John Middleton takes a bold step as he goes from vicar to villain in C4 soap Hollyoaks. The former Emmerdale legend has spoken about his time on set and his role as Froggy Black.
John Middleton has gone from vicar to villain with a new role in Hollyoaks(Image: Lime Pictures)
He played much-loved vicar Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale for 20 years, but now John Middleton has taken on a much darker role as Fraser “Froggy” Black – grandfather to villainess Grace Black and her sister Clare Devine – in Hollyoaks.
After years in Longmere Prison, Froggy is finally out – and heading straight back into the heart of his fractured family. “He does want to bring the family together,” John, 71, says. “For what purpose, that’s yet to be revealed. But he wants to restore the relationship between Clare and Grace.”
One of the highlights of his new role, John says, is working with Tamara Wall and Gemma Bissix, who play Grace and Clare. “They ask me, ‘What do you tell your wife when you go back home?’”, John shares.
“I say, ‘I don’t tell her anything. I sit in a corner, occasionally hugging my knees and rocking backwards and forwards,’” he jokes. “They’re a laugh to work with!”
John made his Hollyoaks debut in August as Fraser “Froggy” Black(Image: Lime Pictures)
Froggy made his first appearance in the Chester-based show in early August, seen behind bars with Tom Cunningham, whom he’d taken under his wing as a financial advisor.
When his granddaughters were arrested for their part in Clare’s husband’s trafficking ring, the reunion was icy. Still, Froggy was determined to win over Grace – despite his hatred for Clare.
Now, John teases that Froggy could blow the village apart. “He knows things, particularly about one particular person,” John says. “The past being revealed would be catastrophic for their present.
He knows something about people he’s most closely working with, which is going to be revealed. He knows a lot of secrets, he knows where all the bodies are buried – quite literally.
He was once known as Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale (Image: ITV)
His past is possibly murderous, his present is possibly vengeful. Froggy is totally unpredictable. You never know what he’s going to do next.”
With secrets come enemies – but Froggy isn’t fazed. “He’s an incredibly manipulative person so the fact he’s got enemies doesn’t bother him,” John admits. “The fact that he has control over his enemies is essential to him.”
This isn’t John’s first brush with Hollyoaks . In 1997 he popped up as Cindy Cunningham’s doctor – a role he admits he’d forgotten about.
His soap career was then peppered with cameos. In the 1990s he appeared twice in Coronation Street – first as John Hargreaves, the driver who accidentally killed Lisa Duckworth, and later as a hospital consultant. Even Emmerdale wasn’t entirely new to him when he took on Ashley’s role.
John portrayed Ashley Thomas, the husband of Laurel Thomas, until his exit in 2017(Image: ITV)
“I was a policeman about a year and a half before becoming Ashley,” he says. “But Froggy is a completely different character, which is why I’m doing it.”
John says the whole Hollyoaks team made his transition easy. And though he still struggles with nerves, executive producer Hannah Cheers has assured him he’s in the right place.
“You adjust quickly to it and it was helped because everyone here is lovely,” he says. “My first few scenes, I was nervous. I was completely reassured when I bumped into Hannah and she said, ‘I really love what you’re doing.’ That was a great relief!”
Alysha has told how her post-party hangover turned out to be a deadly infection
A backpacker has told how her post-party hangover turned out to be a deadly infection which kills over 100,000 people every year. Alysha Pyrgotis, 27, was left vomiting and with ‘extreme diarrhoea’ after catching typhoid on the remote Indonesian party island of Gili Trawangan in June this year.
She said: “I was bed bound, in a lot of pain with my muscles and my bones. I was a bit delirious. I couldn’t concentrate at all, that’s when I started to panic. The guy I was travelling with at the time started to realise I was quite poorly, I wasn’t hungover.
“He spoke to the person at the hostel and we had a look online, there weren’t any hospitals or anything. I was on a very small island, there wasn’t really healthcare, it was just really unlucky that I was there at the time.”
Alysha was left on a drip and needed urgent medical care
A local doctor came out to visit Alysha and tested her blood to find she had typhoid – a bacterial infection which can kill one in five of those infected if they do not get treatment. The backpacker, from Bradford, believes she could have caught the infection from something she ate.
She said: “I thought I was going to die, to be honest. It was that bad, I was literally like ‘this is it’. I was so annoyed as I was so close to the end of my trip. I’d been ill before, but not that ill before. I was really worried about telling my family – I didn’t tell them, actually, because they were having a lot of stress at work at the time. I didn’t tell them until after I’d been poorly.
“I just thought it was not going to end well for me. I was panicking as I knew I had to leave the country soon, I was really, really scared.”
Alysha Pyrgotis in Indonesia
Alysha added: “It was just like my body didn’t want anything inside it, it was trying to get rid of everything. I didn’t eat anything for the whole time I was really ill – probably five or six days. Even water, I would sip water and it would come straight back up. It was a very, very extreme sickness.”
After six days on a drip in a small, cramped medical shack, Alysha received a negative typhoid test and had to get out of the country. She said: “I had to get out of Indonesia because my visa would run out. I’d spent almost my whole time in Indonesia being sick.
“I had to get out, I had a flight to Thailand. They took me off the drip and the next day I had to fly to Bangkok. I still was very sick, the flight was horrific. Even the next few days in Bangkok were very difficult, I couldn’t do anything. The lasting effects of it were still a couple of weeks of not feeling quite right.”
Alysha was bedbound, in a lot of pain and delirious
The former social media marketing executive was in the middle of a seven-and-a-half-month trip abroad when she came down with the fever. Following a breakup, Alysha made the spontaneous decision to fly out to south Thailand in December 2024.
She then visited Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and the Philippines before going to Indonesia. Now, she’s urging anyone who visits these countries to ensure they wash their hands – especially around animals – and watch what they eat.
Alysha said: “I’m not going to say ‘nobody pet the stray animals’, because that’s one of my favourite parts of travelling. I think washing your hands is really important afterwards, because that’s something I really didn’t do.
Alysha Pyrgotis, petting stray cats in Indonesia
“I was in the middle of nowhere petting stray animals and then going about my day for hours and hours without access to any water to wash my hands in, I didn’t bring any sanitiser either. I think general handwashing, being careful with what you eat out there.
“A lot of street food you eat isn’t kept in clean conditions, it’s in a hot country on the street. Chicken is sat out for hours and the cleaning utensils are probably not cleaned to the standard you would in the west. I just wasn’t careful where I ordered my food from.
“I was just eating everything that looked good and smelled good at the time – and that’s probably not the wisest thing to do.”
According to the NHS, typhoid fever is spread through unclean food or water. Symptoms include high temperature, headache, coughing, chills, aches, pains, feeling tired, constipation, and a lack of hunger. Those travelling in areas where there’s a risk of catching it are advised by the health agency to get a vaccination against the illness.
Alysha Pyrgotis exploring south east Asia
Treatment for people who catch it is through antibiotics. Some people who recover from the disease can become carriers who can still spread it for months or even years after.
The NHS says regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water, or using sanitiser gel if they’re unavailable, as well as using bottled or boiled water and eating thoroughly cooked foods can help to prevent catching or spreading the infection. The health agency says to avoid having ice in drinks, or eating raw or lightly cooked meat or seafood and unwashed salad.
Dairy products made from unpasteurised milk and food that has been left uncovered can also pose a risk. Typhoid vaccines are recommended for anyone age over one year old when travelling to an area where there is a high risk of catching typhoid.
Travellers should try to see a GP six to eight weeks before travelling. The vaccine lasts for three years and comes as an injection or tablets.
Star cancelled all appearances earlier this year after being hit by a ‘health situation’
10:49, 08 Aug 2025Updated 10:57, 08 Aug 2025
Robert Llewellyn as Kryten, Craig Charles as Dave Lister and Chris Barrie as Arnold Rimmer – Barrie has given a new health update to fans(Image: Getty Images)
Red Dwarf legend Chris Barrie has given worried fans an update after being struck with a ‘health situation’ earlier this year. The 65-year-old played Arnold J. Rimmer on the popular science fiction sitcom which has been a smash hit on the BBC and has a huge fanbase.
A post earlier this year said he had cancelled all forthcoming public appearances due to an ongoing “medical situation”. He had been due to appear at London Comic Con over the weekend alongside Red Dwarf co-stars Robert Llewellyn, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, and Hattie Hayridge.
Now he has given an update in a new post on his website. He said: “For those interested, here is an update on my health situation. Since being discharged from hospital in early July I have been feeling better and stronger with each passing day. I am not on any medication and am now a month into a 3-4 month healing process and there may be more diagnostic tests towards the end of that period.
“Apologies for being utterly non specific but I would rather keep it that way for now. So, in brief, feeling much more myself, enjoying being at home and busying myself with light tasks, although this is about to be stepped up to medium tasks….
“With regard to working, it is still too early to say. If my rate of recovery remains the same as over the last month, then I could be looking at working the odd day in October, but I will not be in a position to confirm this until early September. As usual I will update on this page as and when anything is confirmed. In the meantime good ‘ol Scarborough remains on the schedule as I really hope to be back working by November.”
The popular science fiction sitcom aired on the BBC from 1988 to 1999 and on Dave from 2009 to 2020. The show, starring Craig Charles as Dave Lister, the last living human, gained a cult following over time.
Barrie is also known for his role as Gordon Brittas in The Brittas Empire. Fans greeted the better news and Paul said: “When I heard Chris was ill, like a lot of people, my stomach churned. It’s massively good news he is recovering and I hope he’s back on his feet soon. I know we all say this because of Ace Rimmer but I’m talking about Chris Barrie. What A Guy!”
