British

Two-time Paralympic champion Stephen Bate secured a golden finish to his 12-year career by winning the men’s tandem individual pursuit title at the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

Bate and pilot Christopher Latham achieved victory by catching Italian rivals Lorenzo Bernard and pilot Paolo Toto in an impressive display.

It ensured Bate ended his career as a five-time world champion across road and track events, and a five-time Paralympic medallist.

It was in Rio nine years ago where he and then-pilot Adam Duggleby achieved a golden Paralympic double in the individual pursuit and road time trial events.

Partnered by Latham on his return to the Brazilian capital, with whom he won individual pursuit silver at his final Paralympic Games in Paris last summer, Bate signed off in style on another hugely successful day for the British team.

That was one of three gold medals won by the British team on Saturday, as 21-year-old Archie Atkinson regained the men’s C4 10km scratch race title.

Elizabeth Jordan and pilot Dannielle Khan also triumphed, retaining their women’s B 1km time trial title.

Finlay Graham made it three medals in as many days as he clinched silver in the men’s C3 elimination race.

There was also silver for Kadeena Cox in the women’s C4 Sprint Race.

Those successes took GB’s tally to seven golds, five silver and five bronze medals overall.

Three of the world’s top-rated racehorses – Ombudsman, Delacroix and Calandagan – will meet in a blockbuster Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Ombudsman, number one in the rankings, swooped late to beat Delacroix (rated joint sixth) in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes before the tables were turned in the Juddmonte International – and the pair now meet for a third time.

King George winner Calandagan, who is joint ninth in the global rankings, joins them, along with last year’s Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics who races for the first time in a year.

The Champion Stakes (16:05 BST) headlines five top-level Group One contests on a seven-race card on Qipco British Champions Day – the country’s richest raceday with a total of £4.35m prize money on offer.

Ombudsman’s stablemate Field Of Gold will run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for trainer John Gosden, whose strong hand on the day also features Gold Cup victor Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup.

Owners Godolphin ran a pacemaker to assist Ombudsman in the Juddmonte at York and do so again in the £1.3m Champion Stakes, with Devil’s Advocate supplemented at a cost of £75,000.

French challenger First Look is another supplementary entry while other leading contenders include Dante and Great Voltigeur winner Pride Of Arras and Almaqam, who beat Ombudsman earlier in the season.

After having travelled across the UK for some weeks, American woman Amber Kacherian has shared four things about British hotel rooms that she found confusing or mind blowing

An American has shared the four things she found strange in her hotel room during her recent visit to the UK, but Brits soon came to explain the reasoning behind it all.

A woman named Amber Kacherian has taken to TikTok, where she has over one million followers, to share her experiences as she’s been travelling across the UK with some of her friends. While her viewers have loved watching her experiences, Brits have often taken to the comment sections of her videos after they were left confused by different things that differed to the way they do things in the USA.

In a recent video, Amber went on to share four things that she had found weird in one of the hotels she’d stayed in, but Brits soon came to explain the differences usually were for the better.

“Things in my British hotel that are weird to Americans,” she said at the start of her video, where she was seen standing in what appeared to be a standard hotel room.

No plug sockets in bathrooms

The first thing on her list was not having any sockets inside the bathroom.

“So the only outlet in this bathroom is just a small one for an electric shaver,” she explained.

Amber went on to say that she in particular had found this frustrating due to not being able to use the hair blow dryer or a curling or straighten iron when in the bathroom, as the closest plug was in the middle of the hotel room.

“Which begs the question, where do you plug in your hair styling tools?” she asked her viewers. “How do you do your hair with no mirror?”

Two flush buttons on the toilet

“Number two, no pun intended, two different buttons to flush the toilet,” Amber revealed as she showed the two flush buttons on the wall above the toilet.

She went on to explain that over every toilet, there are two buttons – a big one and a smaller one. She went on to explain that she’d assumed they are different depending on what you’re flushing.

“So, in America, there’s just one switch that flushes everything, We do not have two different flushes based on how much you just deposited into the toilet,” she explained. “Just one switch takes care of it all.”

Ground floor is not the same as first floor

For her third point, Amber went out of their hotel room to the lifts, where she showed the sign which had all the different floors of the building.

“The ground floor here is called zero instead of one. In America, we would call the ground floor the first floor,” she told her viewers. “And the floor above that would be the second floor.”

She went on to explain that when they had gotten their room number, which was on the first floor, they had found it confusing that they’d had to go up to the first floor, which is what they had considered the second floor, in order to find their rooms.

Light switches outside the bathroom

Next up, Amber expressed her confusion after finding that the light switches for the bathroom was located outside the bathroom door instead of inside the bathroom.

“Why do they put the light switch outside the bathroom?” she asked in confusion. “Because that means you could turn off the light on someone who’s in the bathroom while they’re in there.”

This sparked inspiration, as she was then seen running over to her friend’s room in order to turn the light to the bathroom off while he was in there.

While the American friend group had been left confused by these things, Brits soon took to the comment section to explain the reasoning behind some of these ‘weird‘ things.

“Yeah it’s against the law to have sockets in bathrooms because you know safety,” one person explained. Another person added: “Anything electrical that needs a 3 way British plug aren’t used where there is water and steam. Too dangerous…”

Someone else went on to say: “To be fair I’m not sure most of us understand the flushes. We just press something and hope for the best.”

