Now let's all be honest about this. When our eager little fingers pressed "1" at 7.30 on Tuesday evening, Blackburn Rovers' chances of making the second round of the Uefa Cup were not uppermost in our minds. The front page of last Sunday's News of the World, on the other hand, was. Not to mention pages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Sticky autocues, tongue-tied guests, Jimmy Hill - Des had coped with them all during 20 unruffled years in the anchorman's chair, but surely even the old charmer himself wouldn't be able to sashay his way out of this one.

THE NATION of Islam is fighting to stave off the closure of an unregistered school that it runs in West London. The NoI operates the Star Chamber Academy school, based in three rooms at the Simba community centre in Shepherd's Bush. It is attended by 60 pupils aged between five and 16.

It's an important decision - so pose as a customer and check out estate agencies, advises Ginetta Vedrickas

CARLEEN ANDERSON

PETER YORK ON ADS No 230: CARLSBERG

He made millions on Dungeons & Dragons, and millions more unleashing Lara Croft and Tomb Raider on the world. So just what kind of mind do they spring from?

Bullet

Shepherd's Bush Green is often viewed as a down-market Clapham Common, but get beyond the Tube and there are treats in store for the unsupecting visitor

Beth Orton Shepherd's Bush Empire

Alfred Wallace Roome, film editor: born London 22 December 1908; married Janice Adair (died 1996; one daughter, and one son deceased) died Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire 19 November 1997.

Yes, London's premier new- writing venue has just suffered a grant cut. But it's also just won this year's Empty Space Award. James Christopher celebrates 25 years of dramatic innovation atop a West London pub.

The story of Chinese emigration from Hong Kong to London is already a long one, and although most Chinese are reluctant to talk about thetakeover of a distant homeland, three generations of immigrants had their own tales to tell inChinatown last week.

Sir: Your front-page article "I'll get you on the bus, says Prescott" (6 June) moved even the most sceptical of us to have a go on public transport.

The anger of Labour activists in Glasgow Govan started to boil over yesterday as their MP, Mohammad Sarwar, dug himself further into political controversy with an admission that he handed over pounds 5,000 to an election opponent.