confirms

Defence official tells Congress that 47 alleged drug-trafficking vessels have been struck since campaign began.

The United States military has confirmed that at least 157 people have been killed in lethal strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats off Latin America, described as a campaign of extrajudicial killings by legal experts.

Senior defence official Joseph Humire said that 47 “narco-trafficking vessels” have been struck in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since the campaign began in September, in a written statement to members of the US Congress.

Asked by lawmakers on Tuesday whether the quantity of drugs entering the US has gone down, Humire stated that the movement of drug-trafficking vessels had decreased by 20 percent in the Caribbean.

“We’ve measured the decrease in the movement of the vessels,” said Humire.

“But that’s a no in terms of the drugs actually getting into the US,” Representative Adam Smith responded.

Experts have expressed scepticism that the strikes are having any significant impact on the drug trade, and legal scholars have said that the campaign is a clear violation of international law and is blurring the distinction between armed conflict and criminal activity. Under international law, military force is permitted for the former, but not the latter.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is holding hearings on the strikes, and advocates hope that the hearings could open the door to possible legal accountability for those responsible.

The Pentagon has shared videos on social media showing strikes on the vessels, but has provided few details about those killed or evidence of their status as drug vessels.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has embraced a militarised approach to combatting drug trafficking that has allowed the US to expand its military footprint across the region.

The US has stepped up collaboration with friendly governments such as Ecuador and threatened military strikes against countries like Mexico and Colombia if they do not do more to accommodate US demands.

Katie Price appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday, where she said no topic was ‘off limit’ during the bombshell interview

Katie Price appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday to set the record straight on several details in her life, insisting no topic was ‘off limit’.

Katie, 47, recently left her family reeling when she announced she’d got hitched for the fourth time to businessman Lee Andrews, 43, who she had only known for a week. Her shocked mum and sister only found out after she announced the news on social media.

Since the reveal of her new relationship and marriage, the couple have been forced to hit back at a series of claims. Only recently, Katie spoke out to defend her husband Lee, hitting back at claims he’s a conman and insisting she has seen proof of his wealth.

Appearing on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, Katie encouraged hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls to grill her, insisting that no topic was ‘off limit’.

Real marriage date and Lee Andrews relationship

Katie said: “I’m doing really good. Really good. Really happy. I’m so excited to be here today for you to ask me anything you want”, adding: “The reason I say that is because there’s been so much speculation in the media, online, and no one can really hear my voice. So I’m glad I’ve got you guys. As you know, you can ask me anything.”

Talking about marrying Lee so quickly, she said: “Now, do you ever really know anyone? If you look at my past marriages, did I ever know they would be what they would be? And sometimes, I don’t think you can ever know who anyone is.”

She added: “So for me, I’ve gone through so much, as everyone knows, so much, so many different relationships. And I normally went from one to the other, to the other. And I recently, well, two years ago, I did relationships, healthy relationships”, adding that before then, she had always been in “toxic” relationships.

Katie continued: “But now, like two years ago, I now know signs of red flags. And you know, all of this, I’ve been there, done it. Now, I am older, I can make my own decisions. And there’s nothing to say that you have to wait for anything. So I’ve met Lee. It’s hard for anyone to understand.”

It was at this point that Katie revealed when she first met Lee, which was January, and when they got married, saying: “We got married two weeks ago. Although it looked like we did the ceremony in January, we did get engaged then.”

Meanwhile, over the weekend, Lee denied a claim that he sent a voice note begging for cash, days after Katie claimed she’s seen proof he’s a millionaire.

Lee has been accused of sending desperate voice notes of him begging for cash and complaining about surviving on 20 ready meals days before his lavish proposal to Katie in January and whirwild wedding. It has been claimed that in one voice note, Lee claims he’s “desperate” and “trying to survive”.

Lee has denied the claims in an Instagram post, simply commenting on a post making the claims: “This is not me”.

Meanwhile, Lee also took to his Instagram story to double down on claims that fake voice notes featuring his voice are circulating. He shared a screenshot of three Instagram accounts pretending to be him and wrote on top: “Warning Ignore the fake accounts and fake voice notes”.

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Good Morning Britain continues on weekdays at 6am on ITV and ITV X.

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MEXICO CITY — Cuba has begun direct talks with the United States in an effort to solve “bilateral differences” between the two countries, Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel said Friday.

