WE GAVE BIRTH IN OUR CARS!

PAGES 26-27

FLASH FLOOD HORROR FACES OF BRITONS MISSING IN NEPAL

Indecent assaults: Sally-Anne Bowen

GUILTY: Teacher who seduced schoolboys

SEE PAGES 10-11

By Sam Greenhill, Kristina Wemyss and Vivek Chaudhary in Kathmandu

BRITISH families were last night desperately trying to contact loved ones missing in Nepal's deadly 'tsunami from the sky'.

As rescuers battled to reach villages wiped out by Wednesday's 600ft surging wall of mud, rock and ice, dozens of Britons remain unaccounted for.

Relatives spent yesterday in torturous limbo, frantically checking phone trackers and trying to call devices that Turn to Page 4

Nurse: Sarada Simkhada Family fears: Nabhi Das Wife: Sumitra Poudel

UK TODAY: A mostly cloudy morning gives way to rain by midday, continuing with showers into the afternoon. Winds remain brisk from the southwest. Evening brings sunny intervals and cooler conditions. Max 23c.

Today's weather

	9am	12noon	3pm	6pm	9pm
London	18c	22c	22c	21c	18c
Plymouth	18c	20c	20c	20c	18c
Cardiff	18c	19c	20c	20c	18c
B'ham	17c	20c	20c	19c	18c
M'chester	17c	19c	20c	19c	17c
Newcastle	17c	18c	19c	18c	16c
Glasgow	16c	18c	20c	20c	17c
Aberdeen	15c	16c	17c	16c	15c
Belfast	16c	19c	20c	20c	15c

5 day forecast

	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed
London	21c	23c	23c	23c	23c
Plymouth	22c	22c	22c	22c	22c
Cardiff	21c	21c	20c	21c	21c
B'ham	20c	21c	20c	21c	21c
M'chester	18c	20c	18c	19c	19c
Newcastle	19c	21c	20c	20c	19c
Glasgow	18c	18c	17c	16c	17c
Aberdeen	18c	17c	18c	17c	17c
Belfast	18c	18c	17c	18c	17c

Europe forecast
	today	c	f	tomorrow	c	f	Geneva	today	c	f	tomorrow	c	f
								thunder	22	72	fair	25	77
							Lisbon	fair	26	79	sun	27	81
Amsterdam	thunder 22	72		thunder 22	72		Madrid	sun	27	81	sun	31	88
Brussels	thunder 20	68		rain	21	70	Paris	showers	23	73	rain	23	73
Frankfurt	thunder 25	77		cloudy	25	77	Rome	sun	35	95	fair	33	91

Around the world yesterday

	weather	c	f
Algiers	Sunny	33	91
Amsterdam	Thunder	23	73
Athens	Sunny	36	97
Auckland	Fair	16	61
Bahrain	Sunny	44	111
Barcelona	Fair	30	86
Basra	Sunny	45	113
Beijing	Fair	28	82
Beirut	Sunny	31	88
Belfast	Fair	20	68
Belgrade	Sunny	33	91
Berlin	Sunny	26	79
Biarritz	Fair	23	73
Brisbane	Sunny	22	72
Brussels	Fair	28	82
Bucharest	Fair	25	77
Budapest	Showers	25	77
Cairo	Sunny	34	93
Cape Town	Sunny	24	75
Casablanca	Cloudy	24	75
Copenhagen	Sunny	22	72
Corfu	Sunny	35	95
Dubai	Sunny	44	111
Dublin	Rain	17	63
Dubrovnik	Sunny	29	84
Faro	Fair	22	72

	weather	c	f
Florence	Sunny	34	93
Geneva	Sunny	26	79
Gibraltar	Drizzle	22	72
Guernsey	Fair	21	70
Helsinki	Fair	21	70
Hong Kong	Rain	27	81
Innsbruck	Sunny	27	81
Istanbul	Sunny	30	86
Jersey	Fair	22	72
Larnaca	Sunny	32	90
Las Palmas	Fair	27	81
Lisbon	Fair	22	72
London	Showers	23	73
Los Angeles	Sunny	29	84
Luxor	Sunny	41	106
Madrid	Cloudy	19	66
Malaga	Fair	28	82
Malta	Sunny	33	91
Melbourne	Fair	14	57
Mexico City	Fair	21	70
Miami	Showers	33	91
Milan	Sunny	30	86
Montreal	Sunny	24	75
Moscow	Cloudy	15	59
Mumbai	Thunder	31	88
Nairobi	Sunny	22	72

day	noon local time
	weather	c f
New Delhi	Sunny	33 91
New York	Sunny	25 77
Nice	Fair	30 86
Oslo	Fair	24 75
Palma	Fair	31 88
Paris	Fair	25 77
Perth	Rain	14 57
Prague	Sunny	24 75
Rhodes	Sunny	33 91
Riga	Fair	21 70
Rome	Sunny	33 91
Singapore	Sunny	31 88
Stockholm	Fair	21 70
Strasbourg	Sunny	29 84
Sydney	Showers	16 61
Tangier	Rain	24 75
Tel Aviv	Sunny	32 90
Tenerife	Fair	29 84
Tokyo	Showers	30 86
Toronto	Sunny	23 73
Tunis	Sunny	41106
Vancouver	Sunny	21 70
Venice	Sunny	28 82
Vienna	Sunny	26 79
Warsaw	Fair	23 73
Wellington	Drizzle	12 54

Moon and Sun MOON rises: 7.56pm, sets: 6.16am Sun rises London: 6.06am, sets: 7.56pm Manchester rises: 6.11am, sets: 8.08pm HIGH TIDE London Bridge: 3.08pm Liverpool: 12.16pm
Extremes (24 hrs to 11pm Wed) Warmest: Charlwood, 29c. Coldest: Aviemore, 4c. Wettest: Nantwich, 9.20mm. Sunniest: Hurn, 10.1hrs.
It is the latest evidence that Labour's decision to impose employer national insurance hikes and steep minimum wage rises is backfiring.

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m+ Editions Get the Daily Mail on your tablet or phone exactly as it appears in print

By John-Paul Ford Rojas Deputy Business Editor

NEARLY one million young people are out of work or education, according to stark new figures illustrating Britain's youth jobs crisis.

The shocking numbers mean 60,000 more 16 to 24 year-olds are classed as not in education, employment or training (NEETs) than when Labour came to power two years ago.

'Crisis is a long way from easing'

Business groups say the introduction of a raft of new workers' rights over the

The Office for National Statistics said the total is 981,000 in the three months to June – 30,000 up on last year
but down from just over a million at the start of 2026. The figure represents 13 per cent, or one in eight in that group.

Almost 1m young are STILL out of work or education

'WFH no path to success'

A LIFE of working from home is ‘not the route to success’, young staffers have been warned.

Accounting and consulting giant EY is considering ordering junior employees back to the office as it adjusts to the world of AI. Bosses say interpersonal skills that can only be

coming months will further deter them from hiring.

The number of NEETs has risen from 920,000 in the second quarter of 2024, the developed by interacting with colleagues will become increasingly important as AI takes over other technical tasks.

EY's Sayeh Ghanbari said: 'Where people have set up their lives to be at home a lot is just not the route to success in the world of Al.'

period just before Sir Keir Starmer came to power.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to make the youth unemployment crisis a ‘top priority’ and said it ‘has been ignored for too long’.

Former Labour Cabinet minister Alan Milburn is preparing a government-backed report into the issue. He said: 'Nearly one million young lives on hold is a scar on this country. Young people are desperate for an opportunity to learn or earn. Instead, we're creating a lost generation.'

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: ‘Labour are burying the future of young people under higher taxes and mountains of red tape.’

Lindsay Judge, from Left-wing think-tank Resolution Foundation, admitted the data is ‘a worrying sign that Britain’s NEETs crisis is a long way from easing’.

Sombre celebrities: Listening to Claudia Winkleman as she calls for a moment of silence are (front row from left) Michael Sheen, Maya Jama, Joe Lycett, Sebastian Croft, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Romesh Ranganathan and Ross Kemp. Second row: Rob Beckett, King Kenny, Amol Rajan, Jerry Hall, Bella Ramsey, James Blunt, Sharon Rooney, Joanne McNally (not shown). Third row: Leigh-Anne Pinnock (hidden), Hannah Fry, Myha’la, James Acaster, Miranda Hart, Richard E Grant

Cheer up, Traitors stars... it won't be real murders!

By Jennifer Ruby Showbusiness News Editor

CHART-TOPPERS, Oscar-nominees and popular comedians – they are among some of the most successful stars in showbiz.

But this year's series of Celebrity Traitors will see ‘tears’ and a level of ‘paranoia’ which is ‘off the scale’, according to the BBC’s director of entertainment.

Miranda Hart, Michael Sheen, Richard E Grant and Jerry Hall are among the starry cast of competitors who looked decidedly stony-faced in yesterday's trailer for the upcoming season.

Listening to host Claudia Winkleman – dressed flamboyantly as always in a white ruffled shirt and black suit – from the pews of the Chapel of St John the Baptist at Ardross Castle in Scotland, they failed to even raise a smile.

And now the BBC's Ed Havard has revealed just how seriously this year's line-up, which also includes Ross Kemp, Amol Rajan and Maya Jama took the game, in which designated faithfuls are tasked with finding the identity of the traitors before they are ‘killed off’.

'The thing about this season is, things happen that you didn't think could hap-

'The paranoia is off the scale'

pen on Traitors,' Mr Havard said at the Edinburgh Television Festival yesterday.

‘The paranoia is off the scale.’ He added: ‘I really wanted to step in and go, “no one is actually being murdered.”

‘I don’t want to give too much away, but there are tears in this series.’

The downcast group, including James Blunt, Bella Ramsey, Rob Beckett, and Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock looked worlds away from their day jobs as they shivered in the Scottish chapel.

'A moment of silence for the celebrities gathered today,' said Ms Winkleman, who is back on the BBC fresh from the news that her chatshow has been cancelled after one series.

Also in this year's line-up are comics Romesh Ranganathan, Joe Lycett, Joanne McNally and James Acaster, actress Julie Hesmondhalgh and My Mad Fat Diary's Sharon Rooney.

The list is completed by content creator King Kenny, actress Myha'la, mathematician Professor Hannah Fry and musician and actor Sebastian Croft.

Straight-faced: Michael Sheen with Maya Jama

Taunting: Host Claudia Winkleman teases the contestants

Not laughing: Rob Beckett, left, and Richard E Grant

Greedy gulls ‘run up £171m fish and chips bill’

EVEN if we've not been dive-bombed by a seagull ourselves, most of us are well aware of the threat that the birds pose to our fish and chips.

But, until now, no one has gone to the trouble of trying to work out just how much their airborne thieving is costing us.

According to price comparison site Compare the Market, it apparently adds up to an enormous £171million a year in stolen or spoilt meals, with nearly three-quarters of Britons saying they have been targeted by gulls.

By Elspeth Rees

‘We’ve all been there – you sit down with your chips, look away for two seconds and suddenly your lunch has grown wings,’ said Charlie Evans of Compare the Market.

‘We wanted to find out just how much this is costing. It turns out seagulls aren’t just stealing our food – they’re making a meal of our money too.’

The study, called The Great Greedy Gull Index, found that the average cost of a gull grab is £5.50, with fish and chips being the most common target. More than three-quarters of those questioned said they have changed where or how they eat outdoors to stop gulls stealing their food.

Nearly a third say that they have abandoned, dropped or sacrificed their food altogether.

Following the survey Compare the Market is offering what is probably the UK's first 'Gull Guarantee' at Peter's Fish Factory in Margate, Kent. Today only, customers whose fish and chips are taken by a gull will get a free replacement portion, with the company putting up £1,000 to cover the costs.

'Fish and chips by the sea - you can't beat it!'

FLASH FLOOD HORROR

'My mum, my dad, my wife

Pilgrimage: A now poignant photo of the Alpine Eco trek tour group posing in front of their bus on the border between Nepal and Chinese-occupied Tibet. The group included a girl of 13

Lost: Pramod Poudel, left, from Sussex, in Nepal with his family, many of whom are missing

Continued from Page One

Fears: Sumitra and Pramod Poudel would not connect. They spent the day desperately trying to contact anyone in the region who could help, while some flew from Britain to the disaster zone themselves.

The monster mudslide swept away roads, bridges and homes in seconds, while also knocking out power lines and mobile phone masts.

The president of the Nepal Centre for Disaster Management, Bishal Nath Upreti, said the flash floods were like a ‘tsunami from the sky’.

‘It was such a huge amount of water,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. ‘You can imagine it is 20million cubic meters excess water on the river, and it was like a tsunami from the sky. It’s such a huge debris, and everything on the way was completely washed out. Villages and villages along the almost 40 to 50 kilometres were completely wiped out.’

The discovery of a group of 31 tourists, none of whom are British, alive in the district of Rasuwa, raised hopes that all is not lost. But the official death toll of 389 is certain to rise, with more than 1,000 people, including 540 foreigners, now reported missing.

Many of the affected areas are only accessible by helicopters, the authorities close to the border with Tibet said, and so have yet to be explored. It will take weeks to reopen the roads, experts warned.

Location signal: Leena Bector

Sunil Amin, from Croydon, described the ‘horrible, horrible feeling’ of repeatedly trying to phone his wife,

'No one can get there'

Hema Amin, 63, who was on a pilgrimage with Alpine Eco trek from Nepal to Tibet with her sister.

‘I keep trying to call her. I’ve been trying, trying, trying,’ he said. ‘It just rings out or doesn’t get through. I’m devastated.’

A family of four from Surrey, including a 13-year-old girl, were on the same tour which crossed into Tibet at the exact moment disaster struck.

A poignant last photo of the group laughing and smiling in front of their tour bus emerged last night.

Pramod Poudel, who runs a Nepalese street food company in Sussex, sobbed as he told of the torture of knowing his wife Sumitra, mother Tulisa, brother Pradip and uncle Madav are all missing. His father Purusottam has been found alive.

Before he got on a plane to head east last night, Mr Poudel said: 'I have seen pictures of where my home town used to be, where my family used to live – my mum, my dad, my brother, my wife... there's nothing there. The bridges are broken so no one can get there.'

Yesterday Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged British help while King Charles and Queen Camilla declared they were ‘heartbroken’.

Nepalese officials branded the disaster zone ‘devastation beyond imagination’ after the torrent thundered down the Rasuwa valley swallowing and smashing whole villages.

Kabita Dhungana, deputy mayor of Nuwakot district, begged 'please help us', as she told the BBC how 'family members, children, parents are missing, and this is a very critical bad situation... Everything, basic needs are destroyed, so please help us. We are really in need of help.'

Photographs of the valley showed a sinister moonscape of mud where colourful homes once stood. Harrowing videos emerged, including one of workers in a desperate race for survival as they scrambled up a hill with the churning wall of floodwater and debris crashing towards them.

The Nepalese military is struggling to reach the stricken, with at least 19 bridges destroyed, 25 miles of primary highway washed away and 12 per cent of the nation's power generation capacity knocked offline. Survivor

Janak Bahadur in Devighat district said the flood ‘came in suddenly and exploded like a bomb’.

In the capital Kathmandu, relatives clung to hope as they gathered at an army base where survivors were being brought in by helicopters.

And miraculously 31 tourists were rescued from the district of Rasuwa including two US nationals, 11 Indians, four South Koreans, two Italians, two Russians, one Bulgarian and one Swiss national, according to the Nepal

Tourism Board. But elsewhere, men grimly pasted photographs of the deceased on a gate for identification outside a mortuary.

On the Tibet side of the border, a woman named Fang told Chinese media she had been driving to the Gyirong border crossing when the wave came – and slammed her car into reverse for two miles.

She said: 'All the trees and utility poles ahead of us were knocked down. A huge surge of water came rushing toward us and swept across the road. We didn't dare turn around, so we could only reverse.'

Contrary to initial speculation an earthquake caused a million-ton glacier to fragment and fall, scientists yesterday came to the extraordinary conclusion that it was the other way round – they said the 5.2-scale seismic activity recorded was actually the result of such a vast amount of ice and rock collapsing into the valley.

Officials said 33 Britons including a 14-year-old boy remained missing last night. Sarada Simkhada, a senior nurse at Darent Valley Hos-

.there's nothing there'

Dash to safety: Workers flee the raging torrent and, inset, women soldiers with rescued twins

pital in Dartford, Kent, was among them. She had been on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet. Her childhood friend Rajendra Pudasaini described her as 'very humble and down to earth' and said she had trained as a nurse in Kathmandu before moving to the UK 20 years ago.

Roshan Panday, owner of Fishtail Tours and Travels Group, had a tour group of 27 including Briton Leena Bector, 53, from Slough, and he said 'no one is answering their phones'.

He said they had sent a video just nine minutes before the disaster struck, adding: 'We tried calling the drivers. We tried calling the guides, but no one was answering.'

Ms Bector's husband, Bhupesh Bector, told The Times he was frantically checking her location on his iPhone but it had not changed for more than seven hours. He flew out last night, saying: 'I know that she's in Nepal for sure, so... I need to be there.' Tour operator Kailash

Journeys confirmed it had not been able to account for seven UK nationals – five women and two men aged between 18 and 55 – travelling with it.

Another missing Briton is Nabhi Das, of Streatham in south London. The University of Kent graduate, is thought to work in finance.

Children's aid agency Unicef declared an emergency for 17,000 children affected by the floods. Additional reporting: Elspeth Rees and Elizabeth Haigh

Fears grow 'time bomb' second flood is imminent

By Sam Greenhill and Elspeth Rees

NEPAL was facing the potential of a second devastating flood last night.

The country's disaster management authority warned of an impending new threat in the same valley devastated on Wednesday.

Two new lakes are building up behind debris blocking the Bhotekoshi River in what rescuers fear is a 'time bomb'.

Last night it was already the size of some three million cubic metres of water – the equivalent of 1,200 Olympic swimming pools – and putting an ever-greater strain on the rocks holding it back.

Qianggong Zhang, of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, said ‘a second flood is imminent’.

China's ministry of water resources warned of extreme danger to rescue workers if the dam burst, which it

'Such a huge loss of life'

said could happen within days thanks to heavy rains.

Nepal's rivers eventually flow into India's densely populated northern states and that country is now preparing for flooding.

As the full scale of the horror in the Himalayan country began to emerge, the King and Queen declared themselves ‘heartbroken’ while the Prince and Princess of Wales also expressed their shock.

And the Prime Minister yesterday vowed that Britain ‘will be there for Nepal in its hour of need’.

Andy Burnham offered specialist UK search and rescue teams to help the desperate hunt for survivors.

He said: 'These are such distressing scenes coming out of Nepal, and we feel for the people there and everything that they're going through, such devastation of communities, and already, sadly, it seems such huge loss of life.

‘In the past, Nepal has been there for Britain in our hour of need, and we will be there for Nepal in its hour of need right now.’ In a statement issued by Downing Street, the Prime Minister said Britain had offered to help including an immediate £5million in aid. Mr Burnham said: 'The Foreign Secretary has relayed to the Nepalese government an offer of first responders' search and rescue support. Britain excels in this and we're there and we're ready to be deployed.

Rescue: Soldiers carry a survivor

‘We’re also redeploying Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff from the wider region into Kathmandu, so that there is a 24/7 consular support for British nationals in the country.’

Buckingham Palace issued a message from King Charles, which said: 'My wife and I are heartbroken to hear of the devastating flooding that has struck the Nepal-China border. Many in the United Kingdom have strong, deep and personal ties to this part of the world.

‘We send our most profound sympathy to all those who have so tragically lost their loved ones and we feel deeply for the many families awaiting anxiously the news of friends and relations.’

Britain has expert search and rescue teams who are often loaned out to countries after major natural disasters. Similar teams were sent to Nepal to help dig out survivors of the devastating earthquake in 2015 that killed 9,000.

Some of those missing had been on a pilgrimage to the sacred Hindu site of Mount Kailash, Nepalese tour operator The Trekkers' Society said.

FLASH FLOOD HORROR

by Guy Adams

THEY are calling it a Tsunami from the Sky, but the flash flood that swept through Nepal destroying nearly everything in its path, almost certainly began life on the northern slopes of Tsangbu Ri, a Himalayan peak roughly 50 miles north of Kathmandu.

At exactly 8.37am on Wednesday, roughly 17,000 ft above sea level, a section of solid ice and rock 2,000 ft wide appears to have broken away from the tip of an unnamed glacier. It then began tumbling at high speed towards the secluded valley floor.

Covering more than two vertical kilometres in a matter of seconds, and causing vibrations consistent with a magnitude 5.2 earthquake, the avalanche's acceleration is likely to have created huge amounts of friction, which would immediately have been converted into heat.

This seems to have melted the ice, turning the mass into something considerably more fluid and dangerous – akin to a landslide. At the bottom of the mountainside, that landslide then merged into the Lhende Khola, which runs along the border between Nepal and China.

Water from the river is likely to have then acted as a sort of lubricant, picking up earth, rocks, trees and heavy material from the valley floor. By this point, what was once an avalanche seems to have morphed into floodwater with a consistency 'like liquid concrete' according to Hatim Sharif, a hydrologist from the University of Texas, who described it as incredibly dense and fast moving, so extremely tricky to flee. 'Running will not help,' he told the AFP news agency, adding that a landslide of this nature can move faster than a

'Running will not help you escape'

speeding vehicle. The only solution for anyone caught in its path is to climb a very steep hill.

Within seven minutes, the floodwaters had reached up to 600 ft high, covering an astonishing nine miles down the steep valley to the town of Rasuwagadhi, which sits at 6,000 ft above sea level on the Chinese border. In the seconds before it arrived, CCTV footage captured dozens of people attempting to run for their lives from a large building where passports are stamped. At exactly 8.44am, the cameras were submerged with mud and water and everything in sight appeared to be wiped out. So powerful was the landslide at this

Minute by minute, how the Tsunami from the Sky – a raging torrent of 'liquid concrete' – tore the heart out of Nepal

point that a section shoots up the Trishuli into China, destroying a bus depot in the process.

The sheer volume of water beg-gared belief. Bishal Nath Upreti, the president of the Nepal Centre for Disaster Management, told the BBC that villages had been ‘completely wiped out’.

‘It’s a huge debris, and in fact, after the 2015 earthquake, this is one of the largest disasters that we have had in Nepal. That was an earthquake and this is a kind of flood. We call it flood, but actually it’s a kind of a debris flow dam collapse. It was such a huge amount of water.

‘You can imagine it is 20million cubic meters excess water on the river, and it was like a tsunami from the sky. It's such a huge debris, and everything on the way was completely washed out. Villages along almost 40 to 50 km were completely wiped out.'

Over the ensuing ten hours, disaster struck a string of towns and villages along the river, many of which contain hotels and hostels patronised by foreign trekking parties. Some 777 tourists are currently reported to be missing, including 33 UK nationals.

At 8.50am, the water level monitoring station at Syabrubesi, roughly eight miles south of the border crossing, stopped transmitting data. A helicopter passing by filmed the devastation, showing the entire valley suddenly filled with around 20 million cubic metres of water.

A second clip taken just downstream shortly afterwards shows a group of terrified workers stationed near a bridge sprint to high ground in hope of escaping.

As the valley widened, the speed of the flash flood began to ease and public safety warnings issued by SMS prompted inhabitants of towns and villages to move to higher ground. By 9.20am, it had reached Betrawati, a further seven miles down, before devouring a bridge in the town of Trishuli Koloni. Footage recorded by a resident perched on a nearby hillside shows the bridge flying downriver fully intact.

The floods continued to flow down the Trishuli through a series of larger towns. At one called Phurke, the river climbed by seven metres in half an hour, sweeping away the river bridge and several other structures. Further downstream, in Galchi, it rose by nine metres in the same period. At tea time, the devastation had reached Devghat, some 12 miles from the Indian border. With thousands already missing and almost 400 confirmed dead, fears were last night growing of a second flooding event. Experts have warned that vast amounts of debris, washed into the region's river systems, could create dangerous blockages, which may then result in another sudden discharge of water.

Elsewhere, the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources said yesterday that a significant ‘landslide dam’, where rock, mud and debris have slid down and blocked the flow of water, has formed near where the Tsogyal River and the Purup Qiang Zangbu River meet in Nepal. Whether this is related to Wednesday’s disaster is unclear, but officials say there is a high risk of it breaching, creating secondary floods which may impede relief efforts. Regardless of what unfolds, attention will doubtless turn to the question of why the glacier on Tsangbu Ri detached in the first place.

Devastation: The village of Trishuli destroyed and covered in mud in the aftermath of the flash flood, inset right

Plunge: An abandoned truck in Devghat and, right, a sniffer dog searching for survivors struggles in the mud

Scientists caution that it's too early to be certain of the exact cause. But one crucial factor is likely to be the weather. Nepal is experiencing a relatively warm summer, which has caused significant snow and ice melt in the Himalayas. Earth scientist Dan Shugar, an associate professor at the University of Calgary, told Reuters that satellite imagery seemed to show a large amount of snow had melted in the 24 hours before the disaster.

‘Some of the glaciers in the valley were covered in snow yesterday and today they are mostly bare ice. So in other words (and I haven't seen any weather station data yet), it was probably warm,' he said. 'What I can see in this morning's satellite imagery from Planet Labs is the lower part of a glacier broke off at about 5,200 metres and crashed onto the valley floor about 1,200 metres below.'

Mr Shugar believes the glacier ‘was only part of what failed’ saying ‘it looks to have been a large rock avalanche (a big bedrock landslide) that took part of the glacier with it. We don’t know exactly how big yet, but big.’

Yet, whatever the trigger, a fall of that distance would be likely to have catastrophic effects, according to Dr Anil Kulkarni, a scientist with the Divecha Centre for Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science.

'The moment it hits the ground with such an explosion, it gets converted into water,' he told reporters. 'All that potential energy [in the mass of rock and ice] converts into kinetic energy and liquid in a very short period of time. It would have been a very potent mass coming down from the mountain.'

Rapid thawing of the sort that appears to have occurred earlier this week, destabilises snow and packed ice, making avalanches more likely. And in recent years, glaciers across the Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountains – which stretch across Asia from Afghanistan to Myanmar – have been losing ice at an unprecedented rate, with levels declining 65 per cent faster between 2011 and 2020 than in the previous decade.

The result has been a string of flood events across the region.

Last July, a so-called ‘glacial lake outburst flood’ in the Lhende Khola River border caused a significant surge in river levels. A 2023 landslide in South Lhonak Lake, nearly 17,000 ft above sea level in India, caused a flood that travelled 385 km along the Teesta

River to Bangladesh, resulting in 55 deaths. Meanwhile, in 2021, a large ice-rock avalanche near Chamoli, also in India, sent about 21 million litres of cubic water down river systems, with 70 people killed.

In Nepal the increasingly warm summers, likely to be linked to climate change, mean glaciers have lost close to one third of their ice volume in roughly three decades leading up to 2023, according to a recent United Nations report.

Or, to put it another way, the changing face of the world's highest mountain range means that this week's tragedy is unlikely to be the last.

200 police drafted in amid fears of gang war linked to A66 smash

Another house is rammed and one man stabbed in Middlesbrough as MPs ask ministers to step in

Escalation: Armed police swoop after stabbing yesterday

By Glen Keogh and Olivia Christie

HUNDREDS of police officers from across the country have been sent to Middlesbrough amid fears of an escalation in gang violence following Saturday's A66 crash.

Five Labour MPs representing the Cleveland Police force area appealed for help from the Government after a seven-year-old girl and her aunt were then murdered in a house fire on Wednesday.

It is yet to be established whether it was a gangland revenge attack linked to the weekend's crash that left seven dead, including two police officers.

At least 200 officers will be sent to help, including from the National Crime Agency, as well as the forces of Northumbria, Durham, Humberside and North, South and West Yorkshire.

The violence around Middlesbrough continued yesterday after a car repeatedly rammed into a property in the deprived South Bank area, close to the home where Valentina Foster, seven, and Natalie McDonald, 34, died in a suspected arson attack.

Then, at midday, a 39-year-old man was stabbed two miles away in Eston. Armed police could be seen surrounding a property while the victim was taken to hospital in an air ambulance.

'Need to feel safe in their homes'

Announcing the additional officers assisting Cleveland Police, one of the smallest forces in the country, Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said: 'Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are en route, from detectives to armed response.

‘I will be sending a letter today to our Prime Minister asking for even more resource. People need to feel safe in their homes.’

The escalating gang-related violence on Teesside became the subject of national attention on Saturday when a stolen car driving the wrong way down the A66 in Middlesbrough collided with a police vehicle, killing officers PC Matt Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.

The five in the stolen car – Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Cahill and Jakub Matusiak – were also pronounced dead at the scene.

Saturday's tragedy was itself sparked by a previous ramming, at the home of victim Cole Worthy's father. There is no suggestion the father was involved in criminal activity.

Police have arrested 17 people in connection with the crash and wider 'serious organised crime'. They have not ruled out a link between the incident and the arson attack. Two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody. Yesterday, Ms McDonald's family said they had no connection to the gang-related

violence. Her brother, Josh Kirton, 27, said she was a ‘kind, decent, ordinary person’. ‘We don’t know why this happened, we keep reading that it’s connected to the gangs and what happened on the A66, but it just wasn't, that is what makes this so senseless,' he said. 'People think they can do whatever they like, there are some

Arson victim: Valentina, 7

Debris: Garden wall knocked down in South Bank yesterday

horrible people in the world and now my sister and Valentina are gone. It's hard to believe.'

Andy Preston, the former mayor of Middlesbrough, has warned that the town is ‘on its knees’.

Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, Andy McDonald, said gangs and the drug trade are ‘clearly featuring’ in a series of incidents in his area.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Mr McDonald said: 'It does look, to all intents and purposes, as though there is a causal link with organised crime.' Yesterday inquests were opened into the deaths of PC Blades and PC Clough and the five young men.

Going on a diet? But that's just for women, say chubby hubbies

THE next time your husband complains about piling on the pounds, don't bother suggesting a diet.

That's because men think they are for women, according to a study where researchers interviewed 24 men aged 30 and above about their experiences of weight loss programmes.

Experts from Anglia Ruskin University found that men often ‘viewed dieting as a feminised space’, and as a ‘negative word’ linked to restriction.

‘Specific to men, diets and dieting are typically perceived in a negative way,’

By Xantha Leatham Executive Science Editor

the team wrote in the journal Plos One. Avoiding the word ‘diet’ in weight loss programmes could help encourage men to take part, they suggest – as well as thinking of the initiative as a competition.

Men reported the most success when their partners supported their dietary changes. 'My wife helps me a lot because she kicks me in the a*** when I start to go for the doughnuts again,' one man told the researchers.

Breakthrough as cancer pill doubles patient survival time

By Jonathan Neal and Emily Joshua Sterne

A PILL that doubles survival time for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer has been approved by US regulators.

It has led to calls for the breakthrough drug to be offered in Britain without delay.

drug to be offered in Britain without delay. The US Food and Drug Administration approved Daraxonrasib yesterday after a big trial found patients taking it survived for an average of 13.2 months, against 6.7 months on standard chemotherapy.

The drug is for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, meaning the disease has spread to other parts of the body, who have already had chemotherapy.

Last night charity Pancreatic Cancer UK urged regulators to make it available to NHS patients quickly. Boss Diana Jupp said: 'This is one of the most significant breakthroughs for pancreatic cancer in decades and a source of hope worldwide.'

Each year 11,500 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 10,200 die from it in the UK, making it the fifth biggest cause of cancer death. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence were approached for comment.

Doesn't Cindy's girl look just like her ... er, dad?

Lookalike: Kaia Gerber recreates the vibe of mother Cindy Crawford, right, in Givenchy's new campaign

SHE has insisted that she inherited her body from her father, not her supermodel mother. But Kaia Gerber was the double of Cindy Crawford, 60, as she posed in a black cut-out bodysuit and flowery thigh-high boots for Givenchy's winter 2026 campaign.

The pictures, taken in Croatia, are reminiscent of her supermodel mother's 1992 photo shoot, when she wore a black leotard for her Shake Your Body fitness video.

The campaign was created by Givenchy's

By Alex Doyle Senior Showbusiness Reporter

creative director Sarah Burton, who made the Princess of Wales' wedding dress in 2011.

Ms Gerber, 24 – whose father is businessman Rande Gerber – has been open on her feelings of being a nepo baby, saying: 'I've always been compared against my mom.

‘I’m so jealous of mom’s body. I would have loved to be born with boobs and a butt.’

Hackers' £5m ransom after 9m targeted in cyber attack on three airports

By David Churchill

AN EXTORTION gang demanded £5million after stealing the data of nearly 9million holiday-makers in a cyber attack on three UK airports, it emerged yesterday.

The criminals seized the email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes of people flying from Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.

They contacted Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns the threeubs, on Tuesday set

hubs, on Tuesday setting a deadline of 48 hours for payment if it wanted the data returned. But bosses refused, with the gang now free to sell it to the highest bidder.

The attack at the weekend has been reported to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of the intelligence and security agency GCHQ, and the Information Commissioner's Office.

While links to hostile foreign states haven't been ruled out, investigators believe it was mainly about extorting money. It is understood the amount demanded is low compared with other attacks.

But insiders said it appeared ‘sophisticated’ as it was not as simple as a staff member opening a ‘phishing’ email or other form of communication.

The ransom note sent by email was written in the style of a ‘legitimate business’, and the group has been linked to hacks on other UK and global organisations. MAG insisted no bank or payment details were stolen and 'at no point' were passengers put in danger. It also said flights were taking off as normal.

'Good and bad news. We've found your luggage but lost all your data'

But it will hugely concern the 8.7million who had their details stolen. The data was held on systems related to passengers who have used airport car parks, lounges, logged into airport wifi and used fast-track passes.

Beverley Griffiths, lecturer

'Valuable to criminals'

in security and resilience at Buckinghamshire New University, said: 'While email addresses, phone numbers, postcodes and vehicle registration details may appear less sensitive than financial data, large volumes of this information can be highly valuable to cyber criminals.

‘Combined, these details can be used to build profiles [of people] and support targeted phishing, social engineering and fraud attempts.'

Lauren Wills-Dixon, partner and head of privacy at law firm Gordons, said the scale of the attack ‘is notable’.

She added: ‘This is another reminder of the importance for organisations to take legal, regulatory and best practice measures to build and maintain cyber resilience.’

More than 32million passengers flew into or out of Manchester airport last year, more than 30million travelled through Stansted in Essex, and 4million through East Midlands in Leicestershire.

An NCSC spokesman said: 'We are working with Manchester Airports Group in response to a cyber incident.

'The NCSC encourages anyone who thinks they may have been the victim of a data breach to be especially vigilant against suspicious emails, phone calls or text messages and to follow the steps set out in our data breaches guidance.'

A MAG spokesman said: 'A quantity of customer data has been obtained that relates to car park, lounge and fast-track bookings and in-airport wifi sign-ups at Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.

‘We immediately contained the risk and have been working with specialist advisers and taking appropriate steps to protect our customers and systems.

‘At no point has passenger safety or aviation security been compromised.

‘The incident has not resulted in any operational disruption. Airport operations remain unaffected.’

How many boys

THE start of a new year at Christ's College comprehensive and the arrival of a new chemistry teacher had caused quite a stir. Sally-Anne Bowen was bubbly, blonde and in her mid-20s – in other words nothing like her ‘fusty’ lab coat-wearing colleagues at the all-boys school in north London.

Favouring short skirts and tight tops she quickly came to exert a Pied Piper-like hold over her pupils, who immediately installed her at the top of their ‘fittest teacher’ list.

Of course, while unedifying, such behaviour among teenage boys is hardly unheard of.

But Bowen's reaction to it was most unusual. Flattered by their attention, the

'A breath of fresh air in the mostly male staff room'

25-year-old doctor's daughter started flirting with her admirers.

In lessons, she would share staff gossip, talk about performing sex acts and perch on the desk, giving the boys a glimpse up her skirt.

On one occasion she grabbed a confiscated pornographic magazine from one of them, paused at a photograph of a naked woman and made a lewd reference to herself. With others she discussed a copy of the Kama Sutra in class.

Soon after, Bowen's interactions became physical. One boy, aged 15, was allowed to kiss her and fondle her breasts in a café close to the school in North Finchley. With another it went further still.

Yesterday, this former chemistry teacher — a hospital consultant's daughter from a Hampshire village — was found guilty of grooming and seducing two schoolboys in the 1980s. So were there more victims... and why has it taken so long for Sally-Anne Bowen to face justice?

by Tom Rawstorne and Cameron Charters

After inviting him back to her house, she took the 14-year-old's virginity. Dozens of after-school sex sessions followed as Bowen encouraged the besotted teenager to indulge her increasingly perverted tastes both in the bedroom and in public places.

Inevitably, rumours about what was happening spread among pupils and staff until, it is claimed, Bowen was quietly asked to leave the school.

But what makes this shocking story so extraordinary is the fact that it would take almost four decades to truly bring her to justice, in which time she would go on to teach in a further 13 schools.

Meanwhile the life of her main teenage victim rapidly fell apart. Confused and broken-hearted, he started to self-harm and attempted suicide multiple times.

While fellow pupils joked about how ‘lucky’ he had been to have sex with Bowen, the reality of how she had groomed and abused him slowly dawned on him.

He first went to the police in 2014, only for the teacher to claim everything he said was a fantasy, dismissing him as a ‘nuisance’ who was ‘besotted’ with her.

When police decided to take no action, he complained to the Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA). In 2024, following a hearing, it found that Bowen had indeed indulged in sexual activity with a pupil in the 1980s – banning the teacher, who is now 65, from the profession for life.

Police re-opened their investigation and the following year she was charged with multiple counts of indecent assault against the former pupil and a second boy who had by then come forward.

During a two-week trial at Harrow Crown Court, Bowen steadfastly stuck to her story, branding her accusers liars.

She also claimed she had a low libido and that a congenital gynaecological condition meant she hated having sex.

Yesterday, after deliberating for six hours, the jury delivered their verdicts – finding Bowen guilty of seven counts of indecent assault by a majority of ten to two. She was granted bail and will be sentenced at a later date, but was warned by the judge that all options were open to him.

The question now being asked is why nothing was done about Bowen sooner. Understandably, there are fears more underage boys may have fallen victim to this female paedophile.

At least one other boy at Christ's College has claimed to have slept with her – but was over 16 at the time and is understood to not have wanted to make a formal complaint. A former pupil from another school is also said to have come forward.

The Daily Mail can also reveal that Darren Scotchbrook, Bowen's long-term partner who is eight years her junior and who she met when he was 20, is himself

facing criminal charges. He is accused of racially aggravated harassment, having allegedly sent the lead investigating officer in the case, Detective Sergeant Terry Mulcahy, numerous threatening emails at the end of July.

In so doing he also is accused of showing ‘hostility’ towards Pakistanis. He is facing a separate trial involving allegations of harassment involving four victims, which is also linked to the case.

Mr Scotchbrook, with whom Bowen has a 24-year-old daughter, gave evidence for the defence in which he spoke about their sex life, saying that his partner was often ‘reluctant’ and that the sex was always ‘quick’.

Why Bowen, a young woman with no shortage of admirers of her own age, chose to exploit her position of authority for her own twisted sexual gratification can only be guessed at. There are few obvious clues in her very middle-class upbringing.

Raised in a small village near Winchester, Hampshire, her father was a respected hospital consultant. When he recently died he left an estate worth £1million to his three children.

Bowen is a twin, and she and her brother are both understood to have been privately educated.

While he went on to Oxford and a successful career in the law, she excelled at hockey, playing for the junior Hampshire county side.

Having studied chemistry at university she briefly worked for a London borough council before moving to Exeter to undertake teacher training. This involved spending time at a boys' boarding school in Tiverton and a boys' school in Exmouth. Having qualified, she responded to a job advert for a chemistry teacher at Christ's College and in September 1986 started work there.

A former grammar school, its alumni include the likes of Charles Saatchi, the advertising executive and art collector, and Jon Sopel, the former BBC journalist.

As Michael Gray, a former teacher, recalled in court, Bowen's arrival at the school was initially seen as a ‘breath of fresh air’ in the mostly male staff room.

But by trying to be ‘too friendly’ she quickly lost the respect of the pupils. ‘She was a young, pretty teacher in the school and I think the boys responded to that – not in a good way.’

Giving evidence, former pupil Tobias Oliver painted an extraordinary picture of the classes she oversaw.

‘Bowen dressed and behaved more like my female friends than other teachers,’ he told the court. ‘She would wear short, very tight skirts, and tights. A tight T-shirt, vest top, and loose cardigan. There were teenage boys and a very attractive young woman with a good figure in tight clothing showing it off.’

Unlike other teachers, Bowen was quick to engage in sexualised banter with pupils.

Giving an example of her conversations, he said that Sally-Anne Bowen talked about performing a sex act on her boyfriend. Another time, he remembered

DID she seduce?

Bowen showing the boys the Kama Sutra.

‘She was discussing the merits of different sexual positions, telling us what she tried and asking us what we had tried,’ he said.

‘She was very flirtatious in class. She would often chew on the end of her hair, her cardigans. She would brush her hands over her breasts. She would lower her eyes and look at boys in her class. It was more like what you would see in a Sabrina Carpenter video than in a classroom.’

Such behaviour was not confined to the school premises. There were regular get-togethers with a group of boys, including her two eventual victims, in a nearby café. Neither boy, now in their 50s, can be identified for legal reasons.

‘She was nice,’ the older of the two would later recall. ‘She would chat… I started to fancy her a little bit.’

The boys egged each other on.

'The guys would then start saying things like “kiss her” so I would give her a kiss, or she would give me a kiss,' he said. 'Then there were other times where I placed my hands on her lap, in the general vagina area, just rest your hands there and she would sit there as calm as you like.

‘There were times I held her breasts but only outside the T-shirt. . . It used to turn me on. I’m a 15-year-old kid thinking about being in the presence of a fairly hot teacher who everyone wants.’

At the end of the school day the boy would get on Bowen's bus and then walk her to her home in Golders Green.

‘My heart would be racing because I was excited,’ he said.

Convicted: Sally-Anne Bowen. Left: Bowen at Harrow Crown Court during her trial, and her partner Darren Scotchbrook

‘It’s fair to say I developed a massive crush on her. I would run home like a sort of besotted teenager,’ he said.

Others found themselves similarly drawn into her orbit. The second boy, whose parents had recently split up, also started to accompany her home.

Having been invited inside, he was given tea and cigarettes before losing his virginity to Bowen on her single bed.

Describing himself as feeling like the ‘cat that has got the cream’, while his fellow pupils went home to do their homework, he would indulge in hours-long sex sessions. Over five months in the summer of 1988 this happened dozens of times.

He told jurors he felt compelled to ‘protect’ the teacher, who had ‘drummed it’ into him that he was not allowed to tell anyone about their relationship.

‘My introduction to the world was completely governed by Sally-Anne Bowen,’ he told police in a video interview. ‘I had no experiences, so it was her experiences that laid the groundwork for the sexual interactions that we had.’

While he said he had enjoyed the sex with Bowen and the feeling of having “one-up” on other teachers, he later realised that it had ‘destroyed’ his education and changed him for ever, isolating him from family and friends.

The complainant told police: 'All those aspects of me at that young age – I had no respect for authority, no self-respect. My mother never forgave me.'

The jury heard evidence from his elderly mother who told how she had complained to teachers at the school and even called Bowen, who had denied everything.

After the summer holidays, his mum called the school and was told Bowen was no longer working there with ‘no reason or explanation given’.

Bowen later told the boy she was leaving the UK to stay at a kibbutz in Israel, leaving him ‘abandoned and confused’, the court heard.

The boy first made a police report in November 2014 following encouragement from his partner. The second boy came forward after reading how Bowen had been banned from teaching by the TRA in 2024.

Prior to charges being brought against Bowen, both men contributed to a four-part podcast in early 2025 called ‘Lucky Boy’ by Tortoise Media, which now owns The Observer.

Giving evidence in court Bowen said her only regret about her time at Christ's College was that she ‘wanted to be liked’.

‘I didn’t flirt with students, I was just friendly,’ Bowen said, adding that while the clothes she wore were figure-hugging they were not inappropriate and that she ‘wasn’t going to dress like Margaret Thatcher’ in her mid-20s.

While she remembered the main victim, she said nothing sexual happened between them and that she felt harassed as he became ‘a pest’ and ‘a nuisance’.

Bowen claimed she had a low libido and described how she had no desire for sex during her late teens and early 20s due to a gynaecological problem that made it painful.

When she does have sex with her current partner Darren Scotchbrook she said it only lasts ‘seconds’ and tales of hour-long romps were ‘ridiculous’.

‘I had no desire to have sex,’ she said. ‘I don’t like being touched intimately, I never have.’ In cross-examination, her victim

'A hot teacher that everyone wants'

expressed amazement when it was put to him that this ‘anatomical abnormality’ would have made sex difficult.

'Was it impossible to insert a penis in her vagina?' the victim asked. 'It was not impossible. Did you never think that's why she had sex with young boys because they are smaller?

'A 14-year-old boy is not as big as a fully grown man because they are smaller. Did you never think why?'

Accused of being ‘a fantasist’ the complainant thundered: ‘A fantasist is a paedophile who cannot admit they are a paedophile, and a dangerous fantasist at that.’

In its ruling the TRA had found that Bowen had demonstrated no insight into her behaviour and was motivated by a ‘desire to seek her own sexual gratification’.

It added that despite changing standards, ‘at no point in the history of the teaching profession has it been appropriate for teachers to engage in sexual activity with pupils’.

A lesson that, after decades of denial, Sally-Anne Bowen has finally been taught.

Sports Direct tycoon blasts PM's plan to revive High Street as 'delusional'

By Emily Hawkins

SPORTS Direct tycoon Mike Ashley has launched a scathing attack on Andy Burnham's 'delusional' plans to revive the High Street, warning that retailers will be 'further devastated' unless taxes are cut.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the billionaire owner of Frasers Group hit out at what he called ‘recent populist proposals’.

The Prime Minister this week insisted he would ‘take pressure off’ businesses, which have complained about consumers having less cash to spend while their own operating costs have soared.

His plans include funding business rate discounts for pubs and clubs by increasing business rates on online retail warehouses, as well as tougher rules for unseemly vape and betting shops.

But Mr Ashley – whose stable of retailers includes House of Fraser, Flannels, Sofa.com, Jack Wills, Evans Cycles, as well as the recently rescued Harvey Nichols – said it would be ‘simply delusional' to tax bigger retailers more by raising rates further.

He added: ‘Your comments about looking again at business rates in the next Budget are of course welcomed, but frankly a case of too little, too late.’

Mr Ashley said there were ‘real’ challenges facing the country’s economy that needed to be tackled, rather than ‘topics which provide good media soundbites’.

He lambasted a ‘disastrous’ approach to business rates and ‘the dramatically increasing cost of employing people’ as the biggest obstacles for businesses. These – including Keir Starmer's government's increases to the minimum wage and employer National Insurance contributions – have backfired and led to retailers cutting jobs, he said.

In a plea ahead of the Budget on October 28, Mr Ashley said: 'These aspects of the hostile business climate can't be allowed to continue or the high streets will be further devastated.'

He added: 'My challenge to you is – how are you going to help with turning Harvey Nichols around?'

Call to cut taxes: Mike Ashley

By David Churchill and Rory Tingle

LABOUR was accused of putting the public in ‘serious’ danger last night after the number of foreign offenders on the streets subject to deportation hit a new record.

There were 21,294 foreign thugs freely roaming Britain despite being earmarked for removal in the three months to June this year, official data shows.

This was up 12 per cent from 18,993 for the same period last year and 38 per cent up from the 15,433 three years ago, when the Tories were in power. It dwarfs the number of foreign national offenders (FNOs) being returned to their country of origin, which was 5,858 in the year to March.

Experts said the first early release scheme under Labour in September 2024, under which tens of thousands of offenders were let out early to tackle prison overcrowding, was likely to blame for the surge. The number could soar further from this October, when the latest tranche of 5,000 offenders will be let out early.

Ministers were also warned it may only be a matter of time before one of the thousands of free FNOs, earmarked for deportation after being bailed by judges or released after serving their sentence, strikes again.

It comes after the Daily Mail this week revealed the shocking case of Ibrahim Albashir. The mentally-ill Sudanese small-boat migrant was allowed to roam the streets despite being previously arrested before he slashed a

‘Britain is at breaking point’

female stranger with a broken bottle 30 times in Leeds in 2024.

21,294

Reacting to the figures, published by the Home Office yesterday, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf blasted: 'Labour is allowing dangerous foreign criminals to roam freely, posing a serious threat to the British public, while illegal migrants are being dispersed from hotels into Houses of Multiple Occupancy, and properties in British communities, with virtually no background checks.

‘Britain is at breaking point. Under Reform, illegal boats in the Channel will be stopped by our Navy and all those here illegally will be detained and deported.’

Tragic death: PC Andrew Harper, 28, with his wife Lissie

That's the record number of foreign criminals back on Britain's streets under Labour's 'soft justice' regime

Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy demanded that foreign criminals living in the community be deported. He added: 'We warned there would be grave consequences to Labour's Sentencing Act [which enables more early releases] and here is yet another one rearing its head. The

PC killers 'barred from early release'

By Mark Duell and Ryan Hooper

TWO of PC Andrew Harper's killers are expected to be excluded from Labour's early release scheme – but domestic abusers could still be freed.

Criminals convicted of a certain type of manslaughter will no longer be eligible to be let out early – including Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, according to reports.

It is thought the pair, both under 18 at the time of PC Harper's death in 2019, will be blocked from being released via a law change that will exempt those convicted of 'unlawful act' manslaughter.

Andy Burnham had pledged to do ‘everything possible’ to ensure the pair were not freed early following this year’s Sentencing Act, which comes into force on October 1 to tackle overcrowding in jails. The

next Conservative government will leave the European Convention on Human Rights so we can remove all foreign criminals.'

Under the law, the Government must deport FNOs sentenced to 12 months or more in prison unless they successfully lodge a human rights or other appeal.

Criminals with shorter sentences can also be earmarked for deportation if the Government deems it beneficial for the UK.

Yesterday's figures also showed the number of migrants applying

Prime Minister ordered a review of the scheme, which Justice Secretary Alex Norris will publish next month.

Bowers and Cole – jailed for 13 years – were passengers in the car that dragged PC Harper to his death. The driver, Henry Long, is serving 16 years and is not eligible for early release.

Some 5,000 inmates are now

to settle in the UK over the past year hit a 16-year high.

The UK granted indefinite leave to remain, which gives migrants the right to live, work and study in the UK permanently, to 199,628 people in the year to June. This was a 24 per cent increase on the previous 12 months and the highest number since 2010.

The increase in claims may be explained by reforms set to be introduced this autumn by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. They will double the time it takes expected to be set free under the early release scheme, down from 6,000. Among them may be domestic abusers, who could still be eligible despite concerns from campaigners.

A Government spokesman said the PM is working 'through options to keep a greater number of the most serious offenders in prison'.

to qualify for settlement from five to ten years, potentially sparking a rush of claims before the reforms come in.

More than half of asylum seekers arrived through illegal entry routes, such as small boats, while a further 41 per cent of claimants had previously held a visa or other leave. Small-boat migrants accounted for 40 per cent (33,949) of all asylum applicants in the 12 months to June 2026.

Comment and Clare Foges – Page 18

CGT receipts soar 89% to hand £25bn to Treasury

By Angharad Carrick

THE Treasury has raked in record capital gains tax (CGT) receipts of nearly £25billion as Labour's hikes on businesses prop up public finances.

But experts warn that the tax take could fall in the coming years as investors and landlords change their behaviour to mitigate their annual bill.

They fired a warning shot across the bows of Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey as they weigh up whether to increase the rate again in their first Budget in October.

The tax office collected £24.2 billion in the 2024/2025 tax year, an 89 per cent increase from the previous year as the hike to the main rates of CGT took effect midway through the year.

Former Chancellor Rachel Reeves heaped further pressure on businesses in her October 2024 Budget, raising rates

'Number of payers at all-time high'

from 10 to 18 per cent for basic-rate taxpayers while higher-rate taxpayers faced a 24 per cent levy on disposals up from 20 per cent previously.

HMRC said speculation in the lead-up to the Budget also contributed to the huge increase in CGT receipts.

But Elizabeth Bradley, from law firm BCLP, said the rise in CGT may offer only ‘short-term relief’ for the Government.

She added: ‘Some taxpayers could accelerate disposals ahead of the Autumn Statement while others may simply defer gains for years. Either way, today’s rise may not translate into stronger receipts for the rest of this Parliament.’

A decline in the tax take would leave Mr Healey scrambling to find a way to increase his fiscal headroom. The total number of CGT payers jumped 45 per cent in the 2024/2025 tax year to an all-time high of 584,000.

Mail's Dame Jenni Murray died after dazzling lights caused crash, inquest told

By Sam Greenhill Chief Reporter

DAME Jenni Murray died after she was dazzled by headlights and collided with two stationary vehicles, a coroner heard.

The journalist and broadcaster, who hosted Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4 for 33 years and was a Daily Mail columnist, died in hospital a week after the incident, aged 75.

The accident happened on March 4 about a mile from Dame Jenni's north London home, as she drove along Wildwood Road next to Hampstead Heath.

Yesterday at the inquest into her death, north London area coroner Tony Murphy recorded ‘road traffic collision’ as his overall conclusion.

He read from a statement by hospital consultant Dr Clare Morkane who cared for Dame Jenni, saying: 'Jennifer had been driving when she became dazzled by vehicle lights and collided with two stationary vehicles on Wildwood Road, NW11, around 7.44pm.

‘Following the collision, Jennifer was unable to recall the events. She exited the vehicle independently and was subsequently conveyed to hospital.’

At the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, Dame Jenni had a CT scan which revealed multiple fractures to her ribs and upper sternum and a collapsed right lung. The following day

'Cheerleader for a generation of women'

she suffered respiratory failure and was moved to intensive care, said Dr Morkane, an intensive care consultant.

In line with Dame Jenni's own wishes, and after discussions with her family, it was decided not to attempt CPR or other ‘invasive’ treatments if her condition worsened.

Dame Jenni developed bronchopneumonia and her health deteriorated over the subsequent days. On March 10, following further discussions with her family, it was decided to focus on palliative treatment, meaning pain relief.

During the 20-minute hearing at Barnet Coroner's Court, Mr Murphy said: 'Jennifer died peacefully at the Royal Free Hospital on March 12, 2026 at approximately 3.45pm.'

He recorded her cause of death as bronchopneumonia caused by fractures to her rib and sternum sustained in the crash and said an investigation by the Metropolitan Police had been concluded with ‘no further action’.

Dame Jenni's death was recorded under her full name of Jennifer Susan Forgham-Bailey, born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on May 12, 1950.

Her husband, David Forgham-Bailey, attended the inquest via a video link.

A cheerleader for a generation of British women, Dame Jenni spent three decades at the helm of Woman's Hour. More recently, as a columnist for the Daily Mail, she wrote stoically about ageing – even filing her copy from a care home in 2023 while recovering from pneumonia.

She was made a Dame in 2011 for her contribution to broadcasting.

She will be forever missed ...I only wish I'd had the chance to say goodbye

Role model: Jenni Murray was an icon for working women

ADMIRED everything about Dame Jenni Murray, from that wonderful voice to that gimlet stare of hers – and above all the way she approached her craft with an open mind and an honest heart. She was a hero of mine.

For young female journalists such as myself trying to forge careers in the Nineties and Noughties, she was an icon.

She – like others of her generation – hacked their way fearlessly through the thicket of sexism, paving a way for people like me to follow.

At a time when women were being pilloried for wanting to 'have it all' (aka daring to have the same opportunities as men), she was fiercely defensive of the right for women to pursue a career and utterly unapologetic for it. She never said it would be easy – but she always defended a woman's right to choose.

When she died suddenly and very unexpectedly earlier this year, I was devastated. She hadn't been in the best of health, it's true – but there was nothing to indicate that she was close to death. What on earth had happened?

Dame Jenni was such an icon, such a trailblazer, especially for women in broadcasting and journalism, the tributes naturally poured in. But a veil of mystery surrounded the actual circumstances of her death. Her funeral at Golders Green Crematorium came and went without fanfare, and with very few colleagues from her illustrious career in attendance – not through choice, but on the

By Sarah Vine

request of her family. She was survived by her husband David, to whom she remained married but did not live with, and her two sons, Charlie and Ed.

Only David was present – via videolink – at the inquest yesterday which finally determined the truth about her death. It was a tragic accident: she was at the wheel of her beloved Mini convertible at around a quarter to eight on the evening of March 4 when, dazzled by oncoming headlights, she collided with two stationary vehicles. She was able to get herself out of the car – but had sustained several broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

She was taken to hospital, but her condition began to deteriorate. She developed bronchopneumonia as a result of her injuries, finally passing away on March 12.

Dame Jenni was a fiercely independent woman, and nothing encapsulated that independent spirit more than her passion for driving. In her later years she suffered from mobility problems, and as a result loved that Mini of hers. It was her ticket to freedom, her trusty steed when her legs failed her.

Less than a year before her accident, she wrote in her Daily Mail column that ‘Nothing would cause me greater grief than saying goodbye to my car. My precious little Mini convertible is the only thing that’s kept me going through the past few years of pain, loneliness and depression.’ Without it, she wrote, 'how would I nip round the corner to get my nails done or down to town for a haircut?'

‘How would I get to Barnet for lunch with one son, or Bournemouth to see the other?’

It's a sentiment that will resonate with so many older drivers. Her car was her lifeline, and as a blue badge holder it took her everywhere.

SHE loved the freedom and romance of driving with the top down, the wind in her hair, a plethora of possibilities on the road ahead.

As a woman who always determined her own destiny, always trod her own path, it's easy to see why Dame Jenni treasured being behind the wheel. Yet by her own admission she was not always an exemplary driver.

She was not reckless – far from it, in fact if anything she was a little over-cautious. 'If on occasion I pull away slowly at the lights,' she wrote, 'I hear the furious hooting of horns behind me. I stick my head out of the window and screech obscenities that are far too awful to repeat in a family newspaper. I love the sheer astonishment on their faces when they hear the words coming from a “little old lady”.

I love the idea of some hapless boy racer coming face-to-face with the ire of Dame Jenni.

Nevertheless, she was caught three times for speeding – ‘but always for going only a tiny amount over the limit’ – and had lately suffered one or two unfortunate prangs, including a double puncture when she had been driven off the road by a motorcyclist. But she always seemed to emerge unscathed.

Perhaps if she had been less stubbornly independent, she might still be with us. Then again, compliant surrender was never in her nature.

I hope wherever she is, she's driving far and fast, the ‘warm wind in her hair’, a world of endless possibilities ahead. I only wish I had got the chance to say goodbye. She will be forever missed.

Warnings: Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow yesterday

Putin ramps up threats to Britain over support for Ukraine

RUSSIA has warned Britain it faces ‘catastrophic consequences’ for its continuing support for Ukraine, including direct military action.

In its most chilling threat to date, the Kremlin directed its remarks towards the UK population, rather than the Government, for the first time.

In a bid to undermine support for military assistance to Ukraine, Russian foreign office spokesman Maria Zakharova yesterday called on Britons to change the UK's stance. Vladimir Putin's mouthpiece said this country's 'hostile line' in Ukraine was drawing Britain into Russia's sights. She said: 'We are urging all

'Abandon the hostile line'

residents of the United Kingdom to think about the unavoidable catastrophic consequences of the hostile moves of their authorities.'

Ms Zakharova said those consequences could include direct strikes on British military targets. She added: 'We have repeatedly warned that any British military installations and equipment in Ukraine and beyond its borders could be targeted in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory carried out using British weapons.

