WHEN most of us check into a hotel, it’s likely to have a restaurant, a spa and a bar – but around the globe are some VERY luxurious ones with suites costing as much as £30k per night.
In a new Channel 4 series, First Dates star Fred Sirieix heads behind the scenes to see what exactly makes these hotels the best of the best.
First Dates star Fred Sirieix checked into four ‘ultimate’ hotelsCredit: Waddell Media Suites at The Royal Monsour in Marrakesh and be as much as £30k per nightCredit: Waddell Media
In the show called Fred‘s Ultimate Hotel, the charming maître d’ explores four hotels; The Royal Mansour in Marrakesh, The Royal Madikwe Lodge in South Africa, Les Barmes de l’Ours in France and Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
All of the hotels are five-star with Michelin-star dining and experiences that make them a step above the rest.
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Thanks to his history of working in hospitality, Fred can definitely make a judgement on whether these hotels live up to expectation.
Fred explained: “I’ve been doing this work from the age of 15 in hotels and restaurants – so I speak the lingo.
“Observing them, being a guest and then behind the scenes and working with the people there because this is all I’ve done all my life – and I wanted to see if these hotels were actually ultimate and why.”
Not only does Fred check-in at the hotels as a guest but he also goes behind the scenes as concierge and even bar staff – so here are the best ones he explored.
The Royal Mansour, Marrakesh
The first stop is at The Royal Mansour in Marrakesh which is owned by King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
It has 53 private riads with gardens, courtyard patio, roof terrace, swimming pools, hammams and each comes with a personal butler.
Fred said: “The most incredible thing is that this hotel was built from scratch and this started from the back of the house.
“They created the most efficient hotel, it’s aerodynamic – it’s like Formula 1 it makes for such fast service.
The Royal Mansour is owned by King Mohammed VI of MoroccoCredit: Waddell Media
Fred continued: “I was an easy customer for the butler, by 6 o’clock I told him I was OK. I can call room service or make my own coffee from the machine in my room – but some customers use the butler for 18-hours a day.”
“These are the Premier League of hotels – and the way to be the best is to not say no. You have to deliver – they are working at the highest level.”
The Royal Mansour in Marrakesh ranked 13th globally and Best Hotel in Africa at the World’s 50 Best Hotels Awards last year.
Sounds incredible, right? If you’re looking to stay, you might need to start saving now as the top suite, the Grand Riad, costs over £30,000 per night.
Villas in The Royal Madikwe Lodge can cost up to £6,000 per nightCredit: chriscloete.comFred ventured out into the bush to spot the wildlife
The Royal Madikwe Lodge, South Africa
The next stop on his trip is safe to say one of Fred’s best, and possibly worst emotional experiences, at The Royal Madikwe Lodge in South Africa.
Fred explained: “The Royal Madikwe, out of all the places I have been in the world, I have never felt so emotional throughout.
“From the moment I arrived, I started to cry. It was so emotional – I almost died in the bush, sandwiched between an elephant and two rhinos.”
Luckily bush ranger Ernie came to Fred’s rescue: “He saved my life because of how he dealt with the situation.”
“The staff there were on another level – it was very touching. It was very different as well like when I was in the bush with Ernie because it was a very responsible job.”
The most expensive accommodation at The Royal Madikwe Lodge is The Sovereign House which racks up to £6,000 per night.
It sits by a well-travelled elephant path so guests are likely to see the creatures from the comfort of their room.
It has room for six guests across three spacious bedrooms, with a glass wine cellar, plunge pool and private boma.
Les Barmes de l’Ours in the French Alps has suites that cost £3,500 per nightCredit: Nicolas AnetsonGuests can make use of the spa and are right next to the mountainsCredit: Waddell Media
Barmes de l’Ours, France
Tucked way in the French ski resort of Val-d’sère is the five-star luxury Les Barmes de l’Ours.
It’s safe to say that Fred, who was born and raised in France, had high hopes and luckily, they delivered.
Fred said: “These people are the embodiment of French hospitality – it’s a dying art that people do not practice anymore.
“From the moment I arrived, I was so impressed. It’s rare in life when you’re really impressed in life and you see excellence in people who want to do a good job.
“One thing about these hotels is that the five-star standard must be everywhere. If you’re walking down a corridor and you cross a member of staff – they must see, smile and say hello before you do that to them.”
