mistake

A FORMER Strictly Come Dancing star revealed signing up for the show was a ‘big mistake’ – having quit due to health struggles.

Comedian and actor Robert Webb was part of the BBC show’s 2021 line-up, partnered with Dianne Buswell.

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The 52-year-old pulled out of Strictly after three dances, on health grounds.

Previously, the comedian had undergone open heart surgery back in 2019.

Speaking to The Times, Robert reflected that he’d accepted the Strictly offer as “these opportunities don’t come along very often.”

He said: “They don’t happen to everyone.

“And I’d just nearly died, so I thought, “This is no time to be sitting on the edges; why don’t you contribute and participate?”

“It all sounded like a good idea at the time.”

Robert added: “It all added up to a big mistake.”

Although he was in “quite good shape” on paper, the star struggled with Strictly’s intense schedule.

He explained: “That schedule is a law unto itself, and I just wasn’t anywhere close to being able to do that.

“I don’t even know if I could now. I don’t think it’d be a very good idea.”

Robert said in a statement at the time of his exit: “I’m extremely sorry to have to announce that I’m withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing due to ill health.

“Two years ago I had open heart surgery and although I believed I was fit enough to take on Strictly and its demanding schedule, it became clear that I had bitten off way more than I could chew for this stage in my recovery.

“I had begun to feel symptoms that led me to seek an urgent consultation with my heart specialist, and it was her view that it would be better for the sake of my health to step back from the show.”

Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis – then starring in EastEnders – went on to win that year’s series.

Robert is best known for working with David Mitchell as comedy duo Mitchell and Webb,

Earlier this year, The Sun told how the duo are reuniting for a new sketch comedy series.

Joining them are Ghosts actor Kiell Smith-Bynoe, as well as comedians Lara Ricote, Stevie Martin and Kystral Evans.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Going through airport security can be stressful and time consuming but if you carry one item in particular it can get a whole lot worse as you risk ruining it forever

A fresh wave of travellers are swapping high tech and digital devices for the nostalgic charm of disposable film cameras, creating spontaneous memories and old-school shots. However, this can all be lost by one mistake at the airport.

This summer, the trend for retro-style photos has taken off, with TikTok hashtags like #DisposableCamera and #DisposableCameraSummer garnering nearly 900,000 views combined. Meanwhile, Google searches for “disposable camera” have also reached 389,000 worldwide in just the past month.

TikTok creators have been sharing dreamy holiday photo dumps with the caption: “This is your sign to take a disposable camera on holiday this summer.” Think white sand beaches, film grain, and perfectly imperfect snapshots that feel straight out of the ’90s.

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It’s all about capturing the moment without the pressure of perfection. The unpredictable outcome of the photos, due to not being able to check how you look and delete, delete, delete, makes them genuine moments that capture honest emotions, spontaneity, and the story behind each shot.

But not every story ends well. One TikTok video came with a warning after a traveller’s excitement turned to heartbreak when her film was ruined after going through airport security scanners. Captioned, “crashing out but lesson learned”, the video was a painful admission that her 39 grainy memories were gone forever.

It’s likely that radiation from the high-powered X-ray scanners at airport security fogged or overexposed the undeveloped film, leaving it streaked, cloudy, or completely blank.

While disposable cameras offer effortlessly cool and authentic vintage photos, all-inclusive holiday provider Travel Republic (www.travelrepublic.co.uk) warns there are some crucial dos and don’ts to keep in mind when taking one on your travels. From dodging airport X-ray damage to mastering the lighting, making the most of your analogue shots takes more than just pressing the shutter.

3 common mistakes to avoid when using a disposable camera

Putting your camera through airport X-ray scanners

Disposable cameras loaded with film are sensitive to X-rays, and newer CT scanners at many airports can be even harsher on film. These scanners emit higher doses of radiation, which can penetrate the camera casing and react with the unprocessed film inside.

Frequent exposure, especially on multi-flight trips and checked baggage scanners (which emit stronger rays), can fog or degrade your images, leaving your holiday memories blurred before you even get home.

To help prevent this, the holiday experts at Travel Republic recommend: “Rather than carrying your disposable camera in checked baggage, have it easily accessible in your hand luggage. You can also request a hand inspection at airport security instead of putting the camera through the X-ray scanners. Lead-lined film bags can also help to shield your camera against X-ray exposure if needed.”

Shooting in the wrong lighting

Most disposable cameras have weak built-in flashes that only work well within a few metres. While bright daylight delivers crisp photos, it often leads to overexposure (images that appear washed out or unnaturally bright), especially with pale skin tones or reflective surfaces. On the flip side, indoor or nighttime shots without proper flash use often come out blurry, dim, or underexposed.

Expecting digital-quality images

Disposable cameras are simple by design. They often produce grainier photos with unpredictable colours and limited contrast, especially in low light, so don’t expect the sharpness and clarity of your smartphone or digital camera.

“To get the clearest images, stick to shooting in bright, natural daylight. If you decide to use the flash indoors or at night, get close to your subject when taking pictures to avoid blurred imagery. Avoiding strong backlighting will also help to stop the camera from confusing exposure and causing silhouettes,” says a Travel Republic expert.

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Many Brits fly to Greece for their summer holidays – and one woman who visited the European country shared one thing you should avoid doing if you visit too

It’s well known that summer is the peak season for traveling overseas, particularly because children are on school break and many destinations enjoy their warmest weather during this time. Brits regularly travel to European favourites, including Spain, France, Greece and Italy, to enjoy seaside breaks and outdoor activities, like watersports.

Whilst these countries sit relatively close to the UK, they have distinct cultural customs and practices that might catch tourists off guard. So Alexa, a British holidaymaker in Greece, took to TikTok to share a useful piece of advice for fellow travellers heading to the southeastern European destination.

She shared a video from a restaurant on the Greek island of Skiathos, showing herself seated around a table with friends, who were the only diners there.

Alexa added the on-screen text: “God forbid a girl makes a dinner reservation at 6.30pm in Greece.”

The clip shows her surrounded by lots of empty tables and chairs throughout the venue. In the caption she wrote: “We’ve learned our lesson but still.”

The video has gained two million views, attracted more than 100,000 likes, and sparked hundreds of comments, with most people agreeing that 6:30 p.m. is too early for dinner in Greece.

One local explained: “At 6:30pm in Greece we’re having our afternoon coffee. Dinner is after 20:00.”

Another chimed in: “The earliest we eat dinner here is 8pm.”

A confused European resident exclaimed: “6:30??? As a European that is diabolical! I’m surprised it was even open.”

Another person, familiar with Greek dining habits, added: “My family in Greece eat dinner around 9-10 PM lol.”

A fourth viewer quipped: “Pretty sure that’s not legal… people still at the beach girl..”

Other holidaymakers confessed in the comments section that they were also unaware of the later dining times typical in Greece compared to the UK.

One shared: “The first night we got here we went for dinner at about 7 and it was empty besides one American family.”

A second echoed: “Girl same we were super early.”

However, another viewer saw a positive: “The lesson here is keep booking for 6.30pm so you don’t have crowds lol.”

Travel agent Greeka suggests that locals may have their last meal as late as 11pm, especially during summer when sunset is around 9pm.

Many Greeks prefer to wait until nightfall before having dinner, as they spend much of their day outside soaking up the sunny, warm climate, with temperatures climbing to 35°C.

According to the travel guide, lunch is typically served between noon and 5pm while restaurants see their busiest dinner hours from 8 to 10pm.

It’s certainly a lifestyle that feels quite different!

It was a sight that’s been all too rare this season, coming precisely when the Dodgers needed it most.

Mookie Betts, bat in hand, game on the line. A swing as smooth as it was strong, his two-handed finish sending the ball out of sight.

For so much of this year, the Dodgers have been picking Betts up amid a career-worst season at the plate.

On Sunday afternoon, with a rivalry game and division lead hanging in the balance, he returned the favor with his biggest moment in what felt like ages.

After once leading by four, then watching the San Diego Padres claw back to tie the score, the Dodgers completed a weekend series sweep on Betts’ go-ahead home run in the eighth.

The no-doubt, 394-foot, stadium-shaking blast sent the Dodgers to a 5-4 win and gave them a two-game lead in the National League West; and had Betts skipping around the bases with a swagger that has been missing for much of the campaign.