We propose that the British leadership once again carefully analyses the situation and immediately, in the most resolute and unequivocal manner, abandon the hostile, aggressive line.'

The warning came a day after another Kremlin spokesman,

By Mark Nicol Diplomacy Editor

Dmitry Peskov, said Britain was 'playing with fire'.

The threats have followed Ukraine launching UK-made drones into Russia for the first time and Britain sharing blueprints for cruise missiles with Ukraine.

They came as Russia resumed its aerial bombardment of Ukraine with scores of drones and ballistic missiles. Ukraine said it intercepted more than 200 Russian warheads targeting nine cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa. At least one person was killed and several injured.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin claimed that British-provided Storm Shadow missiles struck targets in Donetsk, in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine.

Earlier this week, in a declaration of intent that shocked Russian officials, Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed to licence Ukraine to produce its own Storm Shadows, a move matched by France.

Ms Zakharova went on to say that Russia has every right to attack British military facilities wherever they were while French and German targets were also in its sights.

She said: 'The story with the Storm Shadows perfectly encapsulates London's involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. Their use has become obvious.'

Both Russia and Ukraine are inflicting mounting destruction with long-range drones and missiles without either side securing a significant strategic advantage.

Fears the war could escalate were behind CIA director John Ratcliffe's unannounced visit to Moscow earlier this week.

Will he use

IT WEIGHS more than 10,000 tons, is 135 metres long and carries half a dozen two-megaton Doomsday torpedoes capable of triggering a radioactive tsunami large enough to ‘plunge Britain to the depths of the ocean’.

No wonder the world held its breath last week as Russia's latest nuclear-armed submarine departed Severodvinsk Port to begin trials in the White Sea, 140 miles from the border with Finland.

Named after Russian explorer Yerofey Khabarov, the Khabarovsk will now undergo rigorous testing before being considered fit for active service.

The 100-strong crew plus a team of onshore engineers will stress-test everything from mooring protocols to propulsion, steering and diving capabilities, as well as the integration of sonar and onboard computing systems.

The vessel is eventually expected to travel east to join Russia's Pacific Fleet, which last week launched a series of missile tests from the disputed Kuril Islands north of Japan – triggering a major diplomatic incident.

So what would the Khabarovsk's role be in a future conflict? And why is Russia spending a rumoured billion dollars on it when its navy already boasts at least 60 active submarines?

Plus, it is not the only one. It is just one of a mooted trio of new nuclear-armed subs that could be unleashed on the West.

While the design of the Khabarovsk is based on Russia's Borei-A class nuclear ballistic missile submarines that are a cornerstone of Moscow's nuclear deterrent, it is, in fact, a 'special purpose' vessel in a class of its own.

Khabarovsk is the first submarine designed with a widened bow to accommodate six Poseidon nuclear torpedoes, each measuring 20 metres in length, two metres in diameter and weighing 110 tonnes each.

The only other submarine capable of launching these ‘doomsday’ weapons is the RFS Belgorod, which can carry three of the torpedoes, half the number of the Khabarovsk. Unlike traditional surface-to-air missiles which risk being intercepted in the

KHABAROVSK SUBMARINE

■ Length	113m to 135-140m
■ Width	10+m to 13.5m
■ Displacement	10 000 tons
■ Underwater speed	30-32 knots
■ Operational depth	up to 500 m
■ Crew	100 seamen
■ Mission duration	90-120 days

The Khabarovsk launched from Severodvinsk

by Fred Kelly

sky, Poseidon warheads travel underwater at speeds of roughly 70 knots, 1,000 metres below the waves. And thanks to an onboard nuclear reactor that propels them, they have an essentially unlimited range. They aren't just missiles but autonomous, manoeuvrable vessels in their own right.

HE idea for Poseidon torpedoes was conceived by Soviet engineers as far back as the 1950s, though the plans were scrapped as the technology did not exist to fit the weapons with their own propulsion system.

Unlike traditional weapons, the torpedoes are designed to self-detonate before reaching their target. It is not the blast itself that is the danger but the subsequent tsunami of radioactive water triggered by the two-megaton bombs – more than one hundred times the strength of the Little Boy bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

And while countless thousands would no doubt be drowned in the initial surge or killed by collapsing buildings, the after-effects of the radioactive flooding would render any land within 200 miles uninhabitable for generations and result in the deaths of millions.

No surprise, then, that the Kremlin believes Poseidon torpedoes are the future of its nuclear deterrent.

Indeed, Dr Richard Connolly, a military expert on Russia and associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, describes Poseidon as a ‘boutique capability’ that has been designed only for the ‘very worst of scenarios’.

Most alarming of all, some Russian commentators have even called on the Kremlin to unleash these missiles on Britain in retaliation for the Government's support for Ukraine, notably last week's decision to share the blueprint for our Storm Shadow cruise missiles. 'Give the British three days to learn to breathe underwater,' argued state TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, 'then hit them with Poseidon'.

Disconcertingly, the Russian Embassy in the UK has announced that the greater Britain's support for Ukraine, 'the higher the price it will pay'.

REGARDLESS, before Vladimir Putin could launch his Poseidon torpedoes, he needed a submarine capable of doing so.

In the summer of 2012 Moscow awarded a billion-dollar contract to the 125-year-old Russian submarine maker Rubin Design Bureau, which duly began construction on Khabarovsk in 2014.

The submarine was meant to be sea-worthy by 2020 but severe delays meant it wasn't until November last year that it emerged from its construction hangar in Severodvinsk, 600 miles north of St Petersburg.

‘There is nothing like this in

this sub to sink UK?

Launched last week, it's a 10,000-ton behemoth carrying six Doomsday nuclear torpedoes that could race to our shores and trigger a devastating radioactive tidal wave

the world in terms of the speed and the depth of the movement of this vehicle – and it is unlikely there ever will be,' Putin declared at the time, before adding ominously that there were 'no ways to intercept' it.

It remains unclear why the construction was so greatly delayed, though the pandemic and economic pressures resulting from Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine are likely to have played a part.

The Khabarovsk itself has a range of around 6,200 miles, a top speed of 32 knots and an operational depth of up to 500 metres. The 100-strong crew can be at sea for up to 120 days.

Crucially, of course, given that Poseidon missiles are autonomous and fitted with a nuclear reactor and sonar system, the Khabarovsk does not need to be anywhere near the target of a proposed strike, making it even more dangerous to Russia's enemies.

Unlike most propeller-driven submarines, Khabarovsk's propulsion is derived from what is known as a single shaft pump jet.

It moves the vessel forwards by first drawing in water, then ejecting it backwards. Traditional propellers cause cavitation in the water – the forming of small bubbles – which create underwater noise easily detected by enemy subs. The pump jet system therefore makes the Khabarovsk much harder to identify.

When the first images of the submarine were released by Russia, the pump jet had been painstakingly covered with timber and canvas to conceal its engineering.

The sub has two additional thrusters for low-speed manoeuvres such as docking or navigating treacherous waters.

As for the six Poseidon launchers, they are positioned at the bow of the ship, which has been enlarged from those of previous attack vessels and splits the warheads across two separate flooded hangers on the port and starboard sides.

The hangers are fitted longitudinally, meaning the weapons will be fired out the front of the sub. Conventional, non-nuclear torpedoes occupy the space between the two Poseidon hangers. And yet, it is clear that this is not the end of Russia's submarine ambitions. Intelligence agencies confirm that two further nuclear-armed subs are already under construction. In 2017 work began on the Ulyanovsk while a third vessel, Orenburg, is understood to have been ordered.

More alarming still is quite how ill-prepared Britain is to deal with this latest threat.

‘During the Cold War we were all over the Soviet submarine programme like a rash,’ Admiral Lord West told the Daily Mail this week. ‘But we’ve not been spending enough on defence and now Putin has taken advantage of that.’

The former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff added: 'It is certainly worrying that the Kremlin is willing to spend a great deal of money to modernise and improve weapons systems especially when Russia is struggling financially. It rather makes Putin look like a Bond villain.'

Except, of course, that this Bond villain operates on the world stage rather than the silver screen.

Khabarovsk and its Poseidon torpedoes may be a weapon of last resort – but how long before the Kremlin's war machine feels it has nowhere else to turn?

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Burnham goes to war on cowboy builders

ANDY Burnham today labels cowboy builders ‘crooks’ who ‘destroy lives’ and vows to put them out of business.

Writing in the Daily Mail, below, the Prime Minister tells how one woman was driven to attempt suicide by an unscrupulous tradesman who left her home unsafe to live in.

Citing figures showing that homeowners lost £14.3 billion in five years to cowboy builders, he adds: 'They prey on the vulnerable, they rob our neighbours of their futures and, above all else, they destroy lives.

'They're crooks – and it's about

By Martin Beckford Policy Editor

time we treated them like it. So, today, we're putting the cowboys out of business.'

Mr Burnham, who visited workers in Wales and political leaders ahead of Parliament's return next week, announced that the Government is backing two new schemes. The first, which will go live next week, is a smartphone app called Trusted Partners that keeps homeowners' money safe during projects with payments only released to builders when key stages of the work have been completed.

As many as 100,000 traders across Britain will be able to access it by the end of September, according to the Department for Business and Trade.

It has been developed by a private firm in partnership with TrustMark, a Government-endorsed quality scheme.

The second element, the Approved Codes Scheme for the home improvement sector, has been developed by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman. Businesses who sign up will have to show they meet higher standards of customer service. It will launch at the end of September and be fully live by December. The Government is endorsing both schemes but has not funded them.

Comment - Page 18

These conmen are just crooks. That's why I'll put them out of business

by Andy Burnham

Promise: The Prime Minister will champion good builders

PRIME MINISTER

AFTER losing her mum to cancer, a woman from Essex decided to do something in her memory. She resolved to go ahead with

the extension to her home that was originally planned as a place to care for her mother.

Still grieving, she chose a builder recommended to her by a neighbour. She had every reason to think she could trust him. After all, how cruel would a person have to be to take advantage of someone in their time of need?

But like the third of adults in Britain that have hired a builder who turned out to be unreliable or unqualified, this woman found out the answer to that question the hard way.

The work done on her house was so shoddy that it was eventually deemed unsafe to live in. The costs that followed meant she was forced to remortgage and had to rely on the rest of her family just to get by. Like anyone in that situation would be, she was pushed to breaking point.

And then she was pushed past it. Exhausted and broken by events she had absolutely no control over, the stress became unbearable. She sadly tried to take her own life.

Thankfully, she is still with us today. But too many cowboy builders are still getting away with it. And I won't sit back while they make more victims out of vulnerable people, hardworking families and genuine tradespeople up and down this country.

Some might dismiss the sort of people who do this kind of thing as 'wheeler dealers' or 'chancers'. But they're more than that. They prey on the vulnerable, they rob our neighbours of their futures and, above all else, they destroy lives.

They're crooks – and it's about time we treated them like it.

So, today, we're putting the cowboys out of business.

Most builders in this country are decent people who take pride in their work and charge a fair price for it. They build our homes, our schools and are always there with tools in hand when things go wrong. But the small number who aren't tend to follow the same pattern: take a big deposit, do half a job, then disappear with your hard-earned money.

That's got to change. So we're backing a new system that gives you the option to have your money held safely and released bit by bit as the work is completed. Do the work, get paid. It's as simple as that. And we'll help our good builders stand out from the cowboys too.

Tradespeople who meet our new set of standards will be able to show customers that they do things properly and can be trusted with their homes. This is another one of our everyday fixes to give people support with the cost of living. According to the Federation of Master Builders, homeowners lost a massive £14.3billion to cowboy builders between 2020 and 2025 – that's an average of £1,759 per person affected. And when life is already so hard for so many families, the last thing they should have to worry about is being ripped off as well.

So this is about ensuring people have some breathing space when they need it most.

But it goes deeper than that too. It gets to the heart of who we are and the kind of country we're trying to build together – a country built on fairness.

Today, that means standing up for the customers who do the right thing and expect a fair deal. And it means standing up for the decent builders and tradespeople

'They prey on the vulnerable'

who work hard, play by the rules and are sick of seeing dodgy dealers steal their customers and give their industry a bad name.

That same principle runs through everything we're doing. From capping bus fares to rebuilding technical education, when you put the work in, when you treat others with respect, you should expect to be treated fairly too.

And when you aren't, you should expect your government to be on your side. That's the only way we get people to start believing that things really can be different this time.

The woman I spoke about earlier ended her story with a message for us: 'I implore the Government to act.'

Today, I want her to know: we heard you. We're acting. And we'll keep acting until people in every part of this country finally believe in Britain again.

Two dead as 'foreign-egg salmonella' cases hit 474

By Joshua Haining

ALMOST 500 people have caught salmonella via the outbreak linked to imported eggs, authorities have said.

Cases have now risen by 25 per cent since July, with 207 reported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) last week. Two people have died, with two new clusters of the infection being identified. The total number of cases has hit 474.

Seven European countries are now affected by the outbreak. There have been 106 reported cases in the Netherlands, 15 in Belgium, six in Germany and four in France. Two cases of Salmonella have also been reported in Austria and one in Denmark.

UK health chiefs believe ‘imported eggs’ are to blame for

'Cases linked to eating out'

the crisis but investigations in the Netherlands have linked the outbreak to chicken meat instead. Egg imports to the UK have risen by 60 per cent since 2021. Experts have also told the Daily Mail that UK-produced eggs, which have a British Lion mark, are safe.

Salmonella bacteria is most commonly found in raw or undercooked meat, poultry and eggs. Symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhoea and severe dehydration.

Most cases have been recorded across London, Yorkshire and the Humber – though some have been reported in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

UK cases have been linked to eating out ‘from small cafés, restaurants and takeaway businesses’, according to the UKHSA.

Lake Ontario gets Trump make-over

DONALD Trump last night renamed Lake Ontario – the large body of water shared by the United States and Canada – as ‘Lake America’.

The President signed an order in a move that comes amid a spiralling and increasingly bitter trade war between the world's largest economy and its northern neighbour.

Mr Trump, announcing the change in the Oval Office in Washington, said: 'The Canadian officials have treated us very badly. They're nasty people.'

The move, which Canada is unlikely to accept, mirrors Mr Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in January last year.

Mr Trump added: 'So, if you think about it, we have a gulf and we have a lake. Now all we need is an ocean. Maybe we'll have to change the name of the Atlantic and/or the Pacific. Maybe we'll change both.'

PM must focus on the big issues, too

THE Daily Mail welcomes Andy Burnham's pledge to tackle the scourge of the cowboy builder.

We have all heard of, or indeed experienced, the misery that can be caused by shoddy, incompetent and often overpriced home construction work.

And all too often, once the builders have been paid, they are highly reluctant to come back to remedy the slipshod workmanship they have left behind.

This is not universally true, of course. But, according to figures from Citizens Advice, complaints about firms carrying out substandard home improvements have doubled since 2022.

In this newspaper today, the Prime Minister writes: 'They're crooks – and it's about time we started treating them like it.'

Full details of the plans are yet to be fleshed out, but it includes the Government backing a new standards regime and an app allowing customers to pay gradually, as and when they are happy with each section of work done.

This scheme is of a piece with other small initiatives the PM calls ‘everyday fixes’ – a £2 cap on bus fares, reducing pub and business rates, and a VAT cut on domestic electricity bills. But welcome as they are, they make scant difference to the lives of most struggling families. The VAT reduction on energy bills, for instance, will save the average family less than £1 a week.

There are much bigger issues which are crying out for Mr Burnham's full attention. Top of the list is the UK's national debt, which is now around £3trillion and costs £100billion a year in interest repayments alone. That is simply unsustainable.

How will he bring it under control? We are already monstrously overtaxed, so the obvious way is to cut spending.

But will he have the courage to slash the ballooning welfare bill, free business from the onerous levies and regulation that are stifling growth and reduce the size of the ever-expanding public sector? Does he have a plan to stem illegal migration, to slow the mad dash to Net Zero, or improve the lamentable productivity of the civil service?

These are huge problems that are all getting steadily (in some cases rapidly) worse. We know this PM is good at thinking small. He must now prove he is just as capable of thinking big.

Criminal negligence

GETTING a grip on uncontrolled migration could hardly be more urgent. A record 200,000 migrants were given indefinite leave to remain here in the last year and 245,000 granted citizenship.

In combination, that is equivalent to creating a city the size of Bristol or Leicester, with all the burdens that places on the NHS, schools and other public services.

Meanwhile, the number who have arrived illegally on cross-Channel boats since the crisis began in 2017 has also topped 200,000.

Very few have been or will be sent back, thanks to a human rights system which often makes deportation virtually impossible – even for criminals.

More than 21,000 foreign offenders subject to deportation orders are still being allowed to roam the streets – the total boosted by the Government's early release scheme.

This constitutes a clear and present threat to public safety and seriously corrodes faith in our justice system. Foreign criminals should be deported once freed.

If the Human Rights Act prevents that, it is unfit for purpose and should be reformed or scrapped. Lawyers and the migration lobby might squeal, but most ordinary people would breathe a sigh of relief.

After Sudanese asylum seeker launched vicious assault, women are asking: How many more like him are walking our streets... UNSAFE AND UNMONITORED

by Clare Foges

MOST women will know how frightening it is to walk home alone at night.

Shadows in doorways. Keys bunched in your fist as a makeshift weapon. Running down the street, heart hammering. Is that someone following? Making it to your front door unharmed is sweet relief.

Not so for the 32-year-old woman who was walking home alone after a meal out in Leeds in March 2024.

Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind. Her attacker stabbed her 30 times with a broken glass bottle, slashing her in a way witnesses described as ‘frenzied’.

Her ‘blood-curdling screams’ were so loud they were heard by security men at a nearby pub, who came to her rescue and punched him unconscious.

Dangerous

The attacker, Ibrahim Albashir, has catatonic schizophrenia and is originally from Sudan. He arrived in this country via Libya, Italy and France after having, according to the judge, 'used the services of people smugglers'. (Don't you love how this makes it sound like he used a reputable travel brand?)

In France, this individual had spent time in a mental hospital and was sensibly refused asylum.

In Britain, he drifted through Luton, Coventry, Birmingham and Barrow-in-Furness before making it to Leeds. There, two days before the attack, a police officer found him in a ‘trance-like state’ with his trousers around his ankles. Any action taken? No, move along, sir.

There was also a sexual assault in a Birmingham hotel, and another in the hospital where he was held. Oh, and he exposed himself to a doctor.

Of Albashir's vile attack on the lone woman in Leeds, the judge said: 'The commonsense conclusion is that there was a sexual element to the attack.' In short, this very dangerous man was waving more red flags than a Communist rally.

Why was he free to roam the streets in the first place? Which authorities were aware of his whereabouts? And how many others like him are drifting around our towns today: unmonitored, unsafe, unhinged?

The response of millions of Britons to the story of Ibrahim Albashir will be: 'Another one?' Time and again we read of those – invariably working-age men – who have come here to 'flee danger' but end up bringing it with them.

Take Khan Agah, 19, and Noorullah Ahmdzai, 26, Afghan asylum seekers convicted this month for setting upon a couple who were on their first date stargazing in a London park. While holding a knife to the man's throat, they took turns to rape the woman, telling her they 'wanted to have some fun'.

Or Eritrean Bruke Desalagne, 33, who dragged an elderly man behind a church and raped him for 20 minutes.

Or Mohammed Abdullah, 19, a migrant who dragged a teenage girl into a public lavatory in Bournemouth and raped her. Or Abdul Khan, a 28-year-old Afghan asylum seeker jailed for raping a 13-year-old in Nottingham.

All these crimes have been reported in recent weeks. There are countless more.

One particularly awful case was that of Pakistani Sheraz Malik, 28, who raped an ‘obviously vulnerable’ 18-year-old in a Nottinghamshire park, shortly after she had been raped by another man Malik was with but who has not been identified. When she tried to resist, Malik smacked her in the face, afterwards repeatedly calling her a ‘slut’.

A pre-sentence report noted that Malik displayed ‘distorted thinking... in relation to consent, personal entitlement and the objectification of women’. You don’t say.

Anyone reading of these crimes may reasonably conclude that a lot of these men display ‘distorted thinking’.

Many were raised in cultures where women are second-class citizens; where females drinking alcohol would be immoral; where those not covered head to toe in Islamic dress are considered whores.

Let me be clear: This is not about race, but culture.

Yes, most of the thousands upon thousands of men arriving on our shores are not sexual predators. Many simply want a better life. And yes, many British men have shown they are equally capable of sick and sadistic acts.

But to deny the connection between culture and criminal conduct is to gaslight the public.

An analysis of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made to the Metropolitan Police by the Centre For Migration Control, published last year, indicated charge rates in London broken down by nationality.

While the rate for British nationals per 10,000 of the population was 6.5, among Afghans it was 74; Eritreans, 66; Algerians, 56; Somalians, 55; and Sudanese, 43.

In fact, the Government itself has even made this connection explicit by handing out a pamphlet to asylum seekers advising them not to rape women, ‘harass people’ or ‘follow someone’.

Threat

This nine-page booklet, entitled Understanding Behaviours And Expectations In The UK, is not being handed out at football stadiums or branches of Halfords or other places men tend to congregate. It is being given out at asylum centres. The reason is obvious.

Earlier this week, leader of Essex County Council Peter Harris wrote a compelling account of his visit to Wethersfield Airfield Asylum Accommodation in these pages, where 800 asylum seekers are sheltered, fed and taken for 'day trips' into towns in a fleet of 17 minibuses.

Most of them arrived through Manston Asylum Processing

Centre in Kent, where they underwent biometric testing. But as Harris wrote: 'DNA samples are not taken.

‘When I inquired about this, I was told that it might contravene their human rights, despite the obvious help it would offer the police if any of the migrants go on to commit crimes.’

Reading of this maddeningly stupid oversight, my mind returned to the teenager raped by Sheraz Malik and that other man he was with – so far unidentified. Presumably, Rapist B is still at large and a serious threat to women. Perhaps he will stalk the streets tonight, looking for another victim.

Anger

Left-wingers like to accuse journalists like me of peddling fact-lite fantasy, patching together disparate crimes to misrepresent reality.

It certainly would be good to have better, objective data when writing about this issue. But, unfortunately, our own government is refusing to release it.

Though the Information Commissioner has ruled that data on foreign offending between 2018-24 must be revealed, the Ministry of Justice has gone to court – at our expense – to suppress it.

Which means, aside from data received via FOI by bodies such as the Centre For Migration Control, we have precious little to work with.

While the Government fights to keeps information locked away, we can only wonder at the uncomfortable truths it might contain -truths which would only inflame public anger.

The British public are right to be angry. We are angry at the persistently pathetic approach to our borders; angry when we read stories of women whose lives have been shattered at the hands of men who arrived here illegally; angry at those who refuse to look this problem full in the face for fear of looking ‘racist’.

Cowardly cover-ups for the sake of ‘cultural sensitivity’ have hurt too many women and girls before. They must not do so again.

by Quentin Letts

HOLD the front page: Green party leader Zack Polanski has called for an inquiry. After a blissfully quiet few weeks when he struggled to score so much as a ‘news in brief’ paragraph, and the television studios largely stopped calling, Mr Polanski has again been hogging the headlines.

Nature's ancient rhythms are reasserting themselves. Damsons are ripening, the Gulf Stream is returning to normal and Zack the Yack is on the airwaves. Autumn's imminent onset restores the old routines.

onset restores the old routines. A party leader demanding an inquiry can always be sure of a few column inches. And who doesn't like an inquiry? Lawyers make a fortune from them.

But it might be wise for us to examine more closely what Mr Polanski is calling for – and why.

He, infuriated by Fleet Street's reporting of the Jason Arday affair and, more eccentrically, a comment article in The Mail on Sunday about the wonderful summer we have had, wants the public inquiry to be held into the culture and behaviour of the Press. 'It's time we sorted out the Press,' raged Mr Polanski. Not one of life's Mister Sunshines, he.

Some of us happen to have been able to enjoy the warm weather, despite the fires and the difficulties it brought to farmers, just as we think Cambridge University needed to be exposed for its promotion of the unfortunate, underqualified Professor Arday.

So yes, let's have an inquiry, but let it be into the culture, behaviour and consequences of the Green Party. Would that not be more revealing, and urgently necessary?

I don't know if you have ever been to a public inquiry but they are detailed affairs.

They delve into historic emails and corporate agendas. They subpoena witnesses from the gubbins of an organisation and compel them to explain controversial decisions. The smallest misjudgment can snowball. Low cunning can lead to disaster.

Inquiries examine the attitudes of big institutions towards pesky journalists.

That happened in the 2003 Hutton

Inquiry, which exposed the confrontational approach of Tony Blair's press secretary, Alastair Campbell, along with bungling at the BBC.

ORD Hutton examined the 'sexed-up dossier' on which the BBC claimed, in Lord Hutton's judgment wrongly, that we were taken into the Iraq war. The process ended with both the chairman and the director-general of the BBC resigning. Mr Campbell had by then moved to pastures new, too.

Similar scrutiny has been seen more recently at inquiries into the Covid pandemic and the Post Office Horizon scandal. Vast bundles of evidence were assembled and digitised, at great cost. Witnesses were quizzed under oath about their work. Questions about transparency – another way of saying honesty – were central.

The Covid Inquiry may have been slow tennis but it did lay bare the vulgarity of former Downing Street strategist Dominic Cummings and

Zack Polanski says the Press needs to be 'sorted out'...

Whitehall's suppression of information. The Post Office inquiry exposed similar paranoia about inconvenient truths reaching the public.

These inquiries do not always reach shattering conclusions, and some reporters felt the Hutton Inquiry in particular was a whitewash.

More instructive are the attitudes revealed along the way. How did officials or politicians behave? How reckless were they? Why were they so jealous of secrets and resentful of the fourth estate?

An inquiry into the culture and

...what we really need is an inquiry into the Green Party

behaviour of the Green Party could be intriguing. Suave senior counsel would lean back on their hind legs, stick their thumbs into their trouser tops and probe party grandees.

Did Green activists agree with their leader that it was ‘time we sorted out the Press’? They could deny, or perhaps even confirm, that complaining about journalists was the time-honoured tactic of politicians who have something to hide.

The Green Party has become an unfunny joke. An outfit once associated with hemp-shirted herbivores and middle-class Good Lifers has been hijacked by urban Marxists and anti-Semites. Lentils and wind-power (one follows another in that particular combination) have been replaced by police-bashing and calls for the obliteration of Israel.

The party's now deputy leader, Mothin Ali, in 2024 delivered a speech in which he shouted 'Allahu Akbar' in front of a Palestinian flag – and hailed his election as a Leeds councillor a 'win for the people of Gaza'.

The Greens are no longer genial hippies. They are authoritarian

Leftists who want to tax meat, ban new petrol cars and freeze defence spending. Nuclear weapons would go, but 20mph speed limits would mushroom.

They would raise the minimum wage, making it even harder for small businesses to employ youngsters. Upper tax rates would soar higher than one of Elon Musk's rockets.

Mr Polanski, in his fly manner, denounces tax evaders yet has not always himself been prompt in paying his council tax. He once worked as a boob-whisperer, a hypnotherapist who told women he could make their breasts bigger just by looking at them. How very Benny Hill of him.

He sells policies with similar breathy intimacy.

His party's policy on drugs is to

allow heroin to be sold on

prescription and for cannabis to be available at off-licence-style premises. Greens very much believe that women can have penises. Once the whole country's been down to the offie for a bag of weed, who won't?

And then there is their attitude to the police. In May, Mr Polanski hungrily leapt to the wrong conclusions after police detained a man suspected of stabbing two Jewish people in north London.

Mr Polanski shared a tweet that said the officers were behaving 'violently' to the knife-man. The head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, called Mr Polanski's intervention 'inaccurate and misinformed'. Others wondered if it told us something sinister about a party that has been adopted so heavily by Islamists.

On top of the Golders Green episode came the odd business of a Green Party conference motion which proposed that funding be taken away from ‘policing, prisons and surveillance’ in order to reduce our ‘reliance on police’.

The motion originated from the Greens' ‘crime and justice working group’. It also proposed to stop police from using pepper spray and Tasers when confronting violent offenders.

That the motion has now been withdrawn is welcome. That it was ever drafted may tell us who the Greens really are. And all this in the week we saw two fine police officers killed in the line of duty in Middlesbrough when they tried to apprehend a car of joyriders.

Come, come, you may say, the dotty old Greens are but a protest vote, a passing phase, a mid-term blip. Yet this is a party that has consistently been polling around 10 to 15 per cent of the national vote.

It seems particularly to prey on the immaturity of student voters. It was partly anxiety about the Greens that encouraged Labour MPs to topple Sir Keir Starmer, elected as our prime minister only two summers ago.

Some daft middle-class types may think this lot are Tom and Barbara Good, all woolly jumpers and free-range pigs. The evidence suggests something darker. Let's unleash Lord Leveson on them. Let's have the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about Zack the Yack.

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AN NHS maternity unit in Barnstaple, North Devon, has been closed because of ‘unsafe levels of medical staffing’.

Women in labour are being forced to travel two hours to Exeter to give birth. According to the local MP: ‘Babies are going to be born in lay-bys.’

Mums-to-be are being advised to have ‘blankets and towels easily accessible’, plenty of water, and even given instruction on the best ‘birthing positions’ in the back of a car.

We are constantly told that ‘our’ NHS is the envy of the world. It costs us around £250 billion a year and counting. So why on earth can’t it run a maternity hospital in Barnstaple, population 32,000?

In living memory, every town had at least one sturdy midwife with a Morris Minor on call round the clock.

The lame excuse of ‘unsafe’ staffing levels comes in the same week we learn that nursing graduates are reduced to stacking shelves in supermarkets because they can't get jobs in the NHS and private care homes. Meanwhile, we're granting visas to 100,000 foreign nurses and care

home staff every year. I was going to joke that since some of these babies were probably conceived on the back seats of cars, they might as well be born there,

too. But that would be missing the point. Here's another scandal I don't know whether to file under You Couldn't Make It Up or Makes You Proud To be British.

Global warming latest... The climate emergency is over - here comes the rain

LOOKS like the climate emergency is over for another year. Here comes the rain again, as Annie Lennox sang in her Eurvthmics heyday.

Or, as the ‘expert’ on LBC, whom I quoted earlier this week, insisted: here comes the ‘climate whiplash’.

That's the latest alarmist term for what we used to call ‘the weather’. Sun, followed by rain. Apres le soleil, le deluge.

The heavens opened, predictably, just in time for this weekend's Reading pop festival. So no change there, then.

Open-air music festivals the world over have been blighted by wet weather for as long as anyone can remember, going back as far as the mudbath at Max Yasgur's farm in Woodstock, upstate New York, in 1969.

The only time I went to Glastonbury, to see Van Morrison in 1982, it bucketed down and we spent a good half hour pushing my new, Evening Standard Vauxhall Cavalier 1.3 litre hatchback out of a quagmire.

We put it down to the gods having a laugh. But that was before man-made global warming – sorry, climate change – was invented.

These days, there's no such thing as an Act of God. Every slight variation in temperature, every passing shower, is blamed on our addiction to fossil fuels. No sooner had the first drops of rain fallen this week than the Met Office issued a ‘yellow warning’, whatever the hell that is.

T

HE Met Office used to be a pretty staid organisation, set up to deliver the weather forecast. In recent years, though, it has morphed into the provisional wing of Extinction Rebellion.

Rather than telling us that a warm front is moving in from the Azores, or there are squalls over the Dogger Bank which could lead to light showers in Scarborough on Bank Holiday Monday, they have reinvented themselves as climate crusaders, putting out terror-style, colour-coded alerts.

Last week, we were all going to burn in Hell for our sins. This week, we're all going to drown. The fact flash flooding is largely a result of councils not bothering to clear the drains, or the Environment Agency refusing to dredge river banks in order to preserve the habitat of the Depressed River Mussel, is overlooked.

Those of us who dare to point out these inconvenient truths are routinely slandered as ‘deniers’ by those lunatics who equate climate change with the Holocaust.

Nowhere on Earth is the cult of climate alarmism more deranged than here in Britain, which has embarked on a suicidal Net Zero crusade, destroying our industrial base, delivering some of the developed world's highest energy prices and hell-bent on making us all colder and poorer.

Net Zero nutjobs are the modern equivalent of the Flat-Earthers of

GLASWEGIANS are trying to sneak cans of Scotland's favourite soft drink Irn-Bru on to the set of the new Batman movie, starring Robert Pattinson, being filmed in the city.

Given the treatment of the Duke of Wellington's statue in Royal Exchange Square, don't be surprised if Batman ends up wearing a traffic cone on his head.

old. They are convinced theirs is the only true path. The author G.K. Chesterton maintained that when people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing, they believe in anything. The Net Zero fanatics are the living proof.

Despite the fact that Britain has one of the most temperate climates in the world, they are convinced that they – and only they – can save the planet from

LABOUR backbenchers are pressing Andy Burnham to scrap our first-past-the-post election system and replace it with proportional representation. They claim the existing system is ‘unfair’.

So it may be, but PR is a recipe for permanent coalition, chaos and indecision. At least under first-past-the-post we can kick out the Government every four or five years. Admittedly, they do have a point, even though it's a blatant attempt to Stop imminent immolation. They genuinely believe the world revolves around them.

The planet itself doesn't get a look in, even though the climate has been changing of its own accord for millennia.

While the alarmists in Britain are catastrophising over a series of hotter-than-July days this summer, and are now predicting hysterically that Birmingham is the new Atlantis, on the other

Reform via second preference votes. There is certainly something wrong with a system which delivers a 172-seat majority to a party supported by just one in five of those eligible to vote.

And while Reform ended up with a mere five MPs after the 2024 election despite winning over four million votes, Andy Pandy can be crowned PM having never faced a general election and gaining just 25,000 votes in a suburb of Wigan.

That's what I call unfair.

MORE than five years ago, I wrote a spoof column imagining asylum seekers being housed in Maplins-style holiday camps, illustrated with a brilliant Gary cartoon. But

this week's report on the goodies laid on for migrants at the former RAF Wethersfield, in Essex – gym, fitness room, table tennis and pool tables, snack bars, TVs, a large sports hall for five-a-side football, basketball and cricket, and 17 minibuses to take them into town – was beyond even my vivid imagination. I give up. Hi-de-Hi!

side of the world the true, frightening power of nature has engulfed Nepal, with tragic consequences.

Entire communities have been wiped out by flash floods, with hundreds of people confirmed dead and thousands more missing, including 33 British tourists. The ‘flash floods’ in Brum, for which the Met Office has issued a Doomwatch ‘yellow warning’ aren’t in the same league.

The devastation in Nepal is believed to have been caused by a glacial collapse. But despite what Ed Miliband might have you believe, it had nothing to do with drilling (or not) in the North Sea or carpeting British farmland with solar panels.

Whatever the New Zealand songsters Crowded House claimed, everywhere we go we don't always take the weather with us. The Earth has other ideas and we are powerless to stop it wreaking havoc.

So if you're moaning about the 'climate whiplash', spare a thought for the people of Nepal. And if you're going to the Reading pop festival this weekend, don't forget your wellies.

Goodbye Dolly... you were class all the way

R.I.P. Dolly Parton, who died at the age of 80. I like to think the Queen of Country would have chuckled at some of the cringe OTT tributes celebrities and fans posted about her passing.

Dolly was ‘the voluptuous embodiment of empathy’ wrote Jane Fonda.

Katy Perry went with: 'She was such a light. Her light ripples and will forever ripple, and I think will shine even brighter now.'

Beyonce got philosophical; 'Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious. You taught so many lessons on how to be uniquely oneself. I am grateful for your art, your heart, your generosity, your humour, your entrepreneurship.' Emphasis on the latter.

Poor Ivanka Trump faced a backlash after sharing a quote from Parton about loving and accepting others. Trolls screeched at this, arguing that her father Donald Trump's insults were in marked contrast to the singer's famous empathy.

Do not blame the child for the sins of the father, as Dolly herself would no doubt say.

My favourite tribute was the simple one from the Band of the Coldstream Guards, who performed Dolly's 9 To 5 hit during Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Class all the way.

Are you thinking what she's thinking?

AS I write, the jury is out in the Lindsay Clancy trial and will soon begin its deliberations. What an enormous task it has.

The Massachusetts mother is charged with murdering her three young children at their home in suburban Boston in 2023.

Clancy has not disputed that she killed them, but her lawyers argue she should not be held legally responsible because she was suffering from severe mental illness. Afterwards, she cut her wrists and threw herself out of a first-floor window. She will be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Some argue that a woman blaming a crime on postpartum psychosis is like a man blaming his testosterone for rape. Others that medication and being wrongly diagnosed were factors. One thing everyone agrees on – this must be one of the saddest cases ever brought before a judge.

jan.moir@dailymail.co.uk

Albashir case proves protecting women on the streets isn't a priority

THE case of Ibrahim Albashir should be shocking, but nothing is surprising any more. In 2024 he spotted a lone woman at a bus stop in Headingley, Leeds, and decided to pounce. He crept up behind her, then slashed her with a broken bottle more than 30 times.

This week the Sudanese asylum seeker of no fixed abode was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison with an indefinite hospital order.

He stood before the courts as an abject failure of the system, of public security, of basic humanity.

By grim and terrible coincidence, the attack happened barely 400 yards from where Jacqueline Hill's body was found in 1980, the last known victim of the Yorkshire Ripper.

Both Peter Sutcliffe and Albashir were diagnosed with different forms of schizophrenia, but united in their hatred of women. And what this coincidence suggests to me is that women are less safe on the streets now that they were in the Ripper's heyday.

Earlier this month, Andy Burnham promised he would be ‘relentless’ on the small boats issue but, like leaders before him, when it comes to hard actions such as process and removal, he doesn’t want to know.

No one is saying that every migrant is a violent psychopath, nor that every critic of asylum policy is a foaming racist. But you have to wonder why Albashir was allowed to wander free at will – and why do we have to pay for his care for the next quarter of a century? Paying the bill for the Yorkshire Ripper was bad enough – can't this violent misfit be sent back for his own country to deal with him? One hopes there is some legal mechanism that means criminals are deported after committing violent crimes – but don't hold your breath. If France managed to get rid of him, why can't we?

This case forces us to think about many important issues. Inaction, supervision and who is and is not released. Such a terrifying, unprovoked attack suggests that protecting women on the street is not, after all, the priority that leaders in Westminster so piously claim it to be.

Jan MOIR

The Sussex mission is to deliver us all from evil and make the world a better place... chiefly for themselves

A T THIS very moment, somewhere deep in the Cotswolds, the

Duchess of Sussex is eyeing up a fruit bush and fondling trees on her new estate.

She is wondering if she can bottle their bounty to make a buck and thinking fondly of the plaudits she'd get for rescuing those damsons in distress.

To date, on the As Ever preserves aisle in Meghan's little shop of horrors, there is the new spiced apple spread alongside her previous apricot, raspberry, strawberry and blackberry jams of middling quality but high price.

Is there room for more? A niche UK edit, a heritage range of British jams? For it seems there is nothing this Lady of Marmalade can't do with a soft fruit, a fancy label and a brass neck; one on the glass jar, the other the metaphysical manifestation of her boil, seal and label audacity.

Stop going on about the jam, Jan, I hear you cry! By Jove, your jammy judginess doth jar. Yet I cannot stop. Meghan's jam has cast a spell on me; it is the hocus poultice on my scone of scorn, the fruit paste that lays waste to any semblance of detachment I might have left. It is everything and it is nothing. It is both spread thin and piled high, if we are to believe the rumours of unsold stock clogging up warehouses across America.

Jam! Of all the things for the duchess to do when she left the UK for a fresh start in the USA, selling jam was perhaps last on her personally-curated list of career possibilities; way behind winning an Oscar, running for president and being the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize while simultaneously eradicating world poverty and showing everyone how to fold a napkin.

Even now, there is no proper reason for Meghan to be selling jam, except that she needed to flog something that connected to and reflected the bounty of her new home in California.

She needed a product that was cheap to manufacture but had a sense of place and a commercial resonance. Something wholesome, something sweet, something that didn't look like she was just another desperate moneygrubber on the hustle, perish the thought.

So, jam it was, jam it remains and, the more I think about it, the more bizarre and utterly incredible it seems.

If the Sussexes had relocated to the state of Georgia instead of California, Meghan would be selling peanuts instead of making peanuts. Perhaps the latter is the real reason why we are where we are, which is somewhere much nearer Cirencester than Sacramento.

This is what concerns me. Where is the duchess on the current Cotswold raspberry jam map? Should she want to sell her jam here, does she pitch herself against Lady Bamford's ultraposh brand Daylesford Organic, based at Kingham and sold at £5.50 for 227g – or dare she compare with King Charles' Highgrove range over at Tetbury, sold at £7.95 for 340g?

Sadly, As Ever comes a poor second on all counts.

For a start it is not organic (like Daylesford), nor do all As Ever proceeds go to charity (like High-grove) and hers is more expensive than both, coming in a £8.85 for a 215g jar. But the duchess is braving the raspberries and hanging on in there, because what other options does she have?

Apparently, Prince Harry is now going to be a stay-at-home dad and that is marvellous news, although there is another word to describe his situation - unemployed. For, despite his thousand-year lineage and impeccable connections, it is becoming clear that Harry didn't really make much of an impact in America. We learned this week that after work-shopping ideas with Spotify for 12 months the only plans as he came up with were taste testing hot chocolate and interviewing world leaders such as Vladimir Putin about their broken childhoods. Perhaps over a cup of cocoa, which would have killed two dead dodos with one stone of stupid.

Poor Harry. Nothing came of anything that wasn't connected to the fact of his royal bearing.

Meanwhile, much has been written about the possible resurrection of Meghan's acting career as a valuable income stream, but let's be realistic. Yes, the duchess has a certain novelty value and will certainly attract headlines, but she cannot command a top Hollywood salary nor sustain the dramatic gravitas or presence needed for a major role or appearing in a long-running series.

HERE does it go beyond a cameo role or a guest appearance as herself? Nowhere – and she must know this, for she is not stupid, far from.

Of course, there is always room for a walk-on part on Casualty, especially one who brings along her own jam to daub on injuries and wounds in place of fake blood. I knew her strawberry spread would come in useful one day.

In the meantime, one wishes the Sussexes well in their new life in England, where they will still strive to matter and Make A Difference at every opportunity.

This week the couple have sailed into the headlines yet again by condemning Meta for using its data-extraction business model on children and accused the tech giant of settling a £13billion lawsuit to avoid accountability.

You have to laugh. It's like Mickey and Minnie Mouse firing a peashooter at King Kong.

The case has got nothing to do with the Sussexes, but they

Gigi's made it, so why the sob story?

GIGI Hadid claims she was body-shamed early in her career. That must have been difficult, but it does seem that every beautiful model trots out this same old sob story sooner or later.

We need to know how these glamazons suffered, just like ordinary women.

I suspect it is much harder to be a pimply, overlooked teen with no chance of modelling for Gucci or going out with a film star than it ever was being Gigi.

To be honest, it is hard to sympathise with someone who has gone on to endure such a tremendous amount of success, money and fame.

Gigi is bequeathed by the gift of utter loveliness, is worth about £23million and is dating – possibly even secretly married to – actor Bradley Cooper.

Pass me a hankie, I can't cope with her ordeal. Blub!

remain imbued with a mutual god complex and are secure in their own sense of importance. Their mission is nothing less than delivering us all from evil and making the world a better place, chiefly for themselves.

Indeed, the Sussexes have spent the past six years campaigning for a fairer, greener world, a nirvana free from racism and snobbery.

Harry has been vocal in his criticism of a British society he perceives to be broken and institutionally racist. Yet the first chance they get, the Sussexes are back, flying across the world on a private jet, enrolling their Cali-kids in private, elite schools in one of the richest pockets of the country.

There's not much diversity in the Cotswolds, where 96 per cent of the population is white and comes complete with one of the biggest concentrations of high-net-worth individuals in the entire UK. What about their own accountability? How does this any of this square with Prince Harry's concern over rising social divisions, climate change and the underclass?

One supposes this is great and grand hypocrisy of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in all its hard-boiled glory. They want it all, they want it now – with jam on.

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Going in reverse? BBC boss reveals Top Gear is set for yet another revival

By Jennifer Ruby Showbusiness News Editor

THE BBC may be cutting staff and axing programmes but one show it seems determined to keep is Top Gear.

Four years after the horrific crash that left presenter Freddie Flintoff with severe injuries and forced the programme off air, the BBC has decided to revive it yet again.

‘There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back,’ said Ed Havard, the BBC’s director of entertainment, at the Edinburgh Television Festival yesterday.

On speculation that comedian Jimmy Carr could be in the driving seat to host the latest version of the show, he said: 'Jimmy would be a great host but I won't be discussing that today. We will have more information on Top Gear shortly.'

The motoring programme first aired in 1977 on BBC Midlands and was originally co-hosted by

'Jimmy would be a great host'

Angela Rippon. Its original format was axed in 2001 and revived a year later by Jeremy Clarkson.

Clarkson, alongside James May and Richard Hammond, fronted the new version from 2003-2015, turning it into a ratings success.

All three left after Clarkson's contract was not renewed when he assaulted a producer while filming. While the trio then took their new show, The Grand Tour, to Amazon Prime, the BBC chose Chris Evans and Matt Le Blanc as new hosts in 2016.

Former host: Freddie Flintoff

Paddy McGuinness and Flintoff were drafted in to present with Chris Harris for its next incarnation in 2019. It was ‘rested’ in 2022 when Flintoff flipped a three-wheeler on a test track.

In frame: Comic Jimmy Carr

This summer the BBC has been forced to cancel high-profile programmes and axe 2,000 jobs as it tries to save £500million over the next three years. They include Winterwatch after 14 years and Live at the Apollo after 22 years.

Blankety Blank and Celebrity Mastermind have also been culled. However, speaking at the festival, new BBC Director-General Matt Brittin denied reports that its flagship news programme Newsnight is also doomed.

He described the suggestion as ‘nonsense.’ However, he admitted the depth of the cost-saving had surprised him when he took over saying: ‘On the financial side, I knew that cuts had been announced and that savings had been announced, but I hadn’t really understood the severity.

‘At the moment, the world’s more uncertain than ever before for our audiences, for our industry, and for all of us.’

Canal killer, 69, takes secrets to his grave

By Olivia Christie

ONE of Britain's most notorious killers has died behind bars without revealing what he did with his victims' heads.

John Sweeney, 69, known as the canal killer, was given a whole-life tariff in 2011 for the murder of his ex-girlfriends Paula Fields and Melissa Halstead. He butchered their bodies and threw them into canals in London and the Netherlands.

Their remains were found a decade apart though their

'These were horrific crimes'

heads and hands were never recovered. Sweeney was not linked to the crimes until he was convicted of an axe attack on another girlfriend who was saved by a neighbour.

Sweeney died from cancer at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire on August 14. A Prison Service spokesman said: 'These were horrific crimes and our thoughts remain with the victims and their loved ones.'

The carpenter boasted of his violence in paintings and poems found at his home. Police suspect he may have killed others.

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WHETHER it's a water birth, home birth, hypno or hospital birth, there are a

variety of helpful classes available to mothers-to-be so they can prepare for the ideal arrival of their baby.

This week, however, in a move that will horrify most parents-to-be, it emerged that classes are being offered for the kind of birth no mother ever wants – how to have a baby in a car or by the roadside.

It comes after North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple closed its birthing wing due to staff shortages, forcing pregnant women to travel more than an hour and a half to Exeter.

Around 300 women who are at least 34 weeks pregnant or high-risk patients have been contacted to make alternative plans.

The classes are said to help those couples deliver their babies if they come before they make it to hospital – while driving along the motorway or parked on the hard shoulder, for example.

Antenatal teacher Catherine Mchomvu, who runs the sessions, said: 'It's about trying to create the birth environment that you would normally have in the hospital or at home, in your car.'

But hundreds of mothers-to-be in the area took to the streets of Barnstaple last week to protest the closure.

Lib Dem MP for North Devon Ian Roome said: ‘Quite frankly, the situation is unacceptable.’

Here, three mothers who have given birth on the way to hospital share their jaw-dropping experiences...

'My husband had to veer into a farm and a horse watched me give birth'

LAURA Luke, 39, is a racing yard worker. She lives in Shropshire with husband Ashley, 42, a builder, and their two daughters Isla, nine, and Hollie, five. Laura gave birth to Hollie in a car on New Year's Eve 2020. She says:

WHEN I had my first daughter, I was induced a week early because I'd been suffering from severe migraines. So, when Hollie was a week late in

December 2020, I was more relaxed, thinking we'd head to hospital to have a straightforward birth.

On New Year's Eve I woke up around 5.20am with twinges. I asked my mum to look after Isla, while Ash went to defrost the car because it was four degrees outside.

We left the house as it began to get light around 6.10am, but within two minutes of driving down the main road, I shouted: 'No, it's happening! We're not going to hospital!' Ash said: 'You are joking?' but I replied: 'No, this is serious – pull over!'

He steered into the driveway of a nearby farm. Traffic was whizzing past and as Ash started calling the ambulance from the driver's seat, I opened the door. I had an urge to be standing up straight.

I looked up and a horse appeared right next to the car over the fence. I've since found out his name was Randolph.

I put one hand on the car and one on the horse to steady myself, and for a couple of minutes it was just me and Randolph, panting out clouds of breath in the cold morning air.

It was surreal but also very calm and natural.

Ash eventually raced round to my side, still on the phone to the paramedics. I said: 'It's going to happen any minute now. You have to put the phone down.' Within

After the closure of a remote maternity unit in North Devon, pregnant women are receiving lessons on how to have a baby if you don't make it to hospital. So what's it really like? Buckle up and read these nerve-shredding stories

WE GAVE BIRTH IN OUR CARS!

by Jill Foster

seconds, the baby was out. Ash dropped his phone and dived like a rugby player to catch her.

I quickly showed him how to wipe her mouth and face so she didn't choke on mucus, then he passed her to me, still connected to the cord. I sat back in the car and placed her on my chest to keep her warm.

Randolph's face was a picture. He had snorted as she came out of my body as if to say: 'What is that?' but then leaned further over to take a closer look.

I had some blankets in the suitcase in the back but, like a scene out of a dark comedy, I couldn't remember the pin number to the lock. So I just lay there on the front seat waiting for the ambulance.

When several turned up at once about half an hour later, the paramedics were all saying 'Well done!' to Ash.

I did think: 'Hang on, I had something do with this as well.'

The car looked like a murder scene. We were concerned about Ash in case he was pulled over by the police and had to explain where all the blood had come from.

When we reached the hospital, we were checked over but allowed to go home within a few hours.

Registering Hollie's birth was a nightmare because we couldn't prove we'd given birth in the middle of the road. It took weeks of persuading for them to finally register her place of birth as the street where she was born.

I feel for those mothers being given classes about having a baby in the car. It's probably very dangerous if it's still moving. I think my foot would have gone through the windscreen if we'd not been able to stop, such is the instinct for your body to be in a certain position.

But Hollie loves the fact she had an unusual birth and every time we drive past that spot, she says: 'That's where I was born!'

'I was all alone in the car when my son was born with the cord around his neck'

AMBER Campbell, 48, lives in north-west London with her husband Jamie, 49, and their 13-year-old daughter and

11-year-old son. Amber gave birth to her son on the roadside outside St Mary's Hospital, London, in September 2014. She says:

I SUSPECTED my son's birth would be quick because my first labour with my daughter 19 months earlier had lasted only two hours from start to finish.

But at least I'd managed to reach the hospital in time. Because of the speed, I'd asked for a home birth this time but was refused because I had gestational diabetes.

I accepted that decision – after all, they are the experts – but was very worried about how quick this birth would be.

So when I woke up with my first contraction around 11.45pm one September evening, I knew we had to get to the hospital as quickly as we could.

That shouldn't have been too hard – we only live ten minutes away. But to our dismay there was a roadblock.

Jamie found himself going round a roundabout twice, and it was on that second round that my waters broke and I told him I could feel I was crowning, which is when the baby's head appears.

At that point, Jamie lived out his Grand Theft Auto fantasies and drove straight through all the street cones towards the hospital entrance. There was a man in a high-vis jacket waving at us to stop, and I'll never forget the moment my eyes met his as we sped past.

My mouth was wide open in horror and so was his, but I think in that split second he saw that I was on all fours in the passenger seat with a huge pregnant belly and about to give birth!

Jamie pulled up on the kerb and said: 'Right, let's go!' I screamed: 'Which part of "crowning" do you not understand?'

He ran to get help and I was left all alone in the car. There were no nurses, no paramedics, not even any passers-by.

I was terrified but instinct immediately kicked in. I felt the urge to push and within seconds my son was out of my body and had fallen into the seat below me. The light was very dim but I could see he was purple and the cord was around his neck.

I'm really not the athletic type, but somehow I was able to reach down, pick him up and with one hand unravel his cord.

It usually takes an hour for the placenta to arrive but within another minute I'd pushed that out too.

I kept holding my son up, afraid he was going to drown in all the fluid beneath me, and for just a in London at the time and the hospital was only 15 minutes away from our house. But my mother-in-law wanted to get her bearings by driving the way she knew.

So she drove ten minutes up the road to her house first and then set off to the hospital, as I writhed in agony on the passenger seat.

Then we got stuck behind a bus. By this time I was practically hanging off the coat hooks in the car in pain with my mother-in-law yelling: 'Don't you dare have that baby in this car!'

Then she took a wrong turning and we almost ended up going into Wormwood Scrubs prison.

When we finally reached the hospital, I was in so much pain.

iew more moments it was simply me and him.

This may sound odd, but there was a strange magical stillness and calmness to it. My daughter's birth in hospital had been quick, but I'd had nurses and midwives around me. The baby had been weighed, checked, and it was very medical. As it should be, of course.

But this was just the two of us for maybe five, ten or even 20 minutes. My husband and I can never agree on the exact timing!

When Jamie came running back to the car distraught, he still hadn't found anyone to help and I could tell from the look on his face that he thought I was still waiting to give birth.

But as he reached the car, I held up our son and said: 'I've done it.' He was shocked but managed to say: 'Well done, love.'

Minutes later, a man walked past – just a regular guy, nothing to do with the hospital – and Jamie yelled: 'My wife has just given birth! Can you get help?'

Thankfully, this man went into the hospital to look for someone. A nurse arrived and her first words were: 'Oh, we were told that someone was giving birth, not had given birth. You need to go back and get your things.'

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but she didn't realise that I'd literally just given birth in the car.

I was in a mess but managed to get into a wheelchair and was taken to the maternity unit where I was stitched up.

We have no idea what time our son was born and on the birth certificate it says 'Praed Street' as his place of birth, which is the road just outside the hospital. We did consider calling him Parker but decided against it – there were already too many jokes and puns about cars flying around.

Obviously, I would never have chosen that kind of birth, but I loved the extraordinary moment of connection I had with my son. My mum said I was ‘brave’, but I don’t think I was: an instinct simply came over me, and I did what was necessary.

Funnily enough, about three years ago I was sitting next to someone at a dinner party and we got talking about births and he said he'd heard an extraordinary story about a woman giving birth in her car outside St Mary's Hospital. He told the tale and I realised it was my birth.

When I told him that he'd met the mother, he looked mortified.

'My mother-in-law was driving. We got stuck behind a bus and nearly turned into a prison!'

GEMMA Moroney, 45, is a company director. Widowed, she lives in Brighton and has three children – two sons aged 18 and 13 and a daughter aged 16. LABOUR with my first baby – a boy – was four days long and I had to be induced with an epidural. So when I got pregnant with my daughter two years later, I had no experience of contractions and

Squeals on wheels: Laura Luke with baby Hollie, left. Amber Campbell and her son, top. Above, Gemma Moroney and her baby girl

didn't know what to expect.

A friend had mentioned that when she was in labour, she'd been in so much pain that she couldn't even bite down on a sandwich. So when I started feeling twinges while at a family barbecue in July, even though I was five days late, I thought I couldn't be in labour yet.

I phoned the maternity helpline and the woman at the other end said I should take a couple of paracetamol. But by now my husband was worried and thought I should go to the hospital.

I decided to take a shower and change into my pyjamas, and we called my mother-in-law who said she'd take me in.

She parked only two cars away from our front door but by the time I walked from our house to the car, I'd had two strong contractions so I knew things were moving quickly.

What followed was like something out of a farce. We lived

I threw open the car door and a male passer-by could see I was in trouble and

asked if I needed help with my breathing. 'No!' I yelled. 'The baby is coming!'

I whipped off my pyjama bottoms and he ran off. We never saw him again.

By this point I had dropped to all fours on the car park floor and my mother-in-law had run off to flag down an ambulance. Two female paramedics – Liz and Julie – came racing over and that's when my daughter decided to make an appearance.

I remember looking down at my toenails – I'd had a fresh pedicure – and I was furious it had been ruined on the tarmac.

Once the baby was out, Liz and Julie admitted that they had never done this before and had only done 30 minutes' training on how to deliver a baby.

My daughter was a little cold in the midnight air but absolutely fine. We were both wheeled into the hospital and had to stay in overnight.

It was not the ideal way to give birth. My mother-in-law was genuinely a bit traumatised for weeks afterwards and we still call my daughter the ‘car park drama queen’.

Deluge that came along just in time for bank holiday!

WITH most of the country in drought, we've been praying for a bit of rain.

But the deluge that turned up yesterday was most definitely

By Richard Marsden

not welcome – neither the news that the washout will continue into the bank holiday.

Homes and businesses in

Birmingham were flooded out by water up to 3ft deep and roads became rivers overnight.

The Environment Agency issued 42 flood alerts for the Midlands and the South East and there was a flood warning for the River Maun around Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire.

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Some areas saw 3in of rain together with lightning and hail but temperatures still held up at 28C.

Ryan Goodwin, from Perry Barr, Birmingham, said: 'The conservatory had about 3ft of water, luckily that is below the house level, but it's gone under the laminate flooring in the front room.'

It comes after five successive heatwaves, with drought now declared

'Plenty of rain'

in three-quarters of England and in the whole of Wales.

Looking ahead to the Bank Holiday weekend, the Met Office said there would be ‘plenty of rain’.

Spokesman Stephen Dixon said: 'Most places in England and Wales will see between 10 to 30mm (1in) of rain, with up to 50mm possible in some spots – more likely further west.

‘Monday will see more of a mixed picture through the day with rain increasingly in north-eastern areas while those further south could see sunshine at times.’

'Butcher of Bosnia' Mladic dies at 84

THE former Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic, dubbed the 'Butcher of Bosnia' for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, has died.

Mladic was serving a life sentence in The Hague for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity after overseeing Europe's worst act of bloodshed since the Second World War. This included commanding Serb forces to execute 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys in a UN-protected enclave.

He had suffered several strokes in recent months and is thought to have been aged 84.

Ephraim Hardcastle

NOW Harry is newly embedded in the Cotswolds, will he me

Couswoids, will he mount a charm offensive to build bridges with his stepmother Queen Camilla? She may have played happy families at the secret Highgrove ‘reconciliation’ last month, but Camilla is no pushover. Whatever happens in the Royal Family, the King will always take her side. Alas, Harry has made no secret of his antipathy, telling Anderson Cooper on US show 60 Minutes in 2023: ‘She was the villain, she was a third person in the marriage. The need for her to rehabilitate her image... that made her dangerous.’ He also claimed that the Queen ‘sacrificed’ him on her ‘personal PR altar’. In his memoir Spare, Harry claims that he and William urged their father not to marry Camilla. Now he faces a dilemma. Her 80th birthday next year is the big royal event, clashing with the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. Harry, a hothead and not a diplomat, may need to choose where his (current) loyalties lie.

