Mum

THE mother of a teenage boy murdered at school says his 15-year-old killer should be named when he is sentenced.

He was convicted last week of stabbing Harvey Willgoose, 15, through the heart in a courtyard during a lunch break.

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He cannot be identified due to an order imposed when he first appeared at court in February.

Media organisations asked Sheffield crown court judge Mrs Justice Ellenbogen to lift the ban in October but she said she wants to hear prosecution and defence views.

However news outlets were allowed to name the school involved as the city’s All Saints Catholic High School.

Yesterday, mum Caroline told BBC Breakfast: “Harvey hasn’t been here to speak up for himself and he’s been named. So, I think the defendant should as well.”

Harvey’s sister Sophie said of the killer: “He’s a 15-year-old boy. We’d like to think that he didn’t want to murder Harvey.

“He’s just from a troubled background and services have let him down.”

Heartbroken Caroline has revealed that Harvey’s final words to her before he left the family home to go to school on Monday were “I love you”.

She told the BBC: “I have got his grubby t-shirt on so I can smell him.

“I don’t want to go to sleep because I don’t want to wake up and have to relive it all and remember it.”

She described her son as “the life and soul of the party” and “a joy to be around”.

“He loved football, football was his life. He was going to be an actor at one point, I think he would have been good at it”, she told the news site.

Harvey’s father, Mark, said his son was his “best pal” and described him as a “loveable rogue”.

“We need to learn from this so no-one goes through what we have as a family,” he said.

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IF YOU fancy a National Trust day out but you’re not a member, there’s some easy-to-overlook sites that won’t cost you a penny to access. 

We all think about the historic houses and great estates that National Trust and English Heritage look after around the country.

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But it’s easy to forget that they both have lots of free locations too, giving access to our coastlines and countryside for the cost of car parking. 

I’m lucky to have two reservoir reserves right on my doorstep, both of which have lovely waterside walks, a playground for the kids and a cafe for those all-important refreshments.

Even better, National Trust members can park free, since the organisation took over looking after Staunton Harold Reservoir and nearby Foremark on the border of Leicestershire and Derbyshire a couple of years ago. 

In the school holidays, there’s often kids’ activities like circus skills or kite-making that anyone can turn up and have a go at. 

Calke Abbey, which is a location you have to pay to access, is in-between the two and has one of the National Trust’s biggest woodland play areas and a huge walled garden full of fun like hobby horses, den building, garden games and craft stations throughout the summer holidays.

There’s enough there for a full day out, but if you’re just after somewhere outdoors to while away a few hours, its free neighbours could be perfect.

To be honest, we very rarely visit the inside spaces when we go to National Trust places anyway as my boys prefer to be in the fresh air.

So it’s great that you have the option of playgrounds and woodland walks without having to pay.

It’s not just hidden countryside spots that are great to explore for free. 

There’s some incredible coastal sites that fall under National Trust and English Heritage ownership too.

If you’re heading to Norfolk for your holidays, there’s the remains of a big Roman fort tucked away behind Parkdean’s Breydon Water caravan site.

Burgh Castle, looked after by English Heritage, is a short stroll away from the caravans if you’re staying there or there’s a small car park for visitors just up the road. 

It’s amazing how much of the fort walls have survived and you can get a sense of how the Romans built their empire.

We’ve been there many times over the years and there’s only ever a handful of visitors about, even in the height of summer.

Just up the Norfolk Coast is the National Trust’s Blakeney Point, home to a colony of seals.

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We stayed nearby for our first wedding anniversary and it really is a very special place.

Just remember to give the wildlife plenty of space if you want to visit it in its natural environment.

When we headed up north last year, we went to several English Heritage sites along Hadrian’s Wall, including Housesteads Fort.

But it’s easy to forget that most of the 73 miles of wall are free to access and looked after by various organisations like National Trust and English Heritage.

My top tip if you’re heading to one of these free sites and aren’t a member is to try to support the location by buying something from the cafe or giving a small donation if you can.

Always follow the countryside code to leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but memories so that these wonderful wildlife havens remain unspoilt for future generations.

With 620,000 acres of land and 780 miles of coast belonging to the National Trust, you’re bound to find somewhere to visit not far from your doorstep – and you might not even need to pay a penny to enjoy your local location.

The National Trust has also revealed their best free attractions to visit this summer – from sky gardens to ‘city oasis’ parks.

Plus, these are the National Trust’s top family-friendly attractions with fairytale castles and ‘book jungles’.

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COPS have launched an urgent hunt for a 49-year-old woman who went missing from a popular seaside town.

Claire Bennett was last heard from at around 1.30pm on Monday after vanishing in Cornwall.

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Claire, who is from St Austell, is believed to be in the Truro area according to cops.

She is described as a white female, around 5ft 10ins and of slim build, police said.

Claire is also said to have blonde hair which is usually worn down.

Cops confirmed she was last seen wearing a white top and blue shorts.

Searches and enquiries are ongoing, but the force are appealing for anyone who has seen Claire or knows where she is to get in touch.

Anyone who sees Claire or knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact police on 999 quoting log 610 of 11 August.

Issuing a plea to her mum, Claire’s daughter told PlymouthLive: “Mum, if you read this please come home. We aren’t mad at you and we all bloody love you!

“You win at hide and seek. Just even send me a message to tell me you’re ok.

“We can get through this. I promise. I love you.”

Claire’s daughter said her mum was “classed as a high-risk missing person”, according to the outlet.

Her daughter also claimed that items belonging to Claire had been found, reports the outlet.

She said: “We found a bag we believe to be hers at the park by the viaduct In Truro.

“We were asked not to continue looking on foot for her due to the police dogs and scents etc.”

