Seldom have Campaign journalists been so sympathetic towards a fellow
hack, so quick to call his editor and offer their services as media
correspondents in his place, as when the Express declared last Friday
that UKTV would pick up the Channel 5 licence that day.
‘Foreign TV firm’s Channel 5 victory’ was the front page blurb, expanded
upon inside ‘by Roger Nuttall’ with ‘Canadians to get Channel 5’.
Luckily, however, no-one will have believed the story in the first
place. Surely the front page of last Friday’s Express was an early April
Fool. For, at the top of the page, there was a headline, as bold as
anything: ‘Why I trust my roving husband, by Mrs Tim Yeo.’ Very funny.