“It’s been a long time,” Betts said — since he had delivered such a clutch hit, looked so much like his old self at the dish, and trusted a swing that has frustrated him since the earliest days of the season.

“Finally, I did something good for the boys that’s with the bat. I feel like I’ve done a decent job with the glove. But the bat, I haven’t really been able to help much. So just good to help with that.”

Mookie Betts hits a solo home run for the Dodgers in eighth inning Sunday against the Padres.

As Betts came to the plate in the eighth, Dodger Stadium stood still in a silent, tense trance.

In the first inning, the team had ambushed Padres starter Yu Darvish for four runs on long balls from Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages.

But from there, a crowd of 49,189 watched the Padres slowly come back.

Tyler Glasnow fizzled after two electric opening innings, leaving the game at the end of the fifth after allowing two runs.

A patchwork Dodgers bullpen couldn’t hold off the Padres, giving up runs in the top of the sixth and eighth to make it a 4-4 game.

At that point, San Diego had the advantage. Their league-best bullpen was fresh. Their closer, Robert Suarez, was on the mound. And the Dodgers were almost completely out of pitching options, having burned five relievers to get the previous nine outs.

But then, Betts delivered. In a 2-and-0 count against Suarez, he launched a center-cut fastball deep into the left-field stands.

“To get into a good count and turn that fastball around, that’s the Mookie we like,” manager Dave Roberts said.

“He was able to stay through it, back-spin the ball, hit it over the fence in a big situation,” Freeman echoed. “Been saying it the last few weeks. Mookie Betts is gonna be Mookie Betts. No one here is worried about him.”

That might have been true of his teammates. But for much of the summer, Betts seemed to be battling constant self-doubt.

His swing never felt right, off from the start after a late-spring stomach virus that zapped him of almost 20 pounds. His typical production never materialized, with a lack of power or consistent on-base ability contributing to distant career-lows in batting average (.242), OPS (.683) and home runs (he is on pace for only 17).

“I don’t know how to get through this,” Betts said last month. “I’m working every day. Hopefully it turns.”

When mechanical tweaks and long-trusted swing cues didn’t fix the issue, Betts recently decided to adopt a new mindset.

At the behest of Roberts, and the encouragement of his wife Brianna, Betts began this month by reframing his perspective.

“We’re going to have to chalk [this] up [as] not a great season,” Betts said two weeks ago, at least as far as his overall numbers were concerned. “But I can go out and help the boys win every night. Get an RBI. Make a play. Do something. I’m going to have to shift my focus there.”

Of late, the shift seemed to be working.

From Aug. 5-13, he went 14 for 35 over an eight-game hitting streak with seven RBIs, three extra-base hits and only two strikeouts.

This weekend had been more of a struggle, with Betts going hitless in his first nine at-bats.

But when he came up in the eighth, he had mental clarity. He wasn’t worried about his numbers, or a statline long past saving.

“Just trying to do something productive,” he said. “It definitely helps to not carry burdens from previous at-bats.”

Mookie Betts runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning for the Dodgers against the Padres on Sunday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

As the ball sailed out, landing in a left-field pavilion of rollicking fans, Betts practically floated around the bases, giving a two-handed wave to the bullpen, the team’s Shohei Ohtani-inspired finger swoosh to the dugout, and a couple emphatic salutes to both teammates and the crowd.

“To take the pressure off — trying to recover from the season and get more micro, just game to game, at-bat to at-bat — it’s a better quality of life,” Roberts said. “Certainly, we’re seeing the performance from Mookie.”

And as a result, the Dodgers (71-53) had a triumphant ending to their pivotal rivalry series sweep of the Padres (69-55), going from second place Friday to all alone in first again.

“We just played a good brand of baseball this weekend,” Betts said. “But again, we still got a long way to go.”

Long before the dramatic ending, Sunday had started like the previous two games. The Dodgers were getting good pitching, with Glasnow striking out four of his first five batters while pumping increased fastball velocity and generating foolish swings with his slider. The Padres were making mistakes; most notably, Freddy Fermín getting gunned down by Pages from center while trying to leg out a double in the top of the third, turning what could have been a crooked-number rally into only a one-run inning.

Darvish, meanwhile, made a pair of two-strike mistakes in the first, leaving a fastball up to Freeman for a three-run homer before failing to bury a splitter to Pages for a solo shot.

It all seemed to give the Dodgers full control of the series finale.

In the top of the fifth, however, things began to shift.

Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers in the first inning against the Padres on Sunday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

First, Ramón Laureano lifted a solo drive just over the wall in right to lead off the inning. And though Glasnow got out of a jam later in the inning, his fading command and rising 91-throw pitch count prompted Roberts to go to the bullpen with still 12 outs to go.

In the sixth, Anthony Banda gave up one run on a pair of doubles (the second one, a floating fly ball into the right-field corner from Ryan O’Hearn that slow-footed Teoscar Hernández couldn’t track down).

And though Blake Treinen stranded a runner at third in the seventh — thanks in no small part to a generous strike call against Manny Machado that negated a walk — more trouble arose in the eighth, after Alexis Díaz started by hitting a batter and giving up a double to Laureano on a line drive to center.

“Man, fought our tail off to come back,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “Could have easily said, you know what, it’s not our day again, down four.”

Tying the game, however, was as close as the Padres would get.

Facing the two-on, one-out jam, Roberts summoned Alex Vesia to try and get out of the inning. The left-hander retired both batters he faced, with only a ground ball from Jose Iglesias managing to level the score.

Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia, right, celebrates with catcher Will Smith after the Dodgers’ 5-4 win over the Padres at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

When Vesia returned to the dugout, Roberts phoned to the bullpen, instructing Justin Wrobleski to get loose with the game veering toward extras.

Vesia, however, had a different plan in mind.

“They told me I was done. And I was just like, ‘No,’” Vesia declared. “So I told Doc, I walked up to him and said, ‘Hey, if we’re up [in the ninth], I want it.’ He was like, ‘OK, you got it.’ Sure enough, Mook, bang, homers. Sweet, let’s go.”

Indeed, just when it seemed like all the momentum the Dodgers had built this weekend was suddenly fading, and the series would end with them only tied atop the standings, Betts instead flipped the script with his moment of salvation. Then Vesia returned to the mound for a clean ninth inning — punctuated by a strikeout of Machado that left him one for 11 in the series.

“To really weather the last couple innings, and to get that big hit off a really good closer was big,” Roberts said. “Yeah, feel a lot better today than a week ago.”

The San Diego Padres’ performance on Saturday could probably be put in a tutorial video.

Suggested title: How NOT to play a baseball game.

On a night the surging Padres were trying to bounce back from the Dodgers’ opening win in this weekend’s pivotal three-game series, one that tied the two Southern California rivals atop the National League West standings, the club instead put on an exhibition of poor, sloppy and outright comical execution.

While the once-slumping Dodgers have raised their level of play the last two nights, the Padres have made mistakes even Little League coaches would be reprimanding.

Except in their case, even the coaching appeared to be part of the problem.

In the Dodgers’ 6-0 win — a victory that restored their solo lead in the division, and clinched their head-to-head season series against the Padres in case of a tiebreaker at the end of the year — San Diego did all it could to give the game away from the start.

In the top of the first, three of the Padres’ first four batters recorded a hit against Blake Snell, the ex-Padre left-hander making his first start against the team since leaving in free agency at the end of 2023. But twice, Dodgers catcher Will Smith caught a runner trying to steal second, gunning down Fernando Tatis Jr. after his leadoff single before getting Manny Machado on the back end of an attempted double-steal to retire the side.

“We had a plan,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “And they made some plays.”

Lo and behold, the plan backfired again in the second, with Smith throwing out yet another runner, Xander Bogaerts, with yet another strike to second.

“Through two innings,” Snell joked, “he had three outs and I had three outs.”

Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell delivers against the Padres at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

It was the Dodgers’ first game with three caught stealings since 2021, and it made Smith the first Dodgers catcher with three individually since Russell Martin in 2010.

“Obviously we feel that Will is the best catcher in baseball in totality,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Tonight, he showed it with his arm.”

And, just as importantly, Roberts quickly added: “Essentially, they played 24 outs.”

Somehow, the Padres’ pitching and defense found a way to be even worse.

Starting pitcher Dylan Cease began his outing with three-straight walks in the bottom of the first, spraying the ball around the plate while visibly frustrated.

