huge

Festival season is well and truly here and there was one very special thing at Kendal Calling that left be utterly gobsmacked

Summer is well and truly upon us and that means one thing – the return of the festival season.

While it might be a fallow year for Glastonbury, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an entire raft of fun in fields to be had.

I was one of the lucky 40,000 people who descended on the fields of Cumbria for this year’s Kendal Calling – which gets bigger and better each year. Once again, it was a sell-out and not only that but festival goers were blessed with the most incredible weather.

I’m a Cumbrian myself so I know only too well how much it likes to rain in that particular county – the lakes in the Lake District do need their water from somewhere afterall.

There were some concerns Kendal Calling‘s organisers had a too tough a job to match 2025’s epic experience and line-up but people needn’t have worried as this year was even more spectacular.

From Vanessa Carlton and The Kooks on the open night to Two Door Cinema Club, Ash, The Coral and Scissor Sisters on the Friday, the incredible Biffy Clyro in what many are calling Kendal Calling’s best ever headline set and The Libertines on the Saturday before The Lancashire Hotpots got everyone going on hangover Sunday and the whole incredible experience was rounded out by a very on form Primal Scream and Wolf Alice – the line-up truly was something to behold.

One of the glorious things about Kendal Calling is the mish mash of activities on offer – from the stunning woodlands in Lost Eden, which transform into a magical fairytale after dark, to Tim Peaks Diner, Desert Island Disco and Chai Wallahs – this really is a festival with something else.

And this year there was a huge surprise I didn’t expect – the food. To call it varied and plentiful would be doing it a serious dis-service. From the usual burgers and pizza there was fish and chips, gyros, Yorkshire pudding wraps, pasta, BBQ, rotisserie chicken, meatballs, vegan offerings, fried chicken, poke bowls and anything else you can possibly imagine.

Don’t get me wrong, you couldn’t call it cheap but the prices were far from extortionate (although I am a London-dweller these days so I have lost all sense of what is ‘reasonable’) and everything I sampled was freshly cooked and utterly delicious.

There was even an actual sit down restaurant in the fields in the form of Ranch 76 Smokehouse, with the nicest staff you could meet and a breakfast that truly set us up for the day.

I wasn’t expecting to come back from a festival absolutely stuffed and my only regret is that four days is simply not long enough to try everything on offer.

Kendal Calling will be back next year with tickets going on sale at 10am on Tuesday.

A BRAND-NEW luxury holiday resort is under construction in the Cotswolds – and it will have cabins, a natural spa and swimming pools.

The whole project is predicted to cost £24million and it’s due to open in 2027 in Langley, Oxfordshire.

CABÜ is in the process of building 51 self-catered ‘eco timber cabins‘ with wooden panels and green window detail.

Each will have either one, two or three bedrooms inside.

The high-end resort will have lots of facilities for relaxation, from large swimming pools to its natural spa with hot tubs, saunas and a plunge bucket.

The indoor swimming pool which is surrounded by loungers and huge windows.

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Along with an outdoor pool, there will also be a shop, restaurant, two bars, an events space and a sitooterie social space.

The website says “Our Cotswolds holiday cabins are being designed for year-round stays, with plans to offer relaxing 2, 3 and 4-night breaks that balance comfort, wellbeing and nature-led experiences.”

The new site will be a short distance from popular villages in the Cotswolds like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford.

The resort will be the third of its kind to open in the UK.

Two others CABÜ By The Sea in St Marys Bay in Kent and CABÜ By The Lakes at Killykeen Forest Park in Ireland.

CABÜ by the Sea sits on a stretch of privately owned grassland next to the seafront between Romney Marsh and the English Channel.

Rates for two-night stays in a one bedroom studio cabin start from £375.

Two-night stays in two bedroom cabins start from £495.

Meanwhile, CABÜ by the Lakes is found deep within the woods of Killykeen Forest Park in Co. Cavan.

This unique hideaway has log cabins and lake houses – it also has a nature spa with a forest bathing area and a Japanese Bath.

Rates for two-night stays in one bedroom cabins at the lakes start from €485 (£415).

Two-night stays in three bedroom cabins start from €650 (£556).

“I’M going to spend my Saturday digging soil with a JCB for fun,” was a phrase that would never have passed my lips until I became a mum. 

Yet, here I am, spending the first sunny weekend in August on an industrial estate in Medway, Kent, having the time of my life at Diggerland theme park. 

Find out how to get 2-4-1 tickets through Sun Club here

Diggerland has to be seen to be believed and is possibly the UK’s most unique theme park.

Yes, it really is an attraction entirely themed around construction machinery, which was founded in 2000, by digger hire firm owner Hugh Edeleanu.

The Kent site was the first, and there are now three further parks around England, in  Devon, Durham, and Yorkshire. 

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You might question whether you can really get a whole day out of construction equipment, and I was as surprised as anyone to find ourselves racing around the park at closing time, trying to choose our last attraction. 

The range of activities is impressive, and not like any other theme park. 

They have 20 main rides and drives included in the ticket price, plus some extras like dodgems and quad bikes. 

Spin Dizzy is the biggest – spinning up to 8 guests high in the sky in the bucket of a huge digger.

But the giant diggers were by far my son’s favourite, as you spend around 10 minutes shifting soil in an impressive Komatsu PC55MR-5 tracked excavator. They’re simple enough to use that at seven years old, he was able to get into the cab and tackle control himself. 

Other crowd pleasers included the chance to drive a JCB around a circuit, digging for gold with Komatsu PC14 mini diggers and being lifted 50 feet into the air by the Skyshuttle. 

But the standout for me had to be the decommissioned police car. 

My son was able to drive the car himself, pedals and all, around a dirt track, despite being a whole ten years away from getting his provisional license. 

Which is no bad thing, considering he made for a hair-rising chauffeur and was even given a ‘speeding ticket’ at the end of his go.

It feels like the Diggerland creative team had a whale of a time when coming up with the various attractions, which are diverse enough to entertain all ages. 

You’ve got the little Tykes toy area, the indoor soft play and the crazy trikes for the younger kids, plenty of options for primary school age children, and a large choice for the adults who’ve always fancied having a go when passing a construction site. 

The parks even offer stag and hen do parties, with the onsite cafe listing a range of cocktails and beers that you’d never see at your typical theme park restaurant. 

If you fancy checking it out for yourself there’s no better time to visit as Sun readers can get 2-4-1 tickets at Diggerland through Sun Club or Sun Savers, with families saving over £39 on tickets, plus free entry for children under 90cm. 

To get your tickets, Join thesun.co.uk/club for just £1.99 per month or £12 per year, then head to Offers Hub and find the Diggerland page to claim your voucher. 

Tickets cost £25.95pp in advance and £39.50pp on the door, for adults and kids over 90cm.

