details

Actress Diane Morgan takes on the role of a social humanoid robot called Linda in the new BBC comedy.

This month, BBC viewers have been treated to a brand-new comedy series.

Ann Droid features the likes of Diane Morgan and Sue Johnston as they play robot Linda and lonely widow Sue.

When Linda’s son Michael (Paul Ready) gets her an AI eldercare robot to help her, it’s clear she’s less than thrilled with the decision.

Although she initially wanted to return her new robot companion, Linda quickly changed her mind, and what follows is a hilarious, unlikely and unconventional relationship.

Appearing on The One Show, actress Diane Morgan spoke to Alex Jones and Vernon Kay about the lengths she went to accurately play the robot.

Diane commented: “It’s really hard! I got an ulcer, did I tell you I got an ulcer? Yeah, I didn’t blink.

“I made the stupid decision to not blink. What an idiot. I was wearing these really thick blue contact lenses.”

Vernon cut in to share her confusion as she highlighted that Diane already has blue eyes.

The BBC star replied: “I know! I got an ulcer, so I stopped wearing them. I said, ‘Oh, how are we going to film the rest of it?’

“They just said, ‘We’ll do it in post’. I was like, ‘Well, what’s the point of me wearing them?!’”

As her co-star shared that he thought it was worth it, Vernon added: “You suffered for your art.”

Since the series was released earlier this month, BBC viewers have had nothing but praise for the show, with many admitting to binge-watching it in one sitting.

One person online commented: “Love ANN DROID.” Another wrote: “This show was amazing!! Sad, happy, funny and emotional.”

Someone else commented: “Absolutely loved it and Diane is just fabulous.” While a fourth wrote: “Binge watched on iplayer… so so good!!!!”

Another added: “Excellent series – funny, poignant and current – congratulations.”

Ann Droid is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

A federal prosecutor in Texas has shared new details about the moments before an immigration officer shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo that cast doubt about the government’s claim that the man struck an ICE vehicle before he was shot.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer killed Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national and longtime American resident, on July 7 as he was driving to a Houston construction job site with three co-workers, including his brother. ICE has acknowledged he was not the target of the operation.

The shooting sparked protests in the nation’s fourth-largest city, echoing Salgado Araujo’s family’s calls for transparency. The family describes him as a hardworking father who was close to obtaining legal status in the U.S. after living in the country for 35 years.

The shooting came just days before two other men were killed, in Florida and Maine, in confrontations in President Trump’s federal immigration crackdown, renewing scrutiny on the Department of Homeland Security’s law enforcement tactics.

Aaron Reitz, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, said for the first time Thursday that ICE officers were targeting two Guatemalan men who were potentially subject to deportation. He said they were driving a van similar to the one Salgado Araujo was driving when he was killed. In an earlier statement released the day Salgado Araujo was killed, Homeland Security said he was targeted in an immigration enforcement operation and he was living in the country without legal permission.

Reitz also said that the officers believed that Salgado Araujo and the passengers in his car fit the description of the Guatemalan men the agents were looking for.

Four officers driving two separate law enforcement vehicles attempted to pull over Salgado Araujo’s van using their police lights. Salgado Araujo then made a U-turn and drove over a median to evade getting pulled over, Reitz said.

Later that morning, the officers again encountered Salgado Araujo’s van and for the second time tried to pull him over, this time essentially surrounding the vehicle, Reitz said. Two of the four agents got out of their cars and told Salgado Araujo to put the vehicle in park. Just before he was shot, one of the agents was “partially inside the van or immediately next to it” when Salgado Araujo tried to reverse the van and then drive forward again, Reitz said.

An earlier Homeland Security statement accused Salgado Araujo of “weaponizing” his vehicle. The agency said he rammed his van into a law enforcement vehicle and said an officer opened fire in self-defense. The most recent statement from the U.S attorney’s office, however, didn’t mention any collision between Salgado Araujo’s van and a law enforcement vehicle. It also didn’t explicitly say that the officer feared for his life. There are no reported injuries among the officers involved.

The latest statement didn’t name the officer who killed Salgado Araujo, nor did it specify whether the officer who fired the shot was the same person who was next to, or partially inside, the van.

Reitz also said in the statement that officers “saw in plain view several small bags of a white, crystal-like substance inside the van” and that the FBI later executed a search warrant to investigate for possible illicit substances.