Angela said: ”Thanks for sharing. Bless him. I hope he stays in “stasis” relaxing for a full recovers. Ruth said: “That’s great news. I hope he still gets to film RD as planned and that he’s well and happy. Great that he’s not having to be on any meds.”
Mart D. added: “Get well soon Chris. Awful being laid up in dock, but Scarborough is even worse.”
In this Wednesday’s Mirror Daily Digest, we’ve pulled together the biggest stories of the day – from Sharon Osbourne’s ‘final days’ plan for Ozzy, to a ‘mystery fish’ forcing a beach to evacuate
(Image: PA)
Welcome to the Mirror’s Daily Digest, where we pull together all the best stories of the day from our News, Showbiz, Sport teams and more. This Wednesday we’re featuring everything from a cricket legend’s plea for his wife to ‘help him end his life’, to the unmasking of the gangs exploiting migrants crossing into the UK.
Elsewhere, our Showbiz team have shared the heartbreaking story of Sharon Osbourne’s plan to make Ozzy comfortable in his final days, while our Lifestyle team reported on a brewing feud between neighbours over a garden fence.
Finally, our Travel team reported how a ‘mystery fish’ is attacking tourists and forcing a beach to evacuate.
Unmasked: Faces of migrant small boats criminals revealed for first time
GRAVELINES, FRANCE – JULY 10: A man gestures from a dinghy as migrants prepare to sail into the English Channel on July 10, 2025 in Gravelines, France. On Tuesday France’s President Emmanuel Macron told Parliament that the UK and France have a duty to tackle illegal migration “with humanity, solidarity and firmness.” With the number of those arriving illegally in the UK via small boats surpassing 20,000 in the first half of 2025, migration has risen to the top of the agenda during Macron’s three-day state visit. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
Criminals responsible for hundreds of dangerous small boat crossings are being sanctioned – meaning they face having their assets seized and will be barred from entering the UK.
Today, these gangsters became the first people smugglers in the world to be sanctioned after the first wave of criminals was named. All face having their assets seized, and anyone in the UK caught doing business with them will face hefty sanctions.
Cricket legend Graham Thorpe ‘asked wife to help end his life’ before being hit by a train
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 04: Graham Thorpe of England laughs during an England nets session at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 04, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)
Graham Thorpe asked his wife Amanda to help him end his suffering before he decided to take his own life, an inquest has heard.
The 55-year-old had made an attempt on his life in May 2022 and spent a lengthy period of time in hospital recovering. That came after he had been sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board as a coach of the England Test team following an incident on an Ashes tour of Australia.
Sharon Osbourne drew up heartbreaking two-year plan for Ozzy’s final days
(Image: PA)
Ozzy Osbourne faced a lengthy battle with his Parkinson’s disease before passing away at the age of 76, just days after his last ever gig. But his wife Sharon had long been determined to make his final years as comfortable as possible.
Ozzy and Sharon had previously expressed their desire to relocate back to the UK from Los Angeles. The couple have been living in the US for more than 20 years, but Birmingham-born Ozzy had said he was “desperate to come home”.
Sharon is said to have spent the past two years preparing for her husband’s final moments, renovating the Grade II-listed Buckinghamshire mansion they bought in 1993 to provide him with every comfort.
Plans were approved in 2023 for a ‘rehab wing’ with a health and welfare exercise studio along a flat for an on-site nurse, an art studio, pool house orangery with spa, wet room, and changing area. She was also the brains behind his farewell show after he was forced to cancel a series of concerts in 2023.
Beach evacuated in popular holiday hotspot after mystery fish ‘attacks tourist’
(Image: imageBROKER/Lars Johansson via Getty Images)
A Spanish beach at a popular holiday hotspot was cleared this week after a tourist was attacked by an unidentified marine creature. A red flag was lifted on Tuesday morning (July 22) at Playa de Palma, the main beach in Majorca’s capital, after a woman sustained a “severe bite” to her leg.
The holidaymaker, reportedly an 85-year-old Italian national, emerged from the water with “part of her calf torn off”, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin. Lifeguards took the decision to clear the coastline to conduct a hunt for the animal, though the beach reopened roughly an hour later when no creature was discovered.
I agreed to move my neighbour’s fence – I was gobsmacked when I saw what they did
The neighbour was horrified after a handyman arrived to lay new asphalt without permission
A homeowner was left gobsmacked when what they believed was a neighbourly favour resulted in a tradesman rocking up and beginning to lay tarmac across their property.
The resident revealed that their next-door neighbours had requested assistance to access their own driveway – and they’d initially agreed to shift a fence.
This was because houses on the cul-de-sac feature extremely cramped and awkwardly angled driveways, preventing residents from actually getting a motor onto them, ‘even though there is space further back’.
Pharmacologist Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology at the University of Bristol, warned travellers they risk importing dangerous conditions from abroad
There are certain signs you should look out for after returning from hospital(Image: AndreyPopov via Getty Images)
A health expert has delivered a chilling alert that tourists returning from abroad must never overlook three key warning signs that could signal serious disease. Pharmacologist Dan Baumgardt emphasised that jet-setters face the danger of bringing back hazardous illnesses – and should never simply brush off the red flags.
The senior academic from the School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience at the University of Bristol highlighted three critical symptoms demanding immediate medical care – fever, stomach upset and yellowing of the skin. Penning his advice on the Conversation website, he declared: “International travel poses a risk of catching something more than a run-of-the-mill bug, so it’s important to be vigilant for the tell-tale symptoms.
“Here are the main ones to look out for while away and when you return.”
Fever
Mr Baumgardt explained: “Fever is a common symptom to note after international travel – especially to tropical or subtropical regions. While a feature of many different illnesses, it can be the first sign of an infection – sometimes a serious one.”
He warned it might indicate Malaria which is a deadly condition triggered by parasites transmitted to people via bites from contaminated female Anopheles mosquitoes.
The disease poses a major worldwide health threat, affecting over 200 million individuals and causing hundreds of thousands of fatalities each year, reports the Daily Record.
Malaria remains especially widespread across tropical and subtropical areas globally. Early symptoms of the disease can mimic those of the flu, including headaches and muscle aches, but these can escalate to severe fever, sweating and shaking chills.
Other signs to look out for include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), swollen lymph nodes, rashes and abdominal pain – although these symptoms can vary greatly and can resemble many other conditions.
Mr Baumgardt warned: “Prompt medical attention is essential. Malaria is serious and can become life-threatening. It’s also worth noting that symptoms may not appear until weeks or even months after returning home. In the UK, there are around 2,000 imported malaria cases each year.
“Travellers to at-risk areas are strongly advised to take preventative measures. This includes mosquito-bite avoidance as well as prescribed antimalarial medications, such as Malarone and doxycycline. Although these drugs aren’t 100% effective, they significantly reduce the risk of infection.”
There has also been an increase in Dengue fever, another disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Symptoms include high temperatures, severe headaches, body aches and rashes, which overlap with both malaria and other common viral infections.
Mr Baumgardt warned: “Most people recover with rest, fluids and paracetamol, but in some instances, dengue can become severe and requires emergency hospital treatment. A vaccine is also available – but is only recommended for people who have had dengue before, as it provides good protection in this group.
“Any fever after international travel should be taken seriously. Don’t brush it off as something you’ve just picked up on the plane – please see a doctor. A simple test could lead to early diagnosis and might save your life.”
Upset stomachs
Speaking about dodgy tummies, Mr Baumgardt revealed: “Few travel-related issues are as common – or as unwelcome – as diarrhoea. It’s estimated that up to six in ten travellers will experience at least one episode during or shortly after their trip. For some, it’s an unpleasant disruption mid-holiday; for others, symptoms emerge once they’re back home.
“Traveller’s diarrhoea is typically caused by eating food or drinking water containing certain microbes (bacteria, viruses, parasites) or their toxins. Identifying the more serious culprits early is essential – especially when symptoms go beyond mild discomfort.”
He went on to stress that people should watch out for particular red flags – including large volumes of watery diarrhoea, blood present in stools or urgent toilet trips. He continued: “These may suggest a more serious infection, such as giardia, cholera or amoebic dysentery. These conditions are more common in regions with poor sanitation and are especially prevalent in parts of the tropics.”
In certain instances, antibiotics and antiparasitic treatment may be required.
Jaundice
This ailment, which causes your skin or the whites of your eyes to turn yellow, can signal something severe like liver disease, so urgent medical attention is needed, according to NHS guidelines.
Whilst many people come back from holidays with a tan, it could also be an indication of jaundice.
Mr Baumgardt explained: “Several travel-related illnesses can cause jaundice. Malaria is one culprit as is the mosquito-borne yellow fever. But another common cause is hepatitis – inflammation of the liver.
“Viral hepatitis comes in several forms. Hepatitis A and E are spread via contaminated food or water – common in areas with poor sanitation. In contrast, hepatitis B and C are blood-borne, transmitted through intravenous drug use, contaminated medical equipment or unprotected sex.”
For the full article on the Conversation, click here.
A quarter of holidaymakers have travelled without insurance all together, according to new research
One in six British holidaymakers confess they haven’t been entirely truthful about their health when buying travel insurance. The study reveals that a quarter of travellers have jetted off without any cover whatsoever, whilst a fifth have embarked on trips knowing their policy wouldn’t fully protect them.
