I was one of the first to visit the UK’s biggest beach saunaSea Scrub Sauna is on Folkestone’s main beachThere are two saunas to choose from, including the 10-person shepherds hut
According to the British Sauna Society, the number of public saunas in the UK has increased 1,200 per cent in the last three years – from 48 in 2023 to more than 600 today.
And as one of the newest, Sea Scrub Sauna is set to be a huge attraction for tourists visiting the seaside town.
Its co-founder, Robin Bartlett, said: “We’re seeing an exciting shift in the UK from exclusive, high-end spa, to more accessible, communal, and ‘wild’ sauna experiences and it’s brilliant to be part of this.
“We can’t wait to welcome new faces and grow a community of sauna enthusiasts in Folkestone, from regular locals to intrepid day trippers and holidaymakers.”
The fourth of its kind by the company – with others in Margate, Whitsable and Faversham – the complex is certainly the fanciest as well.
As I entered the reception, the smell of new wood hit me as I was handed a glass of prosecco.
There’s a full menu of wines and beers (although perhaps save them for after the session to avoid any woozy heads).
Floor to ceiling glass windows meant I had full views of the sea, which on a clear day can sometimes even include seeing France.
What sets this sauna apart is the extra facilities. There’s men’s and women’s changing rooms, a HOT shower, and onsite bathrooms.
But onto the sauna experience.
The site has two saunas to choose from – the 16-person Scandinavian sauna, and the smaller Shepherds Hut Sauna, for up to 10 people.
I recommend the one on the right if visiting in the evenings, for some of the best orange sunsets over the beach.
I settle in on my towel, embracing feeling the warmth after months of the freezing winter.
Ten minutes in, and I’m drenched in sweat. We’re all playing a silent game of chicken to see who can last the longest in here.
I bail out first, sliding off the wooden bench and fleeing for the chilly air.
It’s over to plunge pools in the middle, with the steamy hot tub calling me.
But first, a cold plunge. My breath is taken from me as I slowly lower myself into the 7C tub, focusing on my breathing as I was told.
This is where the health benefits kick in, with everything from improved circulation and reduced muscle aches to better sleep and mood levels.
The Scandinavian sauna can fit up to 16 peopleBoth of the saunas were perfect for warming up in
My overheated skin prickles as it goes from too hot to too cold.
Yet I last barely a minute, much to the enjoyment of my friend who is already submerged.
My relief is loud as I sink into the much warmer pool right next to her, letting my body temperature heat back up again.
And its not just saunas and pools that you can enjoy there too, with experiences such as silent sessions and even Aufguss rituals, a German sauna ceremony with fragranced oil infused water.
I try the latter, and the heat is waved over me with a fan as smells of lemongrass and eucalyptus clear my chest.
After all that, I’m on a high, but ravenous.
And the sauna has you covered there too, with warming bowls of ramen to take the edge off. As well as a second glass of fizz…
Even better, the Harbour Arms is right next door so you can pop over for drinks and dinner there afterwards as well.
It costs £20 for an hour-long session, and can be booked from 8:30am to 8:30pm.
I imagine the early sessions will be popular with sea swimmers, although you can also rent it out for private sessions – perfect for birthdays or hen dos.
My bowl of ramen and prosecco was needed after my hour-sessionSafe to say I chose the warmer pool over the cold plunge…
All the predictions, drama and pageantry of Hollywood’s biggest night will play out at the Dolby Theatre this afternoon as the 98th Academy Awards get underway.
How many awards will “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler, win from its record-setting 16 nominations? And will Coogler win best director? Our critic says, “no.”
Tonight is also a big evening for our entertainment team, which has been producing features, previews, explainers, predictions and so much more.
The 2026 Oscars will air on ABC, and those with cable subscriptions can also watch by logging into the ABC app or abc.com.
The telecast will also stream live on Hulu, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV. Internationally, the ceremony will be broadcast in more than 200 territories. You can check your local listings here.
When the red carpet viewing gets underway
“Chicken Shop Date” host Amelia Dimoldenberg will return, for a third-straight year, as social media ambassador and correspondent for the official red carpet, which will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on ABC and Hulu.
For extended coverage, E! will begin its red carpet broadcast at 1 p.m. ABC’s coverage begins at 12:30 p.m., followed by “The Oscars Red Carpet Show,” hosted by Tamron Hall and Jesse Palmer.
“Sinners” is picking up steam heading into the show
My colleague Greg Braxton wrote about how award prognosticators believe Sinners gained positive press after its stars — Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan — were called a racial slur at the BAFTAs.
Jordan’s and Lindo’s handling of the BAFTA incident, along with warmly received victories for the “Sinners” cast at the Actor Awards on March 1, has given the Warner Bros. release unexpected momentum leading up to Sunday’s Oscars ceremony.
Although it received a record-breaking 16 nominations, the film has been largely overshadowed through much of awards season by Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller “One Battle After Another.”
And Timothée Chalamet of “Marty Supreme” had been considered for months as an almost-certain lock for lead actor. But the events in past weeks have seemingly positioned “Sinners” for upset wins in the picture race and lead actor for Jordan.
Every character — from Miles Caton’s rebellious guitarist and Jack O’Connell’s lilting vampire to Wunmi Mosaku’s soulful witch and Michael B. Jordan’s bootlegging twins Smoke and Stack — has been scarred by life in 1930s Mississippi.
She also said the film “Eddington” should’ve been a contender (perhaps a nod to “On the Waterfront”). Ari Aster’s merciless black comedy drags us back to May 2020 when tempers, temperatures and misinformation were heating up across America.
Dueling civic leaders Sheriff Joe (Joaquin Phoenix) and Mayor Ted (Pedro Pascal) agree that COVID has yet to arrive in their New Mexican hamlet.