[ (●) ]

WITH King Harald of Norway, 89, gravely ill, a succession crisis looms. His son Crown Prince Haakon, who is serving as regent, would not be an unpopular monarch. But half of Norwegians do not think his wife Mette-Marit is fit to be Queen despite her apology for her intimate friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. To top it all, the heir apparent's older sister, Princess Martha Louise, and her husband, a black American 'shaman', have made a Netflix documentary suggesting that Harald and Haakon 'did not know what racism is'. It makes King Charles's family difficulties look like a squabble over the TV remote control.

(○)

FOLLOWING reports that Nigella Lawson, pictured, is not getting on with Bake Off co-star Paul Hollywood – she allegedly labelled him ‘cringe’ – her predecessor Dame Prue Leith pours oil over troubled waters. ‘I saw

Nigella this week,' she soothingly tells the BBC. 'They've finished filming the first [series] and she said she absolutely loves it. And Paul loves her and everybody is as happy as everything.' Is Prue's balm just a touch too saccharine?

[ (○) ]

LOOKING back on his 1975 movie classic Monty Python And The Holy Grail ahead of a Q&A and screening tour, old booby John Cleese cheerfully confesses: 'We show the film, but I don't watch it as I've seen it over 7,000 times. So, I go round the corner and have dinner and then come back and answer questions from the audience.' Isn't life grand?

[ (○) ]

CURRENTLY running The Fat Duck from his Provence retreat, Heston Blumenthal has been conducting a culinary experiment placing equal volumes of white rice and water in airtight jars. 'Every morning you give one jar of rice love and gratitude. You call another a piece of s*** and the third you ignore,' Heston tells The New Statesman. 'The jar with the love goes orange. The jar that's been abused goes black. And the jar that's been ignored rots.' Will diners at The Fat Duck, where one of Heston's specialities is snail porridge, soon be able to choose between pampered and abused rice?

Email: john.mcentee@dailymail.co.uk

On day one in UK, Harry and Meghan take a swipe at Meta

Holiday: King Charles yesterday driving in Braemar

THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex have criticised Meta after the firm agreed to pay up to £13billion to settle a child harm lawsuit.

The couple, who returned to the UK on Wednesday after six years in the US, said the social media giant had ‘paid to avoid yet another trial outcome that would force it into accountability’.

They said the company has ‘more than the means to pay this settlement’ given estimates that it will make the equivalent money back in profits within 30 days.

Meta has agreed the payout as part of a settlement ending a legal battle in the US, where it will also introduce major new protections for teenage users, to resolve claims

'They paid to avoid yet another trial'

that Facebook and Instagram harmed children. Harry and Meghan, vociferous online safety campaigners in recent years, hailed this as a ‘positive step for everyone advocating for safer online spaces’.

They said the result shows Meta and other social media companies ‘understand they are up against an immovable force of parents, survivors, and advocates who will not back down until we see change in how our young people interact with online spaces’.

The Sussexes – who have travelled back to Britain with children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five – concluded by stating: 'We celebrate with the parents and youth partners, legal and policy experts, and allies everywhere fighting for accountability.

‘As always, we stand with them as they seek justice going forward,

By Mark Duell

ensuring child online safety is built into any online space where our young people spend time.'

Their comments came as the King was seen yesterday driving through Braemar near the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire as part of his annual holiday.

The Meta agreement resolves claims filed by 47 US states accusing the tech giant of designing Instagram with features that are addictive to children and teenagers and can harm mental health.

Meta unveiled a set of new protections and controls that will automatically apply to under-18s on Instagram and Facebook, subject to court approval and only for participating US states.

This includes a default night-time block, between midnight and 6am, muting notifications during school hours, hiding the number of 'likes' and reactions on posts by default, and blocking teens from using extreme makeup filters.

Meta has also committed to strengthening tools to prevent under-age accounts being created and protecting teenagers from harmful content. These measures will not apply to users worldwide, including the UK.

The settlement will be made over ten years to the US states involved.

But Meta called on rival social media platforms TikTok and YouTube to make similar changes with its chief legal officer CJ Mahoney saying its new protections ‘will only work if all our peers join us’.

He added: ‘Because teens move fluidly across dozens of apps, we need an industry-wide solution.’

The Tories said the settlement showed social media companies ‘have turned a blind eye to the damage being done’.

Jan Moir - Pages 22-23

Concern: Sussexes with Lilibet

...WITH ALL THE gear

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Children at risk as vaccine rate falters

THE uptake of every vaccine offered to protect baby health has declined again, according to official figures.

Daily Mail Reporter

The number of one-year-olds getting the six-in-one jab, which includes protection against diphtheria, whooping cough and polio, fell by 0.9 percentage points to 90.8 per cent in the year to March 2026, annual data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows.

Vaccine rates against rotavirus, pneumonia and meningitis, and meningitis B also fell, while uptake of the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine decreased by 1 per cent to 88.3 per cent.

This means coverage is falling short of the World Health Organisation's 95 per cent target needed for herd immunity.

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of immunisation at UKHSA, said: 'We have now largely forgotten how many young lives were lost to diseases like measles and diphtheria before we had these vaccines.'

She urged parents to contact their GP if children are not up to date with their jabs, adding: 'It's never too late to catch up.'

• FINAL WEEKS • MUST CLOSE SEPT 19

TAMZIN OUTHWAITE

'A COMIC TOUR DE FORCE' STANDARD ★★★★

'MESMERISING' TIMES ★★★★

'FEROCIOUS AND FABULOUS' FINANCIAL TIMES ★★★★

KEVIN PANDORA OMAR LAUREN BISHOP COLIN MALIK PATEL

'A CRACK CAST... THIS IS ONE PARTY YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS'

DAILY TELEGRAPH ★★★★

ABIGAIL'S PARTY BY MIKE LEIGH

DIRECTED BY NADIA FALL

HAROLD PINTER THEATRE

'A GOLD-PLATED PRODUCTION ... BRUTALLY FUNNY'

SUNDAY EXPRESS ★★★★

Alison

■ Follow me on X@alisonboshoff

Nice work if you can get it: Kanye pockets \$25m for cancelled gigs

IAIN'T saying he's a gold digger, but ... Kanye West has made over \$25million this year for not performing.

As yet another event is cancelled this week – two controversial dates in St Petersburg, Russia, have bitten the dust – Kanye's global fans are being left out of pocket. But the rapper is still very much in the money.

Sources reveal the artist now known as Ye only signs deals if he's paid half the fee up front, whether he plays or not. Which means he got \$10million (£7.3m) for the cancelled gigs in Russia.

Ye has been cancelled a lot, because of public outrage over his anti-Semitic comments. Shows that never happened include London's Wireless Festival, which he was meant to headline last month. I'm told he still got \$7.5 million (£5.5m) for it.

He also received \$4million (£2.9m) for a cancelled gig in France, and the same for an event in Italy which was called off this summer. Making a grand total of \$25.5million (£18.7m) this year alone – all without him having to clear his throat.

Ye, who's won 24 Grammy Awards, was set to perform on October 10 and 11 at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg. It was a bold move – or a foolish one, depending on your point of view. Although artists are not banned from performing in Russia, doing so while sanctions are in place because of the war with Ukraine involves financial complications and a high risk of political bad odour.

West: Money for nothing

Then, earlier this week, the stadium, which had already announced the gigs on social media, said no rental agreements had been signed, and denied ever organising the concerts, adding that they were not now going ahead.

A source said: 'Kanye's management are killing his career here, because every cancellation means that you have another market where people won't want to take him on again.

‘It seems the people who organised the gigs in Russia didn’t have the ability to do so. Everyone got tempted by the money, and then it’s blown up in their faces.

'If you want to do a gig in Russia, you need to sit down with one of Putin's assistants and offer assurances nothing is going to happen to cause the government embarrassment.'

Ye would have been the first major Western artist to perform in Putin's Russia since the war in Ukraine began in 2022.

In January, he published a lengthy apology, in the form of an advertisement in the Wall Street Journal, blaming bipolar disorder for his ‘poor judgment’ and ‘reckless behaviour’.

‘I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state,’ he said in the statement. ‘It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an anti-Semite. I love Jewish people.’

That may be, but he has previously released a track called Heil Hitler and sold swastika T-shirts.

In April, Wireless Festival collapsed after Ye, its headliner, was banned from travelling to the UK, on the basis his presence here ‘would not be conducive to the public good’.

WE CAN'T BE BEET, SAY EMMERDALE FARMERS

POSSIBLY the most unlikely influencers, for the most unlikely reasons, are soap actors Jeff Hordley, 56, and his wife Zoe Henry, 52. The Emmerdale stars (he plays bad-boy village mechanic Cain Dingle, she plays the local vet Rhona Goskirk) have launched an account covering their allotment on social media, and it's been an instant hit. Since Jeff and Zoe started on August 3 they have picked up 226,000 followers on Instagram, and 320,000 on Facebook, for basically discussing the size of their beetroots and problems with prickly courgette leaves.

Growing fanbase: Jeff Hordley and Zoe Henry

Boshoff

Do you expect me to talk? No, Mr Bond, I expect you to empty the dishwasher

IS THE ‘twist’ in the James Bond casting which producer Amy Pascal is promising us the fact that Bond and his nemesis will be played by a real-life husband and wife?

Slow Horses star Jack Lowden is in the running for 007. And his wife Saoirse Ronan (pictured with Lowden, above) has just told Empire magazine that her dream is to be a Bond villain. 'I want to go dark,' she said. 'I said that I wanted to be a Bond villain, and I'm dead serious.

'I think it would be really interesting, having a young female villain. Especially for girls and women, to see someone who can just take all that pent-up anger and direct it somewhere.'

Amazon MGM Studios struck a deal with longtime franchise stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to take full control of Ian Fleming's iconic spy in 2025, and are casting at the moment, with an announcement expected this autumn. Filming could then start at the turn of the year.

Producer Pascal said: 'I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical.' She added: 'Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it's got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting.'

A mister and missus double act would certainly qualify. Other names in the running for Bond are thought to include Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi and Tom Holland.

VIDEO game Grand Theft Auto 6 is going to be the biggest release of the year – way bigger than the film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has just sunk Titanic's box office record, netting more than \$2.2billion (£1.6bn) globally since its launch last month. Estimates suggest GTA 6 will take more than \$5billion (£3.6bn) in its first week on sale in November. Some footage from the game was leaked this week, leading to legal action.

Life imitates art for L-plate Ludwig

DAVID MITCHELL - who plays reluctant driver and puzzle setter John 'Ludwig' Taylor in the hit comedy drama Ludwig - can't drive in real life either, and failed his test aged 30.

Said David, 52 (pictured): 'I took lessons and then failed my test aged around 30. Which is just as well as I would have been a danger to other road users.

‘When I was learning, I could never shake this image of me being in this large metal thing full of petrol, which I could lose

control of at any moment: it was like going around waving a loaded gun! One of

NICOLA Peltz Beckham, 31, is getting a ‘rising star’ award at the Venice Film Festival next weekend, even though (as it notes on her citation for the Kineo award) she actually started acting as a kid...20 years ago. Peltz Beckham (left) is being honoured alongside icon Faye Dunaway, who co-stars in her new self-funded film Prima, which is about ballet.

the great ironies of series one of Ludwig was that my character John Taylor was criticised for being a bad driver, when at least he could drive.

‘He was being played by someone who couldn't drive and would have been a menace if they had done. Being able to drive is useful, but I'm at a time in my life when learning any new skill would be incredibly hard.’

Rumour has it that on screen Ludwig will re-take his driving test at some point. Watch out.

THE first of Netflix's Narnia films, directed by Barbie's Greta Gerwig, will be the most expensive the streamer has ever made, with a budget of \$280 million – more than The Odyssey. However, after test screenings it is having emergency reshoots, and has been pulled from a November release and punted into next year. The C. S. Lewis story has been moved to 1950s London, with an all-star cast which includes Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep. The first film is based on The Magician's Nephew, a prequel to The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

What would Lady Cora say! A new look for the old Lord...

RIP, Lord Grantham. And hello, Lord Hawthorne!

Peer to peer: Lord Hawthorne and, top, Lord Grantham

Hugh Bonneville practically dances on Downton's Abbey's grave in the new series of Netflix's The Gentlemen, playing a super-camp toff (with a carefully styled bouffant do), hot on the scent of a handsome young man.

Bonneville was serious - some might even say dull - as the thoroughly decent Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in Downton.

But you can see him having the time of his life in The Gentlemen, series two of which is streaming from Thursday next week.

Described in the show by drug kingpin Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone) as a 'posh c***', Bonneville plays Lord 'Dickie' Hawthorne, who we first meet at a shooting day at the stately home owned by Eddie Horniman, the Duke of Halstead, played by Theo James.

Eddie wants to gain entry to the House of Lords so he can influence marijuana legislation. And – no spoilers! – Dickie just might play a big role in these efforts.

The colourful Lord Hawthorne takes a shine to Jack (Harry Goodwins), younger brother of Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario). He drinks, he swears, he slurps down oysters – and he dances like Louie Spence in Ibiza.

At one point, over cocktails, Lord Hawthorne tells Eddie: 'I know I look like a useless old fruit, but I do know when I'm being worked, lubed, greased over.' Fetch the smelling salts, Mrs Hughes! The

Gentlemen was in the headlines this week after it was suggested that Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, might appear in series three.

Netflix alluded to the hoo-ha in a press release for series two, which concluded with the words: 'ABOUT THE GENTLEMEN S3 ...Your guess is as good as mine.'

Superyacht stewardess 'took own life after arguing with boyfriend'

Talented: Ms Amesbury

A SUPERYACHT steward- ess killed herself following a row with her boyfriend after drinking and taking cocaine, an inquest heard.

Imogen Amesbury, 21, spent

By Elizabeth Haigh

months abroad before returning home and reuniting with ex-partner Andrew Hewitt.

But after a falling out while staying at her mother's home,

Mr Hewitt left at around 4am. In a call an hour later, Ms Amesbury told him she was ‘going to kill herself’ and ‘wanted to die’.

Mr Hewitt told her ‘don’t be stupid’, before she hung up. He did not raise the alarm, and her body was later found at the house in Lyme Regis, Dorset.

She previously struggled with her mental health, the inquest was told, but returned from a three-month stint sailing to the Caribbean in ‘good spirits’.

Paying tribute to her daughter, awarded an art scholarship to Queen's College Taunton, her mother Marie said: 'She was my most beautiful, talented and adventurous child. She should have had so much more time.'

Mr Hewitt said they had spent the evening of January 11, 2022,

'Told him she wanted to die'

together and consumed wine, while she also took cocaine. He said tensions flared when they talked about their exes.

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Police investigated her death but no action was taken. Mr Hewitt was asked if he had ever sent her messages telling her to 'go kill herself' or been verbally abusive, to which he said he did not wish to comment.

The inquest in Bournemouth continues.

■ For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org

KUROSU

Today's difficulty rating ★★★

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1: Fill in each space with either a nought or a cross so there are no more than two consecutive noughts or crosses in any row or column. Important note: diagonals don't count.

2: Each row and column must contain three noughts and three crosses.

Solution on Mail Puzzles back page

PLAY Kurosu and 47 puzzles like them every day on your tablet or smartphone with the Mail Digital Edition, your Mail newspaper on your screen. Get a trial offer at mailpuzzles.co.uk

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FROM THE DAILY MAIL ARCHIVE AUGUST 28, 1958

AMERICAN scientists plan within two years to put a manned satellite into space, let it orbit under the deadly radiation belt for a few days, and bring it safely back to earth. Already American volunteers are being trained, scientists at the international space congress in Amsterdam were told.

AUGUST 28, 2004

AFTER eight years of transforming the nation's homes, Britain's favourite makeover show has finally run out of ideas. The BBC has decided this autumn's series of Changing Rooms will be the last.

SHANIA TWAIN, 61. The Canadian singer-songwriter, the 'Queen of Country Pop', had hits with That Don't Impress Me Much and Man! I Feel Like a Woman. After her husband cheated on Twain with her best friend, she went on to marry the best friend's ex-husband.

AI WEIWEI, 69. The Chinese dissident artist – living in exile in Portugal, with a home in Cambridge – helped design Beijing's ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic stadium but called China ‘a society that sacrifices people’s rights and happiness to make a profit’.

BORN ON THIS DAY JOHANN WOLF- GANG VON GOETHE (1749-1832). The writer, artist and statesman, 'the German-speaking world's answer to Shakespeare', pro- duced the drama

Faust, about 10,000 letters and 3,000 drawings despite suffering acute backache from fused vertebrae.

JACK VANCE (1916-2013). The US author of more than 60 fantasy, mystery and sci-fi books inspired George RR Martin and Terry Pratchett. He was so bored serving in the US navy that he resigned and was discharged from Pearl Harbor – a week before the Japanese attacked.

ON AUGUST 28...

IN 1994, shops in England and Wales enjoyed their first Sunday trading following a change in the law.

IN 1996, Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorced after 15 years of marriage.

Tintamarre (coined 1926)

A) Dimple-like dent in your cheeks when you smile. B) Very flat, snub nose or with the end turned up. C) Uproar, hubbub or confused noise.

Answer below

PHRASE EXPLAINED

Live life in the fast lane: A hectic way of living full of excitement, activity, and often danger; a late 1970s phrase alluding to the outer lane of motorways being where traffic overtakes at high speed sometimes recklessly.

QUOTE FOR TODAY

Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights before the dark of reason grows.

Sir John Betjeman, former poet laureate (1906-1984) JOKE OF THE DAY

WANT to hear a joke about a piece of paper? Never mind... it's tearable. Guess The Definition answer: C

Compiled by ETAN SMALLMAN and ADAM JACOT DE BOINOD

Eden Confidential

We're stealing oxygen from young, says Hampshire, 89

LIVING to 90 might sound like something to celebrate, but veteran actress Susan Hampshire, who will reach the milestone next May, sees longevity rather differently.

Hampshire believes that her generation is taking up precious space that should be reserved for the young.

During the Abigail's Party VIP night at London's Harold Pinter Theatre, she tells me: 'I'm hoping I'm not going to hang along for too much longer, that's all I can say.'

Hampshire, who starred in 1960s BBC classic drama The Forsyte Saga and Monarch Of The Glen, also believes her counterparts are snatching vital resources from younger generations.

She explains: 'Unfortunately, my age group are hanging about too much and we're taking the oxygen from the young.'

The actress adds: ‘We need to move off. We’ve had our day in the sun, and we need to leave space for the young. I think we live in an overcrowded world and that makes it very difficult.’

And wisdom doesn't automatically come with age, opines the three-time Emmy Award-winning star, who has never tried drugs and didn't drink alcohol until her 30s.

'Well, a lot of us may not be that wise. We just might think we're wise, but we might be talking a lot of rubbish,' she says.

Hampshire has had a tumultuous

■ IT WAS truly no laughing matter for stand-up comedian Mark Steel when an old banger he put up for sale was brazenly stolen by a ‘notorious’ thug. Recalling the bizarre incident, the 66-year-old Kent-born

Day in the sun: Susan Hampshire

time in the past decade, caring for her second husband, Sir Eddie Kulukundis, during his 14-year battle with Alzheimer's until his death in 2021. She had been married to the theatre impresario for 40 years.

‘I have never even thought about remarrying,’ she admits. ‘He only died five years ago, and I enjoy every minute of his memory. He was so sweet and he was very kind.’

The actress has one son, film producer Christopher Granier-Deferre, from her first marriage to French director Pierre Granier-Deferre.

Despite her pessimistic opinion on long life, Hampshire is still acting and will reprise her role as aristocrat Lady Carteret in the second season of Channel 5's remake The Forsytes. 'I mean, if something comes along and I'm offered it, then that's a nice surprise,' she says. 'But obviously most people think I'm dead.'

funnyman reveals: '[He] came round, I thought he's gonna use it [the car] for some ill-fated burglary or something. He asked "Can I get in?" I went "Yeah," and he got in and just drove off.' Shocking.

Bold Bookish pulls no punches

IS BOOKISH about to shock viewers with scenes of 'gay bashing' and derogatory language?

I only ask as the show's creator and star, Mark Gatiss, 59, insists such moments belong in the detective show's second series, which is set in a post-war London and returned to the U&Alibi channel this week. 'It's very impor-

Edited by Stephanie Takyi tant to show it's not all roses,' said Gatiss, who is married to actor Ian Hallard, 51, during a Q&A talk at London's BFI Southbank.

He added: 'You can say these things and you can educate people sometimes, but without being too didactic about it.'

It's wine over wedding for Lady Eliza

WHILE the Sussexes were settling into their new home in the country on Wednesday night, Harry's cousin Lady Eliza Spencer was raising a toast with her fiance Channing Millerd. They were marking the launch of their £27-a-bottle wine, Lala V Rosé at luxury drinks retailer Hackstons in Knightsbridge.

The couple, pictured, who got engaged last August, admit making wine has taken priority over exchanging vows. Earl Spencer's daughter, 34, tells me: 'We've been together for almost 11 years, so what difference does getting married really make?' She adds: 'It's been fun doing something just the two of us. One day when we start planning our wedding, we will celebrate the wine with all the people we love.'

■ SUMMER isn't over yet, but Dawn O'Porter, 47, is already dreading its end. The TV presenter- turned-author and mother of two, who is married to actor Chris O'Dowd, explains: 'Having not written all summer, I am now terrified of the return to my desk. No amount of time off, head clearing, finding yourself or parenting gets books written.'

Kaya's Ritchie pub rap not so Gentlemanly!

DIRECTOR Guy Ritchie's Fitzrovia pub, Lore of the Land, which has twice gone up in flames, has a vocal critic.

Surprisingly, it's Kaya Scodelario, 34, who reprises her role as crime boss Susie Glass in the forthcoming series of his Netflix hit, The Gentlemen, next month.

She didn't exactly about the boozer during her interview on the Off Menu podcast. 'It's tiny, it's a bit - I don't want to s*** on it - it's a bit "Mayfair". It's a little poncy,'

she said. But Kaya, pictured with Guy, soon softened the blow, adding: 'But that's OK. We need places like that too.

They [the staff] were really generous

and kind. ‘We had incredible food, amazing wine.’

■ BROADCASTER Nick Grimshaw has taken aim at the ‘nepo babies’ descending on Reading Festival, which kickstarted yesterday.

‘Some people are calling this Canopy Stage the Nepo Baby stage because of the list of artists who are going to perform,’ says the former BBC Radio 1 DJ, 42.

‘They include Cruz Beckham, Violet Grohl, Chris Martin’s son Moses and Liam Gallagher’s son Gene.’

Nick adds: 'So you have the offspring of Coldplay, Oasis, Foo Fighters and the Beckhams. Nepotism goes a long way. You can still make good music. But can you make great music? Can you have the same hunger for it?'

The festival's other performers include Charli XCX and Florence & The Machine.

Where it all begins

Your support means we can continue to create partnerships that offer a lifetime of independence for people like Ross.

Donate now at guidedogs.org.uk

Guide Dogs

Life Unleashed

Dally Mail, Friday, August 28, 2026 Secrets & Lives Page 35

I ballooned to a size 18 during my miserable marriage. Even after divorce, I couldn't shift the pounds — until I realised the real cause ...now I've lost five stone without jabs

A TYPICAL morning for me, 13 years ago, would go something like this.

I would wake up alone, the debris from last night's TV 'treats' littering the bedroom: the family-size bag of crisps, the pot of dips and empty wine bottle – the solitary glass.

Immediately, the dread, anxiety and self-loathing started to kick in, shortening my breath, making my heart hammer and my hands

by CAROLINE STRAWSON

and feet tingle. I'd shower, dress and do my make-up, careful not to catch a glimpse of my size 18, 15st body and puffy, blotchy face in the mirror.

Some mornings, when everything got too much, I would sit on the bathroom floor, digging the sharp corner of the tooth-paste tube into the tops of my thighs until I drew blood: the pain distracting me from the far more painful reality running on a loop in my head – that I was a fat, worthless, 40-year-old single mother who had made a total mess of her life.

Long after the end of my 12-year abusive marriage to a man with narcissistic tendencies, I was still suffering the aftershocks of the trauma.

TURN TO NEXT PAGE Happier and healthier: Caroline Strawson today

How I got over my lifelong terror of dogs ...and you can too

Inseparable: Alice Snape with rescue dog Lucy

I AM now a dog person – and no one is more surprised than me. A hopelessly devoted dog mum to a mixed breed rescue called Lucy: my first and only child.

It's quite the about-turn considering I used to have a crippling phobia of dogs.

A panicky fear would build in my chest if I spotted one coming towards me. I'd immediately cross the road and avoid parks; off-lead canines were the stuff of nightmares.

I certainly couldn't be in the same room as a dog. My childhood friend Danielle had a German shepherd named Moss, a huge beast which gravitated towards me, as if he could smell my fear. 'Get him away!' I'd scream, frozen in horror.

People would ask if I'd ever been bitten. But no: the terror was always there, part of me.

My younger sister longed for a family dog. She'd plead with our parents to get one while I'd warn, 'I'll run away if you do'.

By the time I was in my 20s and living in London, my fear was an ingrained part of my personality. On our very first date 15 years ago, my now husband told me that he wanted a dog. 'I'll never get one,' I told him. If this man wants a dog, I thought, then I'm not the woman for him.

But that conversation was, in fact, a trigger for change. Over the years, dogs crept into chats about our future and what we wanted it to look like. I didn't want to be a rigid woman incapable of growth.

That's how I found myself sitting opposite a 'breakthrough hypnotherapist' on London's Harley Street. He shone a light back and forth which I followed with my eyes until I fell into a hazy, dream-like state in which I revisited multiple moments from my past where fear had taken over my rational mind.

UNDER hypnosis, I told my childhood self that there was nothing to be afraid of. Moss wasn't a blood-thirsty monster but a gentle giant who wanted to say hello. My fear was based on a feeling – flight, fight, freeze – that I could now control.

I left that clinic reborn. But the work didn't end there. If my husband and I were going to get a dog one day, I needed to actively like them rather than just feel unafraid. I needed to be exposed to dogs.

Shortly after the session, I visited my friend who had a French bulldog, Alvin. I'd been petrified of him as a boisterous

by ALICE SNAPE

pup but, over a weekend, I learnt to adore him. I fed him cheese and stroked his belly.

When I sent him a photo of me cradling Alvin like a baby, my husband called to ask if I was OK, as if it was a sick joke.

Back home, I learned to fight the impulse to cross the road when a dog approached. Most ignored me but if a dog wanted to say hello, I'd give them a stroke. I also changed my jogging route to spot dogs in the park and found myself becoming jealous of their owners.

So we started getting dogs from BorrowMyDoggy – an online platform which connects owners with ‘borrowers’ who want to hang out with dogs. We met Simba, a labrador who would plonk herself on the floor and refuse to budge, Ray, a labradoodle, who was so cute and lovable, and Juno, a gentle black lab.

Slowly but surely, I began to realise that dogs weren't out to get me – they were unique beings, full of love.

There were highs and lows. Once Simba brought a dead bird in from the garden but I shocked myself by dealing with the situation.

But as well as making my husband happy, everyday life got easier, too. I was less jumpy - no longer filled with trepidation about potential 'danger' lurking around every corner. A deep empathy had been unlocked for all animals - even pigeons.

Gradually, I found myself falling in love with dogs who were up for adoption on rescue organisations' websites. That's how I came across Lucy, during the locked-down days of 2020.

A shaggy blonde stray with mistrust in her eyes, I told my husband we had to meet her. So we did, three times in her foster home, before we brought her to live with us in our garden flat in south London.

'Be careful when you get her out of the car,' the non-profit Give A Dog A Home warned, 'that's when she's likely to bolt.' And just like I used to be, she was full of fear.

Even though I'd worked hard on my phobia, it flickered back in those early days. I felt weirdly awkward when I was alone in a room with her – on high alert when she moved.

MANY times in those first years, I screamed, inter-

nally, ‘What have we done?’ Lucy snapped and cowered until gradually she realised we weren’t going to hurt her.

But six years in and the connection is beyond anything I've ever known. Lucy doesn't ask for anything from me and yet I'd give her everything.

When I bury my face in her fur and breathe in her musty scent as though it's the head of my newborn baby, I'm so glad I made it here: high on our love.

When Lucy leans her body against my legs or looks into my eyes without fear, our bond is right there – indefinable, untouchable but tangible – so strong that others can now see it, too.

My husband always knew it would happen: that there was a dog lover inside me. He thinks he's Lucy's favourite, and she and I let him believe it. But we know the truth – she's my soul dog.

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Though he hadn't been physically abusive, my ex had lied, cheated and gaslit me. When he eventually walked out, he left me homeless – his debts of £70,000 caused our house to be repossessed – and living off Universal Credit.

At one point I was literally down to my last 20p, with no idea how I could feed the children, then aged ten and six.

What I hadn't realised back then was that these scars weren't just affecting me emotionally but physically, too.

The reason I couldn't shift the 5st I'd gained during our unhappy marriage, no matter how much I dieted and exercised? I was still carrying the pain and panic of those years.

Only when I finally began to unpick trauma, specifically the role of cortisol – the ‘fight or flight’ stress hormone that flooded my bloodstream 24/7 for more than a decade – and its effect on my body, could I start to tackle this last hurdle on my road back to full recovery.

Now 53, I am the exact same weight I was on our wedding day: 10.5st, having lost that 5st – not through fat jabs but through cutting loose from the mental and physical baggage. And you can too.

The link between cortisol and weight gain and retention is well-documented. Your body thinks

'I DISCOVERED THAT MY EX WAS CHEATING'

you're under threat and needs all the energy it can get to protect itself, making you constantly hungry and craving high-calorie foods.

This is why you so often gain weight during an unhappy marriage

- but unless you deal with your demons post-divorce, you remain in this state of fight or flight. And it's impossible to shed the pounds until you do.

I'd met my first husband in the late 1990s when we were both cabin crew. Two years older than me, and already with a divorce behind him (red flag number one), he showered me with attention and gifts.

Getting my name tattooed on his body after only three months of dating (an almighty red flag), seemed a big extreme but I was flattered.

I look back on our 1999 wedding photos and see a 26-year-old woman full of hope. It was only when I was pregnant with our son, William, in 2003 that my husband's mood swings started to escalate. Nothing I did or said was right, and he'd pick over every word looking for evidence to support his victimhood.

Just the slightest infringement – a phone call at the ‘wrong’ time (he was frequently overseas or on a different time zone) or the ‘wrong’ subject would lead to a massive row. Why was I bringing this up now? What was wrong with me? Why did I keep going on and on?

It left me constantly on edge and full of self-blame.

When the baby was born, he couldn't cope with not being the focus of my attention. I remember sitting beside him one evening, exhausted from breastfeeding around the clock, reassuring him it was natural for the baby to focus on me more than him.

His miserable, disappointed face told me I'd let him down... again.

As is often the case, I had piled on weight during the pregnancy; being exhausted with my nerves stretched on tenterhooks didn't help.

Bigger: Her body was stressed

Fast food and snacks became my comfort. I lived in baggy grey sweatshirt bottoms, hating what I saw in the mirror.

My husband lost all interest in me. We slept in separate rooms.

I had given up work to concentrate on motherhood, at my husband's instigation: he wanted to look after me (another control tactic), he said. But unknown to me, he was sinking us into debt with no obvious signs as to where the money was going.

While we lived in a lovely four-bedroom detached house in Northamptonshire, there were no grand holidays and flashy cars, yet somehow we had £70,000 worth of debt – the full extent of which only became clear after the marriage ended.

Yet I still believed in my family and wanted my marriage to work.

We even decided to try for another baby – which led to a succession of four, unexplained, heartbreaking miscarriages before I became pregnant with Madeleine in 2008.

I was six months pregnant, however, when I discovered that he was cheating.

Suffering from terrible morning sickness, I had left my husband and son eating lunch. He had recently returned from a trip away and his mobile phone was in his jacket pocket in another room.

When it rang, I thought I was doing him a favour by not disturbing his meal. On the phone I heard a voice message from an American woman – he’d had a few trips to Chicago recently – asking how her lovely ‘English guy’ was.

When I confronted him, he went mad at me for interfering and acting like a ‘mad woman’. It was obviously a mistake, he insisted. A wrong number. A random coincidence.

He was so good at it, he actually had me doubting myself. It was only when he said he had nothing to hide and thrust his wallet at me and I found a business card for a Chicago motel that the truth came out.

I rang the motel and found out there had been a reservation in his name – one that had been recently cancelled. 'Are you still going to deny this?' I asked him.

He was cornered but even then managed to steer the conversation around to him being the victim. He had felt so helpless when I was going through the miscarriages, he said, that he had turned to another woman for support.

Somehow, the conversation ended with me, the six months pregnant, wronged wife, comforting him and we agreed to go for marriage counselling. Of course, he put on a

Only when I finally began to unpick my trauma, specifically the way cortisol flooded my body 24/7 for more than a decade, could I start to tackle this last hurdle on my road to recovery

Clean diet: Caroline cut down on carbs and ate healthy fats

great show, heavily implying (through clouds of fake compassion) that all our relationship problems were caused by me, not him.

Luckily, the therapist saw through his charms. On one solo visit, the therapist told me to look up ‘narcissistic sociopath’.

It opened my eyes for the first time.

A narcissist is only happy when you are feeding their ego, and living with one means you constantly shift and mould yourself into what you think they family camping trip but he went AWOL for three hours on the morning we were due to leave.

When he returned, without explanation, I knew better than to turn it into another big drama, so we headed off on holiday. Throughout the trip, he kept mysteriously vanishing for hours.

On our return, I gave him an ultimatum: he either stayed or he went. For once, there was no gaslighting or blaming; he went. It took him just ten minutes to pack up his things and leave.

want you to be, suppressing your own emotions.

'THE STRESS LEFT ME DEPRESSED'

Your typical narcissist will be a deeply insecure individual who projects their pain outwardly through various abusive behaviours.

Where could I go? And, as my husband was ever keen to remind me, who else would want me?

Every paper I read advised me to leave but I felt trapped – we had children together, I had no income and the constant stress of our relationship had left me feeling weak and depressed – and over-eating more than ever.

My marriage eventually imploded in 2010, when the children were two and six. We were supposed to be going on a

He insisted there was no one else – but of course there was. I found out in the crassest way imaginable when I received an intimate text, by mistake, which was meant for her.

After all those years of unhappiness, I was a wreck. I had post-traumatic stress disorder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (a build-up of extra fat in the liver linked to metabolic risk factors); a heart condition, anxiety and depression. I was prescribed a series of six counselling sessions through my GP but only made it through three.

My husband told me the house 'was mine' but I had no means of paying the mortgage, and couldn't afford the solicitor's fees to sell it, and what with all the debt – some of it in my name – it ended up being repossessed.

Child maintenance payments from my ex were sporadic and, as a debtor, I had no credit. I'd had to ask my dad to be a guarantor on our rented home – another humiliation. The children and I would pick up pennies on the street when I was down to my last 20p.

I moved into a small rental, where I scratched a living picking up work as a podiatrist – my trade before I decided I wanted to see the world – and benefits.

But, gradually, I began to claw myself back, chipping away at my debt slowly and eventually paying it off after around three years.

On top of my podiatry clients I started my own little business selling healthcare products, which slowly but surely earned me a decent living.

Still, it struck me that there was a huge lack of professionals who properly understood the impact of narcissism from a victim's point of view, so I decided to use the money I was making to retrain as a therapist.

In 2024, I founded the Mental Wellbeing Company. My weekly podcast, No Visible Bruises, has had more than six million downloads and my bestselling book, How to Heal After Narcissistic Abuse, was published in 2024.

I met my husband Simon, a 56-year-old mortgage broker, online and we married in 2018. The children grew into well-rounded, happy individuals (who have no contact with their father – their choice).

William is training to be a family law barrister and Madeleine has just completed her A-levels and is off to university to study psychology. Yet for all my successes, one thing remained beyond my grasp: my weight. Every diet ended in failure. No matter how much exercise I did, how ‘good and careful’ I was, the weight wouldn’t shift.

In every podcast, Instagram and Zoom meeting, that same puffy, inflamed ‘cortisol’ face would be staring back at me. I stuck to the same size 16-18 wardrobe of grey and black baggy sweatpants.

the threat had abated, was still my default setting. The slightest prompt could send me spiralling – including exercise, which would flood my bloodstream with yet more cortisol, making me hungrier and more likely to store calories.

increase healthy fats because these are a ‘better’ source of energy than carbs.

So, I had to work on two things: change how I ate but also regulate my nervous system and find other ways to deal with distress rather than automatically reaching for food.

Simon and I were on holiday in Las Vegas in 2023 when I was 50, and I was so uncomfortable in the heat, I decided I'd had enough.

Through my work, I had got to know a nutritionist and with her guidance, I began reading more into trauma and its effects on weight.

My research led me to what is known as a fat ‘adaptation’ diet, whereby you reduce your calories drastically for a few weeks at a time, which teaches your body to burn calories from your fat reserves rather than the food you are eating.

I did this by understanding my nervous system, noticing my triggers and patterns, learning to recognise the difference between genuine hunger and wanting food because I was distressed.

'YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY'

Being in this constant state of alert had left me with acute metabolic dysfunction. The body keeps the score, even when we are functioning and coping on the outside.

When a woman is living in a constant state of fear, her nervous system becomes dysregulated because it is in survival mode, which becomes the body's priority. Everything else, including the immune, the digestive and endocrine systems, begin to compensate or shut down.

In a 600-calorie day, I would fast until lunchtime, then have something nutritious, like a chicken and avocado salad for lunch, and salmon and vegetables for dinner.

Fight or flight, even years after

I started at 600 calories, then 700 and so on, allowing your metabolism to adapt and reset each time.

The diet encourages you to cut down on carbohydrates and

I would advise anyone contemplating this to get professional, medical support. It wasn't easy. My diet was made up of higher protein foods like eggs, chicken, fish and Greek yoghurt alongside vegetables. Even then, my body was so proficient at storing calories 'just in case' of that perceived threat that had stalked me for so long that I would actually put on weight until my metabolism stabilised.

I persevered and it worked. Today, I am the exact same weight I was in that wedding photo in 1999 – and have zero diagnoses: no more IBS and all my other conditions have gone.

I now eat a healthy and clean diet at around 1,800 calories a day and I have a rebounder and reformer Pilates machine at home. I hold zero anger towards my ex-husband because, while I will never excuse the abuse he made me endure, now I can at least explain it.

Sometimes you need to listen to your body, understand it and treat it not just on an intellectual level but at a deep nervous system level.

Mine had put up with so much, for so long... but now I've found a way to be me again.

As told to JULIA LAWRENCE

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SECRETS & LIVES

by BEA HART

16, WHO SADLY KNOWS WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT

A S THE second eldest of five, I have had my fair share of family holidays.

Most summers my parents, Sybilla and Charlie, take me, my older brother, Isaac, 19, younger sisters Florence, 15, Celestia, eight, and baby brother, Benny, on a trip to either France or Norfolk, where they find new ways of mortifying us each year.

Forget mosquitoes, wasps and sunburn – take it from me, parents are by far the most irritating things for children on holiday.

So, here's my guide for parents about how to not embarrass their children this year.

KEEP US OFF YOUR FACEBOOK

LET'S dive right into the deep end and talk about how my mother is the absolute definition of a ‘Facebook Mum’.

It all starts with the endless, badly angled selfies (in a series of fast fashion, matchy-matchy, printed shorts and crop tops) in front of sunsets posted on Instagram.

Then there's the constant cajoling us to 'get a nice group shot' when I've had no time to do my hair or think about my outfit – which my friends will see back home (they follow her for the laughs).

I see her phone come out and duck.

PLEASE CAN WE FLY FOR ONCE?

OK, I know the stats. Flying is terrible for the environment and horrifically expensive, yadda yadda yadda, but please could we make an exception? Just once?

My friends can't believe that the last time I went on a plane was when I was three.

They always insist on taking the ferry and driving – cramming all seven of us, plus luggage, and no roof rack to speak of – into one vehicle for a two-day, 800-mile odyssey to Provence.

We're like a travelling circus on La Route du Soleil from Paris to the Mediterranean, and draw a crowd on our pit-stops, when people gather to stare at us literally spilling out of the car, followed by a million bags. In the

Parents, here's how NOT to ruin the family holiday for your teens

Photography: ED MILES; Styling: DINAH VAN TULLEKEN; Hair and make-up: BETHANY RICH
So embarrassing: Sybilla Hart and her husband are a challenge for daughter Bea

service station, while Mum blocks the aisles, taking selfies in front of the crisps, Dad leads a herd of cooped up, hysterical children, demanding McDonalds, Kinder Buenos, biscuits, Coca-Cola and fruit-flavoured Tic Tacs (which everyone is going to regret back in the car later).

Florence and I walk a good 10ft behind (we have a 10ft distance rule at all times), trying to look like we don't know who these mad people are.

DON'T USE OUR SLANG

EVERY summer my parents like to set themselves a new challenge - like a school holiday reading list for old people – and ‘hop on a few trends’. I can’t describe how excruciating this is.

The worst one must be when Mum discovers a new slang word that our generation uses, and it becomes like a vocal tic.

Listening to her chucking words like ‘bants’ and ‘peak’ into conversations over dinner, in a crowded restaurant… just… awful.

THEY'RE 'OUR' FRIENDS

WE'VE been coming to Norfolk for a few years now, and have a few local friends, whom Mum tries to get to know too – introducing herself in the High Street and in the local pub, where my younger siblings eat chicken nuggets every night.

Once we were walking down the road, and she was drawing up a mental map, asking me (very loudly, and during a heatwave when everyone had their windows open): 'Is this where so-and-so lives?' and 'Who lives here? Is he nice? What do his parents do?'

AVOID FASHION FAUX PAS...

I'VE already touched upon Mum's sometimes dreadful clothes, now let's get on to Dad.

Up until last week he didn't own any swimming trunks and so he would swim in his boxer shorts up and down the Blakeney estuary which drew some extremely odd looks.

After some serious nagging from Florence and me to up his game, Dad did buy himself a pair of Tom's Trunks – cult cotton trousers favoured by teens, which my older brother and I wear. But he wears them pulled up practically to his armpits and, paired with his red glasses and gilet, he looks ridiculous.

...FOR MY BABY BRO, TOO

MY BABY brother Benny is only seven and really doesn't care what he wears. And sadly, neither does Mum.

I'm not exaggerating when I say during our last trip, he wore the same Minecraft top and too-small blue shorts every single night for dinner.

The pub owner knows him from his outfit. I see my friends' younger siblings dressed in little linen trousers and Ralph Lauren polos and then they see mine.

Thankfully, I managed to find some nice clothes in his wardrobe and dressed him like all the other children and saved myself – and him – any further embarrassment.

AND FORGET PHONE BANS ON BALANCE, the most serious thing any parent can do to ruin their child's holiday is trying to instigate a 'phone detox'.

Mum tried this once for a week in Norfolk and it nearly ruined my life, as well as my holiday.

Local friends were texting me to meet up – and I was none the wiser.

When I eventually got my phone back towards the end of the holiday, I had a whole bunch of messages from my pals who all thought I didn't like them any more.

To make matters worse, my best friend at home genuinely thought something awful had happened to me. So she had a bunch of people message me and ask me if I was OK – which obviously I couldn't reply to.

Taking your teenager's phone away is definitely the single best way to ruin their holiday.

Luckily, my Facebook Mum has got such a serious phone habit herself now that she hasn't repeated the experiment.

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I've just made it to 9 years sober – but I STILL can't silence that 'drink noise'

THE other day I thought about having a drink. Specifically, a gin and tonic, cally, a girl and tomie, in a frosted glass, the kind they serve in those swish restaurants where cocktails are sold as much as a life- style choice as they are a refreshing drink option.

It's funny, because before I gave up alcohol I was never really a G&T kind of girl – I'd drink bottles and bottles of rosé or down endless pints of lager, believing, ludicrously, that a unit of wine or beer was healthier than a unit of spirits. (Spoiler alert: It isn't).

And yet when I received bad news last week, this imaginary G&T was all I could think about. The feel of the condensation on the glass, the sharp bitterness on my tongue, the chair in the garden I'd be on as I settled down to the stiff drink that would take the edge off the overwhelming disappointment I was experiencing due to a difficult phone call.

The deafening drum of ‘drink noise’ was on me, and it shocked me as I’m an alcoholic in recovery and was only days away from celebrating nine years of sobriety.

We hear a lot about ‘food noise’ in this age of weight-loss drugs that can switch off your appetite. You’ll probably know it well – obsessing about sweets, crisps and all the other junk that isn’t good for us in large amounts.

But until that moment last week, I'd forgotten entirely about drink noise: The endless thoughts about booze and when you can reasonably get away with having the next glass of it.

That desire for a G&T was a stark reminder that for a large portion of my adult life (and sadly, a small part of my childhood), I existed alongside an almost constant barrage of drink noise. It was the sound that silenced every issue in my life, from boyfriend problems to difficulties at work to the stress of parenting. I told myself I couldn't have an alcohol problem because I didn't drink in the day, but what did it really matter when I spent all day thinking about it?

My life revolved around alcohol, from the rules I had around it – no booze until the baby is asleep!

– to the excuses I'd make up each morning to explain my tired eyes and constant lateness.

I love my life as a sober woman but it was hard won, and it's around the anniversary of my last drink, which was during the August bank holiday of 2017, that it all comes flooding back to me. Not just the drink noise, but the battle it took to silence it.

There was the chronic insomnia that came from no longer being able to knock myself out with alcohol. I'd heard that cutting out booze improved the quality of your sleep, but my counsellor in rehab explained that this was only with people who drank 'normally'. I lay awake at night, obsessing over my terrible behaviour after drinking in the past, and when I'd eventually drift off, it was not at all restful.

My body was sweating out the toxins of years of boozing, and I'd often wake up feeling like I'd gone several rounds with Tyson Fury. Even so, I had to remind myself that it was probably still

You show your ex what he's missing, Maya!

PITY the poor footballer ex of the magnificent Maya Jama. She split from Man City player Ruben Dias in May and has been living her best life ever since – from hosting Love Island, to chartering a private jet with her mum to Ibiza, to this week being unveiled as the star of the new series of Guy Ritchie's Netflix drama The Gentlemen. That's quite the flex. Good on Maya – there's nothing like a career boost to show an ex what they're missing.

far better quality sleep than all those nights where I'd essentially fallen into a booze-induced coma, or not gone to bed at all.

I developed adult acne in the months after I gave up, too. I used some of the money I saved on booze and drugs to treat myself to skincare from Space NK. I'd never had a sweet tooth, but suddenly I swapped pints of

Stella for pints of Ben and Jerry's – I'd been imbibing a whole load of sugar in the alcohol I drank, and my body now craved it.

A WISE sober friend told me to eat all the ice cream I could, if it stopped me from giv-

ing into alcohol cravings: 'We deal with whatever is going to kill us first,' she said bluntly.

As a mum, I'm all for Prue's lunchbox ban

I put on weight, but I didn't care, because I was no longer sending people embarrassing, drunk text messages at 2am.

My hormones hit me with gusto, clearly ecstatic that they could finally take centre stage in my body after decades of being drowned in wine. My mood swings were wild, my periods dreadful. Again, I told myself they were probably no worse than the vicious hangovers I was frequently hit with, and at least it

DAME Prue Leith is quite right that lunchboxes should be banned in schools. The former Bake Off judge objects to them on the grounds they can't be policed for unhealthy

snacks, and would like school meals to be free for every child, as well as compulsory. I'd love an end to lunchboxes, if only to save the sanity of time-strapped parents – not to mention the washing up load at the end of a busy day!

IT'S been revealed this week that the loathsome Andrew Tate rents supercars to appear wealthy. Lawyers for him and his brother Tristan have said that 'it is in their interest to portray themselves on social media as uber-wealthy... The more hyperbolic and outlandish the post, the more likely it will generate views and likes, which in turn generates income. In short, they are playing a role.' A damning indictment not just of the disgusting Tate brothers - but of all influencer culture and social media.

I'M not surprised that one in seven in England are now on antidepressants, given the parlous state of the Health Service in this country. I've been on Prozac since I was 17, to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and they were a life-saver at the time. But I fear they are also being used to fob off perimenopausal women who actually need HRT, and it's not good enough. These drugs are undoubtedly important for people with a history of mental illness, but they shouldn't be used as a sticking plaster – either for patients, or the NHS.

May Dolly Parton rest in fabulousness

only happened once a month, as opposed to every other day. My husband would rather deal with a bit of crankiness than an almost permanently half-cut wife.

DOLLY Parton knew the most important rule for contentment: Take work seriously, but never yourself. 'After a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable,' said her nephew of the 'beautiful bed of plush cotton' the country legend requested for her coffin. May she rest in peace – and fabulousness.

It all levelled out after six months, when the world seemed to turn from black and white to technicolour, and I started to feel the health benefits of giving up the grog. But it's the memory of these withdrawal symptoms that stops me from giving into the drink noise, when it very occasionally strikes up in difficult times. Put simply: I don't want to go through any of that ever again. I think it would kill me.

So I resisted the idea of that ice-cold gin and tonic, knowing it would only make a bad situation worse. After a few hours, the G&T drink noise faded into nothing more than a whisper, and I got to wake up with a clearhead, a clean conscience, and the joyous realisation that I'd made it to nine years sober.

SECRETS & LIVES

by NIKKI BROADSTAIRS

C URLED up together on the sofa, my part- ner Mark and I were happily engrossed in a Netflix comedy.

It was a rare, peaceful evening. We had opened a bottle of rosé and were laughing when my 24-year-old daughter, Lara, suddenly appeared in a pair of skimpy pyjamas.

She stopped dead when she saw us. 'Oh. I thought he wasn't here this weekend,' she said, looking at Mark with open disgust.

He immediately sat up and pulled away from me. Moments later, he announced that he was tired and went upstairs for an early night. Just like that, our lovely evening was over.

Mark isn't my husband and he isn't Lara's father. He is the man I fell in love with 18 months ago and who has shared my Devon home for the past six months – where my two adult daughters, Lara and Heather, 26, also live.

These are the eggshell situations I'm now constantly navigating.

Mark contributes toward the bills - considerably more than the girls do - yet he is frequently made to feel like an unwanted guest.

Blended families involving young children are notoriously complicated. But nobody warns you that trying to blend a family when your children are adults can be even more of a nightmare. Trust me.

I had been married for 28 years when I finally asked my ex-husband to leave after a succession of affairs.

Our four daughters – I have another two girls aged 30 and 28 who don't live at home – were firmly on my side; they'd witnessed enough of their father's behaviour. I kept the family home and for the next three and a half years I was on my own.

Picture: GETTY (POSED BY MODELS)

On eggshells: Nikki's two girls are upset with her

Am I wrong to have moved my boyfriend into the family home without asking my adult daughters?

and on a night out with friends I met and fell in love with Mark. He's handsome, warm, funny, affectionate and, like me, a divorcee. We are compatible in almost every way. We both enjoy sailing and playing tennis, plus we are real foodies who take turns cooking for one another.

I introduced him to the girls after four months over a meal, and they all agreed he was lovely and said it was great to see me happy again.

After Mark and I had been together for a year, I asked him to move in. He still has his own property, which he now rents out. My mistake was asking Mark before discussing it properly with Heather and Lara. I assumed they would be delighted for me, but they were furious.

They said I had made a major decision affecting their home without giving them any say in it. At first, I thought they were behaving like spoilt children: it is my house, after all, and they are both adults... if they don't like it, they can leave.

But I now accept that I could have handled it better.

Heather and Lara say they no longer feel able to wander around in a towel or come downstairs in their pyjamas.

Although our bedroom is en-suite and Mark has never caught either of them unawares – nor would he, he's been nothing but kind and respectful – they've insisted on locks for their bathroom and bedroom doors.

We are no longer an entirely vegetarian household either. Mark eats meat, which I don't have a problem with but the girls recoil in horror at the sight of a packet of ham.

It means that even sharing fridge space has become a territorial battle.

Mark also likes a tidy home, but my girls can be messy. Yet he'd never order them around, meaning I'm the one left trying to negotiate.

Even a Sunday lunch can feel like a diplomatic summit. Mark is a hard worker (he runs his own small engineering business) while Lara sometimes appears to regard employment as an optional extra. She has been working sporadically at festivals for much of this year, and when she returns home ‘utterly exhausted’ she rarely makes it out of bed in time for a 2pm lunch – which I know Mark finds exasperating.

Valentine's Day was another disaster. I wanted to surprise Mark with a romantic meal at home, but neither daughter showed any inclination to go out, meaning Mark and I ended up at the pub.

So, we booked a week away for two to Tenerife. Lara automatically assumed she was coming with us and became upset when I explained it was a romantic holiday. To keep the peace, I eventually gave in. She came and hated every minute of it. It was a nightmare for all three of us.

The worst confrontation began over a parcel. Mark had accepted a delivery for Heather and placed it safely beneath the stairs. When she couldn't find it, she had a hissy fit and accused him of interfering with her things.

He ended up spending the night at a friend's house as the atmosphere was so bad. Heather apologised two days later but the damage had been done.

She now has a serious boyfriend, so I suspect she may move out before Christmas. Lara, however, appears steadfastly attached to home.

Meanwhile, I am stuck in the middle, trying to keep the peace between the man I love and the daughters I adore. No one is happy – least of all me.

I accept that I should have consulted my daughters before Mark moved in and given them time to adjust. But they are adults. Surely my life cannot stay frozen because they still live at home?

After decades of putting my husband and children first, am I unreasonable to want some happiness of my own?

And how do I make my daughters feel comfortable in their childhood home without making Mark feel like an intruder?

As told to SAMANTHA BRICK

■ Names have been changed

MARCHING towards the woman who had just unlocked her cherry red Fiat 500, I looked her straight in the eye. 'Are you disabled?' I demanded. 'No,' came the curt reply.

There was zero shame and certainly no apology – no wonder I could feel a red mist descending.

I'd just driven for three hours to check into a hotel with my husband, Pascal, 65. Not on a jolly but so he could attend a vital hospital appointment the following morning.

We'd arrived to find four disabled parking spaces, all taken, and yet only one vehicle displaying a disabled badge.

It had taken me a year – not to mention hours of form filling and countless appointments – to get this much-needed concession for Pascal, who struggles to walk more than 50 metres unaided and can't manage without at least one crutch, even on a good day.

So, even though she was just leaving, I let rip: 'What were you thinking? Taking a space that someone else genuinely needs! Would YOU like to take 22 meds a day just to stay alive?' On and on I went.

The woman, in her 20s, just shouted at me to move my car out of the way.

With her tanned, athletic body, it was like looking at myself 30 years ago. I wondered how she'd feel if she ever found herself in my position in the distant future – a full-time carer for the man she loved.

I have found it both a privilege and – though I find this difficult to admit – sometimes really bloody tough. And yet, like carers everywhere, I don't have a choice.

An hour later, and with Pascal ensconced in our room, I went to the hotel gym and burst into tears. How had shouting at people about parking spaces become my life?

Happily married to Pascal, a retired carpenter, for 18 years, we live in rural south-west France. Until five years ago, we thrived on physical activities together and embraced all kinds of practical projects.

We even renovated our farmhouse

by SAMANTHA BRICK

when he was discharged, it was like living with a ghost: his spirit had gone. The man who came home was not the same physically robust husband I had known before.

In those terrifying, sleep-starved months, I forgot everything else, focusing only on him.

For several weeks, he could barely get out of bed. I'd have to physically haul him onto his feet so he could go to the bathroom.

But then, in January 2021, a routine knee replacement operation turned into a nightmare when he collapsed and lost consciousness after being discharged. It's only in hindsight we now know that other health issues – including undiagnosed type 2 diabetes and atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) – doubtless compromised the procedure.

He has been diagnosed with numerous life-limiting illnesses, from heart failure, oedema (swelling due to build up of fluid) and peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage).

Osteoarthritis has caused pain and further mobility problems with his neck, hips and other knee, but further operations have also come with serious complications.

MY LIFE IS CONSTANT WORRY

Now I am no longer on such high alert, but constant worry has become the backdrop to my life. Most weeks involve blood tests, GP appointments, physio or specialist visits.

Pascal was just 60 and I had expected him to get back to normal with a few months of physio, but instead he has catapulted from one health crisis to the next.

together. Pascal replaced everything from the roof beams to the tiles, windows and electrics. While Pascal is ten years my senior, the age gap was never so great that I imagined becoming his carer in my 50s – especially as he had always been so strong and fit.

The most acutely stressful time came in April 2023 when Pascal was hospitalised for a month with a life-threatening condition involving organ failure, which required him to be transferred to a hospital two-and-a-half hours away.

For nearly two months, his condition was so critical there were nights I genuinely didn't know if he'd still be alive the following morning. And

I've given up working mornings – any appointment is usually a good two-hour round trip – but if we need to go to a university hospital then it's a three-hour drive, one-way.

As I pointed out to the woman in the car park, he takes 22 different tablets a day and managing that is a huge responsibility, ensuring everything is taken properly and he never runs out.

If any new medication is intro-

duced, or an existing one tweaked, I have to monitor for adverse effects. For a long while I felt that I was coping – I am someone who loves to rise to a challenge – but since the start of the year, I've been tired, short-tempered: pushed to the limit really. No wonder. I'm now 55 and it recently occurred to me that I have spent my entire 50s doing this – seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

I don't rely on state handouts, I juggle work around Pascal and I'm certainly not looking for sympathy. But I never imagined the true reality of being a carer, or that my life would shrink like Pascal's.

Until recently, I didn't even know that carer fatigue – the physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that can develop when you spend a prolonged period continually caring for a loved one – was a recognisable condition.

Inevitably, it's mostly experienced by women. In the UK, it's us who shoulder the majority of unpaid caring responsibilities. According to the 2021 Census analysed by Carers UK, around 59 per cent of unpaid carers are female.

A 2025 study of 25,000 couples by the University of Florence found they were significantly more likely to split if the woman reported poor health – but there was no increased break-up risk when the man did, reinforcing the idea that women are still far more likely to adapt to a caregiving role than men.

Ironically, right now I'm in the best health of my life. We have two large rescue dogs which I walk for at least

SECRETS & LIVES

I love my husband, but being his carer for five years has left me lonely and so full of grief

Constant care: Writer Samantha Brick with husband Pascal, whose weeks revolve around a battery of medical appointments

two hours a day, which gives me some much-needed solitude. I practise yoga several times a week, meditate twice a day, follow a vegetarian diet and cook from scratch.

I haven't touched a drop of alcohol for more than three years. I'm religious about getting at least seven hours of sleep, too.

And yet... I have never felt more drained, physically and mentally.

Pascal needs help with everything from descending stairs to removing his clothes and, at times, I have to be responsible for making and acting on medical decisions for him.

Not everyone likes the fact that I prioritise my husband over my social life, either. Some girlfriends have called me out for what they see as me putting my life on hold.

When they pop in and see him on a good day – when he's jovial and a perfect host – I get it, I really do. But in an isolated community there really isn't anyone to keep an eye on Pascal while I swan off for a girly lunch and - let's be honest - would I really enjoy it? I'd be worrying about him the whole time. My

I CAN'T SWAN OFF FOR A GIRLY LUNCH

husband's family live too far away to offer any respite and, besides, Pascal is reluctant to involve them. Call it male pride, but he doesn't want loved ones to see him vulnerable.

His eldest son died in 2014, leaving his two other children: one who lives seven hours away in Marseille and his youngest son, who is an hour away. It is difficult enough having your wife look after you. No father wants his children to have to care for him, too.

Meanwhile, French bureaucracy is bafflingly complex and living in a rural community severely limits the help and support available.

For example, in theory he should be able to have state-funded transport to take him to and from physio, but the few services in our area are booked up months in advance.

My choice is either to spend hours – sometimes days – on the phone or emailing various departments, or to suck it up so we can get on with our lives.