The comments, broadcast nationwide in Cuba, are the first confirmation of bilateral talks between two governments that have been fierce adversaries for almost 70 years, since Fidel Castro’s revolution toppled the U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.

What exactly the talks are about remains unclear, but the Trump administration—which has choked off oil supplies to the island, triggering a severe energy crisis—has been insisting that Cuba’s communist government must change.

In a statement released on social media, Díaz Canel said, “The primary purpose of this conversation is, firstly, to identify the bilateral problems that require a solution—based on their severity and impact—and, secondly, to find solutions for these identified problems.”

Rumors of direct talks between the two nations have been circulating for months, but neither Washington or Havana had confirmed the talks until now.

On Tuesday, the Cuban ambassador to the United States, Lianys Torres Rivera, told The Times that the Cuban government was “ready to engage with the U.S. on the issues that are important for the bilateral relations, and to talk about those in which we have differences.”

Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, have been insistent that the current government must change.

“It may be a friendly takeover, it may not be a friendly takeover,” Trump told Latin American leaders gathered in Florida on Saturday.

“It wouldn’t matter because they’re down to, as they say, fumes. They have no energy. They have no money. They’re in deep trouble,” Trump said.

Trump responded to the Cuban leader’s willingness to negotiate on Friday morning by amplifying a news article with the headline:”Cuba confirms talks with Trump officials, raising hopes for US deal.” He posted that on his Truth Social account.

Rolling blackouts, shortages of food and medicine, a lack of gasoline and other shortfalls have become everyday occurrences on the island, home to 10 million. Images of uncollected garbage rotting on Havana’s streets have been broadcast across the globe. A lack of jet fuel has bludgeoned the critical tourism sector.

“The status quo is unsustainable,” Rubio said last month. “Cuba needs to change…And it doesn’t have to be change all at once. It doesn’t have to change from one day to the next.”

The Cuban announcement comes 13 days after the U.S. attacked Iran and two months after U.S. forces, deployed by Trump, deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime Cuban ally, and brought him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

FITNESS influencer and ovarian cancer researcher Stephanie Buttermore has died suddenly at the age of 36.

Her fiancé and partner of 10 years, Jeff Nippard confirmed the shocking news in a statement on Instagram.

“It is with profound sorrow that we share the sudden passing of Jeff’s fiancée and partner of ten years, Stephanie,” his team wrote in a statement on Friday.

“As many of you know, Stephanie meant the world to Jeff. She will be remembered for her warmth and compassion, her love for her family, and her PhD research on ovarian cancer.

“We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this tragic loss. Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time.”

The cause of her death is not known.

On Valentine’s Day, Jeff shared an image of the loved-up couple beaming into the camera.

“Relationshipmaxxing with tea time to lower cortisol levels,” he wrote in the caption followed by a heart.

“Love you forever,” Stephanie replied.

The bittersweet post has since been flooded with comments sending prayers to Jeff and other members of the influencer’s family.

“Be strong Jeff, my heart is broken,” one wrote.

“Heaven gained an amazing angel. Someone who cared so deeply for others. Praying for you Jeff and her family,” fellow influencer Heidi Somers Guzman commented.

“I can’t believe it .. I watched her all the time .. this is so unfair.. take all the time to grieve and honour her Jeff, we’re all here for you, you and Steph were the biggest inspiration and we all loved her,” a third said.

Buttermore, from Canada, gained over 500,000 followers on Instagram by sharing her fitness and nutrition journey but announced in 2024 that she would be stepping back from social media.

In her last update on May 20, 2024, she said her mental health had become “the best it’s ever been” as her “previously crippling” anxiety levels reduced to almost nothing.

However, she admitted to missing her community and updates from her friends.

“Overall the pros have outweighed the cons for me. Sometimes I still feel a void in my day-to-day life from being so removed from this app, but the positives from taking this break has been worth it,” she said.

“But believe me when I say I Iove and miss you, I truly mean it.”

More to follow…

Loose Women won’t be on air for a while as Kaye Adams announced a break at the end of Friday’s show.

Loose Women will be missing from its regular ITV slot next week, as the panel announced the long-running programme will be taking a hiatus.

During Friday’s episode (March 6), Jayne Moore interrupted their conversation near the show’s conclusion to dab her eyes due to hay fever.