The research found that a quarter of holidaymakers believe it’s acceptable to conceal details about health conditions they don’t consider serious in order to secure cheaper premiums. Some felt under pressure to keep holiday expenses low, with a quarter thinking it was fine to omit health information because they only wanted basic protection for cancellations or lost luggage.
Travellers have paid the price after hiding health conditions on their insurance(Image: Getty Images)
A Staysure spokesperson, who commissioned the study, remarked: “This survey paints a worrying picture.”
“When buying a travel insurance policy, you want to know you’ll be in safe hands if the worst should happen so be as honest and detailed as possible about your current health.”
Most travellers were oblivious to the fact that weight loss medications must be disclosed, along with HRT, a treatment used to manage menopause symptoms.
Moreover, a quarter of holidaymakers didn’t think it was necessary to mention high blood pressure or recent surgery, or that they have previously had a heart attack or severe organ condition.
“Many people don’t realise that their NHS medical records are checked when they make a medical claim to verify their policy against their current health,” the spokesperson added.
“Any undeclared medical conditions, or recent GP and hospital visits that are not covered on their policy could invalidate their cover – leaving them high and dry to foot a medical bill alone.”
Seven out of ten revealed their greatest worry was having their claim rejected and being stranded overseas with an unaffordable medical bill. For 14 per cent they know someone whose medical claim was refused because they failed to disclose a health condition beforehand.
The spokesperson continued: “Declaring all your medical conditions ensures you are financially protected if you need medical treatment abroad or repatriating home – last year the average cost of an air ambulance from Spain alone was £45,136.”
Among those surveyed, 81 per cent believed their travel insurance represented good value for money, with 26 per cent having previously submitted a claim.
“We urge people to tell their insurer if they’ve recently seen a medical professional as not all heath changes will increase the price of their policy but may just save them thousands of pounds in unexpected medical costs.”
TOP 10 CONDITIONS TRAVELLERS DIDN’T REALISE YOU HAVE TO DECLARE:
A simple mistake could leave holidaymakers facing huge bills if they end up in hospital while abroad, with costs reaching as high as £150,000 in some countries
Holidaymakers could accidentally invalidate their insurance(Image: Getty Images)
Holidaymakers risk racking up medical costs soaring to as much as £150,000 if they inadvertently invalidate their travel insurance. Securing travel insurance binds you to an array of terms and conditions.
These cover scenarios where you won’t be covered, leaving you liable for emergency expenses. Nevertheless, experts say it is essential to get travel insurance promptly upon booking your getaway.
The upside is that travel insurance might also mitigate pre-holiday issues, like missing your flight due to sudden illness. But little-known guidance shows that some seemingly ordinary activities could put you at risk of invalidating your insurance and ending up with an enormous bill if something goes wrong.
Government advice states that medical bills abroad can escalate dramatically, depending on your destination. A fall resulting in a broken leg needing hospital care in Spain may see charges exceed £25,000.
Some hospital treatments could cost upwards of £150,000(Image: Getty Images)
In Greece, a quad bike accident that requires surgery can cost more than £80,000. Meanwhile, if you get a stomach bug or infection in the USA that requires hospital treatment, you could be charged more than £150,000.
Advice from the Association of British Insurers(ABI) states: “When shopping around for travel insurance, make sure that the policy is right for your needs, and do not automatically opt for the cheapest. This is especially important if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.”
They also advise securing travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday to safeguard against potential losses such as cancellation fees if illness prevents you from travelling. At the very latest, they say you must sort it before departing the UK, as numerous policies provide coverage from the beginning of your journey until your return.
Things that can invalidate your insurance
Travel insurance can be invalidated for a wide variety of things(Image: Getty Images)
Travel insurance generally includes a variety of exclusions, which means you’re no longer covered. Guidance on GOV UK notes that this can include:
sports such as bungee jumping, jet skiing, winter sports or skydiving: these are not usually included in standard policies
alcohol and drugs: most travel insurance policies do not cover events that happen after you have drunk excessive alcohol or taken recreational drugs or other substances
mental health conditions: you must declare mental health conditions or risk invalidating your policy. Be aware that some may exclude cover for treatment related to a pre-existing mental health condition. See foreign travel advice for people with mental health issues for more guidance
age restrictions, particularly if you are buying an annual policy
use/hire of quad bikes or mopeds: they are not usually covered
driving overseas: if you’re hiring a car, check what you’re covered for with the hire company; if you are driving your own vehicle, check your motor insurance policy to see what it covers
natural disasters (such as an earthquake or tropical cyclone): some policies only offer limited cover for claims related to or caused by a natural disaster
high risk destinations: many travel insurance policies will not cover travel to a high risk destination where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel or all travel. Check your policy wording and the relevant country travel advice pages before booking your trip and buying insurance
terrorist acts: most travel insurers offer only limited cover for terrorist acts but some offer policy add-ons to provide additional cover if there is a terrorist attack in your destination. This may include cancellation cover, if your destination is affected by a terrorist attack before your trip and you no longer wish to travel. At a minimum, make sure your policy covers you for emergency medical expenses and travel home if you are caught up in an attack
civil unrest, strikes or other industrial action: you may not be covered for some claims that arise from these kinds of incidents, especially if they were known publicly when you booked your trip and/or bought your travel insurance policy
Full guidance on travel insurance can be found on GOV.UK.
Helen George swaps the world of showbiz for literal shark-infested waters in ITV’s new reality show, while Channel 4’s The Couple Next Door returns with a steamy new story
Helen George is left terrified as she faces sharks in ITV’s new show
Call the Midwife star Helen George is just one of the celebs who’ll be coming face-to-face with one of the sea’s deadliest beasts in ITV’s new reality show Shark! Celebrty Infested Waters tonight.
Proving just how far celebrities will go to stay on the telly, this new reality format sends seven famous faces into shark-filled waters near the Bahamas. 50 years after Jaws became a phenomenon at the cinema, the likes of actor Lenny Henry, comedian Ross Noble and McFly’s Dougie Poynter have signed up for a stomach-churning sequence of dives, where they will encounter various species of shark, getting more perilous each time.
Helen George, Ross Noble, Lenny Henry, Rachel Riley, Ade Adepitan, Lucy Punch and Dougie Poynter take on Shark
Although Countdown’s Rachel Riley is excited for the challenge, most of the celebs look like they want to fire their agents, with Call the Midwife star Helen George declaring she’s terrified of the sea, and Motherland actor Lucy Punch hilariously dismissing the apex predators as ‘savage tubes of teeth.’
There’s a sobering start to the experience, as they meet their guides, including Paul, a former Aussie serviceman who lost his hand and leg to a ten-foot bull shark in a training exercise, but now campaigns for shark conservation.
Acutely aware of the dangers they face, they prepare for their first dive, but with Helen and Lenny both struggling with traumatic childhood memories of swimming pools, just getting underwater is a challenge. Soon, they’re stepping into a cage suspended in the ocean, surrounded by bull sharks, whose every move makes them shake. And it’s only going to get scarier from here. The experts hope the celebs will go home with a new respect – and even affection – for the villains of the sea, but that feels rather optimistic at this point…
Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters begins tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
The Best of the Rest
Michael Mosley: Secrets Of The Superagers, Channel 4, 8pm
If throwing yourself out of a plane is the secret to a better memory, some of us would prefer to just be forgetful… In this eye-opening series, the late Dr Michael Mosley meets inspiring people, who are bucking the trends of ageing. 70-year old Dane is a keen skydiver, whose mind is impressively sharp.
Indeed, the science shows that his time at high altitude has helped promote blood flow to his brain, giving him higher cognitive function. You don’t have to be a daredevil to age well though, as Michael explores the theory that learning new things can ward off dementia. Small children’s brains expand as they pick up new skills, so a group of volunteers test the theory that mastering new hobbies simultaneously can stop your brain shrinking.
After a year of learning Spanish and taking art classes, the stunning results of this experiment will have you googling evening classes in your area.
The Couple Next Door, Channel 4, 9pm
The Couple Next Door returns with series two tonight on Channel 4(Image: Channel 4 / Nicky Hamilton)
This steamy relationship drama returns to the same posh cul de sac, but with a new couple at the heart of the story. Surgeon Charlotte (The Split’s Anabel Scholey) and anaesthetist Jacob (Nashville’s Sam Palladio) work at the same hospital, and their marriage is a happy one. That is until enigmatic new nurse Mia turns up for her first shift.
Immediately overstepping the mark with her colleagues, she makes quite the impression. Later, Charlotte is stunned when Mia moves into the house next door, and she can’t stop thinking about her. How can she afford a huge family home on her own, on a nurse’s salary, and why is she so keen to make friends with resident creep, Alan (Hugh Dennis)?
Meanwhile, Charlotte’s ex, Leo, is back on the scene, as family circumstances force him to return to the hospital. Jacob is unsettled by his return, and turns down a tantalising prospect of promotion to avoid him.
EastEnders, BBC1, 7.30pm
Lauren is surprised to see Oscar again. After shock revelations, she learns where he has been all this time, and begrudgingly agrees to let him stay with her. It’s a decision she may soon regret…
Lexi asks Nigel about his wedding day. Jay is saddened that Nigel is no longer in touch with Julie, and starts looking for her online. Phil warns Jay not to interfere, but he won’t listen.
Linda tells Kat that it’s time for her to sell The Vic?
Emmerdale, ITV, 7.30pm
Kim is blissfully unaware that Dr Crowley is planning to take her to the cleaners. But Joe knows exactly what he’s up to, and arranges to confront him.
Charity desperately wants to help Sarah and tries to persuade Vic to offer to be her surrogate. Vic seems uncomfortable, despite Charity’s pleas. Charity and Cain are on the same page as they keep all options open.
