Britain

Tonight millions of viewers will be able to celebrate those honoured at The Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises as it airs on ITV. But what were Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo’s best bits?

Millions of people across the UK will be tuning in tonight to the most uplifting show in the TV calendar, as The Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises unfolds in a two hour extravaganza.

Seldom is an event this packed with A list celebrities. But, despite the dazzling outfits and wall-to-wall glamour, it is the ordinary people with the extraordinary stories who take centre stage for this truly incredible occasion.

Co-hosts Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo host the event brilliantly – totally engaging with the amazing winners, who win everyone’s hearts … including our Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who describes them as “the very best of our country.”

Here, Carol and Ashley each share their five most magical moments from the unforgettable night..

Carol’s Moments – Maja surprising Sally Becker

Known as The Angel of Mostar, humanitarian aid hero, Sally Becker, who received the Lifetime Achievement award – after evacuating hundreds of children from war zones all across the globe over a 30 year career – was joined on stage by one of the children she had saved.

Carol said: “Sally had referenced Maja when I asked about when she first went into Bosnia, this girl who had lost her leg and was in critical pain and how she brought her out. We got Maja to send a fake message from Florida to thank her, and then, of course, the big surprise was that Maja came out with her award. Sally is one of the most loving people you could ever possibly wish to meet. She’s so brave. I don’t think she realises just how brave she is. She’s quite extraordinary. That really made me cry, to be honest.”

The Rock Surprising Luke

Luke Mortimer, 12, who had all four of his limbs amputated after contracting meningitis and septicemia, was shown being surprised by movie star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who told him he would be receiving the Child of Courage award.

The young fundraiser was stunned into virtual silence when the star of Jumanjii and The Smashing Machine walked into his hotel room with his room service order. Johnson, who stands at a remarkable 6ft 5in, commended Luke on the incredible physical challenges he has completed to raise money for other children with amputations. Carol said: “All of us were going to Luke, ‘How big is The Rock? Is he as big as we think he is?’ That was really funny.”

Margot Robbie surprising Georgie

Georgie Hyslop, 17, received the Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser award for her incredible efforts to brighten-up the lives of others, despite being treated for an extremely rare form of bone cancer herself. The brave youngster, who has raised over £55,000 for charity through a series of balls and events, was surprised by Margot Robbie, who played Barbie in the movie, and who revealed that she had won a Pride of Britain.

The Hollywood star of blockbusters like Wolf of Wallstreet and I, Tonya, also invited Georgie – an aspiring actor – and her family to attend the premiere of her latest film, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Carol said: “We’d lied to Georgie, obviously. We said we were filming a documentary and that we were going to take the family out for dinner, so they should bring some nice clothes. But actually, of course, they were bringing clothes to go to Margot Robbie’s premiere which was quite remarkable. It was just lovely, absolutely lovely.”

Ruth Jones as Nessa with Joanne Harris

Joanne Harris was handed the ITV Fundraiser award for her mission to provide knitted breast prosthetics for women who have had mastectomies due to breast cancer. Inspired by her own friend’s struggle with the disease, which made her aware of the uncomfortable silicon prosthetics provided by the NHS, Joanne set up Knitted Knockers Northern Ireland which now provides 5,000 soft, breathable knitted breast prosthetics to cancer patients free of charge every year.

On stage, Gavin and Stacey stars Ruth Jones and Joanna Page, presented her award, paying tribute to her tireless charity work. Carol said: “Ruth, never ever does the Nessa impression, you know? But she did it all as Nessa from Gavin and Stacey and it was just wonderful. It was like Nessa was on stage!”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mary Earps surprising Asha

Asha Rage was recognised for starting the Dream Chasers, a football club turned youth centre to help support local children in Birmingham and keep them away from antisocial behaviour. Presented with the Special Recognition award, Asha was surprised on stage by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and former England’s Lionesses’ goal keeper Mary Earps. The PM commended Asha for her tireless work supporting the young people of her community.

Carol said: “I could get over the fact that here is a Muslim woman who doesn’t know anything about football and then decides that she’s going to set up a football club for teenagers. She trained herself and now she’s got three and a half thousand members of the club. It’s quite extraordinary.”

Ashley’s Moments – Westlife on stage with Ups & Downs

The Ups & Downs group, a theatre club for children and young people with Down’s syndrome and their siblings, was awarded the This Morning’s Local Heroes award. The group, formed in 1995 by three music teachers who worked at an additional needs school, provides a safe space for people of all ages with Down’s Syndrome to be themselves and share the joy of theatre.

Thirty of its members took to the Pride of Britain stage to receive the award and at the end of the ceremony, joined the legendary Westlife to celebrate the wonderful evening. Ashley said: “It was such a joy to see the Ups & Downs group so excited to receive their Pride of Britain award – they brought such an unmatched energy to the room and put a smile on everyone’s faces. Seeing them dance with Westlife and the other incredible winners was just the best ending to the ceremony.”

Al Murray helping Marcus inhis fundraising efforts and revealing the total donated

Marcus Skeet, 17, better known as the Hull Boy by his hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, was given the Special Recognition award for his incredible fundraising efforts and tireless advocating for mental health awareness. The campaigner, who earlier this year became the youngest person ever to run the length of the country between Land’s end and John O’Groats, took to running after struggling with his mental health.

Ashley said: “You don’t meet many people like Marcus who are able to bring themselves out of such a dark place in the way he has. But not only that, to go on to help others through their own dark times as well, it’s just incredible and so inspiring. One of my highlights was seeing the room come together to help him reach his fundraising goal to start Marcus Movers clubs all over the country – lead of course by the legendary Al Murray who made the whole thing hilarious.”

Hainault police officers

The three police officers who were the first responders at the scene of the brutal Hainault attack last year, which saw 14-year old Daniel Anjorin murdered by psychotic killer Marcus Arduini-Monzo, received the Outstanding Bravery Award. Despite suffering injuries and having no weapons to hand, their decisive actions helped bring the situation under control and ensured the safety of the community.

Ashley said: “This was one of the most hard hitting moments of the evening. As a father, it just amazes me that there are people out there like these police officers who are willing to put themselves in such danger to protect others. Any of us could be in that position one day but with people like that around to step in, we are all that bit safer. It made me really emotional, yeah, but I am so glad they got the recognition they deserved.”

Javeno receiving his award

For more than two decades, Javeno McClean has used his skills as an exercise and health specialist to improve the lives of the elderly and people with disabilities. Setting up his own free gym in his hometown of Manchester, he has created a friendly environment for everyone to work on their physical and mental health and welcomes people of all abilities through his doors.

He was awarded the brand new P&O Cruises Inspiration award for his tireless work and was joined on stage by boxing champion David Haye. Ashley said: “Javeno is one of the coolest and most positive guys I have ever met. His muscles really put us all to shame but the way he is so dedicated to helping the most vulnerable members of our community is so inspiring.”

Ronnie Wood surprising Harry Byrne

Harry Byrne was awarded the King’s Trust Young Achiever award after overcoming loss, addiction and homelessness to become an inspirational mentor and coach helping to give other young people a brighter future. The 24-year-old was presented his award by Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood.

Ashley said: “Ronnie Wood is a god of rock and roll, isn’t he? The moment he was on stage with Harry was amazing and such a great representation of what the awards are all about. I mean, Harry has completely transformed his life after a pretty rough start and is now helping other young people to do the same. The way the King’s Trust has helped him and others is remarkable and Harry deserved all the glory – and the praise that Ronnie gave him – for his hard work.”

Watch Pride of Britain on Thursday 23rd October, ITV at 8PM.

The winners moved celebrities, politicians and stars to tears with their stories of courage, bravery and brilliance at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards

It has been celebrating the very best of everything British for more than quarter of a century. And once again it was the children of courage and incredible stories of bravery in adversity which moved a host of celebrities, actors and sport stars to tears at the 26th Daily Mirror Pride of Britain awards, with P&O Cruises.

