Talk of the Town: Crowther answers election calling

HE’S already conquered the worlds of sports media and local news, so it seems only right his next move was into politics.

Stuart Crowther, former new media manager at Hibs and founder of website Hibs.net, is leaving his job at STV to take part in a by-election.

Stuart, currently editor of STV Local’s websites serving Lossiemouth and neighbouring locations, is standing as an SNP candidate in the Moray ward of Heldon and Laich on March 7.

He said: “I ‘retired’ to Lossiemouth three years ago as was always my intention. My mother originates from the town and while brought up in West Pilton, in Edinburgh, I’d been coming to Moray regularly throughout my life.”

Hey HMV, gonnae no do that, says Hemphill

ELSEWHERE in today’s Evening News, you’ll have read that administration-hit HMV is refusing to accept previously paid-for vouchers.

So it was left to comedian Greg Hemphill to ride to the rescue – at least of Still Game fans.

The 42-year-old offered to send out box sets to anyone left with useless gift vouchers from the fallen chain, offering the DVDs to the first 20 who sent him their worthless slips.

He told his 50,000 Twitter followers: “Send me your HMV gift certificate, I will send you a Still Game box set. I can’t offer you HMV’s range, but we can offer them the finger.”

Catherine’s nifty 50

IT’S not easy getting back into work after a long lay-off, but for one Lothians mum, a birthday bash proved just the job.

Livingston marked its 50 years in business by launching employment scheme West Lothian’s Big 50.

Catherine Maben, who lives in the town, had been looking for a job for months when she signed up, and soon landed a role at fashion store Internacionale in The Centre shopping complex.

And let’s hope they treated her to a slice of Big 50 cake, too.

We’re jamming again

IT’S was a sticky situation for the UK’s jam industry as fad diets and the legacy of Dr Atkins kept the spreadable treat on the supermarket shelves rather than in our kitchen cupboards.

A survey by WeightWatchers found sales dropped by three per cent in 2011.

But TOTT is now pleased to report that they are now surging on the back of popular TV cooking shows The Great British Bake Off and Masterchef.