But with the Oscars, quality is often secondary to an awards narrative. Both movies have cultural relevance.
Both won critical acclaim and, to a degree, commercial success. (Though “One Battle” wasn’t the blockbuster “Sinners” was, it still grossed more than any other movie in Anderson’s career.) “Sinners” scored 16 Oscar nominations, the most in history; “One Battle” was close behind with 13.
There’s much more to read in the above links. Enjoy them and the Oscars.
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It was so big it couldn’t use the English Channel, Suez Canal or Panama Canal.
The biggest ship in the world was taller than iconic buildings(Image: Cheunghyo/Getty)
The biggest ship in the world was longer than both the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building. It was known as the Seawise Giant and became one of the longest self-propelled ships in history.
The boat, later called Happy Giant, Knock Nevis and Mont, was built in Japan between 1974 and 1979. It had the greatest deadweight tonnage of a ship ever recorded.
Fully laden, it was 657,019 tonnes and was the heaviest in the world. Seawise Giant had a draft of 24.6 meters (81ft) and a length of 458.45 meters (1,504.1 ft).
Due to its size, it was incapable of navigating the English Channel, the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal.
The ship has a long history, and was created by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan, as an Ultra Large Crude Carrier.
It remained unnamed for a long time and was identified as its hull number, 1016. The ship suffered severe vibration problems during sea trials, and an unknown Greek owner refused to take delivery of it.
Eventually, the Japanese shipyard sold the ship thanks to a deal with Hong Kong Orient Overseas Container Line. Yet, they wanted to lengthen the ship by several meters and add 146,152 tonnes of cargo capacity.
Two years later, the ship relaunched as the Seawise Giant. In 1988, it was damaged during the Iran-Iraq war after fires erupted aboard the ship, and oil spread into the water.
The ship was still intact but was so damaged it was not deemed economical to repair.
However, a Norwegian investment firm bought the damaged ship. Over the next few years, it was repaired and renamed Happy Giant.
Up until 2004, the ship was owned by various Norwegian investment firms. It was then purchased by First Olsen Tankers and renamed Knock Nevis.
The ship was converted into a primarily moored storage tanker in the Persian Gulf.
However, it was then taken on by new owners Amber Development and named Mont. It had one final voyage to India where the ship was scrapped.
The ship was beached in December 2009 and due to its size, it took until the end of 2010 for it to be scrapped. The Seawise Giant’s anchor was saved and is on public display in Hong Kong.
It goes down in history as the longest ship ever constructed at 458.45 meters and is taller than many of the world’s tallest buildings. The Eiffel Tower stands at 330 meters and the Empire State Building at 443 meters.
Meanwhile, Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) and Denny (Kai Bradbury) welcomed their baby daughter, but Lizzie began to struggle with post-natal anxiety.
Elsewhere, Brie Sheridan (Zibby Allen) and Brady (Ben Hollingsworth) were trying their best to get along as friends, but they were both in denial about their feelings for one another.
Also, Brie was on a mission to track down Charmaine Roberts (Lauren Hammersley), who had gone missing following a disturbing death. Here are just some of the major plot points from the finale.
Brady was in a motorcycle accident
The final moments of the season saw Brady on his way to meet Brie for breakfast after the pair rekindled their relationship.
While they had tried their best to remain just friends, Brie realised Brady was the only one who had made her feel alive and free.
They made their relationship official at a huge community event, and Brady was excited to spend the morning with his girlfriend.
However, whilst on his motorbike, he was distracted by thoughts of Brie and did not see a lorry approaching.
Viewers saw Brady come off his bike after it collided with the huge vehicle, but his ultimate fate remained a mystery.
Preacher wanted to leave Jack’s bar
Jack’s best friend and business partner, Preacher (Colin Lawrence), was keen to explore new opportunities at the bar and took on a whole new menu.
He was excited to share his vision of expanding the bar, but when he put the idea to Jack, he was not keen on taking such a big risk.
Feeling that Jack was unappreciative of his work, Preacher asked Jack to buy him out of the business so He could explore his own opportunities.
After some deliberation, Jack decided to grant Preacher his wish and draw up the paperwork, but it appeared Preacher was starting to have second thoughts.
Fans are still waiting to find out whether Preacher signed the paperwork, ultimately cutting ties with Jack and the business.
Roland confessed his love for Hope
Hope McCrea (Annette O’Toole) and Doc Mullins (Tim Matheson) ended up falling out after Doc began having second thoughts about partnering with the doctors at Grace Valley.
Feeling he had gone behind her back in making such an important decision, Hope stormed out on Doc and ended up spending time with her ex-husband, Roland (John Ralston).
During an emotional conversation, Roland revealed the truth about Hope’s father, who was the reason she had come to hate Roland so much, and it transpired that neither was to blame after all.
Roland eventually admitted he still loved Hope and helped her scatter her father’s ashes, so fans may be left wondering whether they will start to rekindle their romance.
Charmaine was kidnapped by Grant and he killed Calvin
A huge storyline in season seven was the disappearance of Charmaine after it was revealed her ex Calvin (Josh Blacker) had been shot and killed.
It transpired that Charmaine’s boss, Grant, had developed an obsession with Charmaine, and they had clearly spent a lot of time together.
Recalling the events of the night of Calvin’s death, Grant, who was holding a gun, revealed Calvin had not wanted him around the babies, and he had come to Charmaine’s house to threaten her.
As Calvin and Charmaine got into an altercation, Grant shot and killed Calvin in order to protect Charmaine. Grant was ultimately arrested for killing Calvin and kidnapping Charmaine and the twins.
Marley’s baby was born with a rare heart defect
Mel’s patient Marley (Rachel Drance) had spent the entire season debating whether or not she wanted Mel and Jack to be the parents of her unborn child.