Salgado Araujo’s brother, who was in the van when the shooting happened, has been in ICE detention since the incident. His attorney said the white substance was a salt mixture that the men used as electrolytes to stay hydrated while doing manual labor in the grueling Texas heat.

Few photos or videos surrounding the shooting in Houston have emerged on social media, unlike other deaths involving federal immigration officers.

Riddle writes for the Associated Press.

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has been in the public eye for decades, but there’s one project she wishes she never did.

EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy has revealed the one project she regrets doing during her career.

The actress has remained in the public eye for decades, having joined the BBC soap aged just 10.

Best known for her portrayal of Sonia Fowler, fans have watched her depart and return to the soap numerous times, with her latest exit occurring last year.

Since then, she’s appeared in the BBC documentary series Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together, in which she undertakes training to become a qualified carer.

This isn’t her only venture beyond her EastEnders role, as she released a workout video back in 2007 called Then And Now, reports the Daily Star.

Yet, discussing the making of the fitness video with Ed Balls and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain, she admitted it’s a major regret.

She told the two ITV presenters: “Huge mistake, I never thought about my weight before that time.

“I was very happy-go-lucky, didn’t get on a scale, didn’t do anything. I was offered that job, go and do it, earn loads of money and lose loads of weight.

“I did that job, lost loads of weight and put it all back on again. It was really hard, which is why this campaign, what I’m doing at the moment, is really important to me.”

Natalie revealed to the GMB presenters that she doesn’t think people discuss their feelings about weight with genuine honesty, as Ed questioned what someone ought to have said to her when she was contemplating the DVD all those years ago.

She replied: “That it will change, you’ll start having food noise. I felt very alone after the DVD. I felt very alone. The job finished, and I was on my own. I wish I had someone to talk to, somewhere to go, wherever that would be.”

Susanna pointed out that people appear to be in a rather bewildered place currently when it comes to weight, given that a body positivity movement emerged just before weight loss drugs.

Natalie added: “The culture changes and shifts every 10 years; we have those ups and downs. But, I think what I’m saying is, it’s about being able to talk to somebody, be it a friend, family member, whoever, about how you’re feeling.

“How things are making you feel. It’s not just about getting on the scale and seeing a number and keeping that within you, feeling depressed all day and worrying about what you’re going to eat. We should have conversations about it.”

Good Morning Britain is available to watch weekdays on ITV from 6am

GREG James has revealed details from inside Taylor Swift’s Madison Square Garden wedding to Travis Kelce over the weekend.

The BBC Radio 1 host was one of the many A-listers to attend the lavish nuptials – after the singer publicly declared he could come along during an October 2025 interview, and stuck to her word.

Greg attended the New York City wedding with his wife Bella Mackie, joining stars such as Brad Pitt, Adam Sandler, Gigi Hadid and more.

And returning to the airwaves, the radio star finally divulged on what the nuptials were really like.

Beginning with his shock to actually be invited, he said: “I still can’t quite believe that it happened, it does feel like an amazingly strange but exciting dream.

“First things first, it was unbelievable fun, that’s the main headline, It was so fun.”

Read more on Taylor Swift

SMITTEN

Brad Pitt, 62, Insta official with girlfriend, 33, after Taylor Swift’s wedding

TAY’S BOUQUET

Guest who caught Taylor Swift’s wedding bouquet shares pics and new details

“Everyone is texting saying stop playing songs, just give us the wedding tea, and we’ll do that now,” said Greg on his breakfast show, who went on to reveal he actually received the invitation back in March.

Greg then said he couldn’t tell anyone about the invite, other than his wife who was coming along.

Divulging on the day itself, he explained: “Then we got to the weekend of it, now obviously, I don’t want to be the guy that ruins this for everyone and then Taylor never speaks to me again.

“Because it was a wedding and there’s lots of nice family things that they did, so I don’t want to speak about all that stuff but I can give you some fun stuff.

“I did speak to Taylor and I spoke to Travis, but look, on a wedding you know the bride and groom are very busy, so imagine that, but the bride and groom are Taylor and Travis.”

Greg continued: “They were just having a great time, they both looked amazing, they were on the dance floor, it was great.”

When quizzed over what food was served inside the reception, Greg admitted he didn’t want to give too much away, but confirmed it wasn’t a traditional sit-down meal.

