As first reported on How-Do last week, rumours have been circulating the corridors of power in the city regarding an upcoming programme. Several key figures have contacted the site to indicate that both public and private sector leaders were aware of the activity, with one admitting that a research team from the series had quizzed him.

It was thought that the content of the programme was set to focus on the numerous well-documented ‘hiccups’ that have occurred on the road to Liverpool’s highly prized Capital of Culture status. One insider noted that city officials were ‘justifiably nervous’ about the apparent plans.

Speaking to How-Do yesterday, Paul Rasmussen, a spokesperson for Panorama, was at first coy when questioned over the rumours.

“As you’ll be able to appreciate,” he noted, “we don’t usually comment on on-going investigations. We don’t normally like to give out warnings to the people or groups that are set to appear.”

He did, however, admit that the research team had been on the prowl, but not specifically with regard to 08 and the beleaguered Liverpool Culture Company.

"We did do some initial research on a programme about regeneration,” he said, “which would have been linked to Liverpool 08.”

He was keen to stress the point that this was no longer ongoing though, adding “but there is currently no project in production and no plans for one."

With this in mind it looks as though any parties that may have been fearing a Panorama appearance have essentially been ‘let off the hook’. Although Rasmussen did say separately that the schedule was always flexible, in tandem with the very nature of news itself, and as such was constantly under review.

At the time of writing though it seemed highly unlikely that any such investigation would appear prior to the city achieving its status – a consideration that would have been a key concern for the various stakeholders involved in Liverpool 08.

www.liverpool08.com

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