Small acts of kindness have become everything - a friend arriving with lunch, my sister quietly cleaning the house during a visit, my mum coming out to support me or the care packages from my dad and stepmum. They are all appreciated so very much.

Inevitably, caring has changed my outlook. I'm intolerant of pettiness and have found I can prioritise what (and who) is important to us and who isn't.

I'm now on first-name terms with our GP and his medical secretary wife. The same goes for our community nurse. As lovely as they are, and at the risk of sounding like Meghan Markle, no one has ever once asked how I am.

Sometimes, walking the dogs, I have a bloody good cry. But what has surprised me the most is how often I have held it together.

I empathise with any married carer thinking, ‘I’ve had enough of this’ because, round-the-clock, we are on the receiving end of our beloved’s frustrations.

The grumpiness when an appointment is running late, the shortness of temper because of the agony when they've left it too long to take their pain medication, the frustration when they can't get out of their clothes unaided. But then there's a flash of their old humour and you remember who they really are.

The biggest lightbulb moment for me was reading The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope And Yourself On The Caregiving Path, by Emma Heming Willis.

Published last autumn, she left no stone unturned in recounting

WALKING THE DOGS, I HAVE A GOOD CRY

the impact of being both a wife and carer after her husband, the actor Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.

She describes the emotional exhaustion of trying to hold life together while navigating the relentless uncertainty of life-limiting illness. I cried while reading it, because finally I felt seen.

Now we face Pascal's original left knee being redone next month. This time I've put measures in place to ensure I don't feel like I'm living in a Russian gulag again.

Pascal is receiving preventative pre-op care, including iron infusions and prehabilitation physiotherapy. I can only hope that will give him a stronger start to his recovery and make the weeks ahead less onerous for both of us.

Yet there is no escaping the fact that, when he comes home, I will be caring for him on my own.

But then I remember those six agonising weeks when I genuinely didn't know if Pascal would survive and I remind myself that the alternative is a life without my funny, lovable husband.

Only now do I truly understand the meaning of compassion, patience and unconditional love.

Yes, there are moments when I've had to dim my own light to keep his burning. But do I regret it? Not for a second.

by Patrick Marmion

As You Like It (Shakespeare's Globe, London) Verdict: Brings the Bard to life ★★★★☆ A Slow Fire (Jermyn Street Theatre) Verdict: Fake flames ★★★☆☆

EVERY so often at Shakespeare's Globe you hear the Bard's voice echoing down the centuries with startling clarity – albeit in a very modern accent.

Sean Holmes and Charlie Josephine's cheerful new revival of As You Like It is exactly one of those occasions; delighting audiences with terrific comic characters, rendered by playful actors not taking themselves too seriously.

It turns the story of our heroine Rosalind's escape from a tyrannical uncle (disguised as a boy in the Forest of Arden) into a charming parable of what it means to be young and in love.

The action starts in gorgeously colourful 18th-century costumes worthy of Marie Antoinette, before heading to the brown rags of the natural woodland setting.

Here, Lola Shalam's Rosalind is a gauche yet gutsy girl next door, fleeing into the forest alongside her game but ditzy friend Celia (Gracie Oddie-James).

The lovelorn Orlando, who pursues them, is usually portrayed as a hunk. But the multi-tasking Josephine plays him as a scrawny, disgruntled cheeky Cockney chappie with a sad frown - like a diminutive Rodney Trotter (from Only Fools And Horses). Surprisingly, this makes his relationship with Rosalind more approachable.

Picture: MARC BRENNER
Gutsy girl next door: Lola Shalam as Rosalind in the Globe's fizzing new As You Like It

Shakespeare's raciest romcom ...as we like it!

Comic energy is pumped up by Jonnie Broadbent's fool Touchstone, wearing a Gandhi-ish loincloth, huge three-point coxcomb and lacy bib failing to conceal a pot belly. In his hands, some of Shakespeare's most impenetrable comedy actually trips off the tongue.

Katie Richardson's music gives Shakespeare's 'hey-nonny-no' songs a frisky Indie twist. And the freedom of the enterprise is cheerfully expressed by an actor drawing trees in charcoal on framed canvases, before rollering in their leaves with green paint as we watch.

As Orlando and Rosalind's bashful romance is complemented by the fool's more libidinal fixation on a randy shepherdess, Holmes and Josephine's production illustrates how love is a kind of crazy joy and physical embarrassment – caught between high-flying words and low-flying actions. Isn't that Shakespeare to a T?

T

HE acting in A Slow Fire, at the Jermyn Street Theatre, is just as good, but outperforms the drama.

Written by Simon Stephens – best known for his adaptation of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time – it isn't exactly Shakespeare.

Two men in a sweaty lock-up maintain morale in the aftermath of an apocalypse by improvising stories of hope, based on distant memories of Christmases past and lost relatives... until a stranger arrives wielding a small gun.

There are echoes of Samuel Beckett's hymn to futility, Waiting For Godot, and Stephens touches on mighty themes including the nature of God and the death of children, while maintaining a veil of hope through storytelling. But like many dramas detached from recognisable reality, it can feel contrived, and becomes dependent on sentimental gestures – here including the reprise of a dippy love song by 1940s vocal harmony group The Ink Spots. The performances, from young Irish theatre company Glass Mask, under the direction of Rex Ryan, are another matter entirely.

With striking features and a rich voice, Ross Gaynor seems completely transfixed as the younger of the survivors. He is enamoured with Ian Toner's no-less-persuasive older brother figure; while Fionn Ó Loingsigh menaces them both as a dubious traveller, bearing dubious pork sausages along with his dubious firearm.

Oh to be as gripped as they all seemed to be!

As You Like It runs until October 25; A Slow Fire until September 26.

Age hasn't mellowed happy camper Clary

Julian Clary (Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh) Verdict: He's a saucepot ★★★★☆ Reginald D Hunter (Assembly Rooms) Verdict: Stop digging, please! ★★☆☆☆

WHAT a treat to see Julian Clary back at the Fringe – after 17 years – if only for a limited run.

If you're thinking that the self-described 'camp old mincer' might have mellowed with age (he's now 67), think again.

His show, with a title not fit to print in a family newspaper, was certainly not for the faint-hearted ('Are you ready for some filth?!'). But it was also a hoot.

He talked about his life and career, recalling his promiscuous 20s, performing with Fanny the Wonder Dog, and how he has now become a national treasure, with just the occasional bump in the road – such as when on live TV he made up, er, a backstage liaison with a senior Tory minister.

Fringe performers: Clary and Hunter

It's not all about the smut, though, as Clary ventures into personal territory, talking movingly about losing his partner Christopher to HIV/AIDS in 1991. But then he swiftly restores the upbeat mood, with more sauce – and a very individual take on My Way (you can probably imagine) to end the show.

A tour will be announced soon, but before then you can catch him playing Herod in

Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palladium (until September 5), and as the Fairy Godfather in Cinderella at the same venue later this year (lwtheatres.co.uk).

■ THE advice given to comics who find themselves in a hole over a dodgy joke is: stop digging. But American stand-up Reginald D Hunter has inexplicably grabbed an even bigger shovel in Something Wicked That Other Way Comes.

In this retort to critics of the anti-Israel joke he told at the 2024 Fringe (and for which he says he was cancelled), he retells the offensive gag, without contextualising it, or explaining the geopolitics surrounding it.

It's a patchy show, as Hunter repeatedly appears to begin addressing the issue, before wandering off into a comedy cul-de-sac... which is a shame. Hunter is a talented provocateur when on form. But what could have been a punchy riposte sadly hits the canvas. The Edinburgh Fringe continues until August 31 (edfringe.com).

VERONICA LEE

GAMES

Out of ideas for the kids this summer? Try these...

IT IS, as child psychologists say, the fag end of the summer holidays. You've exhausted all the day camps; fully exploited the grandparents; visited every gallery, museum and park. What else is there to do with your demanding little darlings?

Well, how about video games? This year has been rich with releases you can safely leave the children to explore – or, even better, play alongside them. And I say that from experience. My five-year-old son and I have enjoyed many joint sessions of Pokémon Pokopia (Nintendo Switch 2, £58.99) since it came out in March.

As its name suggests, this one involves those cutesy little critters from Japan. Except instead of battling them against each other, as usual, you're using their powers to turn wasteland into beautiful townscapes. Which is an altogether more productive experience.

It's recently been expanded, too, to include a new underwater area, so my son and I have many more hours of imaginative play ahead of us. Give peace (and Pokopia) a chance!

Yoshi And The Mysterious Book (Switch 2, £49.99) is similarly delight-

Imaginative play: Pokémon Pokopia is fun for all the family

ful. On the surface, it's a bouncy platforming game in which Mario's dinofriend has to find his way through the illustrated pages of a book. But really, it's about discovery. Yoshi encounters various flora and fauna that are even weirder than him – and which, with Pokémon-like powers of their own, can reshape each level. What starts off straightforward soon turns into a wonderful combined bestiary and herbiary, full of odd interactions and surprises.

Or if you prefer a bit more kapow in your kids games, there's always Lego Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight (all platforms, £59.99). It's a gloriously irreverent tribute to every era and incarnation of the Caped Crusader, though it doesn't rely on much knowledge of the Dark Knight's legacy at all.

Just gasp at its huge, brick-built Gotham City. And laugh along with its surprisingly decent jokes.

Because if Batman can't save us in the final few days before school starts, who can?

PETER HOSKIN

Taking flight: Jacob Elordi in The Dog Stars, right, and, inset, Bitter Christmas
Picture: 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION

Elordi (and his pooch) light up this quirky doomsday tale

ENVIABLY vigorous at 88, Sir Ridley Scott has now directed five films this decade. And, thankfully, there's no sign of The Dog Stars being his swan song.

Set in 2035, after human civilisation has been almost entirely wiped out by a flu pandemic, it follows Hig (Jacob Elordi), an immaculately stubbled former mechanic and pilot, and his beloved Belgian Malinois Jasper. A whistle for all dog-lovers to go on immediate high alert until Jasper's fate is resolved.

Man and dog have carved out a sustainable existence at an abandoned Colorado airfield with gruff ex-Marine Bangley (Josh Brolin), who insists they are living the American Dream: 'Food, power, water, weapons and a perimeter we can defend.' Though their stockpile is under threat from 'reapers': marauding tribes of lithe, extravagantly tattooed, machete-wielding scavengers who resemble an unusually violent contemporary dance troupe.

But optimistic Hig hankers for more. He sets off in his rickety little Cessna in search of human connection, only to encounter a succession of rather underdeveloped characters: a potential love interest (Margaret Qualley); her suspicious 'Pops' (Guy Pearce); a Mennonite community led by Benedict Wong; and Allison Janney's deliciously creepy former flight attendant, who feels as though she has jetted in from an entirely different movie.

Adapted from Peter Heller's 2012 novel, The Dog Stars isn't out to redefine the crowded end-of-the-world genre. Yet there's a warming, 'celebrate the simple things' quality to it: the timeless joys of a morning coffee, a cigarette, playing fetch with your dog, and living in a world where people still know how to fix things.

Then there's the pleasure of basking in Jacob Elordi's

by Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

The Dog Stars (15, 118 mins) Verdict: Ridley Scott throws us a bone ★★★☆☆ Bitter Christmas (15, 111 mins) Verdict: A gift for Almodovar fans ★★★★☆

star power. The unfeasibly handsome Saltburn breakout gives a soulful performance that should bump him even further up the next-generation leading-man rankings – although some admirers of his work in Wuthering Heights may find him disappointingly overdressed.

For two-thirds of its running time, this is an enjoyable, slightly melancholy post-apocalyptic hang-out movie.

Then Scott suddenly floors the accelerator, unleashing a couple of tense, thunderous and bloodthirsty set-pieces that remind you that this is the man who made Alien, Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. It's minor fare compared with those, certainly. But when The Dog Stars takes flight, helped enormously by Erik

Messerschmidt's sweeping aerial cinematography, it still soars.

■ BITTER CHRISTMAS (the title refers, among other things, to a classic Mexican break-up song) is a similar late-career gift from an old master.

And though director Pedro Almodovar (All About My Mother, Volver) has called it ‘the riskiest film I’ve ever made’, fans of the 76-year-old Spanish auteur will find themselves on familiar, gorgeously cinematic ground.

It's a typically lush melodrama, which flickers between two time periods.

In 2026, ageing filmmaker Raul (Leonardo Sbaraglia, sporting a deliberately Almodovarian shock of silver hair) is struggling to finish a script – until he mines a personal tragedy in the life of Monica (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon), his loyal, long-suffering PA, for his ending.

The story he is writing takes place at Christmas, 2004, and centres on Elsa (Barbara Lennie), an advertising director suffering migraines and panic attacks amid unresolved grief over her mother's death.

This being an Almodovar film, Elsa has a hot boyfriend, Bonifacio (Patrick Criado), who is a fireman by day and stripper by night.

She is also surrounded by a colourful clutch of glamorous, highly neurotic women – all, naturally, on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Sex, drugs, death and emotional Drama with a capital D: this is unmistakably Almodovar, if the volcanic palette of tomato reds and hot pinks didn't already give it away.

What makes Bitter Christmas distinct, though, is that a veteran filmmaker has made a film about a filmmaker...making a film about a filmmaker making a film. Phew.

And if that artistic hall of mirrors sounds off-putting, rest assured Almodovar isn't flattering himself. Calling it 'the film where I've been the cruellest to myself', he turns the lens on his own vampiric creativity.

Stick with this one. The ending takes a while coming – but it's brilliant.

All films reviewed here are in cinemas now.

BRIAN VINER IS AWAY

Two fruity new romps... but one's far fruitier than the other

IT'S said that young people today are becoming increasingly prudish about rumpy-pumpy – on screen as well as in real life. Happily, this week's fruity new romcoms offer a choice: one with sex and one without.

Set in a near-future America where pre-marital sex is outlawed, except for one night of the year, One Night Only (15, 102 mins, ★★☆☆☆) asks whether two single strangers can find love on the least romantic night imaginable.

Owen (Callum Turner) is a strait-laced pizza chef; Allie (Monica Barbaro, left, with Turner) an aspiring singer looking for more than just a quickie.

The bizarre, out-there concept is distractingly ill-thought-through. Any fictional world can convince, as long as the filmmakers bother to convince you.

ALSO SHOWING

Here, though, it's just backdrop to frantic, icky set-pieces crammed with misfiring celebrity cameos.

Happily, romcoms live or die on the chemistry of their leads, and Turner and Barbaro are the full fizzy business whenever they share the screen.

Sadly, that isn't often enough. The result is oddly sexless for a film whose entire premise is sex. Meanwhile, Turner's repeatedly bared torso (poor lamb) suggests those Bond auditions are paying off: he looks ready to slip into Daniel Craig's swimming trunks.

If whip-smart sex comedy The Invite made you want more of Olivia Wilde, you'll get a whole lot more in I Want Your Sex (18, 90 mins, ★★★☆☆).

Here she plays Erika (right), a provocateur artist who hires fresh-faced Elliot (Cooper Hoffman), over 14 years her junior, as her assistant – before getting all Fifty Shades Of Grey on him.

What feels refreshing about the film is how much fun it has with its own outrageousness. Bubblegum colours and zingy one-liners tease both Gen Z oversensitivities and art-world nonsense.

Hoffman and Wilde make an oddly adorable couple. Sadly, Wilde didn't write and direct this one herself, because it never reaches the emotional depths of great workplace power-play movies like Secretary or even Babygirl. Still, if you don't blush easily, this should tickle your fancy – even if the climax disappoints.

Grown-up love songs reflect the craziness and beauty of the times

by Adrian Thrills

Alabama Shakes: I Must Be Dreaming (Island) Verdict: Adventurous soul stew ★★★★☆

A LABAMA Shakes were a breath of fresh air when they emerged with their debut album, Boys & Girls, in 2012. In a year characterised by glossier breakthrough releases from Lana Del Rey and Emeli Sandé, the American quartet were the homespun outsiders who looked to the blues for inspiration.

Fronted by former postwoman Brittany Howard, who sang about turning 22 and wondering what to do with her life, Alabama Shakes kept their

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arrangements plain and simple, while Howard's powerful voice drew comparisons with Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin. Robert Plant, who knows a decent blues band when he hears one, declared himself a fan.

The group broadened their horizons with their 2015 album Sound & Color, which won them three Grammys, but then slipped from view, as their frontwoman launched a solo career that has seen her collaborate with Paul McCartney, Bon Iver and Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson.

Now a trio, following the departure of drummer Steve Johnson, Alabama Shakes are back with their first album in 11 years – and there's a lot to take in here. Made in Nashville with producer Shawn Everett, I Must Be Dreaming's palette runs from soft, sweet 1970s soul (think

Marvin Gaye or The Chi-Lites) to shimmering, expansive guitar rock (think Pink Floyd).

Howard says the album title is double-edged, reflecting both the craziness and the beauty of the times. With the band now all in their late 30s and early 40s, the 20-something angst that fuelled Boys & Girls has gone. In its place, there are grown-up love songs and a sprinkling of social commentary.

'Can we try in another life, I won't make you cry again,' sings an emotionally bruised Brittany on Another Life, while Garden is a sumptuous soul ballad. On Time, she reminds herself to make the most of every moment with loved ones, as guitarist Heath Fogg and bassist Zac Cockrell deliver some free-spirited improvisation alongside her.

Fresh from working on Brandon Flowers' latest album, producer Everett doesn't add much polish. There's some unexpected flute on

Powerful: Brittany Howard

Tea Time and distorted guitars on Waist Deep. The band's desire to push forwards can get the better of them at times – the gnarly funk-rock of How Love's Supposed To Go is hard to digest – but you can't accuse them of playing safe.

The protest songs are thoughtful rather than preachy. 'Whatever's coming, let it come,' declares Brittany on I Feel Hope Coming. American Dream, meanwhile, sees her voicing concerns over the environment, the erosion of women's rights and gun crime.

When they were recording the album's closing ballad, Tied To You, a technical glitch led to two vocal tracks being played back at the same time. Rather than fix the mistake, the trio simply left things as they were. The effect is eerie and discombobulating – and typical of a band determined not to trade on their past glories.

BEST OF THE NEW RELEASES...

SAM SMITH: Hazel Eyes (Capitol) Having embraced disco and reggae on 2023's Gloria, Sam Smith returns to a classic singer-songwriter sound, documenting a turbulent romance that's set largely in New York. The Cambridgeshire vocalist really shines on Everlasting Love – all soft guitars and subtle strings – and Canadian artist Feist supplies cameos, notably on the jazzy Moondance. The brooding torch song Thief makes the most of Smith's quavering croon. ★★★☆☆

WEEZER: Weezer (Gold Album) (Reprise) The droll L.A. rockers have picked gold for

their seventh self-titled (but colour-coded) album – an autobiographical concept piece about the mid-life trials of an

PAUL HEATON: Jenius (EMI) Four decades after Happy Hour, his first hit with The

Housemartins, Paul Heaton's pithy takes on British life retain all their sharpness. His latest solo album contains witty drinking songs in Don't Lean On Me and The Whisky Did, while Favourite Kind Of Idiot, a duet with Rianne Downey, finds romance in a trip to the tip. He's unsentimental, but there's a real warmth to his clever character sketches. ★★★★☆

ageing 1990s band. Built around energetic hooks and loud guitars, it addresses overly zealous fans on Don't Make It Weird and the tedium of playing the same old songs on C.E.O. 'They just want the classics,' laments frontman Rivers Cuomo. They've added a few more here. ★★★★☆

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How Paul Simon took FRIDA

FRIDAY

BOOK OF THE WEEK

DAYS OF MIRACLE AND WONDER by Ashley Kahn (White Rabbit £23, 320pp) RAY CONNOLLY

WHY would anyone set about creating an album based on a style of music with which he was totally unfamiliar, having only ever heard it on a bootlegged cassette lent to him by a friend?

It's impossible to say. But that was how Paul Simon's solo Graceland album was conceived.

Entitled Gumboots Accordion Jive Hits and performed by a group of anonymous South African musicians, Paul Simon found himself playing the cassette repeatedly in 1983. Who were these musicians, he would ask himself? What was this music they were playing?

In 1985, all Simon wanted was to go to South their way home when it got dark. 'They couldn't use public transport,' Simon explained,' and they weren't allowed on the street of Johannesburg after the curfew. They would have to show papers and that was something they didn't want to do.

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Africa to meet and work with the musicians he'd heard on the cassette. And, though it took a while to arrange, and several hundred thousand of his own dollars, he not only got what he wanted – he spent two weeks working with the musicians. He also helped, albeit in a tiny way, political change for the better to come to South Africa.

At that time Simon was suffering a brief lull in his career, his last album not having sold as well as he'd expected. Many artists have moments like this, but, unlike Simon, they don't solve them by taking on apartheid, the then racist South African government, the African National Congress, and a cultural boycott backed by the United Nations.

But neither do they end up with a Grammy award for the best album of the year, ten million copies sold and countless plays on radio stations around the world.

This telling of how Simon's album Graceland came to be, by award-winning music historian Ashley Kahn, is a complex study into all the different elements that go into such an ambitious project.

On one level we have the network of the Los Angeles music professionals who put the deal together.

UT more interesting is the story of the bass player, Kumalo, who was so pleased to be paid at the end of the day's session. 'Working with Paul Simon helped me take care of my mother,' he said.

All the African musicians were paid three times the going rate – but there were still problems.

Simon was used to working until the recording was finished, but the South African musicians worried about how they were going to find

Long before Graceland, Paul Simon's records with Art Garfunkel had revealed him to be not just a creator of popular melodies but a writer who understood wordplay.

'Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again,' were Simon's lyrics on his first hit record, The Sound Of Silence. Taken literally, the words are absurd. How do you talk to darkness? It's impossible. But as a metaphor for loneliness his use of 'darkness' is powerful.

T HROUGHOUT his 60-odd-year career Paul Simon's lyrics have captured his moments which became our moments. Do you remember that line on the Bookends album? 'Toss me a cigarette I think there's one in my raincoat.' With it, he put an entire generation on to that Greyhound bus as they rode off 'to look for America'.

And although the song Graceland isn't in the end about Elvis Presley so much as a geography lesson as Simon drove towards Memphis and described it as 'the Mississippi Delta was shining like a national guitar', it is also about his son who was in his thoughts as he drove.

And can it be a coincidence that Graceland mimics in rhythm and construction Mystery Train, one of his favourite early Elvis records from his boyhood?

In Paul Simon's songs we just don't get simple love stories. We get an encyclopaedia of references and wordplay that enriches imaginations.

I still don't know what he means by the line 'there's a girl in New York City who calls herself the human trampoline'. I'm not sure that he does. But we all know that moment when he says of a girl whom he'd

Meet the 2ft worm

SO WHAT does soil sound like? This seems like one of those tricky Zen riddles meant to open your mind.

But, in fact, we know very well what the answer is.

'A sustained low rumbling sound... the noise made by plants' roots as they slowly push through'; then a noise like someone raking sand, and 'creaking, like a wooden house settling at night-time,' and 'a series of clicks'.

This is the ‘underground orchestra of invertebrates – ants, beetles, springtails, fly larvae, centipedes, woodlice, and even spiders – as they manoeuvre through their light-less world’.

Such recordings are made by soil scientists, and they can judge how healthy a soil it is from the amount

NATURE

THE WORLD BENEATH OUR FEET by Frank Ashwood (Hodder £25, 288pp)

CHRISTOPHER HART

of noisy bustle and activity it contains: the more the better.

Frank Ashwood is one such scientist, with a lifelong love of the material itself and the myriad creatures that live in it. 'Soil is the last great unexplored frontier on our planet,' he says.

He has a special fondness for springtails, tiny insects and busy recyclers, crucial to soil health. They're good at the high jump, too, able to ping up to 100 times their own body length, equivalent to us jumping over a 45-storey building.

Fortunately for springtails they

BOOKS

on apartheid

Adventurous: Paul Simon and his controversial album, Graceland, right

forgotten, how ‘she slipped into my pocket with my car keys’ in the song Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes. Days Of Miracle And Wonder might get bogged down with business details, but the pages on how Paul Simon can spend months writing and then rewriting his lyrics are fascinating. That he could create so many songs in a music he didn't know existed until he heard that cassette has, in my eyes, to be a testament not only to his brilliance but also to his sense of musical adventure.

In 1985, the singer spent hundreds of thousands of his own dollars to work with impoverished South African musicians. They created what would be his bestselling and best-loved album

PAUL·SIMON GRACELAND

and the velvet, glue-firing sniper

Long life: The Badischer Riesenregenwurm grows up to 2ft

weigh rather less than us, so enjoy a softer landing.

One key to healthy soil, and indeed to healthy forests, is dead and rotting wood.

Until the 1970s, Ashwood reminds us, most fallen wood was cleared away tidily. Thank goodness we've learned. Dead wood supports as many as 40 per cent of all forest organisms, and many green-fingered gardeners now create damp log piles in neglected corners deliberately.

Other memorable creatures we are introduced to here include a mite that has been exclusively female now for 100 million years, reproducing perfectly well without males by ‘parthenogenesis’ – literally, virgin birth. A feminist icon for our times.

Then there's the aggressive Asian jumping worm, and a terrifying creature called a trigonotarbid, a now-extinct ancestor of today's spiders. Not forgetting the velvet worm, with two tiny 'glue-firing cannons' on its head, and the magnificently named Badischer Riesenregenwurm, a giant earthworm only found in the Black Forest, Germany, that grows up to 2ft long.

Some of the richest soils aren't in forests, but grasslands, which, if ancient, unsprayed and moderately grazed, can contain a mind-boggling ‘100 tonnes of living biomass per hectare’ underground. Hard to picture?

Then imagine, he suggests, some 15 African bull elephants living under a standard rugby pitch.

For most of human existence the Earth was at least 80 per cent forested. Today that's down to 32 per cent, and we have greatly increased other habitats, but this isn't necessarily a problem, nor is planting trees necessarily the answer.

Ashwood argues strongly for 'agroforestry', or what could be called 'wood pasture': grasslands or crops interspersed with trees and thickets. Much old, 'unimproved' British and European farmland looks like this. Long may it flourish!

But with at least a third of the planet's soils moderately to severely degraded, we need to value them as never before – if we value nature, wildlife and our own future.

WHAT BOOK? CLÉMENCE MICHALLON Author

...are you reading now? HIS And Hers by Alice Feeney. I can already tell it's going to be a masterclass in suspense.

I also just finished a re-read of The Great Gatsby. I first read it as a teenager and I was struck this time around by the dreamlike quality of the prose.

...would you take to a desert island?

THIS is a tough one! I would take The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore, which is a book I feel I could re-read dozens of times without tiring of it. Maybe I would also bring Marcel Proust's In Search Of Lost Time, because then I'd probably never run out of reading material. Or maybe I would take The Odyssey, which I read in school and have been meaning to re-read ever since.

...first gave you the reading bug?

AS a child, there were many! The Little Prince comes to mind, because I was born and raised in France, and there is no French childhood without The Little Prince.

Luna by Julie

Anne Peters was a Young Adult book I re-read many times. Françoise Sagan's Bonjour Tristesse, which I read as a teenager, shaped me both as a reader and as a writer. It illustrates so much of what literature can do in terms of getting into a character's head.

And Mary Higgins Clark's Loves Music, Loves to Dance, a serial killer thriller that I plucked from my mother's nightstand when I was too young, is probably the reason I write crime novels today.

...left you cold?

I REALLY wanted to fall in love with Jack Kerouac's On The Road. The paperback edition I bought as a teenager had this amazing quote from Bob Dylan on the back cover: 'It changed my life like it changed everyone else's.' I thought, 'Fantastic. I too am ready for my life to be changed!'

Little did I know I was embarking on a 15-year odyssey to finish the book. During that time, I bought multiple editions of it, both in English and French.

I finished it the summer I was 30. It does have a beautiful quote about the Hudson Valley, which I think about a lot because I live by the Hudson River in New York: 'If you drop a rose in the Hudson River at its mysterious source in the Adirondacks, think of all the places it journeys by as it goes out to sea forever – think of that wonderful Hudson Valley.'

■ OUR Last Resort by Clémence Michallon (Elliott & Thompson, £9.99) is out now in paperback.

LITERARY FICTION STEPHANIE CROSS

THE DISAPPEARERS by Marlon James (Hamish Hamilton £20, 640pp) COULD this Jamaica-set, Booker-nominated novel see James win the

coveted prize a second time?

It would be a deserved triumph if so. The Disappearers packs a punch on every single one of its 600-plus pages, up to and including its last, as we follow a group of gay men in 1980s Kingston attempting to stage an openly queer play.

Murderous homophobia is, however, commonplace, and one night of senseless violence changes the troupe's lives for ever.

A revenge plot forms the loose arc, with James's masterful narrative shapeshifting through journal entries, interview transcripts, letters and even a chorus comprising the voices of the attackers themselves.

It's an epic, virtuosic, propulsive performance, alternately hilarious and viscerally horrifying, that returns throughout to the acts of erasure perpetrated against, and forced upon, the men at its heart.

SUNRISE by Téa Obreht (W&N £22, 336pp) THE acclaimed Obreht's fourth novel is a matry-oshka doll-style affair of nested tales, all focusing on the one-horse town of Sunrise, Wyoming. Our introduction to the place comes via nanny Nina, who stumbles across the now-abandoned settlement following a plane crash.

We also meet Coll, a young man committed to breathing life back into Sunrise with his historical re-enactments, and Anton Vargas, the turn-of-the-century gunslinger at the centre of the town's legend – or, at least, the version of him that's been preserved in fiction.

This novel has twists, turns, jump scares, murder mysteries, a possible curse and, framing it all, Nina's gripping fight for survival. As always with Obreht, the first-rate storytelling is braided with serious themes, too, not least who inherits the past, and who gets to tell its stories.

AGNES LIVES! by Hallie Elizabeth Newton (Viking £14.99, 256pp) DON'T be fooled by the title: when we meet Ivy League-educated Man- hattanite Agnes Maurer

on a September day in 2014, she's firmly in the grip of a death wish.

In fact, her sole aim over the 24 hours that this blackly comic novel spans is to find someone to kill her. Unfortunately, her barista, her boss, and her narcissistic film director boyfriend all disappoint, resulting in an increasingly bloody, exhilaratingly unhinged escalation.

There's a touch of Yesteryear meets American Psycho about Agnes's Instagram-obsessed existence. And while she prides herself on manipulating the patriarchy, she's also the victim of breezily dismissed but shocking misogyny and abuse: someone for whom pretence has become a necessary strategy to wrest back power.

Propelled by Agnes's manic inner monologue and ravenous hunger for connection, this is a sharp, bitter blast.

A murder mystery to give you the creeps

PSYCHOS CHRISTENA APPLEYARD

Illustration: IFAN BATES

THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE by Sarah Pinborough (Orion £22, 320pp)

WITH Netflix hits like Behind Her Eyes to her credit, Pinborough is fast becoming a household name. Her fans will doubtless enjoy her latest offering, set in a creepy small town in a creepy old house with a creepy grandma who keeps saying: 'They say a girl died here.'

In fact, two girls have been murdered in the town, three years apart, attributed to the mysterious ‘farmhand’.

Enter Anna who, suffering from an undisclosed trauma, comes to live with the creepy grandma and becomes obsessed with the murders – with the danger of another that could threaten Anna or her sister.

Pinborough expertly ushers the reader to a stylish and startling conclusion that will no doubt provide another Netflix hit.

TIME TO BURN

by Ellery Lloyd

THIS highly original story about a time-travel company offering the super-rich a chance to go back to dramatic points in history is calling out to be made into a film.

Inigo Frank is the entrepreneur who has invented the idea of facilitating billionaires like the Allen family to choose which time in history they would like to experience.

The Allens pick the Blitz in London, and Frank has hired film-maker Phoebe Hunt to record their return.

But things backfire when the Allens return bloodied and bruised with one of their party missing. When Hunt discovers a personal connection with the Allens, everything is in place for a mystery that operates in two intriguing timelines and is packed with twisty plotlines. Well researched with well-developed characters, it doesn't overwhelm the reader with the science and teaches us enough to be very scared about the future.

BAD INTENTIONS

by Iliana Xander

(Penguin £9.99, 400pp)

JOSIE Boots returns to her hometown of Burnville, Pennsylvania, to care for her sick grandmother and dig up answers to a family mystery that happened 25 years ago and which ended with her granny being put on trial.

In her desperation to get to the truth, Jessie agrees to meet a stranger who says he will help. But when she witnesses another brutal crime, she begins to fear for her own safety. Told successfully in a dual timeline, this book evokes the toxicity of small-town life and the misplaced sanctity of family secrecy.

Written in a straightforward, chatty style, Josie is a highly relatable character whom the reader roots for.

SCIENCE FICTION JAMIE BUXTON

BODIES OF MAGIC by Freya Marske (Tor £22, 464pp)

EXAM week at the Academie of Sieuxerr. Just like medical students everywhere, there's been much drinking, fighting and partying but in the Grand Duchy there's a big difference. The students diagnose and heal with magic, and one group starts with a massive disadvantage: the best of them is found murdered.

This fabulous, complex, keep-you-guessing murder mystery is not about magic, but the people who do magic. We are led deep into the complex lives and loves of five students who must negotiate academic protocols, bitchiness and stress to uncover the truth.

The beguilingly frenchified background is exotic, but the shifting swirl of emotion and motivation is pitch-perfect and wonderfully grounded.

BLACKTAIL

by Scott Hawkins (Nightfire £20, 288pp)

BLACKTAIL is utterly unique: a crazed collision between Jack London's White-fang and John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. It's an outstanding, majestic animal story – right up there in the pantheon.

When humans kill Blacktail's mate, he avenges her with gore-spattered, unreflective savagery.

What follows is not a journey to wisdom, but a ruthless examination of what violence does and can do.

On one level, it's a literal lone wolf's soul-searing tale of loss and retribution. On another, it's about a fatherless hero following a gnomic prophecy to the path of awesome greatness.

And the message is clear: mess with nature, and it'll mess right back with reddened tooth and claw.

SCION

by James Islington (Gollancz £22, 240pp) A BLAST in every single way, Scion is funny and sad, humungously violent and rather sweet.

Scion is one very enhanced human, a killer for hire protected by armour, tech and regenerative powers that make him pretty much unstoppable. Then his shadowy corporate employers give him a mission to protect – rather than kill – an elderly woman who turns out to be as cranky and secretive as you could wish.

What happens next involves fights, explosions, great bants, psychopathic giant owls and a mystery that takes Scion back into his own past and a mission that went wrong. It's ridiculously fast paced and fun: mangatastic-action with heart and soul.

SHORT STORIES EITHNE FARRY

NIGHTJAR by Emily Ruskovich (Chatto and Windus £18.99, 272pp)

SLOW, quiet and graceful, these exceptional short stories from the author of Idaho are exquisite.

Set in the lush scenery of America's Pacific Northwest, the tales are haunted by unsettling, unreliable memories and characters who grapple with uneasy truths.

Victor's Room sets the tone for this marvellous collection as a wife, ensconced in her husband's beautiful childhood home, begins to mistrust his version of his past, his affection no match for the erosion of her trust as his lies are revealed.

Equally devastating is Round Lake, where a young woman – slowly falling in love with an earnest man – finds her tender relationship coloured by the circumstances following her mother's death.

SEASONAL FOLKTALES

(Greenfinch £16.99, 192pp) BRAMBLE boggles, sea witches and selkies are the mysterious creatures that inhabit Graham's enchanting retelling of classical folktales.

The stories are rooted in her deep empathy for the natural world. Beautifully illustrated by her magical prints, the tales journey from the wilds of Scotland to the icy landscapes of

Scandinavia and follow the seasons, revealing how the goddess Mielikki painted autumn leaves in orange and yellow, and why march hares are mad.

Elsewhere, we meet Fionn MacCumhail, his clever wife Onnagh and rival Benandoner, discovering how they created the Giant's Causeway, and learn a life lesson from Assipattle, the hero of The Mester Muckle Stoorworm, who saves a princess from a sea monster.

THE GOOD TIME by Nell Stevens (Scribner £16.99, 208pp) WRY, wise and funny, these stories from the

author of The Original are brimful of yearning – for love, for connection, for a place in a world that seems a good fit for the characters who question motherhood and relationships.

The collection opens with The Minutes and a young woman taking notes for an activist and their planned artistic action in a doomed block of flats, while revealing her attraction to a charismatic, but mercurial lecturer.

The titular tale reunites a group of old friends, years after the untimely death of one of their crew, while Pulse sees a pianist head to Warsaw to listen to (long dead) Chopin's heart, overcome by her baby's heartbeat, 'urgent and imminent and potent and completely new...'

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COSY CRIME

Sister Boniface Mysteries, 2pm, BBC1

PICK OF TODAY'S TV

SADDLE up for a third series of the sleuthing adventures of scooter-riding nun Sister Boniface. This has always been a fun show with each mystery-of-the-week unfurling in a surprising and often quirky setting, with affectionate spoofs aplenty. Tonight's opener is an excellent example of both, as Sister Boniface, DS Felix Livingstone and DI Sam Gillstein, 15, IN

Gillespie (Lorna Watson, Jerry Iwu and Max Brown, pictured), hunt for the killer of one of three actors shortlisted to play the very Bond-like role of agent Jonas Best. Regular viewers can also follow Felix's love life over all eight episodes after an old flame of his arrives from Bermuda. All episodes on BBC iPlayer.

THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB, 9PM, BBC2

BBC1

IF YOU missed this mystery drama on U&Drama, where it has aired since 2024, now is your chance to soak up an especially sunny ray of cosy crime light. It's written by genre master Robert

Thorogood, the creator of Death In Paradise, and is based on his books set in the picturesque riverside town of the title, where

a shooting brings together three women to seek out a killer, joining forces with a local detective. The cast are, as is often the case, the making of the show, playing four very different women who together have a zingy chemistry. The

BBC2

central trio (pictured) are Judith Potts (Samantha Bond), an archaeologist with a fondness for crosswords and swimming nude in the Thames; astute vicar's wife Becks Starling (Cara Horgan); and dog-walking empty nester Suzie Harris (Jo Martin). All three are unfulfilled in some way, but find great satisfaction in sinking their teeth into a mystery after meeting at Judith's enormous house — which, yes, we do learn how she managed to afford on an archaeologist's salary. And then there's DS Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew) who, naturally, is initially dubious of the amateurs' crime-solving skills. This opening two-part case concludes next Friday, or watch both parts on iPlayer.

ITV1

6.00	Breakfast	6.15	Homes Under the Hammer (AD,R)	6.00	Good Morning Britain	6.30	The King of Queens (AD,R)
9.30	Morning Live: Top Tips and Best Bits How motorists can claim money if their car hits a pothole.	7.15	Money for Nothing (R)	10.00	This Morning Daily magazine, featuring a mix of celebrity chat, showbusiness news, lifestyle features, topical discussion, health and beauty advice and more.	7.45	Everybody Loves Raymond (AD,R) Triple bill of the comedy.
10.30	Garden Rescue (R)	8.00	A House Through Time (AD,BSL,R)			9.10	Frasler (AD,R) Four episodes.
11.15	Homes Under the Hammer (AD,R)	9.00	BBC News			11.10	Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back (AD,R) Gordon Ramsay tries to improve a family-owned restaurant in Mississippi.
12.15	Bargain Hunt (AD) Roo Irvine presents the show from Leominster.	1.00	Richard Osman's House of Games (R) With Jessie Cave, Simon Hickson, Ayesha Hazarika and AJ Pritchard.	1.30	News; Weather
1.00	BBC News at One; Weather	1.30	The Edge (R) Game show.	1.55	Regional News; Weather
1.35	BBC Regional News; Weather	2.15	Do You Know Your Place? (R)	2.00	Dickinson's Real Deal (AD,R) David Dickinson and the team visit Newcastle Racecourse, where a gruesome collection makes a small fortune at auction.	12.05	Channel 4 News Summary
1.45	BBC News at One; Weather		Vernon Kay hosts as the quiz arrives in Leicester. Last in series.			12.10	Find It, Fix It, Flog It (AD,R) Simon O'Brien and Henry Cole search for unloved items in North Wales.
2.00	Sister Boniface Mysteries (AD)		Animal Park Summer (AD,R)
PICK	New series. The sister is shaken and stirred when one of the actors screen-testing for a role in the new Agent Best film is murdered.	2.45	A hand-reared aardvark is reunited with her family.	3.00	Deal or No Deal (AD,R) Stephen Mulhern hosts as Daniel tries to open the 22 red boxes in the right order, taking on the infamous Banker for the chance to win a big cash prize; Regional Weather
2.45	Escape to the Country (R) Jules Hudson helps to find a location for a wellness retreat in North Wales.	3.30	Serengeti III (AD,R) Baby hippo Mafuta faces new dangers.	4.00	Tipping Point (R) Quiz show, hosted by Ben Shephard.	1.10	The Great House Giveaway (R) A designer and a decorator take on a property in Somercotes.
3.30	The Repair Shop (AD,R) The creatives repair a cine projector and an 1879 textbook.	4.30	Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) From Kendal in the Lake District. First broadcast in 2003.	5.00	The Chase (R) Bradley Walsh presents as Dylan, Jade, Rachel and Tom answer questions and work as a team to take on one of the Chasers and secure a cash prize.	2.10	Countdown Richie Anderson joins Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner.
4.30	The Answer Run (R) Fast-paced quiz hosted by Jason Manford.	5.25	Flog It! (R) The team visit Wolverhampton Art Gallery.	6.00	Regional News; Weather
5.15	Pointless (R) Alexander Armstrong and Nish Kumar host the quiz show.	6.00	Richard Osman's House of Games (R) Jimi Famurewa, Harriet Kemsley, Colin Murray and Sara Pascoe take part.	6.30	News; Weather
6.00	BBC News at Six; Weather		Great Continental Railway Journeys (R) Michael Portillo explores the Calvados region.
6.30	BBC Regional News; Weather
7.00	The One Show With Angellica Bell and Lauren Laverne.	7.00	Today at the Test England v Pakistan. Action from the second day of the Second Test in the three-match series, held at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.	7.30	Abbey Clancy; Celebrity Homes (R) Abbey finds out how former Sugababe Heidi Range turned a Victorian laundry factory into a family home, and visits former supermodel and racing car driver Jodie Kidd.	4.00	The Great B&B Challenge (R) The second elimination day arrives.
7.30	The Travelling Auctioneers (R) Briony Harford and JJ Chalmers help a widow to raise money for her favourite local charity.
8.00	Celebrity MasterChef (AD) The remaining four celebrities serve a three-course Mexican-themed meal to judges Grace Dent and Giorgio Locatelli before making a pub classic for Tom Kerridge.	8.00	Gardeners' World As a summer marked by record-breaking heat and prolonged drought comes to a close, Monty Don reflects on how it has tested gardeners across the country.	8.00	Emmerdale (AD) Caleb and Ruby share guilty looks.	5.00	Chateau DIY (AD,R) Poor weather means Tim and Sasha must find a plan to salvage a couple's big day.
9.00	Would I Lie to You? (R) With guest players Sam Campbell, Diane Carson and AJ Odudu.	9.00	The Marlow Murder Club (AD,R) Part one of two. Archaeologist Judith's evening is shattered when she witnesses her neighbour's murder. Crime drama, starring Samantha Bond.	9.00	Coronation Street (AD) Sarah and Kit each attempt to eliminate Kacey's threat.	6.00	American Pickers (R) Mike Wolfe meets a retired auctioneer training his daughter to enter the trade.
9.30	Mrs Brown's Boys (AD,R) Agnes falls under a hypnotist's spell. Comedy, starring Brendan O'Carroll and Jennifer Gibney.	PICK		PICK
10.00	BBC News at Ten BBC Regional News (Followed by Weather)	10.30	Newsnight Analysis of the day's events, with Lucy Hockings. (Followed by Weather)	10.00	News (Followed by Weather)
10.30	Fontaines DC @ Reading Festival 2026 The Brit Award-winning five piece from Dublin perform as the second of the Friday night headliners at Reading Festival.			10.15	Superman Returns (2006) (12) ◆
10.40		11.05	Tuesday (2023) (15) ◆ Premiere. A terminally ill teenager begs death for more time so she can resolve her relationship with her mother. Drama starring Lola Petticrew and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.		(AD) The Man of Steel returns to Earth to discover his arch-enemy Lex Luthor is wreaking havoc with stolen alien technology. Comic-book adventure, starring Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Parker Posey.	9.00	The Murder Detective (AD) After years of investigation, lead detective Jason Murphy is ready to make his boldest move yet, and his team execute a series of arrests. Last in series.
12.10	FILM: Stan & Ollie (2018) (PG) ● (AD) Biopic of Laurel and Hardy, starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly. 1.45 Weather for the Week Ahead 1.50 BBC News	12.45	The Mother of All Cons (AD,BSL,R) The parents-turned-sleuths have tracked Megan and Jean down to Disney World. 1.45 The Big Deal with Steph McGovern (AD,BSL,R) Interior designer Peter Staunton shares tips and tricks. 2.45 This Is BBC2	12.50	Shop on TV 3.00 Force of Nature (AD,BSL,R) A look at how wombats, leopards and kangaroo rats are coping with new extremes of heat and drought. 3.50 Long Lost Family (AD,BSL,R) 4.45 Unwind with ITV	12.10	FILM: 127 Hours (2010) (15) ◆ (AD) Fact-based drama, starring James Franco. 1.45 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (BSL,R) 2.35 Four in a Bed (R) 4.50 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (AD,R) 5.05 Kirstie and Phil's Love It or List It: Brilliant Builds (AD,R)

(R) Repeat. (HD) High Definition. (AD) Audio Description. (b/w) Not in colour. (BSL) British Sign Language.

CHANNEL 4

LEGAL DRAMA The Rainmaker, 9pm, ITV1

JOHN Grisham fans are in for a treat with this drama based on his 1995 novel. It was turned into a 1997 film with Matt Damon, but over ten episodes, the characters and story have been fleshed out considerably. Dogged litigator Bruiser Stone is played by Lana Parrilla with just as much chutzpah, if not more, than Mickey Rourke in the film, while John Slattery is the slippery corporate attorney that our plucky young hero Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan), must face in court. All episodes on ITVX.

FILM CHOICE Tuesday, 11.05pm, BBC2

BEST known as a US sitcom queen, Seinfeld and Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus (pictured) lands in England for this weirdly wonderful drama. She plays the mother of terminally ill 15-year-old Tuesday (Lola Petticrew).

CHANNEL 5

6.00 Milkshake! Peppa Pig (AD,R) 6.10 Tweedy & Fluff (R) 6.15 Odo (R) 6.20 Thomas & Friends (R) 6.35 Fireman Sam (R) 6.45 Peppa Pig (AD,R) 6.50 Pip and Posy (R) 6.55 Paw Patrol (R) 7.10 Move It Milkshakers! (R) 7.20 Rubble & Crew (R) 7.35 Peppa Pig (AD,R) 7.45 Tim Rex in Space (AD,R) 8.00 Stan & Gran (R) 8.15 Paw Patrol (R) 8.40 Paddington (R) 8.50 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom (R) 9.00 Peppa Pig (AD,R) 9.05 The Real Pup Squad (R)

9.15 Jeremy Vine
11.30 Storm & Alexis
12.45 5 News at Lunchtime
12.50 Matt Allwright
2.20 Deadly Girls Trip (2025) (12) ●
FILM A woman is found dead while on vacation with friends. Thriller, starring Kristi Murdock, Lesa Wilson and Alex Trumble.
4.00 Castle Beckett and Castle investigate New York's elite.
4.55 Love Nature (R) Efforts to restore trees on Dartmoor.
5.00 5 News with Dan Walker
6.00 Motorhoming with Merton & Webster (R) Paul Merton and his wife Suki explore Yorkshire.
6.55 5 News Update

7.00 Cycling: Vuelta a Espana 2026 Rebecca Charlton presents action from stage seven of the Grand Tour race, a 149.8km mountain route beginning in Vall d'Alba. 7.55 5 News Update

8.00 Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka (R) On the last leg of his journey around the island of Sri Lanka, the presenter moves north into Tamil country, but first he has a close encounter with a cobra. Last in series.

9.00 Heat (AD,R) The truth behind Tom's injury is revealed, and Brad's hopes with Mia are explored. Kip confesses to Tom he is growing marijuana. Drama, starring Danny Dyer.

10.00 Heat (AD,R) Terror sets in when Tom does not return to the house. Kip feels compelled to tell Brad that his friend was high, information Brad can use to his advantage. Last in series.

11.05 When TV News Goes Horribly Wrong Moira Stuart narrates memorable mishaps from live news broadcasts, including the President of Estonia walking out of an interview with Dermot Murnaghan.

1.00 Cruise TV with LoveitBookit (R) 2.00 GPs: Behind Closed Doors (R) 2.50 Castle 3.40 Friends (AD,R) 4.05 Friends (R) 4.30 Amazing Railway Adventures with Nick Knowles (BSL,R) 5.25 Entertainment News on 5 5.35 Paw Patrol (BSL,R) 5.45 Mixmups (AD,BSL,R)

▲ Particularly liable to offend

Hammer Horror meets Miss Marple in this ridiculously twee whodunnit

AST week's Ludwig ended with David Mitchell, as the cross-word-setting sleuth,

declaring, ‘This is absolutely ridiculous!’ Viewers who have stuck with the show into its second series might feel he was stating the flaming obvious.

Ludwig's schtick is to treat each murder mystery as a variety of brainteaser, such as a chess problem or a spot-the-difference puzzle. So far, the amateur detective in his corduroy jacket hasn't cracked a crime by arranging nine suspects into a sudoku grid, but I'm willing to bet there's just such a plot in the works.

With sister-in-law Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin), he's investigating the local MP, on suspicion of carrying out human sacrifices to achieve eternal life. That's a sort of Agatha-Christie-does-Hammer-Horror combination, Miss Marple vs the Wicker Man. Absolutely, as David says, ridiculous.

Mitchell, a quick-witted panel game player but a one-trick actor, plays the bumbling crime consultant exactly as he played loans manager Mark in Peep

MEMORY LAPSE OF THE NIGHT: One of the Edinburgh residents in David Olusoga's A House Through Time (BBC2) married a crook... who neglected to tell her he already had a wife and five children. The forgetful fellow's name, funnily enough, was Sturgeon. No relation, I'm sure.

Show: fussy, nervy, aware of his social awkwardness but unable to do anything about it.

Jason Watkins portrayed a similar character in McDonald & Dodds, and made him believable by fading into the background whenever possible. Ludwig doesn't do that: when he arrives at a crime scene, it's the CID squad who take a step back, only too willing to let someone else do their job for them.

I'm prepared to suspend my disbelief when an uninvited wedding guest staggers into the middle of a Scottish reel, and drops dead. I will ignore the fact that Cambridge police apparently have no forensics experts.

But I can't accept that DCI Russell Carter (Dipo Ola) and his team are incapable of questioning suspects without the aid of a neurotic escapee from Mensa. When Ludwig suffered a panic attack, at the wedding reception that was now a wake, and bolted from the room, all the police dashed out with him.

For so-called ‘cosy crime’ to

N. IRELAND TV VARIATIONS

BBC1: 7.00pm The Big Deal with Steph McGovern. The five remaining pairs explore the world of prints and limited editions in Margate. UTV: 7.00pm UTV Life. 7.30 Hidden Northern Ireland. Barbara McCann goes back in time at the Strand Arts Centre.

BBC1: 7.30pm Best of Weatherman Walking. ITV: 7.00pm Backstage at Green Man. S4C: 6.00am Cyw. 12noon Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd. 12.05 Pysgod i Bawb. 12.30 Heno. 1.00 Y Ci Perffaith. 1.30 Dan Do. 2.00 Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd. 2.05 Prynawn Da. 3.00 Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd. 3.05 Ty Frit. 4.00 Awr Fawr. 5.00 Stwnsh. 6.00 Bwrdd i Dri. 6.30 Garddio a Mwy. 6.59 Newyddion S4C. 7.00 Heno. 7.30 Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd. 8.00 Mike Bubbins: Un Mewn Milivn. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd. 9.00 Am Dro! 10.00 Y Deis. 10.30 Miwsig Fy Mywyd. Tudur Owen is joined by soprano Rhian Lois.

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS LAST NIGHT'S TV

the top brass, belongs in Line Of Duty, not a twee whodunnit.

Ludwig (BBC1) ★★☆☆☆

work, the psychology has to ring true, however incredible and outlandish the murders. Of course it's bonkers for priests, hairdressers and gangs of chums at a retirement village to be catching killers. That doesn't matter, as long as the relationships between characters make some kind of sense, rather than merely fulfilling the demands of the script.

On top of this, Ludwig is a mishmash of genres that don't quite gel. Its subplot, involving corruption among politicians and

The supporting cast do much to disguise this. Mark Bonnar, who plays local newspaper editor Gareth Fisher, is a crime show stalwart whose scenes provide ballast for the whole production.

And every week brings guest star cameos. This week Gary Beadle as a bolshie father of the bride and Michelle Greenidge as his sozzled wife. They were a splash of champagne in a show that is strictly supermarket prosecco.

MUSIC2YOU PROUDLY PRESENTS

Celebrate the timeless magic of Smooth: The Soul Ballads Collection with this brand-new 60-track three-CD set, featuring classics from some of the greatest voices ever.

'Let's Get It On'. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes follow, then The Delfonics The Stylistics, The Three Degrees, Motown legends the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jimmy Ruffin, Erma Franklin and Dinah Washington with 'Mad About The Boy'.

CD1 opens with Whitney Houston and her superb 'Saving All My Love For You', then all-time favourites from Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye and Barry White, plus legendary groups Earth, Wind & Fire and the Commodores. The mood continues with Stevie Wonder, Deniece Williams, Bill Withers' 'Ain't No Sunshine', and Heatwave's 'Always and Forever'. CD2 continues the mood with Marvin Gaye and

Disc 1 1 Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love for You 2 Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do with It 3 Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing 4 Barry White - Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up 5 Earth, Wind & Fire - After the Love Has Gone 6 Rose Royce - Wishing on a Star 7 Commodores - Three Times a Lady 8 Anita Baker - Sweet Love 9 Sister Sledge - Thinking of You 10 Diana Ross - I'm Still Waiting 11 The Temptations - My Girl 12 Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour 13 Deniece Williams - Free 14 Brenda Russell - Piano in the Dark 15 Billy Preston & Syreeta - With You I'm Born Again 16 Peaches & Herb - Reunited 17 Odyssey - If You're Lookin' for a Way Out

18 Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine 19 The O'Jays - Brandy 20 Heatwave - Always and Forever Disc 2 1 Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On 2 Billy Paul - Let's Make a Baby 3 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes feat. Teddy Pendergrass - If You Don't Know Me by Now 4 The Delfonics - Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) 5 The Stylistics - Betcha by Golly, Wow 6 The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again 7 Lou Rawls - You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine 8 The Detroit Spinners - Could It Be I'm Falling in Love 9 Four Tops - Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever 10 The Drifters - Under the Boardwalk 11 The Isley Brothers - Summer Breeze, Pt. 1

12 Gladys Knight & The Pips – Midnight Train to Georgia 13 Sam & Dave – When Something Is Wrong with My Baby 14 Brenda Holloway – Every Little Bit Hurts 15 Jackson 5 – Who's Lovin' You 16 Percy Sledge – When a Man Loves a Woman 17 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tracks of My Tears 18 Jimmy Ruffin – What Become of the Brokenhearted 19 Erma Franklin – Piece of My Heart 20 Dinah Washington – Mad About the Boy ● Disc 3 1 Lionel Richie & Diana Ross – Endless Love 2 Smokey Robinson – Being With You 3 Kool & The Gang – Cherish 4 Alexander O'Neal – If You Were Here Tonight

CD3 Begins with Lionel Richie & Diana Ross's 'Endless Love', then Smokey Robinson, Kool & The Gang and Billy Ocean plus more recent favourites from Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton and British soul-pop hits from Gabrielle, M People and Dina Carroll. In short? A superb collection of great music.

5 Billy Ocean – Suddenly
6 Randy Crawford
– Rainy Night in Georgia
7 Jermaine Jackson
– Do What You Do
8 Atlantic Starr – Always
9 Champaign – How 'Bout Us
10 Rose Royce
– I Wanna Get Next To You
11 Teddy Pendergrass
– Love T.K.O.
12 Boyz II Men
– I'll Make Love to You
13 Toni Braxton
– Un-Break My Heart
14 Fugees – Killing Me Softly
With His Song
15 Gabrielle – Walk On By
16 Sananda Maitreya (Terence Trent D'Arby) – Sign Your Name
17 M People
– Don't Look Any Further
18 The Tony Rich Project
– Nobody Knows
19 Dina Carroll – So Close
20 Vanessa Williams
– Save the Best for Last

Readers can order a copy of this wonderful 60-track three-CD collection for just £9.99 including p&p, either for yourself or as a gift for a friend or loved one, by visiting music2you.co.uk/soul. To see the full range of our popular CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and books, visit music2you.co.uk

Buy now at music2you.co.uk/soul

PICK OF DIGITAL & ON DEMAND TV

THE WHISPER MAN, NETFLIX

'IF YOU'RE lonely, sad and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you.' In an American-set thriller based on the novel by British author Alex North, Adam Scott (Severance) stars as Tom, the widowed dad of a son who seems to have been abducted by dreaded serial killer the Whisper Man. This is both terrifying and confusing because Tom thought that his dad, the retired and quietly traumatised detective Pete Willis (Robert De Niro), put away the child killer 30 years ago. Does Pete know something he's holding back? De Niro brings just

FAMILY FILM

STRANGER Things' Caleb McLaughlin lends his voice to this animated tale of a little goat with big dreams to play roarball. However, the sport is dominated by the biggest and fiercest animals...

REALITY SHOW Meet The Owens, Amazon Prime Video

THE ex-England striker Michael Owen and his family are the subject of this lively fly-on-the-wall series, which also provides an insight into Owen's post-football horse-racing empire. Two of his children are also deeply connected the kind of low-key, simmering hurt to the role that you'd expect, while a screen veteran of a similar vintage, Michael Keaton, plays the Whisper Man, and the reliable Michelle Monaghan (pictured with Scott and De Niro) is the dogged detective looking for Tom's son. The film's central premise — that predators are lurking in every corner to take away our children — is one that works in any era, although this movie's treatment of it feels refreshingly analogue, like the kind of thriller that came out in cinemas in the 1990s.

to equestrianism – youngest daughter Jessica dreams of Olympic showjumping success, while eldest Gemma (pictured) is an accomplished dressage rider who is training at her dad's stables to compete at Glorious Goodwood. For Michael and wife Louise,

though, there's another stage on the horizon – being empty nesters, with 18-year-old Emily looking to become the first Owen to attend university and 20-year-old James poised to join the family business.

SCI-FI DRAMA Dark Matter, Apple TV

WHEN physics professor Jason (Joel Edgerton) is kidnapped in Chicago, he wakes up in an alternate reality where everything is terrifyingly different. Desperate to return to his own dimension and reunite with his wife (Jennifer Connelly) and son, he sets off on a reality-hopping journey. That quest only becomes more complex and urgent in the new, second series.

