Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
The Mayor of London is restarting his plan to pedestrianise part of Oxford Street.
According to Sadiq Khan, the plan is backed by the new Labour government, but is facing opposition from other politicians in his plans to block traffic between Marble Arch and Oxford Circus.
The idea is to help revive the area, which has seen the closure of many big-name brands.
The project is estimated to cost approximately £150million with the hope it could be paid for by a combination of local businesses, new revenue streams and private funders.
Oxford Street is said to be one of the world's busiest shopping areas, with more than 500,000 people visiting on an average day – the proposal will add trees, water features and seating for those visiting.
Crazy News
In an item that I did no have on my 2024 bingo card, the BAFTA winning pre-school programme, Balamory, is set to return to TV screens two decades after it was last filmed.
Two new series of the show have been commissioned for CBeebies to be broadcast in 2026, which may include some of the original characters.
The original series consisted of 152 episodes and had an ensemble cast which included the teacher, police officer, inventor, school bus driver, painter, fitness instructor and the two shopkeepers.
Andrew Agnew who played PC Plum originally says the news was “very exciting”, adding “If they ask me to go back then I'll absolutely be there with bells on, I'm sure. But at the moment we're all just getting excited at the fact that it's happening”.
Meanwhile, Julie Wilson Nimmo, who played nursery teacher Miss Hoolie said that the announcement was “Bigger than the Oasis reunion”.
Happy News
A 12-year-old girl from Maidstone spends her Saturday mornings volunteering to help rehome farm hens.
Harriet and her mum Lynda work for a Kent-based charity, which finds new homes for hens that have been used in the commercial egg industry. At 72 weeks, the egg production of a hen drops, making them surplus to requirements – this is when Fresh Start For Hens come in and rescues them from being slaughtered.
Harriet says that it makes her “feel proud" that she can “do something for these chickens, save their lives and give them to these happy families”.
Potential owners of the hens need to send photos of their coops and runs with spot checks required. A minimum donation of £2.75 per hen is also needed.
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