After a one-out sacrifice fly from Teoscar Hernández, Cease reloaded the bases with another free pass to Andy Pages, and followed that with a hanging curveball to Michael Conforto in a 3-and-0 count that had run full. Conforto was ready for it, ripping a two-run single into right. Seven batters in, the Dodgers had a 3-0 lead.

“Definitely you don’t want to help him out in that situation,” Conforto said. “But he fell behind 3-0, and came back into the zone, and showed that he was going to throw strikes. He wasn’t going to put me on. So, being ready to hit 3-1, and then being ready to hit 3-2, was obviously the plan.”

Dodgers second base Miguel Rojas tags out San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts on a stolen-base attempt in the second inning. Catcher Will Smith threw out three Padres baserunners Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Walks continued to abound in the second, with Cease putting Shohei Ohtani and Smith aboard to create more traffic. This time, the right-hander had appeared to work his way out of it, after Freddie Freeman hit a deep fly ball that died at the warning track in right-center. But on this night, even routine outs were no sure thing.

Sensing Tatis converging from right field, center fielder Jackson Merrill briefly hesitated while pursuing the drive, before awkwardly reaching for it with an underhanded attempt. Predictably, he couldn’t hold on, the ball hitting the heel of his mitt before falling to the ground for a two-run error.

The Dodgers, who went on to get six shutout innings from Snell and a second home run in as many nights from Hernández, would never be threatened again.

“It’s certainly good to be on the other side of things,” Roberts said, after his club had for so long had been the one shooting itself in the foot. “We’ve caught some breaks … but for us to take advantage of them is huge.”

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani scores on a sacrifice fly in the first inning Saturday against the Padres.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

To recap the first two innings one more time:

The Dodgers (70-53) had just one hit, and saw their starting pitcher retire only one of the first five batters he faced — but drew six walks, were gifted a dropped ball and somehow led 5-0.

The Padres (69-54) had four hits — but apparently forgot how to throw up a stop sign, committed the costliest of imaginable errors defensively, and watched their starting pitcher throw 31 balls to only 27 strikes.

That, kids, is decidedly not how it’s done.

“It just got out of hand a little early,” Bogaerts said. “Obviously a little, couple of mistakes.”

Not that the Dodgers seemed all too much to mind.

Over the last couple months, as Roberts eluded to, they had been the team on the wrong end of sloppy fundamentals. What was once a nine-game division lead evaporated in the space of six weeks, thanks to un-clutch offense, unreliable relief pitching and one maddening close loss after another.

But in Friday’s series opener, they had finally played clean baseball, and even more importantly, grinded out a one-run win.

“If you win the close games, that’s how you build,” Freeman theorized last week. “Then you’ll score nine, 10 runs. Then you’ll start putting some things together. But just need to find a way to win those close ones.”

So far in this series, that prediction has come true.

Not that he, or anyone else with the Dodgers, could have expected the Padres to offer so much self-destructive help.

“I’m just happy that we’re playing better baseball,” Roberts said. “We’re playing clean baseball. We’re minimizing the walks, taking walks. Not making outs on the bases, and converting outs when we need to. When you have the talent that we do, you just gotta kind of play good baseball. … So this is a good time to go for the jugular [with a potential series sweep Sunday].”

Travellers flying from this UK airport may want to rethink packing one common food item after a recent incident revealed airport security scanners may flag it as potentially dangerous

Travellers at Gatwick airport carrying one common snack may risk setting off security scanners. The airport’s new state-of-the-art Computed Tomography scanners are not able to distinguish this one fruit from another dangerous device.

In July, a British journalist was travelling through Gatwick’s North Terminal revealed that a long line of travellers looked bemused when security staff questioned whether anyone was carrying fruit in their cabin bags.

The reporter said it was “the last thing” they expected to hear but they were asked if they were carrying an apple by the security staff member charged with going through their backpack. It comes after a ‘traumatised’ family was stranded at Palma Airport after being told they couldn’t board a Jet2 flight.

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The reporter said he didn’t realise he was carrying an apple but when the security guard took it out of his bag, the only explanation they received was: “The scanner doesn’t like apples”. Another similar incident last September also highlighted hiccups resulting from the CT scanners.

Children’s medicine was previously flagged by the new scanners designed to detect explosives. Calpol and liquid Nurofen were both rejected by the CT scanners, posing difficulties for families going abroad. While Calpol, which is liquid paracetamol, is legal to take through security, the software in the new systems hit a glitch, not picking up on them as everyday items.

The expensive kit was reportedly rejecting items with the medicines in, forcing passengers to wait in queues for further security checks causing agonising delays.

The CT scanners were introduced at Gatwick in March across all of its security lanes as part of a multi-million-pound project to cut security lane wait times and better safeguard against potential terrorist attacks. Thus, passengers travelling through London Gatwick no longer need to remove electrical items or place liquids in plastic bags.

It’s been over two years since the Department of Transport announced a “major shake-up of airport security rules” to better screen liquids and electrical items such as laptops. The sophisticated scanners utilise the same technology used for medical scanners to create 3D images of luggage to better detect potential threats.

The security update was highly anticipated by travellers as it would finally end the inconvenient 100ml limit on liquids, aerosols and gels (LAG) for hand luggage.

The limit was initially implemented in 2006 after a foiled terror plot but was only ever meant to be a temporary measure.

Initially, there was a June 2024 deadline for UK airports to integrate the new security measure that would see the 100ml LAG limit scrapped. While some smaller airports across the UK were able to integrate the new scanning equipment by the June deadline, larger airports struggled to meet the deadline for reasons varying from post-COVID supply chain issues to the need for additional construction work.

Walt Disney World Resort, Florida is a family favourite, but social influencer Alex Dobson has dropped a video expressing his thoughts on the park – and it’s gone viral in just a day

With the summer holidays in full swing, many families will be embarking on vacations, whether that’s abroad or as part of a staycation. Some of those seasonal revellers will be lucky enough to be visiting ‘Mickey’s House’, AKA, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida.

It’s estimated that just under 1 million UK visitors travel to Orlando annually, with 80% of those visiting ‘the most magical place of earth’. However, while Disney World and Disney Land are widely loved by children and held with a fierce nostalgia by many parents (and non-parents), the reality can sometimes prove to be less than dreamy.

What’s more, one viral video recently popped the Mickey-ears shaped bubble with one deft swipe. Alex Dodman is a social influencer with roughly 450,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram.

The father-of-three is famous for his ‘real reviews’ of family days out, attractions and holidays, as well as viral trends and cultural events – and now his spotlight is firmly on the Disney resort.

Opening the review with a wry, “It’s almost like we’ve been programmed to think that this is the most magical place on earth”, while filming a motorway gantry leading into the theme park that proclaims the very same, Alex boldly claims that “it’s probably the most overpriced tourist p**stakes in history”.

As many a parent who’s been through the Disney World machine will attest to, the resort is not cheap. A Disney World holiday for a family of four from the UK, including flights, can range from around £6,500 to £15,000 or more, depending on the various packages.

And the repeated financial roundhouse kicks are not entirely conducive to a happy holiday between married people, either, with Alex saying it’s likely they’re going to “pretend they’re having a good time posting about it online, when in reality they’ve probably argued about 1,000 times, been on the brink of divorce, and each child has had an overstimulated meltdown every half an hour”.

According to the influencer: “A ticket to get in here for the day for two adults, two kids and a baby was $709 and because I actually wanted the kids to go on a ride this time, I got some lightning Lane tickets for three rides for an extra $136… How is this even allowed?”

‘Main Street’, the thoroughfare with full view of the Disney Castle, is one to swerve, says Alex.

Not impressed with people that “pretended to cry when they first saw the castle”, he cracked on to the rides – saying that “having some lightning Lane tickets did work well”.

He was less than impressed with the rides themselves, saying the ‘Barnstormer’ “lasted for 25 seconds”, ‘Peter Pan’s Flight’ was “basically pitch black” and ‘It’s a Small World’ was “everyone’s favourite nightmare”.

Conceding that he did understand why “this place is some people’s happy place”, Alex reflected that the ‘trap’ may lie in the fact that Brits have travelled all the way to Orlando.

For that reason, it’s tempting to give in to the cost to embrace a “once in a lifetime” trip. However, he went on to say that: “There’s no way you can enjoy this without having in the back of the mind how utterly screwed you’re being done by Disney”.