Clarifying that she wasn’t becoming emotional, Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams remarked: “I thought you were getting a bit tearful! There is a reason to get tearful, it’s your last Loose Women for a few weeks.

“We will be back next month. Until then, take care, have a fabulous weekend and Easter, and we’ll see you very soon!”.

Typically, the daytime programme broadcasts weekdays from 12:30pm until 1:30pm; however, next week, Cheltenham Festival coverage will occupy its time slot, reports the Express.

Loose Women isn’t the sole programme experiencing a scheduling reshuffle, as Lorraine will also be off air temporarily.

At Friday’s show conclusion (March 6), Christine Lampard revealed the programme will be pausing.

She stated: “That’s all for today here, Lorraine will be back in a few weeks’ time. Have a lovely weekend. See you soon.”

This follows Lorraine’s absence from her programme for the past two episodes after losing her voice.

Last year the broadcaster unveiled significant changes for ITV Daytime which resulted in 200 job losses. Lorraine will now broadcast for 30 weeks annually, a modification that will similarly impact Loose Women.

With Lorraine off air, Good Morning Britain will be extended by an additional 30 minutes, concluding at 10am. The replacement for Loose Women, following a week of Cheltenham Festival coverage, is yet to be announced.

Discussing the alterations, head honcho Kevin Lygo elucidated: “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well as generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.

“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.”

Loose Women can be viewed on ITVX.

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EMMA Watson has been spotted passionately kissing her billionaire boyfriend, entrepreneur Gonzalo Hevia Baillares.

The Harry Potter star confirmed their secret romance on a trip to Mexico.

Emma, 35, didn’t appear to care who saw her embrace the businessman as they walked through Mexico City airport.

The couple were flanked by guards as they snogged in the security queue, according to pictures seen by the Daily Mail.

A source told the paper: “Widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most eligible bachelors, Gonzalo now appears to be deeply smitten and reportedly taking his relationship with Emma seriously – having already introduced her to his parents.

​”Without a doubt, Gonzalo and Emma are shaping up to be one of 2026’s most unexpected power couples.”

JANE MOORE

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Emma was believed to have last been dating Kieran Brown while she studied creative writing.

The actress appears to have moved on with Gonzalo – cementing their relationship with a romantic getaway to the exclusive beach resort of Punta Mita.

Gonzalo is the grandson of Mexican billionaire Alberto Baillères, who died in 2022.

His family are the third wealthiest family in the country and are said to have a net worth of £14.2billion, having made their money from a multi-billion-dollar mining company.

Gonzalo is currently working as a CEO of investment firm HBeyond in New York.

​He was previously romantically linked with Spanish singer Belinda Peregrín before they broke up in 2024.

Many TUI customers due to fly in the next few days will be awaiting news of whether their flights and package holidays are cancelled. The travel operator has now issued a major update on the situation

TUI has cancelled more flights to Cyprus as a UK Royal Navy warship heads for the region.

Sir Keir Starmer said HMS Dragon – a Type 45 Destroyer – will be sent to that section of the Mediterranean. The PM has also spoken with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to let him know the UK is also “sending helicopters with counter-drone capabilities”.

It comes a day after the runway of the British air base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, was hit by a drone. The Ministry of Defence said it caused “minimal damage”.

Today, flights to Cyprus’s two commercial airports were cancelled, with easyJet, Ryanair and TUI scrapping services. This afternoon, German travel giant TUI issued a major update on its coming Cyprus flights.

The spokesperson said: “In light of the evolving situation in the Middle East, we have taken the decision to cancel the four TUI Airways flights scheduled to travel to Cyprus on Wednesday, 4 March. We appreciate this may be disappointing news for those due to travel, and we are truly sorry for the disruption to our customers’ holiday plans. Our customer service teams are fully mobilised, and every affected customer will be contacted directly to discuss the options available to them.

“We want to reassure all customers that we are closely monitoring developments and keeping the situation under constant review.”

As for next steps, TUI has said: “Customers will be contacted directly and offered the option to amend their booking fee-free, with a rebooking incentive, or to receive a full refund.”

It also confirmed that its next TUI Airways flights to Cyprus are scheduled to operate on Saturday (March 7). TUI said: “At this stage, these flights are planned to run as normal. However, we continue to monitor the situation closely and, as it remains dynamic, schedules may be subject to change.”

