Tribute to pensioner slain by dangerous driver stolen

By Cara Sulieman

A roadside memorial to a pensioner who died when was knocked down by a car on her way home from work has been stolen.

Senga Elder was killed after a car mounted a pavement in Auchtermuchty in Fife, sending her flying into a skate park.

The 67-year-old – who was on her way home from Myres Castle – died instantly of head and spinal injuries in the 2008 accident.

Her family had laid down the white steel cross at the side of the road as a touching tribute.

But it went missing at the weekend.

TV FESTIVAL SPECIAL: Guru slams Britain’s Got Talent for manipulating contestants

Professor David Wilson (left) and Evan Davis (right) at the debate

By Rory Reynolds

@ the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival

A TOP reality TV guru has slammed Britain’s Got Talent for “manipulating” vulnerable hopefuls like Susan Boyle and Hollie Steel.

Professor David Wilson – a former senior consultant for Big Brother – blasted Britain’s Got Talent, saying that vulnerable contestants Boyle and ten-year-old Hollie should never have been allowed on the show.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival today (Sunday), Wilson said the primetime talent programme had deliberately encouraged Boyle because of her oddball appearance and heaped on pressure before the final.

He said: “I don’t think that Susan Boyle was even able to give proper consent.

“And the producers were not prepared to deal with the global attention she received.”

Speaking at a live debate chaired by BBC presenter Evan Davis, Wilson also hit out at producers for allowing nervous Hollie – who broke down in tears live on TV after a mistake – to perform on the show.

Hollie was allowed to begin her performance again after judge Simon Cowell stepped in to allow her a second chance.