	9 (Scot 24)		[5GxD]
7.00pm	The Met Orchestra Plays Strauss at the Proms New York's Met Orchestra make their much-anticipated Proms debut under the baton of Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin	The Simpsons Evil Mr Burns plans to make a coat out of Santa's Little Helper's puppies	Wheel of Fortune John, Roxy and Lewis compete to solve word puzzles to get the chance to spin the wheel and win big money prizes
7.30pm		The Simpsons Bart tries to get the school closed down
8.00pm		Ladies of London: The New Reign Margo and Emma throw competing dinner parties. And Mark-Francis adds fuel to the fire when he spreads a rumour about Margo	The 1% Club Quiz hosted by Lee Mack in which the questions are all about logic and common sense
8.30pm	8.45 TOTP: 2000 Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme
9.00pm	9.15 TOTP: 1978 David Jensen presents an edition from August 24, 1978	Doctor Strange (2016,12) An American surgeon becomes a warrior in an inter-dimensional battle between the forces of light and darkness. Fantasy adventure, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwitel Ejiofor	Batman Begins (2005,12) A billionaire hones his fighting skills and becomes a masked vigilante to rid his city of crime and corruption. Comic-book adventure, starring Christian Bale and Liam Neeson. Includes FYI Daily
9.30pm	9.50 TOTP: 1988 Featuring Big Country, Bomb the Bass, Status Quo and Tanita Tikaram
10.00pm	10.20 The Specials: 6 Music Sessions A session recorded for Steve Lamacq
10.30pm	10.55 2 Tone: The Sound of Coventry The story of the 2 Tone Records label that was founded in 1979 and played a vital part in the movement against racism in Britain	11.20 Bad Boys for Life (2020,15) Action sequel, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence (To 1.50)
11.00pm
11.30pm	11.55 The Specials: Rock Goes To College A 1979 performance by the band (To 12.40)		11.45 Family Guy Meg falls for a medical student (To 12.20)

ENTERTAINMENT & FACTUAL

5ACTION

Freeview 33 Sky 150

11.40am FILM: The Last Hunt. (1956) (PG) 1.45pm FILM: Beyond the Law. (1968) (12) 4.00 Highway Thru Hell. 5.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain's Speeders. 6.00 Police Interceptors. 8.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain's Speeders. 9.00 Police Interceptors. 10.00 Cops. 11.00 The X-Files.

BBC THREE

Freeview 23 Sky 115 Virgin 107 7.00pm The Catch Up. 7.05 Deadly 60. 8.00 Death in Paradise. 9.00 Ann Droid. 10.00 Not Going Out. 11.00 Man Like Mobeen.

COMEDY CENTRAL

Sky 112 Virgin 132

12noon Sabrina the Teenage Witch. 1.00 Friends. 9.00 Al Murray Live – Barrel of Fun. 10.00 Mr Bean. 11.00 FILM: Zombieland: Double Tap. (2019) (15) Comedy horror, starring Woody Harrelson.

DISCOVERY

Sky 125 Virgin 177

11.00am Building Off the Grid. 1.00pm Dr Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet. 3.00 How It's Made. 5.00 Alaska: Homestead Rescue. 7.00 Wheeler Dealers. 8.00 Gold Rush: Mine Rescue with Freddy & Juan. 9.00 Expedition Files. 10.00 Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch. 11.00 Expedition Files.

E4 (DAYTIME)

Freeview 13 Sky 135 Virgin 106 12noon The Simpsons. 2.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine. 3.00 Modern Family. 5.00 The Simpsons.

5STAR (DAYTIME)

Freeview 32 Sky 128 Virgin 126 12noon Traffic Cops. 2.00 Police Interceptors. 5.00 Car Pound Cops: Give Me My Car Back! 6.00 Home and Away.

5 SELECT

12noon Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild. 1.00 Murder, She Wrote. 3.00 Columbo. 4.30 Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson. 5.00 Cyprus: Jewel of the Med. 6.00 Abandoned Engineering. 7.00 Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild. 9.00 Taggart. Jim Taggart's ghost seemingly contacts Jardine. 11.05 Prisoner: Cell Block H.

5 USA (DAYTIME)

Freeview 21 Sky 141 Virgin 120 12noon Law & Order. 6.00 NCIS.

FOOD NETWORK UK

Freeview 43 Sky 144 Virgin 168 11.00am The Great British Bake Off. 12.30pm Mary Berry's Simple Comforts. 1.00 James Martin's Spanish Adventure. 3.00 Hairy Bikers: Route 66. 4.00 Jamie's Meat-Free Meals. 5.00 The Pioneer Woman. 6.00 James Martin's Spanish Adventure. 7.00 The Great British Bake Off. 8.30 Mary Berry's Simple Comforts. 9.00 Marcus in the Med: Mallorca. 10.00 Secrets of the Curry Kitchen. Asma Kahn cooks prawn biryani. 10.30 Maneet's Eats. Maneet Chauhan makes crispy spinach and onion pakoras and saag paneer. 11.00 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Guy Fieri visits Columbus, Ohio.

GREAT! TV

Freeview 34 Sky 157 Virgin 170 12noon Little House on the Prairie. 1.00 The Waltons. 4.00 Little House on the Prairie. 6.00 The Irish RM. 7.00 M*A*S*H. 9.00 FILM: Rob Roy. (1995) (15)

ITV2 (DAYTIME)

10.15am Dawson's Creek. 11.10 Charmed. 12.10pm Deal or No Deal. 1.10 Celebrity Supermarket Sweep. 2.10 Wheel of Fortune. 3.10 The Only Way Is Essex. 4.10 The Real Housewives of Potomac. 5.00 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase.

ITV3 (DAYTIME)

Freeview 10 Sky 119 Virgin 117 11.30am Heartbeat. 1.35pm Midsomer Murders. 3.35 Classic Emmerdale. 4.40 Classic Coronation Street. 5.50 Heartbeat.

ITV4 (DAYTIME)

Freeview 26 Sky 120 Virgin 118 10.15am The Professionals. 11.25 Robin of Sherwood. 12.25pm Magnum, PI. 2.35 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. 3.45 Boon. 4.50 The Professionals. A burglar is killed. 6.00 British Touring Car Championship Highlights.

MORE4 (DAYTIME)

Freeview 18 Sky 136 Virgin 147 12.40pm Come Dine with Me. 3.20 Four in a Bed. 5.50 Car S.O.S.

NAT'L GEOGRAPHIC

Sky 129 Virgin 183

12noon Ultimate Airport Dubai. 1.00 Air Crash Investigation. 2.00 Planes that Changed History. 4.00 Lost Treasures of Egypt. 5.00 Miracle Landing on the Hudson. 6.00 Nazi Megastructures: Battle Ready. 7.00 Air Crash Investigation. 8.00 Hitler's Last Stand. 10.00 WWII: Tank Showdown. 11.00 Air Crash Investigation.

PBS AMERICA

Freeview 84 Sky 173 Virgin 187 11.55am WWII: Operation Barbarossa. 1.00pm Weathered: Earth's Extremes. 1.35 Nixon in the Den. 2.40 The Real Truth. 3.50 WWII: Operation Barbarossa. 6.05 The Real Truth. 7.15 WWII: Operation Barbarossa. 9.35 The Real Truth. 10.45 Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland.

REALLY

12noon The Yorkshire Auction House. 2.00 The Repair Shop. 3.00 Salvage Hunters. 5.00 Long Lost Family. 6.00 The Repair Shop. 7.00 The Yorkshire Auction House. 8.00 Antiques Road Trip. 9.00 My Lottery Dream Home. 10.00 Help! I Wrecked My House. 11.00 Help! My House Is Haunted.

SKY ARTS

Freeview 36 Sky 122 Virgin 123 12noon Dickens in Italy with David Harewood. 1.00 Tales of the Unexpected. 2.00 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. 3.00 Stories from Tate Britain. 4.00 Discovering: Charles Laughton. 5.00 Portrait Artist of the Year 2023. 6.00 Tales of the Unexpected. 7.00 Alfred Hitchcock Presents. 8.00 Dolly Parton: Song by Song. 11.00 Dolly Parton: America Reunited. A look at how the country star manages to unite a divided America.

SKY ATLANTIC Sky 108 Virgin 111

10.15am The Last of Us. 12.40pm Homicide: Life on the Street. 2.30 Billions. 4.25 The White Lotus.

RADIO 4 FM: 92.4-94.6MHZ

5.00am News Summary.
5.04 The Briefing Room.
5.32 Weather.
5.34 Shipping Forecast.
5.43 Prayer for the Day.
5.45 Farming Today.
6.00 Today.

9.00 The Reunion. Artists and organisers of the Isle of Wight Festival.

10.00 Woman's Hour. 11.00 PICK The Food Programme. 11.45 Book of the Week: All the Beauty in the World. By Patrick Bringley. Read by Billy Howle.

12.04 Rare Earth. 12.57 Weather. 1.00 The World at One. 1.45 Human Intelligence. 2.00 The Archers. 2.15 Drama: Central Intelligence. Starring Kim Cattrall and Kelsey Grammer.

6.35 The Last of Us. 9.00 The Iris Affair. 11.00 Possession.

SKY COMEDY

Sky 113 Virgin 112

11.50am Will & Grace. 12.20pm Upright. 1.40 Avenue 5. 3.00 Will & Grace. 4.00 Hitmen. 5.00 Community. 6.00 Will & Grace. 7.00 The Office (US). 8.00 Animal Control. 9.00 Jack Dee: Small World. 10.30 Lucy Beaumont: Live from the Royal Court Theatre. 11.30 Animal Control.

SKY DOCUMENTARIES

Sky 114 Virgin 121

12noon FILM: Love Means Zero. (2017) 1.45 My Icon: Tanni Grey Thompson (Ptl). 2.00 Benetton Formula. 4.00 The Directors. 5.00 Discovering: William Hurt. 6.00 FILM: Hitsville: The Making of Motown. (2019) (12) 8.00 FILM: Amy. (2015) (15) Documentary

PICK OF TODAY'S RADIO THE FOOD PROGRAMME, 11AM, RADIO 4

SCHOOL food has come on a long way recently, in some regions at least. Today's show spends a day with Andrew Cowan, Catering Manager at Bury Council in Greater Manchester, whose team serve up some 10,000 meals a day at more than 50 schools.

2.45 Living on the Edge.
3.00 Gardeners' Question Time. Expert advice.
3.45 Short Works.
4.00 Last Word.
4.30 Sideways.
5.00 PM; Weather.
6.00 Six O'Clock News.

6.30 The People Have Spoken. Ian Smith is joined by Ayoade Bamgboye and Cody Dahler. Last in series.

portrait of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. 10.30 Rik Mayall: Magnificent B'stard. A tribute to the influential comedian.

7.00 The Archers. The Snells find comfort. 7.15 Add to Playlist. With Gavin Higgins and RuthAnne. 8.00 Any Questions? Alex Forsyth chairs the political forum from Tullynessle in Aberdeenshire. 8.55 This Week in History. The first jet-powered flight.

SKY HISTORY

10.10am Junk & Disorderly. 11.05 Storage Wars. 12noon Combat Trains. 1.00 Tricky Dick. 3.00 Hardcore Pawn. 6.00 American Pickers. 7.00 Forged in Fire. 8.00 Full Custom Garage. 9.00 World War II: Witness to War. 11.00 Life After People.

Freshly prepared and seasonal food is the order of the day. As well as shadowing him, presenter Jaega Wise also hears from some satisfied pupils, and meets a supplier of organic fruit and vegetables who's hoping to break into the schools market.

Sky 123 Virgin 131

SKY ONE

12noon Africa's Hunters. 1.00 Hawaii Five-0. 3.00 S.W.A.T. 5.00 The Simpsons. 6.00 Rob & Romesh vs Cricket: The Test. 7.00 The Simpsons. 8.00 A League of Their Own. 9.00 FILM: Cleaner. (2025) (18) 11.00 Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Sky 106 Virgin 109

SKY SCI-FI

Sky 145 Virgin 140

11.00am Star Trek: Enterprise. 12noon Star Trek: Voyager. 1.00 Stargate Atlantis. 2.00 Warehouse 13. 3.00 Primeval. 4.00 Stargate SG-1. 5.00 Star Trek: Voyager. 6.00 Star Trek: Enterprise. 7.00 Stargate Atlantis. 8.00 Stargate SG-1. 9.00 FILM: The Fifth Element. (1997) (PG) 11.20 FILM: Anti-Life. (2020) (15)

SKY WITNESS

Sky 107 Virgin 110

12noon FBI. 2.00 The Rookie. 3.00 Caught on Dashcam. 4.00 Nothing to Declare. 8.00 Chicago Med. 9.00 Chicago Fire. 10.00 Chicago PD. 11.00 The Rookie.

TLC

Freeview 12 Sky 133 Virgin 113

12noon The Big Bang Theory. 2.00 The Middle. 3.30 Young Sheldon.

QUEST
U&DAVE

FREEVIEW PRIMETIME PLANNER 57

6.55 Heartbeat Jenny and Dennis are forced to cut short their honeymoon

Doc Martin The

doctor has his second GMC assessment. Meanwhile, Penhale is unhappy when his predecessor tries to take charge of his investigation

Doc Martin The acerbic GP investigates a shooting after local farmer Dennis Thorpe shoots a camper after he took some of his eggs

Lewis Beyond Good and Evil: A man incarcerated for the murders of three police officers launches an appeal when the evidence is called into question — and then another officer is killed

11.50 Agatha Christie's Poirot One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (To 2.00)

6.00 British Touring Car Championship Highlights Action from Donington Park

River Monsters A fish is suspected of killing a honeymooning bride in Colombia

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special Anton Du Beke and Fred Sirieix attempt to answer 15 questions in the hope of winning one million pounds for charity

Ice Road Truckers

Lisa's determination to deliver her load leaves her caught in a dangerous blizzard

All Elite Wrestling:

Dynamite Hard-hitting action from the world of All Elite Wrestling — the roster features world-class talent including Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli (To 12.00)

MORE4

6.50 Car S.O.S Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw restore a 1997 Lotus Elise

7.55 Grand Designs Kevin McCloud meets architect and shed fanatic Micah Jones, who plans to transform an old agricultural building in Co Down

Carpe Diem A young gymnast stands accused of the theft of a Napoleon death mask to sell to fund her training, but denies killing a museum guard

10.05 24 Hours in A&E

Thirteen-year-old Tom is rushed to St George's after crashing his bike head first into a parked car while racing a friend

11.10 24 Hours in A&E Seventy-five-year-old Gerry is rushed to A&E with a dangerously high heart rate of over 250bpm (To 12.15)

SKY MIX

Star Trek: The Next Generation Data and Troi seize the bridge when they are possessed by aliens

Hawaii Five-0

Governor Jameson calls Steve and Danny in to investigate when one of the daughters of the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines is found murdered

Ruthless (2023,15) After his daughter is murdered, a high school coach takes matters into his own hands and hunts down her killers. Action thriller, starring Dermot Mulroney and Jeff Fahey

Grimm Nick

Grimm Nick investigates a theft and murder at a spice shop and discovers that the thieves were seeking a drug (To 12.00)

Antiques Road Trip James Braxton and Charles Hanson head south over the Scottish border, taking their final purchases to auction in Berwick- Upon-Tweed

The Yorkshire

Auction House Angus Ashworth turns conductor to auction off a garden railway fanatic's huge model collection

The Repair Shop Jay Blades and his team of experts restore a children's bike, a soft toy called Monkey, and a badly damaged oriental lamp

The Repair Shop Jay Blades and the experts repair an 80-year-old camera, Dick King-Smith's childhood toy rabbit and a leather-bound draughts board

How Do They Do It? South Africa's biggest sock factory

How Do They Do It? The world's oldest type of paper (To 12.00)

19

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing From Wales

7.40 Would I Lie to You? With Clara Amfo, Shaun Ryder and Henning Wehn

8.20 Would I Lie to You? With Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Phil Wang, Jason Watkins and Adam Woodyatt

QI XL Host Sandi Toksvig is joined by Alan Davies, Jason Manford, Ahir Shah and Holly Walsh in an extended version

Magnum P.I. A case takes an emotional toll on Thomas when he and every other private investigator on Oahu try to track down a man accused of murder

Magnum P.I. One of Higgins's former MI6 colleagues shows up with news that the assassin who killed her true love has surfaced on Oahu (To 12.00)

U&DRAMA

5STAR

7.20 Last of the Summer Wine Compo and Clegg hatch a devious plan

You're Killing Me Andi discovers that Allie is hosting a wedding. However, before the engaged couple can tie the knot, someone drops dead

Father Brown Father Brown's friendship with Flambeau is tested when the high class thief is suspected of murder. Mystery, starring Mark Williams

New Tricks The team reinvestigate the murder of a wages clerk and discovers new evidence that casts doubt on the guilty verdict

GPs: Behind Closed Doors GPs meet a man with excess phlegm, deliver blood results and news of a biopsy

11.20 Luther With Luther absent from the case, Halliday leads the hunt for a killer on the loose (To 12.40)

Casualty 24/7: Every

Second Counts A two-year-old with low blood sugar is rushed in, while junior doctor Jake Mullen assesses Kay, 44, who arrives with flu-like symptoms

999: Critical

999. Critical Condition A woman collapses during a day out with her family, and is left unable to move or walk

A&E After Dark

A patient at Hull Royal Infirmary has a heart rate more than double the average

Trauma Room One Documentary following life at Liverpool's Walton Centre for

neurosurgery (To 12.00)

5USA

NCIS A commander who knows the location of a shipment of nuclear fuel rods is abducted, and the team are called in to try to identify the kidnapper

NCIS The wives of two marines are murdered

Beauty and the Beast Cat goes to her high-school reunion, where she learns more about her past, and Vincent has an encounter with an old friend

Beauty and the Beast Cat confronts her birth father about the mysterious role he has played in her life, while Vincent has to neutralise a high-profile beast

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Benson helps two teenage sisters whose father has been murdered, and Rollins goes into labour (To 12.00)

9.00 Natalie Haynes

Stands Up for the Classics. Jason and the Argonauts' quest to find the Golden Fleece.

9.30

Breakin' the Cycle. A chance encounter has devastating consequences for Colin and D. Presented by Lewis Albrow.

10.00 The World Tonight.

5.00 The Big Bang Theory. 9.00 90 Day Fiance. 11.00 Dr Pimple Popper: Breaking Out.

U&ALIBI

Sky 109 Virgin 114

12noon Body of Proof. 1.00 Return to Paradise. 2.00 Murdoch Mysteries. 4.00 The Mentalist. 5.00 Hudson & Rex. 6.00 Body of Proof. 7.00 Private Eyes. 8.00 Return to Paradise. 9.00 NCIS: Sydney. A U.S. petty officer's body is found in Sydney's Rocks area. 10.00 Father Brown. 11.00 Private Eyes.

U&DAVE (DAYTIME)

Freeview 19 Sky 111 Virgin 127 11.20am Yukon Gold. 12.20pm Top Gear. 2.20 Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing. 3.00 Speed with Guy Martin: F1 Special. 4.00 Hairy Bikers' Best of British. 5.00 Rick Stein's Fresh Food. 6.00 Rick Stein's Taste of Shanghai.

■ CHARLI XCX (pictured) is the highlight on stage at Reading today as this year's READING AND LEEDS FESTIVAL (FROM

under way. Other headline acts over the Bank Holiday weekend are Raye, who memorably won a record six Brit awards in 2024, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines DC and Chase & Status. Radio 1 begins its weekend coverage from Reading with the early build-up and a taste of the big names that are to come.

10.45 Book at Bedtime: Mr Sidhu's Post Office. 11.00 Americast.

11.30 Everything Is Fake and Nobody Cares. Jamie Bartlett meets Dr Aseem Malhotra.

12midnight News; Weather. 12.30 Book of the Week:

All the Beauty in the World. Last in series. 12.48 Shipping Forecast. 1.00 BBC World Service.

U&DRAMA (DAYTIME)

11.40am The Bill. 12.45pm Classic EastEnders. 2.00 Classic Neighbours. 3.05 Whitstable Pearl. 4.10 Kingdom. 5.20 As Time Goes By. 6.00 Last of the Summer Wine.

U&EDEN

Freeview 57 Sky 166 Virgin 176 9.00am History Hunters. 5.00pm You Rang, M'Lord?

U&GOLD

Sky 110 Virgin 124

11.55am Ever Decreasing Circles. 12.30pm Porridge. 1.10 Keeping Up Appearances. 1.50 Dad's Army. 2.30 The Green Green Grass. 3.10 Are You Being Served? 3.45 Ever Decreasing Circles. 4.25 Dad's Army. 5.00 Last of the Summer Wine. 6.20 Keeping Up Appearances. 7.00 Dad's Army.

RADIO 2 FM: 88-90.2MHZ

6.30am Gary Davies. 9.30 Mark Goodier. 12noon Tina Daheley. 2.00pm DJ Spoony. 4.00 Jason Manford. 7.00 Michelle Visage. 8.30 Michelle Visage's Handbag Hits. 9.00 Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Kitchen Disco. 11.00 Rock Show with Shaun Keaveny. 12midnight Romesh Ranganathan: For the Love of Hip-Hop.

RADIO 3 FM: 90.2-92.4MHZ

6.30am Breakfast. 9.30 Essential Classics. 1.00pm Classical Live. 4.00 Composer of the Week: Sally Beamish. 5.00 In Tune. 7.00 Classical Mixtape. 7.30 BBC Proms 2026. With folk-rock band Altin Gün. 10.00 Late Junction. 11.30 Round Midnight. 12.30am Through the Night.

RADIO 5 LIVE MW: 693/909KHZ

6.00am Breakfast. 9.00 Emma Vardy. 11.00 Gordon Smart. 1.00pm Elis James and John Robins. 2.00 Nick Watt. 4.00 5 Live Drive. 7.00 Premier League Kick-Off with Darren Fletcher. 9.00 Rugby League. St Helens v Leeds Rhinos. 10.00 Connor Phillips. 1.00am Frances Finn.

7.40 Porridge. 8.20 Are You Being Served? 9.00 Fawlty Towers. 9.40 The Office. 10.20 Not Going Out. 11.00 Mrs Brown's Boys. 11.35 Fawlty Towers.

U&W

Freeview 25 Sky 132 Virgin 125 12noon DIY SOS: The Big Build. 1.00 Tipping Point. 4.00 Property Brothers: Forever Homes. 5.00 DIY SOS: The Big Build. 7.00 MasterChef Australia. 8.20 Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake. 11.20 Ghosts.

U&YESTERDAY

Freeview 27 Sky 155 Virgin 129 11.00am The World at War. 12noon Antiques Roadshow. 2.00 Bangers & Cash. 4.00 Churchill's Bid to Abolish Britain. 5.00 The World at War. 6.00 Antiques Roadshow. 7.00 Seven Worlds, One Planet. 8.00 Canal Boat Diaries. 10.00 Bangers & Cash.

SPORT

SKY MAIN EVENT

Sky 401 Virgin 501

10.15am Live Test Cricket. England v Pakistan. Day two of the Second Test in the three-match series, held at Lord's in London. 7.00pm Live Premier League. Crystal Palace v Manchester City (Kick-off 8pm). Coverage from Selhurst Park. 10.45 Paper Talk. 11.00 Sky Sports News. 12.30am Live NFL. Philadelphia Eagles v Cincinnati Bengals (Kick-off 1am). Coverage of the pre-season match at Lincoln Financial Field.

SKY PREMIER LEAGUE

Sky 402 Virgin 502

12noon Transfer Talk. 1.00 Total Football. 4.00 Fantasy Show. 4.30 Premier League Preview. 5.00 The Premier League Show. 7.00 Live Premier League. Crystal Palace v Manchester City (Kick-off 8pm). 10.45 Premier League Stories. 11.15 The Big Interview.

SKY CRICKET

Sky 405 Virgin 505

10.15am Live Test Cricket. England v Pakistan. Coverage of the second

MOVIES

FILM4

11.00am River of No Return. (1954) (PG) 12.50pm Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. (2013) (U) 2.40 The Perfect Catch. (2005) (PG) 4.45 Mysterious Island. (1961) (PG) 6.50 Free Guy. (2021) (12) 9.00 The Mechanic. (2011) (15) 10.50 Sexy Beast. (2000) (18) 12.35am Peppermint. (2018) (15)

GREAT! ACTION

Freeview 42 Sky 318 Virgin 426 1.00pm The Unit. 2.00 Burn Notice. 4.00 The Virginian. (2014) (12) 6.00 The Unit. 7.00 Burn Notice. 9.00 The Punisher. (2004) (18) 11.30 The Avengers.

GREAT! CHRISTMAS

Freeview 52 Sky 322 Virgin 424 10.10am Christmas Connection. (2017) (PG) 12.05pm Christmas Bells Are Ringing. (2018) (PG) 2.00 Christmas in Homestead. (2016) (PG) 3.55 A Joyous Christmas. (2017) (PG) 5.50 Christmas Getaway. (2017)

day of the Second Test in the three-match series, held at Lord's. 7.00pm Best of ICC WT20. 7.30 The Film Room: England v India. 8.00 Test Cricket. 9.00 International T20 Cricket. 9.30 Test Cricket Bitesize. 10.00 Test Cricket. 11.00 One-Day International Cricket.

SKY MIX

Sky 416 Virgin 511

12.30pm Darts Gold. 1.00 NFL Bitesize Highlights. 3.00 Live Ladies European Tour Golf. The Women's Irish Open. Day two at the K Club in Straffan, County Kildare. 5.00 Live Women's Super League. St Helens v York Valkyrie (Kick-off 5.15pm). From BrewDog Stadium. 7.30 NBC's Pro-Football Talk. 9.30 Formula 1. 10.30 All In: Indycar. 11.00 Live Indycar. The second practice session at the Milwaukee Mile.

TNT SPORTS 1

Sky 410 Virgin 521

11.00am Ultimate Pool. 12.30pm Live Snooker. The Wuhan Open. 4.00 CPL Highlights. 4.30 TNT Sports Reload. 4.45 Premier League

(PG) 7.45 Dancing Through Christmas. (2021) (PG) 9.45 Hope at Christmas. (2018) (PG) 11.45 The Magical Christmas Shoe. (2019) (PG)

GREAT! MYSTERY

Freeview 50 Sky 320 Virgin 425
12.05pm Unforgettable. 1.00 In Plain Sight. 2.00 Castle. 3.00 Diagnosis Murder. 5.00 Murder, She Wrote. 7.00 Castle. 8.00 Unforgettable. 9.00 In Plain Sight. 10.00 Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts. (2017) (PG) 11.55 Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery. (2015) (PG)

SKY DRAMA

Sky 310 Virgin 410

11.30am Grease. (1978) (PG) 1.25pm Rocketman. (2019) (15) 3.30 A Star Is Born. (2018) (15) 5.50 Hamnet. (2025) (12) 8.00 Regretting You. (2025) (12) A mother and daughter cope with matters after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal. Comedy drama, with Allison Williams. 10.05 Grease. (1978) (PG) A rebellious

Reload. 5.00 The Fantasy Show. 5.30 Premier League Preview. 6.00 TNT Sports Reload. 6.15 MLB Highlights. 7.15 Live MLB. Chicago Cubs v Cincinnati Reds. 10.00 La Vuelta Men. 11.00 Men's Cycling Pro Series. 12midnight MLB Plays of the Week. 12.30 Live MLB. Milwaukee Brewers v Texas Rangers.

TNT SPORTS 2

Sky 411 Virgin 522

12.15 Live MotoGP. The Grand Prix of Aragon practice session. 3.15 MotoGP Rewind. 3.30 MLB Highlights. 4.30 Inside Serie A. 5.00 The Gruppetto. 5.15 eSports Show. 5.45 Live World Rally Championship. The Rally del Paraguay. 9.00 TNT Sports Reload. 9.15 Live World Rally Championship. 10.30 MLB Highlights. 11.30 eSports Show.

TNT SPORTS 3

Sky 413 Virgin 523

11.15am La Vuelta Men. 12.15pm Live La Vuelta Men. Stage seven of the Grand Tour race. 5.00 LIV Golf. 10.00 Snooker Wuhan Open.

teenager falls for a shy Australian girl – but risks losing her by trying to act cool. Musical, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

SKY PREMIERE

Sky 301 Virgin 401

10.25am Rise of the Conqueror. (2026) (15) 12.35pm Heretic. (2024) (15) 2.30 Five Nights At Freddy's 2. (2025) (15) 4.20 Seven Snipers. (2026) (15) 6.00 Goat. (2026) (PG) 7.45 Rise of the Conqueror. (2026) (15) Premiere. Action adventure, starring Christian Mortensen. 9.50 Hamnet. (2025) (12)

TALKING PICTURES TV

Freeview 82 Sky 324 Virgin 445 11.30am The End of the Road. (1954) (U) 1.05pm The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre. 2.15 The Adventures of Robin Hood. 2.45 Date with Disaster. (1957) (U) 4.00 That's My Boy. 4.30 The Cheaters. 5.00 A Family at War. 6.00 Rumpole of the Bailey. 7.00 Z Cars. 8.00 Public Eye. 9.05 Ship of Fools. (1965) (12)

Distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 YOU can have the better evidence and final word in an argument, yet still wish you'd handled it differently. Today's eclipse asks you to notice what you're trying to achieve. If it's understanding, proving your point may not be the most effective strategy. Someone else's reaction may make more sense once you understand what they're protecting. That doesn't mean agreeing with them; just recognising the human need underneath the position. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey – call 0905 789 0301*

JEMIMA CAINER

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 YOU can tell a lot about the health of a relationship by what happens when plans go wrong. Some people start looking for someone to blame; others reach for the practical solution. The responses emerge from different ideas about where safety comes from. Today, the eclipse exposes one of your assumptions. Maybe control has been making you feel secure when what you really need is confidence that you'll cope if circumstances change. That's a sturdier kind of security. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey – call 0905 789 0302*

A sometimes a question has hidden significance. Perhaps 'Why didn't you tell me?' really means 'Can I trust you?'. Today gives you an opportunity to hear beyond the literal words. Your quick mind is excellent at spotting contradictions, but not every one needs correcting. Sometimes people speak imperfectly because they're trying to express something difficult. Give them time. Understanding can begin where interpretation usually ends. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey - call 0905 789 0303*

CANCER June 23 - July 23

(1) advice and a nice cup of tea. Your instinct is to soothe those you love, but offering a solution isn't always the best way to help. They just need to know they aren't facing it alone. You don't have to absorb somebody else's distress to support them, nor do you have to find the perfect words. Being willing to stay present under this

ARGUMENTS are rarely as simple as they appear. People may disagree about politics or money, but the underlying issue could be to do with security or belonging. We tend to hear the conclusion before considering the fear or hope that produced it. That's when conversations

eclipse while another person works through a difficult feeling is enough. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey – call 0905 789 0304*

LEO July 24 - Aug 23 IT'S easy to confuse being misunderstood with being disrespected. Today encourages you to pause before deciding which one you're experiencing. The eclipse may mean your actions are being interpreted differently from the way you intended. That doesn't make a reaction hostile; there's room for both perspectives to exist. You don't need to defend your character every time someone gets the wrong impression. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey - call 0905 789 0305*

Intervention. But resisting that urge may still prove difficult. Today asks you to distinguish between something that matters and something that merely irritates you. People don't always need fixing, and situations don't always need optimising. There are moments when allowing something to be imperfect is not carelessness. It's an acknowledgement that your attention has more important places to go. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey – call 0905 789 0306*

JCAINER.COM

become battles between positions rather than attempts to understand one another. Today's partial lunar eclipse offers a chance to be curious about what sits under the words. Control gives us the illusion of safety. Compassion offers something more useful.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 YOU work hard to keep everybody happy. You notice the potential for conflict before anyone else has spotted it. Your sensitivity can be a gift, but it can also leave you trying to manage emotions that are not your responsibility. The eclipse today invites you to stop anticipating every reaction and be brave enough to let things flow. Say what you mean and allow other people to respond. People are stronger than you assume. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey – call 0905 789 0307*

* Calls cost 80p per minute plus your phone company's access charge and will last approximately 4 minutes. Head to jcainer.com and join Jemima's Moon Circle for exclusive extras, videos and live readings and exciting astrology workshops! To report a phone line problem, call 0330 100 0601.

SCORPIO Oct 24 - Nov 22 IN THE heat of the moment, matters feel clear. It's only once the storm has passed that you can be calm enough to consider another perspective. The eclipse today is clarifying things for you. Something you've taken personally may have a different explanation. Don't rush to dismiss your instincts, but don't turn them into evidence either. Curiosity is especially powerful when certainty has become emotionally convenient. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey – call 0905 789 0308*

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 PEOPLE can stand on opposite sides of an issue while wanting similar things. One person wants independence, another wants reassurance. Beneath the argument, both may simply be asking to feel that their future is safe. Today's lunar eclipse encourages you to look beneath the position rather than wrestling with it directly. This could transform a conversation that has become unnecessarily polarised. Showing you understand can make all the difference. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey - call 0905 789 0309*

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 PARENTS, like Capricorns, know that patience is required when someone

2. I patience is required when someone is working out how to do a task you've mastered. It might be quicker to do the thing yourself but that's not how learning happens. And sticking with self-sufficiency means nobody can support you back. Today's eclipse offers a chance for a dynamic to be recalibrated. Let someone contribute. Relationships become stronger when responsibility can move in both directions. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey – call 0905 789 0310*

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

THE internet has made it easy to find people who think the same things as us. We can curate an entire echo chamber around an opinion. Today, the eclipse offers an antidote to any assumptions that you are on the same page as those you are closest to. Seek out the person whose perspective genuinely complicates yours. A conviction isn't worth much without being tested, and understanding doesn't mean you are obligated to agree. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey - call 0905 789 0311*

problematic or preferred. Anger tells you that you feel betrayed, but that doesn't always mean somebody has wronged you. Fear tells you something terrible may happen, but it's not certain. Hurt tells you that you need to retreat, but you don't have to follow that impulse. Emotional information is not the same as instructions on what to do next. This eclipse stirs up something strong for you today – but your power to choose what's best for you is stronger. Take control of your destiny with the guidance of the stars. Start your journey – call 0905 789 0312*

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PETERBOROUGH

email: pboro@dailymail.co.uk

Does your sofa have a spud in residence?

COUCH POTATO I'm a couch potato Growing deep in a settee. Who'd have thought I'd have the wherewithal to sprout? Yet between the battered cushions, Deep down among the springs, I'm a tiny tuber who is branching out.

My sofa's extremely saggy,
The seat is covered with debris,
It's surprising what's concealed within the base.
Hidden there are coins and dust,

Empty crisp packets, a mouldy crust,

A tube of lip balm and a pencil case.

Sign Language

It's warm down here, it's very dark, And, though no one knows I'm here, Now and then I'm 'watered' with fizzy Coke or beer. I spy a flickering light above, My shoot stretches up to see... It's called television with a picture large and clear.

There's a programme about gardening With a guy called Monty Don. He's growing his spuds in cultivated soil. He's manured, riddled and sweated To give his ground the perfect tilth, But I'm growing here without anybody's toil.

MY HUSBAND and I got married in September 1967. We moved into our house and, the very next day, the milkman knocked to see how much milk we wanted. I remember that, apart from my husband, the next person

Follow-up

Mother Nature is amazing (As dear David Attenborough can profess). Plants and animals find a way to battle through. So, take a look today, Down the back of your settee, And perhaps you'll find a couch potato too!

Mrs Anita Bass, Theydon Bois, Essex

to know I was pregnant was the milkman – you had to tell them because you’d then get extra milk at no extra cost. We had the same milkman for a number of years.

Sandra Freedman, Edgware, Middx

Nursery Rhyme Of Our Times Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

SHOE SOLVENT: Do they use this in the Netherlands to dispose of old footwear? Andrew Parton, Widnes, Cheshire

Bobby Shafto's gone to sea, Fed up with football on TV. Wants to come back and marry me,

Poor old Bobby Shafto.

Bobby Shafto's bright and fair,

Spends a fortune on his hair.
Mine's a mess but I don't care,
Sad old Bobby Shafto.

Wordy Wise

STONY BLAIR – tough politician. GORDON FROWN – grumpy politician, TONY BENT – out-of-shape politician. HARRIET HERMAN – Munster politician. LISA CANDY – sweet politician. Roger Bannister, Leamington Spa, Warks

MANY years ago, when my grandson Cameron was three years old (he's now 24!), I told him that saying 'please' and 'thank you' would get him a long way. 'But I'm not going anywhere, Grandma!' he replied.

Limerick

Finally Bobby's home from sea, Doesn't want to marry me, Hates me watching endless TV, Well, tough luck Bobby Shafto.

The camera, they say, never lies, It shows the crow's feet round your eyes. And if burgers and chips Pass too much twixt your lips, It highlights your thunderous thighs. Paul A. Freeman, Nouakchott, Mauritania

Grab some biscuits and a cup of tea,
The cat is happy on my knee.
Next it's tennis, and golf at three,
Good riddance, Bobby Shafto.

Mrs J. Clayton, Leeds

Susan Greeson, Alicante, Spain

One-line Philosophers

■ NEVER be superstitious – it’s very unlucky.

J. A. Milligan, Oldham, Lancs ■ THEY say money talks but mine just waves goodbye.

Stuart A. Challis, Chelmsford, Essex

Picture That!

SUDOKU SNOOZE: It's a dog's life trying to do the puzzles! Andrew Fox, Brackley, Northants

■ SEND your contributions to Peterborough, Daily Mail Letters, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY

The Mail is published by ANL, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. Printed by Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Broxbourne); Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Knowsley); Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Eurocentral); KP Services (Jersey); Irish Times (Citywest, Dublin), Ireland; Bermont Impresion, Madrid; TFPrint, SA, Tenerife; Miller Newsprint Ltd, Malta; Kronos Corporate Group Ltd, Cyprus; Milkro Hellas Publisher Services Ltd, Athens; Atlas Media Communication, Dubai, UAE. The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2024 was 37.2%.

Jobs and degrees

FURTHER to recent articles about the lack of jobs for graduates, I have worked successfully in financial recruitment for 30 years and every day, without fail, applicants ask: 'How many days are worked from home?'

The shift to remote work and overseas outsourcing is fundamentally changing the UK job market and traditional recruitment models.

As regards the remote work demand, job seekers frequently place hybrid and remote options at the top of their list of requirements. Many new professionals view flexibility to achieve work-life balance as a non-negotiable benefit, not a perk. But companies struggle to align these modern expectations with older, office-based management styles.

Then there is the rise of offshore outsourcing. Businesses move administrative and entry-level tasks to Asia to significantly lower operational expenses. Thanks to global technology, cloud tools and communication platforms make managing international teams seamless.

Tasks are migrated, with routine duties moving overseas first. This leaves fewer foundational roles for local graduates.

KELVIN TROTT, managing director, Alexander Charles Associates, London W1

Essex 'holiday camp'

I TOTALLY concur with the comments and conclusions of the new Reform leader of Essex County Council, Peter Harris (Daily Mail).

I have lived nearly all of my 80 years in Braintree and Bocking, towns near Wethersfield. As a child I cycled to fields near there to help my mum pick potatoes and it was great fun, being outside all day.

Now I wouldn't dare to venture to what is left of our broken town, full of vape shops and barbers, surrounded by droves of mainly young men who appear very threatening to we locals, even though they spend most of their time on their phones.

As Peter Harris observed, Wethersfield would be the ideal setting for a British military veterans village. It is the wrong place for migrants and with all the facilities provided there, I feel we British citizens are being taken for a ride.

Name and address supplied

ANY chance of booking the first two weeks in September at RAF Wethersfield? It sounds ideal for a late summer break.

LAURIE RICE, Mildenhall, Suffolk

Bikini girls

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN (Daily Mail) is right: life is too short and

Write to: Daily Mail Letters, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY email: letters@dailymail.co.uk

Although we cannot respond individually, all correspondence received is read and considered. Thank you for writing.

Straight to the POINT

■ COSTA supplies the strongest coffee hit (Daily Mail). Exactly. That's why we go there.

SYLVIA and ALEX ROBB, Liverpool

■ A SPARE that no longer fits is surplus to requirements. RICHARD WITTERING, Milton Keynes, Bucks

COLIN CUTTS, Kneesall, Notts ■ DID the illegal immigrant conduct leaflet cover the raping of our men?

MARTIN REDWOOD, New Inn, Gwent

■ MUST remember to dress fashionably while picking my tomatoes, figs and pears.
BRIAN THOMPSON, Sutton Coldfield, W. Mids
■ COULDN'T lend me a few mill, could you? Little cashflow problem with these ghastly newspapers. Yours, H. G. SMITH, Reigate, Surrey

sometimes it takes an illness to reinforce that belief.

I am 72 and still wear a bikini, as do many other women of my age or older whom I've seen in Spain or France.

I have also skinny-dipped in Menorca, which certainly shocked my partner. Would I do it again? On a quiet beach, absolutely.

Men with beer bellies, wearing swim shorts, rarely get body shamed. Carry on, Alexandra. You're still a stunner.

A. HAYWOOD, Newport, Gwent PLEASE tell Alexandra Shulman to continue wearing her bikini. I am 72 and take ten bikinis on a two-week holiday but no bathing suits.

All my surgery scars prompted my husband to comment that I looked as if I'd been blown up. But then, so does he, so neither of us cares.

FRANCES PHILLPOTTS, address supplied

No solution

IF THE North Sea were opened up again for drilling, what makes anyone think our energy prices would go down? Prices rarely go down. The

Extraordinary

OUR MOTHER BETTY By Eddie and Mark Quayle

MUM was born in 1929 and raised on a small hill farm in Sulby Glen on the Isle of Man. She and her sister Sheila had a happy childhood. Times were hard and there was no water or electricity in the house – all water had to be brought from the river close by – but they were contented and happy. Mum loved the countryside and animals, and during lambing season thought nothing of getting up at 5am to check for newborn lambs. From an early age she learnt to shear the sheep with hand shears. There were no

machine shearers in those days. She also loved reading and writing short stories and poems, and used to entertain some of the neighbours who would visit to see her stand on a box reciting poems. No TV in those days! Mum enjoyed school, even though it was a long walk in all weathers. Her favourite subject was English. After leaving school she started work in Douglas in a lawyer's office, which was a long journey on the steam train. Her next role was to become licensee at a small country pub called the Tholt-y-Will in Sulby Glen. On one memorable occasion she was presented to Princess

No wonder the UK is hooked on pills

Time for my happy pill: Prescriptions for antidepressants are on the rise

APPARENTLY there has been a huge rise in antidepressant use in the UK (Daily Mail). Is that any surprise? Let's go back to 2016, when the media bombarded us with Brexit opinions and there didn't seem to be any other news: four years of bitter, oppositional doom and gloom that didn't even end when Brexit was achieved. Soon after that we went into lockdown with Covid, another crisis that lasted for years, taking us neatly into the dreadful news of Russia attacking Ukraine in 2022. That depressing and relentless news, still ongoing, was followed by the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023. As if all that were not enough, we now have Trump and his absurd ego at war with Iran, causing chaos in global markets, not to mention Labour trying to get us back into the EU. What good news has there been?

CAROLE GOODMAN, East Grinstead, W. Sussex

I SEE Burnham has successfully put the North in a state of depression. He should be congratulated on his levelling-up mission. The rest of the country is nearing the same state.

EDDIE HOLMES, Cheltenham, Gloucs

ONE in seven on antidepressants. A change of Government would drastically reduce that figure.

NIGEL BAMPTON, Lincoln

ARE all those who are prescribed antidepressants actually taking them? Or are some picking them up from the pharmacy, then shoving them in a drawer or down the toilet? If a person is prescribed this medication, it follows that a GP has diagnosed the condition for which the drugs are intended. But let's face it, there are some dishonest ‘patients’ out there who see this as a tool to claim more benefits.

BRIAN SPRINGTHORPE, Penmaenmawr, Conwy

I WAS astonished to read that one person in seven was prescribed antidepressants last year. The way the country is being run, how on earth are the other six coping?

PETER MORGAN, Canterbury, Kent

extra income just gets swallowed up by greedy companies and their shareholders, high executive wages and tax. Sorry folks, it won't happen.

STEVE COLLARD, Beckenham, Kent

Hotel safety

FIFTY years ago it was routine to use a wooden wedge overnight on hotel bedroom doors. Now these come with an alarm to warn the occupant if there is even an attempt to enter the room. At under £10 each, it seems a wise precaution.

K. WELLS, Heathfield, E. Sussex

RIP Dolly

WITH the death of Dolly Parton, the world has lost another great talent.

CHARLES WOODWARD, Burntwood, Staffs

Mansion mob

WHY do mansion tax ‘valuation inspectors’ need to survey the insides of houses?

While they're looking for new kitchens, wet rooms, fitted bedroom furniture and wine cellars, will they measure the depth of pile in carpets, assess designer clothing in wardrobes and search for any evidence of a safe that

just might contain gold ingots? I think I'll put off re-plastering the cracked walls, make do with the 30-year-old kitchen, cancel plans to install an expensive green heat pump, retain the blown double glazing and live with the rotting garage doors. The first-mooted £2 million threshold is already rumoured to be down to £1.5 million, presumably after an assessment of the likely yield, so that will surely be gradually reduced further.

Will the usual suspects bid for the contract? Will they have a target revenue to achieve? Will inspectors be paid incentives based on the number of qualifying properties they identify? And would a Conservative or Reform government scrap the tax?

Name and address supplied

LETTER OF THE WEEK

THIS week's winner is Don McBeth, of Hassocks, West Sussex, who wrote about overmighty regional mayors. He wins our Letter Of The Week Magic Mug, courtesy of Printer Pix. These reveal our Daily Mail Letter Of The Week design when hot. For personalised photo gifts (right), visit printerpix.co.uk. The Letter Of The Week is announced on Friday. Write to: Daily Mail, Letters, 9 Derry Street, London

Printerpix W8 5HY or email letters@dailymail.co.uk, including your address and phone number.

LIVES

Loved nature and words: Betty

HAVE you lost a relative or friend in recent months whose life you'd like to celebrate? Our Friday column tells the stories of ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives. Email your

Margaret, who was visiting the island and stopped off at the pub. In 1965 Mum married a local farmer, our dad Teddy. They met while checking for lambs on the neighbouring farm where he lived and took their honeymoon in Llandudno, in Wales.

Such was their love of sheep, they bought some Welsh sheep and brought them back to the island. Their first son, Eddie, was born in 1966 and their second, Mark, two years later. They continued to

450-word tribute and a favourite photo to: lives@dailymail.co.uk or write to: Extraordinary Lives, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. Please include a contact phone number.

farm and finally settled at Claddagh Farm in Sulby, where they farmed until Dad died in 1999.

Mum was not only kept busy on the farm but also did freelance writing for local newspapers and a magazine called Manx Life. Her evenings were spent typing on a manual typewriter. She loved interviewing people and seeing their stories come to life in print.

Mum had a great sense of humour and on several occasions did stand-up comedy at local shows.

Latterly, ill health meant she had to give up the things she loved doing, but she kept her sense of humour throughout, even though she was in and out of hospital for several months until sadly she passed away peacefully at home. We miss her so much but are forever grateful we had her as a mum, and for the happy upbringing and family life we had.

■ ELIZABETH HANNAH QUAYLE, born October 2, 1929; died August 1, 2025, aged 95.

WHAT is Vladimir Putin saying as he chairs a meeting aboard the missile cruiser Varyag? Write an amusing caption in the bubble and email it, with your name and address, to pboro@dailymail.co.uk to arrive by Thursday, September 3. The writer of the caption judged best wins a £20 book token. This week's winner is James Lee of Bangor, County Down, who has Amy Hunt saying to Zharnel Hughes as they celebrate winning the mixed 4x100m relay, her fourth gold medal of the European Championships:

FOR permission to copy cuttings for internal management and information purposes, please contact the Newspaper Licensing Agency (NLA), PO Box 101, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1WX. Tel: 01892525273. e-mail: copy@nla.co.uk

Mail Shop | Books

Swan Song

By Charles Spencer

The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles – available to pre-order now.

ONLY £23.80 RRP £28

Product code: 9780241825594 Free delivery over £25*

Shop now at www.mailshop.co.uk/swan or call 020 3176 2937

UK P&P from £2.99. Promotional prices valid for a limited time only. For full information please visit www.mailshop.co.uk/books. Sold by Monwell. Seller independent of MailShop. Subject to availability. *Delivery charges/restrictions may apply. All pricing/comparisons responsibility of seller. Returns: notify seller via website/call 020 3308 9193 within 30 days of receipt. MailShop: a brand of Associated Newspapers Limited, 2nd Floor, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY

A dark day for submarines

False hope: The stern of HMS Thetis before it sank in Liverpool Bay

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

QUESTION Why did so many men die in the HMS Thetis submarine disaster in 1939 when the rear of the boat was clearly seen above the water level?

THE SINKING of HMS Thetis in 1939 was the worst peacetime loss of a submarine in British naval history – of 103 men on board, 99 died.

It was a newly built submarine which set off from Cammel Laird shipbuilders in Birkenhead for a test run and dive in Liverpool Bay on June 1, 1939. On board were her crew of 53 officers and men and 50 additional passengers, including officers from other submarines, staff from the Admiralty there to oversee events, shipbuilders and caterers.

Soon after lunch it was time to dive for the first time but the boat seemed reluctant and the captain ordered that the six bow torpedo tubes be checked.

Two of the tubes were supposed to be flooded to simulate the weight of the torpedoes they would normally carry but when the test cocks were opened for these tubes, water came out of number six but not number five. This was because the hole on the inside of the door leading to the test cock had been painted over inside the tube, blocking it. There was also a problem with the indicator – some accounts say it was wired incorrectly, others that the way it was positioned meant it was easy to misinterpret the reading.

Since the crew thought that tube five was empty, they opened it to check inside. In fact, the tube was full of water and it was impossible to close the door against the incoming rush of water, so the compartment had to be abandoned. To compound the problem, the lights in the compartment went out and the door to the next compartment could not be closed properly, so two compartments were flooded with tons of water, causing the submarine to dive rapidly to the sea bed.

Only when the submarine failed to surface at the end of its planned three-hour dive did the tug accompanying it send a report via its ship-to-shore radio. The message then had to be sent on to naval command by telegram. By the time it arrived, the submarine had been sat on the bottom for over three and a half hours. Ships were ordered to the area but they were all some distance away, the first one, a destroyer, not

QUESTIONS

Q: How many organs can you lose from your body and still remain alive?

D. Coulson, Farncombe, Surrey Q: Why do the French not have words for numbers higher than 69?

Dave Chapman, Reigate, Surrey arriving until late evening. It then spent the night searching for the submarine, not realising that it was actually four miles away from the position reported by the tug.

During the night the crew of the submarine attempted to reduce its weight. They could do nothing about the front two flooded compartments but by pumping out drinking water and fuel they managed to raise the stern so that about 18 feet of it then emerged above the surface of the water.

This was spotted by the destroyer the following morning. By this time, however, the submarine had been submerged for over 19 hours and the air in the cramped, crowded confines on board was becoming foul with the carbon dioxide breathed out by what was almost double the number of people the boat was designed for.

With the stern raised, the rear escape hatch was tantalisingly close to the surface. Two men escaped, then in an attempt to speed up the process four tried to get out at once but it seems one panicked in the claustrophobic air lock as it filled with water. They couldn't open the outer hatch, and when the crew opened the inner hatch, they found three of them had drowned. Two more crew did successfully escape but that was it.

A steel cable from one of the rescue ships was attached to the stern of the submarine to try to keep it above water. But it snapped and the stern sank below the surface.

The submarine was later raised, repaired and renamed HMS Thunderbolt. She entered war service with considerable success but was sunk a second time, in March 1943, with the loss of everyone on board.

Denis Sharp, Littlehampton,

West Sussex

QUESTION Do spiders ever get caught up in their own webs? And if not, why not?

NO, SPIDERS are most unlikely to become caught up in a web of their own making. This is because they walk along the safe, dry radial threads which anchor the web. Only the concentric spirals are dotted with glue, for capturing flies and other small insects.

If a spider did happen to come into contact with the sticky part of the web, the dense hairs at the tip of its legs ensure a minimal contact point. In addition, spiders coat their leg hairs with an oily chemical that repels the glue.

H. Naismith, Kent

QUESTION Are any of the UK's remaining water towers still used for supplying water?

GOOLE, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, has two water towers side by side, known locally as the salt and pepper pots.

The original red brick tower was built in 1885, stands 43 metres tall and had a capacity of 30,000 gallons. The white concrete tower (still in use today) was built in 1927 and stands 44 metres tall, with a capacity of 750,000 gallons. When it was constructed it was believed to be the biggest water tower in Europe.

As the land is very flat around Goole the towers can be seen from miles away. Both buildings are grade II listed.

Malcolm Bristow, Goole, E. Yorks

■ IS THERE a question to which you want to know the answer? Or do you know the answer to a question here? Write to: Answers To Correspondents, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY; or email answers@dailymail.co.uk A selection is published, but we're unable to enter into individual correspondence.

TODAY'S RECIPE: Peach melba icebox cake

No-bake, no-effort treat. Serves 8

Ingredients

200g full-fat soft cheese 100g icing sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 600ml double cream 200g digestive biscuits 2 tbsp toasted flaked almonds

For the raspberry sauce (optional):

200g fresh or frozen raspberries

50g icing sugar 1 tbsp lemon juice For the fruit filling: 4 ripe peaches, stoned and thinly sliced (or 2 cans sliced

peaches, drained) 200g raspberries, plus extra to serve

Method

1 For the sauce, if using, put the raspberries, sugar and lemon juice in a small pan over a low-medium heat and simmer for 6-8 mins until thickened. Cool, then chill (or use 75g raspberry jam instead).

2 Beat the soft cheese to loosen, then whisk in the sugar and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, beat the cream to soft peaks, then fold through the soft cheese mixture.

3 Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture over a rectangular dish (about 20 x 25cm). Arrange a layer of digestives on top, breaking to fit, then spread more cream cheese mix over. Spoon a layer of peaches over, some raspberry sauce and fresh raspberries. Repeat until everything is used (reserving a few peach slices), finishing with the cream cheese mix. Cover and chill for 6 hrs. Serve topped with the reserved peach slices, the extra raspberries and the flaked almonds.

Helena Busiakiewicz

■ Try six issues of Good Food Magazine for just £9.99, then £24.50 goodFOOD

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Serenity: The Bridgewater Canal provides a scenic pathway at Lymm in Warrington

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Invest while you can as Manchester's surrounding counties enjoy a boom It's great up North!

IT might be time to rethink the old adage: 'It's grim up north.' Manchester, in particular, is one of the fastest-expanding economies in the UK – with an annual growth of 3.1 per cent, more than double the rate of the country as a whole.

But beyond its recent economic success, the city has also become a major focus for national politics, too, thanks to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's unflinching push to decentralise government with his newly minted No10 North.

The focus on the North is creating a property buzz. Once seen as simply a cheaper alternative to the South, it is becoming a desirable location in its own right. Since the coronation of our PM, buyer demand has risen in northern England.

Rightmove says asking prices rose by 1.5 per cent in August against a 1.8 per cent per cent fall in the South. So, if you fancy living in a place where your money goes further, the people are friendlier and the investment potential is strong – where should you buy?

1 WIGAN

LAST year, Wigan was named the best place to live in the UK, based on cost of living, crime rates, healthcare access and air quality. It's also affordable: The average Wigan home was £194,000 in May.

And despite its industrial heritage, it is one of the greenest urban areas in Britain.

BUY IT: A four-bed, detached family home on Hartley Way, Billinge, is available from £485,000 and features an open-plan kitchen, detached garage and generous lounge (stapletonderby.co.uk).

2 OLD TRAFFORD

THIS Mancunian suburb is on the up, says Toby Brown, regional director at Latimer Homes.

He adds: ‘The arrival of No10 North could provide a fresh catalyst for Manchester’s property market with the new civil service hub bringing jobs, investment and greater demand into the city.’

Terraced homes and apartments make up the glut of the Old Trafford market – with terraced properties averaging around £292,458 and flats £163,936.

BUY IT: A four-double bedroom terraced property on Walter Street is available with JP&Brimelow from £425,000 (jpandbrimelow.co.uk).

3 ROCHDALE

HIGHLY affordable and undervalued, this is one of the region's 'best-kept property secrets', claims Jonathan Stephens, managing director of SmartLandlord.

He adds: 'Around £400million has been invested so far in the town centre, including the Rochdale Riverside retail and leisure devel-

by Angela Epstein

opment and the £60million Upper-banks scheme, which has delivered 242 new homes and a hotel.'

Meanwhile, nearby Hollingworth Lake Country Park offers walking and cycling opportunities.

BUY IT: A three-bedroom terraced property in Gorsey Bank, Littleborough, is available with Hunters from £189,950 (rightmove.co.uk).

4 PRESTON

WITHIN easy reach of Manchester, this is another area of excellent value, explains Claire Jarvis, of David Wilson Homes.

Close to the coast and the Forest of Bowland, average property prices are from £195,000. Suburbs such as Fulwood and Penwortham are also popular thanks to their good schools, high streets, and parks. Ms Jarvis says: 'Preston is benefiting from substantial investment and regeneration across the city, helping to strengthen its position as one of the North West's key economic and residential centres.' BUY IT: A four-bed home Broad Oak Lane, Penwortham, is available from £524,000 with Ben Rose, chain free (ben-rose.co.uk).

5 NEW BRIGHTON, MERSEY

ON the tip of the Wirral Peninsula, this was voted one of Britain's best coastal towns to live in by the Sunday Times, not least thanks to its vintage shops, lively Victoria Quarter and sandy beaches.

‘Buyers should prepare to get ahead of the curve as east Wirral may not remain cheap forever,’ says Will Jones, director of Pantheon Chartered Surveyors.

Average prices in New Brighton have been £248,959 in the past year. BUY IT: A three-bedroom terrace house in Egerton Street, Wallasey, is available from £209,950 with Bakewell & Horner (bakewell-horner.co.uk).

6 WARRINGTON

WITH low childcare costs, good schools and green space, commuter hotspot Warrington is considered one of the best places to raise a family in England.

Yet property prices have remained reasonable, averaging £292,294 – more than £180,000 below the UK house price figure.

But you had better move fast if you spot a place that you like. OnTheMarket.com has cited Warrington as one of the fastest-moving property markets in England.

BUY IT: An end-of-terrace property with no onwards chain on Knutsford Road, Grappenhall, is available from £300,000 with Mark Antony Estates (markantonyestates.com).

City Editor: Alex Brummer

www.thisismoney.co.uk

Business Editor: Hugo Duncan

Unilever cuts the mustard with Colman's sale

UNILEVER has put 200-year-old English mustard brand Colman's up for sale as it seeks to head off competition fears over its food business spin-off.

The FTSE 100 firm is combining its food brands – also including Marmite and Hellmann's – with US spice giant McCormick in a £33bn deal.

But McCormick already owns mustard brand French's, a fact that could attract the attention of regulators. Bankers at Rothschild have now been instructed to look for a buyer for Colman's.

Experts speculate bidders will include Mr Kipling owner Pre-

By Emily Hawkins

mier Foods and Associated British Foods, which owns Twinings tea and Ryvita.

Unilever said: 'A decision has been taken to market the Colman's brand and assets to potential buyers in order to proactively seek to address potential competition concerns from the planned combination of Unilever Foods and McCormick.

‘Discussions are ongoing and the operations continue as usual.’

It is unclear how much Colman's could be worth, although a source told Sky News it was 'not material'. The brand has been subject to speculation that it could be offloaded along with condiments Marmite and Hellmann's. Together, the three have annual revenues of around £200m.

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said: 'Colman's is synonymous with a Sunday roast or a ham sandwich in the UK but is less known beyond these shores.

‘McCormick might believe the British brand doesn’t cut the mustard or add anything to its portfolio. There won’t be a shortage of interested parties lining up.’

Colman's was founded in Norwich in 1814, but in 2017 production was shifted to Burton-on-Trent and Germany.

Earlier this year, Unilever chief executive Fernando Fernandez provided little reassurance on whether the McCormick deal would hit jobs in the group's 6,000-strong UK workforce.

He has said that the company would see ‘synergies play out’, raising the prospect of cuts.