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A MUM has tragically died a week after coming back from a holiday abroad.

Amanda Cugini, from Cardiff died on July 22 after coming back from Tunisia.

The 47-year-old worked at a local child care nursery and was just about to be fully qualified as a day care nurse.

Her husband David Cugini was with her when she “got into difficulty” and tried to resuscitate her but was unable to.

The family does not currently know what caused Amanda’s death.

“It’s kind of a cliché but she was one in a million,” David said. “She reached out and touched more people that I’m ever going to know.”

“I was with Amanda for 18 years and I knew Amanda for 10 years before that as friends, so I’ve known her a long time and I’m still now getting to hear and meet new people for the first time, who she’d have touched in her life.

“She was an amazing mum, she was an amazing nan to my two grandsons. She was the life and soul of the party. She lit up the room when she walked in.

“It’s the same stuff as what other people say, but not in Mandy’s way. Mandy was different, she was special.”

David said their family had seen hardships, with Amanda losing her parents, as well as the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, but that she always strove to help others.

“Life has been hard, but someone like Mandy, I always say she would have found a pound and made sure that you either had it all or you’d certainly have half, because she was just a giver,” he explained.

He said Amanda’s loss has left a significant impact on her family, particularly her children. “To be honest, it’s very, very hard,” David said.

“So confusing, upsetting and everything, all rolled into one.

“There are late nights where we sit in with the children and just comfort them because they’re missing mum so much.”

Their family has tried to return to normalcy, playing music and singing like they used to do, but he said their grief comes and goes.

“One minute we’re all laughing, thinking over ‘imagine what mum would have said’ and then next minute we’re all hysterical, emotionally devastated, and crying.”

David said he feels thankful to the community, his family and his friends for their support.

“I’ve been overwhelmed, to be honest, with the outpouring of love and support. The children are the closest to me, so we’ve got each other first, and then it’s a reflection on the friends, family and everybody.

“Even strangers are showing love and support because it’s such a devastating thing for such a beautiful lady at such a young age. It’s been very quick, sudden, very shocking.”

Amanda leaves behind David, her daughters aged 17 and 10, and a stepdaughter aged 34.

She was also a nan to two grandsons.

A GoFundMe was set up to help pay for her funeral.

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A TRAGIC three-year-old girl has been pictured after her mum was charged with murder.

Hope McGrath was discovered by police at home in Leeds, West Yorkshire, following a concern for welfare report.

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Tragically the youngster could not be saved and was declared dead at the scene on July 30.

Her mum Pippa McGrath today appeared at Leeds Crown Court charged with murder.

The 47-year-old spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address during the hearing.

Recorder of Leeds Guy Kearl KC said:”A post mortem on Hope has not taken place. It is to take place tomorrow.

“The heart of the issue will be a toxicology report.”

The court heard psychiatric reports would be prepared to establish McGrath’s fitness to plead.

A provisional trial date was set for February 24, with a further hearing set to take place on September 3.

McGrath is accused of murdering her daughter between July 26 and July 30.

McGrath, was understood to have moved with Hope to Austhorpe Close, in Leeds, just weeks before the tragedy.

Neighbours suggested that the youngster had suffered with a disability and required the use of a wheelchair, but was often heard playing in her back garden.

McGrath was taken to hospital before later being remanded into custody on suspicion of murder.

West Yorkshire Police previously said it was treating Hope’s death as an “isolated incident”.

Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “We are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Hope’s death.  

“A photograph of the three-year-old has been released by her family. I would ask that people respect their privacy at this extremely difficult time.”  

A British holidaymaker has claimed she was sexually assaulted while parasailing in Sousse, Tunisia.

Michelle Wilson, 52, from Southport, Merseyside, says the parasail operator pressed himself against her and groped her mid-air during what should have been a thrilling ride.

Michelle had planned to go on a tandem parasail flight with a friend, but was told it was too windy in Tunisia that day and they would have to fly separately, each accompanied by an operator.

She said her friend went up first “and had a great time, with no problems”, noting there was plenty of distance between her friend and the operator.

However, Michelle’s own experience was very different.

The mum-of-three said:

“I could feel the back of my bikini bottoms being pulled and he was pulling the strap. He must have been tightening the harness to get me closer. His legs straddled around me, he had one hand up on the parachute, the other wasn’t. Then I felt him touch my leg.”

She continued: “He was groping me and moving back and forth into me and talking to me in Arabic. I felt him pressing against me. I kept arching my back.

“I felt violated and dirty and was scared. He was only a young lad, maybe around 20. It was a horrible experience and I was really scared. I felt helpless hanging in the air.”

Michelle burst into tears after landing and reported the incident to the water sports centre’s manager before going to the local police.

The £6,000 easyJet package holiday had been booked for Michelle, her 17-year-old daughter, her 16-year-old twin boys, and her daughter’s 17-year-old friend.

However, she said she felt unable to enjoy the rest of the trip after what happened.

She added: “As women you expect a bit of banter from men in these countries, but this wasn’t banter, it was a sexual assault.”

Michelle believes her alleged attacker has since been arrested, and that both her insurance firm and the Foreign Office are now involved in the case.

An easyJet spokesperson said:

“The safety and wellbeing of our customers is a priority, and we are continuing to support Ms Wilson. We are also liaising closely with our hotel partner to look into the reports.”

One mum took to TikTok to share her disappointment with the accommodation at the Skegness Butlin’s holiday park, sharing clips of the filthy room – including a dead bug on her bed

Butlin’s has apologised after one family checked in to a “grimy” and “damp” room in need of “a massive deep clean”.

