island

A funeral was held for the victims of last week’s US strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island, where a couple and their two-year-old child were killed. Iran’s chief negotiator and parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, vowed the US would “pay the price” for their deaths.

The five-star KOIA All-Suite Wellbeing Resort on Kos, Greece, is a world away from the party scene – and rooms start from £220 a night

Like countless Brits, my initial encounter with the Greek island came via an 18-30 holiday. I recall cheap cocktails, sticky dancefloors and a hotel where staff flat-out refused to hand out more than one deflated pillow per guest. It was enjoyable in that uniquely carefree way only your early twenties can deliver, but I’d mentally categorised Kos with the other party islands I’d ticked off and left behind.

So when the invitation arrived to return this summer, I’ll confess my expectations were modest. I certainly wasn’t anticipating discovering one of the most peaceful hotels I’ve ever stayed in.

Situated high above the Aegean Sea, KOIA All-Suite Wellbeing Resort feels like it exists on an entirely separate island. There’s no thumping music poolside, no inflatable flamingoes floating about and definitely no wristbands.

Instead, it offered supreme luxury through serene infinity pools, premium dining and wellness experiences – all at a sensible price point, reports OK!.

Stay in style

Launched in 2023, the five-star adults-only sanctuary boasts just 51 suites, meaning it never feels overcrowded, even at full capacity. Built into the hillside overlooking Agios Fokas, roughly a 12-minute drive from Kos Town, the resort draws inspiration from the ancient wisdom of Hippocrates, who was born on the island, with wellbeing woven into every aspect.

Suites span from pared-back Cave Suites to more generous Sea View Suites featuring private infinity pools or outdoor whirlpools, all styled in soothing neutral shades, natural stone and timber. The appeal of the hotel lies in the fact that every suite provides full or partial vistas across the Aegean, meaning there’s genuinely no disappointing room.

Thoughtful details such as a pillow menu, rainfall showers, smart-controlled blinds and room-service dining choices really reinforce the sense of ‘private luxury’. In terms of facilities, there are two pools – one indoors within the spa and a main pool – plus a gym.

The food

Despite there being just one restaurant, Thyme, I never found myself craving additional dining choices, which speaks volumes about how exceptional the food was. For breakfast, a generous buffet featuring local fruit, pastries and made-to-order dishes can be savoured with uninterrupted sea vistas.

Come evening, Thyme becomes an elegant à la carte restaurant showcasing Mediterranean cuisine with seasonal ingredients, fresh seafood and regional wines. I’m not exaggerating when I say I requested the shrimp linguine four times.

Lunch is also available there, but with a completely different menu from evenings, offering plenty of variety through fancy sandwiches and grilled options. Throughout the day, my book and I set up camp at the pool bar for iced coffees between dips, before relocating to the sophisticated Elixir Bar at sunset, where cocktails are served with a backdrop of one of the finest views on the island.

What’s on

If you need more than a pool and a good book to keep you occupied, the carefully curated range of activities on offer are well worth booking in advance. From open-air morning yoga overlooking the glittering sea to a traditional baking class with Thyme’s head chef, there’s plenty to keep you busy.

I headed to the hotel’s Ydor Spa (on the one overcast day we had) and relished the chance to privately hire the Himalayan salt room and sauna cabin before treating myself to a full body massage. I’d also highly recommend the floating breakfast experience. I’ve never consumed so much food in a single morning, and there truly is nothing more delightful than chasing your strawberries as they drift across your private pool.

Further afield

Reception can point you towards hiking trails leading to the medieval ruins of Palio Pyli or the summit of Mount Díkaios, where breathtaking sunset views from the island’s highest peak make the climb thoroughly worthwhile. Kos Town offers an entirely different tempo, boasting Roman landmarks such as the beautifully preserved Odeon of Kos and Casa Romana, alongside some superb tavernas to dine at. If you have a hire car, venture out to the island’s thermal springs, located at the northern tip of the island at Therma Beach, where the seawater bubbles.

Why I’ll be returning

It’s uncommon to experience a genuine sense of magic from a hotel, yet that’s precisely what I encountered here. A tranquil retreat, ideal for those seeking respite from the hustle and bustle.

Perhaps the greatest revelation was discovering it on an island I’d previously dismissed as a party destination. Its intimate size lends itself to a wonderfully personal level of service, and within just a few days, the staff already knew my preferred morning coffee and favourite sunbed spot. Worth noting too – from August 2026, guests can also look forward to a brand-new Greek restaurant, a second pool and newly added suites.

Book it

A Junior Suite with Sea View and Hot Tub starts from £220 per night, and a Sea View Suite with Private Pool starts from £256 with breakfast included. Book via koiaresort.com to make the most of offers like complimentary airport transfers. Half board and full board dining also available. Flights to Kos from major UK airports operate daily May-October with return pricing from around £60.

THERE’S nothing worse than looking forward to your summer holiday, arriving at the airport and then being told your flight is cancelled.

And now the worst flight routes for cancellations have been announced, with some of the most popular holiday hotspots coming out on top.

According to new analysis of flight data by AirAdvisor, flights between London’s key hubs and Majorca and Ibiza are most likely to be cancelled this summer.

The study looked at routes between the UK and European airports that had more than 100 flights scheduled per month.

Coming out on top is the route between London Luton and Ibiza with a cancellation rate of 5.56 per cent between June 1 and August 31.

London Heathrow to Majorca came up second worst for cancellations, at a rate of 1.6 per cent.

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Rounding out the top three is London Gatwick to Lisbon in Portugal, with a cancellation rate of 1.43 per cent.

In fact, out of the routes with the most cancellations 10 out of the top 12 are from London airports.

Bristol to Málaga came in seventh worst for cancellations, at 1.2 per cent.

This route was followed by Birmingham to Palma de Majorca, at 1.02 per cent.

Overall, four of the top 10 routes from the UK with the highest cancellation rates are to Majorca.

More than two million Brits travel to Majorca during the peak summer season, with the airport also being one of the busiest airports in Europe.

According to AirAdvisor, so far this summer 36 of 1050 flights departing from Gatwick and Heathrow airports heading to Majorca have been cancelled – which is around 3.44 per cent.

Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor said: “Cancellation risk on UK routes to Europe is not spread evenly, and this summer the Balearics are carrying a bigger share of the risk than anywhere else.

“That’s worth understanding before you travel, because a cancellation is not just a long wait at the gate. You lose your slot. Same-day options dry up quickly.

“And from that point on, the airline decides what happens next, not you.

“Under UK261, if you’re told your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure, you may be entitled to between £220 and £520 in compensation, depending on how far you were flying.”

THERE’S no doubt that Spanish islands are popular and soon you will be able to fly to one with British Airways for the first time, from the UK’s biggest airport.

BA is launching flights between London Heathrow Airport and Fuerteventura Airport in the Canary Islands from winter 2026.

Starting December 13, the flights will take off twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays.

Thursday departures will leave Heathrow at 7:05am, arriving into Fuerteventura at 11:30am.

The return flight will then leave Fuerteventura at 12:30pm and arrive back at Heathrow at 4:50pm.

