This week's UK news: 30 May 2014
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30 May 2014


When will Dr Who be female?

The man behind the science fiction show Dr Who says a woman will only be chosen to play the lead role when the right one is available.

Steven Moffat said it would not happen that "somebody sits down and says we must turn the Doctor into a woman. That is not how you cast the Doctor." He said choosing people for a role (casting) "is the dark arts of television. It is everything."

 

Two pieces of history are found

In the UK, some people like to go looking for buried treasures using a machine called a metal detector. They move the detector over a field, and it makes a noise if it finds metal underground. Last month a man in Devon had an amazing find. It was a piece of gold jewellery which would have been worn on the chest of a chief 3,500 years ago. The jewellery was in very good condition and is very rare. It will probably go to the British museum.

In another story about old treasure, a 5,000 year old Egyptian pot has turned up in a garage in England. It had a label explaining that it had been accepted instead of money as a taxi fare in the 1950s. Another label said that it had been excavated by Professor Flinders Petrie in 1894-5. Now historians think Professor Petrie gave pots away to tourists and important visitors and are trying to find out more.

 

Huge fire damages Scottish landmark

The Glasgow School of Art is world famous. It is based in a beautiful 100 year old building designed by the renowned and distinctive Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Many people think it is his best building.

When a huge fire started in the building last week, crowds gathered and many people were very upset. Flames could be seen and the building looked as if it would be destroyed.

But the Fire Service appears to have done an amazing job, saving 90 per cent of the structure and 70 per cent of what was inside, including students' degree show work.

 

Tribute to teenager

Stephen Sutton was just 19 when he died earlier this month, but his name was very well known in the UK. He was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 15 and found out that it was incurable two years later.

He made a list of things he wanted to do, including raising money for a charity helping teenagers with cancer. He wanted to raise GBP 10,000 but the total has now reached GBP 4m because his story became so well known. He was very positive and many well-known people met him and publicised what he was doing.

Stephen's coffin was put in a cathedral overnight for people to pay their respects. More than 7,000 people attended to celebrate his life.

 

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