After the baby’s father came back into her life, the pair decided they were not ready to have a child and agreed Mel and Jack could keep the baby once it had been born.
In a tragic twist, it was discovered that the baby had a rare heart defect that he would need to have a series of operations.
Marley was whisked off to the hospital the next day, and Mel helped deliver the baby, who was then taken off in an ambulance with Mel and Jack present.
Fans were left wondering whether the baby would recover.
Virgin River season 7 is on Netflix
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website
A POPULAR water attraction that’s the largest of its kind in the UK is getting upgrades in time for the Easter holidays.
Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool is the largest indoor waterpark in the country and it is getting a £500,000 refresh.
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The waterpark on Blackpool’s promenade is undergoing some upgradesCredit: AlamyInside are tropical waterpark are 18 slides and even a wave poolCredit: Sandcastle
The water attraction that sits on Blackpool’s promenade has a tropical climate and 18 slides inside.
It’s set to undergo a the huge refurbishment to coincide with it’s 40th birthday, having first opened back in 1986.
The improvements will be to the waterpark’s changing village rooms.
The slides will be refreshed too with a lick of paint, and a new audio system being installed.
The upgrades are due to be finished before Easter and will be completed in time for the school holidays.
General manager Kyle Woodcock said: “This is a landmark year for us, and we wanted to mark our 40th birthday with improvements that our guests will really feel.”
One of the most popular slides is the Master Blaster which is the UK’s longest indoor water rollercoaster.
Another is Sidewinder – the world’s first indoor half-pipe water slide which has been called a “white knuckle” experience.
Another thrilling slide is the very fast Montazooma which has tight hairpin bends.
There’s also the Treetops Water Chutes racing slides, the slower moving Ushi Gushi River Creek lazy river and Typhoon Lagoon is the waterpark’s huge wave pool.
Even if the weather isn’t playing ball outside, the attraction is always warm as it sits around 30C.
The upgrades are set to all be complete in time for the Easter holidaysCredit: PR Handout image
On the outskirts of the pool, visitors can enjoy the warmth in their own private Tiki Cabanas which can be hired out for the day.
Here, visitors can enjoy beer, wine, lunch, and even watch TV while lounging in a hot tub for £60 per person.
It’s not all thrilling slides and splashing about in swimming pools either – there’s also a quieter spa area for adults only.
The Sea Breeze Spa is for those 18 and over to ‘renew, re-energise and feel refreshed’.
It has a sauna, steam room, heated loungers, foot spas, aromatherapy and even a salt inhalation room.
Access to the spa is an additional £7 alongside an admission ticket.
There’s food available on-site too at the Waterfalls Cafe and Waters Edge kitchen where you can pick up drinks, sandwiches and even hot food.
There’s an option for dessert too at the Cool Waves stand, which serves ice cream and sweet treats.
On Tripadvisor, the attraction has a rating of 4.0 out of 5 with over five thousand reviews.
One visitor wrote: “Great family day out at one of Blackpool’s best attractions.”
And another said: “The kids absolutely loved it here with lots to keep them entertained.”
The waterpark is currently open during the weekends – and will reopen on weekdays in the Easter holidays.
General admission tickets into Sandcastle Waterpark start from £24.95 for those age eight and over.
Those between three and seven can get in for £15.95 and under twos go free.
And brunch lovers won’t miss out either as there will be Reggae Brunch and Maggi Brunch.
There will be family-friendly daytime sessions in the summer too.
When it comes to grabbing a tipple at the venue, guests will be able to choose from a number of speciality bars.
One bar will be the Casamigos ‘House of Friends’ and another will be Hotel Milano, centred on the much-loved Italian aperitivo concept.
Hotel Milano will also form part of the new Brixton Cocktail Club.
Each Thursday, the venue will host South of the South as well, which is a collaboration with Cross The Tracks Festival and includes jazz, funk and soul music.
The line-up for the opening of the venue will include reggae musician Davis Rodigan on May 9.
Laurence Guy will then perform house music on May 16 and on May 30, Ghosts of Garage will take over the rooftop.
In total, 50 jobs will be created as well and the venue aims to also host grassroots events, youth programmes and charity fundraisers.
Dan Morris, Managing Director of Freight Island, said: “Freight Brixton is an incredible rooftop in the heart of South London and will be a place for locals and the city beyond to come together and enjoy themselves with the best food, drink and music.
“I cannot wait for us to get this open – we have seen what creating these kinds of spaces can do for a community in Manchester, and we are all very excited to build something just as special in Brixton.”
Freight Island already has a destination in Manchester, located near Piccadilly Station.
And another new destination was recently announced for Leeds, inside the Trinity Leeds shopping centre.
In addition to street-style food stalls and independent bars, there will also be an outdoor terrace which will look over City Square.
If you are looking for more rooftop venues to explore in the capital, here’s London’s best rooftop bars including one that feels more like Mykonos.
POTTERHEADS can get their robes and wands ready as a major Harry Potter store will be opening in the UK this year.
Warner Bros. Global Experiences has announced that it will be opening its first premier flagship shop in London – the first of its kind in Europe.
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A new flagship Harry Potter store will be coming to London, much like ones found elsewhere such as the Chicago store (pictured)Credit: Warner Bros. Global Experiences
Harry PotterOxford Street will open in autumn of this year and will be located at The Ribbon, at 134-140 Oxford Street.
In total, the store will sprawl across just under 2,000sqm (1,950sqm) and be on two floors – making it the joint biggest Harry Potter store in the world alongside New York.
Designs are currently underway to transform the inside of the building on the UK’s most famous street to “a wizarding emporium celebrating the beloved locations featured in the books and films”.
Whether you’re a fan of Hermione or can’t wait to ‘swish-and-flick’ your own wand, there will be plenty of photo opportunities throughout the store.
There will be a number of activities to complete as well and fans better get saving as there will be exclusive merchandise on sale too.