Then the Sunday departure will take off at 10:05am from Heathrow and return from Fuerteventura at 3:40pm.

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The route will replace British Airways‘ Euroflyer route which was planned between London Gatwick Airport and Fuerteventura.

And it will be the first time the airline flies direct to the destination from Heathrow.

Fuerteventura boasts more than 3,000 hours of sunshine every year and compared to the other popular Canary Islands spots such as Tenerife and Lanzarote, it is more affordable.

In fact, Fuerteventura holiday packages can be between 30 per cent and 40 per cent cheaper during peak periods compared to higher-demand spots, like Tenerife.

Fuerteventura is the Canary Islands’ second largest island and when exploring you can head to a number of beaches including Sotavento Beach and Playa de Cofete.

If with the family, there is also Acua Water Park, which boasts a number of waterslides as well as a wave pool and a lazy river.

The island is home to Corralejo Natural Park too, which is ideal for keen hikers wanting to discover the volcanic landscape.

THIS is the moment reality TV star Samie Elishi was escorted off the Love Island set by security after being banned from watching the final.

The 26-year-old, who originally appeared on season nine of the ITV show, flew out to Majorca to watch her man Tyrique Hyde on the last episode of Aftersun.

But, after spending hours getting glammed up for the “special day” she was refused entry into the villa.

In a video posted to her TikTok, Samie could be seen filming behind the cameras and production crew as she approached the set.

She filmed stunning Love Island host Maya Jama and her beau Ty all ready to film before things “took a turn for the worst.”

“We got told that we weren’t actually allowed to watch the show,” confessed Samie.

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“Before everyone in the comments starts asking why, we don’t know why we had no explanation.

“The three of us [her, Harry Cooksley and Kane Ruddach] did actually have seats in the audience but they just got taken away, escorted, back to the holding villa.”

She continued: “God knows how I managed it but I got the show up on my phone, found a place with actually good signal and watched from my phone on a tripod.

Samie explained that while “it wasn’t quite” how they expected to spend their evening “Ty did amazing as always.”

The Love Island alum was banned from watching the final Aftersun alongside the partners of the other panelists – Shakira Khan and Joe Baggs.

Samie and Tyrique began dating back in March just weeks after she returned from Love Island All Stars in South Africa.

They were first spotted together at a Baller League match but The Sun revealed they had actually been out on a string of dates before then.

The loved up couple have since been on multiple holidays, barely leaving each other’s sides after going Instagram official.

Samie has publicly been a big supporter of Ty’s career, cheering on his Aftersun gig and his daily Love Island themed streams.

However Shanahan’s decision paid off in the pool, and she was seen fighting back tears after securing silver on Friday night.

Having been inspired by seeing Hannah Miley in action at the 2014 Games, Shanahan told BBC Scotland News she hoped future generations might have be likewise inspired by watching her in the pool this time around.

“I’ve always said that if I can inspire the next generation of athletes coming through, then my job has been done,” she explained.

“I know after 2014 watching Hannah I felt inspired, and it would be nice to think that maybe there’s some younger girls watching the 200m backstroke this time, and maybe they’ll get into swimming from it.”

She joked that the main problem since last Friday was finding the time to get back to various friends and well-wishers sending her messages to congratulate her.

“I’m so grateful for the support, and with it being a home Games it feels like that support has been ramped up a bit, which is so nice to experience.”

Love Island’s 2026 summer of love has come to an end, with Julia and Lorenzo taking £50,000 home after the public voted them as the winners

Love Island‘s 2026 winners have been crowned. Lorenzo Alessi and Julia Majchrzak were voted the winners by the public, taking home £50,000 between the two of them. The final aired on Monday 27 July.

Julia and Lorenzo went up against Jasmine Muller and Kavan Murphy for the title and it was the former who took home the crown. It came after Simba Kudyiwa and Angelista Gunda bagged a third place finish.

The winners looked stunned after their name was called, but it was a well received decision from the live audience and former islanders alike, with Lorenzo being lofted up high by his villa pals.

But despite loud cheers from the crowd, not all fans online were impressed. One user on X fumed: “Such an awful love island uk finale. love island usa may have had awful production, people, and couples too but they went off with the final dates & the audience went off with crowning brinity the winners #loveislanduk #loveisland.”

Another added: “I already said what I said: the winners of love island uk this year are AWFUL. y’all just failed this season.” And a third said: “the final is the worst episode of Love Island, it’s always boring, they need a to rethink it and maybe go down a big brother route.”

Going into the final, there were four couples who could have taken the crown: Jasmine and Kavan, Lorenzo and Julia, Simba and Angelista and Yasmin Hadlow and Tommy Stagg. But a twist in the game meant Yasmin and Tommy were dumped before the show went live.

On Sunday night, after Mica Harris and Samraj Toor were axed by their series’ dumped Islanders, it was revealed that the pair would be allowed to pick another couple to leave with them.

Knowing what was at stake, Samraj vowed not to make his decision based on who he was friends with. As such, though many fans predicted that the couple’s arguments with Julia would mean she and Lorenzo would be dumped, it was Yasmin and Tommy who went instead.

The remaining couples were fairly strong. Simba and Angelista had mostly been together since Simba entered as a bombshell. Though he returned from Casa Amor with Mara, leaving Angelista single, he soon decided to get back with the OG Islander and won her over with a poem.

Meanwhile, Jasmine and Kavan have been together for weeks. Kavan also returned from Casa with a bombshell, Charleen Murphy, but he and Jasmine got back together as well, after Kavan saw just how hurt Jasmine was by his actions. Though some fans have been hoping she and Lorenzo, her original partner would get back together, and rumours of an ‘affair’ had swirled around the villa, former Islanders have said that Jasmine and Kavan are head over heels for each other.

Likewise, Sean Fitzgerald told Maya Jama on Aftersun that Julia and Lorenzo were well suited to each other. The two became a favourite to win after returning from Casa, not just because Lorenzo was a one of the public’s favourite boys, but because they felt Julia hadn’t been treated well by the other Islanders.

This came amid a feud with Lola Deal, who objected to how Julia flirted with Sean during Casa. Shortly afterwards, Julia and Lorenzo were voted favourite couple. They were given the opportunity to dump a couple, but Lola and Sean decided to volunteer to be dumped.

This was the 13th series of Love Island. Last year’s winners Toni Laites and Cach Mercer have since split, but have gone on to feature in other reality series. Toni has taken a role on new Love Island spin off The Debrief, providing commentary on the main show, while Cach will appear on Strictly Come Dancing later this year.

The show is expected to return in January for an All Stars addition, which could include some Islanders from this season. Earlier this summer, All Stars winners Tom Clare and Molly Smith married after meeting on series two of the spin off.

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Love Island All Stars has been confirmed to return in 2027 and it remains to be seen which of the latest series might give the villa life another go in South Africa

The latest Love Island winner might have just been announced, but some fans aren’t ready to let the reality TV fun leave us. With Julia and Lorenzo being crowned this year’s winner, they have high hopes they won’t have to feature in the upcoming All Stars offering.