“It wasn’t a sit-down dinner, I’ll say that. There were multiple cakes, there were a thousand people, there were loads of cakes,” said Greg of the food.

And it was a free bar, too, as he laughed: “Great food, unlimited food and drinks. The first 10,000 drinks were free.”

Greg then revealed that there was a stage at the reception that guests were encouraged to dance on top of.

He said: “There was an open invitation to get up on the stage and dance while the DJ was on, and I did. All the songs.”

Greg also divulged that he was sitting with Hugh Grant to watch the ceremony part of the day.

Following the wedding, Greg admitted he was suffering from quite the hangover as he took to Instagram to confirm his attendance.

During the press run for her latest album Life of a Showgirl, Taylor stopped in for a chat with Greg, who has interviewed her a few times before.

At the end of their segment together, Greg joked that he would love to meet NFL star Travis.

Taylor then made the executive decision to jokingly invite him to their wedding – but it turned out to be legitimate as he got the invite months later.

At 7:30pm last Friday, legendary music venue MSQ was lit up by a colossal sign which read: “JUST&T MARRIED!” to confirm that Taylor and Travis had tied the knot.

Graham Norton, Ed Sheeran, Beyonce, Jay z, and Dua Lipa were also amongst the celeb guests.

As well as Hollywood’s biggest stars, nearly every NFL player made an appearance at the wedding.

Gardeners’ World star Adam Frost has been a familiar face on the BBC show for years, but there is one garden design request he simply can’t bring himself to carry out.

Adam Frost has disclosed he knocked back one individual’s gardening request.

BBC favourite Adam Frost, who has featured on Gardeners’ World since 2016, revealed there’s one peculiar item he cannot stand in people’s outdoor areas.

Making an appearance on the most recent instalment of Sunday Brunch (July 5), he chatted with Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer regarding his new podcast alongside Caitlin Moran.

Yet during their chat, Tim pointed out that Adam harbours a loathing for outdoor chess boards, with the BBC presenter confirming this.

He responded: “The massive, plastic chess sets. You go to a hotel, or even people put them in their garden!”

“They pave a huge area, and they have these plastic chess pieces that slowly change colour. Really, kids just use them to attack each other.

“If you want to play chess in your garden, buy a board, a set, take it out into the garden around a table with a nice drink. Civilised. Don’t do that plastic, no.”

While Tim suggested it’s an ‘immersive experience’ having the pieces exceptionally oversized, Adam was swift to dismiss this, reports the Express.

He continued: “That’s not immersive! How is that immersive? No. It’s a complete and utter waste of space.”

When swimmer Mark Foster queried whether it might resemble a form of artwork in a garden, Adam appeared utterly bewildered by the notion.

The Gardeners’ World presenter went on: “I can remember, first doing a landscape job very early on when I had a small landscape company and someone wanted me to lay a checkerboard paving pattern in their back garden.

“I refused, very politely. I just couldn’t do it. It’s just a no.”

This follows Adam’s candid reflections on the bittersweet nature of relocating, which took place towards the end of last year.

The BBC presenter recently returned to his previous home, which has since been taken over by a new couple.

Adam described the conflicting feelings that come with leaving behind a cherished garden as he said: ” I walked around with them [the new couple] and they are absolutely loving it.

“And I think that’s a great thing to hold on to, is the fact that maybe you’ve just left somebody else a whole load of joy.”

Sunday Brunch airs on Sundays on Channel 4 from 10am.

TAYLOR Swift’s aunt has revealed new details from the singer’s lavish wedding to Travis Kelce on Friday night.

The A-list couple tied the knot at Madison Square Garden with plenty of celeb guests watching on, and Taylor’s aunt, Robin Gentry, has revealed they were left in tears during the day.

When asked if the couple cried, Robin replied: “Oh they cried… and they laughed, and they danced and they hugged and they kissed.”

Speaking to LBC news, she was then asked what the reception’s dinner was like.

Not giving too much away, Robin said there was “lots” of food and nice cake.

Taylor and Travis said “I do” on Friday in what guests have called a “deeply moving” ceremony just 10 months after the couple announced their engagement in August 2025.

