Explainers

ROB Beckett regularly turns family life into comedy, but his wife Louise Watts has been sharing her side of the story too.

She has swapped the classroom for the bookshelves, becoming a bestselling author with her frank take on parenthood.

Rob Beckett is currently on our screens as the new host of Channel 4 reality show Tempting Fortune, taking over from Paddy McGuinness for its third series.

The show returned on September 22, 2026, with 12 strangers trekking for 13 days through the Malaysian jungle, hoping to protect a £300,000 prize pot from costly temptations.

He is about to swap the jungle for a Scottish castle as one of 21 famous faces taking part in the second series of The Celebrity Traitors.

Claudia Winkleman’s BBC hit returns on October 1, 2026, with Rob joined by stars including Michael Sheen, Maya Jama, Miranda Hart and James Blunt.

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Who is Rob Beckett’s wife Louise Watts?

Louise Beckett (nee Watts), who also goes by Lou, previously worked as a secondary school history teacher.

The pair have been married for more than a decade, which Rob revealed on a 2015 episode of Mock the Week.

Lou has spoken openly about leaving a job she loved to be a stay-at-home mum while Rob’s comedy career was taking off.

In March 2026, she told Fabulous’ No Parental Guidance podcast: “He’s been able to leave the house four days on the trot and go to work.

“You get to leave the house and go and talk to grownups. And have a shower.

“You get to be the person that you’ve always been, whereas I feel like the kind of pigeon lady from Home Alone, who’s not left the house for four weeks. 

“And I haven’t had a shower and my clothes don’t fit me.”

In her blog, Louise explained that she had stopped teaching full-time because her ulcerative colitis was particularly severe around the time they became parents.

She wrote: “I didn’t realise how much being a teacher was part of who I was until I wasn’t one anymore.

“Until the only things I really had to speak about were what Rob was doing or how the baby was.

“If I’m totally and embarrassingly honest, teaching made me feel important and suddenly that wasn’t there anymore and I felt like I didn’t have anything to bring to the table.”

But Louise also said she was grateful that Rob’s success allowed her to concentrate on getting better and caring for their baby.

What is Louise Watts’ book about?

Louise released her debut book, Lessons from a Default Parent, in February 2026, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.

It grew out of her blog post A Very Long Whinge, which she posted on March 8, 2024.

The book tackles the often overlooked work of raising children, from organising school activities to tracking everyone’s needs.

It also explores how parents can share those responsibilities more fairly.

Louise told the Daily Mail’s Life of Bryony podcast that writing it helped her explain her feelings to Rob.

She said: “I found I was able to communicate much better with Rob after writing the book.”

Do Rob Beckett and Louise Watts have children?

Yes, Rob and Louise have two daughters, but they prefer to keep their names and dates of birth private.

However, in a December 2025 episode of the podcast Parenting Hell, Rob confirmed that his kids were 10 and eight at the time.

The comedian regularly shares stories about fatherhood on the podcast he presents with fellow comic Josh Widdicombe.

Louise occasionally appears for “right to reply” episodes, giving her own take on the stories listeners have heard from her husband.

Rob recently said he wants to spend more time at home as their children grow up.

In July, he told The Sun: “I’m trying to be at home more, more relaxed.

“I’ve done quite a lot, I think I need to chill out a bit – it’s getting a bit needy isn’t it?

“I’ve got a bit of time off in autumn and I’m looking forward to being at home more and being more present. 

“Because I’m getting older and the kids are too, so I’m trying to work a little bit less and be there for them.”

FERRY travel from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland and vice-versa has long been a popular route for many passengers.

While travelling by ferry may not be the primary option for many passengers, routes still operate on a regular basis.

So, do you still need a passport to travel between the UK and the Republic of Ireland by ferry?

Read on below for the latest rules on travel regulations when it comes to using ferry crossings.

Do I need a passport to travel to Ireland via ferry from the UK?

Prior to Monday, 28 September, passengers were able to use routes including Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Pembroke without needing to bring their passport.

However, that has now changed, and you must bring your passport, after identification rules were altered by ferry operators.

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Previously, anyone travelling on the above routes could use alternative forms of identification, such as driving licences and national identity cards.

Popular operators Irish Ferries and Stena Line have notified customers of the changes following their introduction.