Or you can pick up the The Sun newspaper from Saturday, August 1 and collect Sun Savers codes.

• Find the Diggerland page in the Offers section and select Start Collecting.
• Collect THREE out of eight Sun Savers codes printed in The Sun from Saturday, August 1 to Saturday, August 8. Once you have your THREE Sun Savers codes, enter them on the Sun Savers app or website to unlock booking. Booking opens at 11am on Monday, August 3.
• Download your voucher (Max 2 people per voucher) and have it ready on your phone or printed before your visit.
• Choose your Diggerland Park in Kent, Devon, Durham or Yorkshire.
• Claim this offer by Monday, 19 October 2026. Present your voucher and a valid Sun Savers account at the park entrance when purchasing your tickets. Your voucher can be redeemed at your chosen Diggerland attraction on selected dates up until Saturday, October 31, 2026.
• 18+ UK only. Sun Savers multiple code collect 01/08/26-08/08/26 or Sun Club subscription required. Online access required. Buy one full price standard admission ticket to get a second standard admission ticket free for the same day. Voucher must be redeemed at attractions alongside valid Sun Club/Sun Savers account. Cannot be used online or in conjunction with any other offer. Max 2 people per voucher. Tickets valid weekends in September-October and October 26-30 only. Subject to availability. Non-transferable & non-refundable. Full T&Cs apply, see sunsavers.co.uk  or club.thesun.co.uk/sun-club

The cruise line is returning to the Amazon for the first time in almost a decade, with their latest cruise also giving holidaymakers the chance to witness the dramatic landscapes of Antarctica

With summer holiday season in full swing, many Brits who are sick of the usual beach resort might already be planning something more unique for their next getaway. And the wow factor doesn’t get much bigger than with Fred Olsen’s newest cruise that stops off at an incredible 28 ports – but holidaymakers will need to have some hefty savings.

The Amazon and Antarctica Adventure has just been announced by the cruise line, and it’s one of the longest trips available to book. Setting sail from Southampton on January 5, 2028, this cruise aboard the Borealis ship is a whopping 87 nights long and visits dream destinations across five continents, from the Canary Islands all the way down to the Antarctic Peninsula via the likes of Jamaica, Costa Rica, Brazil and Chile.

The voyage marks the first time in nine years that Fred Olsen has offered a cruise to the Amazon – and it’s the only cruise line sailing from the UK to do so, offering British holidaymakers a unique opportunity. “Time ashore brings you closer to lush rainforest, with toucans, butterflies, monkeys and pink river dolphins among the wildlife to look out for,” the description of the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure teases.

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A place on this adults-only cruise understandably doesn’t come cheap, with prices starting from £11,499 per person. But with travel, accommodation, food and entertainment all included at under £140 per night, those with the cash to spare might consider it worth the investment to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

For those seeking something more budget-friendly, the longest cruise on offer from fellow cruise line Ambassador is the Caribbean Sunsets and South American Secrets holiday. Sailing from London Tilbury in January 2027, this cruise currently has 30% off all cabins with prices now starting from £3,233 per person, and visits 12 countries over 45 nights, including Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize.

Book the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure

From £11,499pp

Fred Olsen

Book here

This 87-night cruise sets sail from Southampton in January 2028 and visits 17 countries across five continents.

Meanwhile, TUI’s Marella Cruises is also offering last-minute summer cruise deals with flights included in their price. Among the cheapest options are the Highlights of the Mediterranean cruise, which is on offer for £944pp reduced from £1,623, and the Grecian Discovery holiday, now priced from £949pp down from £1,598.

Back at Fred Olsen, another highlight of the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure is the Antarctic Peninsula, described by the cruise line as a place with ‘vast glaciers and snow-topped mountains’ where there’s also a chance for passengers to spot penguins and whales. Here’s the full itinerary of stops and highlights on this 87-night cruise:

• Santa Cruiz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
• Santa Cruz de la Palma, Canary Islands
• St John’s, Antigua
• Samana, Dominican Republic
• Ocho Rios, Jamaica
• Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
• Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
• Willemstad, Curacao
• Kingstown, St Vincent and Grenadines
• St George’s, Grenada
• Roseau, Dominica
• Bridgetown, Barbados
• Cruise past Barra Norte, Brazil
• Santarem, Brazil
• Cruising Amazon River, Brazil
• Manaus, Brazil
• Parintins, Brazil
• Alter do Chao, Brazil
• Fortaleza, Brazil
• Buzios, Brazil
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Puerto Madryn, Argentina
• Punta Arenas, Chile
• Cruise by Cape Horn, Chile
• Cruise Drake Passage, Antarctica
• Cruise Antarctica Peninsula
• Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
• Montevideo, Uruguay
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Salvador, Brazil
• Mindelo, Cape Verde
• Las Palmas, Canary Islands
• La Coruna, Spain

As well as travel and accommodation, the price of a cruise also includes full board dining, from five-course à la carte dinners to afternoon tea, and selected drinks with lunch and dinner. And there’s no shortage of things to do on the ship, with the fare also including access to the swimming pools, fitness centre and classes, expert talks and lectures and a variety of other activities, as well as evening shows with live music and dancing.

For those looking to get away sooner, this isn’t the only bumper cruise Fred Olsen is offering. The cruise line’s longest holiday currently available to book is the World Cruise with Japan and Hawaii, which stands at a staggering 98 nights and sets sail from Southampton in January 2027 with prices starting from £13,999 per person.

The third-longest is departing from Southampton this September for a last-minute autumn and winter getaway lasting 71 nights. The Exploration of the Mediterranean is priced from £9,999 per person and visits Spain, Italy, France, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Gibraltar, Morocco, the Canary Islands and Portugal.

CHERYL TWEEDY is set to make a huge comeback with her own documentary.

The Girls Aloud singer has kept a low profile in recent years, but remains one of the UK’s most successful female solo artists and telly stars.

I’m told she is in early talks to create a film about her life and look back at her past successes.

The plan is to document her rise to fame auditioning on Popstars: The Rivals and being a judge on The X Factor as well as touching on her love life.

She is currently single after high-profile marriages to footballer Ashley Cole and restaur­a­teur Jean-Bernard Fernanzed-Versini plus relationships with US dancer Derek Hough and the late One Direction singer Liam Payne, who is the father of her son Bear.

A source said: “Cheryl is incredibly picky about what she chooses to do these days and spends a lot of time on motherhood, but she feels like she has a story to tell.

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“The doc could create a bidding war between all of the big streamers — Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple.

“She would also have creative control over the project.”

Cheryl’s TV project comes after successful documentary series from David and Victoria Beckham, Robbie Williams and Katie Price.

Her PR man did not respond when I reached out for comment.