Summing up, Alex considered the pay off of such a pricey trip, saying: “Did the kids enjoy it? Yeah. But we also went to Clearwater Beach for the weekend, and they said they had a better time jumping in the sea there, which was free”.

He added: “However you chop it up, it’s way too expensive.”

Comments to the video were mixed, with some wholeheartedly agreeing and others fiercely defending the place that they deeply love.

Many pointed out that Alex’s big mistake was not booking park hopper tickets that make the experience a whole lot more affordable. Doing more research could have helped him to avoid the busiest queues, too.

One follower helpfully supplied: “Yeah, feels like you need so much insider knowledge to not be stung so much with Disney. Park hopper tickets are a better and cheaper option. Staying at Disney property helps for costs with parking for free and dining plans.”

Another person was keen to help too, saying: “Disney World takes a lot of research to do it well and paying for lightning lanes on these type of rides shows you didn’t complete basic training in Disney world trip planning. I think it’s to do with having really little kids too it’s so much fun in the bigger better rides with older kids”.

One poster was relived that they weren’t missing out, saying: “Thank you for blessing us poor who can’t get there that we aren’t depriving our kids and ourselves of the most magical experience on earth”.

And one full-blown fan was clear where her loyalty lay, expressing: “I’m in the Disney cult. Please don’t save me if I blink. They can take my hard earned cash from me so I can walk down that busy street, get tears in my eyes and reminisce of days gone by. “

The film is based on Richard Osman’s 2020 novel of the same name, but not everything has made it into the adaptation.

The Thursday Murder Club, which now has a full trailer, airs on Netflix on August 28 and fans of Richard Osman’s novel are desperate to see how it has been adapted for the small screen.

Boasting a star-studded cast, the movie follows four retirees who spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but they end up with a real whodunit on their hands.

The film stars Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, Pierce Brosnan as Ron, Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim and Celia Imrie as Joyce, and it was directed by Chris Columbus.

Chris said of the film: “There’s a wonderful mystery at its core, so fans of detective and thriller films will not be disappointed.

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“Thematically, I found it interesting that at the heart of the novel, there are four elderly people, living in a retirement community, who are obsessed with death and murder.

“They are in the last act of their lives, facing their own mortality, yet they are somehow obsessed with studying cold cases that deal with violent murders. I fell in love with that concept. It’s darkly comedic and deeply emotional.”

Translating the complex 350 page novel, which is full of plot twists, into a screenplay was actor and comedian Katy Brand’s responsibility.

“I remember thinking ‘there’s so much to play with here – it’s such an explosion of ideas.’ My immediate sense regarding adapting the book was that I wanted to draw out the emotion and Chris Columbus seemed to respond to that when we first met,” she said.

Chris opened up about how he initially became involved in the project, admitting the first scripts were not to his liking.

He said: “I was a fan of the books, but the initial scripts I read veered far from the novel. I felt that this was a mistake and I wanted to preserve what everyone loved about the book.

“When I first met with the writer, Katy Brand, I was convinced that she not only understood what made the novel so incredibly popular with readers around the world.

“But she also had the vision to write a film that was faithful to the source material. Katy’s draft was wonderful.

“And it was because of that draft that we were able to get so many British acting legends to commit to our film.”

The film also stars Naomi Ackie as PC Donna De Freitas, Daniel Mays as DCI Chris Hudson, Tom Ellis as Jason Ritchie, Jonathan Pryce as Stephen Best and David Tennant as Ian Ventham.

The Thursday Murder Club airs on Netflix on August 28

The Story Bridge in Brisbane is one of a handful in the world that you can climb – there’s one mistake I was warned not to make and yet instantly did it

I knew I should have listened the second I did it. “Don’t look down,” my friend advised, having just made the same mistake on our trip to Australia.

But it was too late, I was already gazing through the gaping slats 262ft (80m) down to the fast current of the river below, waves sloshing through the brown water that had me questioning why we’d opted for an activity holiday.

Head slightly spinning, I raised my eyes a little to the cars whizzing across the bridge I was precariously hanging from the top of. All very disconcerting but undeniably an experience of a lifetime. (After all, I’d already survived a kayaking trip through shark-infested waters).

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The Story Bridge in the city centre of Brisbane is one of only a few in the world that you’re able to safely climb over the top of. And while it felt precarious at the top I knew deep down I couldn’t possibly fall as I was firmly attached to a steel cable.

I just wish my head had been able to convince my pounding heart of the same. I’d been all bravado beforehand.

Living in London I’m very used to the sight of bridges so at first I didn’t worry too much – it didn’t look that high… When you’re standing at the bottom looking up at the 1,088 steps to the top however, it’s a different kettle of fish. But, after a thorough safety briefing and freshly kitted out in a very, erm, fetching jumpsuit and harness it was time to climb.

Attaching a rock-climbing style carabiner to the cable that runs the entire width of the bridge, my expert guide from the Story Bridge Adventure Climb assured us there was no chance of taking a tumble and plummeting to our deaths so, wobbly-legged, we set off up the stairs.

At first it’s hard not to just stare at the next step but soon the spectacular views begin to creep into your eyeline until after a few minutes you forget to worry and simply look around in awe.

The Brisbane river – known locally as the brown snake due to the colour from the silt at its base – can be seen winding its way through the skyscrapers of the city. And from the gantry at the pinnacle of the bridge our guide pointed out the main sights and recounted the history of the bridge itself.

Built from 1935 and originally known as the Jubilee Bridge in honour of King George V, it opened five years later to a crowd of 37,000 people. Its name was later changed to the Story Bridge in recognition of John Douglas Story who fought for it to be built to provide employment and a sense of community during the Great Depression.

It’s reasonably pricey at £75 for the two-hour tour but it’s one of remarkably few in the world that you can climb. The Sydney Harbour Bridge started the trend in 1998 and as well as the Story Bridge, you can also now climb the Matagarup Bridge in Perth, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Kobe, Japan, Auckland Bridge in New Zealand, Porto Bridge in Portugal and the bridge over the New River Gorge in West Virginia, USA (though that one goes under the bridge rather than over it).

As we headed back to more solid ground, there was a general air of elation. We had conquered our fears and done something extraordinary that we’d always remember.

You can find out more and book the Story Bridge Adventure Climb at storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au. For more information on Brisbane and Queensland visit www.queensland.com.

Do you have a story to tell us? Email us at [email protected].

THE last thing we want to do is cause a panic among Dream Team managers before a ball has been kicked.

But it’s our duty to highlight any discrepancies worthy of discussion as the Gameweek 1 deadline draws near and so we feel compelled to discuss Caoimhin Kelleher (£3m).

PLAY DREAM TEAM AHEAD OF THE 2025/26 SEASON! OVER £100,000 IN PRIZE MONEY

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As it stands, the Republic or Ireland international is set to start the 2025/26 season as the most popular goalkeeper in Dream Team.

MOST POPULAR GOALKEEPERS IN DREAM TEAM AHEAD OF GAMEWEEK 1 (% OWNERSHIP)

• 11.6%  Caoimhin Kelleher
• 9.7%  Robert Sanchez
• 9.2%  Matz Sels
• 9%  David Raya
• 8.7%  Alisson

Before we get cynical, let’s be clear that Kelleher is a very fine keeper.

Last season, he performed superbly for Liverpool while Alisson was sidelined with injury for a sustained period from mid-October until Christmas.

Most notably, he saved two penalties in the space of four days against Southampton and Real Madrid to grab the headlines.

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During this time, Kelleher was something of a Dream Team cheat code as he was a cheap starter for the best team in the country and gaffers who took advantage of this situation were rewarded with plentiful points.

In fact, his average of 5.3 points-per-game was among the highest in his position for 2024/25.

This summer, the 26-year-old has transferred from Liverpool to Brentford in a move that will make him No1 for the first time in his career.

Kelleher’s historical record and the promise of increased minutes are the reasons he’s a popular choice among Dream Team bosses, not to mention his affordable price.

However, at the risk of coming across all doom and gloom, there are some issues to be addressed.

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Firstly, a simple truth must be stated: Brentford are not Liverpool.

Clean sheets are the primary currency for keepers in Dream Team but it generally takes a team effort to repel the opposition.

You could have Lev Yashin, Gigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer all between the sticks at once but if they aren’t given suitable protection then it is inevitable they will concede goals.