But for others, they could be chomping at the bit to head to the South African series and give love – or drama – another go. And it might only be months away after bosses revealed its return.

The last All Stars cast took to the South African villa on Monday 13 January, and it’s expected the next edition will be at a similar time next year.

One bombshell that has already been tipped to appear from the current line-up is Dublin-based social media influencer Charleen Murphy. She entered the ITV2 dating programme during the Casa Amor phase of the current series, but despite making it into the main villa, her link-up with Kavan wasn’t strong enough to continue.

Viewers were shocked when Kent-based Kavan experienced a swift change of heart on his return to the main villa and almost immediately broke things off with Charleen when choosing to recouple with Jasmine at the first opportunity.

Geordie bombshell Tommy revealed in the live final that he had already been making moves outside the villa with Charleen, but it seems as though she might have her eyes on another shot at villa life. And it wouldn’t be a surprise if Tommy followed her after a drama-filled stint of his own.

In this year’s All Stars, villa hopefuls headed to the show for six weeks instead of five. Speaking on the renewal at the time, Mike Spencer-Hayter, Creative Director at Lifted Entertainment, said: “Love Island: All Stars has quickly established itself as a stand-alone hit, keeping fans of the show gripped by iconic Islanders from the past 10 years returning for another chance to find love.

“We are very excited about series 3, and you can expect the twists and turns to continue in All Stars, after an incredible smash hit summer series.”

The season saw Samie Elishi and Ciaran Davies, but sadly the relationship didn’t work on the outside.

And while we know All Stars is set to grace the small screen again, it remains to be seen whether Maya Jama will be presenting it once again. Maya took over from Laura Whitmore in 2022, but speaking to Deadline, the TV host was open and honest about her potential Love Island future.

She said: “I never know. I never decide if I’m doing the next series until the end of one. So it’s fake news that I’m leaving, but I always decide at the end of a series if I’m going to continue the next year. So we’ll find out.”

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It may sometimes seem like people only go on Love Island to become influencers, but the show has consistently created long-lasting relationships and even resulted in some babies! Here’s every couple who are still together after Love Island…

Season 2

Cara de la Hoyde and Nathan Massey are now married with two children, but due to a brief break, their co-stars Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen take the crown as the couple to have been together the longest. They are also married with two children.

Season 3

The third season also saw two couples stay together. Jamie Jewitt and Camilla Thurlow are married with three children, while Jess Shears and Dom Lever are married with two.

Season 5

Perhaps Love Island’s most famous couple, Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae are still together. They recently welcomed their second child, Midas, who joins their toddler Bambi in the Fury dynasty.

Season 9

Winners Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan went exclusive whilst in te villa nd have remained together, marrying in 2025. Their co-stars Jessie Wynter and Will Young are also engaged.

All Stars 1

The most recent Love Island newly weds are Molly Smith and Tom Clare, who met on All Stars and won the show. The pair married in July 2026. This marks Molly’s second serious Love Island romance, as she and co-star Callum Jones were together for four years.

Also meeting on All Stars, Sophie Piper and Josh Ritchie are still together as well.

Season 11

Uma Jammeh left the villa to be with Wil Anderson when he was dumped and this proved to be a good decision as she and Wil are now engaged!

All Stars 2

Luca Bish and Grace Jackson met on All Stars 2 and though they had a rough time on the show, they are still together.

Season 12

Three couples are still together from season 12 – Ty Isherwood and Angel Swift, Harry Cooksley and Shakira Khan and Megan Forte Clarke and Conor Phillips.

All Stars 3

Sean and Lucinda, despite being labelled fake on the show, are one of the only ones from All Stars 3 to still be together. Scott Van-Der-Sluis and Leanne Amaning are also still together, as are Whitney Adebayo and Yamen Sanders.

And of course, a special shout out to Lucie Donlan and Luke Mabbott, who were not on the same series but got together later and are now married!

THE detective series Bergerac has returned to screens and in turn has been showing off a beautiful island less than one hour away from the UK.

The series filmed in Jersey has been showcasing its Caribbean-like beaches and pretty capital, St Helier.

The reboot of the 80s detective series starring Damien Molony as Jim Bergerac actually returned last year.

But it’s set to reach a ‘wider audience’ having dropped all six episodes of the first series on BBC iPlayer a few days ago.

The island of Jersey, where the majority of scenes were filmed, is now expecting a surge in visitors.

Visit Jersey Chief Executive Tricia Warwick said: “The series has already impactfully raised Jersey’s profile as a visitor destination, and this new platform means even more viewers will discover our island’s stunning landscapes and unique locations for themselves.

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“We look forward to warmly welcoming them to Jersey.”

The Channel Island is a true gem of a place and has previously even been named one of the world’s best islands by Conde Nast Traveller.

While it’s less than an hour from the UK, it feels worlds away, mostly thanks to its Caribbean-looking beaches.

Across its 130 miles of coastline are exotic spots from Beauport Beach, Portelet Bay to Plémont Bay.

Many beaches, like St Brelade’s Bay, are also lined with palm trees, which gives them a tropical feel.

The island’s capital, St Helier, is also home to Havre des Pas Bathing Pool, a tidal lido that fills up with seawater at high tide.

Not only is it a sought-after swim spot with some calling it a ‘good old-fashioned lido’, but it also has an open kitchen, dance floor, stage and a balcony that looks over the pool.

St Helier is also a prime spot for shopping at Royal Square, King Street and its indoor market on Halkett Street.

The first series of Bergerac which aired between 1981 and 1991 starring John Nettles was filmed in Jersey.

Head of Sun Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire visited the island a few years ago. She said: “If I told you there’s an island an hour’s flight from the UK, with a Caribbean-like coastline, that gets summer quicker than England and you don’t need a passport – you’d think I was pulling your leg.

“But such a unicorn does exist in the English Channel: Jersey.

“When my family and I visited earlier this year, every beach was outstanding, the weather glorious, the food a fantastic hybrid of French and English tastes.”

Caroline headed to Plémont Beach in the north which had “clearest turquoise waters” but she also visited St Ouen’s Bay and Le Braye bistro which is right on the beachfront.

Other popular activities include dolphin-spotting boat rides and exploring its secret tunnels that were used in World War Two.

Luckily for Brits, Jersey is less than an hour away by plane.

The route departing from Southampton to Jersey Airport in Saint Peter takes 50-minutes.

For those who aren’t fussed about getting there quickly, another route to the island is by ferry.

Condor Ferries offers routes from Poole, and Portsmouth to St Helier which take between four and a half to 10 hours.

BRITS heading to Spain in the next few weeks have been warned of upcoming strikes which could cause travel chaos.

Staff at Palma Airport are preparing strike action across the next two weeks.

There are multiple walkouts being held by different unions at the airport which start from today.

The first strikes are by those working in technical maintenance, ground equipment and airport infrastructure roles which will stage 24-hour walkouts.

These are being planned by three unions which start today until July 30.

Swissport, which is a leading company for airport ground services and air cargo handling, has also planned strike action starting on July 28 as well as August 1, 4 and 8.