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was there with his wife Victoria to pay tribute to the long line of unsung heroes as they received the recognition they so richly deserve. At just 12 years old, Luke Mortimer typified what the night is all about when he received his Child of Courage trophy.

Luke had all his limbs amputated after contracting meningococcal meningitis septicaemia in 2019. Yet still he thought of others. The audience at the Grosvenor House Hotel gave him a huge round of applause as they heard how he had donated thousands for children with disabilities, through his extraordinary fundraising activities.

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In 2024, he climbed Pen-y-ghent with his mum Christine and brother Harry, 15, meeting his dad Adam and a team of 19 who were climbing the National Three Peaks and Yorkshire Three Peaks. They raised almost £20,000 to help fund prosthetics for Luke and help other child amputees. He told his loved ones that we should all “concentrate on the future” as he set about helping others.

His favourite TV stars Ant and Dec sent a special message to Luke, who told host Carol Vorderman of his motto when life was tough: “Hope for a good time and try and make it happen.”

His dad Adam added: “We are massively proud of him, he takes everything in his slightly smaller stride.”

Marcus Skeet, 17, became the first person in the UK to run from Land’s End to John O’Groats as he fought back from a suicide attempt at the age of 15. He had obsessive compulsive disorder, and became a carer for his dad, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia.

Marcus admitted: “It shattered my heart.” After his suicide attempt, it was a ‘miracle’ that he had survived. Known as ‘the Hull Man’, with 350,000 followers on social media, he watched cars go by as he got caught in a rainstorm, with 790 miles to go in his epic run.

Marooned in a layby, soaked through, he still became a record breaker, raising £164,560 for mental health charity Mind, with his dad there to see him at the end. “I will remember that for the rest of my life,” said Marcus.

His incredible feat took a combination of supreme dedication and endurance and he joked: “I hate running.” Dr. Sarah Hughes, CEO at Mind paid tribute, saying: “His story reads like a film script, courage, loss, hope, and relentless determination.

“But Marcus isn’t a character; he’s a real-life hero.” Pub landlord comedian Al Murray revealed he had been inspired by Marcus to raise money for Mind. Looking for donors in the audience, he said: “Whether you are an actor or a rock star, you cannot fail to be moved by this night.”

Personal trainer Javeno McLean, 40, met his heroes as his work for the disabled, ill and elderly was recognised with the P&O Cruises Inspiration award.

Former world champion heavyweight David Haye joined legends of the ring Frank Bruno and Barry McGuigan to hand over the coveted trophy. They heard how Javeno has been offering free fitness sessions to the needy at his J7 Gym in Manchester.

At 16, he offered to train a boy in a wheelchair who was struggling in the gym. Since then, Javeno has been devoted to creating a friendly and inclusive gym space for all. He told the judges: “When you include people you empower them.”

Haye said it was an ‘honour’ to be chosen to give him the award. On a night of awe-inspiring stories, PCs Yasmin Whitfield, Cameron King and Inspector Moloy Campbell were recognised for their extraordinary bravery.

They answered an emergency call on an ‘ordinary’ working day which almost turned out to be their last. By the time they confronted sword attacker Marcus Arduini Monzo in Hainault, East London on April 20,2024, he had already killed Daniel Anjorin, 14.

Despite having no Taser or pepper spray, Pc King drew his baton and stood between the killer and Yasmin, who suffered horrific slash injuries.

Insp Campbell also suffered a slash wound to his hand after he confronted Monzo in a car park and ran at him, baton drawn. Other officers were able to deploy their Tasers and subdue the killer. PC King ‘stood between Yas and Monzo’, who ran off, before being cornered by cops. He said: “I remember just thinking, I can’t let him finish her off’. I put myself between Yas and him. I thought ‘we’re going to die in this alleyway.'” Insp Campbell admitted: “When I challenged Mr Monzo, I knew it may be the last decision I would ever make.” Monzo was later jailed for life with a minimum term of 40 years. In 2016, footy coach Asha Ali Rage 46, set up her community club, determined to use sport to protect youngsters from gangs. The aptly named Dream Chasers FC in Small Heath, Birmingham has since become a vital hub for her local community.

Asha received her award from England’s ‘Golden Gloves’ World Cup keeper Mary Earps who has done so much to raise the profile of sport for women; Asha’s Special Recognition Award was for “changing the lives” of the young stars of the future. Leanne Pero MBE, 30, won another recognition award for The Movement Factory community dance company which she founded when she was just 15. Londoner Leanne, who survived breast cancer, also started Black Women Rising, a cancer support group that has raised more than £1m to fund support and advice. She said of surviving cancer: “The worst part was finishing treatment.” Teenager of Courage winner Eagling Zach, 14, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, also donated to the Epilepsy Society by walking laps of his garden in the 2020 lockdown. After trolls bombarded him with flashing images to try to trigger a seizure, he campaigned for legislation to protect people with epilepsy online. Zach’s Law was introduced across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in Sept., 2023, making it a criminal offence, with a maximum five-year jail term, to troll anyone with epilepsy to deliberately cause a seizure. Zach has now launched a petition to ‘make a difference’ and try to ensure public transport is more accessible for disabled people. For Sally Becker, 63, helping those most in need in society has been her life’s work.

She first went to Bosnia in 1993 to help the victims of war. Tasked with taking aid to a hospital, she found herself evacuating sick and injured children in an old Bedford van.

She has now spent more than three decades helping children in besieged areas, such as Gaza, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.

In 2016, she founded Save a Child, providing medical treatment for kids in conflict areas. And she launched a mobile tele-medicine programme connecting local doctors with paediatric specialists. She said: “We have saved thousands of children.”

Georgie Hyslop, 15, was thrilled to be made the Good Morning Britain Fundraiser of the year. In 2023, when Georgie, then 15, was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer in the bones, she donated her tissue to Cancer Research. She raised more than £55,000 for hospitals and charities.

Through 14 rounds of chemo and 33 of radiation, Georgie gave cards with encouraging messages, known as “pocket hugs”, to fellow patients, and dressed up as Spider-Man to cheer up a four-year-old patient having radiotherapy.

Georgie, 17, from Ardrossan, Ayrshire, went into remission in July 2024, but the cancer returned earlier this year. She said: “I have lots of fundraising planned and lots to look forward to.”

Set up by three music teachers at an additional needs school in 1995, the Ups & Downs theatre group in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, is for young people with Down’s syndrome as well as their families.

Now led by Lorna Leggatt, whose son Ellis, 26, has been a member since he was five, Ups & Downs offers inclusive activities, including music, dance and drama, to around 70 members, who have Down’s syndrome or a sibling with the condition. Audiences leave their shows ‘deeply moved’.

Fellow PoB winner Harry Byrne lost his mother on Christmas Day; her death caused Harry, then 11, to descend into mental health problems, addiction and homelessness. Harry, 24, was helped by local homelessness charity St Basil’s and discovered The King’s Trust Get Started in Outdoor Leadership programme, landing a job in Coventry.

Now supporting young people facing difficulties, through outdoor activities, he hopes to run his own therapy-based coaching service. Harry said: “I didn’t have many role models or access to the support I needed when I was younger. I’m passionate about getting up every morning and providing just that for the next generation.”

RAF hero John Nichol, 61, the navigator from North Shields, North Tyneside who was shot down and captured in Iraq during the first gulf war of 1990, has attended every single one of the Pride of Britain’s 26 award nights. A good friend of the late awards founder Peter Willis, he said: “I was next to Gary Barlow on that first night and had to give him my hankie. I think there is only me and Carol Vorderman who have been to every one.

“Nobody knew what to expect, but it has become the best of the lot.”