Mum Jasmine took to TikTok to share her disappointment with the accommodation at the Skegness holiday park, sharing clips of the filthy room with her 19,000 followers.

“I could make a 10-minute video on all of the issues in here but here’s some of them,” she captioned the clip. “Even walking up to the room I felt grimy. This is the Butlin’s comfort room. This is my sign to not blindly book something hahaha.”

She went on to give a tour of the room – which they couldn’t stand to sleep in for more than one night – showing dirt throughout, including in the shower and the bin.

In her voiceover, Jasmine said: “I was meant to book the apartment but I didn’t realise. When I first walked in there and I saw there’s only two rooms and one bathroom in the middle, I thought, ‘Where’s the rest of it?’.

“I am going to emphasise that was not Butlin’s fault at all though to be fair – it was my fault. So anyway I don’t know if the videos can do it justice because the smell when I walked in there was just absolutely wild.

“This isn’t the cleaner’s fault or anything like that – it’s the turnover rate is the issue. These rooms need massive deep cleans because a quick once over is not going to help.”

“I didn’t even want to shower in there – in fact, I didn’t shower in there. I ended up going to the swimming pools to have a shower.

“We spent one night in this room and the beds were so damp – my daughter even woke up asking why the bed was so wet.

“I can’t explain the smell. I know I keep saying it but it was horrific. The mould was over the windows, there were cobwebs up the walls… This was a dead bug on our bed and then our daughter got poo on her hand walking out and I was like ‘nah, that’s it, 100% I am going.’

“The stuff kids can do here is amazing though – I will not fault Butlins for that. It is just a shame about the room.”

When The Mirror contacted Butlin’s, a spokesperson for the holiday park said: “We’re sorry and disappointed to see the cleanliness issues the guest experienced with their accommodation. This certainly isn’t the high standards we expect our guests to receive when they holiday with us. We carried out a full reclean and offered a gesture of goodwill which was accepted.”

Others shared similar experiences in the comments, with one person writing: “This looks so much cleaner than our room [laughing emoji].”

Another person said: “Skegness I had the most horrible room haven’t ever gone back. It was a hot year window broke couldn’t open it, bedding didn’t get changed stuff left under the bed etc was horrible.”

However, another visitor insisted they had only ever had positive experiences at the holiday park, writing: “Which Butlin’s is this?? We’ve always been to skeg one and never had a room like this. That’s grim.”

READ MORE: Yo-yo dieter, 66, looks ‘unrecognisable’ on dog walks after four stone weight loss

A woman has left people divided after a mum asked her to swap seats with her son for a ‘stupid’ reason, but she branded her as selfish and accused her of ‘making a scene’

Everybody has their preferred plane seat, which is likely to be a window or an aisle. The middle seat is often one that’s dreaded – especially if you’re sitting next to random people. But when one woman asked if she could swap with the occupant of a window seat on the plane for a “stupid” reason and was told no, she was seething.

Posting a video of her side of the interaction, @life_in_mini_stories shared a clip of a woman sitting in a window seat, minding her own business. Of course, many times when you occupy these seats, you’ve paid an additional fee for the pleasure.

She shared a woman allegedly said to her: “Excuse me, would you mind switching seats? My son really wants to sit by the window. He just loves watching the clouds.”

The female responded by saying she couldn’t switch, because she “picked this seat ahead of time”. The woman in the video also shared she also likes looking outside during a flight.

The mum was incensed already, saying she didn’t understand why the woman wouldn’t swap with her, pointing out “nobody has ever refused before”.

She also seethed: “You must not have kids; otherwise, you’d know it’s normal to give your seat up for a child. Or do you want him crying for the whole flight?”

The woman in the video explained it wasn’t her “problem” if the child was crying, stating once more that she wouldn’t be giving up her seat.

“If you wanted your son to sit by the window, you should’ve planned ahead and booked a window seat,” she pointed out.

The mum said she wasn’t “paying extra just because one person thinks she’s smarter than everyone else”. She also continued her attack, saying: “You’re a grown woman, have some shame,” accusing her of “making a scene”.

But the female responded by pointing out she knows she’s a “grown woman,” and that’s why she books her seat “ahead of time instead of guilt-tripping strangers into giving theirs up”.

The mum accused her of not caring about other people’s feelings, or children, branding her as “disgusting”.

In the comments of the video, someone wrote: “You’re 100% in the right and she has absolutely no right to ask.”

Another added: “Asking is okay, but she needs to take no for an answer.”

“While I agree that I’d keep my seat, I also think the mother of the child has a right to ask as much as I have the right to say hell no,” somebody shared.

A man seethed: “NEVER give up a seat you prepaid extra for! ESPECIALLY to accommodate those who tried to be clever by not paying for seats they wanted.”

Someone joked: “You’re teaching that child and parent a great lesson… In the real world you, #1 plan ahead, #2 stand your ground, #3 you can’t get what you want by crying.”

A body has been found in a lake during a search for a missing mother.

Rachel Booth, 38, disappeared in the early hours of Saturday after she was last seen by her family in the village of Barnton in Cheshire.

Cheshire Police earlier said officers had found a body which they believed to be Ms Booth in a lake in Oakmere after “extensive searches and appeals in the area”.

The body has not been formally identified but Ms Booth’s family has been informed and was being supported, the force said.

Police said there were not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and report would be prepared for the coroner.

After she disappeared, CCTV footage showed Ms Booth at Sandiway Garage of the A556 near Northwich at about 03:50 BST on Saturday.

Wild Shore Delamere, which offers outdoor activities at its lake nearby, had closed while the search commenced.

