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Best friends Jude and Sherry join tonight’s episode of Gogglebox and they have opened up about their 50-years of friendship ahead of the show

Gogglebox will be welcoming two new faces to Friday night’s show.

Best friends Jude, 76, and Sherry, 77, join tonight’s episode of the hit Channel 4 series. The duo are swapping their travels around the world for the Gogglebox sofa, bringing their unique friendship and plenty of stories along with them.

Jude and Sherry first met when their sons were born and have been best friends ever since. Tragically, back in 2009, the two friends were both widowed just a year apart.

Since the devastating loss of their partners, the two friends have become inseparable and in 2017 they started travelling the world together.

The duo have been to Sri Lanka, Mexico, Bangkok, Singapore, Penang and Malacca, and Goa. They’re aiming to visit Chile for their next adventure.

The duo, who have plenty of opinions, are aiming to put their 50-year friendship to the ultimate test on the Gogglebox sofa, including their impressive supply of chilled chocolate and wine.

Talking about joining the show, Sherry said: “I am really excited to be joining the Gogglebox ‘family’ and finding out how the whole process works and which new programmes we get to watch together. We are both very positive people and it is great to be doing something completely new together.”

While Jude added: “I am looking forward to the completely new experience at this stage of my life. A challenge definitely, but an exciting one.”

Talking about their 50-year friendship, Sherry said: “We have been close friends since we met at Queen Charlotte’s Maternity Hospital on the day our sons were born.

“There have been periods when we haven’t seen so much of each other, but since we have both been widowed, we have been together much more, especially since we started travelling together in 2017.”

Meanwhile, Jude added: “As Sherry said, we met 51 years ago, on the day after our sons were born, pushing them along the hospital corridor.

“Through the childhood years as we both went on to have two daughters and then a year apart in 2009 and 2010 we were both widowed, which is when we became even closer and our travels began.”

Watch brand-new Gogglebox on Friday 2 October at 9pm on Channel 4

The deaths appear to be the first at the hands of Somali pirates in more than a decade.

Pirates have killed five crew members on board a Palau-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Somalia before security forces rescued the ship, according to Somali authorities.

The deaths on the tanker, the MT Honour 25, were announced on Tuesday.

They appear to be the first deaths at ⁠the hands of Somali pirates in more than a decade and come amid a resurgence of Somali piracy that experts have attributed in part to the effects of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran.

The MT Honour 25, which authorities said was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, was seized by pirates off Somalia on April 21.

The Information Ministry of Puntland, a semiautonomous region of Somalia, said in a statement that a rescue mission had freed the ship and captured 16 suspected pirates.

“Before the operation began, the pirates on board the ship killed five of the crew,” the statement said. “Among those killed were three from Pakistan, one from Myanmar and one from India.”

Four other crew members, three Pakistanis and one Indian, were injured, it said.

In a post on social media, the Puntland Maritime Police Force said the vessel was “safe” and under the government’s control. It said efforts were continuing to find others involved in the hijacking.

The rescue follows another operation last week in which the maritime police freed the Sibu 1, a tanker sanctioned by the US that Somali pirates had hijacked in August.

But 28 of the 41 pirates arrested in that operation later escaped while being transferred to jail, and several Puntland security officials accused local police of complicity.

At least 15 attacks have been reported off Somalia since April, according to officials.

A previous wave of piracy, from 2008 to 2014, disrupted one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, cost the global economy billions of dollars and resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom payments.

Arrests were made over interference with refereeing procedures, among other accusations, Turkish justice minister says.

The head of Turkiye’s football refereeing body and six other people have been arrested over accusations of interference in refereeing procedures, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said.

“Claims regarding interference in the formation of referee classifications, assignments, scoring and appointment processes, as well as rule examinations, have been investigated,” Gurlek wrote in a social media post on Tuesday.

Ferhat Gundogdu, the president of the refereeing body, and his deputy were among those arrested.

Gurlek said searches had been carried out at the suspects’ “residences, workplaces and offices”.

“We will steadfastly continue the fight for clean football so that claims undermining trust in Turkish football are clarified, those responsible are held accountable before the law, and football is remembered for the effort, struggle, and sportsmanship on the field,” Gurlek added.

A year ago, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended 149 referees on charges of involvement in an illegal betting scandal.

The TFF investigation found that 371 out of the country’s 571 referees officiating in the professional leagues had betting accounts and 152 of them actively placed bets.