The hotel in the mountains has North American-style lodges, alpine chalets and even contemporary lofts.
It’s the only hotel to sit at the foot of Face de Bellevarde – a black run which has a vertical drop of 850metres.
With the hotel guests can fly in via private helicopter and arrange paragliding flights from the slopes, it also has a two-lane bowling alley.
Here, the Bear Suite is the most expensive at over £3,500 per night – it has a private Jacuzzi, sauna, hammam and balcony overlooking the mountains.
When a hotel has former guests like Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and Princess Kate, and Elizabeth Taylor – you know it’s going to be amazing.
Raffles Hotel in Singapore has had lots of high-profile guestsCredit: Waddell Media The hotel is where the famous Singapore Sling drink was founded – and Fred has a goCredit: Waddell Media
Raffles Hotel, Singapore
Raffles Hotel in Singapore is found on 1 Beach Road, the colonial-style hotel is surrounded by lush gardens and it has a huge rooftop pool.
It’s the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail which was invented at its Long Bar where Fred attempts to create the drink himself.
Its suites all have high ceilings with separate living areas. Guests get 24-hour butler service – and it’s in a league of its own with personalised itinerary and service.
Fred said the special touches from his butler makes the experience extra special.
He explained: “I arrived on Father’s Day and the butler there looked me up before I arrived.
“They prepared a Father’s Day card for me with pictures of my children and left it in the room – it was so special. I thought wow, this is a touch above the rest.”
Raffles Hotel started off as a 10-bedroom bungalow before being expanded into the grand hotel it is now with 115 suites.
Kehlani has rescheduled the two concerts she had to postpone because of illness.
On Thursday, the “Folded” singer announced new dates for her Camden, N.J., and Columbia, Md., shows on Instagram. The Camden show, which was originally scheduled for Aug. 26, will now happen on Sept. 5. The Columbia show will follow on Sept. 6. The latter had previously been scheduled for Aug. 27.
The two stops on Kehlani’s self-titled world tour had to be postponed after the two-time Grammy winner needed to seek treatment at a hospital for pain that prevented her from being able to swallow.
“[A]fter two off days feeling completely normal.. ive been up all night unable to swallow & in so much pain,” Kehlani wrote in a social media post Wednesday. “[I] just left the hospital & am not cleared to sing for the next two shows. i’m so sorry.”
In the since-deleted Instagram post (which is still available on Facebook), the “Nights Like This” singer expressed her frustration that she wasn’t able to perform as planned.
It “breaks my heart to have to ever do this,” Kehlani wrote. “i do everything i’m supposed to do to ensure my health stays up to par & it still isn’t guaranteed.”
The “After Hours” singer kicked off the North American leg of her world tour in support of her self-titled album in Minneapolis earlier this month. She is scheduled for back-to-back Southern California stops at the Viejas Arena in San Diego and the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sept. 23 and 24, respectively.
Football’s biggest club competition returns for the 2026-2027 season as the UEFA Champions League gets under way next month, with the draw for the main round taking place on Thursday.
Back-to-back champions Paris Saint-Germain are chasing a historic third consecutive title, while European giants Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich will look to dethrone the two-time champions.
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The league phase format, now in its third year, will begin in September and run until January. It will be followed by the knockout rounds, with the champions crowned in early June.
Here’s all you need to know about this year’s draw:
Paris St Germain’s Achraf Hakimi lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the UEFA Champions League on May 30, 2026 [Andrew Boyers/Reuters]
When and where is the Champions League draw?
The main round fixtures will be drawn on August 27 at 6pm (17:00 GMT) at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
How does Champions League qualifying work?
Of the 36 competing teams, 29 qualified with their rankings in their respective national leagues. The remaining seven spots were up for grabs in a qualifying competition that began earlier this month and will conclude less than 24 hours before the draw.
Bodo/Glimt, LASK and Sabah became the latest teams to book their place in the elite competition, leaving eight teams to battle it out for the last four places on Wednesday.
Which teams have qualified for the Champions League?
