Architect George Clarke said the thought of being a celebrity makes him "ill" as he admitted he rarely watches his own programmes on television.

The presenter is a regular feature on Channel 4, fronting The Home Show, The Restoration Man and Amazing Spaces.

But the Sunderland-born 44-year-old insists his passion remains in "making" and that fame makes him uncomfortable.

He said: "I never use the 'C' word - which for me is 'Celebrity'. I don't want to be a celebrity. I want to be a good architect. I want to make and craft really beautiful programmes that people love watching.

"To be honest I don't really watch them that much when they go out because that gets weird."

In case you missed this yesterday - Newcastle United's owner Mike Ashley says he is 'hopeful' the club will be sold within the next few weeks.

Ashley bought the club in 2007, but has faced numerous protests by Magpies' fans.

Last night he said talks were "at a more advanced stage than they have ever been" and that he'd like to sell to "an owner that will please everybody".

He told Sky News that he would like the sale to be completed "before the January transfer window" which opens on New Year's Day.

The Sports Direct owner put Newcastle up for sale in October 2017.

Image source, Reuters

The Shields Gazette

The stepson of South Shields murder victim David 'Noddy' Rice has been locked up for a knifepoint robbery, external after he left an Iceland carrier bag containing details of his address at the scene.

Image source, SHIELDS GAZETTE

BBC Tees

The five Labour leaders of local authorities across Teesside have hit out at any plans the Conservative Tees Valley Mayor might have to use public money to buy Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Ben Houchen will make an announcement on its future later this morning.

Mr Houchen made bringing Durham Tees Valley back into public ownership his top priority during his election campaigning.

Members of the Tees Valley Combined Authority say they have been "left in the dark" about the plans.

Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

Police have carried out a string of raids aimed at targeting a suspected drugs operation, externalwhich is believed to have been flooding the streets of Hartlepool with heroin and cocaine.

Image source, HARTLEPOOL MAIL

Local Democracy Reporting Service
James Cain

More than 350 new houses in Middlesbrough have been given the green light.

Middlesbrough Council’s own regeneration department made the application to build on the Brackenhoe site at Prissick Base, near James Cook University Hospital.

Councillors had raised concern about the plan's impact on the notorious "Marton Crawl" claiming traffic jams would become even worse.

But planning officers said that, in the worst case scenario traffic on Marton Road would be slowed down by a maximum of 60 seconds after the development was built,

The application, which was considered by the council’s planning and development committee, was approved with only one person voting against.

Rick Astley is the first artist to be announced for next year's Mouth of the Tyne Festival, organised by North Tyneside Council.

The 80s star, who is still going strong, has three million monthly listeners on a music streaming service.

The annual music festival takes place at Tynemouth Priory and Castle and runs from 11 to 14 July., external

Lisa Gallagher
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

You'll need your de-icer or windscreen scraper this morning as temperatures have plummeted.

Once any fog patches have lifted, it will be dry with some sunshine.

However, the sunshine will turn increasingly hazy as the day progresses. Feeling rather cold.

Check out the weather near you.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage.

We've got all the news, sport, travel and weather through the day.

If you want to get in touch with any news or send us photos you can tweet us, external, contact us via our Facebook , externalpage or email us.

Owner Mike Ashley is "hopeful" of selling Newcastle United and says it could happen before the January transfer window.

Premier League brothers Josh and Jacob Murphy's parents give Arbuckles restaurant to staff.

Services in County Durham and North Yorkshire will be affected as 650 drivers walk out.

Secondary school tables just published show one in eight in England is below government standards.

Primary school league tables show pupils with special needs are dropping further behind their classmates.

Saturday's action in the National League, National League North & National League South - listen to BBC local radio commentary.

Our live updates here have finished for the day. This feed will be updated overnight with any breaking news and sport stories as well as travel updates.

You can also stay on to date online, on BBC Newcastle, BBC Tees and Look North.

We'll be back with more updates from 08:00 tomorrow and hope you can join us then.

If you want to get in touch with any news or send us photos you can tweet us, external, contact us via our Facebook , externalpage or email us.

A cold night to come under long clear spells and just a little patchy cloud. Remaining dry with gentle winds.

Minimum Temperature: -3 to 0C (27 to 32F).

Mostly dry through tomorrow with patchy cloud but also some sunny spells, turning rather hazy in the afternoon. Rather chilly with light westerly winds.

Maximum Temperature: 2 to 5C (36 to 41F).

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Ben O'Connell

Ratepayers have very narrowly voted to reject the Blyth Business Improvement District (BID).

BIDs are business-led partnerships created through a ballot process to deliver additional services to local businesses and are funded through a levy on all eligible premises within the BID area.

The Government states they can be a powerful tool for directly involving local businesses in local activities and allow the business community, local authorities and other key partners such as the police to work together to improve the local trading environment.

However, they have not been successful in Northumberland so far - Hexham's BID was the first to be set up and it did pass the ballot and start operating in October 2016, only to be the subject of ongoing issues and controversy which led to the arrangements being terminated as of 10 September.

Morpeth's BID being was rejected at the vote in April, leaving Blyth's as the only other BID in development in the county.

The total number of votes cast in favour of the establishment of the Blyth BID was 59, representing 49.2% of the number of votes cast and 72.5% of the rateable value of votes cast.

Councillor Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration at Northumberland County Council, said: "As a council, we are clear that BIDs must be supported by the business community and this ballot result means that a BID won't be introduced in Blyth."