Little details are known about other features of the store, but if it is anything like the one in New York, fans can expect props from the films and potentially a Honeydukes corner.
The store will join the King’s Cross Shop as the only official Harry Potterretail destinations in the UK.
Karl Durrant, WB’s SVP Worldwide Retail said: “Harry Potter is deeply rooted in British storytelling, and this will give fans an exciting new way to experience this magical world in the city that features so prominently in the stories.
“Offering a completely new retail experience for Harry Potter fans which will delight and entertain, it’s going to be very special.”
There are a number of other official Harry Potter Shops around the world including in New York, Chicago in the USA and Harajuku and Akasaka in Japan.
Fans are allowed to go behind the scenes of the movies and explore costumes that were actually used in the films.
Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski recently went to the workshop and said: “Unlike the main tour, where guests just wander freely around the attraction, Mastering The Magic: Costume Creation is a 45-minute workshop that allows muggles to even create their own Potter-themed outfit.
“My small group learns that a school-aged Harry, for example, is first seen by viewers in his battered shirt and threadbare trousers, which conveys how poorly treated he is by his aunt and uncle.
The announcement comes after Warner Bros Studio Tour London recently launched a costume workshopCredit: PA
“After learning tricks of the trade, we’re talked through the lengthy process of costume creation, from initial concept, taken from scripts, through to mood boards with fabric samples and right down to the final sketches.
“Then it’s time to get stuck in – sketching our own designs and pinning scraps of fabric left over from the costumes featured in the actual films.
“I choose a ruby red and black patch of fur, pairing it with a gold satin – more Malfoy territory than Potter.
“And for a brief moment, I’ve played my part as a Harry Potter costume designer.”
Just last month, it was also announced that there will be a new experience based on the Hogwarts Express later this year.
Partnering with Rail Events Inc., Warner Bros. Discovery will launch Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure later this year.
The magical experience will be an immersive train journey, where Potterheads can be witches and wizards heading to Hogwarts.
There will be character interactions, themed dining and even a pre-boarding experience that “nods to Platform 9 and three quarters”.
Most of the experience will actually be on a moving train as well.
The route and launch locations are yet to be confirmed.
SHE was the biggest pop star of the 80s yet looks younger now than when she shot to fame.
Fans are baffled by how youthful Taylor Dayne looks at 63 years of age.
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Taylor Dayne looks so youthful in her 60sCredit: Instagram/taylordayneThe stunning singer has a slew of shows this springCredit: Instagram/taylordayneShe looks younger than when she shot to fame in the 80sCredit: Getty
Taking to her Instagram page this week, the stunning singer who shot to fame with her beloved single Tell It To My Heart, looked half her age as she posed in a raunchy outfit.
“I had such a fabulous time on stage in Seattle last night! What a great start to my weekend of performances,” she penned in the caption of the post.
In the slew of snaps she shared, Taylor looked so youthful with clear, smooth skin and a tiny waist.
JADE Thirlwall has dropped a major clue that a Little Mix reunion if off the table after Jesy Nelson’s recent interview.
The Sweet Melody hitmaker, 33, said there were lots of sweet symbolisms behind the number three when it came to her career.
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Jade Thirlwall dropped a huge hint that full Little Mix reunion is OFF the tableCredit: Capitalbuzz/InstagramJade said there were lots of sweet symbolisms behind the number threeCredit: GettyJesy Nelson made some bombshell claims about the ‘real reason’ behind her Little Mix exitCredit: Instagram
Referring to Leigh-Anne’s album going top three in the charts, Jade said: “And I feel like it’s some weird cosmic energy that we’re all number three and that we’re a three, three, three.
“I feel like it’s quite special, very happy for her.”
Little Mix currently consists of three members – Jade, Leigh-Anne and their fellow bandmate Perrie Edwards.
The group was previously a four-piece before Jesy quit in December 2020.
Jesy, 34, revealed the truth behind her sudden departure.
The singer shocked fans when she revealed hersecret suicide attempt days before quitting the group – suggesting her cry for help was ignored by her bandmates.
The revelation came after Jesy thrilled fans with news their six-year feud was over after thegirls had privately reached out.
While Jesy gave fresh hope about the possibility of reconciling with her bandmates on stage, the girls’ reactions following her comments suggested an entirely different story.
A source told The Sun: “Jesy’s confession has obviously opened up a can of worms for the girls.
“The documentary itself and the backlash that has followed, has brought up a lot of bad feeling from the past.
Jesy (second left) revealed the truth behind her sudden departure in a recent documentaryCredit: Getty
“It’s been upsetting for the girls, but they are focused on their solo careers and the future now.”
While on her tour of That’s Showbiz Baby! in the US, Jade broke down in tears on stage as she sung Natural at Disaster.
The track is said to have been written about her struggling friendship with Jesy, with lyrics including: “It’s hard to love you when you hate yourself. Can’t be there for you without negatively impacting my mental health.”
And seemingly in another swipe at Jesy after Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix was released, Jade chose to play Natural At Disaster over her latest Instagram post.
Sharing video footage from behind the scenes at her show in Chicago, JADE wrote: “And all that jazz.”
One fan commented: “The song choice… I hope you’re not shading Jesy. I love you all.”
Jesy’s revelations sent Little Mix’s fanbase into a spin – with some rival supporters clashing online.
Recalling the painful breakdown of Little Mix’s friendship days before her overdose, Jesy said: “I sat everyone down to explain how I was feeling and I remember one of the responses being, ‘Are you done now? Is that it?’
“She [one of the girls] was like, ‘Can I go now?’”
Fighting back tears, Jesy added: “That made me feel really alone. I felt like there was no point. That no one cared.”
Her comments apparently sparked social media rows, with some fans “picking a side”.