Last season, Brentford conceded 57 league goals, 16 more than champions Liverpool.

But even that doesn’t tell the full story of the disparity between Kelleher’s old club and his new employers.

The Bees conceded a whopping 646 shots in total, only Southampton gave up more opportunities.

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The xG stats are kinder to the West London outfit, suggesting that six teams defended worse, but Dream Team managers should realise that clean sheets will be much harder for Kelleher to come by at the Gtech.

His predecessor, Mark Flekken, made more saves (159) than any other Dream Team goalkeeper last season, another indication of Brentford’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Of course, racking up lots of saves is another way to earn points – perhaps Kelleher’s best avenue going forward – but it’s difficult to make waves without clean sheets and let’s not forget that conceding goals can lead to minus points.

Another big concern is that Brentford might find life harder in the top flight this campaign.

They have lost Thomas Frank, Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo, with Yoane Wissa also linked to other clubs.

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Keith Andrews has been appointed head coach and has a huge task ahead of him.

Pre-season predictions are often foolish in hindsight but many pundits are envisaging a taxing season for the Bees.

We’re not saying that Kelleher is a horrible selection but, given all the factors, it seems unusual that he’s more popular than all his rivals.

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Whilst all-inclusive holidays are a popular option for many, there are certain risks travellers need to be aware of before jetting off, and one expert has shared some top tips

A travel expert has issued a stark warning that while all-inclusive getaways might appear tempting, they can pose certain dangers.

Before flying out to your resort, it’s crucial to understand potential threats, particularly when it comes to food and drinks.

Grant Winter, a compliance officer at travel insurance company Good To Go, warns that food in certain destinations may harbour illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A.

More frequently, though, holidaymakers could be struck down by a. nasty bout of sickness and diarrhoea from food or beverages contaminated with bacteria the body is not used to.

To help guarantee tourists can enjoy their getaway without being stuck in their rooms, Winter has the following dos and don’ts…

Water

He highlights the significance of water safety, recommending travellers choose bottled water as the most dependable option when overseas, even if internet sources suggest local tap water is safe.

He insists: “Ensure the lid of the bottle is well sealed before you drink it. If you can’t get access to bottled water for whatever reason, only drink tap water that has been boiled, use chlorine tablets or iodine to sterilise the water.

“Always be sure to avoid prolonged exposure to iodine though – this method isn’t best when doing it more than once or twice.”

Buffet dangers

Grant cautions against eating cooked food that’s been left out for too long. He recommends hitting the all-inclusive buffet early to avoid food that’s been exposed to the elements for a prolonged period.

He further advises: “It’s also better to avoid food that has flies buzzing around it, and only eat raw fruit and vegetables that you have peeled yourself to reduce the risk of contamination.”

Steer clear of ice

While water should be approached with caution, ice presents another problem, as Grant explains. “Don’t forget about the risk of ice cubes in your drinks. In many cases, these are probably made from untreated tap water (however, some large resorts do use bottled water, so it’s always worth checking), which can cause you to get sick.”

Be aware of food poisoning risks

Grant emphasises that you “should always check to see if the food is piping hot throughout before eating, but when abroad you should be extra vigilant of this.

“For example, eating tropical fish that haven’t been cooked properly can lead to ciguatera fish poisoning, and unpasteurised dairy such as ice cream from a street vendor, could harbour salmonella, E.coli, listeria, or campylobacter, leading to food poisoning.”

Don’t forget personal hygiene

The expert emphasised that, although it may seem self-evident, this should be your “number one priority abroad to help avoid food poisoning and contamination. Always wash your hands after the toilet and before eating or preparing food, and make sure you take an alcohol-based hand gel to use when you’re out and about before eating any food.”

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Linda Trestrail, 69, and Wendy Russell, 71, had their tickets checked five times but still ended up on the wrong flight. The pair have blasted Jet2 for the “catalogue of disasters”

Two elderly women have slammed Jet2 saying their holiday was “ruined” after a major airport error.

Linda Trestrail, 69, and Wendy Russell, 71, had their boarding passes verified five times but still ended up on the incorrect aircraft. The blunder was only discovered when the captain announced they were touching down in Menorca instead of Majorca.

Jet2 apologised for the “human error” and blamed it partly on the special assistance provider at Bristol Airport. But the women were left furious about the “catalogue of disasters” and claimed they had not received any compensation at the time of the incident.

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Linda said: “You hear of bags going on the wrong flights but not people. The reason we booked Majorca is because of the short flight, we knew our mobility wasn’t good so didn’t want to do much travelling – we are disabled pensioners.”

She added: “You get compensated if you get delayed or lose luggage – but they lost us, not the b****y baggage.”

The pair were given wheelchair assistance at Bristol Airport and helped onto the shuttle bus and plane. Linda said they showed their tickets to the luggage desk, security, a gate desk person, and a ground crew member on the bus – who even did a head count.

She added: “Jet2 are the only ones who do double security check on tickets – so they did that, and then we were directed to our seats on the flight. A cabin crew member asked if we were in the right seats, I said yes but she took our tickets away and confirmed we were in the correct seats.

“Then the captain says we’re landing in Menorca in 10 minutes. Chaos ensued. I cried to Wendy, ‘Oh my god, Wendy! He said Menorca not Majorca!’ I told the flight attendant we were on the wrong plane – and she burst out laughing.

“Our tickets were checked five times – even by the flight attendant twice on the plane. Two passengers had flown from Bristol Airport to Menorca – and Jet2 didn’t even know who was on their plane.”

It emerged that three seats on that flight were vacant, and Wendy and Linda were occupying two of them – settling into the numbered seats they had been allocated on their original flight to Palma De Majorca. The stunned pair were instructed to remain on the aircraft, as the captain introduced himself and confessed he had never witnessed or encountered such a blunder in his entire career.

Despite his offer to personally fly the ladies back to Majorca, Linda claims that Jet2’s CEO, Steve Heapy, “was going mental”, and they were unable to return to Majorca or even stay on the plane “due to security reasons”.

Wendy, who has undergone three brain surgeries and suffers from arthritis, expressed her disbelief: “We went through five major checks there and no one picked up the error – it begs the question about what is going on. They are banging on about security, security, security – but we could’ve been anybody.”

To add insult to injury, when they enquired about their luggage, they discovered their bags had arrived in Majorca without them.

Wendy highlighted this as a serious security breach: “I had my injection in my suitcase – our families were so worried. Our luggage was on the right plane as it took off with two bags without the passengers – that’s so concerning. They are allegedly so concerned about the seriousness of it, but whichever way you look at it it’s a major breach of security. Two suitcases that could have had anything in them.”

The women waited at Menorca airport with the “kind assistance” of a Jet2 manager, enduring several hours before travelling on an internal flight with other employees. Upon reaching their intended destination – Palma De Majorca – a private car was arranged to take the pair to their resort.

Linda said: “We were supposed to be at the resort for 1pm – but neither of us knew what time it was by now. The transport coach we had booked had gone hours and hours ago – and from minute we left home it was around 17 hours later our feet and legs were like balloons”.

“Then the Jet2 rep at the resort wouldn’t even meet us there, she called me and said she had left – and apparently didn’t have time to see to two disabled pensioners – I was furious.”

The journey that ought to have taken them just five hours from departing their homes at 3am on 26 September – dragged on for more than 17 hours.

Linda and Wendy say they crumpled in their room when they finally arrived. But the letdown continued for the unlucky pair – who by this stage were in “such an awful state”. Linda says she got a phone call from a different Jet2 representative two days afterwards, offering the disabled women a ‘complimentary excursion’ – despite them being unable to walk.

She revealed: “He told us that because of our ordeal, they were going to give us a free excursion – I said ‘Are you joking – a what? Do you realise we can’t even walk let alone go for an excursion?

“We’ve been in a state. He replied it was a gesture of good will for what we’ve been through, I honestly thought he was joking and said I’m putting in formal complaint before we leave – we couldn’t go anywhere with our legs and feet swollen and we were in such a bad state. He told us to go to the CEO, Steven Heapy, when we got home and said we would be compensated.”

Wendy and Linda found themselves the talk of the town during their holiday, with Linda recounting: “We went on the beach one day and a man came up to us and said, ‘You two aren’t the ladies who were put on the wrong flight?’ Everyone knew us. We tried to make the best of the situation – but honestly, it was disgraceful.”