Pictures: Rowan Griffiths, Adam Gerrard, Andy Stenning.

* Watch the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises on Thursday October 23 at 8pm on ITV1.

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CELEBRITIES have stepped out in their finery for tonight’s Pride of Britain Awards.

Looking sensational while hitting the red carpet, the likes of GK Barry, Amy Dowden and Helen Flanagan, Maura Higgins, Tasha Ghouri and many others have posed up a storm ahead of the emotional night.

The Pride of Britain Awards is an annual event that honours unsung heroes from up and down the United Kingdom.

The awards celebrate individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage, bravery, and achievement.

They are awarded to those who have overcome adversity or made a significant difference in their communities. 

Stepping out on Monday night for the event, many famous faces gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

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Helen Flanagan left onlookers stunned as she wowed in a black and white ensemble.

The very chic gown she donned was black with white edging and accents.

Sailing down to the ground, the sleek fitted dress was adorned in sparkling diamantes that glimmered beneath the lights.

Helen wore her blonde locks in an up-do and posed up a storm with her hand on her hip.

The dress had an ample amount of drama to it, and sailed down to the ground, trailing behind her.

Love Island and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! beauty Maura Higgins stole the night in a completely sheer lace number.

Another Love Island alum, Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu dared all in a very risque ensemble.

The stunning star wore a cut out black frock, which bared her hips and midriff.

She looked sensational in the corseted black gown, which was see-through and left little to the imagination.

Though the dress was made from lace and incredibly fitted, Maura’s frock boasted of a huge billowing train which jolted out from her bottom.

GK Barry was one of the first arrivals of the night, and turned heads in a sexy black lace gown.

The lace dress featured a high neck and sailed all the way down to the ground.

GK, whose name is Grace, wore her blonde locks in a sleek up-do.

Another early arrival of the night was Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden.

The Welsh dancing sensation wore a striking purple frock for the occasion.

Ashley James was next to arrive, looking sensational in a metallic frock.

Posing for the cameras before heading inside to watch the prestigious and heartwarming ceremony, Ashley smiled as she displayed her stunning dress.

With a sweetheart neckline, the strapless silver gown had a corset-style upper and ruching on the midsection.

Love Island‘s Tasha Ghouri also brought the glamour on Monday night.

Stepping out in a strapless powder blue dress, Tasha looked amazing as she showed off her leg thanks to the thigh high split.

The dress had a drop waist and was ruched to one side, with the thigh high split showing off Tasha’s endless pins as the dress trailed behind her.

The Only Way Is Essex hunk Joey Essex also attended the star-studded evening.

He rocked a black suit with a white shirt, and looked ultra suave in the process.

Freddy Brazier and his pregnant ex-girlfriend looked content as they cosied up to one another on the red carpet.

He wore all green, while she opted for a lemon figure-hugging gown that displayed her bump.

Television starlet Carol Vorderman looked sensational in a sleek and slinky black gown.

Standing on the red carpet the former Countdown siren smiled sweetly as she showed off her slender curves in the understated frock.

Montana Brown channelled her inner autumn goddess as she wore a burgundy frock on the red carpet.

Looking amazing as she posed outside of the event, the former Love Island starlet held a black clutch bag as she rocked a neutral makeup look on Monday night.

Laura Kenny followed Montana’s lead in a wine-coloured frock.

The former professional track and road cyclist who specialised in track endurance events, showed off her toned pins as she posed on the red carpet.

EastEnders star Louisa Lytton made a statement in a fitted black dress, featuring a sweetheart neckline and red statement sleeves.

The stunning brunette completed the look with a red lip as she beamed on the red carpet.

Love Island’s Faye Winter wore a powdery lilac gown for the occasion.

The silk frock had a structured mid section, a lace upper, no straps and a mini train.

She wore her blonde locks down and in a wavy style, with her makeup kept glowy and bronzed.

Liberty Poole, also from Love Island, left little to the imagination in a plunging silver gown.

Showing off her cleavage, Liberty looked stunning as she wore the revealing dress with cutout sections.

Yet another Love Island alum, Gabby Allen, rocked a dazzling frock.

Showing off her slender figure, Gabby stunned onlookers as she pouted while donning a dark purple lipstick.

Emily Andre, Junior Andre, Princess Andre and Peter Andre attended the glitzy event.

Posing for a family snap on the red carpet, the foursome looked ultra glamorous and suave as she beamed for the cameras.

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Recent Love Island stunners Yasmin Pettet, Toni Laites and Shakira Khan attended as a trio.

Yasmin wore all black, Toni wore a white frock, and Shakira stunned in gold.

Though rich with detail, the aim of the game is enticingly simple – make your opponent touch the ground with any part of his body which isn’t the sole of his foot, or push him out of the ring, or dohyo, altogether.

Rikishi train intensely from a young age in order to master the precise rituals and 82 different winning techniques, or kimarite, but it was through their adventures outside of the dohyo that they stole the hearts of old and new British fans.

Because the 40 rikishi who travelled to compete in London crammed plenty of quintessentially British traditions into their visit.

Accustomed to taking on board up to 10,000 calories per day in pursuit of their ultimate competition weight, in London they swapped their usual high-protein chankonabe stew for fish and chips and pints of Guinness in between tours of Harrods and photo opportunities outside the Houses of Parliament.

Wrestlers were seen visiting Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross, made famous by the Harry Potter series, and some even made it as far as Stonehenge in Wiltshire.

Most-loved, though, were the photos snapped of the huge frames of the rikishi getting around the capital in black cabs, red buses – and even by bike., external

A HOLIDAY isn’t complete without a trolley-dash at the local supermarket, and honestly, forget about the beach – I was in Florida for the crisps and sweets.

For me, only one spot can claim the ultimate snack crown – America.

Having recently travelled to Miami, I couldn’t help but dive into a local supermarket as part of my holiday itinerary to find some tempting snacks.

And it isn’t just me that loves to do this – Expedia predicted that ‘supermarket tourism’ would be big for this year, with more and more travellers looking to bring home a special treat instead of a tacky keyring.

But sharing is caring, so here are my honest thoughts on some American cult snacks including whether it is worth taking them up space in your luggage or if you can find similar in the UK.

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Love it or hate it, peanut butter has definitely made its way into a lot of sweet treats – of which, more and more can be found in the UK – Reese’s is just one example.

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As a ‘love it’ fan, I of course was overjoyed when I discovered Butterfinger.

These treats are essentially caramelised peanut butter that has been crushed into a dense bar, and wrapped in milk chocolate.

I picked them up in mini form, in small treat boxes often found in the states.

For peanut butter fans, these crispy-crunchy bars are a treat – be warned though, after a couple they will hit you like a sugar-coated brick and have you begging for some water.

A 100g box before tax costs $2.29 (£1.71).

For a UK dupe, maybe grab a Snickers bar for a similar taste or a peanut butter KitKat Chunky.

But if you want more of a decadent peanut butter and chewy treat, we don’t really have something that matches.

Even Reese’s is smooth.

Verdict? Definitely stock up when in the US.

Birthday Cake Oreos

I still remember when Oreos made it to the UK and I was instantly hooked.

And ever since travelling to the US, I will bring back heaps of packets in crazy flavours such as carrot cake, peanut butter and jelly and blueberry pie.

This time I opted for perhaps the slightly tamer, birthday cake flavour.

Whilst super yummy, these taste very similar to regular Oreos – just perhaps with more of an icing flavour than cream.

The family pack cost $6.79 (£5.06), which gives you the same amount of Oreos that you’d get in three standard packets in the UK.

And there is good news if you do want to try them as you can often find them in some UK shops, like most recently Poundland.

Verdict? They’re great – but stick to the classics and save your dimes.

