LOST Season 5 early rumours

The fourth series of Lost may have only just left our screens, but that doesn't stop us doing some spoiler-tastic rounding up of what's happening next...

Given the strength of the fourth season of Lost, even if the concluding double episode had its problems, it’s perhaps understandable that talk already has turned to the next – and penultimate – series of the show. And with things needing to slide into place – for this time next year, there’ll be less than 20 episodes of Lost left – we can expect an action-packed and eventful fifth season.

Firstly, the basics. The show won’t be returning to our screens until January 2009 (possibly even February), where the plan will be to run the episodes through without any breaks. That was also the idea this time, but the writers’ strike disrupted the plan, hence it all got a little bitty towards the end. We also know that season five of Lost is now going to run for 17 episodes, instead of the originally-planned 16 (and this will be the case with the final season, too).

There’s still a chance of an actor’s strike, incidentally, which may yet play havoc with all of this, so don’t set your recorders just yet.Now we’re onto rumour and speculation, so look away now if you don’t want anything spoilt.The current word is that a female cast member of the show who has been with the series from the start won’t be back for season five. We’d suggest that Claire is the most obvious candidate (and that’s certainly the name that’s being banded around), but don’t hold us to it. The chances are that she’ll be back for the final series anyway, as she has ties to the mystery that need to be resolved (and, to be fair, from being a fairly redundant character, she finally emerged as someone really quite intriguing by the end of season four).

We also know that of those caught in the boat blast that Michael is definitely dead, as actor Harold Perrineau has been grumbling about it in a new interview he’s given. Jin is likely to have perished, too.

We’ll be finding out more about the character of Keamy in season five, who will get, apparently, a flashback all of his own (although how the show will handle the flashback/forward dynamic is unclear, given the Oceanic 6 are now off the island, and much of series five is likely to be concerned with getting them back there. Plus, er, the fact that Keamy is dead). There are also rumours that Eko might be making a reappearance, but to be fair, there’s lots of wild speculation running round at the moment.

So now we wait. ...

www.denofgeek.com/television/63554/lost_season_5_early_rumours.html

Heathrow chaos

BA Heathrow chaos affects 70,000

Tens of thousands of air passengers have been stranded at Heathrow after British Airways cancelled all flights until Friday evening. The move was prompted by an unofficial strike by ground staff in support of sacked catering workers. More than 100 flights were grounded on Thursday leaving 15,000 passengers stranded - 1,000 of whom spent the night sleeping in the airport.

Union leaders said they were hopeful fresh talks may be held on Friday. Mick Temple, managing director at Heathrow, said there would be "significant disruption today and probably for several days to come" for BA passengers, as the airline faces cancelling a total of 550 flights up until 2000 BST on Friday.

But the Transport and General Workers' Union said they were optimistic talks could take place on Friday afternoon with conciliation service Acas, and progress could signal the end of industrial action. Earlier talks held on Thursday aimed at reinstating 600 sacked staff from the caterers that serve BA flights, Gate Gourmet, collapsed.

Nearly 100 BA aircraft and 1,000 pilots and cabin crew are in the wrong places around the world, BA said.
Qantas, Sri Lankan, Finnair, GB and British Mediterranean, also serviced by BA ground staff, have also been affected by the strike which is taking place during the peak holiday season.
So far, three Qantas London-bound flights from Australia are known to have been diverted to Frankfurt. BA said compensation claims will be considered on a case by case basis and all 70,000 passengers caught up in the chaos can rebook or have their flight costs refunded.

Staff at Heathrow - regarded as the world's busiest international airport - are trying to book travellers on flights with other airlines, while other services including Eurostar have reported a surge in business. Meanwhile passengers due to travel on Friday are being urged not to turn up at the airport, but to contact the airline or their travel agent for more information.

BA, which is set to lose £10m for every day that the dispute continues, said about 4,000 passengers were put up at hotels across London and the South East on Thursday night.
Another 1,000 spent the night in Terminals 1 and 4, some staying in a huge marquee, and were provided with sleep rolls, blankets and food. Those stranded were tired and frustrated on Friday morning, with many complaining of poor communication by airport staff.

SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/