Read more on Taylor Swift

WILDEST DREAMS

Taylor Swift wedding insiders dish on Travis Kelce’s sweet gesture & gifts

CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS

BBC star Greg James confirms he WAS a guest at Taylor Swift’s wedding

In an unusual move, the pair chose to have actor Adam Sandler officiate the proceedings while also ditching the traditional bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Instead, they had members of their families by their sides with the groom having his brother and former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce as best man and Taylor having her brother Austin be her man of honor.

In another unusual wedding detail, Swift reportedly walked down the aisle to a strings rendition of one of her own songs while Jason and Kylie Kelce’s daughters scattered petals.

At around 7:30pm, Travis and Taylor’s marriage was confirmed with huge purple screens reading “JUST&T MARRIED!” lit up outside of Madison Square Garden, roughly an hour after Taylor’s SUV was spotted pulling into the venue.

After the ceremony, the couple threw a fairytale-esque party on the lower level of MSG with the theme reportedly mixing Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz.

 Ed Sheeran, Karlie Kloss, Dakota Johnson, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Kravitz, Erin Andrews, Matthew Stafford and Graham Norton were all seen arriving to the day.

HARRY Styles is looking at New Orleans for his wedding to Zoe Kravitz, it can be revealed.

Pals close to the loved-up pair say they think the Southern US town could be a special spot to tie the knot and have researched venues.

Zoe’s famous musician dad Lenny Kravitz has long-standing roots in the town after buying his first home in the Louisiana town, which has deep ties to the blues music scene.

Back at home, the One Direction star, 32, and US actress, 37, this weekend enjoyed London’s heatwave and were snapped cuddling on a picnic blanket on Hampstead Heath.

They confirmed their engagement to close family and friends in April.

A source said: “Harry and Zoe might have a string of celebrity friends and a Hollywood lifestyle but their wedding won’t be like that.

Read More on Harry Styles

BABY ON BOARD

Harry Styles’ Victoria’s Secret model ex Nadine Leopold reveals pregnancy

wrong direction

Moment Harry Styles chokes on water on Wembley stage before falling

“They’re a cool couple and want something unique.

“Zoe’s family ties to New Orleans, plus the town’s musical history, is making it a front runner and they’ve told pals that they’re looking at options for holding their big day there.”

Rock icon Lenny bought his first home in New Orleans in 1994 – a Creole cottage on Dauphine Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, a block away from the town’s famous Bourbon Street.

Whilst Zoe grew up in Los Angeles with her mother Lisa Bonet, in her teenage years she spent more time with Lenny at his Miami estate and New Orleans cottage.

The Sun revealed snaps of Zoe with a huge diamond ring on her wedding finger in April.

Ex-One Direction singer Harry and Zoe, who played Catwoman in The Batman, have dated since August last year.

They went public with their relationship in Rome but have since kept matters private and not commented on their status.

Harry is said to have popped the question with a ring worth up to £500,000 and first sparked engagement rumours when he and Zoe flew to the Bahamas just after Christmas to stay in her dad’s home there.

A source said at the time: “If it wasn’t an engagement, then it was something that shows they are very much committed to each other.”

Jennie Bond was BBC Royal Correspondent for 14 years and struck up a friendship with Lady Diana.

Jennie Bond’s illustrious journalism career stretches back over five decades, during which she has covered a vast array of remarkable stories.

In 1989, she took on the role of Royal Correspondent for the BBC, a position she held for 14 years before stepping down in 2003 to dedicate more time to her family and pursue freelance work.

During her time as a royal reporter, however, she forged a close friendship with Lady Diana, which she discussed with Raj Bisram during her appearance on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. A repeat of that episode aired this evening (June 20) on BBC Two.

The BBC antiques expert quizzed her on just how close their relationship was, to which she responded: “I was a journalist that she got along with and shared confidences with.

“You know, ‘There were three of us in this marriage,’ all this sort of stuff.”

“Then, at the end, annoyingly, she’d say, ‘Of course, Jennie, this is just between you and me and these four walls.’ I’d think, ‘Ugh!’ So I kept it that way.”

Raj then asked which interview throughout Jennie’s career had left the greatest impression on her, reports Devon Live.

She answered: “I suppose, when I challenged her in Angola on the land mine mission, when she was trying to get an international ban on land mines.

“I said, ‘Ma’am, you’ve been accused of being a loose cannon,’ and she was very shocked and said, ‘I’m just trying to be a humanitarian. That’s it.'”.

“That was pretty momentous. It made an awful lot of news.”