British heavyweight Moses Itauma has been told he must “wait his turn” after Kubrat Pulev agreed to defend his WBA ‘regular’ title against Murat Gassiev in Dubai on 12 December.

Pulev, 44, was ordered to defend his secondary WBA belt against 20-year-old Itauma but has agreed to face former cruiserweight world champion Gassiev instead.

Queensberry’s Frank Warren, who promotes Itauma, said earlier this week that his team were “pursuing” a fight with the Bulgarian.

But Pulev’s promoter Ivaylo Gotzev, who is the CEO of Epic Sports and Entertainment, said the WBA has agreed to let the veteran make a voluntary defence.

“The Pulev vs Gassiev fight is signed, sealed, and confirmed – so [Moses] Itauma will have to wait his turn,” said Gotzev.

“We have an official WBA resolution authorising Kubrat Pulev’s first title defence to be a voluntary, and in line with that, we’ve locked in a terrific opponent in Murat Gassiev.”

The island was named the sunniest place in the UK by the Met Office – and it gets more sunshine than parts of Italy during the winter months

You don’t need to jet off to far-flung destinations for a dose of winter sun – there’s a UK island that boasts more sunshine than parts of Italy.

The Isle of Wight has been crowned the sunniest spot in the UK by the Met Office, outshining even Milan and Geneva during the winter months.

According to research from Isle Escapes, the island enjoys an average of 78 hours of sunshine per month between November and February.

That’s a staggering 12 percent more than Milan’s 70 average hours, 15 percent more than Geneva’s 68 hours, and 20 percent more than Paris’ 65 average winter sunshine hours.

This balmy climate could be due to the warming effect of the Solent – the strait that separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England, reports the Express.

The island benefits from its own micro-climate, which means it typically avoids extreme weather conditions like heavy snowfall and thunderstorms during the winter season.

Not only is it the sunniest place in the UK, but this is particularly noticeable during the winter, when the Isle of Wight basks in 42 percent more sunshine hours than the rest of the country.

If you’re keen to soak up some of this sun for yourself, the Isle of Wight offers a fantastic island getaway without straying too far from home.

Located just off the coast of Hampshire, the island is renowned as Britain’s dinosaur capital, with the remains of over 20 species discovered on the island.

The Isle of Wight is a top-notch destination for cycling enthusiasts, boasting numerous tracks and paths that crisscross the island.

For those up to the challenge, you can cycle around the island in a day – a well-signposted route of approximately 105km.

While mostly flat, there are some inclines that will give your thighs a workout, and it can get breezy, so be prepared.

If you’re after a more laid-back holiday, the Isle of Wight has plenty to offer. There’s a host of family-friendly attractions, including the Monkey Haven animal sanctuary, home to meerkats, gibbons, and even snakes, all cared for by keepers who love to chat about their work.

History buffs can visit Osborne – Queen Victoria’s country retreat and family home, now open for tours. After her first visit to Osborne, Queen Victoria wrote: ‘It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot’, and she wasn’t wrong.

A trip to Osborne offers something for everyone. Inside the house, you’ll get a glimpse into Royal life as you explore private apartments and grand reception rooms filled with beautiful furnishings and artworks from the Royal Collection.

And if the sun is out (which it likely will be), you can stroll through flower-filled gardens and relax on the beach where the Royal children learnt to swim.

Perfect staycation town with fairytale castle surrounded by azure sea

‘Magical’ village surrounded by wooded glens and streams ‘loveliest ever’

If you’re yearning for a trip to the Isle of Wight, it’s easy to reach from mainland UK. Daily flights depart from Heathrow and Gatwick, or you can opt to fly to Bournemouth or Southampton before hopping on one of the 150 ferry connections to the island which take as little as 45 minutes.

Since the Isle of Wight is part of the UK, there’s no need for your passport – just pack your bag and perhaps a sunhat.

The Great British Bake Off star Iain Ross has been a firm fan favourite on the Channel 4 baking show, but some viewers have only just noticed one thing about him

The beloved Channel 4 programme The Great British Bake Off has returned to our television screens as hopeful contestants compete to claim the title of Britain’s finest amateur baker, with Iain Ross, from County Derry, Northern Ireland, already capturing the hearts of countless viewers. Yet some are only now cottoning on to exactly who the 29-year-old software engineer bears a striking resemblance to.

Iain, who harbours a passion for live music alongside his sourdough obsession, originally had zero intentions of gracing the show with his presence, but when his girlfriend Dervla refused to accept defeat, he eventually submitted his application. Channel 4 audiences are undoubtedly thrilled he did, with legions branding him ‘adorable’ across social media platforms.

However, others are now spotting another fascinating detail about him – his uncanny likeness to a particular children’s television character.

Which character might that be, you wonder? None other than Sir Gadabout from the beloved children’s tale Zog, which has since been transformed into an animated BBC production.

A viewer named Katie recently took to X to highlight the remarkable similarity, penning: “For weeks I’ve struggled to think of who Iain reminds me of and it took my son wearing his Zog pyjamas for me to finally realise that it’s Sir Gadabout. #GBBO.”

Clearly, numerous others shared her observation, as the post accumulated over 66,000 views alongside thousands of likes.

One individual responded: “Thank you. I’ve been thinking exactly the same thing!”.

Meanwhile, another chimed in: “Oh my goodness! Absolutely nailed it!”

A third chimed in: “Thank you, I’ve been so confused why he looked so familiar,” while a fourth said: “You are not wrong!”

