axing

BRITAIN’S top sprotscar manufacturer is axing more than 500 jobs from its UK headquarters.

Half of the brand’s current workforce is facing the sack with president Trumps controversial tariffs said to have played a major role in the shock announcement.

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Lotus is reported to be sacking half the workforce at its factory and HQ at Hethel near Wymondham, Norfolk.

The surprise move is said to be part of a major restructuring within the firm.

A spokesman for Lotus, owned by Chinese giant Geely, confirmed that the job losses highlighted “rapid changes in global policies including tariffs”.

It comes after Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds had a meeting with Lotus bosses earlier this year.

Reynolds said afterwards he was reassured that the manufacturer was committed to the UK despite rumours that it was considering moving production to the US or Poland.

The firm said at the time it had “no plans to close the factory”, but added: “We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market.”

It is understood that Lotus had a meeting with local MPs and councillors to explain its restructuring plans and outline the job cuts.

The shocking move is expected to be finalised in December with up to 500 workers now facing the boot.

Lotus said it would also look at increasing integration across the wider Lotus group as part of the shake up.

A spokesperson said the firm “remains fully committed to the UK”, with Norfolk remaining the home of its sports car, motorsports and engineering consulting operations.

South Norfolk MP Ben Goldsborough said it was a “very difficult day for Lotus and for many families in our community.”

He said he would be on hand to support workers affected by the sweeping cuts.

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MAJOR budget airline Ryanair could be returning to a European airport that it recently axed flights to after 20 years.

Ryanair recently scrapped all of itswinter flights to Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport in France following rising airline taxes in the country.

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The small town in the southwest of France is known for its historic charm, with an old town full of half-timbered buildings.

Ryanair made the announcement back in June, where it also scrapped winter flights to other French destinations including Brive and Strasbourg.

Since the announcement, the president of the Dordogne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), who represent the airport, has shared with The Connexion that the airline is likely to return to the airport in summer 2026.

Following the news, French media began to speculate that it could result in the closing of Bergerac Airport.

President of the CCI, Christophe Fauvel, told the publication that this could not be the case.

He explained: “We have to understand that Ryanair only announced the suspension of its London Stansted service during the winter months.

“Our traffic is very seasonal, with the majority of our passengers flying between April and October.”

He added that the route’s winter suspension would only impact around 18,000 passengers and that the airport is planning to carry out works on the runway between January and February at the airport anyway.

He then confirmed that “at the present moment, everything suggests that Ryanair will be at Bergerac for the summer of 2026″.

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The president continued to explain how it is the economic sector that is concerned about the airport’s future, particularly because Bergerac Airport generates between €60million (£51.8million) and €100million (£86.3million) each year for the region.

As a consequence, if the airport was forced to close, some of the surrounding areas such as Dordogne, south of Gironde, some of Lot-et-Garonne and also Lot, would be impacted.

In addition, the French region has a long-standing relationship with the UK, with many Brits choosing to live in the area as well as having direct flights since 2003.

The president assured that he is confident this key link will continue in the future, despite Ryanair cancelling winter flights.

In regard to other airlines, a few have eyed up creating a route between the UK and the French region including Vueling and Volotea.

Ryanair currently runs flights from several UK airports to Bergerac, including Bournemouth, Bristol, East Midlands, Liverpool, Edinburgh and London Stansted.

British Airways also operates flights to the airport from London City and Southampton and Jet2 has flights from Leeds Bradford Airport and Manchester.

These airlines dominate routes to and from the airport, with the only other routes coming from Rotterdam with airline Transavia and Brussels Charleroi with Ryanair.

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Bergerac is a pretty town to explore, including the Musée de Tabac, which tells the history of tobacco and a popular spot that shows the region’s wines – Maison des Vins.

Narrow cobbled streets and a bustling main square make the town the ideal spot for a quieter French holiday in comparison to popular city spots like Paris.

And there are a number of river cruises in the region too, down the Dordogne river.

The town is also around an hour and 20 minutes from Bordeaux and two and half hours from Toulouse.

Sun Travel has contacted Ryanair for comment.