Last year it was reported that Cheryl was in talks to make a telly comeback by appearing on The Voice, and she was spotted having a low-key dinner in Italy with pal Will.i.am, who is a mentor on the ITV talent show.

Over the years Cheryl has featured in several high-profile documentaries including Access All Areas, which followed her first solo arena tour.

Speaking about the 2012 doc, she said: “I literally had a friend of mine filming so that I would not feel like I had a camera crew in my way and at times forgot myself.

“I have since regretted this decision. The number of times I cringed watching it.”

I’m sure fans would love to go behind the scenes with Cheryl.

SLIPKNOT ‘CUT TIES’ WITH SID

SID WILSON has been “kicked out” of heavy metal band Slipknot after 28 years, according to sources.

The American DJ and keyboardist, who joined the group in 1998, is understood to have been sent packing on Friday.

It comes just five months after Sid – known in the band as #0 – split from his fiancée Kelly Osbourne.

I can reveal Slipknot have also parted ways with the PR company that has represented them since 1995.

A source close to the band told TMZ, “Sid was notified late Friday afternoon that he has been permanently kicked out”.

The musician proposed to Kelly backstage at her dad Ozzy Osbourne‘s final Black Sabbath gig at Villa Park in Birmingham last July.

Just weeks later, Kelly suffered heartbreak when Ozzy passed away.

She and Sid had started dating in 2022 and had son Sidney at the end of the same year.

However, she has since sparked fresh romance rumours with her supposed new hairdresser partner Kiinicki – a Los Angeles-based barber and creative behind the brand Hella Good Hair.

Kelly shared snaps of herself with Kiinicki, who uses they/them pronouns, in April.

And the pair were spotted at an after-party following Lily Allen‘s gig at the London Palladium in March.

Sounds like Kelly has got Sid out of her hair.

JESSICA’S NETFLIX DOCU

AMERICAN singer Jessica Simpson is set to have her life made into a Netflix documentary.

It will be developed by director Joe Pearlman, who created Robbie Williams’ docu-series and Lewis Capaldi How I’m Feeling Now film.

A source said: “It will be a four-parter similar to Robbie Williams’ one. Like him, Jessica has faced her demons and been through trauma having started in the music industry aged 17.

“Filming is expected to start this year and will show Jessica talking about everything she’s been through.”

SAM THOMPSON and Pete Wicks seem to be building an empire – having joined forces on a new financial venture.

I can reveal that former Made In Chelsea star Sam and ex-Towie hunk Pete, who own Staying Relevant Productions and co-host a podcast, have set up PWST Investments Ltd.

Details lodged with Companies House show the nature of the business is “security dealing on own account”, which relates to investing in stocks and shares, futures, securities and commodities.

A source said: “Sam and Pete have become comedy gold on their podcast, but they are serious when it comes to business.”

Move over power couples, bromances are big business.

A HUGE US influencer has revealed her husband’s face “caught on fire” during a BBQ, and has left him with “second-degree burns”.

Rebecca Zamolo, 41, left her followers concerned after she shared the horror accident that left Matthew Yoakum, 46, badly injured.

The social media star shared a slew of photos which included how her husband’s face looked after it had been burned.

Posting the pics on Instagram, the mum-of-two penned: “For those who don’t know, Matt’s face caught on fire at our BBQ and it gave him ‘2nd degree superficial burns’.

“It was hours before our flight to Hawaii to celebrate his birthday so he has been healing here. (He still wanted to go).

“It was a scary incident for all of us, and a reminder how precious life is.

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“Thank you to everyone that has reached out and friends that are in the medical field and put him on a good path to heal.

“He’s extremely lucky as it could have been a lot worse, but we are taking it day by day. We love you Matt.”

Rebecca’s followers immediately rushed to share their concern, with one writing: “Omg. That is horrible. So happy he’s okay.”

While another added: “Sending love & prayers.”

A third worried fan wrote: “This is awful! Get well soon Matt!”

Rebecca is a huge influencer, with 3.3million followers on Instagram and over 30million on YouTube.

The star is known for her family orientated content, which often includes Matt and their two kids, Zadie and Xander.

AS the mum of a seven-year- old boy, I think the two most-used words in my household are Pokemon and Lego.

So excitement was off the scale on a trip to Legoland Windsor’s second annual Lego Festival, featuring their new Pokemon Trainer attraction.

The festival, billed as the “ultimate celebration of play’’ — has five zones across the park, where you complete activities to earn stamps on a card.

Get three of the five stamps and earn a prize at the end of the day.

We created our own race car in the new F1 Brick Stop Challenge and added our own flower to the new garden in the Chill Zone.

But our favourite task was the Pokemon Play Zone — a 15-minute attraction where kids get their own interactive Lego Pokemon character to feed and take into battle.

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At the end, you can also make your own Poke Ball out of Lego to take home.

The festival showcases live performances, including headline act Battle Of The Bands, featuring rock and pop stars.

I’m a big fan of the seasonal offerings that Legoland puts on throughout the year and the Brick Or Treat Halloween attraction is unmissable in October.

We always fit so much in that we are too knackered to fully appreciate Miniland on the way out to the car, so I’ve resolved to make the miniature towns and cities our first stop during our next visit.

The theme park’s rides are also awesome. Flying theatre ride Flight Of The Sky Lion is my favourite, and Driving School is still a must for kids, despite dating from 1996.

But what makes Legoland stand out is the attention to detail in every corner of the park.

From the moment you start up Legoland Drive, where the Lego figurines spell out a scrambled version of “Welcome’’, to the excellent Miniland countries (which a team of five maintain full-time), there is something everywhere to marvel at.

I also love the permanent creative zones around the park, designed to let kids build when they need a break from rollercoasters.

While most theme parks focus on the biggest and best rides, Legoland manages to prioritise both entertaining kids and encouraging them to entertain themselves.

That said, these are my favourite five rides for ages five to ten . . . 

As I’ve said, Flight Of The Sky Lion is mindblowingly good.

If you are going to use a fast pass on anything, make it this. It is also not scary — any child aged four and over should be fine.

Minifigure Speedway is a duelling rollercoaster — with two separate tracks where cars race forward and backward past each other — that is one of the park’s newest rides and aimed at pleasing tweens.

My seven-year-old still won’t go near it.

Driving School is an oldie but a goodie — kids love being given the freedom to drive themselves solo around their own road circuit.

Coastguard HQ is right next to Driving School and perfect if your child is too young to handle their own car, as this lets them drive a boat around a lake while you accompany them.

The Dragon is an excellent starter rollercoaster for kids, with some decent drops and a few twists and turns, but it is easy enough not to terrify anyone while scary enough to make young ’uns feel they have braved something big.

Of course, most of these rides also have the biggest queues.

Fortunately, on our visit we were staying at the on-site Legoland Resort Hotel, which gave us early access to the park.