A further fan exclaimed: “It’s literally him,” while another simply concurred: “Yes!”

Speaking about securing his spot on the programme, Iain told Radio Times: “Every step of the way I kept it a secret from everyone apart from Dervla, I didn’t think I’d make it to the following stage and I didn’t want to let anyone down.

“Then when I got the call to confirm my place I was in sheer disbelief, I had no idea it would actually happen.”

He added: “I thought it was a prank at first, I got a call a few minutes after being told and I thought they were going to tell me they made a mistake and I wasn’t actually on the show!”.

“I was in the office at work and had to go out to the foyer to take the call and speak in code, everyone who was walking past heading to the toilet looked very concerned and confused.”

Iain, who lives in Belfast with Dervla and their cat Victor, disclosed on the programme that he was planning to pop the question to her, and has since announced on his social media pages that she said yes.

His heartfelt post featured Dervla flaunting a dazzling ring with Crawfordsburn waterfall in Northern Ireland as the stunning backdrop.

Captioning the snap, he penned: “Don’t suppose you know anyone who can make a decent wedding cake?”

He then added: “A picture at this waterfall every year for the past 8 years, and a special lil one to complete the frame.”

AMY HUNT is prioritising “medals over men” as she adapts to life as a superstar athlete.

The 23-year-old shot to fame last month after claiming a silver medal at the World Championships in Tokyo.

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Following her achievement, Hunt claimed that she would celebrate with some karaoke.

Quizzed what she’d be singing, the confident star said: “Probably Maneater.

“That’s really boring but I feel like that was the vibe tonight, just sexy and aggressive.”

Hunt, who has a degree in English Literature from Cambridge, continues to have her eyes firmly set on further prizes.

Speaking to The Times, the 200m specialist said: “Obviously, as a female athlete, you also have to plan when you think motherhood is a feasible thing for you.

“But the world is very open to me and I will get a sense of what I want to do when the moment is right.

“I actually always joke to my coach, ‘medals before men’, that’s the quote of the day!”

Hunt has not ruled out balancing her blossoming athletics career with further studies.

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She added: “I change my mind on it every year. Immediately after coming out of university I thought about the V&A and doing a Masters — with the hope of maybe going on to do a PhD, because I always thought being ‘Dr Amy’ would be pretty cool.

“But then my mind changed and I think I’d want to actually work at a museum or gallery and curate.

“But then I’m like, no, maybe I’d do a law conversion because a lot of my friends did a law conversion out of English.

“And then maybe I’d do that, or maybe an Amal Clooney kind of thing.

“So my mind is always changing on that and I think I’ll only decide when I get to the end.”

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NEW British passport designs with King Charles’ updated Coat of Arms are to be rolled out this year.

From December, the new Coat of Arms will replace the current Queen Elizabeth II version.

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The design features four UNESCO-protected landscapes of each UK region.

This includes Ben Nevis (Scotland), Lake District (England), Three Cliffs Bay (Wales) and Giant’s Causeway (Ireland).

The new passport will also have new technology built into them with improved anti-forgery designs.

This includes upgraded holographs and translucent features within the pages, making them harder to forge or tamper with.

Each page will also have a unique passport number built in using laser marking.

The UK government claim this makes it the “most secure British passport ever made”.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp said: “The introduction of His Majesty’s Arms, iconic landscapes, and enhanced security features marks a new era in the history of the British passport.   

“It also demonstrates our commitment to outstanding public service – celebrating British heritage while ensuring our passports remain among the most secure and trusted in the world for years to come.”

Blue passports with the current Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II are still valid until the expiry date.

The modern-style of British passport was first introduced in 1915, which were also navy.

The then were changed to burgundy in line with the EU, before the current navy passports were rolled back out in 2020.

Parts of the passport have already been updated, including saying they are authorised by “His Majesty’s Passport Office”.

Despite this, millions of Brits still have the previous burgundy passports.

These are still permitted for use until they expire.

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But there are new rules in place that were introduced when the UK left the EU.

Since Brexit, any additional months on top of the 10 year validity of passports are no longer accepted.

This has resulted in thousands of families being banned from their flights due to new rules since they were first issued.

Families are urged to check that their expiry date matches their start date.

If it does not, then you should disregard the expiry and instead add on 10 years to the start date to find the correct date it expires.

Here are the other passport rules you need to be aware of.

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SHOPPERS are set for a major boost as a supermarket giant launches its first ever Express store in the UK.

It marks the start of a huge national rollout that’ll see up to 20 new stores open before the end of the year.

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The retail titan, Asda, has opened the doors to its brand-new Express in Castleford, West Yorkshire,

It’s the first time Asda has taken its famous yellow and green brand into the world of small-format convenience stores, as it looks to take on Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local head-on.

The new shop, built on the site of a former pub on Holywell Lane, has been completely transformed into a slick, modern mini-market packed with more than 3,000 products.

From meal deals and snacks to fresh fruit, booze and ready meals, locals can now grab all their essentials in one quick stop.

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It’s open every day from 6am to 11pm, making it perfect for early risers, night owls, and anyone in desperate need of milk after hours.

The store also comes kitted out with handy extras, including a Costa Coffee machine, ATM, and Amazon collection point, plus, you can get your shopping delivered via Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo.

Shopping bargains

Asda says the new Express format is designed to bring its trademark low prices and big-brand bargains to places where it’s not always had a strong presence.

