Would you believe us if we told you that Art Attack presenter Neil Buchanan is actually Banksy?
Well, after a conspiracy theory suggesting this began circulating online over the weekend, there’s now thousands of people out there who very much do believe it.
Or at least want to believe it.
If you’re unfamiliar with who Neil Buchanan is and how he could even possibly be the iconic anonymous street artist Banksy, Neil is an artist, musician and children’s TV presenter best known as the host of the CITV show Art Attack from 1990 to 2007.
But, where on earth did this bizarre theory come from then? Who started it?
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Although not entirely confirmed, it’s believed to have originated last Friday afternoon on Twitter by user account @Scouseman who said: “Just heard that it’s rumoured Neil Buchanan is Banksy.
“If true, it’s the funniest shit ever. Aintree’s finest. He’s a musician and art has followed in the cities of shows he’s done allegedly.
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“This is straight in the believe without question category.”
Neil Buchanan is NOT Banksy. Could Banksy use cardboard tubes from old toilet rolls and different coloured ping pong balls to make a trap so you could tell if anybody had been in your room while you’d been out? I think we know the answer to that. It’s ‘no’. #neilbuchanan
The fact that there’s a huge rumour going round that Art Attack legend, Neil Buchanan, is actually Banksy is one of the only good things to have happened this year.
In fact, to say it’s a theory that has ‘taken off’ would be somewhat of an understatement, because not only has it been widely reported on and is currently trending on Twitter with over 6,800 tweets and counting, but word of it has even made it back to the man himself.
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Yes, it probably won’t come as a surprise to learn that Neil now knows that everyone thinks he’s Banksy – having been “inundated with enquiries” over the weekend – but he is keen to set the record straight.
In an official statement addressing the claims on his website, Neil Buchanan’s team said: “Neil Buchanan is not Banksy. We have been inundated with enquiries over the weekend regarding the current social media story [and] unfortunately this website does not have the infrastructure to answer all these enquiries individually, however we can confirm that there is no truth in the rumour whatsoever.
“Neil spent lockdown with vulnerable members of his family and is now preparing to launch his new art collection in 2021.
“Thank you and please stay safe.”
Regardless of Neil’s denial, this certainly hasn’t stopped the internet from continuing with the mass speculation and if anything, it’s only ignited the theory even further.
All we know is that we’re invested and we hope there’s an outcome before the end of the year, but that’s probably wishful thinking.
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Motorists warned of common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines
Emily Sergeant
With the temperatures drastically dropping now as we head into winter, motorists are being warned against a common driving habit.
On a wintry morning when the windscreens are frozen and your hands are equally as frozen too, it’s pretty common for drivers to start the engine, turn the heater right up, and remain stationary for several minutes to warm the car up before setting off on their journey… but did you know that doing this could see you, inadvertently, fall foul of the law?
That’s right – as ridiculous as it sounds, leaving your car engine running ‘unnecessarily’ while parked on a public road is illegal.
And to make matters worse, the rules on ‘engine idling’, as it’s known, apply regardless of whether the driver is using the heating, waiting for someone, or simply sitting in the vehicle.
Known as a stationary idling offence, Rule 123 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a public road, and according to the rule, a fixed penalty of up to £80 can be issued, right there and then.
Motorists are being warned of a common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines / Credit: PickPik | Wikimedia Commons
Fines will only be handed out if a motorist is stopped by a police officer who asks them to switch the engine off, and they fail to comply.
“However tempting it might be to sit in a vehicle with the engine running and the heater on to warm up, we strongly advice against it,” commented RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.
“As well as polluting the air and wasting fuel, drivers who leave their engines idling unnecessarily on a public road also risk an on-the-spot fine of £80. On cold mornings, the best approach is to clear any ice or snow properly and ensure windows are fully de-misted before setting off, then get on your way and let the car warm you up.”
There are some exceptions to the rule, however, as keeping the engine running is permitted in certain circumstances.
This includes when a vehicle is stationary because of traffic conditions, when the engine needs to run so a mechanical fault can be investigated, or if certain work is being carried out on the side of the road.
Manchester has been named the most ‘pet-friendly’ city in the UK
Emily Sergeant
A new index has revealed the best cities for pet owners in the UK, and it’s great news for Manchester.
Millions of us share our home with a pet, and making sure we give them the best possible life is often at the forefront of our minds, right?
While there’s a lot people can control about their pet’s lifestyle, many of the factors that affect their happiness are determined by location, and sadly for the 83% of the UK population who live in more urban areas, the challenges to give a pet a good life can feel even greater – with less access to green space, and fewer social spaces to take dogs, for example.
But when it comes to cities, which are the best ones to own a pet in? Well, pet insurance firm Lassie has decided to get to the bottom of this and do some updated research.
Lassie analysed data across nine metrics that determine a pet’s wellbeing to create a ‘Pet-Friendliness Index’, and using this index, the UK’s five most populous cities were each assigned a score out of 100 and ranked to determine which is the most and least pet-friendly.
/ Credit: Gustavo Fring (via Pexels) | Manchester City Council
The index looks at four main categories to gauge how suitable each city is for pets – green space, environment, health, and infrastructure.
Then, within these, experts compared a range of measures, including air quality, temperature, costs, access to vets, road safety, pet-friendly rental housing, social opportunities, and many others.
And Manchester has taken the stop spot, with a score of 66.
The UK’s Most Pet-Friendly Cities
Manchester
Birmingham
Liverpool
Leeds
London
In-keeping with its general growing popularity as a city, Manchester leads in the health category, with a high number of vets per head and the lowest rate of serious road collisions, while also ranking highest in terms of publicly listed dog friendly venues per resident.
“We tend to think that being a good pet owner comes down to what we do at home, but your postcode could be playing a much bigger role in your pet’s happiness and health than you realise,” commented Hedda Båverud Olsson, who is the CEO and co-founder of Lassie.
“Our findings show that not all cities are created equal when it comes to pets. The difference between living in Manchester and London isn’t just about green space or somewhere to walk your dog, it can mean higher vet bills, poorer air quality and fewer veterinary practices nearby.”
Featured Image – Paul Harris / National Trust (Supplied)
Emily Sergeant -
7th September 2020 
