Lovely to be named as the Gold Winner in the Politics category at the
@MHPGroup_
#30ToWatch
awards in London.
Congratulations also to
@tweetsbyames
&
@TaliFraser
. 🏆
And what timing as I head back up north and help cover the General Election in my new job
@Channel4News
…
"I'm very happy to work with The Sun, to write for The Sun, to do interviews for The Sun..."
Ahead of his party's conference in Liverpool, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer explains why he writes for a newspaper that's widely boycotted on Merseyside...
@GranadaReports
After
@georgegalloway
declared his Rochdale win "for Gaza", I asked him how much he really cares about Rochdale...
That didn't go down too well.
We spoke again for longer a bit later - watch
@GranadaReports
tonight.
Just over a month after Dilan Markanday became Spurs' first British Asian player, Zidane Iqbal becomes Man Utd's first tonight.
Early days for both, but these are moments to savour in exciting times for South Asian representation on the pitch.
“Very emotional, very proud, very honoured..”
@DoddieWeir5
tells
@ITVborder
about what the 500 mile bike ride for
@MNDoddie5
means to him. 🚲
There are less than 24 hours left of the challenge. 🏴 🏴
Proud moment earlier today making my
@itvtynetees
studio debut, talking to
@AmyItv
&
@GreggEastealITV
about the underrepresentation of British Asians in football - a topic I've followed closely for a number of years.
Full piece here:
Did my first live report this evening following an important piece I've been working on for a while, leading tonight's programme.
Grateful for support from brilliant colleagues...and my notebook!
You can watch & read the full report here:
Sir Keir Starmer refuses to say he’s ‘100% confident’ his Deputy Leader Angela Rayner hasn’t done anything wrong - as tax questions continue around the sale of her former council house in Stockport.
We also chat about Blackpool & Gaza- on
@GranadaReports
later.
Now the transfer window has slammed shut, I’m delighted to share my new role as West Cumbria reporter
@ITVborder
.
Grateful to brilliant colleagues
@itvtynetees
for their support & guidance since starting as a trainee 2 years ago.
Looking forward to getting stuck in. 🥾 🎥
Delighted to have been able to report on the first Asian Mayor of
@stocktoncouncil
being installed - which is also thought to be a first for the North East.
It was lovely to meet Councillor Mohammed Javed and hear the pride and enthusiasm he has for the town...
Enjoyed making my national
@itvnews
studio debut earlier, talking about the UK’s final evacuation flights out of Sudan.
Thanks to
@FayeBarker
for keeping me on course!
West Cumbria ➡️ Westminster 🔜
Really excited to be joining
@GranadaReports
this summer, on loan, as Political Correspondent until next year.
Looking forward to covering the politics of my home region in the build up to the next general election!
It's gone under the radar a bit recently that Liverpool are guaranteed to be in pot two (at least) of next season's Champions League draw. I delved into the dizzying world of UEFA club coefficients for this
@LivEchoLFC
piece:
Something about 'never working with children or animals'..? 🐕
As well as the microphone, Pepper the labrador also loves the camera - as you can see on
@itvborder
tonight, as
@guidedogs
marks its 90th anniversary...
The PM repeatedly refuses to commit to meeting
@AndyBurnhamGM
&
@bevcraig
, as speculation intensifies that the northern HS2 leg will be scrapped.
Earlier this week, both northern leaders pleaded with him to meet them before making a decision over the project.
@GranadaReports
Heading back up north after four fantastic weeks in London with
@itvnews
.
Been a great month working alongside brilliant network colleagues and linking up with some familiar faces.
Almost cracked a smile at one point!
If you've had the misfortune of spending a significant amount of time with me you'll be aware of how bothered I am by the exclusion of British
#AsiansInFootball
. The start of my documentary on this is below, with the full piece available through this link:
Shocking, awful news. I was lucky enough to be taught by Mr Furlong ten years ago when he was in Liverpool. He quickly became one of my favourite teachers. His genuine enthusiasm for History was infectious, and his quirky sense of humour always kept things engaging.
