Motown legend Martha Reeves wants the big names of the music world to put on a star-studded show in tribute to Michael Jackson – which could replace his 50-date London tour, writes Women’s Editor Maria Cusine.

From growing up in a council house in Sandwell to his glittering career with Judas Priest, Ken Downing talks to Cathy Spencer about his life, his cooking and the golf course he’s built in his own “back garden”.

Walsall’s most famous son was born 150 years ago today – and a new exhibition reveals some little-known facts about the life of the great author. Cathy Spencer reports.

Television superstar Basil Brush is in the Midlands next week with his High Skool Mania show. He talks to MARK ANDREWS about the pressing news stories of the day.

Lenny Henry is about to tackle Shakespeare’s black villain Othello. Nick Ahad meets the Dudley comedian who’s rehearsing for murder

With the closure of Woolworths, Firkins and Tylers in Kingswinford, Cathy Spencer finds out the benefits of ditching the supermarkets and using local shops.

Jack remains the undisputed king of boy’s names, but Grace has fallen from favour and replaced by the elegant Olivia as the most popular girl’s name in Britain in 2008.

It opened in 2003 amid a blaze of publicity after a £900 million construction project, hailed as the future of road transport in Britain.

The Conservatives are on course to inherit “bomb-site Britain,” after the next General Election, says Alan Duncan.

Since he was 15, Arnie Tonks has spent Saturday evenings running around his back garden, trying to catch his racing pigeons.

Exhaust fumes fill the room as the engine of the Renault Megane revs and a group of 20 men swarm around it.

Can flat-footed John Sergeant survive another week of Strictly Come Dancing? Peter Rhodes explains why he will be voting for him