Brits open their wallets.

In this, the final London Comment of 2008, Simon Bates talks about the global economic recession, and how the stiff upper lip seems to be turning the other cheek and opening its wallet.



More London Comments to come in 2009.

Classic FM's Simon Bates on US television!

If I were to say to you, Simon Bates, what does he do, you'd probably say, he presents Classic FM's breakfast show and he used to be a BBC Radio 1 DJ, and occasional host of Top Of The Pops back in the day. But what if I told you, he also is a commentator for CBS News in the US?

It can be amazing what you can find on the internet sometimes.



There he is, sat somewhere in London, reporting on a story for CBS News's overnight news programme, Up To The Minute. And, by the way, the story itself is an interesting one. A cautionary tale in it's own way, about how details in a story can make all the difference. Fascinating story, told in the inimitable Simon Bates, Our Tune style, only without the background music!

I think if I'd said that Simon Bates was a commentator for CBS News, you'd have thought it was a different person to the Classic FM presenter. Just goes to show, that on the internet, you can find the unexpected, without even looking for it.