Virgin's flying high

Richard Branson may no longer own it, but Virgin Radio has taken a leaf out of the bearded tycoon's publicity book, recording a music session thousands of feet above the Swiss Alps in a hot air balloon. The Virgin session with singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner - who performed Dream Catch Me in front of a live audience of just 13 people - is believed to be the first radio session recorded in such a bizarre location. The show, which comes punctuated with blasts from the balloon furnace and breaks for Faulkner to warm his fingers, will broadcast tonight from 7pm. Fortunately the balloon, from Virgin Balloon Flights, did not have any holes, unlike the cheese made in the town of Gruyere below.