Fernandez has come under pressure from critics over the deal.

Veteran fund manager Terry Smith, who sold his entire stake in Unilever earlier this year, said it has ‘all the hallmarks’ of activist investor Nelson Peltz.

Peltz - on the Unilever board since 2022

– is reported to have been a key advocate of the spin-off. He has previously agitated for change at companies including Cadbury and PepsiCo.

AI boom adds \$500 billion to Nvidia's value

(enough to buy HSBC, BP and Tesco)

By John-Paul Ford Rojas and Jane Denton

NVIDIA'S value rocketed by as much as half a trillion dollars yesterday in an extraordinary rally after its financial results smashed expectations.

Investors also seized on the chip giant's bullish view on future growth amid the AI boom, propelling the stock nearly 10pc up at one point.

That lifted the value of Nvidia – already the biggest company in the world – by more than \$500bn, or £370bn, which \$600SH, OF 251OSH, which would be enough to buy the FTSE 100's biggest company - £258bn-valued HSBC - with change to bag BP and Tesco too.

Nvidia's shares closed

Nvidia's shares led 8.7pc higher last night. The company, which creates semiconductor chips used by data centres at the heart of the AI revolution, has been the biggest stock market winner of the transformational technology.

Its results are closely watched because AI – and the prospect it could drive ever-higher profits – has propelled US markets to a prolonged rally.

Nvidia's market value has exploded to more than \$5trillion and yesterday was as high as \$5.6trillion. The scale has meant investors have been nervy about hints it will not meet stratospheric expectations placed on it.

Results on Wednesday showed sales had more than doubled to \$96.2bn (£70.8bn) in the three

106pc year-on-year - which drove profits 126pc higher to \$59.7bn (£43.9bn).

Data centre revenue hit \$89bn (£65.5bn), and it guided for \$108bn (£79.5bn) of revenue in this quarter.

It is expanding its partnership with Amazon's cloud computing unit, Amazon Web Services, and will be deploying 2m more

Nvidia graphics processors in it in 2027 and 2028.

Jensen Huang (pictured), the founder and chief executive, hailed a ‘golden age’, adding: ‘AI has reached its inflection point. It’s doing useful work. Its tokens are productive, profitable. Now, compute is revenue.’

The shares are up more than 1,000pc over three years but gains in 2026 have trailed other tech companies.

Worries have surfaced over the pace of data centre spending by clients and there are question marks over its role in inflating valuations by financially backing firms that are customers.

Meanwhile, some clients, such as ChatGPT maker OpenAI, are developing chips that provide an alternative. But Nvidia has forecast a 70pc jump in revenue for the next financial year.

Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said: 'The AI juggernaut is rumbling on. The results solidified high expectations for the company's mega revenues.

‘Once the initial excitement settles, questions are likely to resurface about the durability of this boom in revenues.

‘It’s becoming less about whether Nvidia can keep climbing the AI mountain, and more about how long it can sustain this extraordinary pace and whether the vast sums being poured in will deliver the returns needed to justify the colossal investment.’

SALESSLUMP GIVES PERNOD AN AMERICAN HANGOVER

PERNOD Ricard shares slumped after the French spirits giant warned that a fall in US demand will weigh on sales for years.

The company, which makes drinks such as Absolut Vodka, endorsed by Paris Hilton (pictured), and Jameson Irish whiskey, said sales fell 3.9pc to £8.1bn in the year to June 30, a third year of decline in a row.

It flagged up a 14pc dip in the US, due to a ‘spirits market slowdown with economic moderation and subdued consumer confidence’, saying it does not expect to return to growth there until after 2029.

China sales fell 19pc. And it now expects annual sales growth over the next few years to be at the lower end of a 3pc to 6pc range.

Its struggles underline the challenge for alcohol giants as drinkers cut back due to cost-of-living pressures and health concerns.

The business was in talks over a £22bn tie-up with the US maker of Jack Daniel's, Brown-Forman – but terminated discussions in April.

Pernod said it would evolve in the US through ventures such as cash-ing in on ‘ready to drink’ canned and tinned products.

Rival Diageo has also pinned its hopes on these products, which are popular among younger drinkers.

Shares fell 4.6pc, adding to losses of more than a third in the past year.

Great betrayal of the young

A LAN Milburn, the Labour statesman who is due next month to produce his report on young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (Neets) is trying to tackle the biggest problem facing the UK economy.

So long as we consign a million people aged 16-24 to an economic wilderness where they are unable to start their working lives, we have little chance of prosperity or growth, let alone growth in every postcode.

It is a great betrayal of the young. As the Institute of Economic Affairs points out, the likelihood of being Neet is bound up with regional and economic inequality.

In North East England, for instance, the Neet rate of 20pc is more than twice that of the South West. Factors such as drug use, dysfunctional families and generational unemployment, where no one has had a job for decades, come into play.

In towns such as Middlesbrough, where the economy was devastated by the demise of the steel and chemicals industries, around 20pc of children are growing up in workless households.

There are six Neets in the north-east for

Ruth Sunderland

every starter job vacancy, compared with a national average of three.

Unlike Andy Burnham, I believe it is pointless to carry on railing about Thatcherite policies in the 1980s.

It would also be simplistic to try to draw a straight line between Neet levels and the recent tragic events on Teesside.

Most young people in that category are law-abiding and doing their best. But lack of opportunity and hope creates fertile ground for gangs, drugs and violence.

The increase in Neets is mainly among young men – the number having risen by 25,000 in the past year. We risk creating a large cohort excluded from the usual milestones of young manhood: buying a house, fatherhood and providing for a family.

The potential for disaffection and worse is obvious. Stigmatising youngsters for being Neet would be unhelpful and unjust. Difficulty getting on the career ladder is now affecting young people from middle-class backgrounds.

Openings for graduates have fallen off a cliff. A paltry 8,383 were advertised in July, according to job site Adzuna. In the summer of 2017, more than 55,000 graduate roles were being offered.

The Government's main anti-Neet measure, the Jobs Guarantee scheme, is unlikely to do much good.

There needs to be a frank discussion about the link between Neets and mental health problems, starting from the premise that purposeful work is positive for psychological well-being.

But it will all fail unless the Government admits its policies have squelched opportunities by jacking up the costs and risks of employing young people.

Vicious circle?

THE rise in Nvidia shares, after its results surprised the market, is being taken to mean we can put aside worries of an AI bust. My concern is that it may not be imminent, but it is only a matter of time. The worry, which Nvidia tried to dispel, is ‘circular financing’.

This is complex and opaque. In essence, it is the familiar practice of bankrolling your customers – by lending them money, guaranteeing loans or taking equity stakes, so they can buy your products.

Nvidia lined up six big Wall Street names, including Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, KKR and Apollo, which are pledging to lend more than \$500bn for customers to buy chips and build data centres. It is backstopping a chunk of any losses.

It is uneasily reminiscent of the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, when banks were discovered to have created cat's-cradles of debt, much of it lurking off-balance sheet.

Michael Burry, the US investor who fore-saw the crisis, is talking of a similar disaster brewing now.

The Bank for International Settlements, which warned repeatedly of unsustainable debt ahead of the meltdown, says an AI bust could be as disruptive to credit as the sub-prime maelstrom of 2008. Buckle up.

Crypto cash

CONGRATULATIONS to the 240 people who made £1m each in gains on crypto in 2024/25, according to HMRC figures.

Some 17,600 averaged a gain of £78,000 on bitcoin and its rivals. Good for them.

Call me cynical: I am pleasantly surprised all these good citizens declared their profits to the taxman, but wonder how many more did not.

Zara-owner launches UK's first Lefties store

By Anne Ashworth

ZARA'S sister brand Lefties has opened its first UK store with a value-conscious fashion offering set to challenge Primark.

The rapidly expanding discount chain, owned by Zara's Spanish parent company Inditex, made its British debut at the Liverpool One shopping complex yesterday.

Despite the rain, queues formed outside the glossy 27,000 sq ft store, the first of three to open this year.

Lakeside in Essex and Metrocentre near Newcastle will follow. Lefties already has 225 stores in 20 markets.

Xavier Rus Riera, general director, would not say how many UK stores are planned, adding: 'We don't have a number. We're trying to meet the requirements of customers. It's like football, we'll proceed match by match.'

But it will be a rival for Primark as it prepares to be spun off next year by owner Associated British Foods.

Primark is Britain's most

Inditex to challenge Primark as it debuts futuristic budget chain powered by robots

powerful high street player in affordable clothing and decor, with about 190 stores.

But Lefties' low prices and glamorous stores will highlight the workaday feel of Primark outlets.

Automation is driving Left-ies' ambitions.

At the opening yesterday, a screen showed which dressing rooms were free and unwanted items can be put down a hatch in the dressing room to be sorted below.

At the self-checkouts, hangers removed from garments are sorted by robot arms, which add a sci-fi element to shopping. And a light flashes if any customers try to leave without paying for something.

The store has created 150 jobs, with Lefties keen to have staff on the shop floor.

The name of the chain comes from Lefties' beginnings as a place where leftover Zara stock was sold.

That has evolved into ‘total looks’ of the latest in-vogue items and basics for women, teenagers, men and children, plus elegant homeware.

Zara adapts each individual store's range of goods to local preferences, and Lefties Liverpool offers leggings from £5.99 and thermals from £9.99 – its first foray into cold-weather clothing.

Designer vibe: Model Leomie Anderson wearing Lefties' cut-price denim clothing

Summer sales surge lifts shares in Halfords

By Angharad Carrick

HALFORDS shares hit a four-year high as warm weather boosted the profit outlook.

The bicycle and car parts chain enjoyed ‘heightened seasonal demand’ for items such as air conditioning, camping equipment and bicycles.

It now expects annual pre-tax profits of between £55m and £65m, above previous expectations of £52.6m.

Shares surged as much as 13pc yesterday before closing 10.8pc, or 26p, higher at 267p, bringing 2026 gains to 90pc.

It said: 'Halfords has continued to outperform over recent months. This reflects momentum in the underlying business as we continue to deliver against our strategic priorities alongside a very strong performance in seasonal categories, in part reflecting unusually warm summer weather.'

Halfords is looking to ramp up sales and offset rising costs across its garage and retail arms. It has more than 100 garages and is aiming for another 35 this year.

240 crypto millionaires in Britain | Pru shrugs off Chinese tax raid

BRITAIN has more than 200 crypto millionaires, according to tax statistics.

HM Revenue and Customs' first published crypto data yesterday showed 240 people reported more than £1m in gains from assets in the 2024/25 financial year.

The gains totalled £717m. The total taxable capital gains from crypto were £1.38bn, across 17,600 individuals.

It represents an average gain of £78,000 per person. Bitcoin, the world's biggest crypto, was under \$50,000 in 2024 before passing \$100,000 after Donald Trump was elected. It topped \$126,000 last year, then fell back and rose past \$80,000 recently.

James Murray, financial secretary to the Treasury, said: 'Taxes are due on crypto gains just like any other gains, and we want to make sure people making gains from crypto know about what taxes they owe.'

PRUDENTIAL said it was ‘too early to assess’ whether a Chinese tax crackdown will hit demand.

The life insurer, focused on Asia, suffered a share price dip this month on reports that Beijing was imposing a 20pc personal income tax on returns from Hong Kong insurance policies.

Chief executive Anil Wadhwani said key drivers for mainland customers, such as the need to diversify investments and health protection, remained intact.

‘That gives us confidence that growth, as well as the demand from the Chinese mainland for Hong Kong policies, will continue,’ he said, as new business raised profits to £1.3bn in the first half.

Shares fell 2.5pc, or 25.5p, to 1014p.

*Ex-Dividend Source: The Press Association

Wood Gp(J)

298

298

184

52-week High Low
52-week High Low

	52-Week		High	Low
Aerospace & Defence
Aston Martin....33 $^{3/4}$		-14	86	33 $^{3/4}$
BAE Systems....2092		+4	2331	1609 $^{2}$
Chemring Gp....561xd		+4	638	460
QinetiQ....512		-6	571 $^{1/2}$	406
Rolls-Royce....1529 $^{4/4}$ xd-13 $^{1/4}$			1570 $^{8}$	1029
Senior....294			311	164 $^{8}$

Banks
Banco Santander	1070	-20	1100	592 $\frac{1}{2}$
Barclays	492 $\frac{1}{2}$ xd	-7	530 $\frac{1}{8}$	357 $\frac{1}{4}$
HSBC Hldgs	1504xd	-18 $\frac{1}{4}$	1597 $\frac{1}{8}$	946 $\frac{1}{2}$
Lion Finance	13360	+10	13510	7020
Lloyds Banking	1094xd	-2 $\frac{1}{8}$	117 $\frac{1}{8}$	78 $\frac{1}{2}$
Metro Bank	165 $\frac{1}{8}$	-2	180 $\frac{1}{4}$	100
NatWest Group	6784xd	-13 $\frac{1}{8}$	722 $\frac{1}{4}$	505 $\frac{1}{4}$
Stan Chartered	2147xd	-35	2248	1360
TBC Bank	5015xd	-90	5180	3640

TOP RISERS	CLOSING PRICE	DAILY CHANGE
Halfords	267p	+10.79%
Computacenter	5625p	+7.86%
Atalaya Mining	1100p	+4.07%
Sage	1103.5p	+3.81%
Oakley Capital	544p	+3.42%

Beverages
Barr (AG)	600	-6	710	594
Coca-Cola HBC	4564	-102	5170	3306
Diageo	$1701^{12}$	-35	2049	$1362^{12}$

Chemicals
Croda Intnal	3429xd	-36	3468	2439
Elementis	175xd	$-4^{\text{®}}$	$187^{1/4}$	$142^{\text{®}}$
Johnson Matt	2226xd	-40	$3199^{\text{®}}$	2226
Victrex	836	+6	836	539

	52-week		High	Low
Biopharma Credit....728			744	668
BlackRock Smlr....277xd	-12		3542	668
BlkRckWildMining....1048	+6		1056	563
BR Greater Eur....607	-4		624	516
Brunner....1566xd	-8		1584	1354
Caledonia Inv....397	+2		4014	312
City of London IT....589xd	-4		597	488
Edin Inv Trust....859	-4		864	760
Edin Wwide....2652	+3		2902	1898
Euro Sml Co....240xd	+12		2462	197
F&C Inv Trust....343	-8		3514	824
Fidelity China....2622	-2		3322	245
Fidelity Emg....1502	+2		1562	855
Fidelity Eur....4372	-32		444	372
Fidelity Spec Val....4732	-3		478	372
Finsbury G&I Tst....834	+5		892	713
Foresight Env....902	+8		914	618
GCP Infra Inv....836xd	+4		844	70
Global Smaller....194xd	+8		1974	1638
Greencoat UK....1096xd	-8		1158	924
Harbourvest....3415	+65		3500	2755
Henderson Sml Co....987	+8		997	774
Herald Inv Trust....2980	+30		3260	2305
HG Capital Trust....431	+6		509	323
HICL Infr....1364xd	-34		1408	109
ICG Enterprise....1486xd	+6		1600	1310
Invesco Asia....4982	+12		516	372
JPM American....1216xd	+6		1254	1056
JPM Emerging Markets....1674	+8		1804	1194
JPM Euro Disc....637	-3		663	557
JPM Japan IT....815	+3		861	661
Jupiter Fund....1726xd	-4		1954	1158
Law Debenture....1248	-8		1276	982
M&G....3484	-14		3648	2488
Mercantile IT....2882			2884	237
Merchants Trust....684	-4		690	537
Molten Ventures....7042	+122		7042	3494
Monks Inv Tst....1628xd	+4		1656	1374
Morgan Sindall....4388	-52		5530	4050
Murray Inc Tst....997xd	-5		1024	873
Murray Intl Tst....374	-12		377	293
Neuberger Private Eqty....1490xd	+2		1632	1302
Next Energy Solar....484xd	-		678	44
Ninety One....2128	+14		2598	1852
Oakley Capital Inv....544	+18		576	169
Pacific Horizon....1124	+20		1252	673
Pantheon Infra....116	+24		1198	101
Pantheon Intl....393			4072	329
Partners Group....666	+34		942	593
Patria Private....598			642	548
Pershing Square....3920xd	-4		5090	3642
Personal Assets Tr....556xd	+3		561	514
Polar Cap Gl....253			254	203
Polar Cap Tech....6532	+102		7332	390
Pollen Street....889	-10		964	702
Renewables Infra....766xd	-4		788	632
RIT Cap Partners....2565			2630	1942
Schroder Asia....844	+8		888	608
Schroder Oriental....458	+2		463	3032
Scot American Inv....563xd	+2		570	487
Scottish Mortgage....14782	+112		1545	10282

Construction & Materials
Balfour Beatty......880	-8	926 $\frac{1}{2}$	589
Breedon......358	-1	370	273
Genuit Group......279 $\frac{3}{4}$ xd	-12	389 $\frac{1}{2}$	243 $\frac{1}{4}$
Grafton Gp......1038	-12	1050	808 $\frac{1}{8}$
Ibstock......88 $\frac{3}{4}$ xd	+4 $\frac{1}{4}$	142	84 $\frac{1}{8}$
Keller Group......3040xd	+60	3444	1282
Kier Group......257 $\frac{1}{8}$	-2 $\frac{1}{4}$	261 $\frac{1}{4}$	180 $\frac{1}{4}$
Volution......674	-8	712	562

	52-week		High	Low
Sequoia Econ Infra......85		$+1/8$	$87^{1/2}$	$75^{1/4}$
Syncona......115 $^{34}$		$+2^{1/4}$	$116^{1/8}$	$86^{1/8}$
Templeton Em......322		$+2^{1/2}$	350	$199^{1/8}$
Twentyfour......108 $^{8}$			$114^{1/4}$	$104^{1/8}$
Vietnam Enter......739		+6	848	684
VinaCapital Vietna......450		+5	499	$414^{1/2}$
Wwide Healthcare......393		$-1^{1/2}$	399	324

Food Producers

Health Care Equipment & Services
Convatec......2298xd	+2	2568	194
Oxford Biomedica......527	+12	913	47812
Smith & Neph......10722	+12	1435	1068
Spire Health......2342	-12	249	1424

Housebuilders

Electricity
Drax Gp	767	+10 $^{1/2}$	918	626 $^{1/2}$
SSE	2381xd	-35	2757 $^{1/2}$	1612

EQUITY RELEASE

Food Producers
Assoc Brit Foods	2064	-15	2315	18
Cranswick	5380xd		5690	4840
Greencore	264 $^{4}$	-8	306 $^{2}$	192
Hilton Food Gp.	631	+10	832	456
Premier Foods	197 $^{2}$	-1 $^{2}$	209 $^{4}$	167
Princes Group	312	-3	479	298 $^{2}$
Tate & Lyle	554 $^{2}$		569	329 $^{8}$
Unilever	4752xd	-20	5472	4078

General Financial
Mail Finance

Industrial Transportation

Barratt Redrow....319 $^{2}$	-2 $^{4}$	409 $^{8}$	241 $^{4}$
Bellway....2166	-34	2868	1715
Berkeley Grp....3542	-68	4434	3104
Crest Nicholson....65 $^{4}$	-1 $^{4}$	175 $^{4}$	61 $^{4}$
Persimmon....1182	-23 $^{2}$	1543 $^{2}$	998 $^{8}$
Taylor Wimpey....85 $^{8}$	-8	116 $^{2}$	74 $^{8}$
Vistry Group....303	-10 $^{4}$	736 $^{4}$	224 $^{8}$

Electronic & Electrical Equipment
Halma	3672	+56	4878	3218
Morgan Advanced	237 $^{1}$ 2	-3 $^{1}$ 2	255	187 $^{1}$ 8
Oxford Instruments	2856	+36	3302	1766
Renishaw	5145	+35	5455	3120

Clarkson	5005xd	+15	5155	3395
Zigup	435	-26 $^{1/2}$	478	301 $^{1/2}$

Equity Investment Instruments
3i Infrastructure....	395 $\frac{1}{2}$	+2	399 $\frac{1}{2}$	326
Aberforth Smlr Cos....	1776xd	+2	1777	1418
AJ Bell....	612	+2	643	4148
Alliance Witan....	1373xd	-9	1390	1188
Allianz Tech....	699	+13	758	449
Ashoka India....	258	+2	285 $\frac{1}{2}$	217
AVI Global Trust....	264	+2	272 $\frac{1}{2}$	239 $\frac{1}{2}$
Baillie Giff Japan....	1066	-2	1080	834
Baillie Giff US....	337	+42	366 $\frac{1}{2}$	262
Bankers InvTst....	151xd	+4	154 $\frac{1}{8}$	122 $\frac{1}{4}$
BH Macro....	424 $\frac{1}{2}$	+1	462 $\frac{1}{2}$	389

3i Group	2834	-10	4459	2082
Ashmore Gp.	$225\frac{1}{8}$	$+2\frac{1}{8}$	$266\frac{1}{4}$	$153\frac{1}{2}$
Bridgepoint Group	$318\frac{1}{4}$	+4	345	$222\frac{1}{8}$
Capital Gearing	527	+3	$532\frac{1}{2}$	$52\frac{1}{4}$
CMC Markets	726	+13	749	206
Coats Group	82	$+4\frac{1}{4}$	$95\frac{1}{8}$	$74\frac{1}{8}$
Cordiant Digital	$125\frac{1}{2}$	$-2\frac{1}{2}$	127	$122\frac{1}{2}$
Foresight Group	495	$-2\frac{1}{2}$	503	345
Hansa Investment	332	-6	344	332
ICG	2008	-4	2332	1463
IG Gp	$1394xd$	+1	1938	1025
Integrafin	397	+3	$401\frac{1}{2}$	$298\frac{1}{2}$
Intl Public Prtnships	$139xd$	$-8\frac{1}{8}$	$144\frac{1}{8}$	$117\frac{1}{4}$
Investec	$645xd$	$+5\frac{1}{2}$	$679\frac{1}{2}$	518
IP Group	$72\frac{1}{8}$	$+8\frac{1}{8}$	$73\frac{1}{8}$	$48\frac{1}{8}$
London Stock Ex.	$8980xd$	+292	9992	7170
Man Group	$307xd$		316	$154\frac{1}{4}$
Nth Atlantic Smir.	425	+1	433	330
OSB Group	$512\frac{1}{2}xd$	+2	$643\frac{1}{2}$	$484\frac{1}{4}$
Paragon	796	-1	917	$711\frac{1}{2}$
Plus500	$3764xd$	+26	5070	2942
Quilter	$192xdx$	$-4\frac{1}{4}$	$208\frac{1}{4}$	$154\frac{1}{8}$
Rathbone Grp	1710	+10	2265	1582
Ruffer Investment	$298\frac{1}{2}$	+1	$313\frac{1}{2}$	$283\frac{1}{2}$
Schroders	584	$+2\frac{1}{2}$	$589\frac{1}{2}$	$361\frac{1}{4}$
SDCL Efficiency	$36\frac{1}{8}$		63	32
Seraphim Space	$188\frac{1}{4}$	$+4\frac{1}{4}$	$273\frac{1}{2}$	$66\frac{1}{4}$
Temple Bar	$418\frac{1}{2}xd$	$-3\frac{1}{2}$	429	335
TP ICAP	$339\frac{1}{4}$	$+2\frac{1}{8}$	355	$240\frac{1}{2}$
XPS Pensions	$311\frac{1}{2}$	-2	362	283

Industrials
Bodycote	911 $\frac{1}{2}$	+1 $\frac{1}{2}$	923	601
Globaldata	84 $\frac{1}{4}$	+4 $\frac{1}{4}$	151 $\frac{1}{2}$	63 $\frac{1}{8}$
Goodwin	18200	-40	27600	9400
Hill & Smith	2945	+10	3095	2020
IMI	3124xd	-14	3148	2226
Melrose Ind	509xd	-2	681 $\frac{1}{4}$	448 $\frac{1}{4}$
RHI Magnesita	2780xd	-70	3345	1980
Rotork	485+xd	+4 $\frac{1}{4}$	488	288 $\frac{1}{8}$
Smiths Gp	2626	-1	2746	2118
Spirax Group	7140	-65	7960	6300
Vesuvius	391	-1 $\frac{1}{4}$	503	357 $\frac{1}{4}$
Weir	2852	-48	3546	2274

Leisure Goods

Games Workshop......18320xd-480		21940	14200
ME Group......128	+2	$200^{1/2}$	$100^{1/4}$
Watches of Switz......721	+10	$801^{1/2}$	$318^{5/4}$

Life Insurance
Provided by

Aberdeen Group	251xd	+18	261	182
Aviva	722	-74	737	5918
Legal & General	291xd	+8	3168	2338
Prudential	10132	-26	1220	916
St James Place	11762xd	-52	1553	10532
Standard Life	9292	-6	9412	619
Media
4imprint	4512xd	-82	5000	3055
Autotrader Group	536xd	-3	816	4274

ROYAL LONDON

Don't fall for the equity release myths

Equity release has often been misunderstood. Many worry it's unsafe or means losing their home. The truth? Modern Lifetime Mortgages are designed for UK homeowners aged 55 and over, offering a flexible way to unlock tax-free cash while keeping 100 per cent ownership.

All plans we advise on are backed by the UKs industry body the Equity Release Council's standards, including the no-negative-equity guarantee, you'll never owe more than your home's value. The loan is usually repaid when the last homeowner passes away or moves into long-term care.

Our service which is provided by Royal London Equity Release Advisers, provide expert, whole-of-market advice to help you separate myths from facts and help make informed decisions.

A lifetime mortgage is a loan secured against your home and may reduce your estate and affect means tested benefits.

WHY CONSIDER EQUITY RELEASE?

- Unlock the value of your home without moving

- Keep full ownership of your property

- Fixed-for-life interest rates for peace of mind

- Flexible features tailored to your needs

Real Estate

TOP FALLERS	CLOSING PRICE	DAILY CHANGE
PPHE Hotels	1526p	-6.95%
Zigup	435p	-5.74%
Genuit	279.6p	-4.12%
Dr. Martens	77.4p	-3.73%
Entain	511p	-3.66%

	52-week		High	Low
Bloomsbury....	651	+4	672	4382
Informa....	891 $\times$ xd	-2 $\frac{1}{2}$	993 $\frac{1}{2}$	7394
ITV....	71 $\frac{1}{2}$	- $\frac{1}{2}$	854	67 $\frac{1}{2}$
Mony Group....	206 $\times$ xd	-8	213	1442
Pearson....	1229 $\times$ xd	+12	1326	891 $\frac{1}{2}$
RELX....	2668xd	+82	3557	2013
Rightmove Group....	513 $\frac{1}{2}$	+4 $\frac{1}{2}$	7434	404
WPP....	384 $\frac{1}{4}$	+3	411 $\frac{1}{2}$	224 $\frac{1}{2}$

Mining

	52-week		High	Low
Grt Portland Est.	340 $\frac{8}{3}$	-6 $\frac{8}{3}$	374	274 $\frac{2}{2}$
Hammerson	375 $\frac{8}{3}$	-4 $\frac{4}{4}$	385 $\frac{8}{3}$	267 $\frac{4}{4}$
Harworth	180	+2	181 $\frac{1}{2}$	120
Land Securities	686 $\frac{2}{2}$	-10	722	529
LondonMetric Prop.	189 $\frac{3}{8}$ xd	-5 $\frac{4}{4}$	215	177 $\frac{2}{2}$
Primary Hlth Prop.	96	-3 $\frac{8}{3}$	108 $\frac{4}{4}$	87 $\frac{2}{2}$
Safestore Hldgs	592	-9 $\frac{2}{2}$	837	582
Savills	1050xd	-8	1108	808
SEGRO	964xd	-7	997 $\frac{8}{3}$	604 $\frac{8}{3}$
Shaftesbury	147 $\frac{3}{8}$ xd	-3 $\frac{8}{3}$	154 $\frac{2}{2}$	126 $\frac{4}{4}$
Sirius Real Estate	96 $\frac{8}{3}$	-3 $\frac{8}{3}$	111 $\frac{8}{3}$	91
Supermarket Inc.	84 $\frac{8}{3}$	-2	88 $\frac{8}{3}$	76 $\frac{4}{4}$
Target Healthcare	111 $\frac{3}{8}$ xd	-1	116	92 $\frac{4}{4}$
TR Property IT	306 $\frac{2}{2}$	-2	361 $\frac{2}{2}$	295
Tritax Big Box	159xd	-1 $\frac{4}{4}$	173 $\frac{4}{4}$	133 $\frac{4}{4}$
Unite Group	511 $\frac{2}{2}$	-10 $\frac{2}{2}$	727 $\frac{2}{2}$	448 $\frac{4}{4}$
Workspace Gp.	367 $\frac{8}{3}$	+1 $\frac{8}{3}$	430	319 $\frac{8}{3}$

Retailers

Mining
Anglo American	4243xd	+23	4243	2236
Antofagasta	4039	+15	4455	2131
Endeavour Mining	4739	-7	5290	2536
Fresnillo	3170xd	+44	4448	1788
Glencore	595xxd	-32	615	2844
Hochschild Mining	6722	+132	8082	281
Pan African Resources	1384	+2	1838	634
Rio Tinto	7688xd	-34	8308	4572

Nonlife Insurance

Retailers
AO World	93 $\frac{1}{8}$	-8	113 $\frac{1}{4}$	83 $\frac{1}{8}$
ASOS	417 $\frac{1}{2}$	+3	420	206 $\frac{1}{2}$
B&M	244	-1 $\frac{1}{4}$	264 $\frac{1}{8}$	155 $\frac{1}{4}$
Burberry Gp	1072	-16	1360	1004 $\frac{1}{2}$
Currys	150 $\frac{1}{2}$ xd	+1 $\frac{1}{2}$	168 $\frac{1}{4}$	106 $\frac{1}{8}$
Dr. Martens	77 $\frac{1}{2}$ xd	-3	99 $\frac{1}{8}$	60 $\frac{1}{4}$
Dunelm Gp	874	-17 $\frac{1}{2}$	1241	715
Frasers Group	823 $\frac{1}{2}$	-11 $\frac{1}{2}$	835	618 $\frac{1}{2}$
Greggs	1847	-25	2032	1418
Howden Joinery	804 $\frac{1}{2}$	-15 $\frac{1}{2}$	970	723 $\frac{1}{2}$
Inchcape	837 $\frac{1}{2}$ xd	-2	890	640 $\frac{1}{2}$
JD Sports Fashion	86 $\frac{1}{2}$	-1 $\frac{1}{8}$	104 $\frac{1}{2}$	65 $\frac{1}{4}$
Kingfisher	318 $\frac{1}{4}$	-4 $\frac{1}{2}$	370 $\frac{1}{2}$
Marks & Spencer	391 $\frac{1}{8}$	-24	410 $\frac{1}{8}$	308 $\frac{1}{8}$
Moonpig	289	+3	291 $\frac{1}{4}$	192 $\frac{1}{8}$
Next	15535	-120	15715	11575
Ocado Gp	241 $\frac{1}{8}$	-8 $\frac{1}{8}$	336 $\frac{1}{8}$	159 $\frac{1}{4}$
Pets at Home Gp	213	-3	230 $\frac{1}{4}$	170 $\frac{1}{8}$
Sainsbury(J)	332 $\frac{1}{8}$	-1 $\frac{1}{2}$	359 $\frac{1}{8}$	295
SSP Group	200	-24	214 $\frac{1}{8}$	138 $\frac{1}{8}$
Tesco	455	-5 $\frac{1}{8}$	501 $\frac{1}{4}$	413 $\frac{1}{4}$
WH Smith	412 $\frac{1}{8}$	-84	710	383 $\frac{1}{4}$
Wickes Group	194 $\frac{1}{4}$	-1 $\frac{1}{8}$	255	170 $\frac{1}{4}$

	52-week		High	Low
Essentra	111 $\frac{1}{8}$	+1 $\frac{1}{4}$	114	79 $\frac{1}{8}$
Experian	3045	+78	3982	2375
Hays	73 $\frac{1}{8}$	-1 $\frac{1}{4}$	76 $\frac{1}{4}$	29 $\frac{1}{8}$
Intertek Gp	5845		5855	3582
Intl Workplace Gp	188 $\frac{1}{2}$	+6	249 $\frac{1}{8}$	168 $\frac{1}{4}$
Johnson Service Gp	147 $\frac{1}{2}$	+1 $\frac{1}{4}$	170 $\frac{1}{8}$	125 $\frac{1}{8}$
Michael Page	217 $\frac{1}{4}$ xd	-5 $\frac{1}{4}$	248 $\frac{1}{4}$	103 $\frac{1}{8}$
Mitie Group	209xd		210	136 $\frac{1}{8}$
Rentokil Initial	344 $\frac{1}{8}$ xd	-4	506 $\frac{1}{4}$	341 $\frac{1}{8}$
RS Group	751 $\frac{1}{2}$	-2 $\frac{1}{2}$	763 $\frac{1}{4}$	541 $\frac{1}{2}$
Serco	258xd	-2 $\frac{1}{4}$	324 $\frac{1}{4}$	216 $\frac{1}{8}$
Shree	290 $\frac{1}{2}$	-4	298	137 $\frac{1}{8}$
Travis Perkins	653	-6	714	507 $\frac{1}{2}$
W.A.G	100 $\frac{1}{2}$		106	94 $\frac{1}{8}$

Admiral Gp......4076	-52	4128	2644
Beazley......1296 $^{12}$	$-^{12}$	1298	769
Hiscox......1835xd		1899	1273
Lancashire Hldgs......615xd	+4 $^{12}$	694	565

Technology Hardware & Equipment
discoverIE Gp......822	+21	833	514
GB GROUP......158 $^{8}$	+4	259	154 $^{8}$
Raspberry Pi......584 $^{2}$	+9	1051	257 $^{4}$
Spirent Comms......198 $^{4}$		198 $^{4}$	194 $^{4}$

Oil & Gas Producers
Oil Equipment & Services

Telecoms
Airtel Africa	340	$+1/8$	420 $\frac{1}{4}$	215 $\frac{1}{4}$
BT Gp	206 $\frac{1}{4}$ xd	$+1\frac{1}{4}$	239 $\frac{1}{2}$	2
Gamma Comms	1156	+29	1165	701
Helios Towers	203 $\frac{1}{8}$ xd	$+1/8$	245 $\frac{1}{8}$	127 $\frac{1}{4}$
Telecom Plus	863xd	+3	1892	710
Vodafone Gp	117 $\frac{1}{8}$	$-1/4$	123 $\frac{1}{4}$	84 $\frac{1}{8}$

BP	515 $^{8}$ xd	-7 $^{4}$	606 $^{4}$	410 $^{2}$
Energean	724 $^{2}$	-16	1026	683 $^{2}$
Harbour Energy	249 $^{8}$ xd	-4	318 $^{4}$	185 $^{8}$
Hunting	413	+13	531	311
Ithaca Energy	271 $^{8}$	+4 $^{4}$	285 $^{8}$	153 $^{4}$
Shell	3311xd	-60	3583	2562

Software & Computer Services
Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

Tobacco

Br Am Tob	4152	-86	4962	3733
Imperial Brands	2523xd	-36	3341	2503

AstraZeneca	12114xd-120	15542	10956
Genus	2332 +32	3170	1966
GSK	1852xd -47 $^{2}$	2268	1442 $^{2}$
Haleon	369xxd -3 $^{4}$	410 $^{8}$	320 $^{8}$
Hikma Pharma	1628xd -12	1851	1191
Oxford Nanopore	181 $^{4}$ - $^{8}$	187 $^{8}$	104 $^{2}$
Reckitt Benckiser	5116xd -42	6681 $^{4}$	4443

Alfa Financial	166	+24	248 $\frac{1}{2}$	142 $\frac{3}{8}$
Auction Tech	452 $\frac{3}{8}$	+11	483 $\frac{1}{4}$	263
Baltic Classifieds	217 $\frac{1}{4}$	+4 $\frac{1}{8}$	335	170 $\frac{1}{4}$
Bytes Technology	437	+11 $\frac{3}{8}$	439 $\frac{1}{4}$	253 $\frac{3}{8}$
Computacenter	5625	+410	5657 $\frac{1}{2}$	2242
Deliveroo	179 $\frac{1}{4}$		179 $\frac{1}{4}$	178 $\frac{1}{2}$
Kainos Gp	1235	+19	1294	698 $\frac{1}{2}$
NCC Grp	144 $\frac{1}{4}$	+2 $\frac{3}{8}$	157 $\frac{1}{4}$	113 $\frac{1}{4}$
Playtech	404 $\frac{1}{8}$	+4 $\frac{1}{4}$	427 $\frac{1}{8}$	232
Softcat	2112	+68	2112	1091
The Sage Group	1103 $\frac{1}{2}$	+40 $\frac{1}{2}$	1175	783 $\frac{3}{8}$
Trustpilot	294 $\frac{1}{4}$	+5 $\frac{1}{4}$	298 $\frac{1}{4}$	129 $\frac{1}{4}$

Real Estate
Big Yellow Gp......887	-10 $^{1/2}$	1180	812
British Land......427 $^{1/8}$	-4	448 $^{1/4}$	321 $^{1/4}$
Derwent London......2050	-14	2146	1509
Grainger......173 $^{1/8}$	-2 $^{1/4}$	199	150 $^{1/8}$

Support Services
Babcock Intl	1082xd	-3 $\frac{1}{2}$	1502	921
Bunzl	2782	-4	2870	1989
DCC Energy	6390	+20	6390	4350
Diploma	7290	-65	7700	5015

Travel & Leisure
Compass Gp....	30 $\frac{1}{2}$	+8	2637	278
Dominos Pizza....	210 $\frac{1}{2}$ xd	-1 $\frac{1}{4}$	220	167 $\frac{1}{4}$
easyJet....	674 $\frac{1}{8}$	+18	681 $\frac{1}{4}$	339 $\frac{1}{4}$
Entain....	511xd	-198	905 $\frac{1}{4}$	511
FirstGroup....	178	-18	225 $\frac{1}{8}$	158
Hollywood Bowl....	279	-2	307 $\frac{1}{2}$	234 $\frac{1}{2}$
Intercontl Htls....	162 $\frac{1}{2}$ xd	-18	10585	128 $\frac{1}{8}$
Intl Cons Airl....	436 $\frac{1}{8}$	-54	488	342 $\frac{1}{4}$
Mitchells & Butlers....	284	-32	301	228
PPHE Hotel Gp....	1526	-114	2060	1286
Trainline....	202 $\frac{1}{8}$	+24	300	185 $\frac{1}{2}$
Wetherspoon (JD)...	854	+4	860 $\frac{1}{2}$	555 $\frac{1}{2}$
Whitbread....	2472	-21	3274	2234
Wizz Air Hldgs....	1104	-18	1447	849 $\frac{1}{2}$

Utilities

Centrica	1549xd	-18	218 $^{14}$	151 $^{12}$
Metlen	49 $^{12}$	+18	50 $^{8}$	31 $^{14}$
National Grid	1160	-22 $^{12}$	1400	1010 $^{12}$
Pennon	4749xd	-18	600	446
Severn Trent	3100	-50	3280	327
United Utilities	1419	-17	1457	914 $^{14}$

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Mail Shop | Garden

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4.05 Easter Icon	4.05 Kom Tu Voudras
4.40 Salkadan	4.40 Salkadan
5.15 Delgany Second Now	5.15 Delgany Second Now
5.50 Edgewell	5.50 Youdecide
6.25 Camshaft	6.25 Steal A Glance
7.00 Person Of Interest	7.00 She Is For Me Boys
7.33 Graffiti	7.33 Charlie My Boy

SANDOWN RTV

2.25-KILLIK NURSERY (4) (2-Y-0) £11,500 added (£6,019) 5f 10yds (8)

Probable SP: 11-4 Sky Secret, 7-2 Innichen, 6 Rotelle, Betty Boop, 7 True Charm, 8 Holi Scarlett, 10 Undercover Affair, 16 Arabica Queen.

2025: Lebron Power 2 9 8 (Sean Levey) 17-2 R Hannon drawn (6) 5 ran.

1 (2) 311222 SOUTH SHORE 4 (D3BF3) (G) R Cowell 5-9-12.... M Ghiani 2 (7) 542056 GOOD EARTH 15 (C&D2D8) (GS) M Herrington 9-9-12 .... C Planas 3 (8) 664L18 DUSKAURA 21 (D) (G) A Carroll 3-9-10.... W Carson 4 (4) 272253 HINT OF HUMOUR 66 (D3) A Carroll 4-9-10.... Rossa Ryan 5 (6) 479618 MAHARAJAS EXPRESS 11 (D6) (S) I Williams 6-9-9..B Loughnane 6 (9) 522216 LEVEL UP 22 (B) (D13) (GS) P Evans 7-9-9.... O Murphy 7 (3) 124305 CAMELEY DAYS 14 (B) (D) (GS) C Dwyer 4-9-6.... L Edmunds 8 (5) 5303-28 JENNY JEROME 125 S Hodgson 3-9-4.... A Rawlinson 9 (1) 343137 SO SMART 11 (PT) (D6) (GS) G Harris 7-9-4.... Laura Coughlan (3) Probable SP: 5-2 South Shore, 5 Hint Of Humour, Level Up, 6 Good Earth

8 Maharajas Express, Cameley Days, 14 Jenny Jerome, So Smart, Duskaura. FAVOURITES: - - - - - - - 0 3 (W 9-10). AGES: - - - - - - - 5 8 2025: Lipsink 8 9 12 (Saffie Osborne) 9-2 M Appleby drawn (3) 10 ran.

3.35-CHASEMORE FARM EBF MAIDEN STAKES (3) (2-Y-0) £13,000 added (£7,020) 7f (11)

1	(9)	7	ALGAIHABANE 9 (BF) J & T Gosden 9-2....	W Buick
2	(11)		BELOVED COUNTRY E Dunlop 9-2....	R Havlin
3	(6)	20228	CILICIAN 29 B Meehan 9-2....	T Greatrex
4	(8)	0	DIAMONDISE 13 W Muir & C Grassick 9-2....	P Bradley
5	(7)	L	EL PASO 45 A King 9-2....	Rossa Ryan
6	(4)		KEEGAN H Main 9-2....	M Ghiani
7	(2)	3	NETHERSTREAM 21 J Chapple-Hyam 9-2....	O Murphy
8	(1)	4	NEW OXFORD 36 Harry Charlton 9-2....	L Edmunds
9	(10)	04	OLD OAK 13 R Hannon 9-2....	S M Levey
10	(5)	3	PALACE LEGACY 43 J Tate 9-2....	Jason Watson
11	(3)	752	THUNDER HOME 36 James Horton 9-2....	B Loughnane

2025: Sticktoyourguns 2 9 2 (Saffie Osborne) 11-1 Owen Burrows drawn (5) 10 ran.

TRACK FACTS: R-H course. GOING: Good-good to firm on round course. STALLS: Sprint far side; remainder inside. DRAW ADVANTAGE: Low 5f when stalls on far side. High when stalls on the stand's side. Top jockey: William Buick. Top trainer: J & T Gosden. Headgear first time: 2.25 Rotelle, True Charm, 3.00 Cameley Days, 4.10 Glen Nevis. Longest traveller: Glen Nevis (4.10) 245 miles.

THIRSK RTV

2.13-AJA NOVICE FLAT AMATEUR JOCKEYS' HANDICAP (6) £6,000 added (£2,980) 7f 218yds (11)

Miss Rebecca Burley

10 (7) 59-8036 DANDY'S ANGEL 73 (GS) J Wainwright 9-10-4 .... Freddie Robson 11 (8) 365258 HARSWELL RIVER 15 (P) (D) (S) Roger Fell 3-9-11

Miss Sophie Dobson

Probable SP: 7-2 Misemerald, 4 Hatamoto, 9-2 Tees George, 15-2 Jungle Knight, Deep Sleep, 8 Dandy's Angel, 10 Tropez Power, 16 Sandret, 20 Suzette, Harswell River.

FAVOURITES: 32 (W 11-1). AGES: 79 2025: Sandret 9 11 2 (Miss Rebecca Hitchen) 10-3 S England drawn (5) 10 ran.

2.48—WORK MATTERS NOVICE STAKES (4) £10,000 added (£5,234) 7f 218yds (9)

1 (2) 1 WOOTZ 24 (D) R Varian 3-9-11....R Dawson 2 (9) LL MORTY ROBINSON 27 B Ellison 6-9-10....MP Sheehy 3 (1) 0-55 RUA MOR 88 S England 4-9-10....C Hardie 4 (5) 3 WHO'S THE GOAT 60 M Hammond 6-9-10....A Brookes 5 (3) EAGLEONTHEBALCONY J Goldie 3-9-4....Joanna Mason 6 (6) 5 EAGLES INSTINCT 17 J Goldie 3-9-4....Lauren Young (5) 7 (8) 09 JETPACK JIMMY 12 S Whitaker 3-9-4....A Elliott 8 (7) 64 LEAGUE OF JUSTICE 17 G Tulty 3-9-4....Conor Whiteley (5) 9 (4) WALK IN PROVENCE C Johnston 3-8-13....C Shepherd

Probable SP: 1-2 Wootz, 9-2 Walk In Provence, 14 Who's The Goat, Rua Mor, 16 Eagleonthebalcony, 20 League Of Justice, Eagles Instinct. FAVOURITES & 2025: No corresponding race.

3.25-CADDICK CONSTRUCTION EBF RESTRICTED NOVICE STAKES (4) (2-Y-0) £11,000 added (£5,757) 7f 218yds (15)

1 (14) L3 ASTRAL CROWN 22 D O'Meara 9-7....D Tudhope 2 (3) 33 MR MINZ 46 I Jardine 9-7....A Mullen 3 (2) 7 MR TWIG 14 M Bell 9-7....J Hart 4 (4) 7 QUINTILLION 16 C Johnston 9-7....C Shepherd 5 (7) 32 BAARBERINI 22 (BF) James Horton 9-4....D Muscutt 6 (15) 0 FRONTIER LEGEND 34 M Dods 9-4....Rhys Elliott (5) 7 (5) RIVER GLEN R Menzies 9-4....Oisin Orr 8 (6) CHAOS INN COURT I Furtado 9-1....B McHugh 9 (1) LION'S DEN M Dods 9-1....M Winn 10 (10) PERSIAN SUMMER M Dods 9-1....T Eaves 11 (9) POPPULAR T Easterby 9-1....S B Kirrane 12 (12) 40 SPECIAL OPERATIONS 13 T Easterby 9-1....D Allan 13 (11) ELAN VALLEY Adrian Nicholls 8-13....C Lee 14 (8) L MECCAPULCO 14 M Dods 8-13....C Beasley 15 (13) 0 BEARING IN TIME 27 T Easterby 8-10....D Fentiman

Probable SP: 9-4 Baarberini, 9-2 Mr Minz, 13-2 Astral Crown, 10 Quintillion, 12 Mr Twig, Persian Summer, Lion's Den, 14 Special Operations, 16 Elan Valley, 20 River Glen, Popular.

FAVOURITES: -3 1 1 - 1 2 1 0 1

2025: Be The Standard 2 9 4 (Jason Hart) 13-8 Fav H Palmer drawn (5) 11 ran.

TRACK FACTS: PRINCIPAL MEETING. L-H course. GOING: Good. STALLS: Straight & 1m6f centre; round inside. DRAW ADVANTAGE: High in sprints. Top jockey: Daniel Tudhope. Top trainer: D O'Meara. Placed in the race last year: 2.13 Sandret (1st). Headgear first time: 2.13 Deep Sleep, 4.38 Our Havana. Longest travellers: Deep Havana (4.00) & He's A Monster (4.38) United Arab Emirates; Topwarrior (4.00) & Palmar Bay (4.38) 265 miles. Drop in Class: 3.25 Special Operations is down 2 grades on last run (Class 2 to Class 4). First run since wind surgery: None today.

HOTSPOTS

ROBIN GOODFELLOW

Down 17lb from last winning mark.

BURNT FINGERS KATALYST (Ffos Las, 4.20)

WEIGHTING GAME SUZETTE (Thirsk, 2.13)

GIMCRACK

WORK WHISPER KEEGAN (Sandown, 3.35)

2.25	Rotelle	2.25	Innichen
3.00	South Shore	3.00	Good Earth
3.35	Algaihabane (nb)	3.35	NEW OXFORD (nap)
4.10	Dovecote	4.10	Thursday Girl
4.45	Box Clever	4.45	Poets Praise
5.20	Sharp Move	5.20	Oh Yes You Do

4.10-HOUSE OF KILLIK HANDICAP (4) (3-Y-0) £11,500 added (£6,019) 1m (8)

- 2 1 (W 9-8).

Hungarian, Glen Nevis, 12 Home Hero, 14 Magic Trip. FAVOURITES: 3.1 (W 0.8)

1 (5) 534-341 HUNGARIAN 42 (BT) Lemos Souza 9-11 ..... D Keenan 2 (7) 891517 HOME HERO 2 (V) (C&DD) (G) H Palmer 9-9 ..... L Catton (3) 3 (3) 1L-3SL5 MAGIC TRIP 77 (D) (S) A Balding 9-7 ..... Jason Watson 4 (6) 5-22212 THURSDAY GIRL 22 (DBF) (G) E Walker 9-6 ..... O Murphy 5 (4) 4-7113 DRYMEE 20 (D2) (GS) J Fanshawe 9-6 ..... B Loughnane 6 (8) L-22 DOVECOTE 36 (BF) R Beckett 9-5 ..... Rossa Ryan 7 (1) 434131 TAMZAN 19 (D2) (G) M Tregoning 9-4 ..... M Ghiani 8 (2) 243942 GLEN NEVIS 8 (P) (BF) C Johnston 9-2 ..... W Buick

FAVOURITES: - - - - - - - 2 0 (W 9-7). AGES: - - - - - - - 3 4 2025: Tronido 4 9 5 (Paddy Bradley) 5-1 S Dow drawn (6) 9 ran.

1 (5) 2-L358L POST RIDER 18 (B) (D3) Oliver Cole 5-10-2.... L Edmunds 2 (1) 3-29031 BOX CLEVER (6libex) 7 (P) (D) (G) J Portman 3-10-1 Jason Watson 3 (6) 798363 DARK ROSA 13 (S) G Nicholls 4-9-11.... B Loughnane 4 (2) 446 KINO PLASMAT 23 E Walker 3-9-10.... O Murphy 5 (8) 54-4 POETS PRAISE 42 (BF) R Beckett 3-9-9.... Rossa Ryan 6 (4) 54-L51 PERFECT RULER (6libex) 10 (D) M Botti 3-9-7.... M Ghiani 7 (7) 565633 DANDY KHAN 8 (D) J Boyle 4-9-6.... P Cosgrave 8 (3) 113-312 PRETTY SPIRITED 25 (D2) M Maraga 4-9-3.... A Volta

2025: Man Of La Mancha 3 9 9 (Hector Crouch) 2-1 Fav R Beckett drawn (6) 13 ran.

THUNDER HOME (nap) (Sandown, 3.35) BALTRAY (nb)

4.45—KILLIK FILLIES' HANDICAP (5) £8,500 added (£4,449) 1m (8)

5.20—KILLIK FAMILY HANDICAP (4) £11,500 added (£6,019) 1m

2025: Beach Point 4 9 9 (Cieren Fallon) 18-1 W Knight drawn (12) 11 ran.

1 (1) 973-046 GALYX 17 (D) (S) J Channon 5-10-2....G Bass 2 (2) 41-8 SHARP MOVE 32 (D) W Haggas 4-10-2....W Buick 3 (5) 4/1331-8 MOON ANGEL 111 (G) S C Williams 5-10-1....M Ghiani 4 (7) 24-3745 CARNIVAL DAY 16 (C&DD2) (S) J Boyle 5-9-11....P Cosgrave 5 (6) 1-26343 SOVEREIGN VIEW 16 J Tate 3-9-10....Rossa Ryan 6 (9) 355445 GOLDEN CIRCET 18 (D2) (G) J & S Best 6-9-6....T P Queally 7 (4) L1-4030 MAGNATURA 28 (V) T Ward 3-9-6....S M Levey 8 (3) 41-241L OH YES YOU DO 48 (DBF) (S) D Menuisier 3-9-5....B Loughnane 9 (8) 23130-L GOLDEN PHASE 35 (D3) (GS) D Coakley 6-9-0....O Murphy Probable SP: 3 Sharp Move, 4 Galyx, 5 Oh Yes You Do, 6 Moon Angel, 7 Carnival Day, 8 Sovereign View, 12 Golden Circet, 14 Golden Phase, 20

Drop in Class: 2.25 Innichen is down 2 grades on last run (Class 2 to Class 4); Arabica Queen (2); Holi Scarlett (2). First run since wind surgery: None today.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW

2.13	Misemerald	2.13	Tees George
2.48	Wootz	2.48	Wootz
3.25	Mr Minz	3.25	Meccapulco
4.00	Lord Roxby	4.00	Anyasi (nb)
4.38	Mirsky	4.38	He's A Monster
5.13	Sudu	5.13	Hamadhan

NEWMARKET – 2.48 WOOTZ (nap); 4.00 Anyasi (nb). NORTHERNER – 2.13 Misemerald (nb); 4.38 NORTHERN EXPRESS (nap).

(Sandown, 4.45)

GIMCRACK

4.00-IVEGATE BUILDING HANDICAP (3) £18,000 added (£9,720) 6f (20)

(11) P2L1-00 TOPWARRIOR 62 (BT) (D2) (S) R Beckett 4-10-0 .....C Rodriguez (14) 1/63333 DEER HAVANA 135 (D) H AJ Johani (UAE) 5.10.0

(14) 1/62222 DEEP HAVANA 135 (D) H Al Jehani (UAE) 5-10-0

(4) 145213 LORD ROXBY 13 (D3BF) (G) N Tinkler 4-10-0....A Jary (3) (13) 103344 VEBLEM GOOD 12 (DBF) D O'Meara 4-9-13....Conor Whiteley (5) (16) 9-3180 NOVELLO LAD 34 (D5) (GS) P Midgley 5-9-12....D Nolan (20) 3-11 ANYASI 55 (D2) (GS) R Varian 3-9-11....R Dawson (2) 3L0L2L WE NEVER STOP 34 (P) (D4) (G) K Ryan 5-9-11....K Stott (1) 548313 JORDAN ELECTRICS 7 (P) (D10) (GS) J Goldie 10-9-10.

(12) 11/71-56 DURHAM CASTLE 74 (T) (D3) (G) S & E Crisford 5-10-0

10 (17) 21-3150 STARMADE 50 (D) E Dunlop 3-9-8.... P J McDonald 11 (7) 50-4729 WOVEN 53 (P) (D3) (S) M Dods 10-9-8.... C Beasley 12 (9) 92187-2 ART LOVER 48 (T) (D) S W Haggas 3-9-7.... C Fallon 13 (10) 32610L MANILA SCOUSE 13 (T) (C) &DD2 (S) T Easterby 7-9-7.... D Allan 14 (8) 502275 YES I'M MALI 12 (C) &DD2 (G) D O'Meara 4-9-6.... D Tudhope 15 (6) 136/8L6 BIG CYRIL 396 (D) (G) Roger Fell 4-9-6.... Joanna Mason 16 (19) 27-00L O EYE OF DUBAI 13 (D3) (S) J & S Quinn 5-9-6.... J Hart 17 (15) 462241 WOODSTOCK 13 (V) (D) (G) R Carr 6-9-5.... Oisin Orr 18 (18) 24127 COUNTY CARLOW 13 (D) B Haslam 3-9-4.... A Mullen 19 (3) 953382 HAVANA RUM 12 (D5) (GS) R & P Fahey 6-9-0.... NON RUNNER 20 (5) 407220 KATS BOB 13 (V) (C) &DD9 (GS) R Carr 8-9-0.... J Dickson (5)

PRETTY SPIRITED

Lover, Jordan Electrics, Durham Castle, 14 Topwarrior, 16 Veblen Good. FAVOURITES: 2 2 0 1 – 2 0 0 0 3 (W 9-3). AGES: 4 3 4 4 – 3 4 7 8 5 2025: Eternal Sunshine 5 8 2 (L Young) 11-2 J Goldie drawn (4) 14 ran.

(Fontwell, 4.05)

4.38-FRAMECLAD HANDICAP (2) £30,000 added (£15,702) 7f (14)

1 (9) 4-44083 PALMAR BAY 26 (D2) (GS) R Beckett 5-10-0....C Rodriguez 2 (2) 5-3L280 INVICTUS GOLD 27 (S) Tom Clover 4-9-13....C Fallon 3 (14) 635513 NORTHERN EXPRESS 27 (P) (CD7) (GS) M Dods 8-9-12....C Beasley 4 (10) 48/3061- HE'S A MONSTER 369 (D6) (G) H Al Jehani (UAE) 6-9-12....Faleh Bughanaim 5 (1) 550-420 BOBBY BENNU 30 (H) (C&DDBF2) (S) R Varian 5-9-9....R Dawson 6 (5) 007999 MIRSKY 8 (C2) (GS) D O'Meara 7-9-7....D Tudhope 7 (6) L91349 SUPERPOSITION 30 (D) E Dunlop 5-9-6....P J McDonald 8 (11) 0-46828 SERGEANT WILKO 62 (P) (C) (S) K Ryan 5-9-1....K Stott 9 (7) 699-100 OUR HAVANA 27 (V) (D5) R & P Fahey 5-9-0....W Fentiman (3) 10 (12) 212022 ALPHA CAPTURE 16 (V) (DBF) (GS) Roger Fell 6-8-13....T Eaves 11 (4) 260603 BRIGHTON BOY 6 (C&DBF) (S) T Easterby 4-8-12....D Allan 12 (13) 642075 PERFECT PART 8 (P) (G) B Ellison 4-8-12....MP Sheehy 13 (3) 12 MAJESTIC DANE 190 (D) K R Burke 3-8-10....C Lee

14 (8) 323788 FRANKIES DREAM 20 (H) (D2) (G) J Candlish 4-8-9 .....L Morris Probable SP: 4 Northern Express, 9-2 Majestic Dane, 5 Brighton Boy, 8

2025: Race abandoned.

5.13—APPLEBRIDGE GROUP HANDICAP (4) £10,000 added (£5,234) 1m 6f (7)

1 (1) 4L960-4 PINATIQUE 13 (S) Sir M Prescott 4-10-2.... L Morris 2 (2) 36L333 SAX APPEAL 54 (B) C Johnston 6-10-1.... C Shepherd 3 (7) 4/541L-L SUDU 21 (BF) R Varian 4-10-0.... R Dawson 4 (5) 1L-P354 TALISMANS TIME 17 (G) E Bethell 4-9-10.... C Horgan (5) 5 (4) 4234/1-7 MICK COLLINS 34 M Todhunter 5-9-9.... D Nolan 6 (6) 663-75L HAMADHAN 90 J Candlish 4-9-6.... J Hart 7 (3) 2-06233 ARRANGE 31 (D) (GS) M Todhunter 8-8-12.... M Wing

7 (3) 3-06223 ARRANGE 21 (D) (GS) M Todhunter 8-8-13....M Winn Probable SP: 2 Sudu, 7-2 Arrange, 5 Talismans Time, 11-2 Sax Appeal, 15-2 Pinatique, 10 Hamadhan, 16 Mick Collins.

FAVOURITES: - - - - - - - 1 - (W 9-4). AGES: - - - - - - - 3 - 2025: Race abandoned.