However, others insisted: “Jesy sharing her side of the story of what happened shouldn’t be viewed as her trying to villainise them. Me nor you truly don’t know what happened between those girls so trying to sit there and call someone a liar as if you know better than her is very weird.”
Another said: “Both sides have faults and both sides have valid feelings. It’s really not that hard to understand.”
Someone else added: “I’m proud Jade, Leigh-Anne and Perrie reached out to her when Jesy was pregnant because they are good people all three of them. I just hope they can all move forward now and heal.”
Jesy revealed her secret suicide attempt days before quitting the groupCredit: Getty
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
A one-off reunion episode brought back a number of stars from the tenth series months after the E4 show ended
Samantha King Content Editor
22:30, 01 Mar 2026
The Series 10 cast got back together again for one last reunion(Image: E4)
The stars of Married At First Sight UK’s tenth season reunited for one final time in an explosive reunion episode that aired this evening (March 1).
The dramatic season concluded back in November last year, and while a number of couples made it to their final vows on the show, nearly all of them separated after filming ended. Just one couple from the series are still together, Abigail Lindsay and John Shepherd.
There was no shortage of tears and clashes as the cast got back together, and there was even an unexpected new feud. So what were the biggest revelations that came during the episode?
Bailey had a fling with April’s best friend
April and Rebecca were frosty with each other from the start following the revelation that Rebecca’s ex, Bailey, slept with April’s best friend at a music festival.
Rebecca claimed April had broken ‘girl code’ by not informing her about what had happened straight away. After April pulled Rebecca for a chat to attempt to smooth things over, the conversation took a sour turn.
April was left in tears after Rebecca told her: “I don’t dislike you, I would just never associate with someone like you,” elaborating: “I’m treating you like the opposite of a girls’ girl, which is what you are.”
Bailey ended things with Rebecca
Fans had long questioned who had ended things with who when news of Bailey and Rebecca’s split was made public. The pair had been loved-up on the show and were even planning a huge move to be together permanently, with Rebecca planning to uproot her life in Liverpool to join Bailey and his daughter down south.
Rebecca revealed that she was on the verge of moving when Bailey ended things with her following a tense holiday to Dublin. She admitted she had been actively in conversation with an aesthetics clinic as she prepared to move her business.
Bailey recalled he had tried to split up with her twice before they finally parted. He said: “I couldn’t breathe without her telling me off for doing something.” He claimed it felt like “she was sabotaging the relationship.”
Rebecca was texting her ex
Bailey reluctantly revealed at the dinner table a private conversation that he had with Rebecca in the car ride home following their final vows on the show which he felt caused him to change afterwards.
He told the group: “Why did I change? I changed because after final vows I feel like you lied to me because of what you told me in the car on the way home.”
He continued: “You said ‘I’m so sorry I’ve got to tell you something. During the show, I was messaging my ex’ – and you didn’t tell me until after final vows.” Rebecca insisted the messages were never flirty, and that her ex simply didn’t know she was on the show.
Maeve and Julia-Ruth are civil
Maeve and Julia-Ruth had one of the fiercest feuds on their season, especially after Julia-Ruth got a matching tattoo with Maeve’s ex. Despite their past, the pair were smiling and laughing together as they met at the reunion.
Both decided to bury the hatchet and found common ground in navigating life in the public eye.
Dean is dating again
Viewers were delighted to see Dean giving up on his unrequited love for Sarah and moving forward with his dating life. He shared that he had been on a couple of dates since the series wrapped, and he still shares a solid friendship with his former flame.
He even had the support of Sarah who danced as he delivered a signature rap at the dinner table, despite her previously considering his rapping an ‘ick’ when they first met.
All episodes of Married At First Sight UK are streaming now on Channel 4’s catch-up service.For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.
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FLYING in economy usually makes you think of leg pain thanks to limited space.
But one airline’s economy seats are known for having the opposite.
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Japan Airlines has won the Skytrax award for ‘Best Economy Class Airline Seat’ for six consecutive yearsCredit: Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines is often considered as having one of the best and most spacious economy seats in the world, having won the Skytrax award for ‘Best Economy Class Airline Seat’ for six consecutive years.
For example, Japan Airlines has a seat pitch – that’s the distance between seats – of up to 86cm.
Other airlines usually have up to a maximum of 81cm.
The seats are also wider on a Japan Airlines flight, with the Boeing 787 Dreamliners using a 2-4-2 configuration, rather than 3-3-3.
This allows each seat to have an extra 5cm of room, reaching up to 48cm in total width.
There’s more room between armrests as well, ranging from 45cm to 48cm.
Seats also have 13-inch 4K entertainment screens, adjustable headrests, power outlets and built-in cup holders.
The food on board is next level too, as Japan Airlines collaborates with leading Japanese restaurants to create their in-flight meals.
And Brits can experience this as well…
Japan Airlines runs long-haul flights from London Heathrow to a number of destinations including Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Okinawa.
Japan Airlines flights from the UK usually start from around £700 return.
Last year, travel writer Jacob Lewis tried out the first cabin seats with built-in speakers, which were on Japan Airlines aircraft.
He said: “Settling into my private business class suite, I felt nervous as I queued up The Super Mario Bros Movie on my massive 24-inch 4K monitor.
“But it turns out my fears of disturbing my neighbours‘ peace were unfounded.
For example, Japan Airlines has a seat pitch – that’s the distance between seats – of up to 86cmCredit: Getty – Contributor
“Even with explosions raging at full volume through the headrest speakers, you couldn’t hear a peep from the aisle.
“I thoroughly tested this theory by enthusiastically blasting some aggressively peppy J-pop, but again, the audio seemed to be tuned perfectly to keep it confined to my seat.
“The speakers will truly come into their own if you’re the kind who likes to fall asleep to music or a movie.”