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On these days ground staff will walk out between 7am to 12pm, then again from 7pm to 10pm.

The airport has warned there to be major disruption tomorrow when a key pinch point is on Tuesday when both sets of workers will walk out at the same time.

Airlines affected by the Swissport ground handlers’ dispute include TUI.

But others could be affected too, as a statement from the airport said that “its impact will stretch beyond Swissport-handled airlines”.

Popular airlines taking Brits to the island include Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2.

The airport said: “Large-scale airport strikes can occasionally create a minor knock-on effect. If Swissport-served flights experience delays at the gates, it can sometimes lead to localised congestion on the tarmac or minor delays at security control.”

It continued: “That said, any disruption for non-Swissport passengers is expected to be minimal.”

The airport did then add that the impact for passengers is likely to be “longer waiting times” and delays due to “operational bottlenecks.”

But added that “widespread cancellations are unlikely”.

Delays are likely to be at check-in and bag drop locations before departure, as well as passengers boarding during the morning and evening.

On the strike, a TUI spokesperson said: “We are aware of planned industrial action affecting airline operators at Palma airport.

“At this stage, we do not anticipate any disruption to our customers. However, we are working closely with our local teams and airport partners to minimise any potential impact.

“As always, we will proactively update our guests if there are any changes to their itinerary. Customers should continue to check their flight details as usual before travelling.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair told Sun Travel that it will “operate as normal” with “no impact to operations”.

easyJet also said its flights will be operating as normal.

Palma Airport is one of Spain’s busiest during the summer season.

According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, the Majorca Hoteliers Federation has said that 2.2million Brits travelled to Majorca last year and this summer it will be even more.

With Entry/Exit System (EES) being implemented, it’s possible there could be longer queues due to registration for Brits too.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

Love Island fans have been rooting for one couple since day one of the 2026 summer season – but they got dumped on the eve of the final and were forced to take out another couple with them

Love Island viewers shocked by a brutal penultimate episode twist that cost two couples a place in the final. The 2026 season of ITV’s long-running reality romance show has been airing since the beginning of June.

But the thirteenth season of the ITV show has proved to be very unlucky for two loved up couples – who were brutally ditched from the villa the day before the live final meaning they lost all hope of scooping the £50,000 Love Island prize. For one couple, it was a real stinger – as they had made it all the way through the past two months of couplings, uncoulpings and dumpings – only to fall at the last hurdle.

Mica Harris, 21, from Barbados, and 25-year-old Samraj Toor, from Birmingham, coupled up on day one of the 2026 summer season but were told their Love Island dream was over in scenes that aired on Sunday night. But a cruel twist meant they weren’t the only pair to lose out on a place in the final.

At the beginning of the episode, the former couples from the season returned to the Villa to reveal which couple each of them thought didn’t deserve a place in the final. After the majority decided on Mica and Samraj, the deflated couple began to say their goodbyes and prepared to leave.

However, the crushed duo then received a text message while packing up their things that told them that only three couples could advance to the live final, and they had the terrible task of picking one other couple to get booted from the Island before the final.

And in an even more agonising twist for viewers, the episode ended before Mica and Samraj’s decision was aired. Fans of the show are now waiting in fear that their favourite couples might not make it to the final after all.

One commented on X: “If they choose Julia & Lorenzo I’m boycotting the final, this twist is dumb.” And another raged: “I hate this production move because Simba/Angelista or Julia/Lorenzo might be in jeopardy smh.”

Indeed, some viewers have accused Love Island bosses of trying to fix the finale by granting Mica and Smaraj a veto over who gets to make it to the end.

One wrote: “This plot twist was actually to help Jasmine and Kavan secure their spot in the finals over Julia and Lorenzo I don’t want to hear about who the producers favor anymore cause it’s clear.”

And another argued: “It makes zero sense to give Samraj and Mica a say in who reaches the final when the public has repeatedly voted them into the bottom. The logic just isn’t there…”

Love Island 2026 will reach a climax on Monday 27 July – airing on ITV2 and via ITVX from 9pm.

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The summer sun has set on “Love Island USA” fan favorites Olandria and Nic Vansteenberghe‘s romance, a year after their time on the hit series.

People, citing an unnamed source, reported on Wednesday that the pair of reality TV stars — known among fans as “Nicolandria” — agreed to go their separate ways. The outlet reported that the amicable split comes as “the distance between them and their busy schedules made it challenging to maintain their connection.” The “Love Island USA” Season 7 stars remain friends and “will always support one another.”

Neither of the stars have publicly addressed their separation on social media.

Olandria and Vansteenberghe entered the “Love Island USA” villa in Fiji in June 2025 and officially coupled up weeks into the production. “Love Island USA,” the American version of the U.K. series, streams on Peacock and follows a cast of singles as they search for love and test their connections. Olandria and Vansteenberghe were among a handful of day-one contestants who advanced to the competition’s final episode.

The pair were runners-up to winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales.

Since leaving the villa together, “Nicolandria” have taken their relationship into the real world, to Glamour Magazine and to numerous brand deals. Olandria has become a staple at red carpet events including the VMAs, CFDA Fashion Awards and the Golden Globes.

Amid their post-”Love Island USA” fame, Olandria and Vansteenberghe spoke candidly to Glamour about handling the newfound deluge of popularity, demand and fan love — and how they support each other through it.

“It’s so draining. We always have check-ins, like, ‘How’s your mental? How are you today? I’m always here,’” Olandria recalled to the magazine. “I wish we didn’t have to do that as much as we had to. Thank God we’ve got each other, because I don’t know what we would do without each other, literally, when it comes to that.”

Vansteenberghe said elsewhere in the interview: “Everything that came from [“Love Island USA”] is so beautiful and amazing. I feel like that’s why we did well. We enjoyed ourselves and had fun with it.”

“Love Island USA” crowned its latest winning couple earlier this month. Fan favorites and day-one contestants Bryce and Trinity were declared winners and won the $100,000 grand prize, after a season rocked by racial-slur scandals and with local roots in a surf and coffee shop in Mar Vista.

After devouring 13 series and over a decade of Love Island, one glaring problem has become clear: Each series there is a female villain, pitted against the others… but who is really to blame?

Love Island is almost over and with that, the 2026 summer of love (or influencers building their brand in a Spanish villa) has come to an end. Every time it happens, I am left devastated by the loss of the ITV2 show, despite complaining to anyone who would listen about how angry that year’s season made me.

My love for the show and the bereavement I feel when its gone has not only had me going back and watching the seasons I was too young to watch the first time, but had me watching them again and again. One thing has become clear – our female villains are often born when men misstep and aren’t allowed to bounce back in the same way.

We keep entering an era where our bad girls are pitted against each other until they are relegated to the depths of obscurity after the show ends and not even allowed to be iconic anymore.

