From our archives
5 years ago
Binge-watching television shows is becoming the most common way to take in our favourite programmes, with many viewers shunning their families to do it alone. Research by telecoms firm ARRIS found that 67 per cent of the UK admits to binge-watching a TV show, with the average viewer doing so for more than three hours a week. Sixty-one per cent choose to do it alone. About six per cent of those surveyed said they bingewatched every day.
10 years ago
Police have opened a new front in the war against organised crime by revealing the names of gangland figures to insurance firms and life assurers who then massively increase their premiums. Officers are passing on confidential files on gangsters – whether they have been convicted or not – to stop their families cashing in if they die in one of Scotland’s turf wars. Underworld figures routinely take out huge policies to make their families rich if they are killed.
25 years ago
Consumers last night were still refusing to accept the Government’s latest attempt to reassure the public that British beef is safe to eat. Agriculture Minister Douglas Hogg, pictured, and various Government experts spent almost two hours with journalists yesterday trying to demonstrate that the latest scare over BSE was unfounded. Meanwhile, farmers have called for the NFU to use high-profile personalities to promote beef.
50 years ago
A record number of 52 performances of seven operas in six cities – including, for the first time, Liverpool – will be given by Scottish Opera during their spring season next year.
Productions of Wagner’s Siegfried and Der Rosenkavalier are to be presented and revivals of Albert Herring, The Turn of the Screw, La Traviata, The Magic Flute and Das Rheingold will complete the marathon repertoire.
100 years ago
A serious outbreak of fire occurred at Burnbank Chemical Works, Chain Road, Paisley, yesterday afternoon. The building involved was a three-storey one, used as a drying store. The West Renfrewshire and Paisley Burgh Fire Brigades were both in attendance at the outbreak, which was got under control soon after their arrival. The top flat and a portion of the second floor were completely gutted, but the rest of the building was saved.