Pringles Mingles – sharp white cheddar and ranch

As an avid fan of Pringles, I was simultaneously excited but also shocked to find that my favourite crisps also had puffed snacks.

And in classic American style, I of course opted for the cheddar and ranch flavour.

Now ranch may be a acquired taste, but these creamy and herby puffed crisps are definitely moreish.

They are shaped liked the Pringles man’s bowtie as well, which is a fun feature.

A bag costs $4.99 (£3.72) – but don’t worry, you get a lot in there for your money.

Sadly, I haven’t seen anything like this in the UK – or even ranch-flavoured crisps, so you’ll need to grab them on your next visit to the states.

Verdict? Do not miss these when in America, particularly if you like ranch.

Skittles Gummies – wild berry

We all know Skittles and we all love them for not being like any other sweet you can get.

But I had never seen Skittles Gummies – essentially a soft version of Skittles.

I grabbed a bag in the wild berry flavour, and I won’t lie I was sceptical – the vibrant colours looked like I would just be eating food colouring.

As for the taste? Well, they were as expected – super sugary and artificial.

They weren’t cheap either at $3.99 (£2.97) a bag and that is before tax.

And they aren’t anything special, they taste like a lot of sweets you can get in the UK that are wild berry flavoured.

Verdict? I think if you picked up some 79p jelly cherries at ALDI and some red and black Wine Gums and you will get the same taste – potentially even better.

Save your money and suitcase space and opt for some hard ones instead once back in the UK,

Welch’s Fruit Snacks

Now before you scroll past at the thought of a fruit snack, don’t worry as these are more like sweets.

These small fruit gummies are packed full of flavour and – apparently – made with real fruit juice.

They look a lot like midget gems and I would say this is the closest the UK will get to Welch’s fruit snacks, though midget gems are much harder.

There are a number of flavours in each bag, such as grape, strawberry and orange.

A bag costs $2.99 (£2.23) but you can also get them in small bags or boxes.

Verdict? They taste a lot less artificial than the Skittles Gummies and definitely pack a powerful fruity punch – grab some when in the US.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal

Now I know a cereal isn’t exactly a snack, but when I wandered down the cereal aisle in an American supermarket, I couldn’t help but grab one of the brightly coloured boxes.

The shelves of fun and flavourful cereals also made me realise that cereals in the UK are boring.

Where are the marshmallows? And the exciting sugar rush?

Cinnamon Toast Crunch is the ultimate autumnal cereal – they are little cinnamon squares that are like a much sweeter – and more fun – version of Shreddies.

It costs $5.49 (£4.09) a box and makes breakfast a real treat, but I also will tip a handful into a zip lock bag to have as a snack.

The even better news is that the UK has a great dupe – Curiously Cinnamon.

Available at most supermarkets for between £3 and £5 a box, it is essentially the same product just with a different name.

Although I do think the UK version is less sweet – which is no surprise.

Verdict? Definitely grab a box in the US, but in the meantime the UK version will do.

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Extraordinary event will take place later this month and will be a ‘special community event’ with more than just switching on Christmas lights

Christmas is just around the corner and while cities all over the UK get ready to switch on the Christmas lights – one city has gone a step further.

Bristol’s SS Great Britain is set to host a variety of Christmas events this year, including the much-anticipated Christmas tree lights switch-on event.

The landmark’s Christmas lights switch on, described as a ‘special community event’, will take place on Thursday, 27 November at 6pm in Brunel Square.

Organisers have revealed that this year’s event has a unique theme – Golden Glow – which is linked to the SS Great Britain’s Golden Ticket education programme.

This initiative provides enriching learning experiences for primary schools most affected by deprivation in Bristol, as well as local SEND schools.

The Christmas lights switch on will showcase a beautiful tree adorned with festoon lighting and a snow machine, while performances from a local choir will certainly get locals into the festive spirit.

But it’s just one of the many Christmas events happening at the SS Great Britain this year.

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Here are a few more you might want to check out…, according to Bristol Live.

Masquerade Ball

When: 6 December, 2025 at 6pm until midnight.

According to the event’s details: “Don your finest attire and most elaborate mask for an evening steeped in enchantment.”

You’ll have the chance to stroll around the decks, enjoy a bubbly welcome drink and tuck into a festive three-course dinner accompanied by a string quartet.

A magician will be wandering the ship, performing tricks and illusions, and you’ll have the opportunity to explore the ship after dark. Tickets are priced at £99 per person with bookings closing on Saturday, 22 November.

Christmas Murder Mystery

When: 13 December 2025, 6.30pm until midnight.

This murder mystery event includes a welcome drink, a three-course dinner and promises guests an ‘exhilarating evening of entertainment’ onboard, where they must keep their eyes peeled for clues during dinner and help solve a mysterious crime – tickets are priced at £99 per person.

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Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley was joined by Kate Garraway on Thursday’s edition of the ITV show

Good Morning Britain was interrupted on Thursday (October 16) as Richard Madeley said, “I’m going to make a confession”.

During today’s instalment of the popular ITV show, Richard and his co-presenter Kate Garraway brought viewers up to speed on the latest developments from Britain and beyond.

Laura Tobin joined them in the studio to deliver regular weather forecasts, whilst Charlotte Hawkins took care of the day’s remaining headlines.

Richard and Kate discussed former government advisor Dominic Cummings‘ claims regarding China, alongside a fresh police initiative involving GPS ankle tags to tackle shoplifting.

Later, Charlotte revealed that the number of drivers being handed penalty points has surged in the last year, with speed cameras catching record numbers of motorists breaking legal limits, reports Wales Online.

Almost ten million points were added to licences in 2024.

Whilst discussing the matter with pundits Kwasi Kwarteng and Ayesha Hazarika, Richard announced, “I’m going to make a confession now, it’s not a big deal, but whatever.”

The host then admitted he carried six points on his driving licence, explaining: “Both because of speed cameras. One for doing 34 mph on a dual carriageway at four thirty in the morning when it was a 30 mph [zone], I didn’t realise that.

“And one for doing 24 mph in a 20 mph zone at four thirty in the morning. And I have to say, I don’t mind being fined because, yes, I have broken the limit inadvertently, but to get three points on a licence, as well, seemed a bit harsh.

“I only say this because Co-op Insurance has done a survey and they’ve announced the results this morning. A surge in drivers has been caught by speed cameras, a huge, huge rise.”

He went on: “A 12% increase in the number of penalty points added to licences last year. Of course, if you get to 12, it means you lose your licence.

“Of course, speeding has to be controlled. Are we over-penalising drivers for relatively minor infractions? I’m not sure.”

Kwasi chimed in, “My view on this is that those 20 mph speed limits are almost impossible. You’ve got to be very, very careful.”

Richard then revealed that he uses cruise control, which Ayesha quipped was “such a Richard Madeley thing to say”.

“It may be a Richard Madeley thing to say, but actually it protects me from getting more points,” Richard concluded.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am

Chester’s city walls are the oldest, longest, and most complete city walls in Britain – and they are completely free to walk around

There’s only one English city that can boast the most complete city walls in the country, where visitors can stroll their entire length – two miles of history and ancient charm just a stone’s throw away.

These are considered the oldest, longest, and most complete city walls in Britain. The initial parts of the walls were erected by the Romans, and later they were expanded and developed during the Saxon (10th century) and Norman (12th century) eras.

However, from the 18th century onwards, the walls were no longer required for defence and were transformed into a popular public walkway and tourist hotspot. You can traverse the full length of the Roman Wall, which is open all year round and free to access.

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The route includes four main gateways: Northgate, Eastgate, Watergate and Bridgegate and with a few well-deserved rest stops along the way, it can be completed in a couple of hours.