Yes, these woman’s actions are often undeniably bad. But compared to those of the men around them, who get redemption arcs, huge social media followings and get to continue working within the Love Island world, the women’s punishments rise to the top of villain lists seem unbefitting of their crimes. To illustrate my point, here is a timeline of the seasons and who their biggest villains are…

Series 1 – Naomi Ball

Bombshell Naomi is largely considered the biggest villain from the first series that aired when Love Island was rebooted. She was sharp-tongued and her confrontations with Jess Hayes were one of the reasons the latter girl won the series with Max Morley.

Her intense rivalry with Jess was was fuelled by a love triangle between the two and Josh Ritchie, especially when Josh dumped Naomi for not being willing to sleep with him.

He then brazenly asked: “Do I now carry on with Jess, get my end away, have a good three-weeks sh*gging, or do I start something with Naomi, where something can be long term and something maybe outside of the villa but not have sex, not have as much of a laugh? It’s a genuine penis/head dilemma.”

With a love interest like that, who needs enemies? Though Naomi still consistently crops up as the Villain of Series One, Josh has gone on to redeem himself on All Stars.

Series 2 – Olivia Buckland

Thankfully, Olivia is now mostly beloved, but for years after her series was released, she was painted by fans as manipulative and mean. She was blamed for Javi Shephard and Dan Lukakis fighting over her, even though that’s the nature of the game. She was blamed for hurting Dan when Terry Walsh came along, even though they’d only known each other three days by that point.

Worst of all, she was blamed for sleeping with Rykard Jenkins when he was getting close to Rachel Fenton, when it was Rykard who was pursuing a relationship, not Olivia. Olivia was not only free from any romantic attachments, she was in a couple with Rykard.

Olivia was able to regroup and rebuild after Love Island, especially since she and now husband Alex Bowen stayed together. The same cannot be said for all the women on this list.

Series 3 – Jonny Mitchell

Series three is the first where our main villain is a man. Jonny arrived on day four and was in a couple with Camilla Thurlow for most of his time on the show. Whilst in a couple, he clashed with Camilla, telling her that he thought feminists “believe in inequality” and would feel emasculated if a woman tried to pay on a date.

Jonny then went on to make Camilla cry by dumping her for Tyla Carr – and he wasn’t even going to be honest about it. Very manly, macho Jonny was too chicken to be upfront and instead decided to try and do a gradual fade out instead, until he was forced to fess up by Dom Lever. And yet, while Naomi never got her redemption and Olivia had to wait until after the show, Jonny ended his run on the series on good terms with everyone.

Series 4 – Adam Collard and Megan Barton-Hanson

Love Island has never known a villain like Adam Collard. He moved from girl to girl to girl and blamed some of them for “pushing him away” and into the arms of another. When he accused Rosie Williams of being jealous of his connection with Zara McDermott, he smirked as she cried in front of him and Women’s Aid came out with a statement against him.

Despite Adam sparking a huge national conversation about gaslighting, he was brought back for series eight, in which he was given the opportunity to prove himself a good guy after all.

Meanwhile, Megan, who also moved from guy to guy but without gaslighting them, was also labelled a villain and constantly shamed by the public for her career as a stripper.

Series 5 – Michael Griffiths

Michael is another instant where the villain ultimately crowned the winner. Prior to coming back from Casa Amor with another girl, his partner Amber Gill wasn’t viewed favourably by the public. But when he not only played away at Casa but then started calling her “childish” for being upset, Michael became the bad guy and Amber became a champion.

Since the show ended, Michael has gone down in history as one of the most iconic islanders. He spawned the ‘Destiny’s Childish’ memes, in which people who seem like players on the show are all put in a group with Michael. It’s helped him get roles on Celebrity Ex on the Beach, Eating with my Ex and MTV’s Living the Dream. He has been rewarded for his actions, in a way the women on this list rarely are.

Series 6 – Connor Durman and Rebecca Gormley

Connor had everyone talking during the first winter Love Island with his rather questionable behaviour. To the shock of his partner Sophie Piper, he bragged about having a threesome with a girl and her housemate after a first date in a game of Truth or Lie. When Sophie made a joke about it, Connor then folded his arms and backed away, telling a confused-looking Sophie “You hate me tonight. You’re hating me.”

And when she tried to keep things light, he angrily insisted, “You’re digging me out already, you are,” leaving fans begging her to head for the hills. Despite this, its Rebecca that fans remember as a villain. She a rivalry with Siannise Fudge over her interest in Luke Trotman, a storyline that is not uncommon on this show and yet was enough to make Rebecca a villain.

Series 7 – Faye Winter

Faye has received the most Love Island complaints in the show’s history after yelling at Teddy Soares. The argument followed the first ever Movie Night, in which Teddy was seen having a flirty exchange during Casa Amor.

The public knew the clips were taken out of context and that Teddy had been faithful to Faye. 25,000 complaints were made to Ofcom and Faye’s family had to release a statement, reminding the public that the show was edited for entertainment.

Faye received online abuse and death threats after the incident. What makes it so infuriating is that much of the public were angry with Faye for reacting to Teddy’s actions as they knew the clip was taken out of context and fumed that she should have known he was a good guy. To summarise: Fans who knew what Faye had seen wasn’t the whole truth were angry with her for reacting to it rather than those who took the clips out of context.

Series 8 – Tasha Ghouri

Tasha’s series was largely defined by both Islanders and the public deciding she was stringing her partner Andrew Le Page along. She was subjected to constant online vitriol about how she was just waiting around for someone else to sweep her off her feet, and using Andrew to stay safe.

Yet when it came to Casa, it was Andrew who played away. “I licked her t*t, or whatever,” he told Tasha after being forced to come clean about his bedroom antics with Coco Lodge. Notably, Andrew wasn’t as hated for actually doing something as Tasha was for what people thought she wanted to.

Series 9 – Olivia Hawkins

Olivia was branded as a villain after clashing with several islanders, particularly those she had coupled up with before like Kai Fagan and Tom Clare. She was branded as messy and a hypocrite for being upset with Kai for recoupling in Casa, even though she’d done the same.

By the time she joined series two of All Stars, Olivia was so known as a villain that she had to hit back at the title, telling the Mirror that she thought it was “tiring”. She was called a bad guy again when she clashed with Grace Jackson, catching heat despite no longer being on the show anymore. She has since seemed to prefer sticking to a quiet life away from reality TV and I’m not sure anyone can blame her.

Series 10 – Molly Marsh

Molly was villainised after being honest with partner Mitch Taylor. Her crime was telling him that she wanted to talk to other people just days into knowing each other. From then, both Mitch and Jess Harding accused her of using him and being two-faced… despite the fact that she’d been upfront about her feelings.

This was the start of the Love Island “divides”. In series since, we’ve seen time and time again how there is a divide among the girls as they are pitted against each other by the men and form two camps. This time it was Molly vs Jess, a battle that Jess ultimately won, as she won the whole series.

The hate Molly received has since been viewed as unwarranted, and Molly has faded into the background of many Love Island conversations, while Mitch, whose behaviour towards Molly was very possessive, has become one of the show’s icons.

Series 11 – Harriett Blackmore

Harriett Blackmore, much like Olivia Hawkins, was labelled a villain and a drama queen when she clashed with Ciaran Davies. But why did they clash? Well, just before, Harriett had told Ciaran, whom she had been coupled up with since the start, that he was her top boy.