The duo, who confessed to feeling “terrified” during their return flight to England on October 6, 2023, claimed their holiday was “ruined”. They have been waiting for a response from Jet2 since then, despite their travel agent from Hays Travel and their children reaching out to the airline.

They say they’ve only received an apology from Bristol Airport so far.

They are still seeking compensation for their “spoilt” holiday. Wendy stated: “You put your faith in these people and when you think of the checks, with tickets passed backwards and forwards plus they were checked again on the plane. There were two Jet2 planes at fault and Bristol Airport. Luckily it was trauma for us – but for someone else, it could have been a lot worse – a lot worse, and this should never happen again.”

Jet2 has since apologised for the mishap. A spokesperson stated: “We would like to offer our sincere apologies to Mses. Trestrail and Russell for this incident. This is an extremely isolated incident and although there was no security risk, we have of course investigated it as a matter of urgency, including with the third-party special assistance provider. We can confirm that the customers went through security correctly, and their luggage was also screened correctly.

“However, after these checks the customers were taken to the incorrect aircraft, which is the responsibility of the third-party special assistance provider at the airport. Upon boarding the aircraft, the incorrect destination on their boarding passes was unfortunately not identified and we apologise for this oversight which was down to human error.

“We have carried out additional training with the team to ensure this does not happen again. As soon as we learned of the issue, our team booked Mses. Trestrail and Russell onto the soonest available flight from Menorca to Majorca and they also provided all the assistance they could both throughout their journey and the rest of their holiday.

“We have been in touch with Mses. Trestrail and Russell to offer an appropriate gesture of goodwill and once again offer our sincere apologies. We understand they are due to travel with us once again this year, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard and delivering the usual VIP customer experience that we are recognised for.”

A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said: “Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention, we will continue to work with the airline and the special assistance provider to further investigate the circumstances and introduce improvements for the future.”

Sometimes you just want a moment back. Just one tiny moment. For example, the moment that a kiss-cam busted you and your head of HR for cheating at a Coldplay concert on Wednesday night.

Andy Byron, chief executive of data-infrastructure company Astronomer Inc., was caught on camera holding human resources chief Kristin Cabot — a woman who is not his wife — tenderly in his arms.

The moment was an instant classic for those attending the concert: “Ohhh, look at these two,” singer Chris Martin said as the cam spotlighted the couple, prompting Byron to suddenly, awkwardly duck out of camera range while Cabot turned her back, covered her face and ultimately fled.

“Wait, what? Either they’re having an affair,” Martin said, “or they’re just very shy.”

Or maybe, just maybe, they were actually really stupid to react that way? No cheating experts here, but if they had simply smiled and continued their loving embrace, the details of their entanglement might have stayed unknown to the 65,000 or so folks packed into Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots.

All they had to do was nothing.

But ooh, they did something.

So much for conscious uncoupling. Nice move, Martin.

But the singer wasn’t really to blame for this week’s hottest story. What happened in Foxborough, Mass., could have stayed in Foxborough, Mass., were it not for one Grace Springer. Springer is reportedly the 28-year-old who posted the clip on TikTok. She told the U.K. Sun she made the video public because she thought the couple’s “something” was “an interesting reaction.”

“A part of me feels bad for turning these people’s lives upside down, but, play stupid games … win stupid prizes,” Springer said before adding that she hoped their partners could “heal” and get a second chance at happiness.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Ouch.

The internet, of course, has been quite happy to mete out those stupid prizes left and right.

There’s now merch to commemorate the moment, including one tee on Etsy that simply reads, “Not Shy. Just Married. #Coldplaygate.”

Another seller is offering a sweatshirt that screams in all-caps, “I TOOK MY SIDEPIECE TO THE COLDPLAY CONCERT AND IT RUINED MY LIFE.” One T-shirt dips its toes into political waters, urging people to MAPA: “Make Affairs Private Again!” The tee with an actual photo of the couple is unlikely to last long, what with copyright and all, but the animated version might hang around a bit longer.

Alas, there are no koozies for sale. Not yet.

Then there are the memes. One shows the couple with the hitchhiking ghosts from the famous finish of Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride. Another shows Miss Piggy in the arms of a tall Fozzie Bear, with a sign in one corner saying “Coldplay’s Caught-in-the-Act Cam.” On X, Elon Musk chuckled at an image of the couple reimagined in the style of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.” Then there was the classic MasterCard meme: “Priceless.”

“Coldplay hasn’t made a single in years,” one wit said on X, posting a still from the video. “Last night, they made two.”

“This is outdated,” another account said, commenting on a ChatGPT blurb about a Taylor Swift ticket allegedly selling for $200,000 on the secondary market. “Coldplay now holds the record for most expensive concert ticket ever sold.”

“Uh, it’s time to ‘Kiss It Goodbye,’ ” ESPN’s Randy Scott said as he and “SportsCenter” co-anchor Gary Striewski reenacted the viral moment live Friday morning. “Baseball’s probably not the only thing you could say that about recently.”

And if Andy Byron appeared to be having some really bad days, what about other dudes named Andy Byron? “NOT THE GUY FROM THE COLDPLAY GIG” reads the Threads bio of one such Andy, who apparently hails from Dublin. “The only one having a worse day than Andy Byron is all the other Andy Byrons,” one user snarked.

However, an apology statement attributed to the Astronomer CEO turned out to be fake, according to the company itself.

The real Astronomer Inc. announced Friday that it is looking into the matter and that Alyssa Stoddard, whoever that poor thing is, is not in the video. Um, we were concerned? Turns out Stoddard is the company’s VP of HR, a step or so down from Cabot, and probably doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in this context at all.

“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability,” the company said in a post on LinkedIn. “The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.”

Additional. Details. Very. Shortly.

Soooooo — the fun won’t be ending any time soon.

Meanwhile, the real Andy Byron’s real wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, nuked the “Byron” from her name on Facebook and then deactivated her account entirely amid an onslaught of comments from the public, according to Newsweek.

Looks like she’s choosing to do something instead of nothing, too.

Burglars no longer case streets, instead they scroll through social media and send fake friend requests to gain access to private posts, which could leave you at risk

When you’re away on holiday, it’s incredibly tempting to share updates with everyone back home. However, that innocent photo of your hotel room or boarding pass could potentially cost you thousands if you’re not cautious.

According to Forum Insurance, posting real-time social media updates might invalidate your home insurance should you fall victim to burglary whilst away. This stems from “reasonable care” provisions included in numerous policies, reports the Express.

Insurance companies may contend that publicly announcing your home is empty constitutes negligence.

Niraj Mamtora, Director and Home Insurance Expert at Forum Insurance, explained that criminals have become far more sophisticated nowadays.

He stated: “Burglars aren’t just casing streets anymore, they’re scrolling through Instagram stories and Facebook timelines.

“With this in mind, insurers expect policyholders to take reasonable care to protect their property, and that now includes being cautious about what you share online.”

“For example, posting ‘Off to Greece for two weeks!’ could be considered negligence under policy terms, similar to leaving doors unlocked.”

Even sharing within private groups offers no protection, he warned: “Screenshots can circulate, and insurers may argue you didn’t sufficiently limit audience access.

“Many insurers include clauses requiring policyholders to ‘take care to prevent loss.’

If you publicly broadcast your holiday plans, insurers could argue you breached this duty. Always assume anything shared online, even privately, could be seen by criminals.”

Niraj warns that even innocent-looking posts can alert criminals: “They often monitor public profiles or send fake friend requests to gain access to private posts.

“Even something as simple as tagging yourself at the airport or sharing a boarding pass photo can give criminals a clear window of opportunity.”

To protect yourself from criminals while on holiday, there are several precautions you can take.

Niraj advises checking your insurance policy for clauses like “reasonable care” or “unforced entry”, and suggests waiting until you’re back home before posting holiday snaps.

It’s also wise to set your social media accounts to private, regularly review your friends list, and decline friend requests from people you don’t know.

Fox News host Jesse Watters acknowledged Thursday that his program made a mistake in reporting on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s phone conversation with President Trump during last month’s immigration raids in Los Angeles.

Newsom filed a $787-million defamation lawsuit against Watters and Fox News on June 27 after the host reported on comments Trump made about a phone call with the governor as tensions heated up over the raids and the president’s decision to deploy the National Guard.