He also added that the rest of the cabin felt futuristic.
He said: “Each seat now comes with fully closing doors featuring translucent panels that feel private without being claustrophobic.
“There’s wireless charging built right into the console (no more wrestling with cables mid-flight) and a handy wardrobe space to store your shoes before you step inside, Japanese style, along with your jacket.
“The seat itself features pressure-dispersing cushions that make you forget you’re in an airplane seat at all, and the cabin crew will fetch a nice squishy memory foam-style mattress when it’s time to sleep.”
Japan Airlines runs long-haul flights from London Heathrow to a number of destinations including Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagoya and OkinawaCredit: Japan Airlines
Elsewhere, Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) returned with his wife Kate (Simone Ashley) to give Benedict some stern words of advice, while their mother Violet (Ruth Gemmell) was having relationship issues of her own. Here are just a few of the major revelations in the latter half of the season.
Cressida Cowper returned
Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) was unveiled as the new Lady Penwood following her emotional exit in season three. After surprising Penelope Bridgerton (Nicola Coughlan), she revealed Lord Penwood was an old friend of her aunt Joanna’s, and had taken a liking to her when he was visiting the family in Wales.
Cressida had formed friendships with both Penelope and Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) for her own gain and had even threatened to unveil Penelope as Lady Whistledown if she did not help her restore her reputation.
Cressida had been forced to leave society after her father took away her dowry, and she did not have enough money to attract a suitor.
She and Joanna moved to the countryside in the hope she would be able to find someone outside of the ton. Thankfully, things seemed to work in her favour and she even reconciled with Eloise.
Penelope gave up Lady Whistledown
After realising she was holding too much power as Lady Whistledown and felt like she was destroying people’s lives, Penelope asked Queen Charlotte’s (Golda Rosheuvel) permission to give up her column.
At first, the Queen refused, saying she enjoyed the gossip too much to see Lady Whistledown buried once and for all.
However, the Queen had a change of heart towards the end of the season, realising she needed to let society live their lives, and allowed Penelope to step down.
Penelope unveiled Lady Whistledown’s final pamphlet at the Queen’s ball, but it transpired it was not the end of the gossiper after all.
As the season concluded, someone else had decided to step up to the plate, although their identity is yet to be revealed.
The Queen set Lady Danbury free
After denying Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) the right to leave society and visit her homeland, the friends were both left in an unhappy place.
However, the Queen eventually learned she could not trap her friend for the sake of her own contentment, and with a nudge from those closest to her, she agreed Lady Danbury could leave.
While Lady Danbury stressed she would not be gone forever, there were a lot of emotional goodbyes as she had forged some priceless friendships over the years.
Fans will have to wait and see whether she appears in season five.
John Stirling died
For those who have read author Julia Quinn’s novels, they will know the ultimate fate of Francesca Bridgerton’s (Hannah Dodd) husband was drawing closer.
After spending some leisure time with his wife and his cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza), John said he wished to have a nap as he had a headache.
He had asked Francesca to wake him, but when Francesca went to stir her husband, he did not respond and she quickly realised he had died in his sleep.
A funeral was held, followed by a celebration of his life at their family home.
While the series does not say how John died, Quinn explains in the books he had a brain aneurysm.
Sophie discovered the truth about her inheritance
Some major revelations came about for Benedict and Sophie after the second Bridgerton son finally realised the maid he had fallen in love with was in fact the Lady in Silver all along.
He made the connection after finding Sophie’s mother’s necklace, which she had lost, and realised the mysterious woman from the ball had been wearing the same piece of jewellery.
Believing Araminta had been lying to Sophie about her inheritance, Benedict urged her to locate her father’s will so she could find out whether Lady Gun was telling the truth.
After locating the will, Sophie learned her father had left equal portions of the dowry to Sophie and Araminta’s two daughters. She was also able to use this to confirm she came from nobility and could therefore marry Benedict without being shunned.
At the Queen’s ball, Benedict and his mother Violet forced Araminta to come to an arrangement with Sophie, so neither of them would need to go to prison.
Araminta’s allegations were dropped and in return, the Bridgerton’s did not reveal she had lied and stolen Sophie’s inheritance.
A post-credit scene saw Sophie and Benedict finally tie the knot after he proposed to her at the Queen’s ball.
Bridgerton season 4 is on Netflix
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A MUMMY influencer lifted the lid on how much social media stars actually earn for their content.
On Tiktok, Charli Wooley documents her life with her hubby and young children, and also her incredible shopping hauls and skincare routine.
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TikToker Charli Wooley poke about how much she earns on TikTokCredit: tiktok/@charli0191She went viral in 2024 after sharing a compilation of her husband scaring their sonCredit: tiktok/@charli0191The video got 22.2 million viewsCredit: tiktok/@charli0191
The mum-of-two has 89,000 followers on TikTok with a combined 9.8 million likes across her hundreds of videos.
In late 2024, Charli went viral thanks to her hilarious video showing a compilation of her husband scaring their oldest son.
The video has 2.9 million likes and racked up a whopping 22.2 million views.
She recently made a video speaking to the camera where she explained exactly how much she earned for going viral and explained she had joined TikTok’s Creator Fund, which pays content creators for their views.
To join the program TikTokers must be 18 or older, have a minimum of 10,000 followers, a minimum of 100,000 views within 30 days of the video upload and run an account that follows TikTok Community Guidelines.
“So, I had a video that got 22.2 million views and I earned £3,500 from it,” Charli explained but then went into detail about how the rate of pay is calculated.
She told how TikTok pays a ‘rate per minute (RPM)’, but that rate change depending what time of the month the video is viewed.
“When it gets to near the end of the month in the Creator Fund, the RPM seems to drop. So if you do a video from the first to the 15th, my RPMs are normally about 50p, but when it gets past the 15th, it drops,” Charli said.