There is also a little-known French town that’s been likened to Cornwall with riverfront cottages and new UK flights.

Plus, there is a French town that looks more like Italy – with Roman buildings and huge music festival.

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Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Wynne Evans appeared on a BBC show over the weekend despite his apparent departure from the corporation earlier this year

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Wynne Evans made an unexpected appearance on a BBC show tonight. It comes after the corporation said it had “no plans” to work with him following his exit from the live tour and his radio show.

Wynne, 53, however, appeared on an episode of Pointless Celebrities that aired on BBC One earlier tonight. He was paired up with Joanna Page, who was his co-star on Wynne & Joanna: All at Sea, which isn’t set to have a second series as the BBC said in June that it has “no plans” to renew it.

It comes following his apparent departure from the BBC earlier this year. It had been reported that it had severed ties with the opera singer, known for the Go Compare adverts, and had confirmed that it didn’t plan to work with him further.

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The pre-recorded episode of Pointless Celebrities that aired tonight saw Wynne and Joanna make it to the penultimate round, but they missed out on reaching the final together. The other team, Jane Hill and Ben Boulos, who both work on BBC News, became the finalists instead after winning the round.

They had competed against two other pairs earlier in the episode. RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard had been with impressionist Jess Robinson, whilst comedians Esther Manito and Rich Hall had worked together.

Prior to the episode airing tonight, Wynne had told fans on Instagram that he would be in it. He wrote beside a photo of himself and Joanna on the set: “Tonight back on [BBC One] for Celebrity Pointless with [Joanna].”

Some viewers seemed surprised to see Wynne on the show this evening. One wrote on X: “Wynne Evans? This must have been recorded 10 years ago?” Another said: “Seriously??? Who the hell thought Wynne Evans appearing would be a good idea.” A third wrote on the platform though: “Well done [BBC] – Wynne on Pointless – common sense at last.”

It’s not been confirmed when the episode was filmed. One viewer suggested it could mark Wynne’s final appearance on the BBC though. They wrote in a post on X earlier tonight: “This could be Wynne Evans’s last BBC appearance.”

The episode’s broadcast this weekend comes after the BBC was said to have cut its last remaining ties with Wynne. He had worked with the corporation for years, including hosting his own BBC Radio show for almost a decade.

it was announced back in May that the BBC had “no plans” to work with him in the future though. It comes following a series of scandals during his time on Strictly Come Dancing last year and its subsequent tour earlier this year.

During the tour, it was reported that he had used the term ‘spit roast’ to host Janette Manrara at a photocall. Wynne has, however, since insisted that it was instead part of a nickname for fellow contestant Jamie Borthwick and that it “wasn’t meant sexually”.

Wynne subsequently left the tour and his BBC Radio Wales show after the scandal broke back in January. It was said at the time that the decision had been made in agreement with the BBC and to “prioritise” Wynne’s wellbeing.

It was then announced in May that Wynne would not be returning to his radio show, which he had hosted since 2016. In a statement at the time, a spokesperson for the BBC said: “[Wynne] is not under contract with the BBC. He is not returning to the mid-morning show on BBC Radio Wales, and there are currently no plans to work with him.”

Whilst Wynne, who has since criticised the BBC, told fans in a statement: “It breaks my heart to say the BBC has decided not to renew my contract, so I won’t be returning to my radio show. I’m gutted. That show wasn’t just work – it was home. It was us. We laughed, we cried, we sang like nobody was listening. And somehow, through the airwaves, we became a family. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes. Into your hearts.”

He instead announced that he would host the Wynne Evans Show on other platforms. He’s since launched his new weekday radio and later told his followers on social media that he had more than 40,000 listeners for the first episode.

More recently, it was reported in June that the BBC had cut its last remaining ties with him. It was confirmed at the time that the corporation had “no plans” for a second series of his travel show Wynne & Joanna: All at Sea, which ran for six episodes between January and February.

A source had told the Sun that the decision to not renew it “marks the end” of a relationship between Wynne and the BBC. They said: “It means that Wynne has no TV show or radio show with the Beeb, and effectively marks the end of their ­relationship.”

Pointless Celebrities is available on BBC iPlayer.

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