Newsom’s lawsuit said Watters lied on his prime-time program about the timeline of his conversations with the president.

After the lawsuit was filed in a Delaware court, Newsom’s lawyers said they were prepared to drop the suit if the governor got a retraction and a formal on-air apology. The suit claims Fox News willfully distorted the facts about the Trump call to harm the governor politically.

Asked for a reaction to Watters’ remarks about the matter, Newsom showed no signs of backing down. “Discovery will be fun,” he said in a statement. “See you in court buddy.”

Watters’ on-air persona is snarky and tongue-in-cheek and he did not deviate from it when he addressed the Newsom matter. He acknowledged he misunderstood Newsom’s social media post on Trump’s remarks and used the words “I’m sorry.” But it was far from a fulsome apology.

“Fox News invited [Newsom] on the show to talk it out man to man, but he said no,” Watters said.

The dust-up began after Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on June 10 that he spoke to Newsom “a day ago — called him up tell him you’ve got to do a better job, you’re doing a bad job.” Trump’s comment gave the impression that the two spoke on the same day 700 Marines were deployed in Los Angeles.

Newsom refuted the claim in a post on X. The governor had already said publicly he spoke to Trump after midnight Eastern time on June 7 and the National Guard was not discussed. They never spoke after that.

“There was no call,” Newsom posted on X. “Not even a voicemail. Americans should be alarmed that a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn’t even know who he’s talking to.”

Newsom’s lawyers allege in the complaint that by making the call seem more recent, Trump could suggest they discussed the deployment of troops to Los Angeles, which they had not.

Trump sent Fox News anchor John Roberts a screen shot showing the June 7 date stamp of the phone call, which Watters showed on his program to assert that Newsom was lying when he said they did not speak.

When Watters showed a clip of Trump’s June 10 comments about the call on his program, it omitted the portion where the president said he spoke to Newsom the previous day. A banner at the bottom of the screen read: “Gavin lied about Trump’s call.”

Watters told viewers Thursday he believed Newsom’s X post asserted that the two had not spoken at all.

“‘Not even a voicemail’ — we took that to mean there was no call ever,” Watters said.

“We thought the dispute was about whether there was a phone call at all when he said without qualification that there was no call,” the host continued. “Now Newsom’s telling us what was in his head when he wrote the tweet. He didn’t deceive anybody on purpose, so I’m sorry, he wasn’t lying. He was just confusing and unclear. Next time, governor, why don’t you say what you mean.”

The $787-million figure in the lawsuit is the amount Fox News paid to Dominion Voting Systems to settle another defamation case in 2023. Fox agreed to pay the company, which said the network aired false claims that its voting equipment was manipulated to help President Biden win the 2020 election.

Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report.

Los Angeles County leaders are scrambling to restore a sweeping racial justice initiative that voters accidentally repealed, a mistake that could threaten hundreds of millions of dollars devoted to reducing the number of people in jail.

County supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to ask their lawyers to find a way to bring back the ballot measure known as Measure J, which required the county to put a significant portion of its budget toward anti-incarceration services.

Voters learned last week that they had unwittingly repealed the landmark criminal justice reform, passed in 2020 in the heat of the Black Lives Matter movement, when they voted for a completely unrelated measure to overhaul the county government last November.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who spearheaded the county overhaul — known as Measure G — along with Supervisor Janice Hahn, called it a “colossal fiasco.”

“This situation that has unfolded is enraging and unacceptable at every level. What has transpired is sloppy,” Horvath said Tuesday. “It’s a bureaucratic disaster with real consequences.”

The county says it’s looking at multiple options to try to get Measure J permanently back in the charter — which dictates how the county is governed — including a change in state law, a court judgment or a ballot measure for 2026.

“We cannot and we won’t let this mistake invalidate the will of the voters,” Hahn said.

County lawyers say the mistake stems from a recently discovered “administrative error.”

Last November, voters approved Measure G, which expands the five-person Board of Supervisors to nine members and brings on an elected chief executive, among other overhauls.

What no one seemed to realize — including the county lawyers who write the ballot measures — is that one measure would wipe out the other.

Measure G rewrote a chunk of the charter with no mention of anti-incarceration funding, effectively wiping out the county’s promise to put hundreds of millions toward services that keep people out of jail and support them when they leave.

The repeal will take effect in 2028, giving the county three years to fix it.

“I do agree that there’s all kinds of reasons to be outraged, but the sky is not falling. Even if you think the sky is falling, it won’t fall until December 2028,” said Rob Quan, who leads a transparency-focused good-government advocacy group. “We’ve got multiple opportunities to fix this.”

The mistake was first spotted last month by former Duarte City Councilmember John Fasana, who sits on a task force in charge of implementing the county government overhaul. The county confirmed the mistake to The Times last week, a day after Fasana publicly raised the issue to his unsuspecting fellow task force members.

The measure’s critics say the mistake adds credence to their arguments that the county overhaul was put together too hastily.

“It seems to be that if one has to go back on the ballot, it ought to be [Measure] G,” said Fasana, noting it passed by a narrower margin.

Otherwise, he says, the county has set an unnerving precedent.

“It’s almost like setting a blueprint to steal an election,” said Fasana, who opposed both the anti-incarceration funding and the government overhaul measures. “You’ve got this way to basically nullify something that was passed by voters.”

Some worry that putting either measure back on the ballot runs the risk of voters rejecting it this time around.

Measure G faced significant opposition — including from two sitting supervisors — who argued an elected chief executive would be too powerful and the measure left too much of this new government ill-defined. It narrowly passed with just over 51% of the vote.

The anti-incarceration measure also faced heavy opposition in 2020, particularly from the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, which spent more than $3.5 million on advertising on TV and social media. The measure passed with 57% of the vote.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled it unconstitutional after a group of labor unions — including the sheriff’s deputies union — argued it hampered politicians’ ability to manage taxpayer money as they see fit. An appellate court later reversed the decision.

Measure J requires that 10% of locally generated, unrestricted L.A. County money be spent on social services such as housing, mental health treatment and other jail diversion programs. That’s equivalent to roughly $288 million this fiscal year. The county is prohibited from spending the money on the carceral system — prisons, jails or law enforcement agencies.

Derek Hsieh, the head of the sheriff’s deputies union and a member of the governance reform task force, said the union had consulted with lawyers and believed the county would be successful if it tried to resolve the issue through a court judgment.

“A change in state law or running another ballot measure — it’s kind of like swimming upstream,” he said. “Those are the most expensive difficult things.”

Megan Castillo, a coordinator with the Reimagine LA coalition, which pushed for the anti-incarceration measure, said if the group has to go back to the ballot, it will try to slash the language that it feels gives the county too much wiggle room on how funding is allocated. The coalition has clashed repeatedly with county leadership over just how much money is actually meant to be set aside under Measure J.

“If we do have to go to the ballot box, we’re going to be asking for more,” she said.

City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who helped get the anti-incarceration measure on the ballot, said she felt suspicious of the error by county lawyers, some of whom she believed were never fully on board with the measure in the first place.

“I just feel like they’re too good at their jobs for this error to occur,” said Hernandez, who said the news landed like a “slap in the face.”

County leaders have emphasized that the error was purely accidental and brushed aside concerns that the repeal would have any tangible difference on what gets funded.

When Measure J was temporarily overturned by the court, the board promised to carry on with both the “spirit and letter” of the measure, reserving a chunk of the budget for services that keep people out of jail and support those returning. That will still apply, they say, even if Measure J is not reinstated.

The motion passed Tuesday directs the county to work on an ordinance to ensure “the continued implementation of measure J” beyond 2028.

A security officer has revealed a common mistake the majority of passengers make when going through airport security, and doing this will get you stopped and searched.

An airport worker has revealed the most common mistake passengers make when going through security – that leads to them being stopped the majority of the time. Going on holiday is exciting, but it can also be stressful. A security airport for one of London’s busiest airports has shared advice to help you avoid delays getting to your gate.

On average, London’s Heathrow Airport handles approximately 1,300 flights per day across all four terminals. According to OAG, it’s also one of the busiest airports in the world. One important thing to note is that travel restrictions are different depending on the country.

READ MORE: Brits urged to leave one appliance door open before going away on holiday

It’s best to learn the rules beforehand to avoid getting stopped and getting second-hand embarrassment. He told Travel Radar: “Your bags will be rejected and have to be manually searched if you don’t remove certain items – these are CAA and DfT rules we have to follow, and we have no power to change or circumvent them.”

