The BBC World Service is arguably the most widely-recognised international broadcaster, currently broadcasting in 32 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays. It is politically independent (by mandate of the BBC Charter) , non-profit and commercial-free.

The English language service broadcasts 24 hours a day. In June 2009 the BBC reported that the World Service’s average weekly audience had reached 188 million people. The World Service is funded by grant-in-aid through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by the British Government  unlike the BBC’s domestic radio and television services, which are primarily funded by a compulsory licence fee levied on every household in the United Kingdom using a television to watch programmes as they are being broadcast. Despite this form of funding, the World Service remains editorially independent, although the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is closely consulted in decisions about which languages are broadcast.

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Jonathan Stephen Ross born 17 November 1960 is an English film critic and presenter of radio and television. 

Working extensively with the BBC, Ross has presented The Film Programme since 1997, his own chat show, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross since 2001, and a radio show on BBC Radio 2 beginning in 1999.

He also appeared for years as a panelist on They Think It’s All Over and was the annual host of the British Comedy Awards from 1991-2007, broadcast on ITV. Ross is known for his distinctive voice, flamboyant style of dress, and his light-hearted banter. Ross has a boldness in presenting, which some would consider often risqué, and as a result, he has sometimes been surrounded by controversy. He was won three BAFTA Awards for his work on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.

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Four people were killed and four others seriously wounded after a gunman opened fire at two separate locations in the Midlands. The attacks happened on the Bustleholm estate, Wednesbury and later at a service station in Nuneaton.

Shortly after 1930GMT a lone gunman went to Andrew Road and killed George Birkett and his son, Phillip, on their driveway and Mrs Birkett inside the house. Their daughter, Gillian Birkett, was seriously wounded.

He then rang the bell of the house next door, shooting Judith Chambers who answered and then her husband Joe as he went to her aid. The gunman is then said to have sped off in a Ford Capri shooting indiscriminately at houses, narrowly missing several people.

Resident Bob Nienhuis said: “I heard two series of shots. There were about 15 in all, then I heard a woman shouting and glass breaking.”

The gunman went to a petrol station in Nuneaton where, having asked for some petrol, he shot dead the attendant and seriously injured her husband.

An ambulance officer called to the scene of the first attack said: “The police must be looking for a lunatic. I have no idea what happened but those are all very nasty injuries.”

The injured, including the daughter of Mr and Mrs Birkett, have all been taken to Birmingham General Hospital. Police are said to be looking for Barry Williams, 36, a neighbour of the Bustleholm estate victims. The area around Andrew Road has been closed off in case Mr Williams attempts to return to his home. No motive has been given for the attacks.

It later emerged that one of the many shots fired in the Bustleholm estate narrowly missed a seven-year-old girl. Following the attacks roadblocks were set up across the area.

The next day Barry Williams, a neighbour of the first victims, was arrested in Buxton, Derbyshire and charged with the murders after a car chase through the county. Williams was sentenced to indefinite detention in Broadmoor in 1979.

He served 15 years and was sent to live in a Birmingham hostel just six miles from Andrew Road, West Bromwich, the scene of the first murders. After a public outcry, he was moved to a privately-run residential home in Llys Meirchion, North Wales. Since then Williams is believed to have changed his name and started a family.

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