So very sad.
Cumbrian
@Marathon_Man365
Gary McKee has just set off on his 111th consecutive marathon, from his home in Cleator Moor.
It’s one more than he ran last year. 🏃
He’s running 26.2 miles EVERY DAY this year, raising funds for
@HospiceatHomeWC
&
@macmillancancer
.
Neil looked out for so many people.
When I was out filming in the wind and rain on my first weekend shift at Border, he took time out of his Saturday to lend a hand and make sure I was getting on okay.
The mark of a man who’ll be sorely missed.
Really looking forward to joining the brilliant
@ITVborder
team for a little while next month!
It means I’ll be swapping the North East for a return (of sorts) to the North West, reporting from Cumbria.
As ever, if you have any story ideas please get in touch. 📩
New Year, same old disruption for rail passengers.
@RMTunion
members on picket at a very wet Workington station among 40,000 striking nationally.
@ITVborder
Sir Alastair Cook at ease on debut on
@bbctms
podcast. A familiar tale. The most unflappable of characters, looking forward to hearing his insight over the next two tests
#WIvENG
🏏
Voiced a couple of short football packages in the
@itvtynetees
late bulletins last week, under the expert tutelage of
@IanPayneITV
. This is after
@NUFC
knocked
@WBA
out of the
@EmiratesFACup
to reach the quarter-final for the first time since 2006.
Sunny Singh Gill has just made history by becoming the first British South Asian to referee a Premier League match.
He's officiating Crystal Palace v Luton at Selhurst Park this afternoon.
Another important step forward for South Asian representation in football.
Did my first
@itvtynetees
report. Learned about the seriously impressive sport that is acrobatic gymnastics. Deployed similar levels of invention to record my voice while crouched under a duvet.
A team of acrobatic gymnasts from
@DeernessGA
in County Durham should have just returned from the World Championships with
@BritGymnastics
. Instead, they've been training from their living rooms! 🤸
Watch
@MisraAndrew
's report below and read more here:
Here's the moment we revealed Kerry Irving, owner of
@maxinthelakes
, as
@ITVborder
Regional Fundraiser of the Year
@PrideOfBritain
.
Kerry's helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for
@GNairambulance
.
His dog walks have inspired people all around the world. 🐶 🌍
Enjoyed spending the first week of the new year up north reporting for
@itvnews
.
Now back to Westminster and
@GranadaReports
as parliament returns - sources tell me there could be a big vote on the way soon (maybe)…
Flowers laid at the statue of Max the Miracle Dog, in Keswick.
Max’s owner Kerry announced that he passed away yesterday.
@ITVborder
Famous for videos of him walking in the Lakes, the springer spaniel helped raised hundred of thousands of pounds for
@PDSA_HQ
charity.
A recall petition has just opened this morning in Blackpool South to decide whether suspended ex-Tory MP Scott Benton should lose his seat.
It’ll stay open for six weeks and if 10% of voters sign then a by-election will be triggered.
@GranadaReports
A County Durham mum is urging families to discuss organ donation - after an emergency heart transplant
@NewcastleHosps
saved her daughter's life.
Transplant numbers fell to a 36-year low in April &
@NHSBT
data suggests figures are falling again, as
@MisraAndrew
reports..
Great to see Neil Taylor, one of the most prominent British Asian footballers over the last decade, in the studio for the
#WAL
v
#TUR
game.
Punditry is another important avenue with visibility that could help to increase Asian representation in football.
After months covering all things
#cladding
and
#buildingsafety
I made my debut on
@itvcalendar
tonight, following our exclusive survey into fire safety issues in Yorkshire.
A proud moment for my first live (and first package) which you can watch here:
And he's off! 🏊
@AdamDiver2
sets off from St Bees, aiming to become the first person to swim from the UK to the Isle of Man.
He'll cover the 32 miles in 6 hour stints alongside support paddlers Kev and Nathan.
They hope to finish on Sunday morning.
