Salford MP Hazel Blears has made a personal plea to Strictly Come Dancing champ Chris Hollins to come north.
The tap-dancing former Cabinet minister has written to TV presenter Hollins, who won the 2009 series of the dance show.
Mr Hollins, a sports correspondent for BBC Breakfast, is refusing to move to Salford as the corporation relocates five departments.
But Ms Blears, who was a member of the parliamentary dance troupe, the Division Belles, has urged him to reconsider and invited him for a tour of MediaCity.
She ends her letter with a ‘PS. We’re great dancers up here too! Do hope you can come’
Her plea follows criticism this week by shadow culture secretary Ivan Lewis at ‘small-minded’ critics of the BBC's move north.
In her letter Ms Blears says: “I am sure by now you will know that I'm only too happy to sing the praises of Salford.
“But I've always found the best way to promote MediaCity has been by taking people to see it for themselves and I would therefore be delighted if you would consider travelling to Salford to see the BBC Breakfast's new home and to join me on a tour of the site.
“Given your family circumstances I don't necessarily expect your visit to change your mind – although I have my fingers crossed. But it would be a chance for you to see why many people consider the move to Salford to be such a positive step.”
She adds that Manchester has excellent transport links to London and the Metrolink system, which includes Salford, is 'far more modern and reliable than the London Underground that BBC staff currently have to deal with'.
Ms Blears writes: “I have no doubt that a visit will convince you that the reality of modern life in Salford is very different to the image portrayed by London-centric media and that the relocation should not be seen as an obligation but instead a great opportunity.” Mr Hollins has described the move north as a 'political decision'.
BBC Sport, Five Live, and Children's programmes are relocating to Salford Quays.
neal.keeling@men-news.co.uk
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Mr Hollins sounds like one of those small minded idiots Ivan Lewis is talking about.
Political Decision! Its the right decision after years of London bleeding the country dry of creativity.
Far more of us live outside London than in it but there is very little recognition of that fact and our subjugation has got a lot to do with a disproportionate amount of media being centred around London.
Make no bones about it - this is a fair decision and a good thing.
Stop begging Hazel. The BBC made Mr Hollins not the other way round. It'll make many more like him who this time will have a connection with our very fine region.
Maybe he knows Hazel, hence is staying away?
Leave the poor bloke alone. Would you want to relocate 180 miles?
"She adds that Manchester has excellent transport links to London and the Metrolink system, which includes Salford, is 'far more modern and reliable than the London Underground that BBC staff currently have to deal with'"
How many tube trains covering how many miles versus the Metrolink. Don't make us laugh missus.
Perhaps Mr. Hollins has other things to consider such as family, children's schools etc? There's nothing wrong with working in Salford, but re-locating or long-distance commuting is no small decision, and let's face it, not everybody gets expenses paid for keeping two homes on the go! (How much was it you had to pay back?)
Should anyone really be bothered who this guy is and what he does?
Why bother, we have too many talentless so called ‘celebs’ at the BBC in the northwest already.
Oh! Is she still about? Thought she had retired on full pay like Brown,in shame!
The pointless making pointless offerings to the pointless .
Why waste the time and money inviting a person that you know does not want come Hazel ? Another freebee all paid by us.
God love her, she does try, but claiming our joke of a Metro system is better than the extensive London Underground is pushing it!!!
I love this city too, for my own reasons, but this just makes her look the joke she has become, since the expenses scandal. So glad we, in Broughton and Kersal, are no longer in her constituency.
As regards whatever his name is, we have plenty of home grown talent here!!