Dawlish News
Dermot gets on his bike – to do his job
IN THE face of a tidal wave of unemployment and choking economic recession in 1981, Conservative Cabinet Minister Norman Tebbit sparked outrage by suggesting that jobless people should "get on their bikes" and look for work.
It was a defining political moment, which nearly three decades later is to be put to the test by one of the most well-known faces in TV news.
From today, Sky News presenter, Devon-born Dermot Murnaghan, will heed the celebrated maxim and literally get on his bike for a two-wheeled tour of the South West.
His aim is to take the financial temperature of the region on an Economic Cycle lasting three days.
Sky News producer Tim Gallagher said it was a unique opportunity for TV news to step out of the capital and find out what was going on in real people's lives – and superfit Mr Murnaghan, 51, was well up to the gruelling physical challenge.
"Dermot cycles 10 miles to work and back most days, so he should be up to the challenge of cycling round the South West".
