And here is the news – approved by Nationalists

JOHN Nicolson, former presenter of BBC Scotland’s kids’ show Open to Question, has been saying he’s amazed by the fuss whenever a Scottish Six is mentioned.

Me too. Not because a teatime news show is controversial, or cannot be done, but because audience research indicates that most Scottish licence-payers aren’t fussed at all.

They don’t think it is necessary, having shrewdly noted that there’s already an hour of local, national and international news on BBC Scotland starting at 6pm, with Reporting Scotland conveniently positioned at 6.30pm, when slightly more of Scotland can park on the sofa.

Dutifully, BBC Scotland is still producing pilots of this white elephant, despite staff suspicions that even if the Scottish Six gets on air, at a time when the BBC is trying to save £750million a year, there’s more chance of Keith Vaz selling you a washing machine than this being allocated a decent budget.

Worse, a Scottish Six diverts funds that really would transform the Beeb in Scotland – money to beef up investigative programmes, keep talent in Scotland and fund more drama and features on our own turf.

BBC Radio Scotland could also do with investment. Currently, it’s an overstretched service held together by dedicated staff in a manner that makes shoestrings look luxurious.

Spending money on an expensive, unwanted duplicate news service makes no sense. Yet Nationalist MP and one-time newsreader Mr Nicolson persists in flogging this expired equine.

Mind you, John’s interest in old and new media is idiosyncratic. When he isn’t busy blocking constituents from his Twitter account if they ask awkward questions, he sits on Westminster’s Culture, Media and Sport committee and last month he went out of his way to tell STV that its appointed digital editor is not to his liking.

Seems political meddling in broadcasting is only an odious abuse of power if the Conservatives or Labour are involved. IT’S lovely to see Glasgow-based filmmaker Hope Dickson Leach gather terrific reviews for her first full-length feature, The Levelling, at the Toronto International Film Festival, a launchpad that outguns even Cannes as a movie showcase.

Next month, her family drama gets its UK premiere at the London Film Festival, but impatient Scots may have to wait for its wider release next year.