Daily Mail RACING SERVICES

UK/IRISH COMMENTARY AND RESULTS 09016 09 29 39 FOR RACING TIPS CALL 09016 09 53 39

Calls cost 65p per min plus your telephone company's network access charge. Tipster information updated at 10am daily. SP: Spoke. Help: 0808 272 0808

FONTWELL SSR

4.05-HANDICAP HURDLE (4) £7,700 added (£4,066) 2m 5f 164yds (5)

1 64F KOM TU VOUDRAS 8 (PT) (S) Faye Bramley 6-11-9

2 1-LL MOTAZZEN F12 (PT) (C&DC2) (S) Miss H Knight 8-11-5

3 LL4 BREAK POINT 37 L Dace 6-11-5....F Keighley (5)

4 4B-1 EASTER ICON F23 (C&DC) G Brown 7-11-3

Probable SP: 2 Easter Icon, 9-4 Kom Tu Voudras, 4 Break Point, 9-2 Motazzen, 10 Baltray.

4 40-JUVENILE MAIDEN HURDLE (4) (3-Y-0)

1 GREY SANDS F10 (TV) K Bailey & M Nicholls 11-2

2 HOUNDSWOOD WILLOW F24 (P) T Dascombe 11-2 D Bass

Probable SP: 10-11 Salkadan, 9-2 Grey Sands, 11-2 Rum Diamond, 13-2 Houndswood Willow, 10 October Surprise, 20 Short Symphony.

5 15-HANDICAP HURDLE (5) £6,150 added

2 L8P UNCLE REMUS 6 Miss H Knight 5-11-10......B J Powell 3 751 DELGANY SECOND NOW (7lbex) 3 (G) D Skelton 4-11-5

4 5-57 KHALK'EAU SPIGAO 58 (P) C Gordon 4-11-0..... F Gordon 5 3L-4 ONEHUNDREDNEIGHTY 100 (BF) B Pauling 6-10-13.... B R Jones 6 U6L NORTH ACCOUNT 49 (P) Nick Scholfield 6-10-10.... H Reed

7-78-6 WISE COUNSELLOR 60 (F) G & J Moore 4-10-9... C Quinn Probable SP: 10-11 Delgany Second Now, 7-2 Onehundredneighty, 9-2 Kotari, 12 Khalk'eau Spigao, 14 Uncle Remus, 20 Wise Counsellor.

5.50-HANDICAP CHASE (5) £6,150 added (£3,248) 2m 5f 135yds (7)

1 4P-1 YOUDECIDE (7lbex) 3 (G) B Pauling 6-12-7....B R Jones 2 116 EDGEWELL 13 (B) Nick Scholfield 8-12-0....H Reed 3 751/ PAWPAW 551 (T) (C&DC) (S) D J Jeffreys 9-11-8.... C Quinn 4 P7P KING OF THE STORY 37 (T) (C&D) P Gundry 10-10-13.

5 965/ HELIOS ALLEN 726 (P) B Case 9-10-8.... H Bannister 6 6-55 OF CORSE I CAN 35 (P) (C) (S) N Mulholland 9-10-5

7 32L BALLINOULART 41 (P) D Bridgwater 8-10-3

Probable SP: 8-13 Youdecide, 4 Pawpaw, 6 Edgewell, 12 Of Corse I Can, 16 Helios Allen.

TRACK FACTS: Figure of eight course. GOING: Good.Top jockey: Caoilin Quinn. Top trainer: G & J Moore. Headgear first time: 4.40 Grey Sands, Houndswood Willow, Rum Diamond, Salkadan, 5.15 Khalk'eau Spigao, North Account, 7.00 Martin's Denuo, 7.33 Aggagio, Graffiti.

SEDGEFIELD SSR

4.25-NOVICES' HURDLE (4) £10,000 added (£5,446) 2m 3f 188vds (8)

1 L-21 GENEALOGY F7 (G) Faye Bramley 4-11-3.... H Kimber 2 PP-P CADILLAC RANCH 9 L Morgan 6-11-0

4 ROCK ARMOUR F95 D Thompson 5-11-0 ... J Thompson (5) 5 66 TRACKER ISSUE 13 A Nicol 4-10-10....R Mania 6 4-12 DATSTHEHOLYALLOFIT 9 P Neville 5-10-7....B Hughes 7 10 P ORESTINA 44 (T) R Manzica 5-10-7....N Maceran

7 10-P ORESTINA 44 (1) R Menzies 5-10-7 .... N Moscrop 8 SWEET CICELY F15 (P) M Sowersby 4-10-3.... C Maggs (3) Probable SP: 4-7 Genealogy, 9-4 Datstheholyallofit, 8 Tracker Issue, 20 Rock Armour.

5.00-NOVICES' LIMITED HANDICAP HURDLE (5) £6,150 added (£3,248) 2m 178yds (10)

1 33L/ DAARIS F38 (BF) K Frost 7-11-12 ....Lee Edwards 2 244 CHARACTER TESTING F13 (TV) M Walford 5-11-10

3 8L-P EXPERT ANALYSIS 94 J Candlish 4-11-10....Sean Quinlan
4 3PL-HIJO DE LA LUNA F13 (V) S G West 6-11-6.....B Lynn
5 34- RETURN WITH GOLD F15 (BF) O Pears 4-11-0...B Hughes
6 522 YANKA BLUE 40 B J Murphy (IRE) 5-10-11.....C Pritchard
7 7U2 LITTLETOWN LAD 35 (T) S England 6-10-11.....J England
8 L86 BREAKING GROUND 57 R M Smith 5-10-8...Ben Smith (7)
9 LP5 RED TRAIL 13 (T) M Sowersby 7-10-6.....C Maggs (3)
10 LP6 SCOPIC 39 (HT) B Haslam 5-10-5.....K Brogan

Probable SP: 11-4 Yanka Blue, 3 Littletown Lad, 9-2 Daaris, 11-2 Return With Gold, 15-2 Red Trail, 8 Character Testing.

LL2 DELPOTRO 59 (T) (C&DC) (GS) C Longsdon 6-12-0

2 L32 THANK YOU BLUE 43 (T) J Candlish 9-11-11....Ian Power 3 344 FISKARDO 9 (T) M Bowen 6-11-11....S Fenelon (5) 4 5L P-WHEREARETHE JUDGES 193 D Bourke 6-11-9... C Bowley

5 446 WUDYA 35 (BT) J Parkinson & S Smith 7-11-9

D McMenamin

6 P3U- TOM GREEN 140 (T) (C&D4CBF) (S) S England 11-11-7

7 534 CLEAN GETAWAY 13 (P) (C3) (S) P Kirby 9-10-9

8 942 HUIT REFLETS 41 (V) (C) (S) M Walford 9-10-9. J Hamilton 9 64P APPLEJACK POET 40 B J Murphy (IRE) 9-10-6

Probable SP: 7-2 Delpotro, 4 Thank You Blue, Huit Reflets, 5 Tom Green, Fiskardo, 10 Clean Getaway, Wudva.

6.05—HANDICAP HURDLE (4) £7,700 added (£4,066) 2m 178yds (6)

3 L11 SAINT POLO 66 (PT) (D) J Candlish 6-11-10.....L Scott (3) 4 3-42 JOLIE COEUR ALLEN 41 (T) (C&D) B Haslam 7-11-6

5 1U2 SCOTS POET 39 (BT) (C&D2) (S) Ewan Whillans 10-11-4

6 13U FINE POINT 13 A Nicol 5-11-1....R Mania Probable SP: 6-4 Saint Polo, 10-3 Machete Beach, 5 Scots Poet, 7 Jolie Coeur Allen, Fine Point, 10 Glory And Honour.

6.40-HANDICAP CHASE (5) £6,150 added (£3,248) 3m 2f 59yds (7)

1 223 GETAWAY VIC 49 (P) (BF2) M Bowen 7-12-0....J Bowen 2 UP2 MAGGIES BOY 57 (P) (C) J Candlish 7-11-7....Sean Quinlan 3 431 JETEYE 41 (PT) S England 9-11-4....J England 4 P-L4 YOU DID 41 (P) B Ellison 6-10-6....P W Wadge 5 163 UNCLE AL 13 (P) (C) (GS) J Bedi 7-10-5....C O'Farrell 6 1P2 JO ARENGEOT BEY AA 35 (PT) D McCain 7-10-5....G Sheehan 7 72P CROACH PATRICK 61 (B) (D) S G Roanas 11-10-2.

Probable SP: 9-4 Getaway Vic, 3 Jeteye, 7-2 Jo Arengeot Bey Aa, 6 Maggies Boy, 7 Uncle Al, 16 Croagh Patrick, 20 You Did.

TRACK FACTS: L-H course. GOING: Good-good to firm in places. Top jockey: Brian Hughes. Top trainer: D McCain. Headgear first time: 4.25 Credit Union, Orestina, Sweet Cicely, 5.00 Character Testing, Hijo De La Luna, Scopic, 5.32 Wudya, 7.15 American Empire, 7.50 True Measure.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW

GIMCRACK

6 25-MARES' HANDICAP HURDLE (5) £6,150 added (£3,248) 3m 16166 yde (7)

0.125 added (£3,248) 3m If 166yds (7) 1-13 CAMSHAFT 44 (P) (BF) (S) J & A O'Neill 5-12-0

2 L-20 MOBILE MAMMA 21 (PT) Ian Donoghue (IRE) 7-11-7

3 613 LUNA RUN 40 (PT) (D) (G) Harry Derham 7-11-2

Probable SP: 15-8 Camshaft, 9-4 Luna Run, 4 Athena's Dream, 6 Steal A Glance, 14 Mobile Mamma, Lynsey Larue.

7.00-HANDICAP CHASE (4) £8,900 added (£4,700) 2m 1f 165yds (6)

3 3-41 MERELY A DETAIL 35 T Bulgin 5-11-10.... J J Burke 4 3-2L TWO TO TANGO 73 (P) E Lavelle 8-11-9.... C J Todd 5 1UF A LITTLE SOMETHING 37 (C) (G) E Lavelle 7-11-8

6 111 MARTIN'S DENUO 26 (HT) (G) D Pipe 4-11-2

Probable SP: 5-2 She Is For Me Boys, 3 Person Of Interest, 4 A Little Something, 5 Merely A Detail, 6 Martin's Denuo, 10 Two To Tango.

733-HANDICAP HURDLE (5) £6,150 added

773- AGGAGIO F28 (B) (C) (S) G & J Moore 8-11-12..... C Quinn 2U5- BRAVE GUEST F46 Miss S West 4-11-12..... M Goldstein 798 DOUBLE POWER 15 (PT) Ian Donoghue (IRE) 6-11-11

6 423/ GRAFFITI F52 (T) (C&D) G Brown 7-11-6..... M Bevan (7) 7 5-26 CHARLIE MY BOY 59 (D) J R Jenkins 9-11-6..... J M Davies 8 135 RAFFLES NOBU 5 (BT) (DBF2) (GS) Nick Scholfield 6-11-6

Probable SP: 4 God Of Fire, 9-2 Raffles Nobu, Graffiti, 5 Best Night, 13-2 Aggagio, 8 Harry Gulliver, 10 Brave Guest, 12 Double Power.

Longest travellers: Mobile Mamma (6.25) & Double Power (7.33) Ireland; Lynsey Larue (6.25) 184 miles. Drop in Class: None today. First run since wind surgery: 4.40 Rum Diamond, 7.00 She Is For Me Boys, 7.33 Best Night.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW

GIMCRACK

715—HANDICAP HURDLE (5) £6,150 added

2 33/6- SOCKS OFF F220 (C&D) (S) K Frost 9-11-12...Lee Edwards 3 337 AMERICAN EMPIRE 35 (PT) D McCain 6-11-12 ..... T Gillard 4 264 INDIAN SUNBIRD 37 Sara Ender 9-11-11 ..... J Best

8 53L TOP FLIGHT CENTURY 39 (P) (C&DD) (S) D Thompson 5-11-7

9 316 MAKINBECON 40 (PT) (BF) B J Murphy (IRE) 6-11-3 C Pritchard

10 FP5- LILLISTAR F24 M Hammond 6-10-11......B Hughes Probable SP: 3 William Yeats, 10-3 Makinbecon, 7 Top Flight Century, Socks Off, 8 Aimeric, Lillistar, 12 Indian Sunbird, Lipstick Traces, 16 American Empire, 20 Pepite De Saphir.

7.50-MARES' OPEN NH FLAT RACE (4) £7,200 added (£3,921) 2m 178yds (9)

YOULOOKLIKEYOURMUM Justin Landy 5-11-2... C Maggs (3) ARC KUNOICHI R Menzies 4-10-13..... N Moscrop CUMNOCK R L Llewellyn 4-10-13..... Charlie Price GREY DAY M Hammond 4-10-13..... J Thompson (5) 3 MGCATOTHEMAX 86 K E Great 4-10-13..... Lee Edwards

5 MEGATOTHEMAX 86 K Flust 4-10-13......Lee Edwards REVERSE CHARGE J Snowden 4-10-13 ......G Sheehan 5 TOTTIE'S MOON 78 (T) M Bowen 4-10-13 ......J Bowen L- TRUE MEASURE 177 (H) S Cameron 4-10-13P J Kavanagh

Probable SP: 9-4 Reverse Charge, 7-2 Megatothemax, 4 You Be Lucky Jean, 8 Grey Day, Arc Kunoichi, 10 Tottie's Moon, Cumnock, 20 Youlooklikeyourmum.

Longest travellers: Yanka Blue (5.00), Applejack Poet (5.32), Makinbecon (7.15) Ireland; Fiskardo (5.32), Getaway Vic (6.40), Tottie's Moon (7.50) 408 miles. Drop in Class: None today. First run since wind surgery: 4.25 Orestina.

TWO-TIME Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs has been retired.

The 10-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, won 12 Grade Ones and £2million in prize money.

'He retires a good, sound horse who will hopefully have a good second career as a sport horse.'

Galopin Des Champs was last seen finishing third in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase at

the Cheltenham Festival showpiece in 2023 and 2024 — and the worst he ever finished was sixth.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW	GIMCRACK
2.00 Forever Glamorous	2.00 Forever Glamorous
2.35 Dappled Light	2.35 Mountain Of Light
3.10 Withearsinmyeyes	3.10 Zupa Trupa
3.45 Alice's Influence	3.45 Launceston
4.20 Sunshine And Roses	4.20 Grindleton
4.55 Robusto	4.55 Raintown

ARSENAL GIVEN GREEN LIGHT TO GO FOR ALVAREZ

ATLETICO MADRID chief executive Gil Marin has opened the door to selling £128million striker Julian Alvarez to ARSENAL. Alvarez (below) has not trained for two days citing illness after Atletico refused to deal with Barcelona, the club he wishes to join. However in an interview with Spanish media Marin said: 'Our intention is for Julian to stay with us so we can compete with the biggest clubs. If he comes to the conclusion that he doesn't want to continue in Madrid, we'll look for a solution. But never with Barcelona.' Arsenal, meanwhile, have agreed to

WINDOW WATCH By SIMON JONES

terminate the contract of forward Reiss Nelson by mutual consent. The 26-year-old has recently been discussing a £3million move to West Ham but the agreement gives him options. CHELSEA are weighing up a move for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara as they brace

for MANCHESTER CITY'S bid

for Enzo Fernandez. Chelsea are

considering bringing in two midfielders with City expected to pay over £120m for Fernandez. City are also weighing up an £80m bid for EVERTON wingen.

Iliman Ndiaye (right). The 26-year-old has three years left on contract but has refused to sign a new deal and wants to play in the Champions League. City have also been considering Spurs target Cody Gakpo of Liverpool but neither club have made an approach as yet. ■ NAPOLI and Lazio are interested in LIVERPOOL'S Harvey Elliott.

■ IPSWICH TOWN are in talks to sign ASTON VILLA striker Tammy Abraham on loan. Abraham signed for Villa for £18m in January scored three goals in four starts and 13 substitute appearances. Villa have signed free agent midfielder Leon Goretzka.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST have made a £22m offer for CRYSTAL PALACE wing back Daniel Munoz. Forest need a right back after offers for Celta Vigo's Javi Rueda and Fiorentina's Dodo were either blocked or fell short.

CHELSEA have reached agreement with Atalanta to sign Italy defender Honest Ahanor, 18, for £40million with personal terms in place on a long-term contract.

■ MANCHESTER UNITED are in talks with FIORENTINA over the potential loan and sale of striker Joshua Zirkzee. The Italians are offering a £4m loan fee with buy option for the 25-year-old and talks are ongoing.

■ LEEDS UNITED have granted goalkeeper Lucas Perri permission to join Torino on loan with an option to buy. His replacement, Michael Zetterer, has been given permission by

Eintracht Frankfurt to complete his move to Leeds.

■ LILLE coach Davide Ancelotti has confirmed NEWCASTLE target Mathias Fernandez-Pardo is training separately as he awaits a move to the Premier League. ■ JAMES WARD-PROWSE has sealed a return to

SOUTHAMPTON in a deal worth around £800,000. The 31-year-old left Saints in 2023 to join West Ham in a £30m deal.

■ JAMAAL LASCELLES is training at WATFORD. The 32-year-old was at Leicester last season.

■ HULL CITY have made a revised bid for Stoke City winger Sorba Thomas. Hull had a £7m offer rejected for the Wales international with Stoke looking for around £10m. Hull have enquired about Fabio Carvalho but BRENTFORD want their midfielder to stay. Hull have agreed to sign Union Berlin forward Ilyas Ansah for around £21m. The Tigers are also discussing a loan for Roma striker Robinio Vaz, 19.

GOODWOOD RTV

4.35—VIRGIN BET / EBF MAIDEN FILLIES' STAKES (3) (2-Y-0) £20,000 added (£10,468) 6f (6)

101 (3) 9 CUBBIE'S DREAM 50 J Portman 9-2....R Hornby 102 (1) 35 CUT AND SEW 35 E Walker 9-2....K Shoemark 103 (5) GOBBY GRACE R Hughes 9-2....H Crouch 104 (4) 27 MOTOWN FILLY 64 R Spencer 9-2....G Wood 105 (2) 5L QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS 65 (BF) K R Burke 9-2....NON RUNNER 106 (6) WIG WAM BAM 42 J Channon 9-2....T Marquand Probable SP: 3 Queen Of Christmas, 9-2 Cut And Sew, 10 Wig Wam Bam, Gohby Grace

FAVOURITES: - - - - - - - - 3

2025: Planet Seeker 2 9 2 (Edward Greatrex) 11-2 R Beckett drawn (6) 9 ran. 5.10—WHITE & BROOKS FILLIES' HANDICAP (5) £10,650 added (£5.574) 1m 1f 197yds (13)

201 (9) 6-13342 SHADY BAY 18 (T) (D3) (G) T Ward 5-10-2....S Osborne 202 (2) 114334 OASIS SUNRISE 22 (DBF) (G) G Harris 4-9-12....Ashley Lewis (3) 203 (12) 5-6326 MOLO DEL PALAZZO 39 (B) R Beckett 3-9-9....H Crouch 204 (8) 436322 BLUE NOON 21 R Hannon 3-9-9....P Dobbs 205 (1) 5-131 HAUTELUCE 22 E Walker 3-9-9....K Shoemark 206 (3) L00-415 BLUE WONDER 76 (DBF) (S) H Morrison 4-9-9....David Egan 207 (10) 421171 ALICE DE CLARE 15 (D3) (G) J Fanshawe 3-9-9....J Peate 208 (5) 3386-L5 STAR OF DUBAI 32 (G) D Coakley 4-9-8....J Mitchell 209 (7) 5L1 BRIGHTON BEACH 27 W Haggas 3-9-7....T Marquand 210 (13) 1-12323 LADY MILTON 30 (D) J Portman 3-9-7....R Hornby 211 (4) 624-142 KOKOLUNA 98 E J-Houghton 3-9-6....C Bishop 212 (6) 6-51427 MOHAAB 18 (DBF) (S) W Muir & C Grassick 3-8-11....N Currie 213 (11) 1L1-06L TIME AFTER TIME 43 H Main 4-8-11....E Greatrex Probable SP: 9-2 Brighton Beach, 5 Hauteluce, 6 Alice De Clare, 7 Shady Bay, 8 Kokoluna, 10 Blue Wonder, Lady Milton, 12 Blue Noon, 14 Mohaab, 16 Molo Del Palazzo, Oasis Sunrise, 20 Star Of Dubai, Time After Time. FAVOURITES & 2025: No corresponding race

5.45—VIRGIN BET A GOOD BET FILLIES' HANDICAP (4) £14,650 added (£7,668) 1m 3f 218yds (9)

301 (5) 1-82 KISSMEHONEYHONEY 27 (S) W Haggas 4-10-2 ..... T Marquand 302 (7) 54-2212 AMMOONY 30 Tom Clover 3-9-7 ..... David Egan 303 (8) 912113 LIVEINTHELIGHT 15 (D2) (GS) Ollie Sangster 3-9-5 ..... K Shoemark 304 (4) 352151 KELLY BURN 63 (D) (G) J Fanshawe 3-9-3 ..... Ashley Lewis (3) 305 (9) 407 MARIANITA 32 R Beckett 3-9-2 ..... H Crouch 306 (1) 815 MOTHER DEAR 59 (CBF) H Morrison 3-9-1 ..... R Hornby 307 (6) 7409 PIERPOINT 42 R Hannon 3-9-0 ..... P Dobbs 308 (2) 0-33 CRACKING BEAUTY 31 R Teal 3-9-0 ..... N Currie 309 (3) 5-45213 GLENNA 32 (BF) (G) T Ward 3-8-12 ..... S Osborne

2025: Sibling Rivelry 3 8 2 (Jack Dace) 14-1 D M Simcock drawn (4) 6 ran.

TRACK FACTS: JACKPOT MEETING. R-H course. GOING: Good to firm-good in places. STALLS: 5f & 6f stands side; 1m1f & 1m2f inside; 1m4f outside. DRAW ADVANTAGE: Low 7f to 1m 1f. Top jockey: Tom Marquand. Top trainer: W Haggas. Placed in the race last year: 6.55 Rory Rocket (2nd); 7.28 Platinum Prince (1st); Pride Of Nepal (3rd). Headgear first time: 5.10 Molo Del Palazzo, 6.20 Grandlad, Sandscreendeliverd, Velvet Goldmine. Longest traveller: Queen Of Christmas (4.35) 298 miles. Drop in Class: None today. First run since wind surgery: None today.

ROBIN GOODFELLOW

GIMCRACK

4.35	Motown Filly	4.35	Motown Filly
5.10	Hauteluce	5.10	Shady Bay
5.45	Marianita	5.45	Kissmehoneyhoney
6.20	RUBY'S PROFIT (nap)	6.20	Rogue Bullet
6.55	Veil Of Clouds	6.55	Veil Of Clouds
7.28	Kimeko Glory	7.28	Beach Point

6.20—VIRGIN BET DAILY EXTRA PLACES HANDICAP (4) £14,650 added (£7,911) 5f (9)

401 (8) L46483 RUBY'S PROFIT 14 (T) (Cⅅ2) T Ward 4-10-2.... T Marquand 402 (5) 84-1676 GRANDLAD 17 (BT) (C&D2D4) (G) James Horton 5-9-12. J Mitchell 403 (6) 6-51432 ROGUE BULLET 22 (P) (D2) (G) James Owen 4-9-11.... H Davies 404 (4) 307-431 BRAVE NATION 20 (D4) (G) M Atwater 6-9-10.... K Fox 405 (7) 127520 SILVER WRAITH 30 (T) (GS) E Lavelle 4-9-7.... S Osborne 406 (3) 433235 OVER SPICED 8 (P) (D5) (G) G Harris 4-9-3.... Ashley Lewis (3) 407 (1) 253785 KISS AND RUN 11 (Cⅅ) (GS) R Cook & J Bridger 5-9-2.... David Egan 408 (2) 25L33L SANDSCREENDELIVERD 14 (B) (D) P Crate 4-9-1.... P Dobbs 409 (9) 8-32 VELVET GOLDMINE 76 (H) (BF) E Walker 3-9-1.... K Shoemark Probable SP: 11-4 Velvet Goldmine, 7-2 Rogue Bullet, 4 Brave Nation, 8 Ruby's Profit, 10 Grandlad, Silver Wraith, 12 Kiss And Run, 14 Over Spiced, 16 Sandscreendeliverd.

FAVOURITES: 1 1 2 2 0 1 0 0 2 1 (W 9-7). AGES: 5 4 3 7 3 5 8 4 3 4 2025: Smooth Silesie 4 9 11 (Jack Mitchell) 3-1 Fav L Williamson drawn (1) 7 ran.

6.55—VIRGIN BET EVERY SATURDAY MONEY BACK HANDICAP (5) £10,650 added (£5,751) 6f (10)

501 (8) 161130 RORY ROCKET 30 (D) (G) G & J Moore 4-9-12 ..... Toby Moore (7) 502 (7) 89-6330 RAFFLES ANGEL 21 (D4) (G) Jack Jones 5-9-11 ..... H Crouch 503 (10) 52531 VEIL OF CLOUDS (6lbex) 11 (T) (D) S & E Crisford 3-9-11. H Davies 504 (9) 627815 PERFECT LOCATION 46 (P) (C&DD) (S) T Ward 3-9-9 ..... R Hornby 505 (2) 146L22 NORTHCLIFF 14 (V) (D5) (G) R Burdon 6-9-9 ..... T Marquand 506 (3) 36-6L64 NEWSREADER 24 (BF) A Carroll 5-9-7 ..... David Egan 507 (1) 431-532 SOUND AND VISION 27 (T) (BF) E Walker 3-9-5 ..... K Shoemark 508 (5) 64-5L92 DARK ALLEY 15 (P) (D) (G) W Greatrex 3-9-3 ..... E Greatrex 509 (4) 33265L EIGHTTHREEONE 22 (D) E J-Houghton 3-9-3 ..... C Bishop 510 (6) 430856 ARARAT 14 (D2) R Cook & J Bridger 6-9-2 ..... J Mitchell Probable SP: 7-4 Veil Of Clouds, 9-2 Northcliff, 6 Sound And Vision, 8 Eighthreeone, 10 Dark Alley, 12 Newsreader, Rory Rocket, 14 Perfect Location. FAVOURITES: ---- 0 0 1 1 (W 9-6). AGES: ---- 7 5 6 4 2025: Serenity Dream 4 9 6 (Jack Doughty) 16-5 JtFav A Carroll drawn (10) 10 ran.

7.28—GAY KINDERSLEY AMATEUR JOCKEYS' HANDICAP (5) £10,650 added (£5,290) 1m 1f 11yds (10)

601 (9) 450431 KIMEKO GLORY (Silbex) 7 (B) (G) C Hills 4-11-5 ..... James Hills (5) 602 (4) 641535 SHOW BIZ KID 29 (B) (J) J & S Birkett 5-11-2 ..... R Birkett 603 (2) 434844 BEACH POINT 22 (P) (GS) W Knight 5-11-2 ..... Henry Callan 604 (1) 1111L4 PRIDE OF NEPAL 19 (P) (C&D2) (GS) A Carroll 8-11-1 ..... Miss B Hampson 605 (6) 256141 GONE ROGUE 22 (P) (GS) G & J Moore 5-11-1 ..... G Gorman (3) 606 (7) 021-074 SANT ALESSIO 58 (D) (G) J Tickle 5-11-0 ..... Henry Moore (5) 607 (5) 14-5777 ROMANTIC SPIRIT 62 (D3) D Menuisier 4-10-12 ..... Guy Mitchell (5) 608 (10) 4L-6623 GREY FOX 14 (T) (G) E Lavelle 9-10-11 ..... Simon Walker 609 (8) 125-054 PLATINUM PRINCE 51 (B) (C&D2C) (S) G & J Moore 9-10-9 ..... Miss Alice Crowley (7) 610 (3) 92-736L ARTAVIAN 20 (TV) (S) P Chamings 6-10-0 ..... Frederick Tett Probable SP: 13-8 Kimeko Glory, 7-2 Gone Rogue, 7 Grey Fox, 8 Platinum Prince, 12 Romantic Spirit, Show Biz Kid, 14 Pride Of Nepal, Beach Point. FAVOURITES: 2 0 1 0 0 - 2 1 3 0 (W 10-10). AGES: 4 8 8 5 4 - 5 5 6 8 2025: Platinum Prince 8 10 6 (Jude Fernandes) 8-1 G & J Moore drawn (1) 10 ran

FFOS LAS SSR

2.00-HANDICAP (6) £6,600 added (£3,454) 5f (8)

1 (6) 018 THE FIXER 53 (D2) (S) S Dixon 5-9-9....K O'Neill 2 (5) 933 LITTLE JAYBEE 16 (D) P Evans 3-9-8....J Leavy 3 (7) 20L SON OF ASTAR 35 (C&DD2) (S) A Carroll 4-9-7

4 (3) 513 FOREVER GLAMOROUS 32 (P) (C&D) C Mason 3-9-7 G Mangan

5 (8) 21L BRIDGET'S BABY 2 (D) A Carroll 3-9-5

Myla Coppins (5)

6 (4) 076 CALL TIME 76 (P) (D2) (S) J S Moore 5-9-3

8 (1) 265 KODI K 21 J Gallagher 3-8-9.....Liam Wright (3) Probable SP: 11-4 Forever Glamorous, 3 Bridget's Baby, 5 Little Jaybee, 7 The Fixer, Call Time, 8 Kodi K, 10 Son Of Astar.

2,35-HANDICAP (5) £8,000 added (£4,187) 7f 80vds (10)

1 (9) 283 BELLA BISBEE 13 (D4) (G) S Dixon 5-9-10.....K O'Neill 2 (8) 671 LERWICK 24 (BE) (C&D) (G) M Loughnane 6-9-10

3 (2) 4P1 THE STONE POWER 16 (C) R Beckett 3-9-9

4 (1) 822 SANTIAGO BOY 9 (B) C Hills 3-9-5.....Harry Vigors (5) 5 (10) 782 MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT 24 James Horton 3-9-4 S Donohoe 6 (7) 122 DAPPED LIGHT 43 (P) (C) (G) A Wintle 6-9-4....F Marsh 7 (4) 61L GELATO 24 (C&D) (S) A Wintle 3-9-0....Taryn Langley (5) 8 (6) 324 CYPRIOT DIASPORA 7 (C&D) (S) B Millman 5-8-12

9 (3) 528 NEBBIA 42 H Morrison 3-8-11....D Probert 10 (5) L-08 GRIMESE'S SPECIAL 80 (B) (D) (S) J S Moore 3-8-4 Isobelle Chalmers (7)

Probable SP: 11-4 Lerwick, 3 The Stone Power, 5 Santiago Boy, 6 Bella Bisbee, 8 Dappled Light, 12 Mountain Of Light.

3.10-MAIDEN FILLIES' STAKES (4) £10,000 added (£5,400) 1m (5)

1 (5) L6 ESPLANADE 28 C Hills 3-9-2 ...... Harry Vigors (5) 2 (2) 464 GRANITEVILLE 9 M Botti 3-9-2 ...... B Sayette 3 (4) L22 SYDNEY ROCK 15 (BE) Oliver Cole 3-9-2

4 (1) 232 WITHTEARSINMYEYES 9 (BF) J Channon 3-9-2 D Probert

5 (3) 4- ZUPA TRUPA 261 R Beckett 3-9-2.... R Clutterbuck Probable SP: 6-4 Withtearsinmyeyes, 7-4 Graniteville, 3 Sydney Rock, 12 Zupa Trupa.

TRACK FACTS: L-H course. GOING: Good. STALLS: Centre. DRAW ADVANTAGE: None. Top jockey: David Probert. Top trainer: R Beckett. Placed in the race last year: 2.00 Call Time (2nd). Headgear first time: 3.45 Private Officer. Longest travellers: Mountain Of Light (2.35), Graniteville (3.10), Castlekeely (3.45), Give Me Sun (4.20), King's Castle (4.55), Hibernate (4.55) 271 miles. Drop in Class: None today. First run since wind surgery: None today.

3.45-CLASSIFIED STAKES (6) £6,600 added (£3,454) 1m (10)

1 (8) L55 BELLTONY 59 R J Price 4-9-9....G Mangan 2 (1) 236 DINAH MYTE 17 (C&DD) (S) J Gallagher 4-9-9 D E Hogan 3 (3) 363 EYE OF THE WATER 58 (P) (CD2) (S) R Harris 10-9-9 C Hutchinson 4 (5) 364 KING OF THE DANCE 7 (B) (D) (G) B J Llewellyn & Robert Williams 7-9-9 D J Murphy (7) 5 (7) 744 LAUNCESTON 46 A Carroll 4-9-9.....Myla Coppins (5) 6 (10) 673 PEBBLE DASH 34 B J Llewellyn & Robert Williams 4-9-9 D Probert 7 (2) 19/L- PRIVATE OFFICER 303 (B) (D) A Wintle 5-9-9...F Marsh 8 (6) 53L WEST HILL ROSIE 23 Seamus Mullins 4-9-9 G Downing 9 (4) 345 ALICE'S INFLUENCE 16 (V) (D) (G) P Evans 3-9-3 J Leavy 10 (9) 702 CASTLEKEELY 14 James Owen 3-9-3.....K O'Neill Probable SP: 11-4 Castlekeely, 9-2 Alice's Influence, 6 Eye Of The Water, 7 Dinah Myte, 8 Pebble Dash 4.20-HANDICAP (6) (3-Y-0) £6,600 added (£3,454) Im 2f (11) 1 (2) 830 SERAGLIO POINT 32 H Morrison 9-9....D Probert 2 (11) 122 SUNSHINE AND ROSES 10 J Channon 9-9 Rose Dawes (5) 3 (7) 247 KATALYST 17 (B) W Muir & C Grassick 9-8...R Kavanagh (3) 4 (1) 174 BERYL'S GIRL 23 (P) (D) (G) E J-Houghton 9-7 C Hutchinson 5 (10) 2L2 GRINDLETON 24 D & C Kubler 9-7.....Ebrahim Nader 6 (8) 531 LC TIFFEN 20 (D) L Williamson 9-6.....Molly Gunn (5) 7 (3) 453 THAI PRINCESS 44 (T) A Wintle 9-6....F Marsh 8 (6) 555 PANGBOURNE 14 R Teal 9-5.....O Lewis (5) 9 (5) 331 GIVE ME SUN 32 (D) (G) P Owens 9-5.....B Sayette 10 (9) 622 IVAT GHIA 16 (H) M Usher 9-0.....T Heard 11 (4) 086 SUMMER OASIS 36 (P) M Usher 8-10...Harry Vigors (5) Probable SP: 3 Give Me Sun, 9-2 Sunshine And Roses, 7 Grindleton, 8 Lc Tiffen, Ivat Ghia, Pangbourne, 10 Beryl's Girl.

4.55-HANDICAP (5) £8,000 added (£4,187) 1m 3f 209vds (8)

1 (6) 52L HIBERNATE 37 (D) (G) E Dunlop 4-9-9 .... Mason Paetel (3) 2 (8) 415 CRACKERGEE 46 (C&D) (S) H Morrison 4-9-9 ..... D Probert 3 (5) 831 ROBUSTO 19 (B) (D5) (G) E J-Houghton 6-9-8

4 (4) 312 RAINTOWN 14 (P) (D4) (G) J S Moore 6-9-7.... Taylor Fisher 5 (2) 721 FLIGHTOFTHEPHOENIX 18 C Hills 4-9-7.....F Marsh 6 (1) 423 KING'S CASTLE 22 (C) (S) D Sim Scook 9-9-6.... Taryn Langley (5) 7 (7) 119 LUAN 22 (T) (D) Nick Scholfield 4-8-13.....B Sayette 8 (3) 9-93 SHAFFRON 106 D Menuisier 4-8-13.....D E Hogan Probable SP: 5-2 Robusto, 4 Flightothephoenix, 6 Hibernate, Raintown, 7 Crackergee, 8 King's Castle, 10 Shaffron, 14 Luan.

CARLISLE

2.00 — JEWEL MAKER (Miss Rebecca Burley) 13-2 1; Up The Jazz 3-1(2ndFav) 2; Sanafi Zabeel 15-8F 3. 8 ran. (T Easterby). 4l, hd. Tote: 8.10; 2.40, 1.40, 1.10. Ex: 33.30. Tc: 51.76. Tf: 91.20. CSF: 27.37. NR: Spirit Catcher.

2.30 — BLAZING INFERNO (D Tudhope) 11-2 1; Mehmas Star 13-2 2; Prosperity Angel 10-3(2ndFav) 3. 11 ran. (E Bethell). nk, 1½. Tote: 6.50; 1.90, 2.10, 1.40. Ex: 45.60. Tf: 239.00. CSF: 42.33.

3.00 — BINCIMBAL (C Rodriguez) 9-4(2ndFav) 1; Emerald Bay 6-1 2; Ten Clarets 2-1F 3.5 ran. (Harry Charlton). 2½, ¾. Tote: 3.30; 2.00, 2.80. Ex: 15.10. Tf: 31.80. CSF: 15.47.

3.30 — RIKKI TIKI TAVI (K Stott) 12-1 1; Rogue Attraction 11-4(2ndFav) 2; Go Vince Go 7-2 3. 7 ran. (K Ryan). nk, nk. Tote: 13.70; 5.50, 1.90. Ex: 55.40. Tc: 143.87. Tf: 157.70. CSF: 46.08. NRs: Here Forever, Tip Foster, Trust Amy.

4.00 — ROYAL DUKE (Rhys Elliott) 12-1 1; Cotai Starlight 6-1(Jt2ndFav) 2; Never Dark 6-1(Jt2ndFav) 3. 11 ran. (R M

Smith). hd, 1½. Tote: 14.80; 3.90, 2.30, 2.60. Ex: 127.80. Tc: 499.18. Tf: 1108.80. CSF: 87.18. NRs: Cape Sovereign Improves Oral Storm

4.30 — DR RIO (Z Wheatley) 5-1 1; Taylormade Lad 13-8F 2; Off Spin 13-2 3.7 ran. (D Carroll). 5I, 3/4. Tote: 6.00; 2.50, 1.30. Ex: 16.90. Tc: 53.77. Tf: 54.60. CSF: 14.10. NRs: Due To Shine, Riddikulus, Vampire Slayer.

5.00 — FARABOVE THE LIMIT (S James) 17-2 1; Annandale 11-4F 2; Hey Havana 6-1 3.9 ran. (Phillip Makin). $^{3/4}$ , $^{1/2}$ . Tote: 9.50; 2.80, 1.40, 2.10. Ex: 40.50. Tc: 155.00. Tf: 316.00. CSF: 31.93.

Jackpot Not won, pool of £5,506.69 carried over.

Placepot £255.60. Q'pot £71.30. FFOS LAS

2.37 — DOWNONMAINSTREET (David Egan) 9-2 1; Laylaty 2-1F 2; Seed Ya Later 11-2 3.7 ran. (M Bell). $^{3/4}$ , $^{11/4}$ . Tote: 5.50; 2.20, 1.90. Ex: 14.80. Tf: 74.40. CSF: 13.43.

3.07 — TUMISHI (D Muscutt) 8-11F 1; Channel Islands 40-1 2; War Gaming 4-1(2ndFav) 3.6 ran. (J Fanshawe). hd, nk. Tote: 1.73; 1.10, 9.20. Ex: 25.30. Tf: 78.80. CSF: 32.18.

3.37 — MACARONE (Rossa Ryan) 5-2JtFav 1; Ridger 5-2JtFav 2; Outer Edge 10-3 3.6 ran. (G Harris). 1 $^{1/4}$ , shd. Tote: 3.50; 1.60, 2.60. Ex: 10.70. Tf: 43.70. CSF: 9.08. NRs: Coast, Demetris Mouflon, Rogue Rebellion.

4.07 — LAST FLIGHT (S Donohoe) 9-4(2ndFav) 1; Lusaka 15-8F 2; Make A Splash 33-1 3.7 ran. (James Horton). 1½, nk. Tote: 3.25; 1.90, 1.70. Ex: 7.40. Tc: 97.87. Tf: 92.20. CSF: 6.78. NRs: Beaune, Golden Flame.

4.37 — WINDAY (Rossa Ryan) 11-8(2ndFav) 1; Blue Hercules 6-5F 2; Neswick 10-1 3.5 ran. (E Mullins (IRE)). 6l, 3½. Tote: 2.38; 1.10, 1.30. Ex: 2.70. Tf: 8.30. CSF: 3.21. NR: Saaffya.

5.07 — GRAND PIER (Harry Vigors) 10-3F 1; The Anthony Gover 10-1 2; Revich 12-1 3.9 ran. (W Greatrex). 5l, 1¼. Tote: 4.34; 1.50, 2.30, 3.10. Ex: 42.10. Tc: 359.49. Tf: 332.70. CSF: 37.90. NR: Sahm Naif. Placepot £14.40. Q'pot £5.00.

LINGFIELD

2.22 — PRINCE KAMEO (J Gilligan) 4-1 1; Whiskey Galore 12-1 2; Magical Life 5-2(2ndFav) 3.

RACING RESULTS

11 ran. (Sir M Prescott). $^{3}/{4}$ , $^{3}/{4}$ . Tote: 6.30; 1.90, 3.50, 1.50. Ex: 68.40. Tc: 147.89. Tf: 295.50. CSF: 47.92.

2.52 — THURITHA (S M Levey) 4-1 1; Please Don't Go 11-8F 2; Scrappetalene 3-1(2ndFav) 3. 4 ran. (D M Simcock). $^{1/2}$ , $^{11/2}$ . Tote: 5.60; Ex: 12.30. Tf: 24.40. CSF: 10.03. NR: Boomshakalak.

3.22 — ENOCH (W Buick) 2-5F 1; Black Chiffon 3-1(2ndFav) 2; Colonnade 5-1 3.7 ran. (J & T Gosden). hd, 4 $^{3/4}$ . Tote: 1.40; 1.02, 2.00. Ex: 2.20. Tf: 3.40. CSF: 2.10.

3.52 — STYLE KING (H Davies) 11-4JtFav 1; Desert Treasure 11-4JtFav 2; Isle Of Lismore 14-13.6 ran. (C Dwyer). nk, 2l. Tote: 3.75; 1.80, 1.90. Ex: 10.60. Tf: 53.90. CSF: 10.01.

4.22 — KEV (T Marquand) 16-1 1; Pride Eye 11-2 2; Taskheer 3-1F 3. 13 ran. (W Muir & C Grassick). shd, $\frac{1}{2}$ . Tote: 17.10; 5.30, 2.40, 1.50. Ex: 159.30. Tf: 1020.70. CSF: 102.06. NR: Rogers Dream.

4.55 — ROYAL COUNTY GLORY (C Fallon) 4-7F 1; Credit Forgedd It 17-2 2; Power Cut 40-1 3. 11 ran.

(Jack Jones). hd, 1½. Tote: 1.58; 1.10, 2.20, 9.40. Ex: 8.60. Tc: 127.36. Tf: 141.00. CSF: 7.24. NR: Twilight Baby.

Placepot £74.60. Q'pot £4.60. NEWTON ABBOT

4.42 — ST JUST IN TIME (Paul O'Brien) 4-9F 1; Nightflyer 3-1(2ndFav) 2; Wait At The Gate 11-1 3.4 ran. (Harry Derham). 2 $^{1/4}$ , 40l. Tote: 1.45; Ex: 1.90. Tf: 4.40. CSF: 2.23. NRs: Iwanttobreakfree, Morissette.

5.12 — FLASHY BOY (Charlie Price) 13-8F 1; Premier Fantasy 2-1(2ndFav) 2; Lynsey Larue 11-1 3. 4 ran. (R L Llewellyn). 12I, 19I. Tote: 2.63; Ex: 5.30. Tf: 14.60. CSF: 5.47. NR: Better Off Alone.

5.42 — BUXTED REEL (S Sheppard) 11-8F 1; Most Wanted 9-1 2; Ask Peter 11-4 3.5 ran. (T Lacey). 6 $^{1/2}$ , 2 $^{3/4}$ . Tote: 2.38; 1.10, 4.70. Ex: 11.40. Tf: 20.00. CSF: 12.44. NRs: Estate Planning, Run Away Joe.

6.12 — BREAKING COVER (C Bament) 3-1(2ndFav) 1; Obsessedwithyou 13-2 2; Centara 9-2 3.4 ran. (A Honeyball). 11I, 2½. Tote: 6.00; Ex: 17.70. Tf: 41.60. CSF:

17.86. NRs: Gower Prince, Ice In The Veins.

6.42 — MY GIRL KATIE (C Ring) 15-8F 1; Man Oh Man 11-2 2; Alberts Bay 17-2 3. 6 ran. (G Harris). 1I, 2I. Tote: 2.88; 1.60, 2.70. Ex: 13.70. Tf: 72.40. CSF: 12.72. NR: Final Entry.

7.12 — THICKTHORN TOM (H Skelton) 5-4F 1; It's A Breeze 10-3 2; Quick Sharpener 13-2 3. 4 ran. (D Skelton). 8 $^{1/2}$ , $^{3/4}$ . Tote: 2.25; Ex: 4.80. Tf: 10.40. CSF: 5.75. NR: McGregors Charge.

7.42 — ELLERTON (B J Powell) 5-4(2ndFav) 1; Donnie Azoff 8-13F 2; 2 ran. (J Tizzard). 1 $^{3}$ / $_{4}$ . Tote: 2.25; NRs: Beorma, King Of The Bronx. Placnot £116.90. Q'not £30.30

SOUTHWELL

6.00 — HERETIC (D Probert) 2-1F 1; Cable Beach 3-1(2ndFav) 2; Beaming Light 7-2 3. 10 ran. (M Herrington). $2^{1/2}$ , $1/2$ . Tote: 3.10; 1.30, 1.40, 1.90. Ex: 10.50. Tc: 20.47. Tf: 37.90. CSF: 8.12.

6.30 — SHADES OF MAY (Rose Dawes) 6-1 1; King Sharja 6-1 2; Adelaide Bay 7-4F 3. 10 ran. (M Usher). 3½, nk. Tote: 7.00; 1.60, 2.00, 1.40. Ex: 47.50. Tc: 90.48. Tf: 138.10.

CSF: 42.18. 7.00 — MR NOBLE (C Lee) 7-4F 1; Haaderr 7-2(2ndFav) 2; Dublin Bay 22-1 3. 11 ran. (K R Burke). 1 $^{3/4}$ , hd. Tote: 2.75; 1.40, 1.80, 4.30. Ex: 12.00. Tc: 100.13. Tf: 109.80. CSF: 7.41.

7.30 — MARKET LEADER (James Doyle) 15-8(2ndFav) 1; Secano 50-1 2; Night Of Gold 5-6F 3.9 ran. (K R Burke). 6l, 3/4. Tote: 2.88; 1.10, 8.30, 1.10. Ex: 90.10. Tf: 183.90. CSF: 84.72. NR: Neverbeatdeswalker.

8.00 — NOUR (C Lee) 4-1(Jt2ndFav) 1; Lord Ragnar 4-1(Jt2ndFav) 2; Trust Yourself 7-4F 3.7 ran. (K R Burke). hd, 2½. Tote: 5.00; 1.80, 2.50. Ex: 16.30. Tf: 42.20. CSF: 20.08.

8.30 — MASSIMO BLUE (B Loughnane) 11-8F 1; Jenever 14-12; Azure Zain 11-1 3. 11 ran. (D Cunha). 1 $^{1/4}$ , 1 $^{1/4}$ . Tote: 2.38; 1.10, 3.00, 3.60. Ex: 32.60. Tc: 169.21. Tf: 291.10. CSF: 25.03.

9.00 — CAPTAIN CAIRNEY (D Probert) 3-1(2ndFav) 1; Currumbin 2-1F 2; Lordsbridge Grey 9-2 3.5 ran. (W Muir & C Grassick). 1½, 5½. Tote: 4.00; 5.70, 1.30. Ex: 9.50. Tf: 31.00. CSF: 9.55.

Placepot £7.50. Q'pot £4.70.

CRY OF THE TIGER

With No1 spot under threat, form in tatters and whispers she has lost her edge, will real Sabalenka come roaring back in New York?

By TAMARA PRENN in New York

HOLLYWOOD film of Aryna Sabalenka's 2025 US Open win might

have had the subtitle: The Great Escape. Now, the world No 1 must prepare for the sequel.

Last year, the Belarusian arrived in New York with a final chance to avoid the indignity of going the whole of 2025 without a Grand Slam title. She had been by far the best player across the season but lost in the finals of the Australian Open and French Open.

But she beat Amanda Anisimova at Arthur Ashe Stadium to retain her US Open crown.

Now Sabalenka, without a Slam title in 2026, finds herself back in a familiar position. Only this time the challenge is two-fold: defend her title and keep hold of her world No1 ranking.

Victory at Flushing Meadows — it would be a third title in a row here — is essential if she is to have any chance of keeping top spot, with closest rival Elena Rybakina snapping at her heels.

Rybakina, who will guarantee top spot if she reaches the semifinals, beat Sabalenka in the Australian Open final in January, but the Kazakh is far from the sole challenger.

In-form home favourites Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are both capable of causing trouble for Sabalenka, with the former having beaten her in two Slam finals, and both in the running to finish the tournament as world No 1.

That defeat by Rybakina at the start of the year preceded a remarkable run of form for Sabalenka, as she became only the fifth woman to win the so-called Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and Miami Open.

But then something snapped. Perhaps it was defeat in her Madrid quarter-final against American Hailey Baptiste that

Anguish: Sabalenka toils at Wimbledon and (right) her famous tiger tattoo GETTY IMAGES

started the slide, ending her 15-match winning streak.

An upturn threatened briefly at the French Open with Sabalenka one set and 4-1 up in the second set of her quarter-final against Diana Shnaider. But the Belarusian disintegrated in spectacular fashion to lose the third to love.

At Wimbledon, she couldn't make it past Naomi Osaka, who ended her run in the fourth round, her earliest Grand Slam exit since 2022. By now, Sabalenka's season had entered crisis mode.

WHEN Sabalenka is on song, her opponents feel as though they have been blasted off the court. Caught up in the tornado of her aggression and left confused by the whip-cracking serves and bullets sent down from the baseline. Players who can't absorb her power haven't a hope.

But when things aren't going her way, Sabalenka has found it difficult to adjust her game plan mid-match, continuing to try to muscle her way through her problems and watching the unforced errors stack up.

She has also become increasingly vulnerable to the best of her peers. Since April, her record against opponents ranked inside the top 40 is six wins and seven defeats.

There are no easy answers as to why Sabalenka is experiencing such a dip in her game. No public injury concerns, disruptions to her coaching team or changes in her personal life she has shared.

Her level has dropped and she has been punished by the constant grind of the tour.

Repeated collapses in deciding sets have forced Sabalenka's hand. She has chosen to work on her mental game, rehiring the sports psychologist she dropped in 2022. Around that time, she turned to biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan, who reworked her serve and helped her win her first major at the Australian Open in 2023. Sabalenka, now 28, described herself as her ‘own psychologist’ before claiming that title. Three years later, she needs a second opinion.

‘It’s good to have someone back who knows you well, who can just say a couple things that are going to completely flip the page,’ Sabalenka told TIME this month.

There have been suggestions that attempts to keep her cool on-court have blunted the ‘tiger power’ (she has a tattoo of the animal on her arm and decorates her Nike shoes with its stripes) that is key to her bombastic style.

When asked whether that had been the case in her defeat by Osaka at Wimbledon, Sabalenka's 'no' could hardly have been more dismissive. But watching her huff with obvious frustration during her defeat by Sara Bejlek in Cincinnati did not ease concerns that her on-court state of mind is unusually unsettled.

After all, Sabalenka likes to be the best. She's used to it too, having been No1 in the world for 96 consecutive weeks. Being the

FERY GETS TOUGH DRAW ON HIS US OPEN DEBUT

ARTHUR FERY'S first ever match at the US Open will come against No13 seed Lorenzo Musetti. British No1 Cam Norrie has an easier draw against Frenchman Luca Van Assche. Katie Boulter begins against American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee. Carlos Alcaraz, returning after a wrist injury, plays Russia's Roman Safiullin. It is the Spaniard's first singles match since April 14.

best has brought her magazine cover shoots, high-profile sponsors like Gucci and Audemars Piguet, exclusive Nike kits and her own Tiger Edition Wilson racquet. But sporting over £160,000 worth of rubies, emeralds, and diamonds on-court, as Sabalenka has done at all three Grand Slams this year as part of her deal with New York jeweller Material Good, is harder to pull off as world No2.

It is fitting, then, that once again New York is the backdrop to Sabalenka's last chance saloon for 2026. The US Open is American to its core; bigger, brasher, and bolder than Melbourne, Paris, or London, sprinkled with the celebrity stardust that has turned the tournament into the hottest ticket in town. Players who can harness the crowd's energy, particularly during its floodlit night matches, come alive in the Big Apple.

And Sabalenka is nothing if not an entertainer. Two years ago, she offered spectators a round of drinks in exchange for their support through the tournament. With the crowd likely on her side again — until she faces an American — there is no better backdrop for Sabalenka to regain her form.

What remains beyond dispute is Sabalenka's talent. The form storm will surely pass. Further Grand Slam titles will surely come — and you would be a fool to rule out Sabalenka delivering a blockbuster curtain call in New York.

Seagulls are flying high

BRIGHTON booked their place in the Conference League league phase with a comfortable 4-0 play-off victory over Tromso at the Amex Stadium.

Albion had work to do in last night's second leg after failing to capitalise on 25 attempts at goal during last week's 0-0 draw in Norway.

Fabian Hurzeler's Seagulls were far more ruthless on home soil, with

CONFERENCE LEAGUE

first-half finishes from Charalampos Kostoulas, Maxim De Cuyper — his second goal in as many games — and Mats Wieffer putting them firmly in control of the tie. Olivier Boscagli added a deflected fourth late on to seal a place in today’s draw on the back of Sunday’s thumping 4-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa.

SPORT IN BRIEF

CARABAO CUP 2ND ROUND

CHELSEA....(0) 2 LUTON....(0) 0 Welbeck 50 Odefin 70 (eg)

CONFERENCE LEAGUE — PLAY-OFF ROUND 2ND LEG: Brighton 4 Tromso 0 (Brighton win 4-0 on aggregate), Freiburg 4 Motherwell 1 (Freiburg win 7-2 on aggregate), Hibernian 2 Gent 3 (Gent win 3-2 on aggregate), Jablonec 1 Rangers 0 (AET: Score after 90 mins 1-0. Agg: 1-1. Jablonec win 4-3 on penalties), KuPS 1 Shamrock Rovers 0 (KuPS win 2-1 on aggregate), Larne L Lincoln Red Imps L (Extra Time).

ENTERPRISE NATIONAL LEAGUE: Boreham Wood 2 Boston Utd 1.

CRICKET

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP (Day 1 of 4; Today 11am)

DIVISION ONE — Chelmsford: Surrey 183 (53.2 overs), Essex 10-1 (4.1 overs).

Sophia Gardens: Hampshire 162 (40.2 overs, J S Lehmann 51no), Glamorgan 111-7 (38.0 overs, B I Kellaway 57).

Hove: Somerset 202 (58.0 overs, T B Abell 72, C Overton 54, H T Crocombe 5-56), Sussex 77-2 (17.2 overs).

Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire, No play due to rain.

Scarborough: Yorkshire 144-5 (52.5 overs, J H Wharton 70no) v Leicestershire.

DIVISION TWO — Derby: Derbyshire v Middlesex, No play due to rain.

Riverside: Gloucestershire 137 (42.0 overs, J R Bracey 60, K L Aldridge 5-16), Durham 100-3 (26.0 overs, D G Bedingham 59no).

Northampton: Kent 154-0 (36 overs, Compton 51no, Crawley 82no) v Northamptonshire.

New Road: Worcestershire v Lancashire, No play due to wet outfield.

■RUGBY LEAGUE

BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE WIGAN ..... 46 HULL KR ..... 0

■TODAY'S ACTION

(7.45 unless stated) PREMIER LEAGUE

Crystal Palace v Man City ...... (8.0) SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

Wrexham v Birmingham ..... (8.0) ENTERPRISE NATIONAL LEAGUE: AFC Fylde v Forest Green, Aldershot v Harrogate Tn, Altrincham v FC Halifax, Barrow v Yeovil, Gateshead v Sutton Utd, HartlepoolvEastleigh,Hornchurch v Woking, Scunthorpe v Solihull Moors, Southend v Kidderminster, Tamworth v Worthing, Wealdstone v Carlisle. WILLIAM HILL SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP: Dunfermline v Raith (7.30).

WILLIAM HILL SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO: Edinburgh City v Forfar.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Who the English teams play...

ARSENAL (ODDS: 6-1)

v REAL MADRID, Spain (h) v BAYERN MUNICH, Germany (a) v BORUSSIA DORTMUND, Germany (h) v REAL BETIS, Spain (a) v LILLE, France (h) v NAPOLI, Italy (a) v SABAH, Azerbaijan (h) v SLAVIA PRAGUE, Czech Rep (a)

1 Sabah head coach Valdas Dambrauskas is the first Lithuanian to lead a club into the Champions League league phase.

ASTON VILLA (40-1)

v PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN, France (h) v BARCELONA, Spain (a) v BORUSSIA DORTMUND, Germany (h) v CLUB BRUGES, Belgium (a) v FENERBAHCE, Turkey (h) v GALATASARAY, Turkey (a) v VIKING, Norway (h) v SLAVIA PRAGUE, Czech Rep (a) 5 Viking have had five English managers, including Bill Foulkes (1985) and Roy Hodgson (2004-2005).

LIVERPOOL (12-1)

v ATLETICO MADRID, Spain (h) v INTER MILAN, Italy (a) v PORTO, Portugal (h) v CLUB BRUGES, Belgium (a) v VILLARREAL, Spain (h) v FENERBAHCE, Turkey (a) v LENS, France (h) v LASK, Austria (a)

2 Lask won the Austrian League last season for only the second time in their history. Their previous success came back in 1965.

Happy hour: Marquinhos enjoys the moment as French giants PSG are crowned Champions League winners last May in Budapest GETTY IMAGES

MAN CITY (9-1)

v PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN, France (h) v BARCELONA, Spain (a) v SPORTING LISBON, Portugal (h) v PORTO, Portugal (a) v NAPOLI, Italy (h) v LEIPZIG, Germany (a) v AEK ATHENS, Greece (h) v LENS, France (a) 3AEK Athens were playing in Greece's third division as an amateur club a little more than a decade ago.

MAN UTD (20-1)

v BAYERN MUNICH, Germany (h) v ATLETICO MADRID, Spain (a) v ROMA, Italy (h) v SPORTING LISBON, Portugal (a) v LEIPZIG, Germany (h) v VILLARREAL, Spain (a) v SABAH, Azerbaijan (h) v COMO, Italy (a)

1 Serie A side Como — managed by former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas — will be making their debut in the competition.

KEY DATES

The Champions League kicked off on July 7 and concludes with the final at Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid on June 5 next year. The first matchday will take place on September 8, with a further seven scheduled. The final matchday is on January 27. The knockout phase play-offs take place in mid-February, with the round of 16 starting the following month. The two legs of the quarter-finals are set for April 6-7 and 13-14, while the semis take place on April 27-28 and May 4-5.

England stars Jude and Harry block Arsenal's route to glory

J UDE BELLINGHAM, Jose Mourinho and Harry Kane all stand in Arsenal's way as they seek to go one better than last season's Champions League final defeat.

The Premier League winners have been handed a tricky path to the knockout stages — along with rivals Manchester City — following a draw overseen by Gunners legend Thierry Henry here in Monaco which could also prompt a return to England for Mason Greenwood.

Mikel Arteta's side will be keen to dispel the heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat by Paris Saint-Germain but there will be no easy route to the final, which is at the home of Atletico Madrid.

While 24 out of the 36 sides will qualify from the league format, Arsenal will need to acquire the

By MIKE KEEGAN Chief Sports Reporter in Monaco

required points from a tricky looking list. Bellingham and Mourinho's Real Madrid will head to north London, along with the transfer target Arsenal missed out on — Vinicius Junior.