Guests can go on a number of rides, including Flight Of The Sky Lion and Coastguard HQ, from 9.30am — 30 minutes before the public opening.

The hotel lays on plenty of added extras for guests, from the Lego in the lobby to character meet-and-greets at breakfast, and evening dance parties.

Our room got full marks for fun, too, with a treasure hunt and Lego prize, along with a Lego build zone.

In fact, it is a miracle I got my son out in time for our 9.30am start.

But the lure of becoming a Pokemon Trainer was too strong.

If only I could use that trick every morning once school restarts.

THERE’S a leisure centre in the UK that has so many attractions, it feels more like a waterpark – and its just had a multi-million upgrade.

The Leisure Pool at Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex has reopened after a major £10million refurb.

Over the past few months, upgrades and maintenance works have been carried out at the pool.

And there are a number of new features too including a splash pad for little ones, with different interactive features.

The Super Slide and The Surf – multi-lane slides – have both had a makeover as well.

The pool also operates a wave machine, with one visitor commenting that it “actually feels like you are in the sea”.

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Many visitors have also noted how the pool feels more like a waterpark, with “amazing” slides.

Another feature introduced this year is an inflatable obstacle course.

The course features balance sections as well as slides, and you can race people on it too.

Each session on the course lasts an hour and costs £9.45 per person.

Tickets to the Leisure Pool then cost £13.13 per adult and £10.50 per child.

Alternatively, you could get a family of four ticket for £40.

The project forms part of a wider £10million project to upgrade the entire leisure complex.

Other new features include interactive mini golf, which is already open, and replacing the soft play area, with a more modern soft play and cafe bar experience.

Killing Eve’s Harriet Walter was left ‘astounded’ after discovering her mother’s incredible secret job on Who Do You Think You Are

Dame Harriet Walter was left speechless after discovering an ‘astounding’ secret about her mother.

The legendary actress, 75, has graced our screens for years in incredible films and television shows, such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rocketman, Downton Abbey, The Crown, Succession, Killing Eve, Ted Lasso and Call The Midwife.

However, Harriet put her family in the spotlight for the latest episode of Who Do You Think You Are? on Thursday night, where she discovered an incredible secret about her mother, Xandra Lee – the elder sister of renowned actor Sir Christopher Lee.

Showing old pictures of her lookalike mother, Harriet said: “This is my mother, Xandra. She was a very sweet woman, had the most amazing sense of humour, but she was sort of slightly belittled by the men in my family.”

Harriet continued: “This picture is my parents, and they were married in December 1946. I knew a bit about what she did in the war. She worked in naval intelligence in the Admiralty, but she said, you would never in a million years tell your best friend, your husband, anybody what you were doing. You just would not do it.

“She said she was one of thousands of cogs in the machine and I just want to know much more about exactly what that machine was doing and what her part in it was. So I’m going to see what I can find.”

However, Harriet got more than she bargained for upon discovering her mother played an important role in the success of the 1944 D-Day landings, which she learnt thanks to ground-breaking research on women in wartime intelligence conducted by Dr Helen Fry.

During the meeting at the Old Admiralty Building in London, Dr Fry revealed after sharing archive details and facts: “To get this into perspective, your mother was in charge of the whole intelligence picture for naval intelligence for the D-Day landings.”

Harriet was left speechless as she put her head in her hands, before adding: “Wow, wow. It’s just astounding. It’s astounding. I had this rather frivolous idea of her sort of just having a great time in the canteen and flirting with the boys and I had no idea she had this sort of responsibility.”

Dr Fry then pointed out: “The oath of secrecy, they knew when they took it, it was for life and she kept it”, adding that her mother’s work was “detailed analytical work” and “highly responsible”.

Harriet added: “That is extraordinary. I’m sorry to say this, but when I think how she was sort of put down by my dad and my stepfather and, you know, ‘your mother’s not very logical’, you know, had they only known what she’d done, they might have treated her with more respect.

“Blimey. It’s so extraordinary. I’m rethinking my mother entirely. You know, it’s extraordinary how that changes your image of somebody, to think of her in that position of responsibility. I have such a mixture of feelings.

“I mean, mainly I’m astounded that my mother had any kind of significance in the war effort, because she never exposed anything of that sort. She was the epitome of, I would say, modesty in some kind. Not coy, but just sort of, ‘Oh, I don’t matter, darling.’ You know.

“I feel certainly silly that I’ve got some kind of fame for having done absolutely nothing except, you know, pretend to be other people for a living.

“And she, who had a quite a strong role in the D-Day landings, which opened up the whole path to peace. Good for her. Good for Xandra Carandini Lee.”

Who Do You Think You Are? airs at 9pm on Thursday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

CRETE is the latest destination to be struck by wildfires and with it being a holiday hotspot for Brits, lots are asking – is it still safe to travel to?

Here’s everything you need to know right now about travelling to the Greek island.

Where are the wildfires in Crete?

The majority of the wildfires in Crete are on the south of the island.

On Wednesday, a large fire broke out in the south of the Rethymno regional unit where around 8,000 people have been evacuated.

A large fire is being tackled near the villages of Krya Vrysi, Orne and the coastal resort of Agia Galini.

Hotels in Rethymno have been placed on high alert.

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It’s believed the fire that has been exacerbated by 125km per hour winds has destroyed a number of homes in the area.

According to the BBC, it’s one of the biggest active fires on the island, with its front exceeding 9.3miles.

Hundreds of residents and tourists were evacuated from Krya Vrysi on Wednesday.

Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to battle the blaze, and two sadly died on Wednesday during high winds in Crete.

Forecasters warn fire-prone conditions will spread towards the centre of Europe this week, with Greece among one of the places most affected.

Is it safe to travel to Crete right now?

The travel advice for Greece remains unchanged.

But there are warnings on being prepared for wildfires which are “high risk” between April and October.

The advice from GOV.UK reads:

“Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location.

“Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly.

“To avoid starting wildfires:

• leave no litter, especially not glass which is known to start fires
• make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished
• do not light barbecues

“Causing a wildfire or a forest fire is a criminal offence in Greece – even if unintentional. If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112.

“Be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires:

• follow @112Greece for official updates
• follow the guidance of the emergency services
• call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger
• contact your airline or travel operator who can assist you with return travel to the UK”

Are flights still going to Crete?

Flights to Crete remain unaffected.

If you are due to fly in and have concerns, it may be worth contacting your airline to check if they are operating normally.

What if I have a holiday to Crete booked?

As the Foreign Office has not warned against travel to Greece, there are no special circumstances in place for holidaymakers to cancel their trip and receive a full refund.

Depending on what travel insurance you have, your policy might include natural disaster cover.

If so, your insurance policy should cover you for when you are unable to reach your holiday destination due to natural disasters, like wildfires.

So it is worth checking your travel insurance policy.