A mum has been praised as a ‘genius’ after sharing the main activity she packed to keep her baby occupied during their three-hour flight from Germany to Spain – and it’s not what you might expect

If you’re going on a family holiday anytime soon, you’ll probably know parents or guardians often face the added challenge that come with travelling with babies. This will become extra nerve-wracking if it’s their first flight so you don’t know how they’ll react.

While parents are often armed with a selection of toys and activities to entertain their kids in the cabin, it’s a whole different experience when it comes to keeping babies entertained. While popular tips usually include packing their favourite things to play with or timing flights to coincide with nap time for keeping infants happy mid-flight, sometimes it pays to have an extra trick up your sleeve.

One creative mum known as Lala, took to TikTok, where she has over 6.1 million followers, to share her unique life hack for keeping her seven-month-old daughter amused on their recent three-hour flight from Germany to Spain.

“If you don’t pack a head of lettuce for your next flight with your baby, what are you even doing?” Lala said in her video while packing a head of sweet gem lettuce into a zip lock bag.

The video then cut to Lala and her partner getting onto the plane with their sleeping baby snuggled up in her arms. She went on to explain the little one slept through take-off, only to wake later on as they soared high above the ground, which is when they introduced the lettuce.

“Whenever we want to eat in peace at home, we always give her a piece of lettuce, and it always keeps her occupied for so long. And I thought, if it works at home, why would it not work on a plane?” Lala said as she showed their baby the lettuce before letting her tear off a leaf.

Lala added: “She loves tearing things, like anything really. Like, bread, paper, tissue, anything. But bread is way too messy, like there are crumbs everywhere. And with paper or tissue, we always have to keep an eye on her that she doesn’t eat it. But lettuce, lettuce is genius.”

Continuing, she expressed how the lettuce provided a fun and unique texture for the infant to explore, as well as being a healthy, hydrating snack if wanted to taste it.

“This kept her occupied almost the entire flight,” Lala revealed. “She had so much fun, and the best part when it’s time to clean up, you can just eat it. This way, I’m not only entertaining my baby but I’m also getting my greens in.”

Lala then shared: “We were so nervous about her first flight at first, but this was such an amazing experience for us. She did so well, she was just having fun the entire flight and we’re so proud of her.”

The comment section of the video soon filled with comments from viewers sharing their take on the clever hack for in-flight entertainment.

One person joked: “I have a 14 hour flight with my baby next month. I’ll just bring a whole field,” while another added: “Plus points cause it helps her develop her fine motor skills.”

A fellow mum wrote: “You Lala have just unlocked a whole new toy for all of us mums out there thank you.”

“That’s effing genius! I’m trying this on the next flight!” another viewer wrote.

Lena Dunham’s new comedy-drama Too Much arrived on Netflix today – but one particular star has made fans do a double take over her resemblance to her BBC star mum

Lena Dunham finally returned to our screens today with her latest Netflix comedy-drama Too Much – a semi-biographical love story starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe. Loosely based on the story of how Lena ended up with her British musician husband Luis Felber, the ten-parter follows Jessica as she moves to London from New York after a devastating break-up.

While stars Megan and Will have received rave reviews since the show landed on Netflix, many viewers have been distracted by actor Daisy Bevan thanks to her resemblance to her very famous mother. The 33-year-old plays Josie – one of Jessica’s new colleagues in London – and takes on one of her biggest roles to date on the series, having previously appeared in McDonald & Dodds, The Alienist and The Outcast.

Daisy is the daughter of Nip/Tuck star Joely Richardson and film producer Tim Bevan, having followed her parents into a career in showbiz. Joely is best known for her role on Showtime/BBC Two show The Tudors as well as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Sandman, 101 Dalmations and other big projtects.

Joely, 60, is also a member of the Redgraves – a family of iconic actors which includes her mother, Call the Midwife’s Vanessa Redgrave, her film director father Tony Richardson, her late sister, Maid in Manhattan’s Natasha Richardson, and her cousin, Doctor Who’s Jemma Redgrave.

Meanwhile, Daisy’s dad Tim is best known for producing Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Theory of Everything, Darkest Hour and Love Actually. The couple married in 1992 but split nine years later.

Joely congratulated her up-and-coming daughter with a gushing post on Instagram, writing: “To Daisy Carmen the wisest and most inspirational person I know, and the magnificent and groundbreaking Lena Dunham – congratulations on the launch of ‘Too Much’ tomorrow night on Netflix.

“A friendship that blossomed into creative endeavour. I’ve only seen the trailer but ‘British Jones’ instead of Bridget Jones had me laughing out loud.

“Couldn’t help but include childhood snaps with a nod to rust coloured beanies. What a cast. ps. And @rooibos_ldn for best haircuts. Am filled with PRIDE in every sense of the word.”

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American mum-of-three, Erin Monroe, recently travelled to Portugal for the first time ever, and was quick to notice the different way children behave in the European country compared to in the US

Exploring new corners of the globe is a fantastic opportunity to gain insights into diverse cultures and lifestyles. However, an American mum was taken aback by the contrasting attitudes towards children during her recent trip to Portugal.

Erin Monroe and her husband embarked on a journey from JFK airport in New York for a child-free holiday. This marked Erin’s first ever international travel experience, and she shared her anticipation and nerves with her 249k TikTok followers ahead of their Portuguese getaway. Once settled in the European country, Erin quickly noticed a significant cultural difference, which was that children’s behaviour varied greatly between Portugal and the US.

“I’m gonna be that guy right now, but my husband and I are in Portugal right now. And I’ve never been to Europe in my life, so this is a new experience for me,” Erin said at the start of her video, which has since amassed over 1.1 million views.

