THIS week 15 years ago, the next series of made-in-Newcastle Byker Grove was to be the last. After 17 years and 344 episodes, the BBC was axing the still-popular children's television show.

The series had been responsible for launching a number of careers, including bringing top duo Ant and Dec together, as well as featuring ground-breaking storylines on topics including teenage pregnancy, drug addiction, child abuse, abortion and homosexuality.

The axing was particularly ruthless because it was not being blamed on falling ratings or standards. The BBC was killing off the series because it doesn't fit into what Richard Deverell, Controller BBC Children's, calls "our portfolio of programmes and services and our focus on the primary school age group".

Byker Grove appeared to be the victim of a focus group - that's come up with the BBC's Creative Future recommendations - more than anything else.

The cancellation was also a blow for TV production in the North-East. The Catherine Cookson series was long gone, as was all network and much regional production at ITV Tyne Tees.

Also that week, stunt artist David Blaine was pulled from an aquarium in New York by divers nearly two minutes short of his goal of setting a world record for holding his breath underwater.

Mr Blaine was trying to free himself from chains and handcuffs while bidding to break the record of eight minutes, 58 seconds for holding breath underwater.

The stunt, following a weeklong endurance challenge underwater, was televised live by ABC.

With Mr Blaine's face contorted with pain and bubbles rising to the surface, divers went in to release him from the chains and pull him out.

Mr Blaine held his breath for 7:08 minutes.

After being given oxygen, he addressed the crowd that had gathered around.