It’s a big day for Lewis as he launches his new menu at the café.
Coronation Street, ITV, 8pm
Mick is growing restless in his cell, worrying about his kids. As he forms a plan, Brody looks for Joanie and Shanice, but Joanie is at Weatherfield High for a taster day. Mick breaks out of prison and heads straight to the school, not knowing that Sally has picked Joanie up early. He follows them back to the Street, with Kit in pursuit.
Meanwhile, Kevin plays for time, telling Tyrone he’ll come clean to Abi about his health after their weekend away.
Igbo-Ora in Nigeria has been dubbed the ‘Twin Capital of the World’, with an unusually high number of twins born there – and locals believe they’ve found the reason why
The town hosts an annual World Twins Festival(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A tiny Nigerian town is known for its high rate of twins, leaving scientists scratching their heads for years. In Yoruba culture, prevalent in the area where the town of Igbo-Ora is situated, twins are seen as a gift from the supreme deity Olodumare and are thought to be protected by spirits – they are even thought to have supernatural abilities.
One local resident hinted at a “secret” that could explain the remarkable twin phenomenon.
Globetrotting YouTube star Drew Binsky made his way to the so-called ‘Twin Capital of the World’ to chat with locals about their town’s extraordinary claim to fame. Despite Nigeria being officially an English-speaking nation, Drew discovered that finding people speaking his native language was challenging.
There’s an extraordinarily high proportion of twins born in the town(Image: YouTube/DrewBinsky)
He said: “Even though Nigeria is an English speaking country, it’s actually very difficult to find English speakers. Usually the ones that go to school that are educated can speak. But here in the villages, they usually speak native language, which is Yoruba.”
Drew eventually teamed up with a local woman named Grace, who became his guide and offered one intriguing theory for the abundance of twins.
She revealed: “There’s actually a secret behind that. There is a soup in our land here that people eat that will make them to give birth to twins and multiple [births].”
Grace, herself a twin, helped Drew chat to Yoruba-speaking locals(Image: YouTube/DrewBinsky)
Grace attributes the town’s unique demographic pattern to a local dish made with okra leaves, although researchers have yet to establish any concrete evidence linking the local diet to the twin mystery.
The town of Igbo-Ora, renowned for its high proportion of multiple births, may have found a clue in the peel of locally-grown yams, with a University of Lagos Teaching Hospital study suggesting a chemical link to the phenomenon.
Local resident Grace expressed her pride in living in Igbo-Ora, noting the scientific interest in the town’s twin phenomenon.
She continued: “Everybody’s a twin here. There is no single house in this town that does not have a twins. Every house, no matter how small or how big the house is, they will surely have a set of twins.”
It’s almost unusual not to be a twin in Igbo-Ora(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
While the global average for twin births stands at about 12 per 1,000, Igbo-Ora boasts an astonishing rate of at least 50 per 1,000.
Drew sampled the okra-leaf soup known as Ilasa, jokingly hinting it might increase his chances of having twins.
The soup, a local delicacy, features okra leaf, “locust beans,” and marugbo herb.
Igbo-Ora celebrates its unique status with a twins festival, where twins, triplets, and even quadruplets don matching attire and take part in photo sessions.
Despite its fame for multiple births, Igbo-Ora faces severe economic challenges, with one inhabitant describing the town as “financially handicapped” and calling for assistance from international aid organisations.
Vaccines are often essential when travelling abroad
Anyone holidaying in Europe this year is being urged to get a vaccine to prevent falling ill on holiday. The advice comes for holidaymakers travelling to destinations including France, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Turkey and Italy.
Experts say even if you have had a jab earlier this year, it may no longer be effective and you should look into getting another one. Jack Janetzki, l ecturer in pharmacy and pharmacology at the University of South Australia, said anyone travelling in the northern hemisphere should consider getting a flu jab.
That could include holidays outside Europe – in places such as North Africa, the USA and the Far East. Jack said: “I f you had your flu shot in April or May, it may no longer offer enough protection by the time you travel in July or later. Getting a second shot will provide you with optimal protection against the flu while travelling to the northern hemisphere.”
Without the vaccine, you could fall ill on holiday
He particularly recommends a jab if you are looking at travel as we head into peak flu season – which will start around the time of half term in October, adding: ” Ideally, get your second shot at least two weeks before your departure, so your body has time to build up protection.”
The NHS flu jab system only operates in the UK during flu season – so from the autumn. Your GP should be able to advise how to get a jab any time of the year if you think you need one.
A flu jab could be essential for some people in the UK looking to travel to Australia or elsewhere in the southern hemisphere now – as it is peak flu season on the other side of the world.
Even if you have had a jab, you may need another
There are some trips where a flu vaccine could be even more essential, Jack said:
Cruises are a prime setting for flu outbreaks. There are hundreds or thousands of people sharing confined spaces, such as restaurants and entertainment facilities, for days or weeks at a time. This creates the perfect environment for the flu virus to spread.
Group tours and large events are also high risk. Bus tours, music festivals and cultural events bring together large crowds, often in indoor spaces or via shared transport. This increases your chance of exposure and catching the virus.
Pilgrimages and religious gatherings such as Hajj, Lunar New Year or Ramadan are also high risk, especially for older travellers or those with health conditions. These events can attract millions of international visitors, often in crowded, shared accommodation, where flu and other respiratory viruses can spread rapidly.
People who are over 65 years of age , have medical conditions, such as severe asthma or diabetes, or are on medications that decrease their immune function, are more likely to become severely ill if they catch the flu. So, if you’re travelling during the northern hemisphere’s flu season, a second shot should be strongly considered.
Jack said: “The flu is more than just a sniffle. It can lead to serious illness, cancelled plans and perhaps a hospital stay in a foreign country. Even if you don’t get sick, you could pass the virus to others more vulnerable than yourself. So before you finish your pre-travel checklist, make sure your flu shots are up to date.
“Not getting the shot could be the difference between sipping Aperol spritz on the Amalfi Coast or spending your trip in bed with a fever.”
Doctors in Gaza have been forced to operate in darkness as hospitals face a power crisis due to Israel’s war on the enclave. Two of Gaza’s largest hospitals have issued desperate pleas for help, warning without power the medical centres will be turned into ‘graveyards’.
Two of Gaza’s largest hospitals have issued desperate pleas for help, warning that fuel shortages caused by Israel’s siege could soon turn the medical centres into “silent graveyards”.
The warnings from al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza City and Nasser Hospital in southern Khan Younis came on Wednesday, as Israeli forces continued to bombard the Palestinian enclave, killing at least 74 people.
Muhammad Abu Salmiyah, the director of al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest facility, told reporters that the lives of more than 100 premature babies and some 350 dialysis patients were at risk.
“Oxygen stations will stop working. A hospital without oxygen is no longer a hospital. The lab and blood banks will shut down, and the blood units in the refrigerators will spoil,” Salmiyah said.
“The hospital will cease to be a place of healing and will become a graveyard for those inside,” he said.
Abu Salmiyah went on to accuse Israel of “trickle-feeding” fuel to Gaza’s hospitals, and said that al-Shifa’s dialysis department had already been shut down to conserve power for the intensive care unit and operating rooms, which cannot be without electricity for even a few minutes.
‘Final hours’
In Khan Younis, the Nasser Medical Complex said it, too, has entered “the crucial and final hours” due to the fuel shortages.
“With the fuel counter nearing zero, doctors have entered the battle to save lives in a race against time, death, and darkness,” the hospital said in a statement. “Medical teams fight to the last breath. They have only their conscience and hope in those who hear the call – save Nasser Medical Complex before it turns into a silent graveyard for patients who could have been saved.”
Mohammed Sakr, a spokesman for the hospital, told the Reuters news agency that the facility needs 4,500 litres (1,189 gallons) of fuel per day to function, but it now has only 3,000 litres (790 gallons) – enough to last 24 hours.
Sakr said doctors are performing surgeries without electricity or air conditioning, and the sweat from staff is dripping into patients’ wounds, risking infection.
A video from Nasser Hospital, posted on social media, shows doctors sweating profusely as they perform a surgery.
“Everything is turned off here. The air conditioning is turned off. No fans,” a doctor says in the video as he demonstrates conditions in the ward. “All the staff are exhausted, they are complaining [about the] high temperature.”
Israel’s relentless bombardment has decimated Gaza’s healthcare system in the 21 months since it launched its assault on the Palestinian enclave in the wake of the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.
Since then, there have been more than 600 recorded attacks on health facilities in Gaza, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As of May this year, only 19 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain partially operational, with 94 percent of all hospitals damaged or destroyed.
Israeli forces have also killed more than 1,500 health workers in Gaza, and detained 185, according to official figures.
The WHO, meanwhile, has described Gaza’s health sector as being “on its knees”, with shortages of fuel, medical supplies and frequent arrivals of mass casualties from Israeli attacks.
Suffocating siege
Marwan al-Hams, the director of field hospitals in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that “hundreds” of people could die in the territory if fuel supplies are not brought in urgently.
This includes “dozens” of premature babies who could die within the next two days, he said. Dialysis and intensive care patients would also lose their lives, he said, adding that the injuries of the wounded were worsening amid deteriorating conditions, while diseases like meningitis were spreading.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder, who recently returned from Gaza, said, “You can have the best hospital staff on the planet”, but if they are denied medicine and fuel, operating a health facility “becomes an impossibility”.
Israel has imposed a suffocating siege on Gaza since early March.
