A west London news mogul is involved in last-ditch talks to save the doomed Sunday tabloid The News of the World.
The red-top's owner, News International, announced it was closing the title on Thursday in the midst of the phone hacking scandal. This Sunday's edition is set to be the last.
But it emerged today that media magnate Ellis Ian Fields has been in talks with News International head, Rupert Murdoch, to save the paper. The mysterious Dr Fields has been in the news recently as he seeks to negotiate the purchase of Television Centre from the BBC.
A statement issued by EIF News & Features says: "We can confirm that Dr Fields has been in talks with the News International organisation with a view to purchasing the stricken News of the World.
"It is felt that the transfer of the title to EIF News & Features is the only viable way to resuscitate its reputation and allow it to return to its rightful place as the nation's best-selling newspaper.
"We understand that NI management will be discussing Dr Fields's offer during Friday and we hope to have further news over the weekend."
The EIF offer of £15-worth of supermarket vouchers and a book of six first-class stamps is thought by media experts to be unrefusable.