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Atletico Madrid
Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Bodo/Glimt
Borussia Dortmund
Club Brugge
Como
Feyenoord
Galatasaray
Inter Milan
LASK
RB Leipzig
Liverpool
LOSC Lille
Manchester City
Manchester United
Napoli
Paris Saint-Germain
PSV Eindhoven
RC Lens
Real Betis
Real Madrid
AS Roma
FC Porto
Sabah FK
Shakhtar Donetsk
Slavia Prague
Sporting CP
VfB Stuttgart
Villarreal
What are the pots for this season?
Under the new format, each team will play fixtures against eight teams – two teams each from Pots 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Four of the eight matches will be at home, and the other four away.
Pot 1: PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid
Pot 2: Aston Villa, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting, Porto Club, Brugge PSV, Eindhoven, Real Betis
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Lille, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray, Bodo/Glimt, (winner of League Path)
Pot 4: Slavia Prague, VFB Stuttgart, LASK, Como, Lens, Sabah, (3 winners of Champions Path)
When are league phase and knockout matches?
The league phase matches are scheduled for:
Matchday 1: September 8-10
Matchday 2: October 13 and 14
Matchday 3: October 20 and 21
Matchday 4: November 3 and 4
Matchday 5: November 24 and 25
Matchday 6: December 8 and 9
Matchday 7: January 19 and 20
Matchday 8: January 27
The knockout phase matches are scheduled for:
Playoffs: February 16, 17 and 23, 24 Round of 16: March 9, 10 and 16, 17 Quarterfinals: April 6, 7 and 13, 14 Semifinals: April 27, 28 and May 4, 5 Final: June 5
When and where is the Champions League final?
The upcoming season’s final will be held at the Estadio Metropolitano, home of Spanish club Atletico Madrid.
How did PSG win last season’s Champions League?
The French side held their nerve in a cagey final to retain the title by beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties as the nail-biting showdown ended 1-1 after extra time.
Arsenal defender Gabriel blasted his spot kick over Matvey Safonov’s crossbar at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, his miss confirming PSG as the first club to retain the trophy since Real Madrid completed their three-year reign from 2016 to 2018.
Earlier in August, PSG won the UEFA Super Cup for a second straight year by beating Aston Villa 2-1, thanks to Desire Doue’s second-half goal in the annual curtain-raiser to the European football season.
Doue’s 61st-minute strike after running onto Ousmane Dembele’s pass was initially ruled out for offside, only for the goal to be awarded following a video review, with Matty Cash adjudged to have marginally played him onside.
Madison Square Garden. Decades before the July 3 wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce catapulted the venue into a new category of global prominence, the Manhattan arena loomed large as a symbol of success.
For the select list of comedians who have sold out the place, filling the arena is considered a pinnacle of achievement. It’s a triumph so encompassing that it inspired the central plot of the final season of “Hacks,” as Jean Smart’s veteran stand-up Deborah Vance demonstrates she’ll do just about anything to sell out the Garden — including putting herself in a glass cube above the Las Vegas Strip and almost perishing up there. “She needs a legacy-defining win, something that’s going to be the inarguable lead to her obituary,” says Paul W. Downs during a Zoom call with his “Hacks” co-creators Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky.
“With Deborah, she likes to go big and Madison Square Garden is big,” adds Statsky. “It’s a testament to what an iconic place it is because we were like, ‘There’s one option here and it’s MSG.’”
So what does it really take to sell out MSG? Back in the day, a comedian could go on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and become nationally known. Now, YouTube subscribers and TikTok followers are part of the equation, along with specials on Netflix, HBO and Hulu. The road to MSG is a long one, with few shortcuts. It usually begins with years of playing club dates, then theaters and larger arenas, creating demand. But the payoff is substantial: With 15,000 to 20,000 seats depending on the configuration, a single night can gross up to $3 million in ticket sales. Then, a streaming platform might fork over $5 million to $20 million for exclusive taped performance rights. Plus, there’s the unquantifiable: “Venues often come and go,” says Aniello, “but Madison Square Garden feels like forever. The name itself has remained protected as this kind of sacred thing.”
Only about 20 comedians have ever achieved the milestone, including the likes of Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Chris Rock and Amy Schumer — the only woman in this elite group. The Envelope spoke to six of them to understand what it takes and how it feels to reach comedy’s Promised Land.