After that, he took Nicole Samuel to the Hideaway, leaving Harriett in tears. Was Ciaran a bad guy for this? Of course not! Our sweet Welshman made it to the final of the show.

Series 12 – Meg Moore and Helena Ford

This was a season filled with villains. Meg Moore and Helena Ford were two of the biggest, with fans slamming Meg for her rude and aggressive attitude towards girls her partner Dejon Noel-Williams was talking to and Helena for constantly going after boys Shakira Kahn and Toni Laites were talking to.

Though neither behaved well, Meg’s behaviour often came amid Dejon telling her that the girls were obsessed with him and that he wasn’t open to getting to know them, even though he was. Similarly, Helena’s came as Harry Cooksley and Harrison Solomon both told her that she was their number one.

The behaviour of all three men caught the attention of the public, who slammed them as toxic. Dejon undeniably came off the worst and seems to have shrunk back from the limelight, but despite this, the season became about the divide between the girls. It was defined by Shakira and Toni’s camp vs Meg and Helena’s.

Helena did appear on All Stars, hoping for a redemption. So did Harrison, even though Women’s Aid had put out a statement about his behaviour. Since both shows, Helena and Meg have faded away, while Harrison and Harry have both gained a huge social media following for their Love Island commentary.

Series 13 – Every woman on the show

Then we have series 13. In this series, pretty much every woman has been villainised at some point, often when a man was also involved and received much less hate.

Priya Jaswal was demonised for saying Samraj Toor’s behaviour was “pathetic”, even though he was also attacking her and never apologised. Jasmine Muller was hated on for her interactions with Kavan Murphy, when his brother Aidan kept stirring the pot and again when it was Kavan who brought someone else back from Casa Amor.

Lola Deal and Julia Majchrzak have both received hate amid their feud, which was all started by Sean Fitzgerald’s conversations with people in Casa Amor. Elicia Chadwick has also been on the public’s bad side for her reaction to Aidan picking Priya, despite him having kissed his way up her body while on their date.

Even former Islanders turned debriefers Shakira, Toni and Yasmin Pettet have received more hate this season than the men on the show. And if this doesn’t summarise the modern divide between men and women, I don’t know what does. Men think they can get away with anything, while women have to micromanage every emotion so as not to come off wrong.

No wonder, when men’s bad behaviour is caught on camera and still excused, while the slightest comment or odd look from a woman is enough to make her the nation’s most hated.

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IF I had wandered through the centre of Nantes alone, I might not have noticed something peculiar about France’s sixth biggest city.

I would have simply gazed appreciatively at the tree-lined boulevards, the grand chateau and the Corinthian-columned opera house.

Thanks to a guide, though, I was encouraged to look up at the shop fronts, head behind an apartment block and approach a statue from the correct angle.

There were pigs’ heads over the top of a butcher’s wearing wigs, an urban mini-jungle behind the nondescript building and a bronze figure’s foot stepped off the plinth.

All very quirky, all very Nantes.

Once the largest port in France, this former industrial metropolis in the Loire region has been busy reinventing itself as a playful and vibrant place to be.

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None of this is more obvious than on the city’s island, where part of the docks have been transformed into a major tourist attraction.

And I didn’t need anyone to point out the totally unique selling point of the Les Machines de l’Île ‘theme park’.

There was no missing the 40ft-high mechanical elephant, able to carry dozens of excited visitors.

But you might want to be careful where you stand, because the trunk sprays water at surprised passers-by.

Le Grand Éléphant wanders freely around the island and you don’t need to stump up any cash to get close to it.

The other elements of Les Machines de l’Île, albeit for paying guests, are similarly wondrous.

The Carrousel des Mondes Marins was inspired by the Nantes-born 19th century author Jules Verne.

The ride has mechanical sea creatures that visitors can operate, paying tribute to Verne, whose most famous novel is Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.

Close by, a cavernous port building has been transformed into the Gallery Of The Machines, where I saw guests riding a pneumatic spider and a giant ant.

This steampunk-style attraction is unlike anything I’ve seen before.

In a world obsessed with screen entertainment, the machine animals are refreshingly hands-on.

Back in the main part of Nantes, I experienced other examples of this quirky approach to public attractions.

In the west of Nantes, there is the appropriately titled Jardin Extraordinaire exotic park with a man-made waterfall and a nest-like viewing platform designed by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata.

The botanical gardens feature a mound shaped like a sleeping cat and oversized benches.

Helpfully, a green line is painted on the city’s streets so you can find your way to most of the artworks.

Visitors in July and August can expect far more open-air art during the Summer Journey festival.

But there is certainly more to Nantes than its cultural offerings.

We were never far from a bar, cafe or restaurant, particularly near the central Hotel De France Oceania, where we stayed for three nights.

The 4* hotel, with its grand domed entrance, was an 18th-century mansion, and our spacious room overlooked the opera house.

We dined at the opulent La Cigale brasserie, which is a local institution, and at the British co-owned Pilgrim restaurant serving modern dishes.

On the hipster Rue du Maréchal-Joffre, we ate at L’Éphémère bistro which has mastered unpretentious gourmet food.

The colourful fishing village of Trentemoult and the cute restaurants on house boats near Saint-Mihiel bridge are also fantastic.

A highlight of our trip was a journey up the Erde river, lined by chateaux and vineyards, on a traditional wooden boat with La Toue de Nantes.

There are numerous boat trips available in the summer months — and you can even sample local wines and produce as you sail along.

Public transport is free in Nantes on weekends and, if you pay for the Pass Nantes, access to attractions such as the Gallery Of The Machines is also free.

Like its famous son Verne, Nantes serves up a wonderful adventure.

A LUMINESCENT school of blue marlin, majestic angelfish, cute little seahorses . . . 

I’m spotting almost everything I’d hoped to while snorkelling in the Caribbean Sea — though, sadly, the leatherback turtles haven’t come out to play today.

But when I dive down just a few feet deeper, I see something you wouldn’t expect.

A man sitting with a typewriter at a desk. A princess emerging from a giant nutmeg pod. And a group of 26 children holding hands in a circular formation.

These are just some of the remarkable sights at the world’s first underwater sculpture park off the coast of Molinere Bay in Grenada.

Spectacularly different from anything you’re used to seeing beneath the waves, it’s almost ghostly — but mesmerising to explore.

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Each sculpture relates in its own way to Grenadian culture; together, acting as artificial reefs that promote the growth of coral, they deliver a powerful message of revival.

After the island’s coral reefs were devastated by a hurricane in 2004, the sculpture park was built to lure tourists away from those fragile natural atolls.

But the concrete creations are also attracting new marine life. I’m staying on Grenada for a few days to learn about the country’s attempts to encourage “voluntourism” after its most recent destructive hurricane in 2024.

So you can enjoy a blissful Caribbean holiday while getting hands-on to really immerse yourself in the culture and community.