Over the past weeks, it has allowed some food into Gaza to be distributed through a United States-backed group at sites where hundreds of aid seekers have been shot dead by Israeli soldiers.
But fuel has not entered the territory in more than four months.
“What little fuel remains is already being used to power the most essential operations – such as intensive care units and water desalination – but those supplies are running out fast, and there are virtually no additional accessible stocks left,” the UN’s humanitarian agency (OCHA) said on Tuesday.
“Hospitals are rationing. Ambulances are stalling. Water systems are on the brink. The deaths this is likely causing could soon increase sharply unless the Israeli authorities allow new fuel in – urgently, regularly and in sufficient quantities.”
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 57,575 people and wounded 136,879, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023 attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive.
MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace was reportedly rushed to hospital for a suspected heart attack, just days before the TV presenter faced fresh misconduct accusations from 50 people
23:09, 08 Jul 2025Updated 23:18, 08 Jul 2025
A close friend of Gregg Wallace has said that he’s ‘in a bad way’ after being accused of misconduct by 50 more people(Image: BBC)
Shamed MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has been sacked after 50 more people complained about him – but he has vowed to fight back. The 60-year-old accused BBC News of “peddling gossip” after it claimed to have received dozens of new complaints about him, ranging from sexual comments to groping. Wallace accepts his humour was “inappropriate” on the show. And a source close to him admits a social media video in which he lashed out at “middle-class women of a certain age” was a sackable offence.
But he still believes himself to be a victim and called the new claims “baseless and sensationalised”. He insisted: “I will not go quietly. I will not be cancelled for convenience.”
Gregg Wallace has been accused of misconduct by 50 more people(Image: BBC /Shine TV)
It comes just days after the TV presenter was reportedly rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack. The 60-year-old was treated at a hospital in Ashford, Kent, after two days of agonising chest pain. A friend told The Sun: “The stress of this betrayal brought on my suspected heart attack. It’s been hell.” It is reported that two days after leaving hospital, Wallace was told that his contract would be terminated.
MasterChef production company Banijay is expected to release the findings of a six-month review into his behaviour tomorrow or on Friday. The review, by law firm Lewis Silkin, was ordered after allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour on the set of the BBC cooking show were made against Wallace last year. His lawyers said then: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”
A Banijay insider said many of the BBC’s latest allegations are likely to have already been examined during the review. One source who has read the 200-page report said Wallace’s worst mistake was his December 2024 video about the initial allegations, in which he said: “The complaints [are] from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.” The source added that alone was a “dismissible offence”.
Yesterday, the presenter posted a five-page statement on social media. Wallace said: “I recognise my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate. For that, I apologise.
Gregg Wallace has been axed from MasterChef(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
“I have now been cleared by the Silkin report of the most serious and sensational accusations. The most damaging claims, including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld, were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.”
The presenter said he had taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkin report because: “I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged.”
Wallace claimed the new BBC News allegations included “legally unsafe accusations” which had been “found not credible by Silkin”.
He said allowing the stories to run ahead of the report was an attempt to derail the process. And in response to claims that the BBC had “fired” him, a spokesman said that this was impossible, because it was not his employer. Wallace, whose young son Sid has autism, argued that he should have been better looked after.
He added: “I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all. For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand.
“Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem. My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of MasterChef.
“Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over 20 years. That failure is now being quietly buried.”
He added: “I was tried by media and hung out to dry before the facts were established. The full story of this incredible injustice must be told.”
A source close to Wallace insisted he had been made the fall guy. They added: “This is about protecting a format, one of the most valuable formats that Banijay and the BBC has. And what they should be doing is having a clean start and not just chucking one bloke under the bus. Gregg has employed a lawyer and he’s going for blood. The report talks about him being odd – the guy has got autism and it was never addressed. It’s been a trial by social media and a big pile-on.
“All these things, when they’re looked at by a lawyer, are not true. Bullying Penny Lancaster? Not true. Vanessa Feltz? No evidence. It’s about him having a terrible sense of humour and telling rude jokes.”
The pal said that dad-of-three Wallace was “in a bad way”, warning: “This guy is fragile. When everything has been taken away like this, it’s quite overwhelming.”
One MasterChef insider said that no conversation over Wallace’s future employment had yet taken place. The latest allegations include two women who said Wallace exposed himself to them, a student who says he put his hand up her skirt in 2013 and another woman who claims he groped her the previous year.
It is not clear how many of the 50 allegations have been examined by the review lawyers, who looked only at allegations relating to MasterChef. The BBC said: “We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings published.”
BBC show Pebble Mill at One was an iconic magazine programme that ran throughout the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s – and here’s what happened to the original faces of the daytime series
08:20, 05 Jul 2025Updated 08:20, 05 Jul 2025
Pebble Mill at One was the BBC’s much-loved daytime magazine show(Image: BBC)
They were the familiar faces that lit up Britain’s afternoons – the hosts, producers and personalities behind Pebble Mill at One, the BBC’s beloved daytime magazine programme that ran from 1972 to 1986. Whether they were interviewing celebrities, dispensing gardening advice or covering human interest stories from the famous foyer of the Birmingham studio, the Pebble Mill team became a fixture of the nation’s lunchtime telly.
But what happened to the show’s stars when the cameras stopped rolling?
From telly legends who went on to headline primetime shows, to behind-the-scenes figures who subtly influenced British broadcasting, many continued to leave their mark across radio, film and theatre. Others quietly stepped out of the spotlight – while some faced scandals that shook their public persona.
Here, we reminisce about the highs, lows and unexpected twists in the lives of Pebble Mill’s most recognisable faces. From gardening guru Marian Foster and broadcasting legend Alan Titchmarsh to the late Donny MacLeod and troubled DJ Dave Lee Travis, here’s what unfolded for the faces who once dominated daytime TV.
Dave Lee Travis
His career was later overshadowed by legal troubles(Image: Getty)
Dave Lee Travis was best known as the host of The Golden Oldie Picture Show and a DJ on BBC Radio 1. However, his career was later marred by legal issues.
In 2014, he was found guilty of indecently assaulting a woman working on The Mrs Merton Show in 1995 and was handed a three-month suspended sentence.
Though acquitted of several other accusations, the conviction resulted in the presenter’s episodes of Top of the Pops being no longer repeated by the BBC. Travis expressed being “mortified” and “really disappointed” by the verdict.
Despite the scandal, the now 80-year-old made a comeback to broadcasting. Throughout the years, Travis has presented programmes on various UK radio stations, including periods at Classic Gold, BBC Three Counties Radio, and United DJs Radio.
In 2025, he hosts a Sunday morning programme on Heritage Chart Radio.
Currently residing in Buckinghamshire with his Swedish wife Marianne, whom he wed in 1971, Travis enjoys photography and vintage automobiles.
Jock Gallagher
Gallagher joined the BBC in 1966 as a news producer(Image: BBC)
Gallagher began his BBC career in 1966 as a news producer and swiftly climbed the ladder, ultimately leading the Pebble Mill at One.
His influence extended beyond the programme’s triumph to nurturing celebrated BBC radio productions including The Archers, alongside programmes such as From the Grassroots and Offshore Britons.
Following decades of broadcasting service, Gallagher stepped down from the BBC in 2014.
He died in May 2025 aged 87 at Worcester Hospital. Former colleagues and admirers paid tribute, with one remembering: “I remember having a conversation with Jock in the late 1980s when I was trying to become a researcher, and fancied working on Radio 4 series.”
Donny MacLeod
Donny hosting the daytime programme from its very first episode in 1972(Image: BBC)
Donny was a beloved figure on television, known for his warmth, professionalism, and innovative approach, becoming a staple in homes as the leading presenter of his show and shaping daytime TV for countless viewers.
He was one of the original faces of Pebble Mill at One, hosting the show from its beginnings in 1972 until his sudden death in 1984.
His career was studded with standout moments, including major BBC specials like MacLeod’s Soviet Union and MacLeod’s America, and memorable interviews with prominent figures such as Edward Heath, Les Dawson, Terry Wogan, Dame Edna Everage, and Morecambe and Wise.
Touching tributes have continued to honour Donny’s legacy, with one colleague fondly remembering: “He was kind and ever prepared to lend this novice a helping hand… For 11 years Donny was Pebble Mill at One.”
Passing away at the young age of 52 from a heart attack, Donny is still deeply missed as a trailblazer in British daytime broadcasting.
David Attwood
David passed away on 21 March 2024 after a period of illness(Image: The Guardian)
Starting his career as an assistant floor manager, David Attwood climbed the ladder, contributing to series like Out of Town Boys (1978), Keep Smiling (1979), and the BAFTA-winning Boys from the Black Stuff (1982).
After completing the BBC Directors course in 1984, he quickly made a name for himself as a director.
Attwood’s portfolio includes directing All Together Now, Airbase, and the intense thriller Killing Time.
He later pursued a freelance career, directing critically acclaimed projects such as Wild West, Fidel, and Stuart: A Life Backwards, which starred Tom Hardy.
David sadly died on 21 March 2024 after battling illness.
Remembered by peers as a talented and considerate director, David left an indelible mark on British television drama over three decades.
Marian Foster
She made history as one of the first presenters on Top Gear(Image: BBC)
A multifaceted broadcaster, Marian Foster was celebrated for her engaging on-screen personality and a deep-rooted passion for horticulture, which became her signature.
She broke new ground as one of the original presenters on Top Gear and went on to host gardening segments for BBC Look North after her time at Pebble Mill.