Can I cancel my trip?

If you do choose to cancel your trip, it is best to contact your airline or holiday provider.

There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings unless government advice changes.

Gladiators star Cyclone, whose real name is Lystus Ebosele, has featured on the BBC show since January 2025 but is now said to have been axed along with two others

Another one bites the dust… Cyclone has become the third professional to be axed from BBC show Gladiators. The TV star, whose real name is Lystus Ebosele, joined Bradley and Barney Walsh’s BBC revival of the 1990s classic last year, and has so far filmed two series.

But just as production got underway at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield for the next series of the reboot, Lystus, 25, is said to have been cut from the line-up and is not impressed with bosses.

A source told The Sun: “Cyclone won’t be back and she’s not happy about it. She’s now cut all ties with the show – it’s a pity as fans absolutely loved her.” The powerlifting champion has also unfollowed the official Instagram account for the programme and deleted all pictures of herself on the show.

News of Lystus’ exit comes just days after it was reported that Matty Campbell, who stars as Bionic, and Karenjeet Kaur Bains, better know to fans as Athena, had also been axed from the show, having missed out on a considerable amount of the last series after both suffering injuries.

A source said: “They won’t film this year for the show but could be back for the tour, depending on how they recover from their injuries.”

Earlier this year, Giant, 40, whose real name is Jamie Bigg, departed Gladiators amid much controversy when he went public with then-girlfriend Taylor Ryan, 28, and it emerged that she worked as a model on OnlyFans.

Execs were quick to air their disapproval, and the athlete said that he was “shocked and disappointed” by the move, which he directly linked to his partner’s racy work. It was then reported that body builder and fitness instructor Ahmad Rabus, 37, would act as his replacement, and it became apparent that he would be one of several new faces on the show.

Team GB medallist Tabby Stoecker, along with fitness influencer Florence Wong and World’s Strongest Man champion Tom Stoltman are reportedly in the lineup, whilst The Sun also reported that former England rugby star Joe Marler would be making an appearance.

The new series will introduce a soon to be revealed event, as well as the other well known challenges such as Duel, Hang Tough and the Eliminator. Popular additions from the previous series — Everest, Destruction and Suspension Bridge — are also set to return after receiving a strong response from viewers.

Produced by Hungry Bear Media in partnership with MGM Alternative UK, part of Amazon MGM Studios, Gladiators remains one of the BBC’s flagship entertainment programmes.

The most recent series, which came to an end in March, attracted an average audience of 4.6 million viewers across BBC One and BBC iPlayer over a 28-day period, while continuing to perform particularly strongly among younger audiences.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, BBC’s Head of Entertainment, said: “Since Gladiators burst back onto screens in 2024, it’s been amazing to see families across the UK rally behind the contenders and champion our phenomenal Gladiators as the true stars of Saturday nights.

“With a brand‑new series confirmed and another celebrity special on the way, audiences can look forward to even more colossal clashes, even more edge of your seat excitement and plenty of opportunities to raise those foam fingers high once again.”

The Mirror has contacted representatives for comment.

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EDDIE MARSAN is to play Harry Redknapp in a film about one of football’s most incredible stories, I can reveal.

The actor, a Spurs fan, will put his allegenices to one side when he takes on the role of the West Ham favourite when he was their assistant boss in 1994.

The film by Sir Ridley Scott re-tells the moment Harry actually invited a loudmouth Hammers fan to play up front for the Premier League outfit after hurling abuse at players from the stands — and he went on to score.

Eddie plays gaffer Harry in Halftime Hero, alongside Anson Boon as angry fan Steve Davies.

West Ham were struggling against non-league Oxford City in the pre-season friendly when Steve was told to put on a kit and prove he could do better . . .  and did.

A source said: “Eddie has been cast as Harry in Halftime Hero and will be filming his scenes in the coming weeks.

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“As a huge football fan, Eddie knows this tale well and to take on such a prominent part in a film about such a huge moment in the game is hugely exciting for him.”

Like me, Sherlock Holmes actor Eddie is a Tottenham fanatic, so it will be a dream role to play Harry, who went on to manage Spurs years later.

It’s just a shame he’s going to have to wear a West Ham coaching kit to do it.

I revealed last month that Ridley’s production company was working on the film about Harry’s famous game, which has become part of football folklore.

Steve could be heard heckling striker Lee Chapman and repeatedly branded him a “donkey” for his poor performance.

Harry went into the stands and got him to play, with Steve going on to score and helping West Ham to a 4-0 win.

The historic moment was never caught on camera, so now Anson, Eddie and Ellie Bamber — who plays Steve’s girlfriend — are bringing it to life.

Harry has spoken fondly about the wild episode over the years, admitting he told the stadium announcer that he was bringing on a “great Bulgarian” called “Tittyshev”.

Steve previously said: “It was the greatest moment of my life.

“After that, I was exhausted.

“I was on 30 cigarettes a day back then.

“I had a couple of cigs and a couple of beers in the first half.”

Good on you, Steve.

Me, I’m Jase relaxing

TAKE THAT have just finished their hit Circus Tour, but there’s been no clowning around for former member Jason Orange.

The ex-boybander, who quit the group in 2014 to lead a quieter life, was seen enjoying a peaceful afternoon in a park in Cheshire on Monday.

He now has a successful property portfolio and has declined offers to rejoin the group.

And judging by how zen he looks here, I can’t say I blame him.

LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK is feathering her nest with a few quid from her fans by becoming a mumfluencer as she prepares to give birth to her third child.

The Little Mix star has started a page where fans can subscribe for £5 a month for “behind the scenes content” and a “private community” to find out what’s going on with her pregnancy.

Announcing the move, Leigh-Anne said: “I’m excited to announce I’ve started a Patreon to share more of my pregnancy, bump updates, everyday life and all of the things in between as I prepare to be a mum of three.

“This is going to be a complete safe space to be open and honest, share advice and give you a little more insight into life right now.”

Leigh-Anne, who will perform at Brighton Pride on Saturday, already has twin daughters with her footballer husband Andre Gray.

Kaia and Homer channel parents

KAIA GERBER and Homer Gere looked like proper Hollywood stars at the premiere of new Disney+ thriller series The Shards – maybe because of their A-lister parents.

Kaia’s supermodel mum Cindy Crawford wed Homer’s old man, Richard Gere in 1991, although the golden couple divorced four years later and went on to have kids with new partners.

Now, their actor offspring are appearing opposite each other in the Shards, which launches next week.

Speaking on the red carpet, Kaia said of Homer: “I’d never met him but I was really, really excited to meet Homer and he’s such a wonderful actor, my god.

“This is his second thing he ever did and he has this confidence and charisma – he’s so magnetic to watch.

“He made my job much easier because of how talented he is.”

Looking forward to tuning in.