At the time, Lady Diana was described as a ‘loose cannon’ by a junior government Cabinet minister who condemned her position on landmines.

The tense exchange, which took place in 1997, was captured in a documentary of the time, showing Lady Diana’s response to Jennie’s pointed question.

She said: “I’m only trying to highlight a problem that’s going on all around the world. That’s all.”

She was subsequently filmed climbing into a waiting car, visibly moved by Jennie’s remark, as she told the camera team: “I might really burst into tears now. Who said I’m a loose cannon?”

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was admitted to a hospital Sunday, his spokesperson said, but there was no immediate information about why he was there or his prognosis.

McConnell, 84, was the longest-serving Senate leader in history before stepping aside from that role while finishing his final term, which ends in January.

“Senator McConnell was admitted to the hospital this morning. He is receiving excellent care,” spokesperson David Popp said in a statement without elaboration. It was not immediately clear whether McConnell was in Washington, Kentucky or elsewhere.

McConnell’s health has been a subject of scrutiny for years.

He fell and sprained his wrist while walking out of a GOP luncheon in December 2024. He was hospitalized with a concussion in March 2023 and missed several weeks of work after falling in a Washington hotel. After he returned, he twice froze up during news conferences that summer, staring vacantly ahead before colleagues and staff came to his assistance.

McConnell had polio in his early childhood, and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in walking and climbing stairs. In addition to his 2023 fall, he tripped and fell in 2019 at his home in Kentucky. He had surgery for a fractured shoulder.

McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was the Republican leader from 2007 until 2025, serving as both majority and minority leader during that period.

He remains active in the Senate, showing up for work when the chamber is in session, and recently chairing public hearings and grilling officials from his perch as chair of the Senate appropriations subcommittee on defense. He has intermittently used a wheelchair to navigate the Capitol and is routinely accompanied by his security detail, as a former congressional leader.

LA28 reserved the first Olympic tickets for locals. To kick off the second round of ticket sales, it’s a sponsorship connection that could help fans get to the front of the line.

Before the second Olympic ticket drop officially begins Aug. 10, LA28 announced Wednesday there will be a presale for Visa cardholders that will run from July 29-31.

Visa has sponsored the Olympics for 40 years and is the only credit card accepted for payment in Olympic zones. For a chance to be selected for the presale, fans need to first confirm their status as a Visa cardholder. Fans who have already registered can log into their existing LA28 ticket account, check the “Visa presale box” and save changes. New registrants must select the Visa cardholder option during the registration process. All ticket sales during the presale must be completed with a Visa credit card.

Fans can register for the second ticket drop at tickets.la28.org until July 22. Those who already registered for Drop 1 but weren’t selected or didn’t purchase their full 12-ticket allotment do not have to sign up again and are automatically entered into the lottery for Drop 2, which will run from Aug. 10-20.

Fans who are randomly selected for the Visa presale will be notified of their time slot on July 27. Those who aren’t selected for the presale remain eligible for a time slot in Drop 2. Email notifications for Drop 2 time slots will go out from Aug. 6-7.

The second ticket drop will offer tickets across all Olympic sports at a range of price points, LA28 said in a statement, subject to inventory availability. Prices start at $28 for individual tickets, but of the total 1 million $28 Olympic tickets, half were scooped up during the Drop 1 presale that was reserved for locals living near venue cities in Southern California and Oklahoma City.

April’s ticketing debut frustrated fans who were surprised by high prices, a 24% service fee on every ticket and limited inventory for key events. Still, LA28 sold 4 million tickets across 85 countries, a historic number that had International Olympic Committee officials giddy for the potential of the 2028 Games.

“What we thought we were going to sell, and what we thought we were going to get for people who registered for interest, we exceeded those by magnitudes,” LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover told The Times on June 4 after IOC members visited L.A. “We were able to set Olympic records in terms of sale, but I think the broader picture about all of that is people want to be a part of something really big and be part of something here in L.A., a part of history.”

LA28, the organizing committee behind L.A.’s first Olympics in 40 years, expects to generate $2.5 billion in ticketing and hospitality to support what has been advertised as a privately funded Games. The estimated $7.1-billion operations budget is also buoyed by $2.5 billion in expected sponsorship revenue. LA28 already has $2 billion in domestic partnership money.