Best of all, it’s completely free to access the walls’ walkway at any time. However, there is a small fee if you wish to join an organised tour, which departs from the Town Hall Visitor Information Centre and lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Of course, we’re talking about Chester City Walls, which encircle a small rectangular area in the very heart of this stunning historic city. The Grade I listed walls are the best preserved city walls in Britain and encompass the site of the medieval city, reports the Express.

A footpath runs atop the walls, with only a small 100-metre section incomplete. As you stroll along, you’ll have the opportunity to take in Chester’s many attractions, including the castle, cathedral, and racecourse.

The city is dotted with historic sites and eateries where you can extend your day out. The trail follows the paved path on top of the walls. Historically, many significant towns and cities were fortified by walls, but today, only Chester boasts a complete circuit around the city. Throughout the Middle Ages, Chester was one of the most fortified and strategically crucial cities in the county.

Over time, these walls have been continuously modified, repaired and occasionally attacked. One reason they still stand today is that from the 18th century onwards, they were no longer required for defence and were transformed into a fashionable walkway and public amenity.

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Some of the historic sites visible from the walls include the Cathedral, the King Charles Tower, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Eastgate Clock, the River Dee and the city’s unique Rows. The 12th-century Agricola Tower served as the first stone gateway to Chester Castle, which was established by William the Conqueror in 1070. The South-west part of the city also deserves a mention.

All restoration work on the walls requires approval from Historic England. In 2020, a portion of Chester’s City Walls crumbled near the renowned Eastgate Clock, with repair efforts currently ongoing. Several tragic incidents have occurred with people plummeting from the walls, so exercise caution!

Over 400 years ago, in 1615, William Webb described it as “a very delectable walk, feeding the eye, with the sweet gardens and fine buildings of the city.” Much more recently, one local resident described the route they like to take when walking the walls. Speaking on TripAdvisor they said: “I always start at the East Gate because it’s the first part of the wall I get to when I walk from the railway station.”

They added: “I then go around the walls clockwise. After about 150 metres, you can then come down off the walls and see the amphitheatre and Roman Gardens. Then further around is the river; but I don’t usually get past Bridgegate because I come off the wall there and go in to the Bear & Billet pub!”

TENS of thousands are without power as Storm Amy’s 90mph gusts and torrential rain lash Britain leaving one dead.

The first named storm of the season has swept into the country with yellow weather warnings covering the whole of Britain on Saturday.

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Irish Police confirmed on Friday that a man in his 40s had died following a “weather related incident”.

While 234,000 homes were also left without power across the island of Ireland as Storm Amy brings widespread disruption.

The highest wind speeds so far have been recorded in the Hebrides Islands, Scotland, at 96mph with 92mph gusts recorded in Co Londonderry in Northern Ireland, say the Met Office.

An amber wind warning has been issued for the north of Scotland until 9pm on Saturday with yellow warnings covering the whole of Scotland, the north of England and north Wales until the end of the day.

A yellow wind warning will run until 7pm for the rest of England and Wales.

Additionally, yellow warnings for rain are in place in north and west Scotland until midnight and in Northern Ireland until noon.

Travel chaos has also been sparked across the country with road closures and disruption to public transport.

Train operator, Avanti West Coast, warned of “short notice changes” on Saturday and “strongly recommended” customers making journeys north of Preston to check updates before travelling.

In Scotland, ScotRail suspended services on Friday night and anticipated the disruption would extend in Saturday and possibly Sunday.

Network Rail Scotland route director Ross Moran said more than 60 incidents of flooding, fallen trees and debris on the tracks were reported across the network in the first two hours of the storm.

“Storm Amy has hit parts of the country much harder and more quickly than expected,” he said.

National Rail is carrying out safety checks for obstructions on the line and damage to infrastructure, warning of possible disruptions throughout the UK on Saturday.

Elsewhere, CalMac Ferries also said it expect many services to be disrupted on Saturday into Sunday with many routes already cancelled.

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The iconic Severn Bridge between Gloucestershire and Wales was also forced to close overnight due to strong winds.

While parts of the A19 Tees Viaduct, the A66 in Cumbria and the A628 near Manchester were all closed to high-sided vehicles.

Traffic Scotland has also reported a long list of road closures with Forth Road Bridge closed in both directions.

The Skye Bridge, Queensferry Crossing and Clackmannshire Bridge were also closed to high-sided vehicles.

They also reported a number of road closures due to falling debris and overnight flooding including the M9 eastbound near Stirling.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency had 30 flood warnings in place on Saturday with the Environment Agency issuing six in the north of England one in north Wales from Natural Resources Wales.

Belfast International Airport said it was expecting delays on Saturday and advised passengers to check with their airlines.

All eight of London’s royal parks, including Hyde Park and Richmond Park, will also be closed on Saturday due to the strong winds.

In a statement on its website, the Royal Parks said: “Due to severe wind gusts caused by Storm Amy, all of the royal parks, plus Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens will be closed on Saturday October 4.

“This closure includes all park roads and cycleways, cafes and kiosks, parks sports venues, the Serpentine lido and boating lake, and the royal parks shop.”

“The safety of visitors and staff is our top priority,” the Royal Parks added.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience that these closures may cause.”

It said opening times on Sunday will be delayed because of safety inspections.

The Met Office said wind and rain was expected to ease throughout the evening for much of the country, but severe gales are forecast to continue in north east Scotland with a yellow warning for wind in place from midnight until 9am on Sunday.

Sunday is expected to turn dry and less windy with sunny spells for most areas, but outbreaks of rain developing in the north west.

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BRITAIN must join the fight against Hamas and not reward terror by recognising a Palestinian state, the former chief of Mossad has said.

Veteran Israeli spy Yossi Cohen vowed to eradicate every last enemy fighter in Gaza – as he fumed that Israel is “doing the world’s job alone”.

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Mr Cohen demanded to know why Britain and other countries were not helping Israel after joining previous fights against other terror groups.

Sitting down with The Sun, he said: “The big question is, will you join us?

“More than 70 countries, including Britain, fought together to defeat one terror organisation with ISIS, and you joined the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

“How many armies are fighting with us alongside Hamas? None. The state of Israel is doing the world’s job alone. You’re invited.”

With or without the support, Mr Cohen said he will hunt down every last Hamas fighter, vowing: “If there are 100 Hamas fighters left in Gaza City… I’ll find them for you.”

Mr Cohen, who reveals his life as a spy in his new book The Sword of Freedom, slammed Sir Keir Starmer for his decision last week to formally recognise a Palestinian state – insisting he has “no power to do that”.

Several other countries including France, Canada and Australia all recognised Palestine this month – pushing the number of UN members doing so over 150.

Successive UK governments have vowed to recognise a Palestinian state at the point of most impact as part of a peace process – and Starmer felt the time was now.

The PM said the decision was in aid of a two-state solution, which is the “opposite” of what Hamas wants – though the terror group still claimed it as a victory.

But Mr Cohen said the move by Starmer was cynical.

It was designed to “strengthen” support for the Labour government at home, Mr Cohen claimed, while serving no purpose on the world stage.

He speculated that Starmer felt forced into the decision to “keep people quiet” in the UK – rather than it being “from his heart”.

And he fumed it was a “reward” to Hamas for their heinous October 7 attack.

“If Hamas are the UK’s partners, that’s very sad,” Mr Cohen said.

Cohen dismissed the declaration as toothless because it is “legally impossible” for other countries to mandate a two-state solution.

Referring to the Oslo Accords of 1993, the only standing agreement Israel has with the Palestinian Authority, he insisted that decisions about statehood may only be made between Israel’s government and the PA.

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Earlier this year, Trump also suggested recognising the Palestinian state would risk “rewarding Hamas”.

Cohen said there is a history of governments, including the British, saying one thing to their population and another thing to Israel behind closed doors – and that he “hopes” that remains the case.