Passengers flying out on Saturday should keep an eye on TUI’s travel alert page, as well as check its app for updates, and keep up to date with international news.

Flights cancelled on Wednesday, 4 March:

• TOM7318 – East Midlands Airport to Paphos
• TOM6312 – Cardiff Airport to Paphos
• TOM6354 – Bournemouth to Paphos
• TOM2336 – Manchester to Paphos

TUI’s website also has advice for customers currently in Cyprus. It says: “The safety of our customers is always our top priority. Our teams are working with our airline partners to monitor the situation and make arrangements to bring you back to the UK once it is safe to do so. We are working though bookings in date order and will call you to discuss your options. However, if you would prefer, please call us on 0203 451 2688.

“If you choose to call us, please be aware that we are receiving an exceptional volume of calls and there may be some delay in your call being answered.”

READ MORE: TUI, Emirates, British Airways and easyJet latest updates on when flights might resumeREAD MORE: TUI issues update for Brits impacted by Middle East travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) does not currently advise against travel to Cyprus, but many airlines have been cancelling their flights in light of the current situation.

The FCDO advises that Brits planning a holiday in Cyprus should sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts, monitor local news, and regularly review departure plans as the situation can change rapidly.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

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The BBC show about midwives at Nonnatus House is taking a break after its latest series

Call The Midwife will not be back for a Christmas special this year.

The much-loved BBC period drama about midwives working in the East End is currently in its 15th series, but that is set to end on March 8 and show creator Heidi Thomas has previously confirmed the programme is then taking a break.

While it is due to return for a 16th run in the future, that will not be in January as usual, with the series on hiatus.

It has also been confirmed that its usual festive special – which is a usually a highlight of the Christmas TV schedule for viewers – will not air this December.

“We have made 15 series in 15 years – I’ve known for a couple of years that that situation won’t go on for ever,” Heidi told Radio Times.

“The sets need repair. The nuns’ habits are worn out. It takes 14 months to make every series.”

The show creator said that for two months of each year she and producer Annie Tricklebank work on two series at the same time and that the workload is “immense” and can only be sustained for “so long”.

During the Call The Midwife interlude, audiences will be treated to a wartime prequel series instead.

It commences on Christmas Day and will showcase 1940s incarnations of Sister Monica Joan, Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter), and the late Sister Evangeline, who was previously portrayed by Pam Ferris.

A film featuring the regular cast set in the Commonwealth, probably Australia, in the year 1972 is also in the pipeline.

So far it isn’t known when the 16th series of the show will air.

But Heidi told Radio Times that it will return “slightly recalibrated”. “Changes will have taken place, but the change itself is not destructive,” she said. “It’s nourishing.”

Call The Midwife – which stars Helen George as Nurse Trixie Franklin – started in 2012 and has aired 15 series set between the 1950s and 1970s, as well as several festive specials.

The current series about the midwives of Nonnatus House started in January and is set in 1971.

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Call The Midwife airs at 8pm on BBC One on Sunday March 8

The US military has confirmed at least three of its soldiers have been killed and five others injured in its war with Iran. US media reports the three were killed in Kuwait, but Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher says the military will be hesitant to give more details.

Airlines serving the Middle East cancelled or diverted a large number of flights on Saturday in the wake of US and Israeli airstrikes against on Iran – Emirates have issued an update

Thousands of holidaymakers have been left stranded after aviation giant Emirates axed all flights in and out of Dubai on Saturday.

The ongoing situation in Iran and the Middle East has lead to multiple regional airspace closures over Dubai.

Emirates issued a “red alert” suspension lasting until at least 3pm local time Sunday. The carrier is “actively monitoring” the high-stakes situation as authorities scramble to manage the unfolding crisis. While safety remains the “highest priority,” the move has sparked travel mayhem for those caught in the crossfire.

Airlines serving the Middle East cancelled or diverted a large number of flights on Saturday in the wake of US and Israeli airstrikes against on Iran. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air were among carriers to scale back their schedules to destinations in the Middle East, citing safety concerns.

READ MORE: WW3 mapped as US and Israel launch strikes on IranREAD MORE: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild reportedly killed in airstrikes

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Taking to X an Emirates spokesperson said: “Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, up until 1500hrs UAE time on Sunday, 1 March. If you are booked to travel in the next 72 hours, your options are:

“Rebook on an alternate flight. You can rebook on another flight to your intended destination up to 10 days from your original date of travel. If you booked your flight with a travel agent, please contact them. If you booked with us directly, contact us.