She continued to share that she is a mother of three children aged 12, 10, and six, who remained in the US while she and her husband enjoyed their holiday. However, she expressed her regret at not bringing them along after learning about the child-friendly culture in the country.

“And the culture around kids is so different here than it is in the States. Like the kids are just everywhere, they’re just a part of everything,” Erin said.

She went on to describe how she and her husband had enjoyed their dinner at an upmarket restaurant in Cascais, Portugal, the previous evening. Despite the sophisticated setting and atmosphere, she was pleasantly surprised to discover that children had spontaneously begun a football match in an open space by the restaurant.

“And there were just kids playing soccer at this little open area next to the restaurant. And I loved it,” Erin said. “They were just playing soccer with each other and then the other interesting thing, and this has happened several times here, there are so many different languages spoken here.”

She then claimed that amongst the eight youngsters kicking a ball about, she could distinguish at least four different languages being spoken.

“There was one older kid who was actively translating for the other kids who didn’t speak the same language. And it’s so interesting to me. Like, the language barrier isn’t really a barrier, especially for kids. Like, they don’t care, they’ll just play together,” she told her viewers.

Erin carried on with her observations, noting: “And the adults, are the parents were like watching, but like drinking their wine and eating their bread and like hanging out.

“I love it here. Are you kidding? I need to bring my kids here right this second,” she exclaimed.

The video’s comment section quickly filled with people sharing their experiences of Portuguese culture, especially regarding children.

One commenter shared: “I still remember all the random friendships that I made when we were out with my parents, kids that we were instant bff for those three hours that we were at dinner and then we never saw each other ever again.”

Another person questioned: “This is how kids learn to socialise. How do they learn it in the States?”

Meanwhile, a third individual expressed their appreciation for French customs, adding: “I love in France seeing teenagers go out to a civilised dinner together.”

Alison Hammond’s son Aidan has revealed that as a child he would seek solace at his grandmother’s house which was across the road every time his mum annoyed him

Alison Hammond is best known for her bubbly personality while presenting This Morning along with Dermot O’Leary. However, according to her son and Celebrity Gogglebox co-star Aidan, the TV presenter wasn’t always a delight to live with.

Alison, 50, who soared to fame following her memorable stint on Big Brother back in 2002, made her Celebrity Gogglebox debut last night, critiquing TV shows with her rarely seen sister Saundra and her 20 year old son. Giving fans a more intimate account of his mother while growing up, Aidan revealed that he used to run away from home and stay with his grandmother, who lived across the road.

And this would happen on a regular basis every time he and Alison failed to agree on certain things. Speaking on the Spin Justice podcast, Aidan said: “When we were in the flat, she (his grandmother) had a house pretty much opposite us, so we could literally leave and run across the road.”

He added: “So when my mum was doing my head in, I’d just go to my nan’s.”

Before Alison’s mother Maria sadly passed away five years ago, the trio enjoyed an incredibly special bond. Aidan described their relationship as “very, very close”.

Despite his youthful age, Aidan is no stranger to the world of TV after appearing on a number of quiz shows with his mum and starring in their very own travel show, Florida Unpacked which aired on BBC Two.

He then went on to say: “She’s passed away now, but we were very close all the time – me, my mum and my nan – and that was kind of the little trio.”

Alison will sit along side her sister and son for their debut on the popular TV show, mugs in hand ready to analyse TV shows watched by the nation.

Speaking about sharing the moment with another family member apart from her son, Alison chimed in: “I’m so excited to be doing Celebrity Gogglebox with my son Aidan.”

She said: “We’ve always loved watching telly together, and now we get to do it on the sofa for the nation! It’s a real family affair too, because my fabulous sister Saundra is getting involved as well. “

The Great British Bake Off presenter then went on to say: “Expect laughs, eye-rolls, and lots of commentary, classic Hammond style!”

Alison and her family with join the cast of the new series for the charity Stand Up To Cancer.

A TV source reportedly told The Sun: “Producers were impressed by the dynamic between Aidan and his mum on their new travel show, so wanted a piece of it for Celebrity Gogglebox.”

They added: “They’re always looking for new duos to appear on the programme to keep it constantly feeling fresh, and, of course, fronting the Great British Bake Off means she’s already part of the C4 family.”

READ MORE: Wimbledon’s best dressed celebrities including Louise Thompson’s strawberry punnet handbag

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Emma Hickey and her partner Stephen Brougham took their two kids to Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Spain when the 42-year-old mum fell badly ill, prompting a trip to hospital

A mum is fighting for her life after plummeting down hotel stairs and hitting her head.

Emma Hickey and her partner Stephen Brougham took their two kids to Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Spain, on June 13 for a sun-soaked 12-day getaway. Just 10 days into the trip, the mum-of-two woke up with a ‘really bad case’ of mosquito bites, so went to hospital and was prescribed injections

Despite feeling unwell for the next few days, the 42-year-old carer ‘soldiered through the holiday‘ for the sake of her kids. But as they walked down the hotel staircase on their way to a pharmacy on June 23, Emma complained of feeling dizzy before suddenly collapsing and falling head-first onto a concrete step.

Stephen, 44, says it was ‘horrific’ to watch his partner convulsing on the concrete steps after passing out. She was immediately rushed to hospital. A hospital CT scan revealed the mum-of-two had a brain bleed and neck fractures, so she was put in an induced coma.

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A friend of the family has set up a GoFundMe page to support plasterer Stephen and his two kids, while they are stranded in Tenerife waiting for Emma to recover. The dad-of-two says it could be ‘a very long time’ until his partner is well enough to fly home and he is unsure if the travel insurance will cover the soaring medical costs.