New locations will pop up in busy city centres, transport hubs and even residential areas.

It’s all part of the supermarket’s mission to “bring unbeatable value to even more communities” across the UK, according to bosses.

Joseph Sutton, Asda’s Vice President for Express, Foodservice and Fuel, said:

“We’re delighted to have opened the doors today in Castleford, marking the start of our Express store rollout as we bring Asda’s unbeatable value to new communities across the UK.”

He added: “From top-up essentials to convenient food-on-the-go options, we’re excited to welcome new customers and offer outstanding value.”

Rapid growth

Asda first dipped its toe into the convenience market in 2022, and things have moved fast.

The supermarket now plans to have around 500 Express stores open by the end of the year, with even more coming in 2026.

Each store will also feature electronic shelf-edge labels (a fancy way of saying digital price tags), designed to make life easier for staff and keep prices crystal clear for shoppers.

So whether you’re nipping in for bread and milk or a cheeky lunchtime sandwich, chances are you’ll soon be doing it in an Asda Express near you.

More on Asda

It come’s after Asda announced its price reductions, cutting the cost of nearly 1,000 everyday products.

The reductions will be available both in-store and online and will include massive discounts on cupboard staples such as pasta, cooking sauces and tea and coffee.

Meanwhile, Asda is following three other major supermarkets in introducing a big change to aisles across 186 stores from October.

The supermarket chain has introduced dedicated menopause aisles as has online grocery store Ocado.

This roll-out hopes to “raise awareness and understanding of the menopause experience,” said Matt Pryde, Senior Buying Manager for Asda Toiletries.

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The European Union’s plan to hike tariffs on steel imported over and above its annual threshold could tip the United Kingdom’s steel industry into its worst crisis in history, industry leaders have warned.

On Tuesday, the European Commission proposed that the 27-member bloc would slash its tariff-free steel import quota by 47 percent to 18.3 million tonnes and would impose a tariff of 50 percent on any steel imported in excess of this amount.

This represents a sharp hike: The EU’s current annual steel import quota stands at 33 million tonnes, and imports above this limit are subject to a 25 percent tariff.

The announcement has rattled the British steel industry, which exports nearly 80 percent of its steel to the EU.

“This is perhaps the biggest crisis the UK steel industry has ever faced,” Gareth Stace, director general of the lobby group UK Steel, said on Tuesday. He described the move as a “disaster” for British steel.

Community, a trade union representing UK steelworkers, said the EU’s proposal represents an “existential threat” to the UK steel industry.

Here’s what we know about the EU’s new levies and why the UK is worried:

Why has the EU announced a tariff hike for steel imports?

The new tariff is expected to come into effect from June 2026, as long as EU countries and the European Parliament approve it.

The EU says it has no choice but to bring in the new tariff as it seeks to protect its own markets from a flood of subsidised Asian steel, which has been diverted by US President Donald Trump’s latest 50 percent tariff on all steel imports to the US.

The EU also wants to protect its steel sector from the challenge of global overcapacity.

In a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic, defended the bloc’s steel tariffs proposal as a move to “protect the bloc’s vital sector” whose steel trade balance has “deteriorated dramatically”.

Sefcovic added that more than 30,000 jobs have been lost since 2018 in the EU’s steel industry, which employs about 300,000 people overall.

While the industry is ailing, he said, other countries have begun imposing tariffs and other safeguards to ensure their own domestic steel industries expand. The Commission’s proposal, therefore, seeks to “restore balance to the EU steel market”.

More succinctly, a senior EU official told The Times newspaper: “My dear UK friends, you have to understand that we have no choice but to limit the total volumes of imports that come into the EU, so this is the logic that we apply clearly. Not acting could result in potentially fatal effects for us.”

The EC’s proposal comes as the bloc’s steel sector faces stiff competition from countries like China, where steel production is heavily subsidised.

China produced more than a billion metric tonnes of steel last year, followed by India, at 149 million metric tonnes, and Japan, at 84 million metric tonnes, according to the World Steel Association, a nonprofit organisation with headquarters in Brussels.

By comparison, said Sefcovic, the EU produces 126 million tonnes per year but only requires 67 percent of this for its own use – “well below the healthy 80 percent benchmark and below profitable levels”.

Moreover, steel production within the EU has declined by 65 million tonnes per year since 2007 – with nearly half of that lost since 2018.

“A strong, decarbonised steel sector is vital for the European Union’s competitiveness, economic security and strategic autonomy. Global overcapacity is damaging our industry,” EC President Ursula von der Leyen said.

The Commission’s industry chief, Stephane Sejourne, told reporters in Strasbourg that “the European steel industry was on the verge of collapse” and said that through the tariffs plan, the Commission is “protecting it [EU’s steel industry] so that it can invest, decarbonise and become competitive again”.

Sejourne added that the Commission’s plan is “in line with our [EU] values and international law”.

Why would the UK bear the brunt of EU steel tariffs?

The EU is the UK’s largest market for steel exports by far. In 2024, the UK exported 1.9 million metric tonnes of steel, worth about 3 billion pounds ($4.02bn) and representing 78 percent of its home-made steel products to the EU.

While the EC’s steel tariffs proposal does not apply to members of the European Economic Area, namely Norway and Iceland, it will apply to the UK and Switzerland. Ukraine will also be exempt from the tariff quota since it is facing “an exceptional and immediate security situation”, according to the EC.