Whether you’re willing to plant mangroves, join a hunt for the invasive lionfish or harvest the crops at an organic farm, you become more than a tourist, helping to rebuild and reinvigorate so the likes of those shy, endangered turtles can survive.

This is a small island nation, so sustainability is critical.

From my taxi driver to the hotel staff, everyone living here seems to be in on that commitment — they’re proud of their home and passionate about flourishing here while staying true to their roots.

Which, as I quickly learn, includes a love of food, rum and reggae.

My eco-resort, True Blue Bay, comes alive every Wednesday with a street-food festival and epic carnival party until the early hours.

It’s all fuelled by a knockout rum punch.

A tour of distillery Clarke’s Court shows us how they make this national spirit using centuries-old methods to create exotic flavours including passionfruit and coconut.

And the Belmont Estate chocolate factory hand-sort their cocoa beans to fulfil their “tree to bar” ambition before hand-wrapping their chocs.

During visits to both places, what stands out is their commitment to using time- honoured techniques so they can continue to employ the locals rather than replacing people with modern machinery.

Then there are the smells . . . from fermenting molasses while making rum to the cocoa beans being turned while drying in the sun.

From the moment you set foot on Grenada, you know why it’s called the Isle of Spice. You can’t walk far without catching a waft of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger or turmeric.

A trip to a spice market in the colourful capital of Saint George’s delivers a mouth-watering lesson in flavour as we sample the raw ingredients for everything from nutmeg jam to hot sauce.

Even the local, custom-made cola is flavoured with a nutmeg syrup.

So wherever and whenever you eat, your tastebuds are dancing to a great Grenadian beat.

Breakfast is a Caribbean concoction of coconut bakes, fried breadfruit or cocoa and cinnamon pancakes and cocoa tea.

Lunch can be callaloo soup (a green leafy veg like spinach) or the beloved national dish “oil down” — a stew made with salted meats, breadfruit, green bananas, callaloo, turmeric and coconut milk.

And it is dinners of straight-from-the-sea tuna, conch, mahi-mahi fish or jerk chicken.

When it comes to pudding, trust me and order the cinnamon ice cream. All local ingredients, grown or caught, are fresher than the short, spontaneous downpours.

It is no wonder Grenada was named by the World Food Travel Association in 2021 as the planet’s first “culinary capital”, recognising its gastronomy, organic farming and regenerative food tourism.

Nowhere is more dedicated to those beliefs than my second hotel, the family-owned Blue Horizons Garden Resort — an off-grid, eco-forward destination with a farm-to-table commitment and everything sourced from their own estate.

They catch 90 per cent of rainwater to use for everything from cleaning laundry to watering plants. It’s all geared towards a restful, relaxing, sustainable break.

And yet it lacks none of the mod cons you’d expect from a Caribbean resort.

A five-minute walk away is the locals’ pride and joy: the beautiful Grand Anse beach.

From sunbed renters there to fruit sellers at the side of the roads and the waiting staff in the restaurants, everyone is friendly and warm like the Caribbean sun; you sense genuine hospitality rather than the politeness of customer service.

A little further is the tranquil Morne Rouge beach.

Even the Mona monkeys seem pleased to see us on a visit to Grand Etang National Park, where local guide Leon — aka “the monkey whisperer” — calls them down from the trees so we can feed them bananas.

There, surrounded by lush, vivid-green rainforest, you feel the island’s connection to the natural world; nurture for nature in a place refusing to succumb to commercialism.

Grenada is clearly still committed to the authenticity that arguably no longer exists on its more touristy neighbouring islands.

Rather than variety being the spice of life, in Grenada the variety of spice is life.

And even if you just buy some local nutmeg after enjoying the sun, sea and service, you’ll help the wonderfully welcoming, climate-conscious people on this lovely island.

Which leaves a great taste in the mouth.

Japan has identified a high concentration of valuable heavy rare earth elements in deep sea mud recovered from waters near the remote Pacific island of Minamitori, marking another step in its efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese critical mineral supplies.

The Japanese government said on Friday that analysis of rare earth rich mud collected earlier this year showed medium and heavy rare earth elements accounted for about 54% of the total rare earth content. However, officials did not disclose the overall size of the deposits, saying the limited scope and duration of sampling meant the available data was insufficient to estimate total reserves.

The samples were collected during a month long expedition in February by Japan’s scientific drilling vessel Chikyu near Minamitori Island, approximately 1,900 kilometres southeast of Tokyo. The mission marked the world’s first successful continuous recovery of rare earth bearing seabed mud from depths of around six kilometres beneath the ocean surface.

Strategic Push for Mineral Security

The project forms part of Japan’s broader strategy to strengthen supply chain security for critical minerals following tighter Chinese export restrictions on heavy rare earth elements and magnets, which are widely used in defence systems, electric vehicles, semiconductors and other advanced technologies.

Researchers recovered approximately 50 metric tons of seabed mud during the expedition.

Analysis identified several strategically important rare earth elements, including yttrium, used in aerospace, semiconductor and energy technologies; gadolinium, widely used in medical imaging and other high technology applications; and dysprosium, a key component in high performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors.

Commercial Mining Trial Planned

Japan plans to conduct a month long large scale mining trial in the same waters beginning in February 2027.

The trial aims to recover approximately 350 tons of seabed mud each day. The material will first be dewatered on Minamitori Island before being transported to mainland Japan for separation, refining and smelting tests.

The project will evaluate whether domestic deep sea rare earth production can become commercially viable. A comprehensive assessment of industrial scale production is expected by March 2028, according to Kazushige Kikuchi, project manager at the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology, which operates the Chikyu research vessel.

China Remains Dominant Supplier

Japan’s exploration efforts come amid growing concern over China’s control of global rare earth supplies.

Beijing introduced export controls on several heavy rare earth elements and related magnets in April 2025 and later tightened restrictions on exports to Japan in January, followed by two additional rounds of measures the following month targeting major Japanese companies.

Rare earth elements are essential components in advanced manufacturing, including electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, military equipment, consumer electronics and semiconductor production.

Analysis

Japan’s latest findings highlight the growing strategic importance of securing independent supplies of critical minerals as geopolitical competition increasingly shapes global supply chains. Although the newly analysed deposits have yet to be proven commercially viable, the discovery strengthens Japan’s long term effort to reduce reliance on Chinese exports. If future mining trials demonstrate economic feasibility, deep sea resources could become an important pillar of Japan’s critical minerals strategy while encouraging other resource poor countries to accelerate investment in seabed mining technologies despite ongoing environmental concerns.

With information from Reuters.

Tucked away in the English Channel between England and France, Sark is often described as the jewel of the Channel Islands. Saskia Rowlands took a trip to Sark to see for herself

We’re told time travel is impossible.

But after spending a day on the tiny island of Sark, I wasn’t so sure.

Tucked away in the English Channel between England and France, the island is often described as the jewel of the Channel Islands. With no cars, winding country lanes and horse-drawn carriages, it feels like stepping back to the 1950s. My mum and I visited during a stay in nearby Guernsey – and months later, we’re still talking about it.