The security officer also explained that there’s always a reason why people have to empty their pockets or their bags. Whenever unsure, ask any member of staff. Otherwise, be prepared to have a ten-minute bag search.

Whenever travelling, it’s important to empty all of your pockets before passing through, as the scanners can detect anything that may seem suspicious. Even an extra pocket on your trousers could set the red alarm.

READ MORE: Airport worker’s suitcase hack that means it comes off the plane first

Most importantly, travellers are to pack smartly, considering the number of items they’re bringing with them and their shape. For instance, some countries have ditched the rule of putting all liquids under 100ml in a transparent plastic bag, and can now be spread in the luggage. However, some airports still ask travellers to do so.

As a former check-in agent, there was a time when a passenger had to have his luggage searched because he had a toy shaped like a gun, but it turned out to be a harmless water pistol. Those items are better off left at home – and I’m sure this passenger learnt his lesson for his next time travelling.

With Brits heading off to sunny destinations for the summer, it’s best to take precautions when it comes to travelling. If you’re a nervous flyer, it’s best to get to the airport with time to spare, but either way, it’s best to avoid getting stuck at security.

Have you ever had an encounter at the airport while going through security? Let us know in the comments below.

Brits on holidays this summer have been warned not to make an easy poolside mistake or they could risk facing some pretty hefty fees if things go wrong

There’s nothing quite like cooling off in the pool after basking in the sunshine while on holiday. However, Brits are being warned to stay vigilant if they step away from their sunlounger, or they could risk some hefty fees.

A travel insurance expert has warned that there are some easy mistakes we all make that quickly invalidate your travel insurance, meaning that if things do go wrong it’s likely your claim will be rejected.

One of those is stepping away from your bag, even if you can see it from the pool and feel like your surroundings are fairly secure.

“Stepping away from your bag for even a few minutes can invalidate your claim,” warns Niraj Mamtora, Director at Forum Insurance. “People think a quick dip or a trip to the bar is harmless, but from an insurance perspective, you’ve left those items unguarded. That’s classed as negligence. Most policies will state clearly that unattended belongings in public areas are not covered, regardless of how short the time or how secure you felt.”

READ MORE: Brit couple furious over ‘unfair’ sunbed rules after hotel issues stern warningREAD MORE: Europe’s ‘sunniest beach’ has golden sands, crystal waters and flights from £17.99

It’s not just about insurance either. Hotels are increasingly cracking down on people who leave their belongings unattended for a few hours, in a bid to fight back against sunbed wars. This has included introducing time limits on how long staff will leave an unattended lounger before picking up the belongings and taking them to reception, where holidaymakers can retrieve them.

‘Sunbed wars’ see people frantically rushing in the early hours of the morning to leave their towels on sunbeds to claim these for the day. However, tensions rise when people do this but don’t return for hours at a time, leaving others unable to enjoy the pool despite there being empty beds.

READ MORE: Sleep expert reveals when you should try to stay awake on flights to beat jet lagREAD MORE: Holiday warning for Brits as selfie mistake could land you with £100,000 fine

Just recently, holidaymakers were spotted using a sneaky tactic before the pool staff had even laid out the loungers, with other tourists slamming the “pathetic” behaviour. Meanwhile, one British couple was recently livid when they returned to a stern warning from hotel staff after they’d left their loungers for half an hour, claiming that other holidaymakers had been away from their sunbeds for longer but not received any backlash.

If you are going to step away from your sun lounger, you may want to leave your valuables back in your room – but even then, Niraj warns that you’ll want to make sure they’re in the safe.

“Valuables not stored in a locked safe are rarely covered,” explains the insurance expert. “If you leave your passport, jewellery, or expensive tech out on the bedside table or tucked into a suitcase, and they’re taken, your insurer may argue you failed to secure them properly.

“The policy wording often requires that high-value items be locked in a hotel safe when not in use. It’s a small effort that makes a big difference to whether you’re covered.”

Have you had issues with sunbed wars on your holiday? Email us at [email protected].

Influencer Harry Poulton, who lives full-time in the Spanish holiday hotspot of Benidorm, said conmen are targeting tourists at the side of main roads and his issued a call to action

A British expat has warned that tourists are getting robbed in Benidorm.

Happily, there is one thing holidaymakers can do to avoid the same fate. Harry Poulton, known on TikTok as @harrytokky, claims that the robberies are going underreported and should be taken more seriously.

The influencer, who lives full-time in the Spanish holiday hotspot, said conmen are targeting tourists at the side of main roads.

“If you’re renting a car, if you’re driving to Spain on the motorways — do not pull over,” Harry said in a video.

“Not for someone that is on the side of the motorway with their hazards on, trying to flag you down. There are signposts in Spain at the moment, all the way from Barcelona up to Valencia and Alicante, saying ‘Be warned: highway robberies.’

Have you been targetted by highway robbers while on holiday? Email [email protected]

“People are being flagged down — there are normally two people in these cars. One will try to ask for help while the other distracts you. They then rob all of your valuables out of your car.

“This scam is happening all the time in Spain and in parts of France. But no one seems to be speaking about it. Has anything like this ever happened to you before? This is a warning. It is not worth it. Do not pull over.

“You might be doing a good favour, you might think you’re helping someone out. But next thing you know, you could have all of your valuables stolen.”

The British Embassy in Madrid has previously issued a similar warning, urging holidaymakers to “watch out for ruthless gangs of modern-day highway robbers who are preying on people driving foreign-registered vehicles and hire cars.”

In a two-year period, police in the Catalonia region of Spain dealt with 126 British victims of robbery on the AP-7 motorway between the French border and the Valencia region.

British consulates across mainland Spain said they receive regular reports of roadside robberies occurring along the coast between Barcelona and Alicante, across Andalucía in the south, and in the Madrid region. Consular staff estimate that one in 20 of all emergency passports issued last year due to theft were following motorway robberies.

Earlier this year, Moggy McIntyre told The Times how she and her husband Greg were victims of ‘highway pirates’. They stopped on a motorway on the outskirts of Barcelona after being flagged down by a driver who spoke to them in fast Spanish they couldn’t understand.

“After a few minutes, he gestured for us to wait and walked back to his car as if he was going to get something. Then he suddenly drove off,” Moggy explained.

“We were like, ‘What was that?’ It was so weird, because we couldn’t see anything wrong with the car. So we got back in, and only then did we realise that my handbag was gone.

“It had been in the footwell of the passenger seat, so the person I saw in the back of their car must have sneaked out and taken whatever they could. We didn’t see or hear a thing.

“Thank God I had picked up our phones and credit cards. But they got our passports — both my British and Australian ones — and also lots of inconvenient things like my Australian medical card, make-up, and glasses.”

The GAA has admitted there was “confusion” over the final score of Tipperary’s All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-final win over Kilkenny.

The full-score at Croke Park has been confirmed as a 4-20 to 0-30 victory for Tipp, but it had been recorded as a 4-21 to 0-30 win.

The confusion came after Tipperary midfielder Noel McGrath’s effort in the 70th minute was waved wide but was registered as a point on the scoreboard in the stadium – which left the eventual winners with 4-21.

That left Kilkenny chasing a goal in the closing stages thinking they were four points behind, when in theory they could have taken points to draw level in additional time as there were three points between the sides.

“The GAA can confirm that the official score at the end of the Tipperary v Kilkenny GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final was 4-20 to 0-30,” the statement read.

“The GAA acknowledges there was confusion over the final score.

“The CCCC is awaiting the full referees report in order to establish how the initial mistake occurred.”

Speaking on the GAA Social podcast, two-time All-Ireland winner Jamesie O’Connor said: “This type of thing shouldn’t happen, especially at Croke Park.

“If it’s three points with four minutes left you are more inclined to tap it over the bar. With the time that was there Kilkenny have every right to feel aggrieved.

“It shouldn’t take away from Tipp’s win, which was merited, but this type of controversy, in a game of this magnitude and at headquarters with the technology that is available to us, it shouldn’t have happened.”

When asked if he would go off the scoreboard in the stadium if he was playing at Croke Park, Limerick’s five-time All-Ireland winner Seamus Flanagan said: “100%”.

“It has a massive bearing on the game, it really does,” he added.