Nearly 17 years after the King of Pop’s death, Michael Jackson is dominating the box office, television ratings and headlines.

“Michael,” the biopic about the star that hit theaters in April, has surpassed $900 million at box offices globally, according to Deadline, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2026 behind “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” which hit $1 billion. Although “Bohemian Rhapsody” is still the highest-grossing musical biopic, “Michael” is a mere $11 million behind and will likely snag the title in coming weeks.

The film, which stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, follows the “Thriller” hitmaker from his early career leading the Jackson Five to reaching pinnacle star status in the late ’80s. The film’s timeline ends before 1993, when Jackson faced sexual abuse allegations brought by 13-year-old Jordan Chandler.

On Tuesday, “Michael” was released to streaming services, and fans at home can rent or buy on-demand from Amazon Prime Video and other platforms.

Also available for streaming is the Netflix docuseries “Michael Jackson: The Verdict,” which became available on June 3 and dominated the streamer’s charts with nearly 18 million views in its first week. The three-part series examines the pop star’s 2005 molestation trial, in which he was acquitted of all charges, and features key players from the trial, including jurors, eyewitnesses and prosecutors.

The lead prosecutor, Ron Zonen, spoke with TMZ on Tuesday and said that, although he wasn’t sure audiences would view the allegations with a different lens 20 years later, he wanted the documentary to be “as accurate as possible” and feature “the perspective of people who were involved in the trial.”

As far as the response from viewers, Zonen told the outlet that he’d received threats via email. “Well, there are people who are fans, who express their displeasure at the position that we took in this documentary, and express their displeasure very clearly to me,” he said, adding that he’s not bothered by the bad blood with mega-fans, and that the threats were more numerous at the time of the trial.

Saturday Kitchen presenter Matt Tebbutt has been at the helm of the BBC cookery show for almost a decade

Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt has revealed a major confession nearly a decade after succeeding James Martin as the face of the BBC cookery programme.

The presenter, 52, had been a frequent guest and stand-in host before securing the permanent role in March 2017.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk at Jeremy Clarkson‘s FarmFest during the May Bank Holiday weekend, he confessed he now finally considers himself a TV chef.

“I think it is fair to say now I am probably a TV chef. I originally started as a working chef doing all the hours for 14 years. That’s a tough game. TV cookery isn’t.

“It comes with other pressures. There are time pressures. Conformity. I mean I’ve always been a chef but I think now it’s veered into ‘TV chef’,” he acknowledged. Discussing his position on the long-standing cookery programme.

He explained, “My job is to make food and cooking look really accessible. We have our guest chef’s on and they’re the kind of the aspirational ones.

“My job is to do those dishes that people will look at and go ‘I could get out of bed now and go to the supermarket and buy those ingredients and make that’.”

“Whether they do or not I don’t know but it is there for them,” he chuckled.

One philosophy Matt is particularly passionate about is the “farm to fork” approach, which was amongst the key reasons he was supporting Farm Fest.

He made an appearance at the festival on Sunday, 24 May, where he delivered a cookery demonstration, gave a talk and even took on the role of judge at the dog show, despite confessing he keeps two cats at home, reports the Express.

“It’s absolutely [great] to be able to support British farmers at a time when the government isn’t and to highlight [what they go through],” he said shortly after his arrival.

“I mean, you see it around you,” he added, gesturing towards the nearby stalls.

“People who are committed to supporting farming and where the food comes from. It’s marvellous. So if I can show support, I will.

“I live in a rural part of Wales, so you see it on a daily basis. You are in pubs with farmers chatting to them, and you know the sort of problems that they are trying to overcome right now, so it is great to support this.”

Saturday Kitchen airs at 9am every Saturday on BBC One and iPlayer

Universal’s highly-anticipated UK theme park will include themed lands, new rides and plenty more surprises – and the Universal United Kingdom Resort just celebrated a big milestone

Theme park fans, rejoice; we’re one step closer to Universal opening its new resort in the UK.

For a start, we now officially have a name for the highly-anticipated attraction in Bedfordshire; Universal United Kingdom Resort. Meanwhile, today a series of government officials including Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves attended a milestone moment for the resort, breaking ground to pave the way for construction to begin.

When it does open its doors, it’s sure to be a huge hit for thrill-seekers. Concept imagery of the new attraction shows at least six themed lands and three huge rollercoasters, although Universal has remained tight-lipped about exactly what those lands will include.