Niall hits the clubs

IT’S tee time for golf nut Niall Horan ahead of his Dinner Party Live Tour.

The ex-One Direction singer hit the greens at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire before the AIG Women’s Open this weekend.

He will soon be heading out on the road, kicking off his tour at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on September 22.

But the long spells playing shows across the UK, Europe, Australia and North America until next May won’t stop him hitting the greens.

He said earlier this year: “It’s Niall’s golf tour with music, especially in the States.

“Florida is great.

“There’s so much good golf in Florida, and we’ll hit random places in Ohio.

“If we do 30-something shows, I’ll try to get in ten rounds.”

TULISA HAS MAXED OUT ON LOVE

TULISA’s romance with medicinal cannabis kingpin and influencer Maximillian White has gone up in smoke, it seems.

One of my pals has spotted the N Dubz singer back on celebrity dating app Raya.

I told you last autumn that the pair had started dating.

But on Raya, the former X Factor judge has listed her occupation as “singer/investor/author” while her bio simply says, “Lara Croft”.

As for her interests, she’s into, “Music, fitness, deep belly laughs, cheeky bottle of red, all things weird and wonderful.”

Sounds like a fun time to me.

Harry Potter actor Tom Felton and Kingsman star Taron Egerton have both been spotted on the exclusive app, so she has her pick of handsome fellas.

Mel C met her husband Chris Dingwall on Raya, and Lily Allen found her now-ex David Harbour on there too, although the less said about that, the better.

Tulisa was also on there before meeting billionaire Maximillian but insisted she was a “spectator” and said: “I never like or message anyone first . . .  just letting you know.

“I’ve only gone on one date from there, and that was because of a recent rebound.”

Live a little, Tulisa.

ELLIE MUSIC OF LOVE FOR HER BEAU

IT has been dubbed her “divorce album” but Ellie Goulding’s new record will feature at least one song about falling head over heels for her new beau, called, err, Beau.

I first revealed their romance last July when I told how she had jetted off to Italy with actor Beau Minniear, when they stayed at the Four Seasons in Florence together.

Now Ellie, who gave birth to their daughter Iris in March, has written a song about how she was swept off her feet by him during the trip to that very hotel.

On the track, titled 4 Seasons, she sings: “Daydreaming, faint feelings, f**k around at the Four Seasons. I think that I might be falling in love with you.

“I need it, wanna keep it. We mess around, put the damn key in. I think that I might be falling in love.”

The song will be on her sixth album, I Know Too Much, which will be released on September 4.

And from what I’ve heard so far, it’s going to be another brilliant record.

PRINCE’s cult movie Purple Rain is being adapted for the stage and will debut on Broadway next March.

The hit film was accompanied by Prince’s album and song of the same name, with the projects being released in 1984.

The news of the stage musical was announced on the 42nd anniversary of its release and will launch next spring.

ARIANA SUES SONG HACKERS

ARIANA GRANDE has understandably seen red and filed a lawsuit against hackers who leaked unreleased tunes.

The Thank U, Next singer has alleged that two unidentified hackers broke into devices from people she had worked with to get songs and footage of her which was sold for “significant sums of money” on the dark web.

Legal papers have been lodged in Los Angeles to try and unmask those responsible.

The documents claim: “In 2023 alone, 45 unreleased songs belonging to Ms Grande were hacked, stolen, and leaked.

“Since her music debut in 2011, hundreds of similar leaks have taken place.”

And it sounds like Ariana, whose new album Petal will be out on Friday, won’t stop pursuing them until they’re in prison.

A SMALL but much-loved holiday resort in the UK is set to get a load of new attractions.

Ribby Hall Village near Kirkham, Preston, has announced plans for a new high ropes course, netted play area and outdoor activity zone.

The new attractions would be at the Wildlife Discovery area in the five-star holiday park and also feature a go-kart track.

A new entertainment centre is already approved for the holiday resort as well.

Ribby Hall Village has a range of accommodation including self-catering cottages and an adults-only spa hotel.

Guests also get unlimited access to a family pool with waterslides and an adult pool.

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And much like Center Parcs, you can book onto a number of different activities including heading to the indoor soft play as well as an onsite zoo and wildlife centre.

For more entertainment, there are also a number of daytime and evening shows.

Across the village, guests can head into a number of family restaurants, bars and cafes.

Summer breaks cost as little as £32 per person per night.

One recent visitor said: “Not our first visit to Ribby hall but as usual had a fabulous break with the family – we have chosen Ribby hall over our former choice of Center Parcs as Ribby represents so much better value for money.”

Another visitor added: “Loved it here, obvious comparison is with Center Parcs and I would pick Ribby Hall.”

Fylde Council has not yet announced when they will make a decision on the application.

A HUGE US singer shared the agonising moment that a fish hook was stuck in his HEAD.

In a gruesome video, Tyler Hubbard, who is best known for the band Florida Georgia Line, was seen with a wounded head as his wife Hayley pulled the hook out.

The horrifying moment came during a family fishing trip with his wife and their three kids.

The family were camping by the lake, when their vacation took a turn.

Posting on Instagram, the American star shared a video called: “Breakfast had to wait.”

Next fans were shown Tyler’s wife wrestling with the hook in his head.

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Although he didn’t reveal how he ended up with the fish hook buried in his head, Hayley was seen gently trying to prise it out.

She was then heard asking her family: “Are there any tricks to this?”

One of their children then reassured their dad that there was “no need to worry”.

“Mom is just going to pull it out right away,” the kid said.

After much wrestling with the hook, Hayley finally said: “Oh, we got it!”

The horrifying fish hook moment comes just days after Tyler teased more reunion plans with his former Florida Georgia Line bandmate Brian Kelley.

The pair called it quits four years ago after being together for a decade.

However this summer they reunited for a several performances, which included CMA Fest in June.

IF you‘re already thinking about next year’s holiday and want to bag a bargain then set your alarm for tomorrow.

easyJet is set to put lots of flights on sale for summer 2027 in its next Big Seat Release – and they’ll be cheap too.

From tomorrow, the airline will put flights on sale for travel between June 14 and September 26.

Talking to MoneySavingExpert, easyJet revealed that almost 14million seats will be available to book – that’s more than 78,000 flights.

But if you want to get cheap deals, you’ll need to start early as when demand goes up, so do the prices.

A time for the release hasn’t been confirmed yet, but usually it’s around 6am or sometimes earlier.

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An easyJet spokesperson told the publication: “We encourage customers to book early to get the best fares.

“Fares are demand-driven so they start low and rise as more seats on the aircraft are booked.”

Talking about the easyJet seat release, Martin Lewis described it as “the most predictable time to get cheap flights” – which means there’s likely to be a sharp increase in flight prices.

In its last release, which was in March, millions of seats were available for holidays in winter 2027, including February half-term.