He revealed that, in his former roles, he met with foreign diplomats who would be appreciative during private meetings – only to later release “the filthiest statements” about Israel.

‘We take care of Gazans’

Directly addressing the hundreds of thousands of Brits who regularly take to the streets as part of pro-Palestinian marches, Mr Cohen said: “Israel is conducting a just war. This is absolutely the right thing that we have to do.

“Intentionally, we do not kill civilians. Intentionally, we do not starve anyone. Intentionally, we’re taking care of the Gazan people.”

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Mr Cohen even claimed he had received criticism in Israel for helping bring in financial support for Gazans from donors.

“Why is it that we do that? Because we do care about the Gazan people,” he insisted.

A United Nations commission determined this month that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Israel’s conduct in the war has faced increased scrutiny over the past year as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens.

Reflecting on why there is such a gulf in feeling between Israel’s public and Brits, Mr Cohen said his country is still reeling from the atrocities committed on October 7 – with hostages still being kept in Gaza.

He said: “Civilians were killed and butchered. Babies included, burned in their beds, raped. The atrocities that we’ve seen are on a different scale.

“This is the reaction of a normal country. We are a normal country.

“Demonstrators will demonstrate whether Israel conducts itself rightly or wrongly. This is part of their agenda.”

Civilians were killed and butchered. Babies included, burned in their beds, raped. The atrocities that we’ve seen are on a different scale

Yossi CohenFormer director of Mossad

Hundreds of civilians in Gaza are being killed every week in air strikes and shootings.

Israel has repeatedly blamed Hamas for the high civilian death toll – claiming the people of Gaza are being used as human shields.

The IDF has recently expanded its military operation in Gaza City where hundreds of thousands of civilian remain.

Confronted with this fact, Mr Cohen said: “The type of war that we conduct is hard.

“It is not something that you can even imagine when you have terrorists living together with kids and babies in kindergartens, UN facilities, hospitals, clinics, and any other thing.

“They just conquered everything, every single house in the region, to create a kind of a terror activity in within.

“So it’s hard to do, but I know for sure that the state of Israel is doing its best to make sure that the Gazan people will not be hurt.”

Almost 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ex spy master served as Benjamin Netanyahu’s national security advisor – and has hinted at aspirations to become the next Prime Minister of Israel, or returning to the government in some capacity.

“If Netanyahu wants to use me or to use my capabilities… of course he can do that,” Mr Cohen said. “He knows my phone number.”

Hinting at Netanyahu’s handing of the war, he added: “I think the people of Israel need a change that is basically founded on the need of unification.

“It is getting a little bit too intense to my taste.”

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‘Amazing’ Tony Blair

Cohen also passionately backed an emerging plan for former UK PM Tony Blair to temporarily govern Gaza after the war.

Blair has reportedly pitched a plan to Donald Trump which would see him lead a Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA) overseeing the strip before handing over to the Palestinian Authority.

Cohen told us it was an “amazing move from Blair”, and insisted they would work well together.

He said: “This is the main problem – what do we do the day after? And who is going to take care of the close to 2.2 million people?

“We need someone to run the show in the Gaza Strip and stop it deteriorating into the hands of Hamas.

“Tony Blair‘s initiative and willingness to do that is highly appreciated. God bless him.”

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Four of America’s nominally closest allies — Britain, Australia, France and Canada — disgraced themselves this week by recognizing a so-called Palestinian state. In so doing, these nations didn’t merely betray their Western civilizational inheritance. They also rewarded terrorism, strengthened the genocidal ambitions of the global jihad and sent a chilling message: The path to international legitimacy runs not through the difficult work of building up a nation-state and engaging in diplomacy, but through mass murder, the weaponization of transnational institutions and the erasure of historical truth.

The Trump administration has already denounced this craven capitulation by our allies. There should be no recognition of an independent Palestinian state at this moment in history. Such a recognition is an abdication not only of basic human decency, but also of national interest and strategic sanity.

The global march toward recognition of an independent Palestinian state ignores decades of brutal facts on the ground as well as the specific tide of blood behind this latest surge. It was less than two years ago — Oct. 7, 2023 — that Hamas launched the most barbaric anti-Jewish pogrom since the Holocaust: 6,000 terrorists poured into Israel, massacring roughly 1,200 innocent people in acts of unconscionable depravity — systematic rape, torture, kidnapping of babies. The terrorists livestreamed their own atrocities and dragged more than 250 hostages back to Gaza’s sprawling subterranean terror dungeons, where dozens remain to this day.

Many gullible liberal elites wish to believe that the radical jihadists of Hamas do not represent the broader Palestinian-Arab population, but that is a lie. Polls consistently show — and anecdotal videos of large street crowds consistently demonstrate — that Hamas and like-minded jihadist groups maintain overwhelming popularity in both Gaza and Judea and Samaria (what the international community refers to as the West Bank). These groups deserve shame, scorn and diplomatic rebuke — not fawning sympathy and United Nations red carpets.

The “government” in Gaza is a theocratic, Iranian-backed terror entity whose founding charter drips with unrepentant Jew-hatred and whose leaders routinely celebrate the wanton slaughter of innocent Israelis as triumphs of “resistance.” Along with the kleptocratic Palestinian Authority dictatorship in Ramallah, this is who, and what, Group of 7 powers like Britain and France have decided to reward with an imprimatur of legitimate statehood.

There is no meaningful “peace partner,” and no “two-state” vision to be realized, amid this horrible reality. There is only a sick cult of violence, lavishly funded from Tehran and eager for widespread international recognition as a stepping stone toward the destruction of Israel — and the broader West for which Israel is a proxy.

For decades, Western leaders maintained a straightforward position: There can be no recognition of a Palestinian state outside of direct negotiations with Israel, full demilitarization and the unqualified acceptance of Israel’s right to exist in secure borders as a distinctly Jewish state. The move at the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state torches that policy, declaring to the world that savagery and maximalist rejectionism are the currency of international legitimacy. By rewarding unilateralism and eschewing direct negotiation, these reckless Western governments have proved us international law skeptics right: The much-ballyhooed “peace process” agreements, such as the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, are not worth the paper they were written on.

In the wake of Oct. 7, these nations condemned the massacre, proclaimed solidarity with Israel and even briefly suspended funding for UNRWA, the U.N. aid group for the Palestinian territories, after agency employees were accused of participating in the attack. Yet, under the relentless drumbeat of anti-Israel activism and diplomatic cowardice, they have now chosen to rehabilitate the Palestinian-Arab nationalist cause — not after the leaders of the cause renounced terrorism, but while its most gruesome crimes remained unpunished, its hostages still languish in concentration camp-like squalor and its leaders still clamor for the annihilation of Israel.

Trump should clarify not only that America will not join in this dangerous, high-stakes charade, but also that there could very well be negative trade or diplomatic repercussions for countries that recognize an independent Palestinian terror state. The reason for such consequences would be simple: Undermining America’s strongest ally in the Middle East while simultaneously creating yet another new terror-friendly Islamist state directly harms the American national interest. There is no American national interest — none, zero — in the creation of a new Palestinian state in the heart of the Holy Land. On the contrary, as the Abraham Accords peace deals of 2020 proved, there is plenty of reason to embolden Israel. Contra liberal elites, it is this bolstering of Israel that fosters genuine regional peace.

The world must know: In the face of evil, America does not flinch, does not equivocate and does not reward those who murder our friends and threaten the Judeo-Christian West. As long as the Jewish state stands on the front lines of civilization, the United States must remain at its side, unwavering, unbowed and unashamed. Basic human decency and the American national interest both require nothing less.

Josh Hammer’s latest book is “Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West.” This article was produced in collaboration with Creators Syndicate. X: @josh_hammer

Sept. 21 (UPI) — Three of Israel’s oldest allies — Australia, Britain and Canada — formally recognized the state of Palestine on Sunday, and more countries are expected to follow suit in the coming week.