The theme park is expected to bring in millions of visitors each year, including over a million from overseas.

We take a look at everything we know so far…

The lands and rides

Universal hasn’t given much away about exactly what the lands and rides will entail, but has previously promised that the theme park will be “unlike anything that exists in the UK”. Its USA-based theme parks in Florida and California both boast theming around the likes of Jurassic World, Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, the Minions and more, so there will no doubt be plenty to play around with for us Brits too. Whatever will be on offer, the resort is set to offer “immersive storytelling, thrilling attractions and hospitality”.

Concept imagery for the resort was released last year and already had theme park fans excited, as it looks like there’s going to be huge rollercoasters too. In fact on the artist’s rendering at least three mega-coasters are visible, as well as plenty of other rides and attractions.

It seems that the entrance will lead you into a large plaza area similar to the ‘CityWalk’ area of Universal Orlando. The plaza and venues will be open to the general public even if they haven’t bought a ticket to the park itself.

For those who do pay for a ticket, once they’re through a large archway, they’ll walk through a long promenade-style street – no doubt also offering a variety of shops and restaurants – before heading into the themed lands with “adrenaline-pumping coaster”, “mind-blowing spectaculars” and “incredible creatures, heroes and villains”.

The opening date

Construction is expected to begin soon on the huge project, with an opening date planned for May 2031. Comcast NBCUniversal has committed to invest over £5bn in the entertainment resort complex during the expected 5 years of construction, as well as an additional £1bn in capital investment over the first 10 years. According to the UK government, this represents “one of the largest ever investments in the UK tourism sector”.

The location

Universal United Kingdom Resort will be located in Bedfordshire. It’s believed that approximately 80% of employees will come from Bedfordshire and the surrounding regions. The Department for Transport is also going ahead with plans to upgrade the surrounding road and rail network, on the A421 and at Wixams station, to make travel to the resort easier.

Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said: “Today marks a significant milestone on our journey to bring Universal United Kingdom Resort, featuring immersive storytelling, thrilling attractions and unparalleled creativity and innovation to the UK. This new theme park and resort will create so many new opportunities for the people of Bedford and beyond and allow us to share our distinct experiences with guests from around the world.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “This landmark investment in the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor will unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth and create tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors.

“Our own investment in transport and infrastructure means that local people will benefit — improving connectivity, backing our creative industries, and bringing millions of visitors to the UK from across the world. We have the right economic plan — working with global investors and local leaders so we can deliver jobs, opportunity and long‑term prosperity for Britain.”

What do you think is currently the best theme park in the UK? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem reveals details of Iran’s position on the potential peace agreement with the US. US President Donald Trump earlier revealed the two countries were close to an Memorandum of Understanding.

Viewers have been left horrified by the chilling new documentary that is free to watch.

Channel 5 viewers have been left horrified by a new true crime documentary.

Murder In Shetland: Trial by Jury follows the killing of Claire Leveque, a woman who was found dead at a remote Shetland home.

Claire, from Canada, was 24 years old when she was killed on 11 February 2024.

She was found with a number of serious injuries in a hot tub at a property in the Sandness area, and though emergency services arrived at the scene, she was pronounced dead a short while later.

A new documentary is now revealing the murder trial that followed, as well as sharing the perspective of her grieving family.

The Channel 5 synopsis teases: “Inside the courtroom as a grieving family and an accused partner collide in a murder trial.”

Sharing a clip on social media, Channel 5 warned viewers: “Warning: Some viewers may find the following video distressing.”

They added: “Claire Leveque’s final months reveal a harrowing story of control and abuse. Now, her family cross continents in search of answers, and justice.”

The trailer heard clippings from the trial, with Claire’s family and friends in tears in court.

It also sees testimonies from experts brought in to prove the case, as a person warns: “This is a horror story from the beginning.”

“This was horrific,” one viewer commented to the clip.

Another said: “Horrendous case – can’t imagine how her family & friends coped with that trial.”

Someone else called it “very chilling”, and said “it wasn’t an easy watch”.

“A hard watch,” another agreed, while someone else said: “#MurderinShetland is remarkable television. Do watch it if you can, although it is quite harrowing.”

