Doctor Who: The Glasgow Connection - UPDATE

Glasgow has once again popped up (at least in name) in the most recent series of Doctor Who.

In the episode Turn Left we are shown how life would pan out for companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and the rest of the world had the Doctor been killed during a previous confrontation. With no Doctor around to save the day, the space cruise liner Titanic plummets to earth on Christmas day and wipes out London.

Later in a refugee centre, survivors Donna and her family are told they are being sent to Leeds. "Leeds!? I'm not moving to Leeds!" exclaims Donna - but it seems there's one place she would be happy to go...

Image Copyright 2008 BBC Worldwide Ltd.

Good Evening Glasgow, This Is Stockholm Calling

I have to begin this post with a disclaimer that I can't stand these TV dancing shows - "celebrities" doing the tango under the watchful eye of Bruce Forsyth, or risking life and limb by trying to dance on an ice rink? No thanks. I'm also no fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, where political voting means that the UK and a handful of other countries would be as well steering clear.

However, while channel surfing on Saturday night I found myself washed up at BBC One, where the Eurovision Dance Contest was taking place live from - you've guessed it - Glasgow.

Now, despite my criticism of such events, I can't complain about the reports of an estimated 23 million people across Europe watching something beamed live from the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC). Nor can I complain about the excellent recorded video footage of the city, host Graham Norton's subsequent "Doesn't Glasgow look beautiful?" or Glaswegian Carol Smillie - who returned the UK's votes from just over the river at BBC Scotland - saying "Good evening from Glasgow - best city in Britain". Plus, for one night only, it was pretty good to have the pomp and ceremony of 13 different European TV personalities bidding Glasgow a good evening from all over the continent.

If you're interested, Poland were the winners.

Image copyright EBU 2004-2008