Getting there was an adventure in itself. After surviving a very choppy ferry crossing from Guernsey, we pulled into Sark’s tiny harbour. Walking through a stone archway, we were greeted by one of the island’s most charming traditions, the ‘toast rack’ – a tractor-drawn carriage that ferries visitors up the steep hill into the village.

As we trundled through the winding lanes, lined with hedgerows bursting with wildflowers, the stresses of life vanished. The only sound was the distant clip-clop of horses’ hooves and the occasional ding of a bicycle bell. There wasn’t a single car in sight. And that’s because there aren’t any. Private cars have never been allowed on Sark and are actually banned by law.

The only motorised vehicles permitted are tractors – used for farming, deliveries and transporting visitors – and a tractor-pulled ambulance. Instead, Sark’s 500 residents and visitors explore the island by bicycle, on foot or by horse and cart.

So in true local spirit, we headed to Avenue Cycles, where we hired two mountain bikes. With maps tucked into our baskets, our Sark adventure had officially begun. The island measures just 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, so you can easily explore every nook and cranny in a day. There are no paved roads, and the tracks are quite rocky, so it’s not the smoothest ride, but it all adds to Sark’s charm.

Our first stop was one of the island’s most famous landmarks, La Coupée – a narrow strip of land connecting Big Sark and Little Sark. The dramatic isthmus, formed from sedimentary rock, is now protected by railings, but it wasn’t always so safe. Until 1900, there were no barriers at all, and on windy days, local schoolchildren would reportedly crawl across on their hands and knees.

It’s easy to overuse the word “breathtaking,” but standing above the bright blue sea as waves crashed against the rocks below genuinely took our breath away. Repairs meant we could only walk halfway across before turning back, but it was still one of our highlights.

Back on our bikes, we headed for another of the island’s quirky attractions, Sark Henge. Built in 2015, the modern stone circle is made up of nine standing stones, each carefully aligned with either a local landmark or the position of the sun, marking the winter and summer solstices and spring and autumn equinoxes.

After taking a moment to soak up yet another spectacular view, we began feeling peckish, so we made our way to Sark’s one and only supermarket to pick up lunch. More like a traditional village shop than a supermarket, we were surprised by just how much was packed inside, including an impressive selection of Waitrose products.

We kept things simple, picking up freshly caught Sark crab, lemon and cress, and a packet of crackers before finding a bench next to Sark’s famous gold Royal Mail post box. We visited just before the island geared up for its busy summer season, but the stylish café Sark Yard looked like the ideal place to stop for coffee or lunch when it’s open.

No trip to Sark would be complete without a visit to Caragh Chocolates, one of the island’s best-loved spots. What began as owner Caragh’s hobby of making chocolates for her family in 1989 has since grown into an internationally acclaimed business.

The charming stone cottage chocolate shop makes its treats using cream from Sark cows and also has a café overlooking a pretty garden. We parked our bikes outside and headed in for cups of Earl Grey and chocolates. It was superb.

Sadly, our time on Sark was drawing to a close, but there was just enough time for one final stop at Lorraine’s Pottery and Silver Studio. Run by local artisan Lorraine Nicolle, the charming little workshop sells hand-thrown stoneware and silver trinkets, along with offering pottery lessons.

After one last cycle through Sark’s winding lanes, our adventure had come to an end. We wheeled our bikes back and made the walk down to the harbour, where the ferry was waiting to take us back to Guernsey.

As we looked back at the island disappearing into the distance, it was hard not to wish we could stay just a little longer. Sark felt like somewhere out of a storybook. Its magic will never leave us.

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AMERICAN streamer MrBeast has married his stunning fiancée in a week-long bash on Richard Branson’s private island retreat.

Top YouTube creator MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has tied the knot with Thea Booysen.

After dating for four years, Jimmy and Thea got said ‘I do’ on Richard Branson‘s ultra-luxury Necker Island resort.

“I found MrsBeast. And it was the best day of my life,” he announced on Instagram, alongside a sweet snap of them on their wedding day.

Fans rushed to the comments to congratulate the newlyweds, with one person writing: “All the best for your newly married life and congratulations both of you.”

Another then wrote: “Really happy for you guys, may god keep you together forever.”

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The couple’s wedding was attended by 70 loved ones, as per reports.

Their lavish wedding kicked off on July 14, with the festivities going on for a week at the stunning 74-acre private island in the Caribbean.

The couple first met when MrBeast was visiting South Africa, Thea’s home country.

Both Jimmy and Thea are gamers and content creators, though she was quite shocked by how down-to-earth he was.

Speaking to People, Thea said: “When I met him, I was quite surprised how down-to-earth he was, and also how intelligent he was.

“I thought YouTubers were just sort of a persona, but when I met him, I was quite surprised to see that he’s actually a nice guy. He wasn’t sitting there with an ego.”

MrBeast’s YouTube channel has over 500m followers, and his Instagram page is nearing 90m followers.

The 28-year-old content creator was born in Wichita, Kansas, but is now based in North Carolina.

He first joined YouTube in 2012 when he was just 13.

He began by uploading videos of video game playthroughs and net worth estimates of fellow YouTubers.

MrBeast has now scaled his massive YouTube stunts into a global, multiproduct production studio. 

Under Beast Industries, he oversees a media empire, food lines (Feastables and Lunchly), analytical tool Viewstats, and licensing deals. 

The island of 5,000 is reached by hopping on a two and a half hour ferry from Funchal on the bigger island. The waves may get a little choppy, but it’s well worth taking on the journey

A European island with stunning beaches is one of this summer’s hottest spots.

Porto Santo is Madeira’s much quieter, sandier sibling island. Its main draw is exactly what Madeira and the Canary Islands can’t deliver: a bit of peace and quiet. While Madeira welcomes 2.2 million and Tenerife seven million visitors a year, only around 50,000 make it to Porto Santo.

The island of 5,000 is reached by hopping on a two and a half hour ferry from Funchal on the bigger island. The waves may get a little choppy, but it’s well worth taking on the journey.

Porto Santo’s headline feature is its single, near-uninterrupted 5.5-mile golden sand beach that runs almost the entire length of the island’s south coast. This is a big deal because Madeira proper barely has any sand beaches; they’re mostly volcanic pebble or rock. So Porto Santo is the go-to for a classic beach holiday in the archipelago.

OPINION

The beach sand is locally famous for supposed therapeutic properties, particularly for joint and skin conditions, and people travel specifically to bury themselves in it or take mud/sand treatments. Whether or not it actually works, digging yourself down into the ground like a baby turtle sounds like a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Once you’ve cured yourself, a quick dip to get the residue sand off will likely be in order. The island’s clear, calm turquoise waters are great for swimming, unlike much of Madeira’s rockier coastline, and decent for watersports like windsurfing, kitesurfing, and diving.

Porto Santo delivers golden sand, reliable warmth and a slower pace made for switching off. It’s gaining momentum this year as travellers move beyond Europe’s classic beach staples in search of calmer, more relaxed stays.

The island was named in Expedia’s Island Hot List, having seen a 85% spike in interest over the past year.

Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List

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