Foster boasts an extensive career in radio, having presented shows on BBC Radio 2, Woman’s Hour on Radio 4, and currently hosts Garden Mania every Sunday on BBC Radio Newcastle and Radio Tees.
A familiar face at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, she has imparted her horticultural wisdom to audiences for more than three decades.
Her diverse work includes documenting the impact of Live Aid in Ethiopia and even sharing the stage with The Who for a rendition of Tommy.
In recent times, she has continued her role as a judge for Northumbria in Bloom, been featured by Radio Times, and remains an endearing presence in the North East.
Alan Titchmarsh
He currently hosts a Saturday afternoon show on Classic FM(Image: Getty)
Alan Titchmarsh rose to fame as the beloved presenter of Ground Force and later captivated viewers on ITV’s Love Your Garden, affirming his status as one of the nation’s favourite gardeners.
His natural charm extended beyond the garden, leading him to host various programmes including The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Popstar to Operastar, and Secrets of the National Trust.
In 2024, he made waves when North Korean TV censored his jeans, prompting Titchmarsh to quip that it gave him “a bit of street cred”.
The 76 year old father of two is a prolific author, having penned over 70 books, including best-selling novels, gardening guides, and memoirs.
He currently presents a Saturday afternoon programme on Classic FM and continues to write regularly for the press. Now in his mid-70s, he divides his time between his farmhouse in Hampshire and his residence on the Isle of Wight.
Titchmarsh was awarded an MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours for his contributions to horticulture and broadcasting, and was later promoted to CBE in the 2025 New Year Honours for his services to horticulture and charity.
The outbreak triggered a health warning from the General Directorate of Public Health with tortillas being blamed
14:46, 04 Jul 2025Updated 14:55, 04 Jul 2025
Salmonella bacteria. 22 people had to be hospitalised after falling ill in Spain, health officials said(Image: Getty)
More than 160 festival-goers have been struck down with illness after attending a music and food event in Spain. A total of 162 individuals have contracted Salmonella, believed to be from food consumed at the Trasan Fest held on June 27 and 28 in Oza Cesuras (A Coruña), with 22 requiring hospital treatment.
The outbreak triggered a health warning from the General Directorate of Public Health of the Sergas (Galician Health Service). Preliminary investigations are pointing towards a food stall selling tortillas, a traditional Spanish dish made with eggs and potatoes, as the potential source of the infection.
Health officials are now conducting epidemiological surveys among those affected to pinpoint the exact origin of the outbreak.
In an official statement, the festival organisers expressed their deep regret over the incident. “We are collaborating with the authorities to locate the source of the incident, likely linked to a raw material supplied by one of our suppliers,” they stated.
Consumer group FACUA Galicia is urging the Galician Ministry of Health to carry out inspections of all establishments, food trucks, or mobile food vendors at venues hosting music festivals or other cultural events, in a bid to prevent such food poisoning incidents in the future.
FACUA has also advised that those affected by the Salmonella outbreak are entitled to claim compensation for the days during which their health was compromised. Evidence of the type of injury sustained, supported by the appropriate medical report, is required. It would also be beneficial to have proof of consumption of the suspected food.
In 2023, Salmonella was the most commonly identified cause of outbreaks, with 350 instances. This also led to the highest number of patients associated with an outbreak at 2,747, along with 356 hospitalisations and four fatalities.
The largest Salmonella outbreak impacted 159 individuals. A number of these outbreaks were linked to the consumption of eggs and egg products.
The Clinical Analysis Laboratory recorded about a hundred poisonings
12:23, 04 Jul 2025Updated 12:28, 04 Jul 2025
People going out in the sun while taking vitamin D supplements could put themselves at risk of poisoning, Spanish health officials warned(Image: Getty Images)
A Spanish hospital has sounded the alarm after witnessing a surge in patients suffering from vitamin D poisoning. The authorities have linked these cases to prolonged and uncontrolled use of supplements, often due to self-medication or non-compliance with guidelines.
Son Espases Hospital in Palma de Mallorca has seen an uptick in severe cases of vitamin D poisoning, some of which have necessitated hospitalisation, causing concern among healthcare professionals. These instances are frequently associated with extended and unsupervised use of supplements, either through self-medication or failure to follow guidelines properly.
UK holidaymakers soaking up the sun whilst popping potent supplements could also be putting themselves in harm’s way.
This trend, they explain, is attributable to the consumption of supplements which were not prescribed by medical professionals. The demographic most severely affected were young people and athletes, many of whom take supplements based on advice found on social media or podcasts.
Endocrinologist Mercedes Codina and lab analyst Cristina Gómez said: “It is a fat-soluble vitamin, which accumulates in the body’s fatty tissue and is not easily eliminated. If taken in excess, it can cause poisoning,” Maria Pastor, a specialist in Hormones and Vitamins at the Son Espases laboratory, explained that unlike vitamins C or B, the body does not rid itself of excess vitamin D.
“The excess accumulates and can alter the calcium in the blood, with serious consequences for the kidneys or heart.”
In an effort to reduce unnecessary demands for supplements and blood tests, the Clinical Analysis Service, in partnership with Primary Care medical management, initiated an educational campaign. The campaign is spreading awareness through talks at health centres and informative materials designed for both patients and healthcare workers.
A comparison reveals that a decade ago, the Balearic Islands requested around 10,000 yearly tests for vitamin D; now, Son Espases laboratory alone conducts approximately 150,000 such tests. The annual cost for reagents has shot up to one million euros, excluding additional expenses related to extraction, technical manpower, faculty staff or other resources linked to the health sector.
For healthy individuals, routine tests or supplement intake are not typically recommended. Vitamin D is primarily obtained through sunlight exposure.
A mere ten minutes of sun exposure two or three times a week is sufficient to maintain adequate levels, they advised, adding: “It is essential to be advised by health professionals, as social networks can be dangerous to health due to their content without scientific evidence.”
Given the UK’s geographical location further north than Spain, there may be a greater need for people to rely on supplements.
From October to March, the NHS suggests that we might need to source our vitamin D from food and supplements. As only a limited number of foods contain vitamin D, it could be challenging to get enough solely from your diet.
Good sources of vitamin D include:
– Oily fish – such as salmon, herring and mackerel.
– Red meat and offal – such as liver and kidney.
– Egg yolks.
– Fortified cereals, soya products and spreads.
The NHS further advises: “Taking a supplement, eating vitamin D rich foods and spending time outside in sunlight isn’t a problem. Don’t take more than 1 supplement containing vitamin D (including cod liver oil) as you may be getting too much. If you start taking a supplement and are already taking a different vitamin and mineral supplement then please discuss this with your GP, pharmacist or dietitian.”
So, how much vitamin D do I need?
Everyone above the age of 1 year is recommended to have a daily intake of 10 micrograms (mcg or μg) or 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D, as per Public Health England’s 2016 guidelines. This includes expectant and breastfeeding mothers, as well as individuals at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
Only opt for a higher potency vitamin if your doctor has specifically advised it. Consuming more than 10 to 12.5 micrograms (mcg or μg) or 400IU to 500IU per day isn’t necessary and could potentially be harmful over time.
So, what signs might suggest an overdose of vitamin D?
Symptoms can encompass nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, abdominal discomfort or even confusion. These are all linked to hypercalcaemia – an excess of calcium in the bloodstream, which can result in severe kidney complications.
It’s been 20 years since Dan Biddle fatefully missed his stop on the Circle Line train. Twenty years since Mohammad Sidique Khan looked him in the eye and reached inside his backpack. And 20 years since Dan’s cosy happy life was, quite literally, blown apart.
16:16, 03 Jul 2025Updated 16:18, 03 Jul 2025
It’s been 20 years since Dan Biddle fatefully missed his stop on the Circle Line train. Twenty years since Mohammad Sidique Khan looked him in the eye and reached inside his backpack. And 20 years since Dan’s cosy happy life was, quite literally, blown apart.
On Monday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be among 400 people in St Paul’s Cathedral paying their respects to the 52 killed and more than 770 injured in the London suicide bombings of July 7, 2005.
But for Dan – 7/7’s most severely-injured survivor – the day will also mark another anniversary. It’s been 19 years since Dan left hospital and he’s been fighting for an inquiry into what was known. He and countless others want and need answers.
Now instead of tears and platitudes from Britain’s great and the good on Monday, Dan, who can be seen in new Netflix series Attack on London Hunting the 7/7 Bombers, is calling on Starmer to put right what Tony Blair once did wrong – and finally grant the 7/7 victims their long called-for public inquiry.
Dan Biddle lost both his legs during the terror attack(Image: Supplied)
He says: “We don’t need tears. We don’t need platitudes. We need our public inquiry. And we need answers to the questions we still have. It’s been 20 years – Now is the time to do it.”
Meanwhile there’s one person Dan won’t be wanting to speak with, if, as expected, he attends: Tony Blair. He was prime minister at the time of the attack and blocked the initial plea for an independent public inquiry. The War in Iraq was also cited as one of the motivations for the bloodbath in the bombers’ confession videos.
“I don’t think I could sit in a room with him [Blair] and not use a large amount of expletives, because the anger is always there,” explains Dan, now 46. “I firmly believe 7/7 could have been prevented, and I’ve got to live it with that knowledge. And I cannot believe Blair would be so naive to think that if we go to war, there’s not going to be repercussions in this country. When I think of the money he earns giving talks about it”
Casualties of the London terrorist bombing attack (Image: Mirrorpix)
The 46-year-old first renewed appeals for Starmer to reconsider an inquiry through the Mirror last month. But he’s vowed to keep on asking.
