SOME images stop you in your tracks.
Many years ago, I was researching an article about the opening of the M1 in 1959.
In a library archive, I came across a photo of a few cars driving up the empty motorway on the first weekend of a new era.
The almost total lack of traffic was striking enough.
But even more memorable was the view of the houses up on the embankment to the side of the new road.
All the way along, sitting in their garden deckchairs, local residents were admiring the view.
It’s hard now to imagine the excitement Britain’s first motorways generated – or how they became instant tourist destinations.
But it’s all there in a new three-part BBC4 series called The Secret Life Of The Motorway.

“AT the time they just see it as lighting a fire and it’s a big laugh.
“But it isn’t, because fire fighters get killed like that all the time.”
The words of Broughton Red Watch Commander Chris Rainford in a new TV documentary series.
He’s talking about the idiots who deliberately start fires – some 75 per cent of all blazes attended by the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
It’s a staggering figure, highlighted in Inferno 999, which begins on Five next month.
The series was the subject of a news story in Friday’s MEN – an online version, with a gallery of four images, is here.
I watched all six programmes in the series one night last week.
Here are just a few more of the scenes and content that caught my eye, along with some other pics.

THE sun may be out at last but autumn is fast approaching in TV land.
One sure sign is the return of The X Factor.
It’s back on Saturday August 18 for what is billed as “an even bigger and better fourth series”.
Judges Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne are joined by a re-instated Louis Walsh and new addition Dannii Minogue.
And following the controversial decision to replace Kate Thornton, main ITV1 presenting duty now falls to Dermot O’Leary.
As ever, the best bits of The X Factor are in the early audition shows.

NOW don’t get me wrong.
I like Jamie Oliver as much as the next man waiting by the microwave.
But there was something not quite right on Channel 4 last night.
Around 2.4m of us watched the launch of his new series Jamie at Home.
A relaxed affair from his Essex country house, the first of 12 programmes highlighted the wonders of tomatoes.
All well and good – until the ad break.
That’s when supermarket giant Sainsbury’s ran a commercial for…tomatoes.
It felt, at least to me, as if a small screen rule had been broken.
Former Naked Chef Jamie has been the public face of Sainsbury’s for more than seven years, appearing in over 100 TV ads.

WHAT is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?
Sir Trevor McDonald may well have reflected on William Henry Davies’ poem Leisure before filming his new ITV1 series.
Britain’s Favourite View does exactly what it says on the tin.
The five-part series, which begins at 8pm next Sunday, features 16 famous faces presenting short films about a particular spot close to their heart.
The first programme sees Des Lynam at the Seven Sisters on the South Downs, Rory Bremner in Edinburgh, Katherine Jenkins at Three Cliffs Bay , Gower Peninsula and David Dickinson in Blackpool.
Later shows include Coronation Street star Sally Whittaker at Wastwater in the Lake District, along with Tim Healy and Denise Welch in Newcastle upon Tyne.
At the end of each edition, viewers can vote for their favourite view from the four films – with the winner going on to the live final.

ACTOR, comedy star and writer Chris Langham is said to be on suicide watch today after he was convicted of downloading child porn.
Although cleared of other charges, he’s in prison awaiting sentence – a life and career in ruins.
There can be no excuses for Langham, 58, who now faces a jail term.
The police and courts have vowed to pursue and punish those involved in this sick and evil net trade.
As detectives point out, this is not a victimless crime.
Langham’s family has also suffered, including his three sons who attended the trial at Maidstone Crown Court.
I last met Langham in May 2001 at a hotel in west London.
One of his sons was with him, along with a bag full of cricket gear.

IT really is the silly season.
On Monday I was the journalist who first alerted ITV to a problem surrounding Malcolm and Barbara: Love’s Farewell.
A few hours later, they came back to me and confirmed the true facts – reported first here in this blog that night.
Less than 24 hours later ITV issued a general press release to the rest of the media.
Now MPs are seizing the opportunity to go on the attack.
“We are very disappointed to learn that yet another documentary appears to have been doctored,” says Shadow Culture Minister Ed Vaizey.
“I hope this is now the final lesson to be learned by production companies who often make good programmes that are undermined by misleading publicity campaigns.”
Film maker Paul Watson is in the firing line, when he appears to have done nothing wrong.

IT was all too predictable.
“ITV is to screen a documentary which shows the moment a victim of Alzheimer’s disease dies,” announced the Daily Mail last week.
As night follows day, we were then treated to a quote from John Beyer of “pressure group” Mediawatch UK.
“There is a certain dignity in death that is not appropriate for people to gawp at on television,” he said.
Had Mr Beyer actually seen the programme? That’ll be a no, then.
The story spread. Commentators dived into the argument, quick to condemn.
One spoke of an intrusive camera crew filming at the moment of Malcolm Pointon’s death.
The headline? Death on television is all about ratings.
“They are calling it the last taboo. The ultimate fly on the wall documentary,” he wrote.
“ITV is to broadcast the precise moment a victim of Alzheimer’s disease dies.”
Except it isn’t.

THE Frascati was flowing last night as Al Murray played a small warm up gig in a room above a pub.
A sold out audience of just 80 lucky people squeezed into their seats to watch the comedy genius at work close up.
The pub landlord did not let us down, with a mix of old and new material.
That included his thoughts on the IRA Manchester bomb, Oasis, the summer floods and “Amy Winebar”.
Al also showed the first two rows no mercy.
Among those who had a night to remember were an opera singer, dog walker, teacher and solicitor.
When the guv’nor questioned the worth of various jobs, one member of the audience queried the value of working nights above a pub.
“About one and half million quid last year, mate,” was Al’s instant reply.