RIP - ALAN TOWERS

HOLLYWOOD has lost Sydney Pollack and Midlands Today staff are mourning former colleague Alan Towers.

He was one of a kind, the sort of old-school broadcaster who probably wouldn't get on air today.

But, as someone born up north, he was probably the first TV presenter I associated with Birmingham thanks to the old Nationwide.

He sprang to fame thanks to a story about a skateboarding duck.

Somebody was looking out for him that day. And he made a career out of the opportunity.

Now that's class.