“And I think I did this video just after the RPM was lower and I’m pretty sure my RPM was only 20p. So, if my RPM would have been 50p, it would have been so much more but I’m super grateful anyway for what I got.”
Charli continued by saying “I would definitely advise joining” the Creator Fund because “it’s ridiculous that you can get that much money from one video.”
According to the TikTok official website, the Creator Fund “gives TikTok’s best and brightest the opportunity to earn money with their creative talent.”
While it is not a grant or ad revenue program, the Creator Fund provides payment to qualified TikTokers based on a “variety of factors” across their content.
“We want all creators to have the opportunity to earn money doing what they love and turn their passion into a livelihood,” the website continues.
With no limit on the number of qualified TikTokers who can join the fund, payments may increase or decrease at different times throughout one’s run on the platform.
Some factors affecting the funds a qualified TikToker may earn include number of authentic views per video, the amount of engagement, and whether or not the work falls within the Community Guidelines.
Charli said she earned a little more than £3,000 for the TikTokCredit: tiktok/@charli0191
A QUAINT village on the outskirts of Oxford has become a town – nearly 40 years after first applying.
Kidlington, which is one of the largest villages in England and sits close to the Cotswolds, first attempted to change into a town in 1988, although this was voted against at the time.
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Oxford Canal runs through Kidlington village, which will soon become a townCredit: Alamy
According to theBBC, the recent decision behind the status update comes after the government made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and National Policing Guarantee last year.
As a result of those changes, towns can get extra protections, especially when it comes to both planning and policing.
Now as a town, Kidlington is also looking to build new houses that could see it rise from 13,600 residents to between 30,00 and 40,000.
Baz Daniels, a resident for more than 20 years, said at the time: “Kidlington is apparently being marketed by Chinese tourist agencies as a beautiful English village on the way to Bicester Village shopping centre.
“Many of the visitors live in cities and love to see things like the hanging baskets and little flowers in people’s gardens.”
When it comes to visiting nowadays, the quaint village-now-town boasts a 13th century church with a 220-foot spire and a number of pubs, such as The Black Horse, The Jolly Boatman and The Turnpike.
In one pub, The Black Bull, you can grab two cocktails for a tenner or head to monthly bingo events.
One visitor said: “The Black Bull is the best pub in Kidlington by far.
“Always such a good atmosphere – if you’ve not visited yet I would highly recommend you do.”
The Oxford Canal, which was completed in 1790, also runs through the village.
From south Kidlington to the canal’s end in Oxford, it runs alongside the River Cherwell making it a scenic walk in the village.
In in the surrounding area, just a nine-minute drive away, you will find Blenheim Palace as well, which is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
The palace is surrounded by 2,000 acres of gardens to explore and inside the palace itself, visitors can explore the State Rooms and a Churchill exhibition.
Of course, the picturesque university city of Oxford is just down the road too, where you can explore historic buildings such as the Bodleian Library or head to the thriving Covered Market.
And the village is just a nine-minute drive from Blenheim PalaceCredit: AlamyThe village features a church with a 220-foot spireCredit: Alamy
The Parish Council had previously tried to get town status in 1988, but residents voted for it to stay a village.
But this time round, Councillor Melanie Moorhouse asserted the decision “doesn’t mean that anyone has to start calling it a town – people can still say they’re going to the village”.
She added: “Our hope is very much that it will not change our community – it will in fact secure our very much community identity.”
Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council added: “Our proposal aims to better tailor services to meet the needs of local residents, and empowering town and parish councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire is an important part of that.”
Despite this, some locals are still not happy about the change.
One person commented on Facebook: “To me as an oldie and lived here all my life it will always be a village.”
Another added: “I will never call it a town!”
In other UK village news, here are five pretty English villages that will make you feel like you’re in The Holiday with cosy pubs and cottages.
ONE of Asia’s biggest airport projects is underway and it will make it so much easier to travel to one of the country’s most famous landmarks.
Travellers will be able to get to the beautiful Taj Mahal so much quicker – in half the time – once building work is completed.
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A new, huge airport is under construction in IndiaCredit: Noida International AirportNoida’s International Airport will have lots of natural light, shops and restaurantsCredit: Noida International Airport
Noida International Airport is being built near Jewar in India and once fully constructed, will be one of Asia’s biggest airports.
The first phase will include the building of one terminal and one runway -which will handle 12million passengers each year.
The long-term masterplan could see it expand to accommodate up to 120million passengers per year with multiple terminals and up to six runways.
This would make it rival Asia’s other biggest and busiest airports including Beijing Daxing and Dubai International Airport.
Inside terminal one will be automated check-in kiosks, contactless boarding systems, spacious lounges and waiting zones.
The design of the airport is to make it easy for passengers to move about which it has done by separating the arrivals, departures and baggage areas.
There will be lots of seating too in zones between check-in, security and boarding.
The waiting areas will be air-conditioned, there will also be Wi-Fi, prayer rooms and child care areas.
As for its aesthetic, the terminal will be light and airy with a white and see-through roof that is wavy to mimic the flow of a river.
There’s a central courtyard where travellers can get some fresh air – it also has plenty of greenery and shaded areas.
Designs show escalators on the outside and inside, along with shops, restaurants and cafes.
The airport will sit in Jewar, which will make it easier for travellers heading to Agra where the Taj Mahal is.
The new airport will be light, airy and could see up to 120million passengersCredit: Noida International AirportThe new airport will be two hours from Agra, the home of the Taj MahalCredit: Getty Images
The mausoleum that sits on the bank of the river Yamuna in Agra sees up to eight million visitors every year.
Until the airport is up and running, travellers have to fly into New Delhi before heading almost four hours south by car.
The location of Noida International Airport will cut that travel time in half – from Jewar it will take just over two hours.