The EU says it is open to negotiations with the UK once it has formally notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the new levy. For now, however, uncertainty looms.

Compounding this, the UK also fears being flooded by cheaper, subsidised steel from Asia as both the EU and US markets close their doors to it.

In a statement, UK Steel added: “The potential for millions of tonnes that will be barred from the EU market, to be redirected towards the UK is another existential threat.”

Nicolai von Ondarza, an associate fellow at Chatham House, the London-based policy institute, told Al Jazeera that cheap steel diverted by the EU’s planned tariffs will mostly come from countries like China, “putting additional pressure on its industry”.

The British steel sector is also shouldering Trump’s 25 percent tariff on British steel imports, a global supply glut, and higher energy prices, and has been embattled by job losses in some of its biggest steelworks due to green transition initiatives.

Can the UK negotiate its way out of this?

That is currently its best hope, according to industry leaders.

“We would urge the UK and EU to begin urgent negotiations and do everything possible to prevent the crushing impact these proposals would have on our steel industry,” he added.

Chatham House’s Ondarza told Al Jazeera: “For the UK, the first route is to try to negotiate a carve-out of these EU tariffs. Both the EC and the UK have already signalled willingness to talk. These negotiations are likely to be tricky, but not unlikely that they come to an agreement.”

On his way for a two-day business trip to India, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters that his country is “in discussions with the EU” about the proposal.

“I’ll be able to tell you more in due course, but we are in discussions, as you’d expect,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chris McDonald, the UK industry minister, has suggested that retaliatory measures may not be completely off the table.

“We continue to explore stronger trade measures to protect UK steel producers from unfair behaviours,” he told reporters.

If the US caused this, can it help to solve it?

While the EU’s tariffs proposal has led to an outcry in the UK, it is also a measure which seeks to bring the US to the negotiating table, the EC says.

In August, the EU and US agreed a trade deal under which Washington will levy 15 percent tariffs on 70 percent of Europe’s exports to the country. Brussels and Washington have yet to discuss how tariffs would apply to European steel, which still faces a 50 percent tariff under Trump’s new trade regime.

Sefcovic told reporters the Commission’s steel tariffs proposal would be a good foundation to engage with the US and also fight the challenge of overcapacity as “like-minded partners”.

Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins’ new ITV show Win Win is set to make history this weekend as one lucky winner will walk away with the biggest prize in British TV history

One lucky winner is to clinch the biggest prize in British quiz-show history on Saturday night – courtesy of Mel and Sue’s big new ITV show Win Win.

The many rewards, built up over the weeks as players traded their prizes for a chance to be in the final, comprise £1million in cash plus two cars, two luxury holidays, a new kitchen, a trip to Australia to see The Ashes, a trip to Monaco to watch Formula E, Take That tickets with a meet and greet and a tech bundle comprising 16 items including a MacBook Air, smart TV and Sony Playstation 5.

And the winner of the grand final, which has not yet been filmed, could be a contestant who started off by playing along at home then went on to land themselves a spot in the studio.

This weekend’s final will see one person take away the whole lot. Over the weeks, contestants have been trading the prizes they have won for a place on the final’s Millionaire’s Row, which is how the extra prizes have been added to the £1m jackpot.

And every time a player in the studio got offered the chance to trade, one viewer at home also won a spot on Millionaire’s Row.

A total of 19 people have made it to the final – either by trading a prize in studio, or by winning the spot from home – and on Saturday they will go head-to-head in a bid to win it all.

Presenter Sue Perkins told the Mirror : “Saturday’s show really is going to be a night like no other. The prizes are phenomenal – Ashes tickets, holidays, cars, a brand-new kitchen, and a cuddly toy. No, there’s no cuddly toy, but there is ONE MILLION POUNDS.”

She added: “The thrilling thing, of course, is that all of this is going to be won by one person, and that person might even be a viewer turned contestant, who simply signed up, joined in from their sofa and got the surprise of their life.”

Co-host Mel Geidroyc agreed: “Imagine winning £1m and then someone saying, ‘Oh, don’t forget you’ve also won a holiday, a car, tickets to the Ashes, Take That tickets…’ and on and on it goes. The fact it could be a viewer-turned-contestant adds another incredible layer of drama. It’s the finale to end all finales.”

The collective prize pot amounts to around £1.5million, putting it on a par with the prize won on Ant and Dec’s former gameshow Red or Black? in 2012.

One insider said: “The beauty of Win Win is that you don’t have to be a contender for Mastermind to walk away with the prizes. The questions are ones that normal people can answer. It’s a quiz for all comers.”

The largest prize previously won on a UK TV show was when Graham Fletcher walked away with the jackpot after spinning a roulette wheel and correctly guessing it would land on black. But the gambling show Red or Black? came in for criticism for being based on luck rather than skill, and it was axed after two runs.

The multiple prizes being offered on Mel & Sue’s Win Win amount to far more than has been traditionally offered on Saturday night shows. On Bullseye, which had its heyday with host Jim Bowen in the 1980s, the top prizes were often a car, a caravan or a holiday with the smaller rewards likely to be a slow cooker, hi-fi stereo, exercise bike or portable cassette player.

Similarly, on the BBC ’s Generation Game during the same era, the biggest prizes could include a mink coat, luggage, a holiday or a car while the lesser items on the conveyor belt being fondue sets, kettles and toasters – along with the famous cuddly toy.