For Irish Ferries routes, the necessity of travelling with a passport applies to its Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Pembroke routes, in both directions.

Meanwhile, Stena Line has stated that all passengers travelling on routes from Dublin, Holyhead, Fishguard or Rosslare would be required to present a valid passport when checking in.

Almost 1.5 million people use the Holyhead to Dublin route each year, meaning it sees around 210,000 lorries and 383,000 cars pass through its port annually.

With more than 210,000 lorries and around 383,000 cars using it every year, Holyhead is the second busiest passenger ferry port to Dover.

Both operators will also accept passport cards, while Irish Ferries has added that anyone travelling who is not a British or Irish citizen and is visiting the UK for up to six months may require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

EVERY single ticket across Oasis’ 42 2027 stadium shows has been snapped up following three days of buying windows.

Frontman Liam Gallagher confirmed the sell-out on X, posting: “That’s all folks we have officially sold out no more tickets left congratulations to everyone who got a ticket and to the people who didn’t sneak in f*** it yolo.”

If you missed out during the initial sale, here is everything you need to know about where things stand and how to legally get your hands on tickets when the official resale opens.

Are Oasis 2027 tickets completely sold out?

Yes. Every date announced for the Oasis Live ’27 tour is now completely sold out.

Demand for the tour, which follows the massive success of their Live ’25 reunion, was so great that organisers added four extra dates to the schedule.

Among these are two more nights at Knebworth on September 25 and 26, 2027, now making it a six-night return to the venue where the band famously played to over 200,000 fans across two nights in August 1996.

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How did the ticket buying process work?

Unlike traditional ticket drops, there was no general public sale.

To ensure tickets ended up in the hands of genuine fans, buyers had to pre-register online before being randomly selected to receive a unique, non-transferable code.

To cope with overwhelming demand and reduce queue times, fans were allocated a dedicated buying window between Friday and Sunday.

Each unique code allowed a maximum purchase of four tickets.

Fixed standard ticket prices for UK shows ranged between £71.50 and £266.60, including fees.

The ballot structure was designed to avoid the queuing issues that plagued the band’s 2025 tour.

Those sales triggered a probe by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after fans faced unexpected price jumps in queues.

Will there be an official Oasis resale?

Yes, but fans will need to be patient.

Resale tickets will only be available via Ticketmaster and Twickets (UK only) nearer to the tour dates.

When the official resale window opens, unwanted tickets can only be bought and sold through these authorised platforms.

All resale tickets must be listed at the exact face value originally paid.

Any tickets purchased via official resale will also count toward the overall four-ticket limit per code.

Organisers are urging fans to remain vigilant and steer clear of unauthorised ticket sales.

Tickets listed on secondary market sites or offered via private social media sales risk being cancelled without a refund.

Because codes and ticket links are strictly non-transferable, buying order confirmations or screenshots from individual sellers carry a big risk of fraud.

If you hope to get into a show, stick strictly to official Ticketmaster and Twickets channels closer to the show dates.

While resale dates for the 2027 tour have not yet been announced, the official resale for the band’s 2025 tour opened just two days after tickets sold out.

The only official word from Ticketmaster thus far is that face-value resale options will only open “closer to the tour.”

OASIS fans who are eager to grab tickets for their 2027 tour must keep an eye on their emails over the next few days.

This is because those who have been selected from the ballot will be given a unique code in order to access the site to buy tickets. Here’s what you need to look out for.

When are Oasis codes released?

Codes for tickets will be released between Thursday 24th and Sunday 27th September 2026.

As published on oasisnet.com, if you have been selected to buy an Oasis Live ’27 ticket, a unique code and full details of how to buy tickets will be sent to the email address and name fans registered with.

There will be no general sale for the tour, but there is also no set time on when fans will receive their codes.

This means that fans who are invited to buy a ticket on Sunday 27th September may receive their code later.

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Fans have been warned to check their junk folders over this period just in case the email with the code attached drops in there.

When do tickets go on sale?

General sale for tickets will be across three dates, but you’ll only be able to access the sale on your allocated day.

Registration closed on Thursday 17th September at 4pm, with fans now having to wait to see if they are lucky enough to have been selected.