Max Amini
(Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
Number of sellouts: 1 Date: Feb. 15, 2026 Max Amini Tour
“No one sells out Madison Square Garden alone. Behind every artist is an audience that believed before the rest of the world caught on, a family that sacrificed, a team that worked tirelessly. I’m incredibly proud of my team because they believed in this vision long before Madison Square Garden was even a conversation. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that success is never built by one person. It’s built by people who trust one another, challenge one another, and refuse to let each other settle for less than excellence.”
Nate Bargatze
(Jason Kempin / Getty Images)
Number of sellouts: 3 Dates: Sept. 26 and 27 (two shows), 2025 Big Dumb Eyes World Tour
“I believed I could make a career out of stand-up comedy when I was in my 20s, even when it sounded like a crazy thing to do. I was just hoping somebody would come to the show. You spend so many years doing clubs it’s hard to picture anything bigger than that, until it happens. … Selling out Madison Square Garden, let alone selling it out three times, wasn’t something I ever expected, but it was the result of believing in stand-up, believing people still want to get out of the house and laugh together, and believing in hard work each and every day.”
Dane Cook
(Jesse Grant / Getty Images)
Number of sellouts: 3 Dates: Nov. 12, 2006 (two shows) and Nov. 9, 2009 Rough Around the Edges Tour,Isolated Incident Tour
“When I think of history and legendary artists selling out, it’s the greatest honor of my career. To get to experience that even once, it’s an achievement that forever changes how your career is viewed. I’m standing backstage in the hallway looking at all the photos, it’s like getting an energy massage, realizing the history of this incredible edifice. In my quiet moment pre-show, realizing I’m in rare air, I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. It is a privilege. When I let the crowd know we got there together, I can still feel the energy in my chest.”
Jim Gaffigan
(Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images for Bob Woodruff Foundation)
Number of sellouts: 1 Date: Dec. 12, 2015 Contagious Tour
“I never thought selling out MSG was a possibility. When I started stand-up it was an unrealistic goal for any comedian. Having lived in NYC for three decades, MSG had exceeded its legendary status for me. MSG is where I brought my kids to see the Knicks and Rangers play. It’s where I saw Bruce Springsteen. Pulling off a sellout seemed like a gamble but worth it. There is something special about an audience seeing you at MSG. I think people coming to the show understand there is a special-event status to a show at MSG.”
Matt Rife
(Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Number of sellouts: 2 Dates: July 18 and 19, 2025 Stay Golden World Tour
“MSG is the top of the mountain. It symbolizes the pinnacle of ticket-selling success as a comedian. If you can sell out the world’s most famous arena, in the toughest city in America … you’ve made it. For me it was beyond a dream come true. Growing up I always thought selling out comedy clubs was the ceiling for success for stand-up comedians. I never thought I’d be one of them. To not only sell it out twice, but to be the youngest comedian to ever sell it out … it’s still hard to comprehend. It feels like a literal dream, that I can’t remember if it actually happened or not.”
Andrew Schulz
(Bryan Bedder / Getty Images for Food Bank for NYC)
Number of sellouts: 2 Dates: May 3 and 4, 2024 The Life Tour
“I am born and raised in NYC. My dad had so much respect for MSG he would make me wear a collared shirt whenever we stepped in that building. This place had holy significance to me before I knew I wanted to be a comic. Once I decided to make comedy my life I had one goal. It was to sell out MSG … wearing a collared shirt of course. I thought about walking onto that stage every single day for 17 years straight. And then it happened. Dreams do come true.”
When you think of beautiful bridges, it’s probably the world-famous ones that spring to mind. Marvels of engineering like San Francisco’s Golden Gate, or the rich history of London Bridge. However, according to Time Out magazine, the ‘most beautiful’ bridge in the world is a small stone arch tucked away in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Stari Most, which translates to ‘Old Bridge’, is located in Mostar, a city that lies on the banks of the Neretva River.
Commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557 and completed in 1566, the bridge is made of local limestone and spans the river without using any central pillars.
In 1993, the original bridge was destroyed by shelling in the Bosnian War.
However, UNESCO aided its reconstruction, with divers recovering the original stones from the river and masons using the same 16th-century tools to re-create the structure as closely as possible.
It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and has recently been named as the ‘most beautiful’ bridge in the world by Time Out.
UNESCO describes Stari Most as “a symbol of reconciliation, international co-operation and of the coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities.”
The bridge is visually stunning, standing 27 metres above the emerald green river below.
There is also a long history of daredevils and athletes jumping from the bridge into the water.
