Talk of the town: It's not good news for ex-reporter John

FORMER BBC reporter turned Liberal Democrat candidate John Knox is giving regular news bulletins about the Liberton/Gilmerton council by-election campaign via his blog.

And in his latest dispatch from the doorstep, he admits voters are "terrified" by the spending cuts from the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition at Westminster.

He says it is the government at UK level that people most want to talk about, rather than the potholes and schools which fall within the remit of the Lib Dem-led city council.

Byrne admits he didn't sign up for show stunt

THERE were howls of delight at the recent Amnesty Stand Up For Freedom comedy showcase when madcap comic Jason Byrne gatecrashed the stage for a bit risqu sign language.

Byrne, who is currently appearing in his own show at Assembly, wasn't on the bill but it didn't stop him running on stage, pint in hand, for a bit of friendly mockery of the show's interpreters for the deaf. As Byrne began his own comedy sign language, most of the audience thought it was all part of the show, but Amnesty organisers confessed that the stunt was not planned.

A spokesman said: "The Jason Byrne stage-storming came as much of a surprise to us as it did to the audience, and comedian Michael Mittermeier.

"Sam, the venue manager, spotted him in the green room at another gig in the basement and snuck him into the auditorium."

Protester drops a clanger

FISH out of water protesters at the climate camp clearly hadn't done their homework before turning up in force at St Andrew square.

As their Islington tones rang out chanting "RBS - Climate Criminals", lunching office workers presumed the 35-strong group had moved in on the site to "swoop| on RBS' historic head office across the road.

However, their leader soon dropped a clanger. When asked by if they would strike against RBS on the square, he looked blank, before admitting he had no idea it was there - even though it has stood on the site since 1825.

She's getting desperate . .

IT may be many things, but it's not classy.

Comedian Gemma Goggins is is already trying her luck at the Pleasance with her show Get Laid or Die Trying . . .

Now she's going a step further in her quest to meet men by hiring the whole of Illegal Jack's restaurant on Lothian Road for a night of speed dating.

Volunteers beware - presumably you're in danger of finding yourself as the subject of next year's show.