Ahead of the documentary airing, Gary Davies, consultant editor for commissioning at 5, said: “This thoughtful series gives a deeply human account of an unimaginable tragedy. It shines a light on the justice process and honours the courage of Claire’s family as they seek truth and remembrance.”

Mark Procter, executive producer for Big Little Fish, echoed the sentiment, saying: “We are profoundly grateful to the Judicial Office for Scotland and to everyone who enabled our access to the trial.

“Above all, we are honoured that the Leveque family have entrusted us to document what happened to Claire. We hope this series serves as a respectful tribute – giving her the voice that was so cruelly taken from her.”

Murder in Shetland: Trial by Jury is available to watch on Channel 5.

The Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2026 World Cup announced on Monday the details of the 10 official fan zones that will be set up at locations throughout the L.A. region during the 39-day tournament.

These venues will complement the start of the tournament following the opening of the FIFA Fan Festival Los Angeles, scheduled for June 11–14 at the Coliseum, which will serve as a central gathering point for fans.

The goal is to transform the city into an extended celebration of the World Cup, providing live broadcasts of the matches and various experiences designed to bring the tournament atmosphere to communities throughout L.A.

Match broadcasts in the fan zones will be available via Fox and Telemundo, allowing attendees to follow the tournament live throughout the competition. Each venue will have different programming, so fans are encouraged to check the schedule in advance to be sure they catch their preferred games.

The organizing committee urged fans to plan their travel in advance, highlighting the Metro public transit system as the most convenient option for getting to both FanFest and the various Fan Zones located throughout the region.

Here is the watch party schedule:

The Original Farmers Market: June 18–21

Ticket prices: $5 per day/$17 multi-day pass; free admission for children 3 and under.

It will feature a full lineup of group stage matches, including the United States vs. Australia and Mexico vs. South Korea.

The event will include soccer zones for the whole family, beer gardens, and international cuisine from more than 40 restaurants and specialty market shops.

City of Downey: June 20

Free community event with optional VIP packages available for purchase.

It will feature highlight matches from the group stage, such as Germany vs. Ivory Coast and Tunisia vs. Japan.

There will be an opening ceremony, a massive viewing area, entertainment, soccer exhibitions, an arts and crafts fair, interactive booths, and food and beverage vendors.

Union Station: June 25–28

A free multi-day event in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

It will feature live broadcasts of key matches and international games, including the United States vs. Turkey.

It will include DJ performances, meet-and-greets with guests, interactive challenges, competitive activities, and immersive experiences.

Hansen Dam Lake: July 2–5

Ticketed outdoor event: $25 general admission, with VIP options available.

The event will feature round of 16 and quarterfinal matches in a festival-like atmosphere.

The event will feature a transformed lakeside area with DJs, international cuisine, beer gardens, an outdoor movie theater, muralists, games with prizes, and continuous entertainment.

Earvin Magic Johnson Park: July 4–5

Free community celebration.

Will include quarterfinal games.

It will feature activities, a community market, local resources, music, food trucks, drinks, and more.

Whittier Narrows Recreation Area: July 9–11

Free community celebration.

It will feature semifinal matches and other moments from the tournament.

It will include cultural activities, a community market and a variety of local dining options. After the matches, fans can tour the park and explore the San Gabriel Valley.

Venice Beach: July 10–11

Ticketed fan zone on the waterfront: general admission starting at $10, with VIP options available.

Will feature single-elimination matches at one of the city’s most iconic destinations.

There will be international food vendors, beverage areas, live music, DJs, cultural performances and additional family-friendly programming.

Fairplex: July 14–15 and 18–19

Ticketed event.

$10 for all four days through May 31; $20 after that date.

VIP options available.

Packages will include multiple matches, including the semifinals, third-place match, and final.

There will be interactive games, recreational activities, appearances by local mascots, educational exhibits on the “science of soccer” and a resident DJ.

San Pedro’s West Harbor: July 14–15 and 18–19

Waterfront experience with ticket: $5 per ticket, with VIP options available.

Will feature the tournament semifinals and final.

Will offer soccer-inspired activities, interactive experiences, food, drinks, and live DJ music.

Downtown Burbank: July 18–19

Ticketed event starting at $25.

The event will feature the tournament’s final matches, including the World Cup final.

The event will include live entertainment, family-friendly games, VIP experiences, and an adjacent free international fair showcasing cuisine and cultural expressions from around the world.

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.