Arsenal will fly to Bavaria to face prolific former Tottenham striker Kane's Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille and Napoli wil also provide a stiff test, while more straightforward challenges await in the shape of Azerbaijan minnows Sabah and Slavia Prague.

Manchester City, entering the tournament without Pep Guardiola for the first time in a decade, may also be cursing

UEFA's computer this morning. Enzo Maresca's side will take on PSG, at the Etihad, and make a trip to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona. Portuguese duo Sporting Lisbon and Porto also feature, along with Napoli and Leipzig. AEK Athens and Lens complete a daunting-looking list.

It will be a trip down memory lane for neighbours United, who return to the competition following a two-year absence. Michael Carrick's side will entertain Bayern Munich, in a repeat of the epic 1999 final, while Roma — who they crushed 7-1 in 2007 — will also visit Old Trafford.

There may well be some away days to relish for the club's supporters, with their list featuring trips to Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid and Cesc Fabregas's Como. Villarreal, Leipzig and Sabah complete the schedule for United, who will become the first English team to play more than 300 games in the competition.

Andoni Iraola's Liverpool may well be pleased with how things played out here. They will host Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens and travel to Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Lask

Europa League champions Aston Villa host PSG and travel to Barcelona. Borussia Dortmund, Greenwood's Fenerbahce and Viking will travel to Birmingham, while Emery's side will go to Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Slavia Prague.

Bradford-born Greenwood's last appearance in England was in January 2022 for Manchester United. He was subsequently suspended after being arrested on suspicion of rape and did not play for the club again. After charges were dropped a year later, he was loaned to Getafe before joining Marseille on a permanent deal. The 24-year-old moved to the Turkish club this summer.

Greenwood may also head to

London to face Shakhtar Donetsk, who are playing their home matches at Stamford Bridge because of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Mourinho, Bellingham and Co will also be due at Chelsea's home, along with Sporting Lisbon and AEK Athens.

Fans of Celtic may well have been left wondering what might have been following their spectacular second-leg collapse to Lask. The Austrians, who overcame a four-goal deficit against the Glaswegians in a disastrous play-off for Martin O'Neill's side, will host Liverpool and travel to Spain to face Real Madrid.

Following the completion of the League stage, those in 25th to 36th place will be eliminated, while those from ninth to 24th will play two-legged knockout play-offs. Bournemouth, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Brighton will learn their opponents in today's Europa League and Europa Conference draws.

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By IAN HERBERT

THERE is a steep one-in-13 gradient in the hills above Creil, 40 miles north of Paris, where Ayyoub Bouaddi was brought up and the story they tell there of him easing up it on his bicycle while his classmates struggled belongs to a wider narrative of the 18-year-old, who Manchester City have signed for £85.7million, being an exceptional boy.

The scouts and the academy managers always say a strong family background helps dictate the trajectory of a football career, and Bouaddi certainly has that.

His father, a Moroccan-born bank executive, handball player and deputy mayor of Creil in the 2010s, put him into gymnastics at the age of three and got him swimming and playing tennis before football took over. His mother, an HR manager in the aeronautical industry, was another constant presence.

He and his three sisters all excelled academically. 'Ah, the Bouaddis! A name to make you smile! We teachers used to fight to attract them to our classes,' the headteacher of the local Creil primary school told L'Equipe some years back, when they came looking for the roots of a player who was proving to be a prodigy for Lille.

But familial influence cannot entirely explain the quality which — briefly at least, until Liverpool seal their £120million deal for Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola — has made him the most expensive export in French club history.

Other talents have blended academic intelligence with sport in the same way as Bouaddi, who is pursuing a degree in mathematics because, as he has put it: 'It's part of how I was raised and keeps my mind sharp.' Others have also displayed the articulacy which took him to the opulent setting of the Elysee Palace three years ago aged 15, to participate in a national debating competition which he won.

But the intelligence of Bouaddi's football — his capacity to 'see the pictures' as Graeme Souness often describes the visionary quality required in the deep-lying midfield position which he will take up at City — cannot be entirely rationalised in a process of cause and effect.

He has always seemed to have that split-second more time than anyone else. Everyone says this. From staff on the primary school team — 'he was the best because he varied his positioning and his shots, unlike the other kids who shot like bulls,' his games teacher there observed — to coaches at AFC Creil, the eighth-tier French side who had him in their academy for nine years. 'He was always playing above his age group because he understood where to position himself, how to play, all the while remaining calm,' said a club official.

When an Under 11s coach at the club suggested to the U15s coach that Bouaddi was ready to play in that team, he was greeted with scepticism but that cognitive faculty made him an organiser of the boys four years higher up. 'He was the general, and below him were soldiers he organised around him,' the older boys' coach, Arman Doue Diop, said. Those extra seconds at his disposal gave Bouaddi what Diop calls an 'emotional control'.

The boy's reputation spread across the region. Opposition coaches would arrive at Creil and ask the home team: 'Is your little guy with the headband here today?' Diop nicknamed his protege 'El Jefe' ('the chief'). Others called him 'the brain'.

Lille, the top-flight team two hours' drive away, first saw Bouaddi in Creil's Under 10s and were relentless in their efforts to sign him. The trajectory was maintained. His debut in the Conference League for Lille, at 16 years and three days old, made him the youngest player ever fielded in a European match. His Ligue 1 debut came 17 days later.

The concern among many in France is whether, despite his talent, natural intelligence and command of English, Bouaddi is heading for the Premier League a year or two too soon, especially with that price tag and the expectation that he will be ‘the next Rodri’. All City have to go on is his three seasons in Ligue 1: not a huge body of evidence.

From a perceived value of £50m before the World Cup, where he excelled for Morocco against Brazil, the asking price has almost doubled. Lille president Olivier Letang was keen to keep the player for another season at Lille on loan, but City knew they were losing Rodri and that there was stiff competition to sign him, so have paid an immense premium to bring him to Manchester now.

'I just hope he doesn't get burned and that it's not too soon for him. It does seem early and a huge ask,' says a British source who has brought many players to the Premier League. In a debate on the L'Equipe du Soir programme on Tuesday entitled 'Could Bouaddi be weighed down by the price of his transfer?', France Football analyst Dave

WATCHING BRIEF... CRYSTAL PALACE v MANCHESTER CITY

Kick-off: 8pm, Selhurst Park. TV: LIVE on Sky Sports Main Event. Referee: Andy Madley.

Appadoo cautioned: 'It's not a good moment for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola has gone and they are under construction.' But Bouaddi, for his part, told the French press that it is 'the perfect time to take the plunge'.

Some at the top of the French game feel he will immediately prosper. 'His intelligence serves him well on many levels,' says France Under 21s coach Gerald Baticle. 'On the pitch, it allows him to simplify the game and clarify it by playing with one or two touches. It allows him to read the game in all midfield positions and gives him great versatility.'

A national inquest is under way about the loss of France-born Bouaddi, who played at all the age levels, to the Morocco national side.

In the hills of Creil, they feel their fresh-faced boy will flourish wherever he goes and the local club now stands to earn an additional €500,000 (£430,000) in development fees for those nine years of work with him, under FIFA rules.

‘Even as a young child, he was a fan of English football and Kevin De Bruyne was his role model,’ Creil club president Slimane Layadi said of Bouaddi this week. ‘It feels surreal, and yet we knew he possessed immense talent that could take him to the top.’

KIERAN GILL at Stamford Bridge

CHELSEA Welbeck 50 Odoffin 79 (og)

LUTON

E love a transfer update in today's world of club-to-club talks, verbal

agreements and sources whispering this and that, but there is nothing quite so clear as a surprise absentee on match day.

It smacks of something happening behind the scenes, and Manchester City target Enzo Fernandez was nowhere to be seen at Stamford Bridge, neither in the team nor on the bench nor in the stands supporting his teammates in this Carabao Cup clash.

That was despite Xabi Alonso telling us a day previous that he intended on using him against League One visitors Luton.

Chelsea did not need him. They won by two goals, with Danny Welbeck scoring and Hakeem Odoffin sending Estevao Willian's shot into his own net. They arguably should have won by six with the chances that Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers had.

We will never know whether Chelsea's home fans would have embraced Fernandez as warmly as their away counterparts did in their Premier League win at Fulham earlier this week.

Those travelling supporters at Craven Cottage applauded him, sang his name, showed why they would like him to stay. They showered him with more love than he arguably deserved after a summer of such noise. It would take only a single social media post for Fernandez to reaffirm his commitment to Chelsea and quieten that commotion.

He has not done that, and now he has been left out of a squad for a match that his manager said he wanted to use him in.

Alonso said after the game, of Fernandez's absence: 'It was a decision from myself and the club. Enzo is a good professional. It was a decision I took. We will see for Sunday.'

City want Fernandez, and Fernandez wants City. We are 74 days into this summer window

Flying start: Welbeck heads home on his Chelsea debut SHUTTERSTOCK

Danny's the boy but no sign of Enzo as City rumours build

and he has not yet been reunited with Enzo Maresca. That is largely because City left it so late to make a serious play for him with his £120million valuation. But as we approach September 1, it is looking increasingly likely that he will be City's soon.

Fernandez's Argentinian

Taking credit: Estevao's shot was turned in

team-mate Valentin Barco started here — he was booed by Luton fans for his behaviour at the World Cup — but Chelsea will need to replace Fernandez. Whether that is with Alex Scott from Bournemouth or Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace, we will see.

SANCHEZ'S RACE IS RUN ALL summer, Chelsea insisted they were not inter-

ested in signing a new goalkeeper and were perfectly happy with Robert Sanchez and Mike Penders as their one-two.

When linked with Mike Maignan of AC Milan, you would hear the above. When linked with Diogo Costa of Porto, the above again. However, it was while Sanchez and Penders were warming up for this Carabao Cup clash that we received word that goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was signing from Aston Villa, a fee of £7.5m having been agreed for the Argentine, who turns 34 next week.

Martinez is viewed by many as an upgrade on Sanchez, who may

CHELSEA TO SIGN £7.5m MARTINEZ FROM VILLA

EMI MARTINEZ is poised to join Chelsea from Aston Villa for £7.5million. The Argentina goalkeeper (below) has been surplus to requirements at Villa Park since the club signed Zion

Suzuki from Parma earlier this month.

It means Martinez, Lucas Digne, Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans — four of Villa’s highest earners — should all have left by the end of the transfer window. That

creates space in the

wage bill for Leon Goretzka (signed yesterday), Nicolas Jackson (close to a move), and — perhaps — Rafael Leao. Villa’s financial offer to Leao is considerably lower than that offered by Galatasaray, but they hope the chance to play in the Premier League will sway it for the AC Milan forward.

TOM COLLOMOSSE

now leave this summer. The 28-year-old Spaniard produced a substandard performance in the opening Premier League game Fulham. While Chelsea won 3-2, the two goals they leaked were avoidable and arguably Sanchez's fault.

It may be a knee-jerk reaction from Chelsea as we enter the window's final week — and just the latest example of the club and Villa conducting business after Rogers, Alejandro Garnacho and, soon, Nicolas Jackson — but most fans inside Stamford Bridge last night will have been glad to hear the news.

They know Sanchez is a good goalkeeper but not good enough to help them become an elite side, and the Matthew Harding Stand backed Penders on his Chelsea debut. The 21-year-old Belgian's potential is high. He was good with his feet and strong when clawing away and catching crosses.

NETO LEARNS HIS LESSON PEDRO NETO was brought on as a substitute here, and after Reece James gave him a rollicking for not tracking back at Fulham, he made a point of doing so here against Luton.

Neto earned a round of an applause from Stamford Bridge's supporters when he performed those defensive duties.

Smith Rowe ends Wimbledon's resistance

WITH season tickets in the Riverside Stand costing £3,192, Fulham supporters have come to expect a certain level of comfort with their scallops and risotto.

But for nearly a full half here, the Cottagers were left groaning at the hospitality on show — until the Wimbledon dam burst to lighten the mood for Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Spaniard can sleep easily after securing his first competitive victory on the back of a long summer during which his suitability to replace Marco

LUKE POWER at Craven Cottage

Silva has been relentlessly questioned.

It was not marquee opposition — Wimbledon are tipped to struggle in League One — but Arbeloa will be pleased his second string had enough persistence to overcome a stubborn rearguard action. For a while, it felt as if Fulham would be left frustrated. You know things are getting desperate when, as the relative giants, your fans start encouraging defenders to shoot from the back end of nowhere.

For every attack, Wimbledon had an answer; Andy Yiadom or Dan Sweeney would somehow materialise to defuse whatever Kevin or Rodrigo Muniz were plotting.

All empires crumble eventually, though, and the breakthrough came when Emile Smith Rowe turned in a scruffy header after a 37-minute toil which had felt like two hours.

Muniz then doubled the lead with another header minutes before half-time. Summer signing Gonzalo Garcia completed the scoring in the 93rd minute with his second goal in as many games. Wimbledon had their chances — Callum Maycock just missed the target with one flicked effort — and the packed away end stayed boisterous throughout, despite losing their first derby against Fulham since the club's rebirth.

Emile ticket: Smith Rowe broke the deadlock GETTY IMAGES

The BIGGEST deal of the summer

Reds have solved their most glaring weakness by keeping £120m ‘grasshopper’ Barcola out of Arsenal’s clutches

ANDONI IRAOLA wants his wingers to be superstar game-changers who can 'make the difference'

Bradley Barcola, a two-time European champion and top scorer in Ligue 1 for Paris Saint-Germain last season, certainly ticks that box.

He is a game-changer for Iraola, who has been waiting for a flashy new winger to bill as the Mohamed Salah replacement. And he is a game-changer for Liverpool this transfer window.

Until this point, sporting director Richard Hughes resembled a schoolkid sitting in a maths exam struggling to solve the puzzles in front of him: he had months to revise and plan but was leaving it all to the last minute and the clock was ticking.

But as long as you get the answers before the bell rings, it does not matter how long you take. You even get points for showing your working, which Hughes has done.

There is a paper trail for Liverpool's search for a winger. A bid of around £86million for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, who ended up at Real Madrid for £120m. Bids of £50m and £60m for Yankuba Minteh of Brighton, an approach for Ismaila Sarr at Crystal Palace. You need not be an expert to identify Liverpool's priorities this summer.

Now Hughes has got his man and a window that threatened to be an utter failure looks a lot brighter. Another forward on top of Barcola would make it a success. A defensive midfielder too? That would be an A-star grade for a man who has frustrated fans to say the least.

The optimists will insist that a deal for Barcola was never in doubt. Transfer chiefs at both PSG and Liverpool will privately admit they all expected it to happen, which was evident from the French club signing three forwards: Ferran Torres, Mika

By LEWIS STEELE

Godts and Maghnes Akliouche. PSG's high valuation caused a Mexican stand-off, with an asking price of £145m. Liverpool were never going to pay that and negotiated a fee of £100m with £20m in add-ons.

Nothing is signed yet but all parties are confident, with Barcola signalling his intent to join Liverpool. Earlier in the window, Arsenal had shown an interest but Barcola had his heart set on moving to Merseyside.

Liverpool have been crying out for a new winger since Salah announced his departure in March but the truth is they never replaced Luis Diaz last season. Salah and Cody Gakpo's levels both dropped, while new £125m forward Alexander Isak spent most of the year injured.

Barcola was a strong option this time last year. Liverpool considered making a move for a man that would have cost just £70m back then. But they did not want to block the progress of teenager Rio Ngumoha.

The 17-year-old started the first game of the season on the right flank and there remains the possibility that both Barcola and Ngumoha can play on either side of Isak or fellow No 9 Hugo Ekitike when he eventually returns from a lengthy injury.

An issue is that all Liverpool's wide men — including Barcola — prefer playing on the left. Iraola is keen to make them all versatile enough to operate off both sides and big-money Barcola will not be immune from this rule.

Judging by the limited evidence of this season and a few cameos last term, the right-hand side is not Ngumoha's best position but he has time on his side.

New signing Victor Munoz, a £34.5m arrival from Osasuna, is pushing to start tomorrow after a bright cameo last week.

‘For a club like us we need wingers who can make the difference,’ said Iraola yesterday. ‘To be the man who can make the difference in isolation, who can attack the spaces.

‘Someone who can also do the defensive work that we are going to demand from them in terms of pressing or sometimes following the full backs. And also if they can provide numbers [goals and assists] then it’s perfect.

‘It is difficult to find someone who can tick all the boxes, but it is what we are trying to do.’

Liverpool hope Barcola, 23, can eventually tick all of Iraola's boxes and be the 'perfect' forward he craves.

He registered 20 goal involvements last term,

12 the season before. His speed and tricks won him the nickname la sauterelle (the grasshopper) as a kid.

Why does he want to leave PSG, then? Barcola and the rest of Luis Enrique's super-team shared minutes in the league but, when i

mattered, the boss preferred Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele as his front three.

Barcola came off the bench in the last two Champions League finals but he believes he is good enough to be the main man.

Liverpool's first plan was to sign Yan Diomande this summer. They made contact with his representatives in early 2026 and appeared to be leading the race heading into the World Cup.

The Reds' pursuit of Barcola

began but they still wanted another forward.

It would have been fascinating to see if they would have tried a double-swoop for Diomande and Barcola had the Ivory Coast winger not headed to Real Madrid. They considered PSG star Ibrahim Mbaye as that additional forward but felt his price was too high.

Then Minteh became an option. Brighton want a significant fee for the Gambia international which may price Liverpool out, although Minteh's camp could put pressure on the Seagulls hierarchy to lower their demands. Sarr is also an option.

Earlier in the window, they looked at Newcastle target Matias Fernandez-Pardo at Lille.

Barcola made his name at Lyon in a prestigious academy alongside Manchester City star Rayan Cherki. One of six siblings, Barcola's brother Malcolm, a goalkeeper, also played for Lyon. His mum played when she was younger, too.

Speaking during the World Cup, France skipper Kylian

Flicks and tricks: Barcola in full flight for PSG GETTY IMAGES

THIS WINDOW'S TOP TRANSFERS

B BARCOLA £120m* PSG to Liverpool M ROGERS £117m Aston Villa to Chelsea E ANDERSON £116m Nottm Forest to Man City S TONALI £100m Newcastle to Tottenham A BOUADDI £86m Lille to Man City M FERNANDES £85m West Ham to Tottenham SAVIO £85m Man City to Tottenham B GUIMARAES £75m Newcastle to Arsenal C BALEBA £70m Brighton to Man Utd J JAQUET £60m Rennes to Liverpool * Deal not yet completed

Mbappe said: 'Bradley doesn't talk much but he's a great guy. It was inevitable that he would reach the highest level.'

But Mbappe is wrong: few saw this meteoric rise coming for Barcola. He was failing to leave huge impressions at Lyon and boss Laurent Blanc nearly shifted him out to St Gallen in the Swiss league.

Then, in 2023, due to a selection crisis, Barcola found himself thrust into the main XI after barely playing in the first half of the season. From January onwards he scored seven goals and provided eight assists.

‘He doesn’t second-guess himself,’ said Blanc. ‘He scores goals, even though he is not an out-and-out striker. He can easily eliminate opponents with his technical finesse and speed.’

He was sold to PSG for £40m that summer and the kings of Europe are set to make a healthy profit.

Barcola's arrival, if coupled with another new forward, will have a knock-on effect for current Liverpool players, including Gakpo who has been linked to Tottenham and, more recently, Manchester City.

The coming days will be busy for sporting director Hughes, who is widely expected to leave the club himself in the next few months. But the biggest item on his to-do list has now been ticked off.

Smith stops a rough

England keeper fights back as booze row puts another series in peril

THE last time England played a Test match immediately after one of their drinking farragos, they handed the game, and ultimately the series, to New Zealand.

A weather-shortened first-day effort here of 248 for nine — reliant on fighting half-centuries from Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith — may yet prove competitive against a team as brittle as Pakistan, but it has at the very least opened the door on a nightmarish repeat.

Joe Root had sensibly brought forward his captain's pre-match press conference to Tuesday in a bid to unburden himself as soon as possible on the subject of Brydon Carse's arrest in Derby and still have time to prepare for the actual cricket.

Yet the news, emerging late on Wednesday, that Derbyshire Police were now investigating an alleged assault connected to the incident meant Lord's was still abuzz with England's hapless-

SCOREBOARD

SECOND TEST MATCH England v Pakistan

(Day 1 of 5)

LORD'S: Pakistan won the toss. England have scored 248 for nine wkts against Pakistan.

ENGLAND — First Innings

B Duckett lbw b Abbas....17 E Gay c Rizwan b Abbas....8 J Cox c Sub b Shahzad....55 *J Root lbw b Abbas....4 H Brook b Ali....15 D Lawrence run out....17 †J Smith b Ali....61 G Atkinson not out....34 O Robinson b Ali....0 J Archer b Abbas....14 J Tongue not out....1 Extras (b2, lb10, nb10)....22

Total (9 wkts 56 overs)....248 Fall: 21, 26, 36, 77, 120, 187, 222, 222, 243. Bowling: Mohammad Abbas 15-3-56-4, Khurram Shahzad 15-0-79-1, Mohammad Ali 17-2-67-3, Ali Usman 9-1-34-0.

ness even as groundstaff mopped up after morning rain.

Eoin Morgan, their World Cup-winning captain, looked earnest as he told Sky viewers: 'Clearly words aren't getting through.' Stuart Broad, his stature up a notch after the unveiling in the Long Room of a portrait of him and Jimmy Anderson, insisted: 'There's a real lack of leadership in this team.'

It was amid this atmosphere of tut-tutting and head-shaking that Root, who has done his best to impose calm on the chaos, lost a toss so crucial it had Pakistan captain Babar Azam grinning from ear to ear.

At Headingley, even before they had lost by an innings, they had been damned as the worst Pakistan team to visit these shores in 50 years. Babar, back from a hand

LAWRENCE BOOTH

Cricket Correspondent at Lord's

injury, knew this was their best chance for an instant riposte.

And when Mohammad Abbas, who has made a living of exploiting such conditions, single-handedly made it 36 for three, the thought occurred that England might yet create the wrong kind of history. Having never previously lost a three-match series at home after going 1–0 up, might they now do so twice in the same summer?

Emilio Gay had been first to go, brilliantly caught behind down the leg side by Mohammad Rizwan for eight — an innings that took his Test average to 22 and failed to quell concerns about his suitability.

Ben Duckett was trapped lbw, as he had been at Headingley, for 17, before Root succumbed in familiar fashion. With Rizwan up to the stumps to dissuade him from batting outside his crease, Root was pinned by Abbas for four, having already been dropped in the slips on one.

His eighth lbw dismissal in his last 11 innings was perhaps his most worrying: England's greatest run-scorer seems no closer to working out how to combat a tactic flagged well in advance and now deployed against him and Harry Brook as a matter of course.

The innings stumbled before partially recovering. Brook was bowled for 15 by one from Mohammad Ali that came back down the slope, before Dan Lawrence belatedly thought better of a single to midwicket, and was run out for 17 by Shan Masood, who had dropped him badly on 10.

At 120 for five, with the Lord's pitch slow but betraying no signs of the variable bounce that had earned a demerit point from the ICC following the Test against New Zealand, Pakistan had visions of batting before stumps.

Instead, England's innings was propped up by two players who may, in the not too distant future, be competing for the wicketkeeping spot.

Cox looked more assured than any of his top-order colleagues, including Root, as four wickets tumbled before lunch, and went on to a second half-century in two innings at No3 before he fell to a collector's item — a world-class piece of Pakistan fielding, as Salman Agha, their captain at Headingley but now reduced to a substitute by Babar's return, clung on one-handed at second slip off Khurram Shahzad.

Smith, meanwhile, played some

Caught out: after a dire display in the field at Headingley, Pakistan took two diving screamers — first Agha to see off Cox then (right) Rizwan off Gay GETTY IMAGES

booming drives en route to 61, only to be beaten by a nipbacker from Mohammad Ali.

If Cox confirmed the class that was evident during his 73 at Headingley, biding his time during a quiet post-lunch period in which no boundary was scored for 93 balls to counterattack with panache before tea, Smith overcame a scratchy start to play the innings he — and England — needed.

On one, he edged the left-arm spin of Usman Ali between keeper and slip. On 15, he should have been caught behind by Rizwan after poking at Mohammad Ali, only for the ball, bizarrely, to pass inside the wick-etkeeper's outstretched glove.

Neither near miss allayed fears about his judgment outside off stump, but as Pakistan over-pitched in search of movement, Smith parked himself on the front foot. Because of the conditions, his other weakness, against the short ball, simply wasn't tested.

Still, on a day when Pakistan probed with an intensity that was lacking in Leeds, Smith's highest Test score for over a year was the difference between implosion and a total that gives England a chance.

Mohammad Ali bowled Ollie Robinson for a duck with his third lethal nipbacker of the innings, before Abbas picked up his fourth when Jofra Archer missed a heave, and will be eyeing the honours board when play resumes today.

But Gus Atkinson hit out judiciously for an unbeaten 34 before bad light called a halt at 6.07pm, and England will tell themselves that Pakistan managed no more than 171 and 135 at Headingley.

Even so, they will have to bowl well to ensure their superiority in that game was not just another false dawn. After everything that has happened this summer, the alternative does not bear thinking about.

week getting worse

Arresting sight: Carse celebrates with Stokes (right) after taking a wicket for Durham yesterday PA

It turns out Pakistan CAN field after all!

Tourists' fury at Sky piece on jailed Imran

THE first day of the second Test was almost derailed after it emerged that the Pakistan Cricket Board were unhappy with Sky Sports' decision to broadcast an interview with the two sons of the imprisoned former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan. Cricinfo reported that the PCB briefly threatened to delay the resumption after the lunch break, during which Sky

broadcast Mike Atherton's interview with Suleiman and Kasim Khan, who said they feared for their father's life following three years in jail on corruption charges. Sky delayed broadcasting the 18-minute interview, and the Pakistan team eventually took the field as planned. The PCB are sensitive to any criticism of the government, who have denied mistreating the

73-year-old Imran, or of forbidding prison visits by his family and lawyers. The tension follows a letter sent to Shehbaz Sharif, the current PM, and signed by 21 former cricket captains from England, Australia, India, New Zealand and West Indies, calling for Imran to receive proper medical care while behind bars.

LAWRENCE BOOTH

Struggling Root can't shake off Carse hangover

THERE were still dark, angry clouds over Lord's when Joe Root walked out to bat just before 1pm. England had been reduced to 26 for two by the bowling of Mohammad Abbas and Root was thrust straight into the firing line against the Pakistan attack.

After the week the England captain has had, he could have been forgiven for thinking it never rains but it pours.

at Lord's

Root, a battlefield promotion as England skipper after the sudden exit of Ben Stokes earlier in the summer, has spent much of the past few days dealing with the fall-out of the arrest and de-arrest of bowler Brydon Carse, who was handcuffed by police after a kerfuffle in a Derby tavern called Molly Malone's. Carse was withdrawn from the England squad and was back in action for Durham at Chester-le-Street yesterday.

Grudging admiration that anyone had found somewhere to drink in Derby until 4am was soon replaced with weary dismay that another player had managed to convey the impression that the current crop of England cricketers are essentially unserious, booze-sodden idiots who are strangers to common sense, discretion and basic professionalism.

Root is England's captain and best player and he is also a beacon of light and maturity in his behaviour. That made Root the only choice as the successor to Stokes as England skipper but his appointment was accompanied by concern, too. Root is a brilliant player and a thoroughly likeable and admirable man but the question remains: a Root captaincy may be the best thing for England but is it the best thing for Root?

Root has been England captain before, of course. He scored 14 hundreds in his five years as skipper but by the time he stepped down in 2022, he had only won one of his last 17 Tests in charge and the stress of the job had taken a psychological toll on him. It is up to England's players to disprove this, but it feels now as if he is the only leader in a team of callow men.

It is a heavy responsibility and on the first day of the second Test, it looked as if it was weighing heavily on him. The conditions were made for Pakistan's seamers and Abbas, in particular, thrived in them. He had figures of two for 14 when Root walked to the crease.

And Root struggled to keep him at bay. He fended off a good first ball but the second thudded into his pad and even though the umpire did not raise his finger, Pakistan reviewed the decision. There were worried murmurs all around the old ground but Root escaped, with the impact outside the line. It was a short reprieve.

Root, who had admitted he was 'hacked off' by the controversy surrounding Carse, annoyed to be talking about off-field issues after a comprehensive victory over Pakistan in the first Test, got off the mark with his sixth ball, a tuck off his legs just behind square leg. But he looked uncomfortable.

He had not added to that opening single when he edged Mohammad Ali to Imam-ul-Haq at third slip. Replays showed the ball had carried but the chance was put down and brought Root two runs. He added another single with a streaky inside-edge but then it was over.

He had faced 12 balls when he played inside the line to Abbas and the ball thudded against the pad on his back leg. Pakistan celebrated immediately and loudly. Root loitered at the crease, wondering whether to request a review. He decided against it, putting the team before himself, and turned disconsolately towards the pavilion. England were 36 for three.

They recovered as the day wore on and the sun appeared. Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith made half-centuries and took England towards 250. It felt like an apology to their skipper. This team owes it to the country's greatest batsman to help him make England a team to be proud of again.

Weary Root can't shake Carse hangover

CRICKET: PAGES 78-79

CARRAGHER FACING BANKRUPTCY THREAT

HMRC file at High Court over '£800k' in unpaid tax

By LUKE POWER

JAMIE CARRAGHER faces being declared bankrupt over an unpaid tax bill which is reported to be in the region of £700,000 to £800,000.

HMRC filed a petition at the High Court in London on Wednesday to have the Sky Sports pundit and former England footballer declared bankrupt.

An HMRC spokesperson told Daily Mail Sport they do not comment on individual cases but added: 'We take a supportive approach to dealing with

HOW REDS BAGGED £120m BARCOLA See page 77

customers who have tax debts... we only petition for bankruptcy as a last resort.'

Carragher, 48, is a Sky Sports pundit and a regular on Gary Neville's Stick To Football podcast.

A spokesperson for Carragher told Daily Mail Sport: 'This is a private tax matter that should have been resolved sooner, and the appropriate steps are being taken today to settle it.

‘It is understood that the matter will not proceed any further and will be resolved imminently.’

Danny's not too shabby for Xabi

...BUT ENZO'S NOWHERE TO BE SEEN

CARABAO CUP: PAGE 76

UEFA preparing criminal action against Infantino

By MIKE KEEGAN Chief Sports Reporter

UEFA are threatening criminal proceedings against Gianni Infantino as they continue their efforts to oust the FIFA president. In an explosive statement, European football's governing body say they are ‘preparing to bring criminal claims in Switzerland against Infantino’, along with other FIFA officials, following the plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup. UEFA say they will use Swiss criminal code with regards to the ‘secretive structuring, valuation, financing and marketing’ of the controversial plans.

They have made two filings with the US District Court — one relating to FIFA and the other to Thrive Capital, headed by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law.

They may also ask the authorities to establish whether Infantino came up with a ‘fraudulently off-market price’ promoted ‘for his own benefit’.

The move comes after UEFA withdrew plans to boycott FIFA tournaments following assurances there will be no repeat of the sell-off from Infantino, who is up for re-election next year.

Pumped: Welbeck enjoys his debut goal for Chelsea GETTY IMAGES

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ACROSS 1 Show religious devotion to (7) 7 Representatives (6) 8 Wars (7) 9 Colour (4) 10 Circuit (4) 12 Cover and extend beyond (7) 14 State emphatically (7) 16 Remain (4) 18 Worry (4)

20 Kettledrums (7) 21 Frozen spike (6) 22 Deprives of hearing (7)

DOWN 1 Teetered (7) 2 Proportion (5) 3 Steer a ship (4) 4 Resigned (7) 5 Breathes (8) 6 Verse of a poem (6)

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THURSDAY'S SOLUTION (NO 10,504) - ACROSS: 1 Approximate. 7 Took. 8 Tank top. 9 Ill. 10 Recur. 11 Gadget. 13 Endear. 16 Opens. 18 Oak. 19 Nostril. 20 Thaw. 21 Permanently. DOWN: 1 Amoeba. 2 Peking. 3 Outlet. 4 Inner. 5 Article. 6 Emperor. 11 Grown-up. 12 Dresser. 13 Evolve. 14 Diktat. 15 Apiary. 17 Syria. SOLUTION TOMORROW

11 Art and science of government (8)
12 Moved as a satellite (7)
13 School subject (7)
15 Increase the quality or value of (6)
17 Vestige (5)
19 __Bunton, singer (4)

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Mail Puzzles

TERMS & CONDITIONS, PAGE 62

SUDOKU FILL in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the 3x3 squares contains all the digits from 1 to 9. SOLUTIONS ON MONDAY

		2						8
					1	2	3
5			4
	8		5	4	9			1
9	1	7			3	4
	2					3
2					5	1
				6
1		4		7				5

Difficulty rating ★★★★★

5		2	1	3			9
						1
6
7
	6				9	5
8		9		5	2	7
	7		3					5
			9				4	8
9		1			4		3

PRIZE SUDOKU

	4		7		5	2	9
7	3	5
6
		4	8			1
				9		6	8
	6						2	7
			5	1				9
4	7		2			8		1
3	5				4

WIN £250

REVEAL the three shaded squares for your chance to win £250. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 292 5009 and leave today's three-number answer (reading left to right) and your details. Or text SUDOKU to 65700 with your answer and name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. One weekly winner chosen from all correct entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Answers change daily at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. See Terms & Conditions.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

PLAY our accumulator game! For your chance to win a Cross ballpoint pen, solve the crossword to reveal the letter in the pink circle. If you have been playing since Monday, you should now have a five-letter word. To enter, call 0901 133 4423 and leave your answer and details. Or text 65700 with the word FIVE and your answer and name. ■ TEXTS and calls cost 50p plus standard network charges. One winner chosen from all correct entries received between 00.01 today and 23.59 this Sunday. UK residents aged 18+ excl NI. See Terms & Conditions.

Difficulty rating ★★★☆☆

WIN A LUXURY CROSS PEN SEE BELOW

ACROSS

6 Mat ____, musician and author who is the bassist in Suede (5) 7 A compact mass forming in cats' stomachs after licking and swallowing fur (8) 10 To make a detailed list of things (7) 11 ____ spirit, one who has similar views or interests (7) 12 Showing a lack of thought or common sense (7) 13 ____ Haaland, retired footballer who played for Leeds United and Manchester City (3-4) 14 A pale yellow edible fat used to make chocolate and some ointments (5,6) 19 A cattle or horse thief, especially in the U.S. (7) 21 To demand repeatedly (4,3) 23 John ____, publisher born in 1753 whose company is an authority on aristocracy and etiquette (7) 25 To last beyond an expected duration (7) 26 A toast or drinking-song that originated in Italy (8) 27 ____ Kent, comic book superhero adopted by farmers Jonathan and Martha (5)

DOWN

1 Jason Bourne is a fictional example of one (8) 2 To mark as an intended successor (6) 3 ____ tennis, sport invented by former freestyle skier Brad Parks in 1976 (10) 4 2009 film in which Sean Penn played a U.S. activist and politician who was assassinated (4) 5 An old British coin worth two shillings (6) 6 ____ Attwood, TV presenter, model and former cast member of The Only Way Is Essex (6) 8 Fringe ____, a perk or advantage, for example that offered to an employee beyond their wage (7) 9 Irene ____, character played by Lara Pulver in Sherlock (5) 13 An abnormal fear of water (10) 15 ____ Hoover, U.S. young adult fiction writer noted for her novel It Ends With Us (7) 16 A direction from a GP to a medical specialist (8) 17 The ____ Bunch, U.S. sitcom about a family with six children (5) 18 Cesar ____, French Romantic composer and pianist born in 1822 (6) 20 Garfield ____, late all-rounder who played in 93 Tests for the West Indies (6) 22 A short dramatic scene or musical entertainment (6) 24 A downward extension of a letter (4)

WRITE YOUR LETTERS IN THESE SQUARES

WORD WHEEL

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

YOU have ten minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the wheel. Each word must use the hub letter and at least three others, and letters

may be used only once. You can't use plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Verbs ending in 's' are permitted. Clue for today's nine-letter word: Listen to cat going back, he is suffering. RATING: 15 words, average; 20, good; 25, very good; 30 or more, excellent. SOLUTION TOMORROW

Test your general knowledge daily with our quiz in the Morning Mail newsletter. Scan the QR code to sign up now

NAME GAME HIDDEN in the grid is the name of a singer. Answer the questions, then rearrange the letters corresponding to your answers to fill in the name. SOLUTION ON MONDAY

BOX 1: What was the title of Marti Pellow's (pictured) 2001 debut solo album?
Laugh (P)
Smile (K)
Love (T)

BOX 2: What is a snickometer used to measure? Average rainfall (H) Biomarkers for lying (O) Edge-detection in sports (L) BOX 3: How many member states does NATO have? 28 (M) 30 (C) 32 (I)

BOX 4: The brachioradialis muscle is located where in the human body? In the neck (S) In the forearm (W) In the upper leg (G) BOX 5: Which of the following is the study of language, especially its history and development, in oral and written historical sources? Philanthropy (F) Philology (E) Philately (W) BOX 6: The California Child Actor's Bill was set up in 1939, in response to which of these actors suing his family? Dickie Moore (P) Mickey Rooney (Y) Jackie Coogan (I) BOX 7: Kathryn Beaumont voiced the lead role in Alice In Wonderland and which other 1950s Disney character? Wendy Darling (M) Aurora (U) Cinderella (D)

BOX 8: Chad Kroeger is the lead singer of which of the following bands? Pennywise (A) Nickelback (D) Sixpence None The Richer (V)

Yesterday's solution: DELE ALLI (1D, 2I, 3L, 4E, 5A, 6L, 7E, 8L)

MAKING TRACKS

LAY tracks to enable the train to travel from village A to village B. The numbers indicate how many sections of rail go in each row and column. There are only straight rails and curved rails. The track cannot cross itself.

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

7	6	3	2	2	3	7	6

HONEYCOMB

ALL the solutions read clockwise around their numbers. The solution to clue number 1 starts from the given letter.

1. Disguised
2. Ridicule
3. Stoat
4. Type of acid
5. Towns
6. One of two
7. Go back
8. Rural
9. Symbolic
10. Not anyone
11. Delicate
12. Refuted

SOLUTION: PULLOUT BACK PAGE

MASTERQUIZ

1. Which band released the 1969 rock opera Tommy?

2. Which Flemish mapmaker gives his name to a common cartographic projection for the Earth's surface that he devised in 1569?

3. The tree Ficus elastica is more commonly known by what name?

MINDBENDER

1. While at a summer fete, Vicky was given £9 to spend on treats and Charlotte had £6. After Vicky spent twice as much as Charlotte did, she sees that she has half as much money left as Charlotte. How much money did Vicky spend?

2. What connects anaesthetic, staff and strike?

3. Thousands of what zoomorphic objects will be raced on the River Looe in Cornwall this weekend?

12×	11+		12×		30×
	5-	10+		$2 \div$
		7+
11+		6×	20×	360×
	4
3-				5-

5. Which taoiseach signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985?

6. W. G. Grace won cricket's county championship with which county?

SOLUTION: PULLOUT BACK PAGE

3. Which cricket term may BIN LOW REPS?

4. Which is the odd one out: Sidious, Ren, Vader, Maul?

5. Rearrange the letter groups to make three Greek playwrights: LUS IPI CHY SOP AES HOC DES EUR LES.

KILLER SUDOKU

FILL in squares in the grid so each row, column and each 3x3 square contains all digits from 1 to 9. Each set of cells joined by dotted lines must add up to the number in the top-left corner. Numbers can't be repeated within each set of cells.

SOLUTION: PULLOUT BACK PAGE

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

KAKURO

NEED A CLUE? Call 0901 293 6238 or text KILLER to 65700 and receive four clues to today's puzzle. Calls and texts cost £1 plus your standard network charges. Today's clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION — ACROSS: 1 Clockspring. 5 Abhor. 7 Sushi. 9 Pangaea. 11 Was. 12 Pig. 13 Tactile. 16 Nerve. 17 Coypu. 18 Hangs around. DOWN: 1 Chain wrench. 2 Karen. 3 Pasha. 4 Gains ground. 6 Hipster. 8 Shapely. 10 Gut. 14 Cress. 15 Incur.

FILL in the blank squares of the grid using only the numbers 1 to 9, without repeating any number in any line of blank squares. The lines must be filled in with numbers which add up to the total in the shaded box at the top or beginning of each line. A number in the bottom half of a shaded box gives a downwards total; in the top half, it's a horizontal total.

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

PITCHERWITS™

1a. Totally circular one, good at everything? (3-7)

14a. Late night tipple with a kilometre of litho reprint (3,4)

3d. Pasta to gain a trio of reviews (8)

6d. Hot seat may redirect one to remain indoors (4,2,4)

ACROSS

ACROSS 1 Picture Clue 7 String, sound as a gnat, back in the West (5) 8 Picture Clue 11 Cathy capsized the boat (5)

13 Hair shade
17 Parasitic insect
20 Darling
21 Small songbirds
25 Derides
27 False gods
31 Pair
32 Plunder
33 Raw material
35 Suitable

8a. Consents to volume being eased, perversely (7)

18a. Formerly caged beast, say, is inessential (10)

5d. Makes larch rotten, becoming dilapidated (10)

ACROSS 1 Spanish river 5 Dried stalk 10 Aerobatic manoeuvre 11 Camera's shot 12 Flatbread 14 Renovate 15 In the style of 16 Svelte 18 Be seated 19 Genuine 22 Part of vendor's note 23 Harass 24 Comedian 26 Young salmon 28 Greek letter 29 Proactive person

9d. Bit of hummus to spread over an icepack in hospital (8)

13 Sean from Nice Scuba operated in three dimensions (5) 14 Picture Clue 16 Bit of wisdom that can become paler (5) 18 Picture Clue

PIT your wits against Pitcherwits – the exciting puzzle where some of the answers are in pictures! The solutions to the visual clues fit into the shaded spaces on the grid. SOLUTION ON MONDAY

PITCHERWITS BOOK

TO ORDER Daily Mail Pitcherwits Vol 9 by Professor Rebus for £9.99, go to mailshop.co.uk/3for20 or call 020 3176 2937. Buy 3 or more Daily Mail puzzle books and save 20 per cent. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.

DOWN 2 Ale spilt in the old meadow (3) 3 Picture Clue 4 Scruff has a new beginning to copy (4) 5 Picture Clue 6 Picture Clue

9 Picture Clue 10 Paint in a retrograde bad turn (4) 12 Vehicle in cabarets that are baseless (4) 15 Semi-retired, bathing in mud (4) 17 Everyone's in, finally (3)

MAILWORD

30 Bird 31 Scottish town 34 Cloth 36 Realm 37 Early Briton 38 Overweight 39 Golf pegs

DOWN

1 Texan city
2 Extremely hot
3 Spinning device
4 Choose
5 Large spaniels
6 Leitmotiv
7 L. ____ Hubbard, author
8 Had a meal
9 Cry of surprise

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

HIDATO

COMPLETE the grid so that all the numbers, 1 to 80, connect consecutively — horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Hint: you don't have to begin with 1 or 80. Working on the mid-numbers might give you a better start.

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

1	3		35	33
2		7	36		32	28	27		24
							22
			9			17
			80				19
						40
		71					44
				74	46	49
		64	76	62	60		56		52
	65					58

KENKEN

EACH row and column should contain 1 to 6 without repeats. Numbers in cages must combine to produce the target number shown at start of that cage using, in any order, the mathematical sign given. Single-box cages can be filled with the number given.

WORLD'S SMALLEST, HARDEST CROSSWORD

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

DREAMLAND NINE TO FIVE

FIT the scrambled letters of the given word into the grid to form six five-letter words across and down.

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

ACROSS

1. Gaelic prefix (3)
2. Two-toed sloth (4)

3. Gangster's gal (sl) (4)

4. Stern (3)

DOWN

1. Silent (colloq) (3)

2. Buffalo-like ox (4)

3. Elephant baby (4)

4. Final in a series (abbr) (3)

SOLUTION TOMORROW

CROSS NUMBER

THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE SOLUTION

		3		10
	6			27
			5	11
8				30
20	18	17	23	18

Today's challenge time: 5 mins 48 secs

Your working time: □ mins □ secs

FILL each square with a number, 1 to 9. Horizontal squares add up to totals on right. Vertical squares add up to totals on bottom. Diagonal squares through centre add up to totals in top and bottom right.

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

CODEWORD

EACH number in our Codeword grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. Today 8 represents M, so fill in M every time the figure 8 appears. You have two letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares. SOLUTION TOMORROW

COMPLETE Codeword to reveal the word in the shaded boxes.

HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6232 and leave your answer and your details or text 65700 with the word CODE, your answer and then your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Saturday. Answers change daily at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. See Terms & Conditions.

$\text{GHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ}$

$^1\text{S}$

$^2\text{J}$

$^3\text{P}$

$^4\text{G}$

$^5\text{I}$

$^6\text{E}$

$^7\text{L}$

$^8\text{A}$

$^9\text{T}$

$^{10}\text{D}$

$^{11}\text{N}$

$^{12}\text{O}$

$^{13}\text{R}$

$^{14}\text{C}$

$^{15}\text{U}$

$^{16}\text{H}$

$^{17}\text{M}$

$^{18}\text{Y}$

$^{19}\text{Q}$

$^{20}\text{F}$

$^{21}\text{W}$

$^{22}\text{V}$

$^{23}\text{B}$

$^{24}\text{Z}$

$^{25}\text{K}$

$^{26}\text{X}$

** Volume Fourteen Now Available! ** Order via www.knightfeatures.com/store or by cheque payable to Knight Features, Unit B207, 89 Bickersteth Rd, London SW17 9SH. Price £6.95 + £1.95 UK P&P (£8.90) each. Selected previous volumes also available. Allow 14 days for delivery. 9642

NEED A CLUE? Text the word CODEWORD to 65700 to receive FOUR clues to today's puzzle or call 0901 293 6200. Texts and calls cost £1 plus your standard network charges. Today's clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.

SCRABBLE $^{®}$ G ${2}$ R ${1}$ A ${1}$ M ${3}$ S $_{1}$

■The board on the right shows four rows of letters from a typical Scrabble game. Use each row to form a word of 2-7 letters and write it in the blank squares provided. Then add up the score for each row. Don't forget to use the double and triple word and letter scores — and add a 50-point bonus for every 7-letter word. Blank tiles can be used for any letter but have no score. See Monday's paper for the solution. SCRABBLE® and SCRABBLE® Tiles are registered trademarks. All rights in the game are owned in the USA by Hasbro Inc, in Canada by Hasbro Canada Inc, and elsewhere by J.W. Spear & Sons Ltd, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc.

PAR SCORE 225-235 by JUDD

FOUR RACK TOTAL TIME LIMIT: 20 MIN

I	G	H	R	L	N	D	Y	L
E	N	R	O	H	T	L	R	U
L	O	E	T	J	T	O	O	F
M	Y	H	O	N	U	B	J	R
K	F	G	A	D	A	B	E	E
G	D	R	O	R	G	I	K	V
S	G	J	A	H	D	N	J	I
E	L	B	F	U	Z	I	C	U
B	I	O	O	A	H	G	N	Q
N	H	R	P	Y	B	E	L	G
S	P	L	N	E	R	O	N	I

Yesterday's solution: MASSAGE 60 SNOOKER 71 TRIBUTE 77 PARLOUR 68 JUDD'S TOTAL: 276

© 1997, United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

WORD SEARCH

THE listed words can all be found in the grid — running forwards, backwards, up, down and diagonally — EXCEPT ONE. For a chance to win, discover which word is missing. Today's theme: Barchester Towers characters

ARABIN BOLD GRANTLY HARDING NERONI

PROUDIE QUIVERFUL SLOPE STANHOPE THORNE

HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6234 and leave your answer and details or text 65700 with the word WORD, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. One winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Answers change daily at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. See Terms & Conditions. SOLUTION ON MONDAY

SUDOKU X

PUT the numbers 1-6 once in each row, each column, each diagonal (highlighted to form an X) and each horizontal 3x2 box (ruled). SOLUTION ON MONDAY

QUICK QUIZ

1. Which French city in the Cote-d'Or department is famous for its mustard?

2. The catchphrase ‘I don’t believe it!’ was used by which 1990s sitcom character?

3. Liam Rosenior was sacked as manager by which Premier League club in April after three months in charge?

4. What name for the Virgin Mary means 'my lady' in Italian?

5. Asuncion is the capital of which South American country?

SOLUTION: PULLOUT BACK PAGE

GOGEN

APTLY BASIN CORDS FIG JASMINE JASPER PHASE QUINCE ROCK VISA WAXING

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

INSERT letters to form listed words, moving between adjacent cells horizontally, vertically or diagonally in any direction. Insert all remaining letters of the alphabet (except Z) in the grid so all listed words are spelt out.

SOLUTION ON MONDAY

BRIDGE MASTERCLASS | CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 17,954

www.30secondchallenges.com

PLAYING teams, you are defending 5 ♦ X from the East seat after South opened 5 ♦ and West doubled. West led the ♥ K, which won, and then the ♥ Q, which declarer ruffed. South cashed the ♦ A, felling partner's ♦ Q, and crossed to the ♦ 8, partner discarding the ♣ 2. A third heart was ruffed, followed by the ♠ 3, West's ♠ 5, and dummy's ♠ K. How do you defend?

PLAY low. You must assume that declarer has a void club, since otherwise it is impossible to stop 11 tricks, given that the fifth heart will be established. If so, declarer began with a 4-1-8-0 shape, and there is no hurry to win this trick. If you do win, you will find yourself endplayed. Leading a club gives declarer the extra entry needed to establish the hearts, and a spade gives a trick in that suit.

HEATHER DHONDY

FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today's answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts/calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending the completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 17,954, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls and texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, excl NI. See Terms & Conditions.

ACROSS

1 Recommend mixing lastly among varied guests (7) 5 Fasteners left in sites to put up tents (6) 9 Tyneside patron, say, was first in a comfy state? (7) 10 Running amateurs losing energy making for distressing experiences (7) 11 Some job imitating Japanese sash (3) 12 Factory worker behind posh car is beginning to examine goods (11) 13 Unknown eight in German sailing vessel (5) 14 Extensive gold prone to be manufactured (9) 16 Lead seen behind distant boundary line (4,5) 17 Happen to see dismissal in cricket (5) 19 Top manager excitedly touring Spain to get fruit (11) 22 Sailor is appreciated, we hear (3) 23 African state's merit reassessed to some extent (7) 24 Succeed in draw on holiday (4,3) 26 Fears possibly about start of this bombardment (6) 27 A short function captivating our lot, a thing that stimulates (7)

DOWN

1 Ron, yes, confused about second characteristic of perception? (7) 2 Newspaper contributor spoiling customs at work (6,9) 3 Part of telling measure of cloth once (3) 4 Party in revolution snubbed royal house (5) 5 Competitive group of workers that's raised crop (9) 6 Element in saga intensifying once more (5) 7 Unit posting maps roughly showing places to move water (7,8) 8 Very large figure trailed by daughter in Belgian port (6) 12 Instant suitable in turn for often repeated theme (5) 14 Spread support linked to a lot in attendance (9) 15 Where chalk is put as a signal? (2,3) 16 Surpassed as an international player? (6) 18 Husband has gun, maybe, almost packed? That's dangerous (7) 20 A boring time on reflection for Irish police officer (5) 21 Record hour in two areas for Greek character (5) 25 Sign shown in notable offices (3)

NEED A CLUE? Text TIP to 65700 to receive FOUR answers to today's crossword, or call 0901 293 6236. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Today's clues available between 00.01 today and 23.30 only.

SOLUTIONS TO YESTERDAY'S PUZZLES

SUDOKU

3	7	9	6	5	8	2	1	4
6	5	1	9	2	4	7	8	3
8	4	2	3	1	7	9	6	5
4	6	7	8	3	1	5	9	2
5	9	3	2	7	6	8	4	1
1	2	8	4	9	5	6	3	7
7	1	4	5	8	9	3	2	6
2	8	5	1	6	3	4	7	9
9	3	6	7	4	2	1	5	8

PRIZE SUDOKU

9	2	1	6	7	4	5	3	8
3	8	7	9	5	1	4	6	2
6	4	5	2	8	3	7	9	1
4	9	8	1	3	5	2	7	6
7	3	2	4	9	6	8	1	5
1	5	6	7	2	8	3	4	9
2	7	4	5	1	9	6	8	3
8	6	9	3	4	2	1	5	7
5	1	3	8	6	7	9	2	4

WORD SEARCH Missing: AUSTRIA

8	4	9	3	1	7	2	5	6
1	6	7	2	5	9	8	4	3
2	5	3	6	4	8	9	7	1
9	8	2	4	3	6	7	1	5
3	1	4	7	2	5	6	8	9
6	7	5	9	8	1	3	2	4
7	2	6	5	9	4	1	3	8
5	9	8	1	7	3	4	6	2
4	3	1	8	6	2	5	9	7

HIDATO

NINE TO FIVE
KAKURO

START on left with number given and follow instructions as you go across. In 30 seconds, beginners have to complete their own challenge; intermediates have to complete their own challenge and the beginner's; advanced players have to complete their own challenge and the intermediate's.

2 5 25 28 1 3 4 6 24 26 27 30 29 8 7 23 22 37 31 32 9 10 11 40 38 21 36 35 33 12 41 39 20 58 57 34 14 13 42 19 59 55 56 53 52 15 18 43 61 60 54 51 16 17 64 62 44 45 47 48 50 65 63 46 49

CROSS NUMBER

	G	N	I
B	L	E	N	D
G	O	R	S	E
F	A	D	E	D
	T	Y	T

				18
6	3	7	8	24
9	4	8	6	27
2	1	4	3	10
1	6	3	2	12
18	14	22	19	16

WORD WHEEL: agree, aright, eager, egret, eight, emigrate, gait, gaiter, game, gate, gather, gear, germ, girt, girth, gram, grate, great, greet, grim, grime, grit, heritage, hermitage, image, meagre, merge, might, migrate, mirage, rage, regime, right, tiger, trig.

Beginner	41	-19	$\div 11$	$\times 25$	+10	$\div 4$	$\times 20$	$\frac{1}{4}$ OF IT	+3	$\div 6$
Intermediate	50	TIMESITSELF	5%OF IT	$\frac{3}{5}$ OF IT	$\frac{9}{15}$ OF IT	$\times 11$	$\frac{8}{99}$ OF IT	$\times 13$	-10	$\frac{5}{17}$ OF IT
Advanced	14	+26	TIMESITSELF	11%OF IT	-20	$\frac{11}{12}$ OF IT	+9	PLUS $12\frac{1}{2}\%$	-80	$\frac{3}{7}$ OF IT

30-SECOND CHALLENGE

		6	7			9	7
	3	8	9		7	6	3
7	6			6	8		2	4
5	2			2	1		5	8
	1	9	8		2	4	1
		8	7	6	5	9
	6	4	9	7
8	3	1		3	7		6	2
2	1			5	9		9	5
	7	3			4	9	7
	2	1			3	7

MAKING TRACKS

KENKEN

SOLUTION BELOW

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

YOUR ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Brown hairstreak. 8 On Earth. 9 Marilyn. 10 Elate. 11 Danny Kaye. 12 Laicise. 14 Punch. 15 Organ. 17 Peanuts. 19 Old Master. 22 Ducal. 23 Inroads. 24 Bohemia. 25 The Christophers.

KILLER SUDOKU

SUDOKU X

20×1	4	5	2-2	14+3	6
12×6	4+2	1	4	5	2-3
2	1	864×6	3	4	5
11+5	6	3	5-1	$2^{\frac{1}{2}}$ 2	4
60×3	5	4	6	12×1	2
4	5+3	2	5	6	1

4	3	2	9	5	8	1	7	6
7	1	5	3	2	6	8	9	4
9	8	6	1	4	7	5	2	3
3	6	1	7	8	4	2	5	9
5	2	9	6	1	3	4	8	7
8	7	4	5	9	2	3	6	1
2	4	7	8	3	9	6	1	5
1	9	8	4	6	5	7	3	2
6	5	3	2	7	1	9	4	8

6	5	1	4	3	2
4	2	3	1	5	6
2	3	5	6	1	4
1	6	4	3	2	5
5	1	6	2	4	3
3	4	2	5	6	1

GOGEN

Q P F H D K U O I X V C Y T M B A S E N J L G R W

DOWN: 1 Biotechnologist.

2 Overall. 3 Norwegian. 4 Aphid. 5 Terry. 6 Ellmann. 7 Kenneth Williams. 9 Mandela. 13 Impetus. 14 Poundshop. 16 Godfree. 18 Secombe. 20 Awash. 21 Robot.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD No. 17,951

WORLD'S SMALLEST, HARDEST CROSSWORD — ACROSS: 1 lgbo. 5 Lid. 6 Gal. 7 Idle. DOWN: 2 Glad. 3 Bill. 4 OD. 6 Gi.

ACROSS: 6 Registry office. 9 Enmesh. 10 Disposal. 11 After all. 13 Albany. 15 Recaps. 17 Fennel. 19 Mallet. 20 Analogue. 22 Misplace. 24 Purify. 26 Service station. DOWN: 1 Transformative. 2 Ogle. 3 Asthma. 4 Jobshare. 5 Afro. 7 Riddle. 8 Channel-surfing. 12 Excel. 14 Banjo. 16 Pittance. 18 Capers. 21 Appeal. 23 Pave. 25 Rein.

MAILWORD

ACROSS: 1 Albs. 5 Colt. 9 Kneel. 10 Asia. 11 Senate. 12 Pleb. 13 Aye. 14 Reroof. 16 Fix. 17 Akin. 18 Enemy. 20 Gecko. 24 Each. 26 End. 27 Zealot. 29 Lee. 30 Hers. 31 Pillar. 33 Oral. 34 Snood. 35 Posy. 36 Eggs. DOWN: 1 Annexe. 2 Lea. 3 Betrayal. 4 Sleek. 5 Capone. 6 Oslo. 7 Lief. 8 Tab. 9 Key in. 11 Safe. 15 Righting. 19 Measly. 21 Cellos. 22 Knead. 23 Oder. 25 Copse. 27 Zero. 28 Eras. 30 Hop. 32 Log.*

SOLUTIONS TO TODAY'S PUZZLES

QUICK QUIZ: 1 Dijon. 2 Victor Meldrew. 3 Chelsea. 4 Madonna. 5 Paraguay. MINDBENDER:

1 £8. 2 They may all follow general. 3 Spin bowler. 4 Ren; the others may follow Darth to make Star Wars characters. 5 Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles.

MASTERQUIZ:

1 The Who. 2 Gerardus Mercator. 3 Rubber plant. 4 Plastic ducks. 5 Garret FitzGerald. 6 Gloucestershire.

HONEYCOMB:

1 Masked. 2 Satire. 3 Ermine. 4 Nitric. 5 Cities. 6 Either. 7 Return. 8 Rustic. 9 Iconic. 10 Nobody. 11 Dainty. 12 Denied.

KUROSU

30-SECOND CHALLENGE: Beginner: 13. Intermediate: 150. Advanced: 39.

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Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430 protected, a company independent of Associated Newspapers Ltd and Mail Travel. Prices are per person, based on two people sharing, and are subject to availability. *From price based on April 28, 2027 from London Gatwick then on board MS Thomas Hardy. ^2026 and 2027 river cruises include an unlimited quantity of drinks from 10am to midnight while on board (selected drinks available). ^Save up to £500pp applies to these departures only. Book by September 2, 2026. Riviera Travel reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time. Price correct at time of print.

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