The first recorded leap dates back to 1664, according to Bosnian Voyager.
By the 19th century, it was a tourist attraction, with people from all over the continent flocking to the bridge to watch adrenaline seekers hurl themselves into the river.
Since 2016, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has transformed Mostar’s bridge into an elite global sporting stage that keeps the tradition alive.
The competition takes place in late July, and spectators line the river to watch world-class divers jump from the bridge.
HUNDREDS of new £9.50 holidays are set to land this July – including popular holiday parks with previously sold-out dates.
Over at club950.co.uk, Sun readers will soon be able to bag themselves a bargain break at a range of holiday parks across the UK and Europe.
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Queen of the £9.50 holiday Tracy Kennedy is back to answer all things holiday parksCredit: Paul Tonge
Ahead of the new drop of holidays, our Hols from £9.50 Agony Aunt Tracy Kennedy is here to answer your questions.
Tracy Kennedy has been taking £9.50 holidays for 30 years, and has tried and tested holiday parks everywhere from the Isle of Wight to Wales, and nearly 300,000 follow her advice online about taking The Sun’s budget breaks.
This week, she is answering everything from how to actually book yourself a £9.50 holiday, to the most peaceful holiday parks with walking trails.
You can ask Tracy your own question by filling out the form. As we release each Q&A with Tracy, one lucky reader will be picked to win a £100 Amazon voucher.
Are there any more ways to get a £9.50 holiday this year?
Skye Sinclair
Yes, there is! There is another lot of £9.50 holidays coming in July.
Sun Club members can book from one minute past midnight on July 7, and people collecting codes will be able to book from Wednesday July 8.
If you’ve never done a £9.50 holiday before, there are a few different ways to do it.
You can collect the codes that will appear in the newspaper each day, or join Sun Club (£1.99 per month) and book without having to buy the paper and collect the codes.
Before all of this, make sure to go and have a look on the £9.50 holiday website to see which parks are available that you’d like to go to.
The holidays start from £9.50 per person, and yes you can really book them for that cheap.
Then it’s up to you if you want to upgrade your accommodation or add on any passes.
So your cheapest holiday for a family of four would be £38 – I have never found a holiday online any cheaper than that!
New holidays will become available on the Hols from £9.50 site on July 8, or July 7 for Sun Club membersCredit: TripAdvisor
Do you have regular go to easy meals that you like to make when you go on holiday in a caravan?
Emma Bush
I cook quite a lot when I go away on holiday, and if I’m going to be cooking, it’s got to be quick and easy.
No roast dinners or fancy meals here – some people in my group do that in their caravans, and I think it’s great!
But for me I always bring cupboard foods like pasta and sauces, so that I always have something quick and easy to cook.
Another one of my favourites is hot dogs. They take just minutes to make and will cost you far less than any of the fancy, expensive ones they sell on-site.
Most caravans will come with a fully-equipped kitchen with microwaves, hobs and a full oven, so you might as well make use of them and save yourself some money.
Another one of my favourite quick and easy meals to make is grabbing a hot rotisserie chicken from the supermarket and serving it with some potatoes and salad.
It’s very simple and you can do so much with the leftovers.
Tracy recommends a stay at Lyons Robin Hood for a peaceful park with beach access and walksCredit: Supplied
Which holiday parks are ideal for the elderly? Something quiet with some nice dog walks?
Charlotte Varns
My top tip for finding a quiet park is to go on holiday during school term time.
That way the parks will be much quieter, and you’ll often get a better deal outside of the school holidays, too.
In terms of specific parks, a few come to mind. North Wales is lovely and has some beautiful walks, so I’d recommend a few of the parks there.
Ty Mawr, Lyons Lido Beach and Golden Sands Rhyl are other options which all have beautiful coastal walks nearby.
Outside of Wales, I think Cherry Tree in Norfolk is a lovely option. Norfolk is very flat, so you can get out for walks and it won’t be too challenging.
Are the entertainment passes included, or do you buy them additionally?
Jonathan Smith
Usually the entertainment passes are additional add-ons.
But my secret tip would be to check online first, as there are actually some £9.50 parks that will include your entertainment passes in the price on certain dates.
Park Holidays Pakefield offers club room passes for free for all dates. Park Holidays Sand Le Mere also offers the same.
