. I am going to ask you if thats all right for you to just explain why on earth you to just explain why on earth you have decided to implant a load of chips in your body and what is going on because you are known as the human cyborg, or at least you are in this channel anyway, um , well, because its anyway, um, well, because its my body and i decide what i do with my body. Okay, fair enough. With my body. Okay, fair enough. And you still support our campaign, even though you decide that you want to be so in tune with Contactless Payments that you are putting putting them in your own body. Your own body. Yeah, because i think its very important for people to be able to choose how they want to pay, able to choose how they want to pay, whether its with cash or with a bank debit card, credit card , contactless payment , card, contactless payment, bitcoin or the cryptocurrencies. It shouldnt matter. People. It shouldnt matter. People shouldnt be forced to make that choice for them. Choice for them. So how how many implants have you got . Does it hurt as well . How does it work . Ive got a lot how does it work . Ive got a lot of questions. Of questions. Um, so currently i have 34 implants in total. Um, so currently i have 34 implants in total. Um i see one implants in total. Um i see one of them. Where are they . Can i come on . Can i. Can i see . Is there an obvious Thing Holding up . Well, um. Well, um. Well, um. Yeah. Its difficult to see them, which is one of the major advantages of, of the implants because theyre completely, completely the skin. But completely under the skin. But if you look closely, closely and if you look closely, closely and if i point them out, then you can see them. Yeah. Point them out for some. For some of us here. Go on. Um, heres my first implant. Um, heres my first implant. Its a magnet. Its a tiny magnet. Ive ive got 11 magnets in total in the fingertips of my index fingers and ring fingers. Um ive got another magnet here. Um ive got another magnet here. Um another one here. Gosh. Gosh. Gosh. Okay. All right. And i mean, do you ever do you ever personally pay with cash . Personally pay with cash . Yes. Personally pay with cash . Yes. Sometimes i pay with cash. Yes. Sometimes i pay with cash. For example , when i visit cash. For example, when i visit the nearest town in germany, where they have a um, a parking ticket machine that doesnt accept my. My dutch bank debit card. Only the german bank debit card. Only the german Bank Debit Cards. Um i have to pay with cash. Cards. Um i have to pay with cash. Um, the shopping carts of cash. Um, the shopping carts of course. They dont take Bank Debit Cards or cashless payments. You have to use a coin or 3d printer to something that fits the slot. Ive got to be honest , ive got to be honest, because your real name is. Of course not. Not not cyborg man. It is patrick portman. And what it is patrick portman. And what did people say when you said to them, im going to get a load of implants in my hand . Did anyone say bit mad. Well never know. Say bit mad. Well never know. Well never know because hes frozen. What . Someones turned him off. Okay anyway, that was. That was cyborg man and that one, to be honest about, as well as i thought it might. And of course, i can remind you now to if that doesnt inspire you, then nothing will to sign opposition gbnews. Com forward opposition gb news. Com forward slash opposition gbnews. Com forward slash cash. We want to make sure that cash really is king. Like i was saying before, we do not want to live in a country, i think where someone either a big corporation, a big bank, or dare ieven corporation, a big bank, or dare i even say the government can switch finances off just switch your finances off just like that. I also want to stick up marginalised up for the marginalised in society. People in society. We dont want people in their 80s and 90s having to fumble around phones in car fumble around with phones in car parks night, for example, parks at night, for example, instead able just instead of being able to just pay instead of being able to just pay cash and go about pay for cash and go about their lives, them in lives, it puts them in incredibly vulnerable, dangerous situations. To the situations. And thank you to the 300,000 who signed 300,000 people who have signed a petition. It is petition. And may i say, it is such a popular petition that even a man with 35 different implants his body so he implants in his body so that he can for things, contactless can pay for things, contactless , backs our campaign. , he still backs our campaign. So that is a good thing. So that is that is a good thing. Now coming up has harry lost the last part of his life in britain . A community that stood by him when almost nobody else would . And plus, do the Chess Community think that women are stupid in a tech or or. Or. Or or. Or. Welcome back, Patrick Christys. This is state of the nation. Youve been getting in touch as well with your mail. So ive just got time for one of them. I absolutely love going to car boot sale. So sonia, great for finding bargains and meeting people. Theyre great social events. Really help events. Also. They really help people budget without cash. People on a budget without cash. These all go. Thank you these will all go. Thank you very much, tony. Yes. Another good British Culture good thing of British Culture that lost we just that will be lost if we just slavishly follow a Digital Banking system. But the latest news from across the pond is the announcement duke announcement of the duke of sussex documentary called announcement of the duke of susse of documentary called announcement of the duke of susse of invictus,nentary called announcement of the duke of susse of invictus, whichy called announcement of the duke of susse of invictus, which will. Led announcement of the duke of susse of invictus, which will be heart of invictus, which will be aired at the end of august on netflix. Obviously, the concept of this series is following a group of competitors from around the globe whove experienced life changing injuries or illnesses and theyve been impacted from the Invictus Games. They are, of course , games. They are, of course, veterans, military veterans. But harry is just trying to win back support of the veteran community, or is this objective a good thing that he deserves credit people hes credit for . Some people say hes lost family , hes lost his lost his family, hes lost his titles and reports of his relationship as well. Maybe the question how has harry also question is, how has harry also lost the veterans so that we go, i believe im going straight into my panel with this, i think. And we have, of course, Michael Crick and mike parry, who joined me at crick. Ill start with you. Do you think start with you. Do you think that harry has were not still at school now. You know, we went to fun fact fun fact. Michael crick and i went to the same school, didnt we . We are both old owl. Not at the same time, i dont think. No, it was a couple years no, no. It was a couple years above you. It seems unlikely. Do you think harrys lost the Veterans Community here . He was reported count reported about his kill count in his books. Reported about his kill count in his well,. Reported about his kill count in his well, certainly that annoyed well, certainly that annoyed them hugely. And clearly there is i think. And clearly there is an element of winning. Winning an element of winning. Winning back his reputation with this film. And he will have to be very, very careful. But hes got a perfect right to make it. I mean, the Invictus Games are his thing , but mean, the Invictus Games are his thing, but hes mean, the Invictus Games are his thing , but hes got to mean, the Invictus Games are his thing, but hes got to hes mean, the Invictus Games are his thing , but hes got to hes got thing, but hes got to hes got to be subtle about it. And it subtlety isnt really one of his attributes, is it . No. Mike parry, ill throw it over to you. I mean, do you think that this is actually something that objectively, harry deserves an immense amount of praise . Youve got to remember, this is for harry. Okay he is therapy for harry. Okay he cant focus in life. And cant find a focus in life. And you know, his his compass has been knocked all over the place by the responsibilities thrust upon him, by him getting married and leaving the royal family. Just know where he is now. I feel quite sorry for harry because i see a man there. Hes not that young anymore, is not even that young anymore, is he . Getting up towards 40 he . Hes getting up towards 40 or something that. Who to or Something Like that. Who to me like hes lost in the me looks like hes lost in the world completely lost within the empire that his wife meghan has built. Shes very ambitious. She has publicists all around her. She has fashion designers. Harry doesnt really fit into that. Doesnt really fit into that. And harry looks to me like somebody who suddenly got hit over the back of the head with a pan about six years ago. And hes still around , you know, hes still around, you know, running around trying to find his role in life. Okay. And one of his roles in life. And probably the only one hes certain about is the Invictus Games. Yeah, fair enough. Yeah, fair enough. Now im going to move on to this story to wrap us up with. And i think this is hilarious, actually. Its just objectively funny. International funny. The International Governing Body for chess has released new policies prohibiting transgender women men from competing in womens events. So the Queens Gambit has not won over the women, but deeply offended them. Apparently and rightly so. On my side, yes. Let that sink in, folks. I am about to agree, though, with trans activists. Source of because there is no physicality dimension to the game of chess as far as music, a game of strategy , isnt it . Mentality, strategy, isnt it . Mentality, intelligence. So its the chess intelligence. So its the Chess Federation potentially calling women stupid or suggesting that men might have larger brains or something. It seems a bit like checkmate for the federation. There could be labelled transphobic and anti feminist in rare move move. Im going to throw over back to you, michael craig. What do you think of this . Well , i you know this . Well, i you know , my initial well, i you know, my initial reaction is, well, chess should be unisex, just everybody be unisex, surely just everybody takes part and well see what the results are. But i do notice that i mean, chess champions, world famous chess champions, world famous chess champions, world famous chess champion and the spasskys and fischers and all of that of this world are all men. Is that because women were prohibited from taking part in International Chess or confined to their own tournaments or is it that they have entered these competitions and are not succeeded . It will tell us a lot. I think if there are unisex chess tournament, which is my natural inclination, i want to know how big a problem this was in chess. This is the thing in swimming we were seeing it. We were seeing like six foot four blokes turning up and smashing. How many how transgender chess many how many transgender chess players dominating the players would dominating the womens times of any well, how many times of any of heard a womens chess of us heard of a womens chess tournament . Ive never heard of tournament . Ive never heard of a womens well, there are. There are famous women. I mean, rachel won a junior mean, Rachel Reeves won a junior one, didnt you . An angela eagle i but youve just made the point. Yes the great chess masters over the decades have all been men , you know, and a all been men, you know, and a woman has never come to the top. Now, the other thing look, i was no good at chess. I did. I went to a grand Grammar School where you were supposed to try and improve your intellect by playing chess. Right like, i could never figure it out. But a lot of the young ladies that i wanted to liaise with from the other School Across the road, the queen school, i went to the kings school were very, very good at chess. So wonder good at chess. So i wonder whether one of those whether its one of those issues. Mean , for instance, issues. I mean, for instance, and being sexist at all, and without being sexist at all, the in my day and age the reason in my day and age that young ladies were better at being secretaries was because theyre dextrous and their theyre more dextrous and their fingers on fingers could hit kids on typewriters. I mean, we are we typewriters. I mean, we are we are is their brain, is the ladies. Ladies. This is the point, bro. This is the point, bro. This is the point for chess. This is what the Chess Federation are going to try to find out seriously. And who better to do it maybe than them is this. This could be massively. This could be massively. This could be massively. Oh, of course it could. But far worse than absolutely i find out that for decades or hundreds of years, weve repressed women from being better at chess than men. Better at chess than men. And actually, women are the better chess champions. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Its the old argument about whos the better driver, whos the driver in the car. The better driver in the car. These things might also come out whatever chess out of whatever the Chess Federation phone might be federation phone we might be about some lifes about to answer. Some of lifes age questions. To the age old questions. Thanks to the wonderful the chess wonderful people at the Chess Federation. But course, they federation. But of course, they are near. No. Why doesnt. Why doesnt gb news set up why doesnt gb news set up a test between the womens test match between the womens champion and the mens champion in this country in the street . Well, maybe not in the studio. Well, maybe not in the studio. Brought back to occasionally brought back to a live of it, couldnt we . A live feed of it, couldnt we . It gets i bad. It gets i mean bad. You say that theres no physical in chess, but mean, physical in chess, but i mean, what about mental strength . What about mental strength . Because youve got to youve got to stare out your opponent across that chess. Well, they go that a lot of women have got some of those. Woman puts the some of those. Woman puts the devils stare on you. Youve had it. Thank you very, very much. This obviously could have continued all evening. Is Michael Crick and mike parry, their fabulous stuff both their fabulous stuff from both of next, it is the of you. Up next, it is the professor, daniel watson. Dan wiles coming up on your show. Patrick pc, im so sorry. I patrick pc, im so sorry. I just went completely in front of mike parrys camera shot, and thats the first time ive ever done that racing spike. So dont do that. So dont do that. I feel absolutely terrible. I feel absolutely terrible. So im sorry, mike, and im sorry to everyone. But look, weve got an exclusive interview for you tonight with greg stubby. He is the florida congressman who has launched the spam act in congress in the us. And that is to try to get prince harry to reveal whether he admitted that hed done Illegal Drugs or not. So what does he have to say about it . Hell be alive. Thats going to be great because what theyre because actually what theyre trying to do there is potentially get him deported. Trying to do there is pot oh,3lly get him deported. Trying to do there is pot oh, really . Him deported. Oh, really . Oh, really . Oh, really . Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Right. All right. All right. Wed take him back. Wed have to take him back. Well have to take you back. Make him yeah. Quick, make him stateless. Right, dan, thank stateless. All right, dan, thank you much. Wonderful stuff. You very much. Wonderful stuff. Thats very thats all coming up. Very, very shortly. Going to shortly. Its going to be box office. Its going to be bombshell. Well be back tomorrow p. M. Senate bit tomorrow at 3 pm. Senate bit that feeling inside from that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers that warm feeling inside from bo proud. Ers of weather on proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hi there. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the for gb news last. Well nofice the for gb news last. Well notice the increased humidity dunng notice the increased humidity during the nights next few nights. Windy and cloudy conditions starting to appear as well. And an increased risk of showers and thunderstorms as the weekend approaches. High pressure moving away, lower pressure moving away, lower pressure approaching isobars tightening. The wind picks up overnight. That is overnight. That window is bringing high humidities across the uk , an increase in the cloud the uk, an increase in the cloud as well. Some showers affecting eastern parts britain, but eastern parts of britain, but heavier downpours arriving by the night across the end of the night across Northern Ireland, wales into central and southern england. And for and its a muggy night for sleeping celsius in the sleeping 1718 celsius in the south 13 to 15 celsius in the north. Those winds of concern , north. Those winds of concern, especially across parts of northwest wales as we go through friday, 50 mile per hour wind gusts, perhaps more in some of the gusty spots could impact travel, tourism and so on and heavy showers, even some thunderstorm across parts of central and southern england dunng central and southern england during friday morning. Frequent lightning , heavy rainfall as lightning, heavy rainfall as well. They diminish into the afternoon. Its a warm and humid day, but a lot of cloud and that breeze will limit temperatures then on friday night. Thats then on friday night. So thats when a lot of action takes place. Heavy rain sweeping through lively through risk of some very lively thunderstorms east of thunderstorms in the east of england. And the persistent rain on continues into the on saturday continues into the north of scotland. Northern ireland and some, well, heavy rain at times throughout the weekend across northern parts of the uk. Further south, its sunny spells and showers and still staying quite warm. Still staying quite warm. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news. No spin, no bias, no censorship. Im dan wootton. Tonight, the ulez expansion is coming. Sadiq khan is running coming. Sadiq khan is running riot and the transport secretary mark harper has the power to stop it all. So why wont he . In my digest next, ill challenge the tories to grow a backbone and fight back against the extreme eco agenda. Then my extreme eco agenda. Then my Superstar Panel and tonight, im joined by alison pearson, lord shaun bailey and rebecca reid. From one ruined capital city to another, the Edinburgh Fringe has cancelled Graham Linehan again as a replacement venue, also refuses to platform the talented father ted creator. So talented father ted creator. So has free speech officially been destroyed by the woke left . Ill get the view of fleet street icon Calvin Mackenzie in on cancelled plus as 550 Illegal Migrants cross the english