“Request for refund. You can request for a refund of your ticket by completing the refund form if you booked with us directly. If you booked your flights with a travel agent, please contact them. We urge all customers to check flight status before proceeding to the airport. Customers impacted by flight cancellations must contact their travel agency for rebooking.

“If booked directly with Emirates, please contact us. Customers are requested to ensure their contact details are correct by visiting http://emirat.es/managebooking to receive updates We are actively monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities. We apologise to customers affected by disruptions for any inconvenience caused. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.”

The update comes in the wake of confirmation from Iran’s state broadcaster that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the early hours Sunday local time in US and Israeli aristrikes.

Follow our live blog for the latest travel updates by clicking here.

The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman has landed her own talk show and it’s set to air very soon

The BBC has finally confirmed the start date of Claudia Winkleman’s new show after she joked that she’s “going to be awful” hosting her show.

The TV star – who stepped down from her Strictly Come Dancing hosting role last year – has landed her own BBC talk show and it has now been announced that it’s just a couple of weeks away, with the first instalment set to air on March 13.

Produced by So Television, which is part of ITV Studios, each episode will see Traitors presenter Claudia welcome some of the biggest names from the world of showbiz. She will interview them on the sofa in front of a studio audience.

“I can’t quite believe it and I’m incredibly grateful to the BBC for this amazing opportunity,” she said as the series was confirmed. “I’m obviously going to be awful, that goes without saying, but I’m over the moon they’re letting me try.”

Claudia’s new project comes after she and fellow TV star Tess Daly quit Strictly Come Dancing after the last series of the BBC ballroom show. The pair announced in October that they would be leaving after that series – which was won by Karen Carney – telling fans that it “feels like the right time”.

In their farewell message on Instagram, Tess and Claudia penned: “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.

“We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show. They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day.”

“We will cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing’ but we will continue to say it to each other,” they added.

“Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”

So far it isn’t known who will be talking over from the pair on Strictly, but there are several names rumoured to be in the mix, including The One Show’s Alex Jones, radio star Zoe Ball and Big Brother presenter Emma Willis.

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The Claudia Winkleman Show – which will be on BBC iPlayer and BBC One – starts at 10.40pm on Friday March 13.

Call the Midwife has confirmed Timothy Turner is set to face challenges in episode seven of series 15

Timothy Turner is headed for a difficult ride in the forthcoming episode of Call the Midwife, and his parents will not be able to help.

The latest season of the BBC period drama is set to conclude on Sunday, 8 March, but before the season finale, it appears trainee doctor Timothy, played by Max Macmillan, will face challenges as he takes up work in Poplar.

The 25-year-old actor first appeared on the much-loved BBC period drama in 2012 when his character was introduced during the first-ever festive episode as Doctor Patrick Turner’s (Stephen McGann) mischievous, though kind-hearted, son.

In his first scenes on the show, Timothy is a young schoolboy who waits in a car whilst his dad attends to an older lady in dire need of medical attention. He was also a Boy Scout who got involved in Nurse Chummy’s (Miranda Hart) Christmas nativity, giving his dad a look of pride as he performed the violin in a memorable, heart-warming moment.

In the recent series of Call the Midwife, Timothy is sometimes absent due to his study commitments in Edinburgh as he trains to become a doctor. However, Timothy returns to Poplar on Sunday (March 1) for an exciting storyline, the BBC show confirmed on Tuesday.

Taking to Instagram, the show shared a string of photos of the trainee doctor, ranging from his upcoming scenes to him as a young boy.

Besides the nostalgic snaps, they wrote: “Countdown to Call the Midwife Episode 7: Timothy Turner steps up. In Sunday’s episode, we see the eldest Turner child put through his paces as a trainee doctor in the East End. And – without revealing too much – he has plenty to do…

“For actor Max Macmillan, the journey from a 12-year-old boy in Series 2 to a fully-grown medic has been unique in the history of our programme. What does it feel like to grow up on the set of such an iconic programme? And how does Max feel about the full role he’s now able to take in the drama?”