Some 29 people were arrested in the sprawling scandal, including 14 footballers, one of whom was Fenerbahce’s international midfielder Mert Hakan Yandas.

Authorities suspended more than 1,000 players, including 25 from the first division.

However, Gurlek did not draw any link between last year’s betting scandal and the current investigation.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is willing ‌‌‌‌to discuss the disbursement of millions of dollars to ⁠⁠⁠⁠the member associations of football’s global governing body as the Swiss chief seeks re-election to the post he has held for 10 years amid growing opposition.

The ⁠⁠⁠⁠amount of the distributions to individual nations will be on the agenda of the FIFA Council’s October 15 meeting, according to a ⁠⁠⁠⁠letter Infantino sent to the heads of the six regional confederations, as reported by media in the United States on Monday.

“I will not prejudge the amount,” Infantino wrote, according ⁠⁠⁠⁠to one report. “I will support the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered through FIFA’s proper governance process, applied fairly and supported by transparent and auditable arrangements. The ambition is welcome. The financial evidence, governance and implementation must now support ‌‌‌‌it.”

“A single figure can begin the discussion, but it cannot complete a global policy. I have therefore instructed the Secretary General to consolidate all submissions into one integrated assessment for consideration by the FIFA Council.”

The move is seen as Infantino’s latest attempt to placate regional football bodies, as well as their chiefs, in a bid to hold on to his position as the most powerful man in football.

Earlier this month, the 56-year-old confirmed his bid amid widespread criticism of his leadership and the growing threat of legal proceedings.

Infantino has faced stiff opposition since the fallout from his proposed plan to sell approximately 20 percent of a proposed new entity, FIFA ⁠⁠⁠⁠Forward Enterprise (FFE), focused on the commercial and operational facets of the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments.

The Swiss-Italian has been the most powerful man in world football over the past 10 years, but has increasingly lost support from regional football confederations and national associations. Last month, he appeared to be pulling out all the stops in a bid to retain his position, despite growing calls for his ousting and wide-ranging disapproval of his plans.

On Friday, the English Premier League and three other top European leagues called for governance reform of FIFA.

A joint statement with leagues from Spain, Italy and Germany accused Infantino of actively promoting “exploitative ideas rather than safeguarding against them”.

He is seen as a divisive figure in international football, with his close ties to some of the most powerful global leaders and plans for maximising revenue from football viewed as a threat to the game.

With fewer than six months until the next round of elections for FIFA’s presidency, Infantino appears to be losing ground among his usual backers.

FIFA presidents are limited to three terms, each lasting four years.

However, in 2022, Infantino successfully argued that his first spell in charge, which began when he was elected at an extraordinary FIFA Congress in 2016 following Sepp Blatter’s resignation, should not count towards that limit because it completed an interrupted mandate.

His plans to run for a fourth term have been questioned by critics and rights groups, who have asked FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee (GACC) to block the re-election bid.

The financial discussion comes in the wake of UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC calling for Infantino to resign over the plan.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani recently wrote a letter to FIFA, seeking payments such as the one Infantino addressed in his letter. Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, head ⁠⁠⁠⁠of the Asian Football Confederation, made a similar request, per the reports.

Among the investors ⁠⁠⁠⁠in FFE was to be Joshua Kushner, the ⁠⁠⁠⁠brother of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump is a close ally of Infantino.

Infantino subsequently abandoned the private equity plan, but he has refused to resign, and he plans to run for re-election ‌‌‌‌in March. With seven weeks remaining for candidates to announce their intention to oppose Infantino, no challenger has stepped forward.

Had Infantino’s FFE plan gone through, each ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌member ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌nation would have received at least $20m. The letter from UEFA and CONCACAF asks for every member association to receive a minimum of $10m from FIFA’s reserves, according to the reports.

Gianni Infantino has indicated a greater amount of money could be distributed to Fifa members from its estimated £4.4bn cash reserves.

In a letter seen by BBC Sport, and sent to the governing body’s six continental confederations on Monday, Fifa president Infantino said he would support “the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered”.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure over his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which proposed selling stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, sparking a major backlash.

His letter comes after Uefa and Concacaf – the confederations for Europe and North America, Central America and the Caribbean – demanded Fifa pays $10m (£7.5m) to all 211 members from its reserves.

The proposal will be considered by the Fifa Council when they meet on 15 October.