Make sure to research this ahead of time, as lots of other parks will also offer free passes for specific dates.
Tracy recommends Lower Hyde holiday park in Shanklin, which has a beach with a lift nearbyCredit: Parkdean Resorts
What are your recommendations for the most accessible sites?
Tracey Layton
Firstly, always make sure to call your holiday park and let them know that you will need an accessible caravan.
Lower Hyde in Shanklin is a great option, and if you’d like to go out and visit the beach there’s even a lift that takes you down to the seafront.
Plus to get to the beach lift from Lower Hyde, the ground is completely flat.
I’d also recommend Camber Sands holiday park. It’s a beautiful site that is also very flat, and you’ll have the beach right on your doorstep.
Some places across the UK have also started offering beach wheelchairs for hire.
If you’re wanting to visit a beachfront holiday park, I’d recommend looking up if the local beaches offer this.
All the ways to book your holiday from £9.50
There are six ways to book our Holidays From £9.50 – however Sun Club members gain access an entire day early
Book with Sun Club: Join Sun Club for £1.99 per month. Then go to the Sun Club Offers hub and find the Hols from £9.50 page. You do not need to collect any code words or Sun Savers codes. Sun Club members can book from 00:01 on Tuesday, July 7 2026.
Collect codes then book online: Simply collect five out of 20 code words printed in The Sun daily from Saturday July 4 to Thursday, July 23, 2026. Then enter them at thesun.co.uk/holidays to unlock booking. Code collectors will be able to book from Wednesday, July 8.
12-Page pullout – Gather codes from the pullout on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Then enter them at thesun.co.uk/holidays to unlock booking.
Book with Sun Savers: Download the Sun Savers app or register at sunsavers.co.uk. Then go to the ‘Offers’ section of Sun Savers and click ‘Start Collecting’ on the ‘Hols From £9.50’ page. Collect five Sun Savers codes from those printed at the bottom of the Sun Savers page in the newspapers from Saturday, July 4, 2026. Then enter or scan the codes on Sun Savers to unlock booking from Wednesday, July 8.
Book by post: Collect five of the code words printed in The Sun each day fromSaturday July 4 to Thursday, July 23, 2026. Cut the code word out and send it back with the booking form – found in paper onor online at thesun.co.uk/holidays.
Book with The Sun Digital Newspaper: Sign up to The Sun Digital Newspaper at thesun.co.uk/newspaper. Then download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk, log in to Sun Savers with your Sun account details (the same email and password you use for your Digital Newspaper) and enjoy automatic access to Hols, without the need to collect Sun Savers codes daily. Digital Newspaper subscribers can book fromWednesday, July 8.
A MAJOR US band has cancelled all of their UK tour dates including a massive headline festival appearance.
The popular nineties group pulled out of their tour just hours before their first UK show due to “medical issues”, leaving fans devastated.
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The American rock band Alkaline Trio have revealed to fans the sad news that they are unable to continue on their UK tourCredit: GettyThe band will also miss a headline performance at UK festival 2000treesCredit: Getty
The American punk rock band, Alkaline Trio, have revealed to fans the sad news that they are unable to continue on their UK tour.
Frontman Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano and Tosh Peterson make up the Chicago originated group.
The trio were all set to perform last night in Birmingham but hours before the show was set to start, the band released a statement on social media.
It read: “We are immensely sorry but we must cancel our dates in England, including tonight’s show in Birmingham, due to medical issues Matt has been suffering from that have worsened.
“He’s gonna be okay but needs to be treated stateside as soon as possible.
“We will be back healthier and stronger!
“Refunds are available at the point of purchase.”
Not only will the band miss their upcoming UK tour dates to return to the States, but they have also been forced to cancel their highly anticipated headline performance at 2000trees Festival.
Frontman Matt went on to share a video to fans from London Heathrow Airport, expressing his gratitude for “all the love and support”.
He added: “You guys deserve a better show than I can throw right now. I got numbness in my feet, numbness in my hands as you can tell I’m losing my voice so I can’t really talk, walk, play or sing. But I’m okay.”
After the news broke fans rushed to the comments, one user said: “Sorry to hear this and get well soon.
“Have flights and accommodation booked for the Manchester gig on Wednesday as no Dublin date. Dang.”