The three days the general sale will be on are:

• Friday September 25
• Saturday September 26
• Sunday September 27

Ticket prices are fixed and will range between £71.50 to £266.60. Ticket prices will vary depending on the location of the concert and where you are stood or sat.

What are the confirmed tour dates?

Oasis are returning to Knebworth house in 2027, for the first time since their iconic 1996 gigs which saw 250,000 people attend over two days.

They have 11 nights booked at the Etihad stadium, home of the Gallagher brothers beloved Manchester City, having last played there in 2005.

The icons will also return to France for the first time since their acrimonious split at Rock en Seine festival in Paris in 2009.

NOEL Fielding is back in the Bake Off tent as Series 17 gets under way with 12 new amateur bakers.

The comedian returns alongside Alison Hammond, Paul Hollywood and new judge Nigella Lawson for the latest run of the Channel 4 favourite.

Early life

Noel Fielding was born on May 21, 1973, in Westminster, making him 53 years old.

His parents were just 18 when he was born, and after they split he lived with his father and stepmum, Dianne.

He was also close to his grandmother, who helped raise him.

Noel said in an interview in 2013: “My dad was so young, you know when I was 10 he was only 28, 29, so, that’s mind- blowing.

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“When I was 20 he was only in his late 30s, he was my age now, so I’ve sort of had some brilliant years out of my mum and dad, and also they were quite young and tolerant and easy going and up for doing stuff.”

Tragically his birth mum, Yvonne Fagan, 30, died when Noel was just 17 in 1990.

Becoming an artist

Noel originally had plans to be an artist, and had no intention of getting into TV and comedy.

He trained at Croydon Art College and had his first solo exhibition, Psychedelic Dreams Of The Jelly Fox, in December 2007.

The comedian has held a number of different exhibitions since then,
including showing his video installation The Jelly Fox at the Saatchi Gallery in 2012.

His artwork remains an active part of his career, with pieces appearing at the London Original Print Fair in May 2026 and Jealous Gallery’s summer exhibition later that year.

In 2006, he told Left Lion: “I wanted to be a painter and went to art school.

“I just got sidetracked into comedy. It was a mistake… I’m trying to get out but I’m trapped!

Despite his success in the art world, Noel is most famous for his comedy and TV work.

Finding fame

Noel shot to fame after teaming up with Julian Barratt to create, write and star in surreal comedy The Mighty Boosh.

Just like in his stand-up routines, Noel played a whole host of different characters in show.

The comedy troupe began in the late 90s, with Noel’s brother Michael also a member of the group.

Some of his humorous alter-egos were flamboyant zookeeper Vince Noir, a cockney hitch-hiker called The Hitcher, and hermaphroditic merman Old Gregg.

The series also featured a number of famous faces, including Matt Berry and Richard Ayoade.

It aired from 2004 to 2007 and scooped the Shockwaves NME Best TV Award three times.

Following the success of The Mighty Boosh, Noel took his series to radio.

Finding love

Also appearing in The Mighty Boosh was Lliana Bird.

She is a writer, actress, author and former radio presenter on Radio X.

Noel and Lliana have been dating since 2010.

She has starred in various theatre shows, and has appeared as a guest commentator on Sky News and BBC Breakfast.

Lliana is also an author, publishing her first children’s book, Baboo the Unusual Bee, in 2023.

She is also a co-founder of charities Choose Love and The Kindly Collective.

Fatherhood

In early March 2018, The Sun exclusively revealed Noel and Lliana were expecting their first child together.

They welcomed their newborn, Dali, in April 2018, who is named after Noel’s favourite artist, the surrealist painter Salvador Dali.

The pair welcomed a second daughter, Iggy, in August 2020.

Opening up about their home life in an episode of Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Lliana described Noel as a “magical” father.

She said: “He kind of makes the silliest little moments, he makes having breakfast a real moment.

“I think I’ve just really leaned into that and just going like, ‘This is amazing.

“We’re getting to have porridge and it’s funny, and it’s fun. And we’re wearing silly hats, and we’re dancing. And that’s okay’.”

TV work

As well as working with Richard Ayoade in The Mighty Boosh, the pair both starred in The IT Crowd.

The popular comic is also known for his work on TV panel shows.