“I will not prejudge the amount,” Infantino said in the letter.

“A single figure can begin the discussion, but it cannot complete a global policy.”

Infantino issued his latest defence of the failed proposal to sell a slice of the World Cup commercial rights that brought calls for his resignation, again claiming it had been intended to generate additional money for the game.

“The recent commercial proposal, now withdrawn, was intended to enable Fifa to invest more in football,” wrote the Swiss-Italian.

Earlier this month, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt, a Fifa vice-president, told Infantino to release all documents relating to his controversial plan, and called for an independent review of FFE.

Infantino will stand for election for a fourth time in March 2027, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.

A MEMBERS club loved by the Royals is opening a new location in a historic English town.

It will feature restaurants, bars, a 25-metre pool, racquet courts and even direct access to the River Thames.

A new “reimagined” country club from the Soho House brand is set to come to Windsor, situated directly along the River Thames from next year.

Located less than 45 minutes from central London, Soho River House will also be home to a Health Club, riverside restaurant and Vinyl Bar.

The main house, a Victorian mansion within 35 acres of land, will feature 93 bedrooms designed for members who wish to extend their stay overnight.

The Health Club comes with a gym dedicated to all members’ fitness needs as well as a novel Lazy River feature, which offers cold plunges designed for muscle recovery.

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The location will also hold the first Soho House Racquet & Rowing Club with padel, tennis and pickleball courts.

For those wishing to try their hand at rowing, the site will come with boat storage, a dedicated staging area, and direct access to the river through a launching ramp.

The Lazy Lawn overlooking the Thames also provides the perfect lounging spot to catch some much-needed sunrays.

Every week, the club is set to host a number of events for members – including live performances and “One Night Only” dinners with well-known chefs.

Expected to arrive in 2027, those interested are able to register their interest online to keep an eye out for upcoming applications.

Soho House has 14 other locations in the UK, including sites in Manchester, Somerset and East Sussex.

The brand is loved by both Royals and celebrities, with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry having their first date at 76 Dean Street, a Soho House location in London back in 2016.

Several Gogglebox stars were reduced to tears as they tuned into the Dolly Parton tribute at Last Night of the Proms starring Sheridan Smith and Beverley Knight

Emotional Gogglebox stars couldn’t hold back their tears during the latest episode of the Channel 4 show.

The armchair critics returns to screens on Friday (September 18) night as they offered their verdict on the latest programmes on television from Channel 4’s new reality show Apocalypse to ITV thriller Trigger Point.

However, it was Last Night of the Proms which left cast members in tears as they watched performers Sheridan Smith and Beverley Knight pay tribute to country music sensation Dolly Parton, who died on August 25 aged 80 following a brief and undisclosed battle with cancer.

The second half of the BBC concert, which aired on September 12, honoured the songstress with Sheridan singing feminist anthem 9 To 5, Beverley belting out I Will Always Love You and country-pop duo Ward Thomas performing Jolene.

Tuning into the concert from the comfort of their sofas, several Gogglebox stars including Mary Killen, Lee Riley and Jenny Newby were left sobbing as the musical stars paid tribute to Dolly.

Bryan Seaver, Dolly’s head of security and nephew announced the sad news of her passing on social media last month. In the video, he told fans: “Hey everyone. My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my Aunt Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean. Sister, sis, Aunt Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next.”

Tributes from around the world were shared following the news, with Elton John saying he was: “Shocked and devastated to hear of Dolly’s passing. A giant of an artist – unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart.”

Sir Paul McCartney also commented: “The magnificent star Dolly Parton has died and it is so sad. She was such a wonderful woman.” It comes after Dolly was posthumously honoured with the Americana Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americana Awards & Honours Awards last week.

The Grammy winner appeared in a pre-recorded video to accept the award. She beamed in the clip where she accepted the award. “Well, hey, it’s Dolly, and I am so honoured to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association,” she began.

“I mean, roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains. It’s that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee in 1997 to write and record my album, Hungry Again.”

“And that project really opened the door to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that changed the course of my career in so many ways,” she continued.

“Now, new fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them, and now looking back at it all, I see this era of my career as a musical renaissance of sorts.

“I want to thank everyone at the AMA for recognising me with this award. It’s a great honor truly, and just know that I will always love you.”

Among Dolly’s many honours include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, along with being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Country Music Hall of Fame.

Gogglebox airs Fridays on Channel 4 at 9pm