@ITVborder
@GranadaReports
A special moment yesterday at the
@itvnews
awards among such amazing company. The last 18 months at
@itvcalendar
have been far more than I could have hoped.
A lot of unhappy customers on this 09:47
@VirginTrains
service to London Euston but
@_bradgrant
and I are keeping Scouse
@itvnews
trainee spirits high after finding our way, temporarily at least, into first-class.
#MondayMood
The first time England won the Men's T20 World Cup (2010) I was a cricket fan in secondary school who got very excited about it.
The second time they won it (yesterday) I got to talk about it on the telly. 🏏
Still very excited it would seem.
Excited to be appearing on
@bbcasiannetwork
Big Debate show at
@stokecity
tomorrow, live from 10am! Discussing why racism is still a problem in football + British
#Asiansinfootball
, alongside some far more accomplished players & talkers than myself 👀 ⚽️
Excitement at the
@GreatTapestrySc
, open to visitors for the first time this morning in Galashiels.
@ITVborder
160 linen panels of 300 miles of wool - enough to lay the entire length of England to the tip of the Shetland Isles in the North Atlantic! 🖼
THREAD:
#SouthAsianHeritageMonth
@SAHM_UK
ends today - exactly 75 years after the border was published that now demarcates India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Over the past four weeks, I’ve been highlighting the influence of South Asian communities in the
@ITVborder
region…(1/6)
A year on from making a documentary on this topic, sadly it seems little has changed.
Fears that subconscious influences in coaching and scouting persist remain - ‘big black strikers or centre-halves’, ‘technical white no. 10s’.
Where do Asians play?
Really enjoyed doing this.
It was inspiring to meet Rosie last week and hear how the challenges she’s faced have helped her during lockdown.
Thanks also to
@MarcPowellJudo
, always great to hear another Scouse accent!
ICYMI: Visually impaired tennis star
@RosiePybus91
joins the
@RNIB
's calls for support for people with sight loss.
66% of blind & partially sighted people say they feel less independent now than before lockdown.
@MisraAndrew
reports...👟 🎾
Read more:
Glorious afternoon and setting to interview ex-Liverpool and Arsenal winger
@jimmycarter777
. It’s not widely recognised but he is the first British Asian to have played in the Premier League.
"I got the odd comment like 'he's too weak, he's too small'..."
I've been speaking to
@MichaelChopra
about the underrepresentation of
#AsiansinFootball
.
He's one of only five British Asians to have ever made a Premier League appearance. ⚽
More
@itvtynetees
from 6pm. 📺
Engaging discussion on racism this morning
@bbcasiannetwork
. Lovely to catch up with
@dan_kilvington
&
@jimmycarter777
after interviewing them for my documentary in July. Pleased to see others now taking note that Jimmy was the first British Asian to play in the Premier League!
“For all that we lost, and all we have lost, we remember..”
824 candles burn brightly at Sunderland Minster - one for each life lost to coronavirus in the city. 🕯
@itvtynetees
Great to talk to Sir Jackie Stewart today about the
@SJYSClassic
at
@ThirlestaneBuzz
this summer.
It’s to raise funds for Sir Jackie’s charity
@racingdementia
- set up after his wife Helen was diagnosed with dementia 6 years ago.
I've been out filming on England's largest lake for tonight's
@ITVborder
. 🛥️
Didn't realise quite how blustery it was until I ventured up to the top deck for a "quick" piece to camera...
More like Windy-mere!! 💨
On train. 3 girls on their way to Parklife join my peaceful table. First up a lad is rated desirable because of his “good inheritance”...Next it’s international affairs: “Where’s Chernobyl? Switzerland?”
“Yeah I’m sure it’s Switzerland.”
“I thought it was Jerusalem...” 👍🏼
Guess who's at the only overnight local election count in the
@ITVborder
region?! ✋🏽
Sorting and counting is underway here in Allerdale, after polls closed at 22:00.
46 councillors are being elected to the new Cumberland Council.
Results expected in the early hours of Friday.
Liverpool's decision to take two warm weather training camps in 2019, has led to some questioning the clubs decision to take the players away to such different climates.