Hundreds of families were affected that day in 2005 when four suicide bombers, led by primary school assistant Mohammad Sidique Khan unleashed the deadliest terror attacks in Britain since Lockerbie.
Armed with backpacks filled with homemade explosives, Khan, 30, and Shehzad Tanweer, 22, both from Beeston, Leeds, and father-of-one Germaine Lindsay, 19, from Aylesbury, Bucks, boarded three morning rush hour tube trains. Around 8.49am they set off the explosives on circle line trains near Edgware Road and Russell Square stations and a Piccadilly Line train near Aldgate station, killing six, seven and 26.
A fourth bomber, Hasib Hussain, 18, also from Leeds, detonated his device an hour later on the top deck of the Number 30 bus, which had been diverted via Tavistock Square, killing 13. It’s believed his device initially failed.
Dan Biddle and his wife Jem, who live in Abergavenny(Image: Wales on Sunday)
On the morning of July 7 2005, Dan boarded a circle line train towards Edgware Road, a 26-year-old 6ft4in football-mad construction manager. Then in a flash of the explosion, everything changed. Dan lost both legs, an eye and his spleen and had a pole speared through his abdomen after being one to the victims of the Edgware Road blast.
He perforated his colon, burst his eardrum, lacerated his liver, was covered in burns and spent eight weeks in a coma. He now faces a daily battle with Complex PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and survivor’s guilt.
Mohammad Sidique Khan, one of the suicide bombers(Image: Getty)
It later emerged Khan was known to intelligence services but was not considered a high priority. The Government’s internal 2009 Intelligence and Security Committee review concluded the decision was “understandable” given “the information available” at the time.
Dan and Adrian Heili, the hero Army medic who saved his life against the odds that day, meanwhile maintain there are still vital questions not answered by either the committee’s 2009 report, their earlier report in 2006 or indeed, the latter 2011 Coroner’s Inquest, which identified a number of failures and missed opportunities by MI5 – but ultimately ruled they would not have prevented 7/7.
Former construction manager Dan says: “The inquest was more about ascertaining time of death, place of death, perpetrator, that type of thing. A public inquiry looks at what was known. It looks at ‘was there any point where there could have been an intervention to stop it’?”
Unanswered questions remain that Dan can’t ignore(Image: Press Association)
“The guy that did this is dead. I don’t get a trial. I don’t get my day in court. But why can’t we have the same disclosure around what led up to 7/7 as other atrocities got?”
Dan has a long list of questions, including: how long Khan was on MI5’s radar, why a telephone recording discussing an attack was not acted upon and why Khan was not made a high priority, despite alleged photos of him at a suspected extremist training camp. It was also reported that the US National Security Agency had looked into disturbing emails from Khan the year before the attacks. These are just a few of many.
“A public inquiry won’t give me my legs back,” says Dan, now an accessibility consultant in Abergavenny. “It won’t give me my eye back. But I’d have a sense of justice that somebody has been held accountable.
“Some 52 people lost their lives, why doesn’t that warrant one[an inquiry]? Jean Charles de Menezes was tragically shot a couple of weeks after 7/7, he got a public inquiry. Why is his one life worth more than 52? If they really think it’s not possible, then please just explain to me why – and I’ll get back in my box.”
Dan is pleading for a public inquiry(Image: Humphrey Nemar)
Dan has recently spent days reviewing all the previous Government reports line by line while writing his first book Back From the Dead, which was released in June.
The 2006 Intelligence and Security Committee Report had originally been sent to Dan while he was still in hospital. It came with a covering letter from the then-Committee chairman The Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP. It referred to the attacks of “July 7, 2006.”
“Talk about adding insult to literal injury,” says Dan, who married the love of his life Gem, 42, in 2015. “How can you put much credence in the report if they can’t even get the date of the attack right?”
A public inquiry could also be a financial lifeline to those, like Dan, with life-changing injuries. Dan received just shy of £116,000 from the Government’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
It’s a fund which gives a standardised payout, calculated by which body part is injured, to all victims of violent crime, with no regard as to whether it was a street mugging or a terror attack. Dan says he was also instructed he could only claim for three injuries.
He says an inquest simply isn’t enough
“The money’s gone,” he says. “It barely lasted five years.”
If an inquiry found anyone was to blame, it could open up an avenue for victims to receive extra compensation.
Meanwhile Dan admits the thought of Blair earning north of £100,000 for speaking engagements about his time as prime minister – including the War in Iraq – is particularly painful. “I think he’s disgraceful,” says Dan.
In one final plea to the dignitaries who’ll be attending on Monday, Dan adds: “I’m not a stupid man. I knew that getting blown up, life was going to be tough. But I didn’t think it would be unjust.”
The Home Office has no current plans to hold a public inquiry.
Complete timeline of how the 7/7 bombings unfolded
*Around 8:49 a.m Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, Germaine Lindsay, 19, detonated homemade devices on Circle Line trains between Edgware Road and Paddington and Liverpool Street and Aldgate, and a Piccadilly Line train between King’s Cross St Pancras and Russell Square. They killed six, seven and 26.
*At 9.47am Hasib Hussain, 18, detonated a device, believed to have earlier failed, on the top deck of the Number 30 bus outside the British Medical Association HQ in Tavistock Square.
*All but Lindsay were British-born, from Beeston, Leeds. Jamaican-born Lindsay, an Islam convert, lived with his then-pregnant wife in Aylesbury, Bucks. She was later revealed to be the ‘White Widow’, Samantha Lewthwaite, an alleged member of Somalia ’s radical Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab.
7/7 bombers, Hasib Hussain, Shehzad Tanweer, Jermaine Lindsay and Mohammad Sidique Khan(Image: PA)
*Video confessions later saw the bombers citing the War in Afghanistan and Iraq as one of their motivations. The Met Police’s Operation Trident collected more than 2,500 pieces of evidence. There was further tragedy at Stockwell Tube on 21/7 when Brazilian student Jean Charles De Menezes, 27, was mistaken for a suspect in a feared follow up attack and shot dead by police
*A 2006 Initial Intelligence and Security Committee Report finds no evidence MI5 could have prevented the attacks.
During a separate trial regarding a foiled fertiliser bomb plot, it was revealed Khan and Tanweer had been tracked by MI5 for a time during 2004, but it was decided they were not a priority.
Dan’s new book tells his story
The then Home Secretary John Reid refused a public inquiry into what had been known, saying it would be a “massive diversion of resources” from the security services’ operations. Some 25 7/7 Families start legal proceedings to force a public inquiry.
*Reid authorises the subsequent 2009 IASC report which also concluded 7/7 could not have been prevented.
* David Cameron becomes Prime Minister and grants the seven-month Coroner’s Inquest, overseen by Lady Justice Hallett, with a more limited scope of inquiry. In 2011, after seven months of evidence, she made nine recommendations to the Home Office, Security Services and Emergency Services. She also concluded MI5 could not have prevented it and rules against a public inquiry as it would add further distress to the families.
*The 25 Families drop their legal suit for an inquiry immediately after the inquest report. They make it clear they still have unanswered questions but fear their emotionally-draining legal action is futile.
* Various news organisations report on allegations that Khan visited a Pakistan Al-Qaeda training camp as well as military training camps in Dubai and that The US’s NSA had intercepted alarming emails from him the year before the attacks.
*Dan maintains several key questions around how long Khan was on their radar, why a telephone recording discussing an attack was not acted upon and why Khan was not made a high priority, despite alleged photos at a training camp.
Back From The Dead: The Untold Story of the 7/7 Bombings by Dan Biddle with Douglas Thompson, by Mirror Books hardback, £20, is out Thursday. Buy here
Emma Hickey and her partner Stephen Brougham took their two kids to Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Spain when the 42-year-old mum fell badly ill, prompting a trip to hospital
Hannah Robinson and Milo Boyd Digital Travel Reporter
14:50, 30 Jun 2025Updated 17:01, 30 Jun 2025
Emma Hickey was on family with her kids when disaster struck
A mum is fighting for her life after plummeting down hotel stairs and hitting her head.
Emma Hickey and her partner Stephen Brougham took their two kids to Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Spain, on June 13 for a sun-soaked 12-day getaway. Just 10 days into the trip, the mum-of-two woke up with a ‘really bad case’ of mosquito bites, so went to hospital and was prescribed injections
Despite feeling unwell for the next few days, the 42-year-old carer ‘soldiered through the holiday‘ for the sake of her kids. But as they walked down the hotel staircase on their way to a pharmacy on June 23, Emma complained of feeling dizzy before suddenly collapsing and falling head-first onto a concrete step.
Stephen, 44, says it was ‘horrific’ to watch his partner convulsing on the concrete steps after passing out. She was immediately rushed to hospital. A hospital CT scan revealed the mum-of-two had a brain bleed and neck fractures, so she was put in an induced coma.
Emma was badly bitten by the mosquitos (Image: Kennedy News and Media)
A friend of the family has set up a GoFundMe page to support plasterer Stephen and his two kids, while they are stranded in Tenerife waiting for Emma to recover. The dad-of-two says it could be ‘a very long time’ until his partner is well enough to fly home and he is unsure if the travel insurance will cover the soaring medical costs.
Stephen, from Dublin, Ireland, said: “We came away for a lovely family holiday and it’s been a living nightmare. She woke up with a really bad case of mosquito bites so we went to the local doctor and the doctors didn’t know what it was so they sent her to hospital
“The doctor there said they’d never seen a case of this mosquito bite in Spain before. She got a prescription and sent her away. For the next few days she wasn’t feeling well but was soldiering through the holiday for the sake of the kids trying to do what she could but she wasn’t herself.
