The papers: Rolf Harris's letter and Eurovision oddness
One story dominates Saturday's front pages: the opening of the prosecution's case at Rolf Harris's trial for sex offences. The Daily Mirror's stark front quotes from a letter the entertainer is said to have written in which he claimed to "sicken" himself.
The trial also leads the Sun. The TV presenter, musician, cartoonist and painter denies 12 counts of indecent assault against four girls. He admits an affair with an 18-year-old family friend.
The Daily Telegraph also leads on the case, noting that the prosecution claim that Australian-born Mr Harris had a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality with a "dark side not apparent" to people he met in the course of his work.
The continuing unrest in Ukraine is the top story in the Independent. The paper's Kim Sengupta paints a dramatic picture of clashes in the town of Mariupol between pro-Russian militia and Ukrainian security forces.
The Guardian's lead is that the health watchdog, NICE, is to recommend that nurses should have to look after no more than eight patients. The new guidelines will, the paper reports, require hospitals to hire thousands of extra staff.
The i newspaper's front page has an image of a British RAF serviceman posing with what appears to be a Taliban fighter's corpse. The picture is one of two being investigated by the MoD, the paper says.
The Daily Express headline concerns the Queen's last-minute withdrawal from undertaking part of a ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The Express says the change highlights the monarch's "increasing frailty".
The Financial Times leads again on the fraught takeover bid by drug giant Pfizer for British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca. UK politicians have been critical of the proposed deal, and now, the FT notes, their US counterparts have concerns too.
A taxing problem for Gary Barlow and other former members of the group Take That is the Times' lead. The paper says Barlow and three others have been ordered to repay millions to HMRC after a scheme they invested in was ruled tax avoidance.
The Daily Star leads on the presumed bidding war in Fleet Street for an exclusive interview with model Katie Price's recently separated husband Keiran Hayler. The part-time stripper is tipped for "reality TV stardom", the Star adds.
A story involving a nationally beloved veteran TV star and a number of lurid sexual allegations was always destined to take top billing in the national newspapers, and so it proves with the Rolf Harris court case.
Rolf Harris with his wife Alwen (L) and daughter Bindi (R)
The Daily Mirror, like most papers, focuses on a letterMr Harris is said to have written to the father of one of his accusers.
The paper says Mr Harris admits having a sexual relationship with the girl, but that it began when she was 18, not 13 as the witness claims.
The entertainer, who lives in Berkshire, denies 12 counts of indecent assault involving four different women.
The Sun describes Mr Harris's arrival at court. It says the 84-year-old "arrived at court clutching at the hands of his wife and daughter as if holding on for dear life".
The Daily Telegraph highlights the prosecutor's assertionthat "Rolf Harris's fame and reputation meant that no one suspected or challenged his behaviour".
The Guardian's headlines include the claim from another prosecution witnessthat on an Australian TV channel Mr Harris was known as "the octopus" for his groping behaviour.
'Soul destroying'
Cash-strapped British hospitals could be left needing to recruit 20,000 more nurses, according to a front-page story in the Guardian.
The paper leads with expected new guidelines drawn up by the health watchdog NICE,which will say that one nurse should not be expected to look after more than eight adult patients.
People in glass houses...
The Financial Times is in unusual punning form when it reports a potential embarrassment for London's newest hotel.
It says that guests at the Shangri-La Hotel, in the largely glass Shard tower, may be able to see into other visitors' rooms thanks to the building's reflective qualities.
The hotel's management point out that "blinds are available for guests' privacy".
But the FT cannot resist labelling western Europe's loftiest hotel the "eyeful tower".
The guidelines would be in line with the recommendations of pressure group Safe Staffing Alliance, which includes many healthcare professionals, the paper says.
The staff-to-patient ratios became major concerns in the wake of hospital scandals, such as that at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.
The Independent also carries the report, noting that the health expert who came up with the one-for-eight figure suggests the ratio was not "ideal or sufficient" but based on what was achievable and did not put patients at "substantial risk".