As for when the new airport will open, there is no date yet although local reports suggest it could be as early as next year.
Both IndiGo and Akasa Air have confirmed they will operate at the airport, although these will be for mainly domestic destinations.
When it comes to Brits, international routes are yet to confirmed if they will be to the UK, with destinations mentioned including Zurich and Dubai.
Current UK-India routes are operated by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
The original target opening was two years ago in September 2024, however construction is still ongoing.
The airport covers around 5,000 hectares, making it one of the largest airport sites in India once fully built.
King Salman International Airport is set to surpass all other airports in size, including the current biggest airport in the world which is also in the country.
The 22sqm airport will feature six runways – up from two – parallel to each other and will be built around the existing King Khalid International Airport.
It will approximately be the same size as Manhattan in New York – or twice the size of the city of Bath, in the UK.
And now the airport has moved into its construction phase.
The airport will be designed by Foster + Partners, a UK firm which is behind London‘s famous Gherkin.
Inside, travellers will be able to explore 4.6sqm of shops.
A lot of features in the airport are set to include high tech, such as climate-controlled lighted.
Travellers will have plenty of seating, indoor and outdoor spaces with greenery and vast glass windows, ideal for a bit of plane spotting.
The airport was announced back in 2022 and is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman‘s Saudi Vision 2030 – which is set to make Riyadh into a major hub for transport, trade and tourism.
It will eventually accommodate up to 120million passengers each year, which is then expected to rise to 185million by 2050.
And the number of aircraft takeoffs will rise from 211,000 per year to over one million.
Unlike other McDonald’s sites, this one also has a panoramic elevator as well as a curly slide between the floors.
And guests shouldn’t have to wait long to make their order as there are 23 self-service kiosks.
Otherwise there will be 210 employees, that speak 16 languages between them.
Boris Solbach, senior vice president, chief financial officer, Disneyland Paris said: “Since 1999, Disneyland Paris and McDonald’s have built a relationship grounded in trust and a shared vision of the guest experience.
“The opening of this new restaurant fully supports the transformation of Disney Village through a landmark project that combines innovative architecture, high-quality hospitality, and seamless integration into the site’s universe.”
The environment has also been thought about during the construction process and as a result, the restaurant has a green roof, planters and a 120sqm living wall.
The original Disney Village McDonald’s – which sits just next door – opened in 1999 but has now closed as the new venue has opened.
The restaurant will soon be demolished as well, as part of the wider plan to reimagine Disney Village.
Disney Village is located between the theme parks and Disney Hotels and has a number of shopping and dining experiences.
There are 600 seats in total and even a wall mural of the Disneyland Paris skylineCredit: Disney/McdonaldsThe new restaurant replaces the old restaurant next door, which opened in 1999Credit: Disney/McdonaldsIt even has an outdoor terrace with 200 seatsCredit: Disney/Mcdonalds
The village is currently undergoing a revamp and once complete will have new restaurants, shops, building facades and guest experiences.
The two new Disney shops will be a lifestyle shop with ready-to-wear clothing, jewellery and accessories and then there will also be a Disney home store with collectible items and decorations.
The Lego store has also been improved recently, with more photo opportunities, big builds and play stations.
Back in November, Sports Bar & Lounge reopened with an expanded dining area, redesigned terrace and fresh interiors.
The bar also now has a giant fresco featuring Goofy and another featuring Big Hero 6: The Series on the restaurant’s façade.
Pelé Soccer, a new shop dedicated to the world of football, will open soon as well.
Last year, McDonald’s opened its biggest site in Europe last year in Majorca, Spain.
The restaurant can be found at Level P30, Module A Airside of Palma de Mallorca Airport in the Spanish island and sprawls across 1,000sqm.
There are a number of McDonald’s across the world that also double as tourist spots.
Of the new routes, easyJet will start flights to Nice, France in March 2026 and Malta this summer.
The airline will also start flights to Faro in Portugal between March and October and to Enfidha, Tunisia, flights will begin in time for summer.
Jet2 will start operating flights to Preveza, Greece in May 2026, for the summer season and flights to Palermo, Sicily from May too, with weekly flights until November.
The airline will also launch its first flights to Porto in Portugal in May, running for the summer season until October.
The airport also recently announced that easyJet is launching new routes to Lisbon and Rome Fiumicino.
The two routes will launch this summer with the Newcastle to Rome route starting on March 30 and the Newcastle to Lisbon route starting on June 22.
Both new routes will operate on Mondays and Fridays.
Leon McQuaid, director of Aviation Development at Newcastle Airport, said: “Lisbon is a brand-new destination from Newcastle Airport and one we’ve been keen to deliver for the region on the back of strong customer demand and feedback, so it’s fantastic to see flights and package holidays now on sale, alongside easyJet’s new route to Rome.”
“With just two months to go until easyJet opens its new base, this investment is not only delivering exciting new routes but will also bring significant economic benefits to the North East, including creating 130 direct jobs and supporting around 1200 UK jobs in total as well as attracting more visitors to the region.”
The new routes come as the airport expects 120,000 passengers this half-term, which is a 10 per cent increase compared to last year.
New destinations include Porto and Nice, as well as returning destinations such as CopenhagenCredit: Getty
In total, over 750 flights will arrive and depart the airport, with popular destinations including Alicante, Antalya, Dubai and Tenerife.
Ski trips are also expected to be popular, with families heading to Chambery, Grenoble and Geneva.
The new routes are part of a wider £60million investment plan at the airport, which will see facilities updated as well as a larger departure lounge and international arrivals baggage hall.
In the departures lounge, there will be more seating areas, toilets and additional food and drink spots.
The three-storey terminal expansion will also have a new security search area with extra check-in desks and new self-service bag drop counters.
By 2040, the airport hopes to welcome nine million passengers a year.
