Talk of the Town: Bill used Hearts to get out of a jam

GREGORY'S Girl writer and director Bill Forsyth has revealed how he never liked football and used to say he supported Hearts to kill any conservation on the sport.

The Glaswegian director, who made the 1981 classic starring John Gordon Sinclair, has also revealed he learned everything he knew about the game from filming Aberdeen matches for the BBC.

He said: "If anyone asked me who I supported I used to say Hearts because they were somewhere else - it was kind of an abstract thing to say. It didn't mean anything and it closed the conversation down.

"Then when I joined the film industry I got a contract to shoot football matches for the BBC. I think I got 2, 10 shillings to go to Aberdeen to assist them shooting matches."

Zemmama's a little star

THERE was never any doubt that former Hibs star Merouane Zemmama had talent, but many Easter Road regulars will be surprised by the impact he has had in the few weeks since his move to Middlesbrough in the English Championship.

In only his second substitute appearance, he came off the bench on Saturday to create two goals for his new side. The Moroccan playmaker has become an instant hit with the Boro fans and has even earned comparison with one of the club's all-time greats, Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho. The diminutive stature of the two players and their penchant for dribbling clearly helped inspire the connection, but few Hibees will have expected to hear Zemmama compared so favourably to a former Brazilian Player of the Year.

Glee journey reaches city

IT'S already taken America by storm.

Now, talented youngsters across the Capital are being sought to take part in the Edinburgh Playhouse Stage Experience's very own performance of Glee.

A total of 120 local youths are required to present The Glee Experience this summer, with open auditions taking place at the Playhouse next month.

The Stage Experience is a two-week theatrical workshop for young people aged 10 to 21.

Remember the trams?

IF you've forgotten just how great trams are, then we have some good news for you.

Our friends at tram firm TIE have unveiled a new exhibition at the St James Centre showing the little beauties in all their glory. Focusing rather more on the halcyon days of the early 20th century than the current multi-million-pound disaster, the exhibition runs until next Monday.