– Win Win with People’s Postcode Lottery, Saturday, 7.35pm on ITV1 and ITVX )MUST)

The Prize List

£1million cash

BMW 1 Series (worth over £32,000)

Volkswagen T-Roc SUV (worth over £32,000)

Orlando Holiday with £5,000 spending money

Maldives – 5-star all-inclusive holiday

New Wren Kitchen (worth over £15,000)

Formula E – VIP trip to Monaco to watch E Prix, plus £1,000 spending money

The Ashes – Trip to Australia to see The Ashes, with New Year in Sydney and £1,000 spending money

Take That – Circus Tour tickets with meet and greet with the band, 5-star hotel and £1,000 spending money

Tech Bundle – 16 items including MacBook Air, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, 65″ 4k Smart TV & Sony Playstation 5 Pro

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

British Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker has signed a long-term deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

The 28-year-old won light-heavyweight silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics before turning professional in 2022.

He has an unbeaten 9-0-1 record in his professional career, with six of those wins within the distance.

“I think things happen for a reason. I’m at the right stage in my career now to pick the right platform and go for the right fights. So this move just made sense,” said Whittaker.

Hearn described Whittaker as a ” generational talent” who has “the world at his feet”.

“This long-term deal will propel Ben to global superstardom, solidifying his reputation as a household name and steering him towards future world titles. He will be number one,” added Hearn.

Whittaker’s last match was a second-round stoppage of Liam Cameron in their light-heavyweight rematch in April.

The first bout in October 2024 ended in a controversial draw, when both men fell over the ropes and Whittaker was unable to continue because of an injury.

On Nov. 26, 1983, six men robbed a warehouse serving London’s Heathrow Airport. Hoping to find £1 million worth of foreign currency, they found instead 6,800 gold bars, worth £26 million in 1983 money — a record-setting robbery at the time — under the temporary supervision of Brink’s-Mat. (A union of the American security firm and a British transport outfit.) This event has been transmuted into “The Gold,” an involving British drama premiering here Sunday on PBS.

The robbery itself takes up little screen time; the question on the criminal side becomes how to turn three tons of gold into cash, and for the police, one of recovering the loot and bringing the villains to justice. The cops and the criminals overlap here and there, a point screenwriter Neil Forsyth does not want you to miss, and is a particular bee in the bonnet of upright Detective Chief Superintendent Brian Boyce (Hugh Bonneville), self-contained but always ready to speak his mind. (He is also “infuriated” by what people get wrong about jazz, which he likens to police work.)

Recruited by Boyce to a special task force are detectives Tony Brightwell (Emun Elliott), historical, and Nicki Jennings (a charismatic Charlotte Spencer), invented, who are good company for the viewer and generally for each other, though as people who spend long hours sitting together in cars waiting for something to happen, they have their moments of friction, played for humor. As a created character, Jennings — who, as a woman, has to outline the many steps and hard work it took to achieve her position — offers an opportunity for emotional elaboration, notably in scenes (affectionate, prickly) with her father, Billy (Danny Webb), “by a country mile the worst villain in England,” his criminal career sidelined by ill health.

Though one of the actual robbers, Micky McAvoy (Adam Nagaitis), gets a good deal of attention, the bulk of the series involves three criminals subsequently processing the gold and laundering the money. Kenneth Noye (Jack Lowden) is “a fence with protection,” owing to his friendship with police officers through membership in the Masons. (When Boyce brings Jennings and Brightwell onto his team, he sets the rules as “no overtime, no drinking at lunchtime, no freemasonry.”) John Palmer (Tom Cullen), a dyslexic dealer in gold and jewelry, has a handy portable smelter in his yard. And the invented Edwyn Cooper (Dominic Cooper), an up-from-the-streets solicitor with posh airs and a rich wife whose snooty parents treat him with barely disguised disdain, finds himself working for “a group of businessmen who have a lot of money that needs to be made respectable,” in the words of liaison Gordon Parry (Sean Harris, sinister).

Stretched over six episodes, it’s not a speedy telling, and, in fact, a second series covering a long tail of aftermath has already aired in the U.K. Apart from some surveillance, tailing suspects, one fatal encounter and an occasional chase, there’s little in the way of capital-A Action, mostly just a lot of talk — inquisitive, instructive, threatening, discursive, domestic or speechifying. Though the production is naturalistic — in a way that ties it to an earlier, golden era of British productions — the dialogue can sound highly composed. Characters are given little monologues, often to explain how they became the person they are, that play as the sort of thing that might occur late in the last act of a stage drama: Jennings found the sirens outside her window comforting, which led her to police work, “so that kids like me will be safe”; Boyce had a life-changing moment involving a pair of red leather shoes while fighting in the so-called Cypriot Emergency. Some dialogue might have been lifted whole from a 1930s gangster film. Critiques of British class structure and bad actors within the police department are raised high enough to be impossible to miss.

There are a lot of moving parts in “The Gold,” represented in sometimes brief alternating scenes, and it may take a while, among the crooks, at least, to get a handle on things, to sort out where you are, who’s who, who’s married to whom, and what part each plays in the caper. Though Noye is arrogant enough to root against, Forsyth wants to show, as much as each character allows, the just-folks elements of his bad guys, psychologically relatable sorts who have, from early experience, a lack of opportunity, or a certain kind of genius, decided that the path to freedom is best paved with other people’s money. (“If it wasn’t for people trying trying to break out of the lives they’ve been given,” observes Boyce of his country’s social stratification, the police would be out of a job.) This may be soft-pedaling matters somewhat — to read the historical accounts might give you a different picture — but as drama it pays dividends.