Max shared his excitement about his new plot after growing up on the show. He said: “It’s really exciting, because I’ve been in this show for over half my life – I was 12 when I started, and now I’m 25 – and a lot of it was just the wonderful shifting dynamic we had within the Turner family.

“But now, suddenly, Timothy has all these new responsibilities! I’m getting to explore a side of acting that I’ve always observed but never been a part of.”

Laura Main, who plays Shelagh, added: “I am so proud to be Max’s fake mum! There are strong bonds between us all, which have naturally changed and deepened over the years as everyone has grown up. Max has always been brilliant with the newer and younger additions to the Turner family, but to now see him carrying huge storylines as one of the adult actors is wonderful.

“He has a great relationship with Renee and Natalie, who are similar ages. He’s graduated into being a full member of the adult company, but he’s still the kind, funny, thoughtful, caring and intelligent person he always was.”

While Doctor Turner star Stephen McGann explained, “Watching Max grow up has been a real privilege. I have a son of my own, a little older than Max, and I think this helped me create a bond with both Max and his character of Timothy in the drama. But sadly for poor Max, he’s had to put up with my terrible dad jokes and wind-ups on set for years and years!”

The post concluded: “Sunday will see Timothy challenged where no parent is there to help. Will he be equal to it?.”

Taking to the comments, Call the Midwife fans shared their admiration for watching Timothy grow up on-screen, with one person writing: “It’s been wonderful watching Tim/Max grow up!”

A second pointed out: “He’s all grown up now!”, while a third chimed in: “The Boy becomes a Man (loveheart)”.

“From scout to doctor. He has grown from an adorable child to a young man”, penned one fan while another echoed the sentiment: “It’s been a privilege to watch Max grow up on screen as Timothy Turner.”

Call the Midwife airs Sunday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer

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Rumours David Cave’s character Jack Hodgson is leaving Silent Witness have been rife

Silent Witness viewers have been left questioning whether David Caves is leaving the show after his character Jack ran into some trouble in the latest episode.

The much-loved forensic scientist, who joined the BBC drama back in the sixteenth series when he replaced Harry Cunningham, has struggled throughout season 29.

The new series has seens Jack, Emila Fox’s Dr. Nikki Alexander and the team relocate to Birmingham from London, where a new enviroment and fresh set of cases has seen Jack “more affected by the trials and tribulations of his work,” as he struggles to find balance.

In the latest episode, called Grace of God, Jack gets himself into a drunken bar brawl as pressure mounts, but things turn from bad to worse when the man he was fighting, Scott Ashton played by Chris Coghill, later winds up dead on Nikki’s examination table.

Consumed with guilt, Jack turns himself in and ends up in prison, with Nikki on the outside trying to keep her husband safe. With his career as a forensic scientist hanging in the balance, many have wondered whether the latest instalment is setting David Caves up for a Silent Witness exit. Warning: The below contains spoilers for Grace of God Part Two.

However, viewers will be pleased to know it looks like Jack is remaining where he is for now, after the second part of Grace of God clears him of the Scott’s murder.

The episode, which is already available on BBC iPlayer, reveals that Jack’s brawl was part of a wider investigation and he was simply a pawn, with Nikki confirming Scott died of injuries sustained after his fight with Jack.

In the instalment, which will air on BBC One on Tuesday, February 23, Jack and Nikki have a teary heart to heart as Jack tells his wife: “The reason I didn’t tell you about the fight is because you trust me and I let you down.”

Responding, Nikki tells him: “And you might do it again. And I might do it to you,” pointing to her wedding band she adds: “That’s what this is. We make mistakes but we come back to each other. We always come back.”

“I’m sorry,” he tells her before they share an emotional embrace and head back home. The episode ends with Jack opposite his therapist as he explains: “We deal with violence almost every day. I experienced the results of violent acts first-hand. And I fool myself that I can separate them from my own life. I grew up being told that strong was the thing. Strength would get you through, no matter how bad.”

“And now?” the therapist asks. “It’s okay to ask for help from time to time, right?” Jack says smiling.

His final reflection seems like a good omen that Jack is returning to work and remaining on the show, as he shares: “Someone once said life is understood backwards but lived forwards. I want to be there… for all of it. I’m ready.”

It’s also worth noting that Jack is scheduled to appear in the final two episodes of Silent Witness season 29 which aire next week on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Silent Witness is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.

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