This week's UK news: 7 February 2014
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7 February 2014


Rain and wind cause more damage

The UK is currently stuck in a weather pattern of storms. We've had high winds and heavy rain since December, and weather forecasters say this is going to continue for a while. The storms we are getting at the moment are much, much stronger than usual and causing much more damage.

This is now causing big problems in some areas of the UK. A huge storm this week washed away part of the railway line from London to Cornwall, and it will take a few weeks before this can be repaired. Some seafront homes and businesses have also been very badly damaged by huge waves.

Some inland areas are flooded as well, particularly low-lying areas in the south of England. There has been a political argument about whether enough protective work has been done in the inland flooded areas.

The Government's emergency committee has met several times this week to discuss the response to the flooding and storm damage, and it has promised an extra GBP 130 for repairs.


Beware of the radio

If you are in the UK this month, be careful about listening to the radio late at night.

Radio 4, one of the UK's public broadcasting stations, is broadcasting a new version of The Exorcist. This story of a young girl who was possessed by a demon was made into a film in 1973. The film is often described as one of the most scary ever made.

Radio 4 says the programme will have "toxic horror" and will be frightening. It will be broadcase at 11pm on February 20 and 21. here will be a warning for people who want to listen to it on the BBC's website.


Back to the Future... in London

Back To The Future was one of the most popular films of the 1980s. It told the story of Marty McFly, a teenager who accidentally travelled back in time in a De Lorean car. There, he saw his parents getting together and changed their future.

The film has remained popular and is now going to be made into a musical for the London stage. The show will open in 2015, the 30th anniversary of the original film. The show will include new songs as well as those which were in the film, such as The Power Of Love.

The team which made the original films are also being involved in the stage show.


End of UK's famous quiz show

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?  was the UK's most famous quiz show for a while, but the last show was broadcast this week.

 When it began in 1998 it was the first show to offer such a huge prize, of GBP1m.

It was a new way of doing a quiz show, with four possible answers for each question. Each time the contestant got a question right, they doubled the amount of money they won, and could stop at any point and walk away with their winnings -- which they lost with a wrong answer. Quite a few people chose to stop before getting to the million pound question.

The quiz was so famous that it added new phrases to the English language. Contestants were allowed limited help, including one opportunity to phone a friend or relative to help choose an answer. "Would you like to phone a friend?" became a well-known phrase.

 

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