The three countries join 147 other nations that recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. Also expected to make announcements — some Monday at a U.N. conference to discuss a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict — are Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta, and possibly Lichtenstein and New Zealand — according to The Guardian.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said London’s decision to recognize Palestine was in an effort to support the possibility of a two-state solution, which it views as being under threat amid the war with Israel.

She also said Hamas “can have no role” in the future of an independent Palestine and called for the release of the remaining hostages from the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

“Recognition is only one part of what must be a stronger and wider push for peace,” she said. “We need to end the conflict in Gaza, secure the release of all hostages and get humanitarian aid to all those who desperately need it.

“That requires not just an immediate cease-fire, but a plan for a durable peace, which will be a key to my diplomatic drive at the U.N. this week.”

Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, welcomed Sunday’s announcement.

“Any step to strengthen the legitimate Palestinian rights, foremost among them the full sovereign Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem and the right to self-determination, is a welcomed step,” he told CNN.

In response to the announcements by Australia, Britain and Canada, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused members of the international community of attempting to “force a terror state upon us in the heart of our land.”

“I have a clear message to those leaders recognizing a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre of October 7th: You are giving a massive prize to terror,” he said in a statement.

“There will be no Palestinian state.”

Great Britain and Northern Ireland failed to win a gold medal at a World Athletics Championships for the first time in 22 years, as they secured their joint-lowest overall return since 2005.

GB ended the nine-day competition with a total of five medals, just managing to achieve their target of winning between five and eight.

That was level with their 2019 tally in Doha, while they last won fewer 20 years ago in Helsinki – where they finished with three.

The team’s fortunes were summed up in the event which provided their final medal opportunity in Japan, as the women’s 4x100m relay quartet – winners of Olympic silver last year – finished two-tenths of a second off the podium.

That confirmed Great Britain would fail to win a relay medal, of any colour, for the first time since Paris in 2003.

That was also the last occasion they finished without a gold.

The 64-strong British squad finished 21st in the medal table.

It comes after the team equalled their best haul of 10 medals to finish seventh at the previous World Championships two years ago.

On that occasion, they brought home two gold medals, three silvers and five bronze from Budapest.

They also achieved GB’s best return at an Olympics for 40 years with 10 athletics medals at Paris 2024.

Reflecting on the championships, Great Britain head coach Paula Dunn told BBC Sport: “Definitely a mixed bag. Five medals which is good and I’m pleased to see, and some missed opportunities.

“So it’s time for us to go back sit down with the coaches and athletes, reflect and do a review and see how we move forward.”

ITV is currently going through major changes with a number one Good Morning Britain star reportedly set for ‘major change because she was solely contracted for GMB’

As ITV gets set for major changes, one Good Morning Britain star could be seeing their job change dramatically. Charlotte Hawkins, 50, has been a mainstay on the breakfast show for over a decade, but changes are in the air.

Charlotte is set to take news shifts across the ITV schedule, and made her News at Ten debut last week. It appears as though it will be the first of many appearances as part of the daytime merger with ITN.

According to a source, Charlotte will now read the news across the schedule. It will see her contract change from what viewers have been used to over the past 10 years.

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The source told the Sun : “She’ll still read on GMB but also the lunchtime, evening and News at Ten. It’s a major change because she was solely contracted for GMB.”

The claims came as ITV’s daytime staple shows are set to have a huge shake up in coming months. As well as GMB coming under scrutiny, Loose Women and Lorraine are going to face cuts as part of the new cost-saving measures.

From 2026, Lorraine Kelly’s morning programme is to be shortened to a 30-minute slot. It will air from 9.30am to 10am rather than its current hour-long format.

As well as a cut in episode time, the show will also only be broadcast for 30 weeks out of the year. This will reportedly mean the stand-in hosts who currently replace the Scottish presenter when she is on holiday will be out of a job.

Lorraine recently professed her love for working in telly and told fans she is “not done yet” despite the cuts. On Tom Kerridge’s Proper Tasty podcast, she said: “I’ve been around for so long. I’ve been doing telly for over 40 years. It’s mad isn’t it?

“It’s absolutely crazy. I started in breakfast telly in 1984, and I’m still getting away with it. Extraordinarily. 40 years in TV last year was incredible. I got a BAFTA. ‘Here’s a BAFTA for being alive.’ I thought, ‘Hang on a minute, I’m not done yet.’

Loose Women is also facing significant changes. Like Lorraine, the lunchtime talk show will soon only be airing “on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year” according to ITV bosses.

The decision sees the show ditch some of its mainstay moments too, including its live studio audience. It’s thought the decision will also reduce its line-up of panellists as part of the shake-up.

Despite the change in regular shows, bosses believe new episodes of The Chase, the channel’s top-rated quiz show, will help. The show is set to be filmed over four months later this year, with production company Potato currently recruiting crew to work on the show between September and December.

Meanwhile, Tipping Point fans can breathe a sigh of relief after speculation that the show might be axed. No new episodes were recorded last year, which left fans concerned about the future of the series.

While the shows are facing changes, several past favourites are set for a more prominent place on the channel. It has been confirmed that new episodes of The Chase, Tipping Point and Deal or No Deal will be filmed later this year, which means the shows have secured a broadcasting slot in 2026.

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1996. Wembley Stadium. I’m standing in a sea of England flags and fans, watching the Euros semi-final. As the crowd roars with one voice, it’s electric. Football’s coming home.

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It didn’t of course. But that day, England stood shoulder to shoulder. Beyond the stadium, across the entire country, we shared the highs and lows together.

Being there felt like we were part of something larger than ourselves. An England that belonged to our grandparents and our history, but also to our children and our future. And I felt like I was part of it.

That’s the power of our flag. To make us all feel like part of Team England.

Win or lose, north or south, black or white, old or young. Even Spurs and Arsenal were on the same team that day, cheering on our country.

So I know what a source of pride our flag can be, and what it means to people.

Which is makes it all the more shameful when people exploit that symbol to stoke anger and division.

I know people feel angry that the country they love doesn’t seem to work for them.

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People who feel like they’re doing everything right, but getting nothing to show for it.

Working harder and harder just to stand still, and worried what the future will look like for their kids.

I share that frustration. I’m determined to fix it. But a small minority see instead an opportunity to whip up hatred. To follow and old and dangerous playbook that sets people against one another.

That’s what we’ve seen in parts of the country. Police officers assaulted.

Loutish behaviour on the streets. And people made to feel like they are not welcome or safe here because of their heritage, religion or colour of their skin.

We’ve seen a nine year old black girl shot at in a racist attack. Chinese takeaways defaced. That sends a shiver down the spine of every right-minded Brit. This is not who we are.

When populist politicians, convicted criminals, and foreign billionaires take to the stage to encourage violence, make racist comments, and threaten our democracy, it casts a dark shadow of fear and violence across our society.

They want to drag our country down into a toxic spiral of division and hatred because it’s good for them. But their vile lies are not good for the country.

Here’s the truth. Over the past 15 years, trust in politics has been eroded. the economy became weaker and weaker. Opportunities disappeared as libraries, leisure centres, community spaces shut down during austerity.

Public services like our NHS neglected, neighbourhoods looking more and more tired as high streets shuttered up, anti-social behaviour blighting people’s lives.

Working people were left to scrap over fewer and fewer crumbs.

Now we’re at a crossroads. There is a dark path ahead of division and decline, toxicity and fear.

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A path that relies on destruction and disappointment, because when the damage is done and the graffiti cleaned away, it’s clear the populists  never had anything to offer – no hope, no future, no answers.

Or, there is the patriotic path of national renewal. Every one of us playing our part to renew, restore, rebuild the country we love.

That is the path we choose. 

Because this government is taking responsibility to reverse the decline.

