Hello, it's Peter here. Thanks for joining us and welcome to Wednesdays Levy Letter. I hope your day is going well and I hope youll be able to join me tonight on BBC One at 6.30pm. Paul was poorly last night, so I dont know yet if hes going to be able to join us on the programme. So it might be Lisa with the forecast tonight.
And also tonight on the programme, well be revealing why one family in our region is considering travelling all the way to China for controversial stem cell treatment for their daughter. They hope it will give her a new lease of life after years of illness. Ill have more on that. And I'll be reporting on the inquest into why a young mother from Hull died after a controversial stomach stapling operation. Ill be talking to Aaron Howlett as well. Hes the incredible guy from Hull, who lost an amazing ten stone in just nine weeks after his stomach stapling operation. He then went on to win LivingTVs Biggest Loser UK slimming programme. Hell be joining me on the programme tonight to talk about stomach stapling. I'll be talking to a local phenologist. And if you dont know what one of those is, then its someone who looks at how climate affects nature. All very technical Im sure, but he will be explaining to us how climate change is having a local impact on our wildlife! And for anyone with green fingers, we'll be looking round Burton Agnes Gardens as they celebrate winning Garden of the Year award. Its such a beautiful place, I hope you can take a look at that tonight on Look North. I'll be speaking to the rebel MP, George Galloway about why he's coming to Hull. And I'll be talking to TV and stage star, Christopher Timothy. You'll know him as James Herriott from All Creatures Great and Small. He's starring in a new play at Lincoln Theatre Royal. I hope you can join me then for my chat with Christopher. Pictures Dont forget if youve got a picture or a photograph that you think would be nice to show on the programme, then send it in. Either send it in electronically, or put one in the post to me. And indeed get in touch with me about anything else as well. If youve got a problem or an issue that youd like me to sort out in Leave it to Levy or if youve got a news story that you think we should know about, then drop me a line straightaway. Its [EMAIL PROTECTED] And if at any time you need me urgently, if something happens in your local area, then you can contact us at the BBC switchboard at the usual number of 01482 323232. Requests Thanks for all the requests for people to be interviewed on the programme. As you know, we try to get around to them all. Sooner or later you will see your request on the programme! We had Bonnie Langford on Look North last week and we had numerous requests for her after her success on ITVs Dancing On Ice. Of course we sorted it for you and Bonnie was on last week. Any requests for a guest for me to interview, then let me know. Actor Who Never Spoke Television extra, Paul Anderson, has appeared on our screen hundreds of times, but few viewers would recognise him on the street or even be able to put a name to his face. Well, Paul has been in almost every episode of the medical drama, Casualty for the last twenty years. Hes believed to be one of the countrys longest serving extras. His life mirrors comedian, Ricky Gervais and his character, Andy Millman, who struggles to make the big time in Rickys comedy, Extras. But Paul made his debut as a junior doctor in the first episode of Casualty in 1986 and could be seen pottering around in the background, pushing wheelchairs and supporting one of the main actors in the operating theatre. He could walk down the street and no one would know who he was, but hes one of the countrys most requested actors. During the estimated 518 episode he has appeared in, (can you believe that? 518 episodes!) he insists that despite earning just £70 for a gruelling twelve hour day, he has no ! intention of retiring. (eh? £70 Its good work this being on the television isnt it?) So there you are. So its no use showing you a picture, because I dont think you would recognise him at all. But when Casualty moved to Bristol, Pauls home city, then he was happy to go with it. He works between three and four days a week, arriving at seven thirty in the morning for rehearsals. So there you are. If you want to be a TV extra, then hes someone to aspire to. If, amongst our Levy Letter readers, there are any TV extras already, then I would like to hear from you and to hear your stories. And if youre from our part of the world, then we might be able to get you on the programme. But next time you watch Casualty, have a look out for Paul in the background! Paranormal Your sixth sense may have already told you this. Most of us think we have psychic powers. Half of us have had a dream or a premonition about an event before it happened, according to a new survey. And six in ten say they believe in the possibility of psychic powers. The findings suggest that the paranormal is now becoming an ordinary part of life for many. The survey of more than a thousand adults found that a quarter had known a family member was ill or in trouble before being told. Thats creepy isnt it? So there you are. A nation of psychics is what we are. More than half of us believe in the power of the paranormal. Again, any views on that one do get in touch. Crying Men crying - acceptable or not? What do you think? Well, Ive always thought it was, but I suppose thats from someone, whos fairly emotional. But in days of old men, of course, who kept a stiff upper lip and left the crying to the so-called fairer sex, nowadays males are just as likely as females to shed a tear, according to a psychologist. A survey found that 19% of both sexes admitted to having sobbed in the past year. Of the men, who cried, 56% of them said it was from relationship problems, 10% blamed their boss or fellow workers and 23% said love songs set them off crying. Thats a bit much isnt it? Of the women, 77% said it was because of personal relationships and 39% to tear-jerking tunes. Thats quite interesting isnt it that of the fellas, 10% cried in the last year, because of their boss. Its quite unbelievable isnt it? Thats all according to psychologist, Donna Dawson. She said, Its as if men have suddenly realised that they have more reasons to cry than! they originally thought. Now they know, they cant stop. So there you are. Crying then your views on that and indeed on anything else, then do get in touch at the usual address of [EMAIL PROTECTED] I look forward to hearing from you. Have a very good afternoon. Join me tonight on BBC One at 6.30pm. Take care, Peter And for the latest news and more where you live, go to: http://bbc.co.uk/humber and http://bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the BBC Look North newsletter, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/looknorthhull/newsletter/newsletter_index.shtml, enter your email address in the unsubscribe box. 1.94.4
