September 2006

NEW LEGISLATION ON AGE AND EMPLOYMENT

Radio 4 Today programme 29 September 06

Mark Borkowski discusses the impact new legislation on age and employment will have when it comes into force on Sunday.

Click here to listen

DROVE AT 186MPH .. AND I WAS NAKED

DROVE AT 186MPH .. AND I WAS NAKED
Mirror.co.uk - London,UK
... Edmonds' agent Mark Borkowski last night said: "This happened 20 years ago when he woke up early one morning, stark naked and wanted to drive. ...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17840114&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=i-drove-at-186mph----and-i-was-naked--name_page.html

I DROVE AT 186MPH .. AND I WAS NAKED
NOEL EDMONDS: SAFETY GROUP FURY AT BOAST
By Matthew Bell
NOEL Edmonds has infuriated road safety chiefs after boasting that he once drove his powerful sports car at 186mph in the nude.

The 57-year-old TV star told how he nearly crashed the super-fast motor as he hurtled towards a roundabout early one morning.

And Edmonds admitted he fears police may haul him in over his law-breaking moment of madness 20 years ago.

The Channel 4 Deal or No Deal presenter bragged of his exploits in an interview with lads' mag Loaded.

When asked what the fastest he has driven was, he replied: "186mph. It was 4.30 in the morning on the Tring bypass in a Ford GT40.

"I thought I'd take it out for a breather, the poor thing was stuck in its stable and needed exercise.

"I remember arriving at the roundabout horrendously fast, I almost didn't stop. Can I be prosecuted for that now?"

But safety campaigners spokesman Jon Day said: "Driving at excessive speed like that mentioned by Noel Edmonds endangers the life of the driver, passengers and others on the road. The safety of motorists is of paramount importance."

Nigel Humphries, of the Association of British Drivers, added: "You would need to be specially trained to even attempt those speeds on a race track.

"It is not something to be boastful about."

Edmonds' agent Mark Borkowski last night said: "This happened 20 years ago when he woke up early one morning, stark naked and wanted to drive.

"But Noel accepts the thing about speed and fast cars is that it should be done in the appropriate places and in experienced hands.

"He also pointed out he was wellequipped to drive fast cars, having been trained on Formula One tracks."

Hertfordshire Police, who cover the Tring Bypass, said they are studying the remarks made by the presenter.

In the interview, Edmonds also confessed he has had nookie in a motor.

He said: "Yes, I've had carnal knowledge in a car. It was a Range Rover. I tooted the ol' ... hold on, what am I saying?

"But seriously, you can't say you love cars if you haven't ever made love in one. I'm talking about making love."

And Edmonds revealed some of his exploits with animals.

He said: "I shot a rabbit once. I've given a foal mouth-to-mouth. It's hard, you can only do one nostril at once. It lived, but my jeans rotted later because they had afterbirth all over them.

"I've also saved lambs by swinging them round my head and then putting them in the oven."

mirrornews@mgn.co.uk

BATTLE RAGES OVER TONY BLAIR'S REFUSAL TO NAME THE DAY FOR HIS DEPARTURE

As the battle rages over Tony Blair's refusal to name the day for his
departure Mark Borkowski gives a PR perspective on the issue on the
Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2

Click here to download MP3

HERE'S ONE WE ELECTED EARLIER

Tony Blair's aides want him on Blue Peter as part of a 'farewell tour'. But are the presenters sure to go easy on him? Tim Dowling imagines how the chat might turn out. And Emine Saner asks PR experts how they would manage his exit.

Mark Borkowski (Vodafone, Virgin)
"They must be desperately embarrassed about this plan being leaked. The beauty of PR is for people not to understand what you're doing so I would go right back to the drawing board and come up with a plan that would surprise people.
You have to choose what to do very carefully against the backdrop of how it will be pulled apart. If he goes on Jonathan Ross, or Sharon Osbourne's show, or Charlotte Church, or if you put him on X Factor or Love Island, it all comes with the air of desperation for publicity. You could put him on Chris Evans's or Terry Wogan's radio shows and hit a huge amount of people but do people believe it?
I would look at a digital platform, to try to hit the first-time voters. That isn't by getting Bono and Chris Martin to support him. He needs to take control and do something that demonstrates what little integrity the party and he have left. You've got to find a way to get him to open up, show him warts and all. YouTube could be a fantastic opportunity or MySpace. Give him a camera and put him on the web."
But before I put him on anything, I would want to make sure he scored some goals. If there was a major disagreement with George Bush over something which showed he stood up for what we believed in, that we were not in America's pockets, or if he got support from families of soldiers who have been killed, that would help.
He can sign off but not a triumphant farewell tour. He needs to bow out as gracefully as possible."
http://media.guardian.co.uk/marketingandpr/story/0,,1865893,00.html