Stephen said that his wife went for a nap on the 23rd, leaving him to take the kids out to lunch.
“She was up having a good sleep and she looked and seemed a lot better. She said she wouldn’t go to the hospital but would walk out to a pharmacy and see what they thought,” he continued.
“We walked out the back entrance of the hotel as there’s a shop and a pharmacy there. Street level is probably about four or five storeys up. She was feeling a bit dizzy and she collapsed and fell from the second last step of the upper staircase down below onto the other set of stairs head-first without raising her arm to protect herself.
Emma is now recovering in hospital(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
“She passed out on the steps and started convulsing, she was in a terrible state. It’s been horrific because I actually witnessed the fall and how bad the fall was. That’s a mental scar that I’ll never forget. Words can’t describe how bad it is.”
Stephen called an ambulance, which rushed his partner to hospital. A CT scan showed she had suffered a brain bleed and needed an operation. Doctors discovered some fractures in her neck. She was then put in an induced coma and will remain in intensive care until she wakes up.
Stephen said: “They did an operation and there were blood clots on the brain that had been putting some pressure on the brain. They’re not saying what impact the pressure on the brain of the blood clot will have after she comes round. “There could be secondary issues there so in the meantime she’s just been on the machine. She hasn’t felt well all week so we can only presume that the mosquito bites, the medication, the heat and the fact she tried to soldier through the holiday just for the sake of the kids [caused it].
Emma suffered a brain bleed after the fall(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
Emma has mosquito bites all over her body(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
“They were draining the life out of her and they’re all over her body, dozens and dozens. They looked uncomfortable and you could see that they were sore. They turned into bruises. I can only connect the two.”
Stephen, who is self-employed, and is searching for alternative accommodation for him and children Sophie Hickey, 13, and Bobby Hickey, 7, while they wait for Emma to recover. He is hoping the travel insurance will help the rising medical costs after reviewing her medical records.
“We know that hospital is $1,400 (£1,022) a day so we’re going to have a significant medical bill. The hotel we’re staying in at the moment is an expensive hotel. Then just feeding the kids and keeping them occupied. I’m not working now because I’m over here,” he said.
He’s now encouraging others to ensure they get travel insurance and to be aware of the dangers of insects abroad.
Brits heading abroad this summer are being urged to inspect hotel beds before unpacking, as bedbug infestations and scabies cases continue to surge across the UK with August and September being peak months
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Brits are being warned not to do this one thing whilst on holiday or when they come back (Stock Photo)(Image: Getty)
Holidaymakers heading abroad this summer are being urged to carry out a quick check before unpacking, as cases of bedbugs and scabies are rising across the UK.
Alarmingly, councils have reported a 35 per cent increase in bedbug infestations since 2022, while the NHS saw a 74 per cent rise in diagnosed scabies cases in hospitals last year.
August and September have been recorded as the peak months for bedbugs, a time when many travel lovers will be jetting off overseas. With this in mind, Brits are being told to stay alert or risk bringing home more than a suitcase of laundry.
With cases rising, experts are warning against bedbugs (Stock Photo)(Image: Getty)
Check the bed
Martin Seeley, Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay, is warning that pests like bedbugs and scabies can easily travel back with you from a hotel, no matter how fancy it seems.
“Check mattress seams, bed frames, and behind headboards for signs of bedbugs before settling in and unpacking your belongings. Make sure to never place your bags directly on the hotel bed,” he advises.
Putting your suitcase on your bed could be all it takes to bring an infestation home.
What to look for
Bedbugs are small, reddish-brown insects that live in fabric and bedding. “If you suspect bed bugs, act quickly. Check for tell-tale signs like small reddish-brown spots on your sheets, moulted skins, or clusters of tiny bites on your skin, often in a line or zig-zag pattern. You’ll usually find bed bugs in the seams and folds of your mattress if they have decided to take residence,” says Seeley.
Scabies, meanwhile, are caused by mites that burrow into your skin and spread through contact, including bedding. “Scabies infections cause intense itching due to being burrowed under the skin, which becomes particularly noticeable at night and can make it very difficult to sleep.”
He adds: “Common signs that you might be infected when trying to sleep include persistent itching (especially between your fingers, or around your wrists, elbows, waist, and genitals) and small red bumps or track-like burrows on your skin.”
August and September are peak seasons for cases (Image: Getty)
How to stay protected
“When staying in hotels or holiday rentals, a quick inspection can go a long way,” Seeley says. “Check mattress seams, bed frames, and behind headboards… Instead, keep your bags elevated on a chair or stool, and if you’re worried your hotel room isn’t as clean as you’d like, then only take out what you need and leave the rest of your clothes in your bag.”
If you do return home with bedbugs or scabies, fast action is essential. “When attempting to eradicate bedbugs, begin by vacuuming thoroughly and remember to dispose of the collected dirt immediately in an outside bin. Wash and dry all bedding or clothes… and consider steam cleaning your sofa in case they’ve transferred there too.”
Scabies also requires deep cleaning: “Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing in hot water (at least 60°C)… Any items that can’t be washed should be sealed in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours… You should also make sure that anyone in your household who may have been exposed is treated at the same time to prevent re-infestation.”
Tips for sleeping better while treating symptoms
“Reactions to bedbug bites include itchiness, swelling and welts… The best course of action to relieve itching and discomfort… is taking an antihistamine and keeping the room cool.”
“To get better sleep while treating scabies, apply a prescribed topical treatment at bedtime… Itching can sometimes continue for weeks after being successfully treated, so… keeping the room cool and your bedding lightweight can help to ease irritation… trimming your nails can prevent you from scratching too hard in your sleep and causing an infection.”
Prevention is key
The expert says: “Investing in a high-quality mattress protector is also a wise move… You should remove and wash your mattress protector regularly, hoover your bed frame, wipe down your headboard, and dust any areas around your bed frequently.”
It’s been claimed that staff at the BBC are in an ‘open revolt’ after the broadcaster scrapped a documentary about Gaza which will now be shown on Channel 4
BBC staff are reportedly in an “open revolt” against bosses for scrapping a Gaza documentary(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Staff at the BBC are said to be in an “open revolt” after the broadcaster decided to scrap a documentary about Gaza, according to MailOnline. On Saturday, it was revealed that Channel 4 will now air the said documentary instead, which was earlier commissioned by the BBC.
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was created by two Emmy award-winning filmmakers and commissioned by the BBC over the year ago. However, it’s been claimed that the corporation had put a pause on production in April after an investigation was launched into another documentary, titled Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone.
Following this, Channel 4 will now be broadcasting Gaza: Doctors Under Attack on Wednesday, July 2, at 10pm. But the BBC’s decision is said to have left a bad taste in their staff’s mouths and they are reportedly in uproar over the broadcaster not showing the documentary on their channels.
The aforementioned publication has claimed that more than 300 people have reportedly signed an open letter to director-general Tim Davie to raise concern about censorship at the BBC as it pertains to reporting about Israel.
Staff are said to have signed an open letter with 300 signatures to BBC Director-General Tim Davie(Image: PA)
An insider told MailOnline: “The people at commissioner level who are experienced journalists and take these decisions on an almost daily basis are being overruled by people who are pretending to be journalists.
“There’s open revolt [at the BBC]. [Bosses] approved the film multiple times and then delayed it at least five times but confirmed in emails that it would go out and that the delays were not due to the Johnstone report into Gaza: How to survive in a war zone.
“They said this [new documentary] was a vital film that exemplified ”public interest journalism’. After these multiple delays over six weeks they then apologised and said, ”Sorry, it is because of the Johnstone report”.’
The one-off documentary will now air on Channel 4 on Wednesday, July 2(Image: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack is a one-off episode, produced by Basement Films, that examines allegations against Israel that the nation have repeatedly targeted hospitals which is a breach of international law. The documentary was made by journalist Ramita Navai, director Karim Shah and former Channel 4 News Editor Ben De Pear.
The source went on to tell MailOnline that they had to “handle the duty of care” for doctors and medics who couldn’t understand why their interviews wouldn’t be going out on the BBC.
“The film has been fact-checked and complied by Channel 4 to ensure it meets the broadcaster’s editorial standards and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack explores Israel’s breach of international law by targeting hospitals during the war(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
It was greenlit by Channel 4 Head of News and Current Affairs and Specialist Factual and Sport, Louisa Compton. She said: “This is a meticulously reported and important film examining evidence which supports allegations of grave breaches of international law by Israeli forces that deserves to be widely seen and exemplifies Channel 4’s commitment to brave and fearless journalism.”
Basement Films has added: “This is the third film we have made about the assault on Gaza since October 7th at Basement Films, and whilst none of them have been easy this became by far the most difficult. As ever we owe everything to our Palestinian colleagues on the ground; over 200 of whom have been killed by Israel, and the doctors and medics who trusted us with their stories.
“We want to apologise to the contributors and team for the long delay, and thank Channel 4 for enabling it to be seen.” Mirror have contacted both the BBC and Channel 4 for comment.
A BBC spokesperson told the Mirror: “Robust discussions amongst our editorial teams about our journalism are an essential part of the editorial process. We have ongoing discussions about coverage and listen to feedback from staff and we think these conversations are best had internally.
“Regarding our coverage of Gaza, the BBC is fully committed to covering the conflict impartially and has produced powerful coverage from the region. Alongside breaking news, ongoing analysis, and investigations, we have produced award winning documentaries such as Life and Death in Gaza, and Gaza 101.”
