Fergus Finlay: We must not allow empathy to be replaced by fear and intolerance

In some cases the fear appears to be spontaneous, in too many others it is being stoked and fomented in the name of some perverted nationalism

Dance act Unity performed on Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday night. Their dance was simple, expressive, and choreographed to capture a sense of unity — a band of people moving as one.

It’s taken me years to get over it. Five years ago I admitted here — right here — that I’m a big fan of BGT. Britain’s Got Talent, to those of you not in the club.

And the dog’s abuse I got! Who did I think I was, oul fella’ like me, watching that cheesy, schmaltzy crap? Didn’t I know they were only in it for the money, that it was all fake? How could I possibly pretend to be a serious commentator about anything if that’s how I spent my Saturday nights?