Luton. Made famous by Lorraine Chase with her Luton Airport line. Also famous at one time for the production of Vauxhall cars, but not any more. Could it also become renowned as the hub of a new 'media city', courtesy of publishing gazillionaire Richard Desmond?

Reports in the local Luton press have speculated that as well as the known known involving Desmond's plans to locate his new newspaper printing plant there, the development could be expanded to house his entire media empire encompassing as many as 1,400 employees.  

There would be something marvellously redolent of the old Fleet Street days in such a move, with hacks beavering away and presses thundering next door.

However, quite what staff at Northern & Shell/Express Newspapers/Channel 5 TV, currently based in a gleaming glass tower in the City of London, would make of a new commute to Luton is probably unprintable.

In bygone times Luton was also famous as a centre of hat making. If this mooted media city comes to fruition, I shall have to eat mine.