He remains a team captain on Sky’s revived Never Mind The Buzzcocks, whose fifth series aired in 2025, and has also made appearances on QI and The Big Fat Quiz of Everything.

He was also the series four winner of Taskmaster.

In 2024, Noel played Dick Turpin in Apple TV+ comedy series The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin.

Bake Off

Noel gained a whole new bunch of fans when he began co-hosting The Great British Bake Off in 2017.

He presented firstly alongside Sandi Toksvig, then Matt Lucas.

Since 2023, he has fronted the competition with Alison Hammond.

At the time, he welcomed Alison to the tent by posting on Instagram: “Congratulations and Welcome to the tent lovely!! We are gonna have an absolute blast together.

“I can’t wait. I’m buzzing. Two naughty kids together… The bakers will love you x.”

Noel and Alison both return for Series 17, which begins at 8pm on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, with 12 new amateur bakers entering the famous tent.

Paul Hollywood is once again on judging duties, but for the first time he is joined by Nigella Lawson.

Nigella replaced Dame Prue Leith, who stepped down in January after nine series on the programme.

Music lover

And as if that is not enough, Noel is also a huge lover of music.

It will come as no surprise to his fans that he has made appearances in a number of music videos.

He can be spotted in the videos for Kasabian’s Vlad The Impaler and You’re In Love With a Psycho, as well as Razorlight’s In The Morning.

In November 2025, Pink Floyd also commissioned Noel to create a series of paintings inspired by Syd Barrett for the official video accompanying a new stereo mix of Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

HUNDREDS of thousands of British holidaymakers have faced travel misery this week after a massive air traffic control meltdown left them stranded.

A technical glitch on Tuesday (September 8) triggered chaos at major hubs across the country, leading to the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights arriving or departing the UK.

With the weekend fast approaching, families are wondering: “Will my holiday still go ahead, and who is footing the bill?”

Here is everything you need to know about the current travel situation, why flights have still been grounded, and what aviation bosses are saying.

Will flights be back to normal by the weekend?

The good news for weekend travellers is that the disruption has significantly eased.

Aviation analytics company Cirium confirmed that cancellations are slowing down, with schedules expected to return to normal later today (September 10).

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While 399 flights were cancelled or did not fly on Wednesday, only a “handful” of flights have faced the axe today.

Provided there are no further technical hiccups, weekend flight schedules should run as planned.

Why are airports still cancelling trips?

Even when an air traffic control system is fixed, the aviation network takes time to recover.

Tuesday’s four-hour outage meant that by Wednesday, planes and flight crews were stuck in the wrong locations across the globe.

This creates a “knock-on” effect that airlines have to untangle before schedules can get back on track.

London Heathrow was the worst affected airport on Wednesday, with 79 out of 666 departure flights disrupted.

British Airways (BA) took the biggest hit among airlines, seeing 88 of its 507 scheduled departures affected.

What are airlines and airports saying?

Airlines are furious about the disruption.

BA said it was “sorry” to its customers, but stressed the meltdown was “out of our control”.

Taking a swipe at air traffic bosses, a BA spokesperson said: “Our customers and colleagues are tired of dealing with these issues, time after time. This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

Meanwhile, Heathrow has assured passengers that it is working with airlines to ensure the majority of flights operate normally.

But the west London hub advised all passengers to double-check with their airline for the latest information before travelling to the airport.

Will I get compensation?

If your flight was cancelled or delayed due to the outage, you’re unlikely to see a payout.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said that the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) meltdown is considered an “extraordinary circumstance”.

Under passenger rights rules, this means airlines do not legally have to pay out compensation for delays or cancellations caused by the incident.

But airlines are still legally required to “look after” passengers, meaning they must provide food, drink, and overnight accommodation if you’re severely delayed or rebooked onto a flight the next day.

Who is to blame?

NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe is facing mounting pressure to resign over the fiasco, with Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary branding Rolfe’s position as “untenable”.

Despite the backlash, Downing Street has said it still has confidence in Rolfe, who stated he takes “full responsibility” for the outage.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the outage was due to a technical issue at NATS’ Swanwick site, ruling out a cyberattack.

She told MPs she did not believe the issue was “unavoidable” and ordered the CAA to conduct an independent, six-month review into what went wrong.