We’re growing our economy so there’s more to go round for everyone, with 5 cuts in interest rates saving families up to £1,000 on their mortgage each year.

We’re building 1.5 million new homes, new towns, hospitals and schools and improving transport across the country. We’re delivering 5.2 million extra NHS appointments.

And we’re saving families £7,500 a year on childcare, giving hard working parents more cash and more time.

Of course we need to deal with the issues the country faces, like illegal immigration, head on.

But the way to be proud of our country again is to be part of the renewal, not the destruction. This is a struggle for the heart and soul of our nation.

But it’s not between ordinary people who simply want a better life for their families. It’s between patriots who care about our country, and populists who only care about themselves.

They want to control a current of tension and fear. I want the electricity I felt in that stadium almost thirty years ago, of a defiant Britain, a nation of decency and diversity, that still dares to stand together and believe in better.

Because this is the country that stood tall – with our allies – against the forces of fascism 80 years ago.

This is who we are. We’ve got the match of our lives ahead. And we need you on the pitch.

WASHINGTON — At a banquet table fit for a king, but set specially for him, President Trump called his state visit to the United Kingdom this week “one of the highest honors of my life.”

He then proceeded to tell guests at the white tie event that the United States was “a very sick country” last year before becoming “the hottest” again under his rule.

During a news conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Chequers estate Thursday, hailing a bilateral deal on artificial intelligence investments said to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars, Trump called America’s relationship with Britain “unbreakable,” bigger than any single esoteric policy disagreement.

But he quickly pivoted from magnanimity on the world stage, denying the results of his 2020 election defeat and calling exclusively on conservative reporters, who asked questions about Britain’s Christian nature and his predecessor’s alleged use of an autopen.

It was a familiar study in contrasts from the president, who routinely mixes diplomacy with domestic politics in his meetings with foreign leaders. Yet the sound of Trump engaging in fractious political discourse — not at the White House or a political event in Florida or Missouri, but inside Britain’s most revered halls — struck a discordant tone.

The Mirror, a national British tabloid aligned with Starmer’s Labour Party, wrote that Trump’s “wild … political rant” at Windsor Castle alongside King Charles III “seriously broke royal protocol.”

On Wednesday evening, as the formal banquet concluded, Trump took to his social media platform to designate a far left-wing political movement called Antifa as “a major terrorist organization,” describing the group as “A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER.”

President Trump appears with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a news conference Thursday at Chequers near Aylesbury, England.

(Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

The move prompted a question to Starmer at the Chequers news conference from a right-ring reporter on whether he would consider taking similar action against leftist British groups.

“We obviously will take decisions for ourselves. I don’t want to comment on the decisions of the president,” Starmer said. “But we take our decisions ourselves.”

In another exchange, Trump repeated dramatically exaggerated figures on the number of undocumented migrants who entered the United States during the Biden administration, as well as false claims about the 2020 presidential election.

“I don’t want to be controversial, but you see what’s happened, and you see all the information that’s come out,” Trump said. “We won in 2020, big. And I said, let’s run. We gotta run. Because I saw what’s happening.”

The Royal Family went beyond its own rule book to show Trump extraordinary hospitality, honoring the president’s arrival with a 41-gun salute typically reserved for special, domestic occasions, such as the king’s birthday.

King Charles was hosting Trump for an unprecedented second state visit — a gesture never before extended to an American president — after the king’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, greeted him at Windsor in 2019.

“That’s a first and maybe that’s going to be the last time. I hope it is, actually,” Trump said in his banquet speech, prompting the king to chuckle and balk.

At the stunning dinner, along a table seating 160 people in St. George’s Hall, guests were offered a 1912 cognac honoring the birth year of the president’s Scottish-born mother, as well as a whiskey cocktail inspired by his heritage. The president, for his part, does not drink.

First Lady Melania Trump, left, President Trump, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Lady Victoria Starmer watch the Red Devils parachute display team at Chequers, the country home of the British prime minister, on Thursday.

(Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images)

But it is unclear whether the king’s soft-power diplomacy helped shift Trump closer to London’s priorities on foreign affairs. A growing chorus in Britain opposes Israel’s continued military operations in Gaza, and major U.K. parties are aligned on a moral and strategic need to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.

“Our countries have the closest defense, security and intelligence relationship ever known,” Charles said at the dinner. “In two world wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny.

“Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace,” the king added.

A king’s request for Europe

Trump’s reciprocal remarks did not mention Ukraine. But at Chequers, the president repeated his general disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the ongoing war, a conflict Putin has escalated with attacks on civilians and the British Council building in Kyiv since meeting with Trump in Alaska a month ago.

“He’s let me down. He’s really let me down,” said Trump, offering no details on what steps he might take next.

Starmer, pressing to leverage the pomp of Trump’s state visit for actionable policy change, said that a coordinated response to Putin’s aggression would be forthcoming and “decisive.”

“In recent days, Putin has shown his true face, mounting the biggest attack since the invasion began, with yet more bloodshed, yet more innocents killed, and unprecedented violations of NATO airspace,” Starmer said, referencing Russia’s Sept. 9 drone flights over Poland. “These are not the actions of someone who wants peace.”

“It’s only when the president has put pressure on Putin,” Starmer added, “that he’s actually shown any inclination to move.”

Sept. 18 (UPI) — Major U.S. companies are set to invest a record $205 billion in Britain over the next decade, creating thousands of jobs across the four countries of the United Kingdom, the government said in an announcement timed to coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump‘s state visit.

Investment giant Blackstone will put in the bulk of the money, about $123 billion, along with $46 billion from Microsoft, NVIDIA and Google into AI projects and data centers, according to a Business Department news release.

Prologis will pump another $5.3 billion into the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, as well as investments to support life sciences, advanced manufacturing and rail infrastructure, while tech company Palantir is set to invest $2 billion.

Hailing what he said was the largest commercial package ever secured during a State Visit, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the deals were a “testament to Britain’s economic strength and a bold signal that our country is open, ambitious, and ready to lead.”

“When we back British brilliance, champion our world-class industries, and forge deeper global alliances — especially with friends like the United States — we help shape the future for generations to come and make people across the country better off,” Starmer said. “Jobs, growth and opportunity is what I promised for working people, and it’s exactly what this State Visit is delivering.”

Prologis U.K. regional head Paul Weston said the move demonstrated the firm’s determination to support innovation and deliver the sustainable infrastructure base critical to the U.K.’s long-term economic growth. 

“Our investment ambitions for the expansion of Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal are backing two of the U.K.’s most critical sectors: life sciences and logistics,” said Weston.

However, the money will not all be flowing in one direction.

British firms are set to invest upwards of $73 billion in the United States over the next five years, led by pharma-giant GSK and BP, plus tech, banks and insurers.

U.K. public sector contracts with U.S. companies, mostly in the spheres of tech and defense, helping run critical services such as the National Health Service and weather forecasting, will add another $60 billion to that figure.

Meanwhile, the state visit by Trump, credited with oiling all the deals, culminated Wednesday night with a grand state banquet in his honor in Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Hall attended by 160 guests at which he was seated with King Charles on one side and Catherine, Princess of Wales, on the other.

In speeches, the king and Trump spoke at length about the special U.K.-U.S. relationship with Charles highlighting the shared history of the two nations fighting alongside each other in two world wars and praising Trump’s dedication to “finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts.”

“Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear,” said the King.

Trump said “special” didn’t even come close.

“I have such respect for you and such respect for your country for many decades. The word special does not begin to do it justice,” he said, addressing the king.

The visit was set to continue Thursday with Trump traveling to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s country residence in Buckinghamshire for bilateral talks and a summit with business leaders, while First Lady Melania Trump will remain at Windsor Castle to attend events with Queen Camilla and Princess Kate.