As a period piece, it doesn’t oversell the era. There are old cars, of course, and more mustaches than we are currently accustomed to. But apart from the pop songs that run over the end credits, nothing screams These Are the ’80s. (Compare, for example, the “Life on Mars” sequel, “Ashes to Ashes.”) It’s more a question of what isn’t there. The detectives have a computer, but only Brightwell has an idea of what it’s for or how to use it. No cellphones, but there are walkie-talkies. A tracking device, apparently the only one in all of British law enforcement, has to be imported from Belfast (and sneakily at that). There is a refreshing absence of guns — none of those Kevlar-clad teams going in with pistols raised. (Just truncheons.) And the remodeling of East London into a gentrified glass forest, a minor plot point, has only just begun.

It’s like a vacation from now, and who can’t use one of those?

British Airways claims to serve more American cities than any other UK airline, with St. Louis set to become its 27th

British Airways is poised to grow its transatlantic network by launching new direct flights from London to the United States in 2026. The new flight route will connect London Heathrow to St. Louis, a prominent city in Missouri at the heart of the Midwest.

Famous for its iconic Gateway Arch and vibrant neighbourhoods, the UK airline believes St. Louis has something for every visitor. Its flights to the city are scheduled to begin on April 19, 2026 and will operate four times a week throughout the summer.

In light of the announcement, Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said: “St. Louis is a fantastic addition to our US network – it’s a destination in itself as a city with a rich history and a vibrant cultural scene, as well as a gateway to exciting destinations beyond this.

“As the only direct route from the UK, this service will open up exciting new opportunities for our customers and further strengthen ties between the UK and the US Midwest.”

British Airways claims to serve more American cities than any other UK airline, with St. Louis set to become its 27th. The launch will also make British Airways the only UK airline operating direct flights to St. Louis.

The St. Louis launch coincides with the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the famous highway that begins in Chicago, passes through St. Louis, and continues to Los Angeles.

A British Airways release about the launch adds: “The city’s stretch of the ‘Mother Road’ is packed with Americana charm, from vintage diners and neon signs to historic motels and roadside attractions, offering the perfect starting point for travellers seeking a classic US road trip experience.

“Beyond its Route 66 heritage, St. Louis is home to Forest Park – one of the largest urban parks in the US –, a range of free museums and a thriving craft beer scene, making it an ideal destination for both short breaks and longer adventures.

“The city also boasts a proud sporting legacy, with teams including the St. Louis Cardinals (Major League Baseball), Blues (National Hockey League) and City Soccer Club (Major League Soccer), earning the title of ‘Ultimate Sports City’ by ESPN The Magazine.”

Customers travelling to St. Louis can choose from three cabin options: World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and Club World (business class). Return fares begin at £529 from October 1.

Passengers travelling in Club World may also enjoy the airline’s newest business class seat, the Club Suite, on selected flights. This offers a private space with direct aisle access, a fully flat bed, and a ’17-inch high-resolution entertainment screen’. Such travellers can indulge in a brasserie-style dining experience, with a selection of freshly prepared starters, mains, desserts, and cheeses.

Beginning next summer, the airline will resume its twice-daily flights to Miami and offer daily services to Dallas-Fort Worth, too. Meanwhile, flights to Las Vegas will increase from 10 to 13 per week, and the airline will operate to both San Diego and Austin 14 times a week as well.

New York (JFK) will now operate exclusively from London Heathrow, offering nine daily flights, including a new service with the airline’s 777-200 fleet.

For more information, head to ba.com.

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Draper was modelling next summer’s collection for one of his sponsors last week and has been working out regularly at the National Tennis Centre in London this week.

The work is primarily physical at the moment, and when pre-season training begins in earnest later this month, the initial on-court drills are likely to be low in intensity.

The British number one first felt discomfort in his upper left serving arm during the clay court season in the spring, and following a scan after Wimbledon, did not hit any serves for a month.

But the period of rest proved insufficient. He won his first-round match at the US Open, but withdrew before the second, and the opportunity to make his debut at the season ending ATP Finals was gone.

”He’s top 10 and he played half of the year. Just to say how good he is…” Mouratoglou added.

“His only problem for the moment is the injuries: he has been through several injuries already in the past.

“I always thought he was going to be a top player, but for every player that is supposed to become a top player, there are things to solve.

“For him, it’s to find a way to be injury free as much as possible because that’s what made him lose a little bit of time otherwise he would be higher [in the rankings], I think.”

Oct. 2 (UPI) — Police in Manchester have labeled a deadly attack on a synagogue during Yom Kippur services a terrorist incident. Two people were killed.

The attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue also injured three people who were in serious condition, the Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, head of counter-terrorism policing, said police know the attacker’s identity. The attacker was shot dead by police, but there have been two other arrests, he said.

Manchester police also have said that the device the man was wearing, believed to be an explosive device, was not viable.

Members of a bomb disposal unit were on the scene to investigate, and police advised the public to stay away from the area. They also held members of the congregation inside the synagogue temporarily while making the area safe and released them later.

A GMP spokesperson said police were in contact with all synagogues in the greater Manchester area “to provide reassurance.”

“We know today’s horrifying attack, on the Jewish community’s holiest day, will have caused significant shock and fear throughout all of our communities,” the spokesperson said.