Some of its deals included one-way flights to Paris from London Gatwick from £31.99.

There were also flights to Agadir in Morocco from London Gatwick on February 23, 2027, for £37.99 one-way.

Butlin’s has created a new high-tech solution to avoid the issue of bar queues, and it means you can enjoy many of your favourite alcoholic and soft drinks in just a few seconds

Butlin’s has announced a huge change to the way holidaymakers can order a drink at its three resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead, and Skegness, and it’s already in place for guests visiting this summer.

The popular holiday park firm, which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, has rolled out over 100 self-serve bars across its three sites, which it claims makes it the first in Europe to offer these kinds of bars for guests.

The technology, developed by Boxbars in a £1 million investment by Butlin’s, means there’s much less queuing for drinks, and guests can enjoy a soft or alcoholic drink in as little as six seconds.

The new self-serve bars will be available for both family and Big Weekender breaks, and will offer a huge range of beverages for all the family including branded beers, ciders, and spirits, as well as kid-friendly favourites.

More than 20 options will be available at the touch of a button including pints of Madri and Guinness, Smirnoff with mixers, and cocktails including the brand’s very own Butlin’s On The Beach, which is a mixture of vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and orange juice, and is reportedly the most popular option across the resorts for All Inclusive guests.

A statement from Butlin’s says the new bars will “help guests get served faster and spend less time queuing”, claiming that “the new technology has the potential to pour hundreds of drinks every minute across the three resorts”.

Guests will either be able to scan their All Inclusive wristband to dispense their drink, or can use contactless payment to quickly pay for their round. Butlin’s confirmed that bars will still be open as usual for guests who’d rather order in person.

Butlin’s launched its all inclusive drink package back in 2024, costing from £25.95 per adult per day, which includes alcoholic drinks such as draught beers, spirits and cocktails from 11am, and all-day Costa coffee and soft drinks across the parks.

Heidi Watson, from Butlin’s said: “This is an exciting first for Butlin’s. Everything we do is about improving the guest experience and our new Boxbar Self-Serve Bars will make a real difference to guests on a family break or a Big Weekender.

“Open in time for the school summer holidays, the bars are designed to reduce wait times and make it quicker and easier for guests to get a drink. This means less time queuing and more time enjoying their holiday with family and friends.”

Earlier this year Butlin’s announced new bookable karaoke pods, which groups of up to 12 people could hire for an exciting sing-along experience. Hiring the pods costs £36, and once inside visitors can choose from 45,000 chart-topping hits and throwback songs, allowing them to enjoy a private sing-song with friends and family as part of their Butlin’s break.

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Comedian Chris Ramsey, who previously competed on Strictly Come Dancing, has reportedly signed up for the upcoming celebrity edition of BBC hit series Gladiators

Chris Ramsey has reportedly signed up for Celebrity Gladiators. The comedian, 39, could be about to join the star-studded lineup of an upcoming special of the BBC hit.

All hosted by father-and-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, the celebrity edition of their Saturday night series has previously other big names from the comedy world and now it’s thought that Chris, who around his stand up career has competed on Strictly Come Dancing and previously hosted The Chris and Rosie Ramsey show with his wife, is about to enter the strength-endurance game.

A source said: “They love having a comedian on Celebrity Gladiators to ramp up the fun factor, which is why they’ve always tried to sign someone like Chris.

Speaking to The Sun, the source added: “Previous names have included stand up stars Rob Beckett and Joel Dommett who were on the first ever series of the spin-off show in 2024, and they certainly delivered on laughs.”

The outlet previously reported that YouTube star George Clarke, who reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing last year, had also signed up to appear on the programme, along with Big Brother host AJ Odudu.

Both the celebrity edition and the non-celebrity edition will commence production at Sheffield sometime soon, although whilst the regular edition of is expected to air in 2027, the star-studded special is normally broadcast over the festive period.

It’s thought that Bradley and Barney will be back to front the next series as well as the special edition of their programme, which serves as a revival of the 1990s classic, just like they did last year when fitness coach Joe Wicks and I’m A Celebrity… star Vogue Williams reigned supreme when the episode aired on Christmas Day.

The pair succeeded after facing off against other celebrities, Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson and boxing champ Nicola Adams. After winning, Joe, 40, explained that he was truly challenged by the physicality of the special.

He said: “Even though I had a bit of a breather, I still found that travelator hard. It’s much harder doing it in real life than watching it on TV. I’m really chuffed that I won but I have to say Sam has been an amazing partner.”

In defeat, Sam remained gracious and laughed about the self appointed Gladiators name he had awarded himself. He told the Utilita Arena in Sheffield: “El Cockroacho, baby – you can’t stamp him out!”

Meanwhile, Vogue, who won after only being two-hundredths of a second ahead of her opponent Nicola, gushed: “I honestly cannot believe it, I’ve had the best day ever. The crowd when I was doing so badly were so nice to me so thank you.”

And the Olympic gold medallist said in defeat: “I came down on the zipline and landed funny on my ankle and I just couldn’t get it going again. This is the first silver medal I’ve had!”

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Some 270,000 people have been forced to evacuate parts of Western France and central Spain – while a major incident has been declared in the Cairngorms National Park

British holidaymakers have described running for their lives just yards from a raging wildfire.

The terrifying scenes come as 270,000 people have been forced to flee as blazes continue to rip through parts of Southern Europe. Fire crews on Saturday were braced to drop fire-busting chemicals from a cargo plane in the Gironde region in Western France, where an inferno has been roaring since Wednesday.

And with the wind direction shifting, officials fear the flames are moving dangerously close to the nearby city of Bordeaux. Authorities have ordered people between the fire and the city to evacuate, including from parts of western suburbs and other towns and villages.

The French military have been drafted in to help and the Spanish government has declared a national emergency. Among those caught up was Brit David Morton and his family, who came within 500 yards of the main fire in Cap Ferret peninsula.

He said: “The flames were higher than full-size forest pine trees, so five or six storeys high, and it was clear this was a fire that was out of control at that point. Our phones were all flashing and bleeping; there was a message saying we had to evacuate immediately and drive on the one road out of the [Cap Ferret] peninsula. We literally threw everything into our suitcases and within 15 minutes were in the hire car.”

Zac Morrison, 21, described similarly dramatic scenes. We had the gendarmerie [French military] going door to door – it was something like out of a movie – we had to take everything,” said Zac, from London. “Other people have been sleeping in schools and warehouses and the beaches have had people just waiting for the go ahead – there’s people on the beach here with their suitcases. I’ve heard about houses burning in just an hour, it’s scary but sadly people here are getting used to it.”

