By Roger Lytollis

Last updated 11:24, Monday, 01 December 2008

The morning after the terrorist attacks in India. What are visitors to the BBC’s website looking at? Three of the five most popular videos concern the attacks. And top spot is held by... “How to grow a good moustache” – a report from a London barber’s shop in which men explain why they are favouring a bit of facial fuzz.

Quirky, quite amusing, and of no significance whatsoever when measured against the deaths in India and the international implications.

Every journalist wants to know what people are interested in and we can make educated guesses, but we can never be certain.

Guardian readers are intrigued by the India attacks. Variations on this story are four of its five most popular articles. But at number two: “Georgina Baillie on why Russell Brand seemed the perfect guy”.

So here’s a clue. We’re interested in people, families, and celebrities, and sex.

This cocktail was all present and correct in the Brand/Ross phone scandal, earning more chattering time on these shores than the US election.

Escapism, then. There’s a nasty world out there and we’re told this often enough without having to seek out bad news.

Then again, the most popular item on the News & Star’s website is often our photo gallery of criminals. Also riding high are the financial problems of a Carlisle landlord, inspectors slamming a care home and a man given a parking ticket for showing his permit in the “wrong” car window.

So we do like gritty stories, and quirky stories, and people – and animals – and things which affect us, and things which affect other people, especially if they’re famous. And moustaches.

For years I’ve been striving to write the perfect story and with these clues I feel I’m getting closer. It needs to be funny with a serious point and include sex and a famous man, or woman, with a moustache.

Watch this space...