“We are grateful to the member of the public whose quick response to what they witnessed allowed our swift action, and as a result, the offender was prevented from entering the synagogue.”

The Israeli Embassy in London condemned the attack, calling it “abhorrent and deeply distressing” in a statement on X.

“The safety and security of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom must be guaranteed,” the statement added.

Britain’s King Charles III offered his thoughts and prayers in the wake of the attack and thanked the work of emergency officials.

“My wife and I have been deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack in Manchester, especially on such a significant day for the Jewish community,” he said.

Jewish communities in Britain were on heightened alert Thursday, with London’s Metropolitan Police increasing patrols new Jewish cultural sites, an unnamed source told The Guardian.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said additional police were being deployed to synagogues throughout the country.

“We will do everything we can to keep our Jewish community safe,” he said.

Starmer planned to fly back to Britain early from a summit he was leading in Denmark, the BBC reported.

Sept. 28 (UPI) — Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called a policy that could lead to the indefinite deportation of thousands of people from the country “racist” and “immoral.”

Currently, migrants can apply for indefinite leave from other countries for five years, and allow them to live, study and work in Britain permanently, according to the BBC.

But a plan by Reform UK would abolish the status quo and require migrants to apply for new visas with more stringent guidelines. Right now, indefinite leave gives people more rights and access to benefits

Starmer said he did not think supporters of Reform UK are racist, but said he remains “frustrated” following 14 years of “Tory failure.” Starmer said he needed “space” to pursue and fulfill pledges he made during last year’s general election, which the Labor party won with a large majority.

“I do think it’s a racist policy, I do think it’s immoral,” Starmer said in an interview with the BBC. “It needs to be called out for what it is. It’s one thing to say we’re going to remove illegal immigrants, people who have no right to be here. I’m up for that. It’s a completely different thing to say we’re going to reach people who are here lawfully here and start removing them.”

Starmer called people in Britain under the current policy “neighbors” who contribute to the economy and changing the policy will “rip this country apart.”

A YouGov poll published Saturday shows that 58% of Britons oppose removing indefinite leave from those who already hold it. More than 44% say they support ending the policy, while 43% are opposed.

A BRITISH man who stabbed his flat mate to death in Portugal has been found after spending more than a year on the run.

William Hunter murdered 22-year-old Elliot Mulligan in an Albufeira apartment in April 2022.

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The 34-year-old was sentenced to spend 18 years behind bars for killing the Liverpool man, but lodged an appeal in 2023.

He was released on bail in April the following year, after reaching the custodial time limit for prisoners on remand.

Hunter immediately breached his bail and fled, leading police on a multi-agency manhunt.

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said he was arrested by Guardia Civil officers in Alicante on September 15.

Portuguese authorities have sought the killer to be extradited and complete his jail sentence.

In a statement, NCA spokesman Gill Duggan said: “Above all, our thoughts remain with Elliot’s family, who have endured an unimaginable loss and the painful reality that the man responsible had not been held accountable for his violent actions”.

“Our pursuit of Hunter was relentless, driven by a deep commitment to securing justice for those who love Elliot,” he continued.

“With thanks to our partners at Merseyside Police and in Spain and Portugal, Hunter is behind bars where he belongs, and where he will remain for a long time to come.”

Detective Superintendent Mark Drew from Merseyside Police said Hunter’s arrest had been a “joint operation”.

“We are committed to working with our partners to capture those that evade law enforcement and bring them to justice,” he said.

“We continue to support Elliot’s family.

“As they finally see justice being done for their tragic loss, we hope that the arrest of William Hunter brings them some comfort.”

Hunter was convicted and sentenced over the brutal murder in 2023, where he stabbed Elliot multiple times in the chest, back, arms and hands.

The two men had been living together when they’d gotten into an argument on April 6 in 2022.

Hunter later launched his savage attack, stabbing Elliot 24 times.

Elliot attempted to flee the luxury flat by jumping from the balcony, walking several metres across the garden before eventually collapsing.

Emergency services were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy of Elliot’s body found he had died from multiple incisive wounds.

Shaun Murphy fought off a spirited fightback from world number one Judd Trump to reach the quarter-finals of the British Open in Cheltenham.

England’s Murphy, who won the Masters in January, looked comfortable with a 3-1 lead but gave up successive frames before wrapping up a 4-3 win against his compatriot.

Trump also suffered a premature exit at last week’s English Open, losing in the last 16, and he is yet to reach a semi-final this season.

Murphy faces fellow Englishman Mitchell Mann in the last eight after he beat Barry Hawkins 4-2.

World number 91 Mann has only previously featured once in the quarter-finals of a ranking tournament – reaching that stage of the Northern Ireland Open in 2021.

Defending champion Mark Selby laid down a marker to his rivals with a comprehensive 4-0 win over China’s Chang Bingyu.

Meanwhile, Mark Williams beat English Open champion Mark Allen 4-3 in the third round before returning for the evening session to win 4-1 against China’s Lei Peifan.

England’s Selby and Williams will square off in the quarter-finals in a repeat of the 2023 final, when the Welshman came out on top to claim his second title after also winning in 2021.

Stan Moody, 19, came through a back-and-forth battle with Ali Carter to win 4-3 and meets Louis Heathcote, who beat Wales’ Liam Davies 4-2.

Moody, ranked world number 55, showed experience and composure beyond his years to reach his second ranking quarter-final.