Stephen, from Dublin, Ireland, said: “We came away for a lovely family holiday and it’s been a living nightmare. She woke up with a really bad case of mosquito bites so we went to the local doctor and the doctors didn’t know what it was so they sent her to hospital

“The doctor there said they’d never seen a case of this mosquito bite in Spain before. She got a prescription and sent her away. For the next few days she wasn’t feeling well but was soldiering through the holiday for the sake of the kids trying to do what she could but she wasn’t herself.

Stephen said that his wife went for a nap on the 23rd, leaving him to take the kids out to lunch.

“She was up having a good sleep and she looked and seemed a lot better. She said she wouldn’t go to the hospital but would walk out to a pharmacy and see what they thought,” he continued.

“We walked out the back entrance of the hotel as there’s a shop and a pharmacy there. Street level is probably about four or five storeys up. She was feeling a bit dizzy and she collapsed and fell from the second last step of the upper staircase down below onto the other set of stairs head-first without raising her arm to protect herself.

“She passed out on the steps and started convulsing, she was in a terrible state. It’s been horrific because I actually witnessed the fall and how bad the fall was. That’s a mental scar that I’ll never forget. Words can’t describe how bad it is.”

Stephen called an ambulance, which rushed his partner to hospital. A CT scan showed she had suffered a brain bleed and needed an operation. Doctors discovered some fractures in her neck. She was then put in an induced coma and will remain in intensive care until she wakes up.

Stephen said: “They did an operation and there were blood clots on the brain that had been putting some pressure on the brain. They’re not saying what impact the pressure on the brain of the blood clot will have after she comes round. “There could be secondary issues there so in the meantime she’s just been on the machine. She hasn’t felt well all week so we can only presume that the mosquito bites, the medication, the heat and the fact she tried to soldier through the holiday just for the sake of the kids [caused it].

“They were draining the life out of her and they’re all over her body, dozens and dozens. They looked uncomfortable and you could see that they were sore. They turned into bruises. I can only connect the two.”

Stephen, who is self-employed, and is searching for alternative accommodation for him and children Sophie Hickey, 13, and Bobby Hickey, 7, while they wait for Emma to recover. He is hoping the travel insurance will help the rising medical costs after reviewing her medical records.

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“We know that hospital is $1,400 (£1,022) a day so we’re going to have a significant medical bill. The hotel we’re staying in at the moment is an expensive hotel. Then just feeding the kids and keeping them occupied. I’m not working now because I’m over here,” he said.

He’s now encouraging others to ensure they get travel insurance and to be aware of the dangers of insects abroad.

Susan Edwards said her holiday was ‘horrendous’ from the minute she arrived at the Greek island of Corfu with her daughter and three other family members

A fuming mum has vowed never to book with TUI again following a “nightmare” all-inclusive trip to Corfu, where she claims there was “no English food” or hotel entertainment.

Susan Edwards embarked on a seven-night holiday to the Greek island on 12 May. She stayed at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel with her cousins, aged 77 and 78, her daughter, 30, and second cousin, 50.

However, Susan, 69, from Westerhope, described the holiday as “horrendous from the minute [they] got there.”

The holidaymaker explained: “It was all-inclusive, £750 each we paid and there was no food we could eat and we couldn’t have anything to drink.

“I have to be careful because I have ulcerative colitis so there’s certain things I can’t eat. The all inclusive drinks were wine, lager, ouzo, or brandy. Yes, there were soft drinks, but we had to pay €1.50 for water.”

Susan and her party arrived at the hillside hotel around 2pm on 12 May, ready to enjoy some food and refreshments after their long journey.

After climbing a large ramp to reach the hotel reception, Susan said she was told that pool-side food would be served at 5pm for guests, which she claims was a “one-inch square of baklava”.

Her dissatisfaction only got worse the next day when she discovered there was “no English food” available at the hotel. Describing the grub on offer, Susan said: “On a morning you could have toast, a hard boiled egg, or something in sauce,” Chronicle Live reports.

“There was no bacon. For breakfast there was mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. There was no hot bacon or sausage.

“We got chips one day. One day out of the whole lot. There was fish, sardines and rice – I was sick to death of looking at rice. There was pasta and salads, none of this was marked (labelled). One night there was a Greek night and they had kebabs, I couldn’t eat that. It’s the worst holiday I’ve ever been on.”

The mum says she couldn’t enjoy her preferred drink during her holiday because she doesn’t fancy ouzo and doesn’t drink brandy. She explained that she would normally have bottled lager or one Bacardi and Coke, which she said would have cost her €9 and would have been a different brand.

“By the time we paid £750 for the holiday, €70 tourist tax for me and my daughter and an extra £450 for both of our meals, I could have been to the Caribbean on that”, Susan fumed.

TUI’s website describes holidays at the Lido Corfu Sun Hotel as being “all about the laidback life” where “ping pong and pool are the liveliest activities on the agenda”, aside from the occasional live music and Greek night. It also says the four-star hotel has its own private patch of beach “just steps away”.

However, Susan claimed there was no entertainment at the hotel which is “stuck there in the middle of nowhere”. She added: “There was a private beach but it was so steep we couldn’t get down to it and it was 150 yards from the hotel.”

“There’s a ramp at the side of the hotel that you have to try and pull your case up when you arrive. My daughter was up and down, up and down, trying to pull everyone’s case up for them.”

She also expressed her frustration over not being able to get a second key for the room she shared with her daughter. Susan explained: “I asked for a second key for my daughter because sometimes I get tired in the afternoon and rather than lying in the sun and getting burned.

“But if I went up to have a sleep, my daughter wouldn’t be able to get into the room. She would have to wake me up to get in. I asked for a second key but I was told ‘no, too expensive’.”

