MediaGuardian briefing

Media briefing Wednesday 11 Feb 2015 g Top stories on MediaGuardian More » Jon Stewart to leave The Daily Show after surprise announcement US satirist makes tearful announcement on-air after news leaked out that his 16-year run is coming to an end  Police from several UK forces seek details of Charlie Hebdo readers Newsagents in three counties questioned about sales of the French magazine’s special issue  NBC suspends Brian Williams for six months over helicopter story Network says actions of TV news anchor were ‘wrong and completely inappropriate’ and he is being taken off-air without pay  Sky and BT retain Premier League TV rights for record £5.14bn The Premier League has announced that Sky Sports and BT Sport have won the UK television rights for 2016-2019 for a total value of £5.136bn  Clegg urges May to pass law protecting journalist sources before poll Deputy prime minister calls for legislation to be passed before election ensuring judicial warrant is needed to access reporters’ phone and email data  Eurovision Song Contest invites Australia to join ‘world’s biggest party’ Annual music extravaganza allows country to take part for first time as part of 60th-anniversary celebrations – with the chance to return if it wins  ITV puppet show Newzoids takes aim at politicians and celebrities Star impressionists including Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson to join team that includes some veterans of Spitting Image  Stephen Fry’s Baftas swearing: BBC defends coverage after complaints Corporation says it considered its coverage ‘very carefully’, with bad language only broadcast after 9pm watershed  Flipboard moves to the web with plans to host some news publishers' content After attracting more than 50m monthly readers on tablets and smartphones, US startup smashes down its walled garden and hopes partners will see the potential  Sun reporter knew MoD official could have got sack over £100,000 leaks John Kay says he arranged discreet payments to Bettina Jordan-Barber but never thought they might be illegal  Today's newspaper headlines More » Today's media stories from the papers Our roundup of the day's media stories, including Jon Stewart to leave The Daily Show and BT and Sky pay £5.1bn for Premier League TV rights  Media Monkey's pick of the day More » Charlie Higson offers Twitter followers chance to join him on Jekyll & Hyde set Charlie Higson took to Twitter to ask his 100,000-plus followers to bid for a chance to join him on the set of his freshly-commissioned upcoming 10-part ITV drama Jekyll & Hyde, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The first bid landed within seconds – £150 on the ibid site – but before anyone turns nasty after drinking the offer in, Monkey would like to point out it’s all in the name of charity. To raise funds for the National Literacy Trust. Any advance buzz created for the show – set in 1930s London and starring Tom Bateman (West End Shakespeare in Love, Da Vinci’s Demons), Richard E. Grant (Downton Abbey) and Natalie Gumede (Coronation Street) according to Higson’s appeal blurb – would of course be a favourable rather than cynically sought out side effect. The successful bidder gets to come with a friend on set in London at a mutually convenient date (with Higson and the crew) between March and July when it is filming. And under 18s must be accompanied by an adult for what could turn into a horror show. Like to hang out with me on set of Jekyll & Hyde, maybe appear in a scene? Then bid here & promote literacy http://t.co/FjZHNIEeXh— charlie higson (@monstroso) February 10, 2015

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