Plymouth Herald seen in Truro

It’s been over 20 years since I last saw the Plymouth Herald on sale in Truro at all.  Back then, it was an “evening” paper, usually on sale in Truro by about 2.30 at the latest.  It was one of the few papers that I actually made a point of buying at all.  Most others actually didn’t interest me.  I used to buy the West Briton Argus when that was produced.  It was a Monday tabloid update to the Thursday broadsheet West Briton, and was very cheap.  I think when the Argus got absorbed into the main Thursday paper, The Argus would have been on sale for something like 15p on a Monday. 

Anyway, I was in town this morning, and what did I happen to see as I walked into a local newsagent this morning?  The Plymouth Herald.  Now a morning papers, as it has been since October 2006.  Still relatively cheap at just 36p, which is in fact cheaper than it’s sister paper, the Western Morning News. 

I’m hoping that this is a sign of a more permanent return to Cornwall’s newsagents.  Years ago, before my living memory, there was a Cornwall Evening Herald as well.  Perhaps the Plymouth Herald could also produce a separate edition for Cornwall, much like its sister paper does.  I for one would be all for it.

Doctor Who rumour shows newspapers struggling for scoops

ITN is reporting that the BBC is denying rumours Doctor Who will be axed after 4 seasons. The basis for this specualtion is a story in a newspaper that Russell T Davies wants to free up time for other projects.

Well, there's no reason why another executive producer with a vision for the show couldn't be brought in to guide the show on past season 5. In the original run of the show, producers seemed to change every 2 or 3 years, until John Nathan Turner took over and basically ran the show for 9 years til it was put on it's "extended hiatus", which lasted until 2005,minus one made for TV movie in 1996.

This is the usual tabloid way of hyping something to make it successful, which Doctor Who has become, and then taking pot shots at it until they make it fall. I'm sure I'm not the only person who dislikes this tabloid obsession with building people and things up to knock them down when they get bored with them, which they seem to do incredibly quickly.