Susan said she usually holidays in Spain with her cousins and would always fly with TUI as she felt comfortable knowing “there’s a big company behind you if anything goes wrong.”

However, this time, her confidence in TUI has been shaken due to what she perceives as an inadequate response from the travel firm.

She has been offered £100 in holiday vouchers by TUI, but she claims that other guests she met at the hotel have been offered more after complaining. Susan has declined TUI’s final £100 voucher offer.

“In the past I’ve paid more to get on a TUI flight because if anything happened I’ve always thought you’ve got a big company behind you if anything goes wrong. Not anymore. This holiday was a nightmare,” Susan said.

A spokesperson for TUI UK said: “Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, so we are sorry to hear that Mrs Edwards felt dissatisfied with her holiday. We have been in touch directly with Mrs Edwards to come to a resolution.”

A shocked mum faced the wrath of an entitled plane passenger who called her a vicious name when he realised she’d booked her three-year-old child a first-class seat

An entitled plane passenger erupted into a sweary rant at a mum who booked her toddler a first class seat.

The foul-mouthed tirade came as a shock to the parent, who insisted her little girl was well behaved throughout the flight.

Every summer, a fierce debate ramps up online over the ‘correct’ flying etiquette with children – with some less tolerant passengers insisting that kid-free flights should exist.

The mum was confident that her three-year-old tot could handle the flight easily, having travelled many times before, but one passenger fumed at the concept of a toddler having a first class ticket, as they hated the thought of sitting next to a child.

Taking to Reddit to share her flight ordeal, the mum wrote anonymously: “My husband, toddler (almost 3) and I were flying across the country for Thanksgiving. Since we could afford it due to a nice pay raise my husband recently got, we decided to splurge on 1st class tickets for the trip.

“My toddler has always been a good flyer and has flown a lot throughout her short life. She’s never been disruptive or cried on an airplane, this flight included.

“She’s good at staying in her seat and tells us when she a needs to go potty, food, a toy, etc. She stayed seated and quietly playing throughout the flight, only getting up when she had to go potty.”

Despite the little one being on her best behaviour and not disrupting other travellers, one passenger was seething at the mum for sitting her child in first class – as he complained to the cabin crew on board.

The mum explained: “The issue was with another 1st class passenger. We boarded early since my husband is disabled and when another 1st class passenger saw us he started glaring.

“We take off and all is good. My kid fell asleep in the middle of coloring [sic], husband is snoozing. I’m listening to music when I get a tap on my shoulder.

“It was the guy that glared at us as he boarded and before I could even get a word out he told me that children weren’t allowed in 1st class and that we needed to move to our ‘real’ seats”.

In a bid to avoid confrontation, the parent asked the flight attendant to deal with the man’s complaint, as she felt ‘uncomfortable’. Things seemed to get cleared up, but the man was still hot with rage.

“The flight attendant came and explained to him that we were in the correct seats that we paid for and asked that he sit back down and not bother us again. He did go back to his seat but as we were getting off the plane he whispered to me that I was a ‘fat c***’ and that he pays too much money for first class to be surrounded by children.”

Desperate for advice, the mum concluded: “My kid was the only kid in 1st class and she didn’t misbehave or even cry so at first I felt like I was in the right, but after talking to family at Thanksgiving many of them told me that we should book economy next time because people pay extra to relax in 1st class. Are we really a******s for flying 1st class with our toddler?”

Many people flocked to the comments section to defend the mum’s decision, as one wrote: “Even if your child did cry, it wouldn’t have mattered because you paid and are entitled to the seats you paid for… if they don’t want to be around children/other people that bad – they should fly private”.

Another added: “I can understand why he would initially be wary and upset, but he frankly should have calmed the f down once it became apparent that your toddler was just sleeping peacefully like anyone else.

“And since you know that your kid is a good flyer, there’s no reason not to sit first class if you can”.

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Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actress Nikki Sanderson has opened up about the moment her mum suffered two cardiac arrests at home and her brother performed CPR which helped save her life

Emotional Nikki Sanderson has recalled the moment her beloved mum collapsed in front of her and her brother.

The 41-year-old Hollyoaks and Coronation Street actress never had to perform CPR before until Jude suffered two cardiac arrests in November 2021.

Nikki and Jude recorded a special film for BBC Morning Live, which aired during Wednesday’s (June 25) episode, following the news that around 80 per cent of cardiac arrests happen at home.

Speaking about the horrific moment almost four years on, the actress explained: “I remember screaming to the operator, just begging ‘please help us’. We knew she’d gone but we desperately wanted her to come back.”

Audio from the frantic 999 call played which featured Nikki, Nikki’s brother James and Nikki’s boyfriend Anthony Quinlan, who played Pete Barton in Emmerdale.

The TV personality, best known for her roles as Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks and Candice Steow in Corrie, burst into tears as she listened back to the call handler telling them exactly what to do in a bid to save her mum’s life.

The paramedic team quickly arrived and manage to save Jude’s life thanks to Nikki’s brother performing CPR on Jude.

Later in the film, Nikki met up with paramedic Howard Wolfenden, who was first on the scene, to discuss the terrifying situation she found herself in.

Howard reassured Nikki: “For you guys to do that CPR meant your mum’s chance of survival chances had just gone up exponentially.”

Jude and Nikki went to meet Howard for a CPR refresher course where he explained exactly what to do if they ever needed to perform it again.

Nikki’s mum Jude said: “I’m so thankful that everybody on that night pulled together and fought for me. I just wish everybody would learn CPR.”

Before appearing on Morning Live, Nikki shared a clip from the film on her Instagram page. She wrote: “In 2021, my mum suffered two cardiac arrests and died in front of me and my brother.