The paper says the government has always resisted calls to set minimum nursing cover levels.
Share this story
Follow @LaNUBlog & @Hon_KingSIMEO on Twitter for Updates
The trial also leads the Sun. The TV presenter, musician, cartoonist and painter denies 12 counts of indecent assault against four girls. He admits an affair with an 18-year-old family friend.
The Daily Telegraph also leads on the case, noting that the prosecution claim that Australian-born Mr Harris had a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality with a "dark side not apparent" to people he met in the course of his work.
The continuing unrest in Ukraine is the top story in the Independent. The paper's Kim Sengupta paints a dramatic picture of clashes in the town of Mariupol between pro-Russian militia and Ukrainian security forces.
The Guardian's lead is that the health watchdog, NICE, is to recommend that nurses should have to look after no more than eight patients. The new guidelines will, the paper reports, require hospitals to hire thousands of extra staff.
The i newspaper's front page has an image of a British RAF serviceman posing with what appears to be a Taliban fighter's corpse. The picture is one of two being investigated by the MoD, the paper says.
The Daily Express headline concerns the Queen's last-minute withdrawal from undertaking part of a ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The Express says the change highlights the monarch's "increasing frailty".
The Financial Times leads again on the fraught takeover bid by drug giant Pfizer for British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca. UK politicians have been critical of the proposed deal, and now, the FT notes, their US counterparts have concerns too.
A taxing problem for Gary Barlow and other former members of the group Take That is the Times' lead. The paper says Barlow and three others have been ordered to repay millions to HMRC after a scheme they invested in was ruled tax avoidance.
The Daily Star leads on the presumed bidding war in Fleet Street for an exclusive interview with model Katie Price's recently separated husband Keiran Hayler. The part-time stripper is tipped for "reality TV stardom", the Star adds.
A story involving a nationally beloved veteran TV star and a number of lurid sexual allegations was always destined to take top billing in the national newspapers, and so it proves with the Rolf Harris court case.
Rolf Harris with his wife Alwen (L) and daughter Bindi (R)
The Daily Mirror, like most papers, focuses on a letterMr Harris is said to have written to the father of one of his accusers.
The paper says Mr Harris admits having a sexual relationship with the girl, but that it began when she was 18, not 13 as the witness claims.
The entertainer, who lives in Berkshire, denies 12 counts of indecent assault involving four different women.
The Sun describes Mr Harris's arrival at court. It says the 84-year-old "arrived at court clutching at the hands of his wife and daughter as if holding on for dear life".
The Daily Telegraph highlights the prosecutor's assertionthat "Rolf Harris's fame and reputation meant that no one suspected or challenged his behaviour".
The Guardian's headlines include the claim from another prosecution witnessthat on an Australian TV channel Mr Harris was known as "the octopus" for his groping behaviour.
'Soul destroying'
Cash-strapped British hospitals could be left needing to recruit 20,000 more nurses, according to a front-page story in the Guardian.
The paper leads with expected new guidelines drawn up by the health watchdog NICE,which will say that one nurse should not be expected to look after more than eight adult patients.
People in glass houses...
The Financial Times is in unusual punning form when it reports a potential embarrassment for London's newest hotel.
It says that guests at the Shangri-La Hotel, in the largely glass Shard tower, may be able to see into other visitors' rooms thanks to the building's reflective qualities.
The hotel's management point out that "blinds are available for guests' privacy".
But the FT cannot resist labelling western Europe's loftiest hotel the "eyeful tower".
The guidelines would be in line with the recommendations of pressure group Safe Staffing Alliance, which includes many healthcare professionals, the paper says.
The staff-to-patient ratios became major concerns in the wake of hospital scandals, such as that at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.
The Independent also carries the report, noting that the health expert who came up with the one-for-eight figure suggests the ratio was not "ideal or sufficient" but based on what was achievable and did not put patients at "substantial risk".
The paper says the government has always resisted calls to set minimum nursing cover levels.
Share this story
Follow @LaNUBlog & @Hon_KingSIMEO on Twitter for Updates
Comments