Other Brits have moved to different areas in France to continue their hols. Mark Dorey, from Leeds, decided to drive to the Dordogne with his wife and three children after being evacuated from a campsite near Parentis-en-Born. He said: “You wouldn’t believe it, but me and my two boys were watching a Queen tribute act at the campsite bar – straight after a rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody someone stopped them to say we were being evacuated at about 10pm.

While the wildfires show no sign of slowing, the Foreign Office last night chose not to impose warings against travel to France or Spain. France’s minister for international partnerships Éléonore Caroit told tourists: “You have entire areas that are fine, you’re seeing similar phenomena in Spain and other countries.

“I’m in Paris and nothing is happening, and most other regions are OK, so do please come to France and do not cancel your travel plans. But wherever you are, please do be advised as to what might be happening.”

In Madrid the fires are in the wider region far outside the city centre – and authorities are battling to stop different fires merging. But the flames have already shut down a facility for US space agency Nasa 37 miles west of the Spanish capital. The city’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso said it was the “worst fire in the history of the region.”

Successive heat waves with record-shattering temperatures have turned forests and scrublands into tinderboxes. Fires have burned 130,000 hectares of forest already this year in Spain, an area the size of Rome.

Other European nations are stepping into help, with Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia already providing water-dumping planes and helicopters to the Spanish and French fire fronts.

Things are burning closer to home too, as emergency services continue to battle a blaze in the Cairngorms National Park. The fire has now been declared a major incident, and smoke could be seen 59 miles away in Aberdeen.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said it is “essential people avoid the affected areas,” adding: “The wind has changed direction overnight, which means the track of the fire has altered once again and the threat to Nethy Bridge has reduced, for the moment at least. Ground and helicopter resources are being focused on the current path of the fire and new fire breaks constructed.”

Coronation Street’s Sarah Platt confessed to police that she killed Theo Silverton – but has claimed that it was in self-defence and viewers have spotted a “problem” ahead of a potential twist

Coronation Street’s Sarah Platt confessed to police that she killed Theo Silverton – but has claimed that it was in self-defence. The legendary soap character, who has been played by Tina O’Brien since 1999, beat the scaffolder over the head and sent him tumbling from the builder’s yard roof earlier this year.

It all came just moments after Theo whole load of derogatory remarks towards her but the pair were already enemies because she knew that he had subjected her best friend Todd Grimshaw to horrific abuse during their relationship.

Viewers will know that, on that fateful night, Sarah, who is currently dating DC Kit Green, called her ex-boyfriend Gary for help before heading home and being hit on the head and knocked out cold by the mysterious Jodie Ramsey .

In the weeks after Sarah confessed to Kit, he has been doing everything he can to try to get her off the hook and pin the blame on Gary, but she is currently in prison and has been charged with murder.

On Friday night’s episode of the world’s longest-running TV soap, Sarah was interviewed by DS Lisa Swain, who usually locks innocent people up, and she didn’t quite believe her story.

Sarah told her: “I barely remember calling Gary. He answered the phone. And I realised how crazy I was being. OK, fine, I did – I wanted to tell him what I’d done. And then the second… that I heard his voice. I realised that I couldn’t let him get involved and ask for his help!” Sarah then tried to explain the phone call, to no avail, and Lisa was very interested to know what she did with the murder weapon – which Gary disposed of – and the factory supervisor simply claimed she couldn’t remember.

Over in the Rovers, Lisa and Kit sat having a casual chat about the murder investigation and she told him that Sarah clearly didn’t think much of him if she called her ex-boyfriend rather than him. Whilst on the phone in her cell, Sarah told Kit that she couldn’t possibly bring Gary into it – much to her partner’s frustration.

It was then that Sarah attempted to split up with Kit on the phone, for his sake, but he was having none of it. She said to him: “Just look after Harry and Bethany for me,” but when Kit mentioned Jodie, Sarah was quick to warn him that she is a “dangerous” woman and he needs to keep away from her.

The scenes certainly sparked a reaction amongst fans, with some theorising that Sarah didn’t actually kill Theo after all.

One fan wrote on X: “Sarah’s finally told someone about Jodie being the person who hit her on the head that night. So, now Kit knows, I’m wondering if he will frame Jodie as Theo’s real killer? But, Sarah having the nerve to call Jodie dangerous, while on remand for murder, is peak irony”

Another said: “I think Sarah didn’t kill Theo. I think he was battered whey he lay unconscious… possibly by his son? I also feel the story of the life insurance is going somewhere.”

In response, a third said: “It would mean overturning the autopsy report, which stated Theo was dead before he fell. Corrie have hade a problem there, if they wanted a second killer. Otherwise, I would also go with Millie or Miles. And, I would like Todd to get the life insurance back. He’s earned it!”

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X.

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Sam Dimond, owner of event production company Spotlight Sound, said he had lost his livelihood in the fire. The headquarters of his business was based on the industrial site.

He said: “It’s gone, basically. Lots and lots of people have lost their livelihoods. We’ve got customers to serve, we’ve got employees that have a job, and at the minute they don’t have a place of work to go back to.”

Locals reported hearing the explosion on Friday afternoon.

Adrian Walker, 46, from Ashingdon, said: “The ground shook, buildings shook, windows rattled, birds flew off – and I am 15 miles away.

“I’ve never heard anything like it. At first, I thought it was the MoD in Shoeburyness trying out some new ordnance, but it was heard and felt for miles around.”

A BELOVED play area in Kent is set to open next week after months of closure.

The largest free playground in the south east has undergone an enormous upgrade and now has a new climbing frame, slides, swings and picnic tables.

The playground at the Lower Leas Coastal Park between Folkestone and Sandgate has been undergoing a £750,000 revamp since April.

Part of the area was forced to close much earlier in 2024 due to a landslip.

The local council announced its reopening on social media: “The exciting new Lower Leas Coastal Park play area has taken an extra week longer than planned, but we’re looking good for an opening by Friday 31 July.

“Details about an official launch event with free goodies on Tuesday 4 August will be announced very soon.

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“With £750,000 invested in the first major refurbishment of the district’s flagship play area since the year 2000, we’re excited to unveil this fantastic new space and help make the rest of your summer one to remember.”

In the comments, one local wrote: “Our kids love this park can’t wait to see it!”

Images have shown construction on the playground is almost complete and it will have a huge wooden climbing frame with at least two slides, rope ladders and swings.

Dotted around the outside will be picnic tables with buggy and cycle parking.

Proludic Ltd led the scheme to upgrade what is described as the south east’s largest free adventure playground.

Aside from the play area, the Coastal Park also has a formal garden and a peaceful wildlife zone.

Work to fully reopen the playground began in April of this year after cliff stabilisation work was completed following landslides.

The previous play area which had wooden towers, slide and ziplines had been there since 2000.

Talking about plans for the playground earlier in the year, the local council said it will have “more inclusive elements than ever before in the south east’s largest free adventure playground, an exciting new era is now just around the corner.”