Another added: “Gutted to hear this guys, was so looking forward to seeing you again in London tomorrow, but know this decision wouldn’t have been taken lightly. Get well soon Matt.”
“Me looking at my tickets for London and 2000trees (crying emoji) Get well soon, Matt! Wishing you a speedy recovery fam,” a third added.
“It is what it is. Just a shame cus I was literally about to leave my hotel when I saw the message,” penned a fourth.
The band, whose name derived from Matt Skiba simply flicking through a dictionary to find a cool word to stick in front of the “Trio”, was founded in 1996 and went on to sell over a million albums.
Matt is well known for serving as the co-lead vocalist and guitarist of Blink-182 from 2015 to 2022.
Alkaline Trio are best known for songs like ‘Stupid Kid’ and ‘Private eye’.
The band shot to fame when they released their debut single ‘Sundials’, in 1997.
Four out of five Brits surveyed didn’t know this passport rule, and even more surprisingly, a huge number don’t know the expiry date of their passport, which could leave them facing a last-minute panic
A shocking 80% of Brits did not know this passport rule(Image: Getty Images)
Holidaymakers are being urged by travel insurance specialists to check their passport details ahead of the busy summer season, as a survey showed a huge percentage of Brits were unaware of a basic passport rule.
The research, carried out by Saga Travel Insurance showed that many Brits didn’t know basic rules around passport validity, entry requirements, and travel regulations post-Brexit. Worryingly, 7% of the people surveyed had previously been denied entry to a country because they didn’t have enough time on their passport to cover the trip.
Saga surveyed 500 people, and found that four out of five (80%) were not aware that different countries have different passport validity requirements, while 50% mistakenly thought that every country requires a passport to have six months remaining before travel.
The travel insurance provider also highlighted that half of the Brits surveyed “are still not confident they understand the visa and travel requirements for visiting Europe after Brexit.” 16% didn’t know when their passport is due to expire, while 8% currently had expired passports gathering dust in a drawer.
One mum recently was left £700 out of pocket after getting caught out by passport rules for a holiday to Greece, meaning she couldn’t board her flight with her husband and children.
Michelle Cooper, Director of Travel Insurance at Saga, said: “Nobody should have their holidays ruined because of a simple passport error. A few quick checks can help people avoid unnecessary stress, unexpected costs and disruption at the airport.”
She added: “It’s important to check the specific rules of the country you’re travelling to so that you know how long you need remaining on your passport. Some destinations require three months remaining on your passport, while others require six months.”
For example, Brits heading to EU destinations such as Spain, Italy or Greece will need a passport that’s valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area, and it must also be less than 10 years old on the day you enter. While Turkey’s validity requirements are at least 150 days after the date you arrive, countries such Australia simply ask that your passport is valid for the duration of your visit.
Michelle also reminded holidaymakers of the 10-year rule which continues to catch Brits out: “EU and Schengen countries require passports to be less than 10 years old on the day of entry. While all new passports last exactly ten years, passports issued before 2018 remain valid for 10 years and nine months. If you have an older passport, make sure you check both the issue date and expiry date before travelling to avoid problems at the border.”
Michelle also urged frequent flyers to check they have enough blank passport pages when they travel, saying: “People can sometimes focus entirely on expiry dates and forget to check how many blank pages they have left, but some destinations can refuse entry if there isn’t enough room for official stamps or visa documentation.
“If you’re a frequent traveller, you should regularly check how many blank pages you have remaining in your passport before booking a trip. You might also benefit from purchasing a passport with additional blank pages.”, she suggested.
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WHEN it comes to date nights, one mum doesn’t just stick to dinner instead, she travels around the world.
Oliviyah Stevens and her partner Kyle have been to Italy, Morocco and Majorca after swapping dinner dates for holidays.
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Oliviyah Stevens and her partner Kyle opt to travel for their datesCredit: Oliviyah StevensThe pair go on day trips to the likes of Majorca – flights are cheaper than a family dinnerCredit: Oliviyah Stevens
Oliviyah is a mum-of-five, with her oldest child being 14 and her youngest being one.
But she doesn’t let childcare come in the way of travelling, or love life, after discovering extreme day trips.
Oliviyah and her partner Kyle also go abroad every few months for what they call ‘date day’.
Oliviyah, who hails from Walthamstow, explained why she’s been swapping dates and family days out for travel.