“Thanks to CPR and the incredible paramedics not giving up, she is still alive today. I’ve made a film about what happened and the importance of CPR with @bbcmorninglive and it’s on tomorrow morning from 9:30am.

“Knowing CPR and what to do in a situation like this could just save a loved one’s life… tune into @bbc one or watch on @bbciplayer.”

Morning Live airs weekdays on BBC One at 9.30am

Damian Homer, 51, was convicted of murder and attempted murder in November 2024 after launching a brutal attack on his partner and her mum while their two young children were at home

A quiet spring evening in a Worcester suburb erupted into chaos when police and paramedics swarmed a residential street, responding to a harrowing double stabbing on March 2, 2024.

Inside the house, Damian Homer stood at the door, blood staining his t-shirt. His partner Stacey Hill and her mother Wendy Francis lay injured on the floor – both stabbed in a frenzied attack that left one dead. The horrifying details of the case have been revealed in full in the BBC Two docuseries Murder 24/7.

Homer had launched a violent assault on Stacey and Wendy in a terrifying outburst, even pausing mid-attack to ask Stacey – bleeding and helpless – for a kiss. As she lay critically wounded, Stacey described hearing the “noise the knife made in my mum”.

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Wendy, 61, had rushed to the home after her daughter called in fear, having seen the reflection of a knife in Homer’s pocket in their mirrored wardrobe.

When officers arrived, they restrained Homer against the wall. As he was arrested for attempted murder, he claimed: “Stacey went to stab me, then Wendy came in and they both tried to stab me. I had to protect myself… it’s a good job I did otherwise I’d be the one dead.”

Paramedics found Stacey surrounded by blood, urgently asking them to check on her mother and her two children who had been inside the house at the time. Police carried the two young children to safety, telling them: “Keep your eyes tight, tight, tight” as they were taken past the bodies.

While Stacey, 38, was rushed to hospital, Wendy went into cardiac arrest. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead at 9:18pm on March 2, 2024.

In police interviews the following morning, Homer claimed he loved Stacey and described a domestic argument escalating. He alleged Stacey tried to grab a knife first, which he took and placed in his pocket. Then he claimed Wendy stormed in and jumped on him, prompting him to draw the knife:

“We fell over and the knife went into her. Stacey was shouting, and she went to grab another knife… and came towards me. I launched at her. And she just froze on the spot.”

But his version immediately raised suspicions. He referred to a “second knife” Stacey had supposedly grabbed – yet when police searched the property, no second knife was found.

With Stacey in critical condition and Wendy dead, investigators turned to other sources. The couple’s children – now in the care of relatives – gave troubling accounts. A social worker noted they played with dolls, identifying one as “Daddy… he’s bad”.

One child said: “One of them got blood on Daddy’s T-shirt, and they were screaming. Daddy was in the kitchen, Mummy was lying down on the kitchen floor, and Nanny’s blood was dripping. Dad was throwing the knife he’d got in his hand, and it hit both of them.”

Homer’s violent past also began to emerge. His former boss Clair recalled his threatening outburst during a disciplinary meeting: “How fing dare they… if I find out it’s you I’m going to fing hurt you.”

He also had a suspended sentence for assaulting Stacey in 2020.

Detectives reviewed the couple’s mobile phones, uncovering evidence of a deteriorating relationship. On the day of the attack, Stacey had texted her mother: “I’ve had to come upstairs… believe me when I say I’m done.”

In another message to Homer, she wrote: “Find somewhere else to live… you’re lucky I ain’t called the police on you.”

To which he replied: “Lol. Only if you buy me out.” Concerned, Stacey’s aunt phoned emergency services:

“She’s just told me her chap’s got a knife in his pocket. Please get there quick.”

When Stacey was finally able to speak, she gave a harrowing account of that night. After a day out at a garden centre, Homer started drinking and grew increasingly aggressive. She went upstairs to get away, and spotted a knife in his pocket via their mirrored wardrobe:

“I said to my auntie, ‘Call the police, he’s got a knife.’ I called my mum and said, ‘Mum, Damo’s got a knife and I think he’s going to kill me.’”

Stacey tried to leave, but Homer pulled her back and began assaulting her. “He was swinging me around the kitchen and punching me in the head. I heard my mum come through the door and say, ‘Get your hands off my f***ing babbi.’ I breathed a sigh of relief – my hero had come to save me.”

But Homer didn’t stop. Instead, he pulled out the knife.

“We both ended up curled up on the floor… he pulled the knife out of his back pocket and stabbed my mum in the left side of her chest, for ages. All I could hear was the noise the knife made in my mum.”

“I tried to get on my mum to stop any more stab wounds being inflicted. He started panicking and as he did that, he came down to me and asked me for a kiss.”

Stacey, stabbed in the chest with a collapsed lung, was losing consciousness. But her thoughts were still with her mother:

“I kept asking about my mum but I could tell by the look on their face that it was bad news.”

Stacey’s detailed testimony, along with the children’s accounts, forensic evidence, and Ring doorbell footage capturing Wendy’s final moments, left police confident Homer’s story was false. He was charged with murder and attempted murder.

Though he initially claimed self-defence, Homer later pleaded guilty and was sentenced in November 2024 to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years.

“Everybody loved Damo,” Stacey reflected. “But when you were living with him 24/7, the mask started to come away. The first time he hit me, he said sorry. But there was no point in ever being happy, because I knew it wouldn’t last.”

“The biggest thing for me was losing my mum. But every time I think about giving up, I look at what my mum did for me. She saved my life and I know now what I have to do for my kids. I have to be the mum to them, that she was to me.”

Murder 24/7 is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

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