Alan Johnston

[libertie]

After the weekend attempted bombings, floods bringing misery to thousands and crappy weather, good news at last with the release of BBC reporter Alan Johnston! What wonderful news for his family and friends:0)

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, i have to agree. It is wonderful news for his family...

[VINNY100_2]

You beat me to it this time libertie...lol.
Great news for his family.....must have been me..signing that petition...(:O)

[libertie]

Yep VINNY I'm sure you helped! :o)

[jno]

that's right, they ignored Blair's plea but when they heard Vinny was onto them.... The thought of a war of Becks and sprouts was too much for the jihadis.

[4getmenot]

I saw that this morning and I always used to watch him especially when he had bombs strapped to him and think well he's a gonner, how wrong I was. It is lovely news. xx

[sp1814]

First bit of really good news this year (well, second, after hearing that Kylie will be appearing in the Christmas Day edition of Dr Who).

[China Doll]

Nice to wake up to some fantastic news for a change.

(Splat, I have grave concerns about your taste in music man!)

[Gromit]

On Tuesday Hamas security forces in Gaza seized several members of the Army of Islam - the group which abducted Alan Johnston. Thankfully this made them hand over Johnston rather than harm him. Hamas seem to be getting the law and order situation sorted in Gaza.

[flipnflap]

I had to laugh because, when talking to the media and even on his hostage video, Johnson was using the same absurd exaggerated hand gestures TV journalists are obliged to make when reporting on screen. It seems some habits never die no matter what those guys go through.

[sp1814]

Actually, that's one thing that I thought was really bizarre this morning.

This man had gone through what we can only imagine was a pretty traumatic experience, but on Sky News, he was being treated just like he'd observed (rather than lived through) the experience.

Found myself getting really annoyed at the newscaster...y'know...like Leave him alone...stop asking him to be professional you heartless cow

...and so on.

BTW China Doll - Kylie rules.

[Whickerman]

Really didn't think he'd be seen alive again. Great news.

[libertie]

Yes, must have been horrendous for his family, first the news he had been executed then seeing him with explosives strapped to his body! I found it awful to watch and I don't even know him!!

[tiny e.a]

i've only just read it! i'm really delighted for him and his family! It's put me in a really good mood, I had him down as a gonner too but apparently sometimes happy endings do happen!

[sp1814]

flipnflap

Yeah...I have to agree with you. I saw a clip of hostage video last week (the one where he had a 'bomb belt' on).

...and he was still doing that 'wobbly head' and 'strange EMPAHASIS on words throughout HIS sentences that you ONLY EVER heard in news REPORTS'.

I personally think they learn it in journalism school and it must be a hard habit to break.

Excellent news that he's out...and I hope he's next stationed somewhere less dangerous - perhaps reporting on educational matters from Swiss finishing schools or something.

He deserves it.

[whippetycros]

Great news and something no one here can argue about.