@MisraAndrew
on why football clubs do warm weather training:
#WhiteboardFootball
Twisting, turning and tapping this sign for the first Voter Cam of
#GE2019
yesterday on
@itvtynetees
. Promise it was a lot more fun than it looks... 😳
VOTER CAM: We've been out and about to see what the people of
#Newcastle
had to say about an election two weeks before Christmas.
#GE2019
🗳️📹
Read more >
“Can I squeeze past there please guys? PM’s just resigned and I need to get to Workington for reaction.”
“Not happening pal.”
“Ah come on, it’s a former red wall seat and we’re the pre-rec!”
“Not my problem mate.”
🐄 🎥🤷🏽♂️
Been to
#Whitby
countless times but never on the train until yesterday. The scenic route from Newcastle takes in the Durham Coast, Teesside and the North York Moors. These photos don’t do it justice at all due to grey skies and my shoddy phone handling but here we are.
🚨 EXCITING PALINDROME NEWS 🚨
After yesterday’s palindromic date 12/02/21, a debut today for new Liverpool defender, Kabak.
By beating Leicester, they can go joint third with them on the same number of points, opening up a palindromic headline:
‘Red now on level - no wonder’
You can catch me standing in a field full of Christmas trees with all my mates on
@ITVborder
tonight. 🎄
Find out at 6pm why they might be easier to get hold of than another festive staple this winter..
Drone work by
@BreckCamera
📹
As many colleagues have said, being an
#itvnewstrainee
is fantastic. You get to see parts of the
@itvnews
operation that most don’t ever get the chance to. It could be your face on the next set of mugshots!
Have a watch of this from
@ITVCareers
and apply:
Had a great time filming this with
@PaulKingstonITV
and putting it together, but this is a serious issue affecting people from a wider range of backgrounds than you might think. 🎿
With just 20 days until the end of the Brexit transition period, 25,000 British seasonal workers, including many from the North East, fear being frozen out of European ski resorts. ⛷️
@MisraAndrew
has been hearing some of their concerns...
A special
#SouthAsianHeritageMonth
piece tonight
@itvtynetees
.
Dr Hari Shukla (centre below) came to Newcastle in 1974. He’s earned widespread recognition for improving race relations in the region.
I’ve been to meet three generations of his family.
@SAHM_UK
Hectic, engaging induction to the
@ITVNews
Traineeship over the last three days: London, ITN,
@GMB
,
@loosewomen
and even a bit of weather presenting in (not so) sunny Southampton 🎥 ☔️
Congratulations to the whole team here at
@itvtynetees
on winning the
@RTSNETB
News Programme of the year award last night. The awards recognise achievements in TV and visual broadcast media across the region. Well done to all of last nights winners!
Finally got the chance to experience the delights of Cornwall over a long long weekend. Can also share that the nine-hour train journey from the North East prepares you well for the slower pace of life down there...
Final result on the new Cumberland Council - comfortable Labour majority, winning in 30 of the 46 wards.
@ITVborder
A dismal outcome for the Conservatives.
May '05 - Istanbul, April '16 v Dortmund, May '19 v Barca. Liverpool FC may not win titles, but what they do is give you genuinely incredible moments. You never forget where you were or what was happening in your life. That'll do for me. How long does it take to cycle to Madrid?
What Dhanda says was most upsetting:
-there are so few Asian players (there are 10/4000 professionals = 0.25%)
-not having anyone from the same background in football to speak to
Underlines why the game desperately needs more role models like him.
Ocean Road in South Shields is thought to be where the North East’s first curry house opened in the 1950s.
But those who’ve built their livelihoods there tell me it’s about more than just food…
Tonight on
@itvtynetees
for
#SouthAsianHeritageMonth
@SAHM_UK
Calling all curry lovers - have you been to Ocean Road in South Shields? 🍛😍
Well join us as we explore the cultural influences that South Asian communities have brought to the North East - with food!!
More from
@MisraAndrew
on our coverage for South Asian Heritage month at 6.