O Levels, Clive James, Prince Williama and Bury: Why are they trending?

A look at the trending topics on social networking sites and search engines today, to see what we’re interested in, and why.

Clive James

Australian broadcaster Clive James has said that he almost died four times from leukaemia.

The Australian star, best known for his hit show Clive James On Television, was diagnosed with leukaemia, lung disease and kidney failure in 2010.

The 72-year-old told a BBC Radio 4 programme that “I’m getting near the end. I don’t want to cast a gloom, an air of doom, over the programme but I’m a man who is approaching his terminus.”

Michael Gove/GCSE/O Levels

Education Secretary Michael Gove is drawing up proposals to scrap GCSE exams and replace them with revamped O-levels for the brightest students. But will bringing back easier CSE exams for “less intelligent” pupils hamper social mobility?

Jimmy Carr

On the third day in to the Carr tax avoidance scandal, which saw the comedian use the K2 Tax scheme to pay only 1% tax, he’s still trending with the announcement that he feels he “made a terrible error of judgment”. He spoke out after Prime Minister David Cameron branded his tax dodging “morally wrong”.

Prince William

Prince William hits a milestone today as he turns 30. Apparently he’s planning a fancy dress party, but had to warn Harry about costume choices.

Bury

Various reports today say that The Rangers are looking into buying League One club Bury, but a statement from Bury’s board of directors read: “Whilst investment into Bury Football Club is always welcome, any offer of investment will only be viewed at taking the club forward in its only one guise possible – based in the town of Bury, and as Bury Football Club. Bury FC is a proud historical club and, as such, proudly represents the town, community, people and, above all, supporters of Bury.”

LeRoy Neiman

American artist LeRoy Neiman, the official painter of five Olympiads, has died aged 91. Tributes are pouring in for the artist known for his handlebar mustache and his portrayals of athletes. His publicist confirmed his death at a Manhattan hospital but did not disclose the cause.

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• sheffieldutd

  Bury is hometown to Vicky Binns (who is a Goddess). Why is the Indy not allowing comments on Harwood and the extrajudicial killing of Tomlinson? I saw the phrase “Assange asylum bid affront to victims”. Only Blackhurst could print that and keep a straight face.

• Kugelschreiber

  The idiotic Gove strikes again. This suggestion about bringing back “O” levels is just another nasty Tory attempt to create yet more DIVISION in our society.

  There is already enough SCOPE for more academic children to reach their full potential in the TOP GRADES of the GCSE’s & there is streaming in schools for this purpose.

  When my children were at school, they were in the top stream for some subjects & in the bottom stream for others..

  Our country as a whole can ONLY SUCCEED & WORK TOGETHER, if EVERY PERSON feels VALUED, feels that the GOVERNMENT CARES ABOUT THEM , WANTS TO HELP THEM, AND WISHES THEM TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER

  In addition, we all need to start showing some APPRECIATION of ALL our people who work for our country, from the people who have the patience or stamina to do the boring or tough jobs to the managers who take responsibility for the success or failure of an organisation.

  We need to say THANKYOU now and again., to each other. This is essential to maintain morale. I would even go as far as to suggest some kind of annual CEREMONY based upon this sentiment, to remind us all.

  And GRAYLING, the minister for WORK, who is supposed to represent the BRITISH people, and is PAID by US to do so, needs to STOP telling us (I’ve heard him say the following at least twice) that we must COMPETE with European workers for our JOBS here in BRITAIN. Why don’t we SACK him? He’s not doing his job right is he?

• Kugelschreiber

  I used to like the Clive James show. He is, like our Ed Doolan here in the West Midlands, another great Australian import.

• Dave Hill

  What a miserable world it is – Clive James fading away, while c***s like James Delingpole carry on living and breathing and vomiting forth their braindead nonsense.