opens

TOURS are now available of a secret network of rivers located under a major UK city.

However, adventure-seekers will want to be quick as tickets are selling out fast.

The Sheaf & Porter Rivers Trust have officialled launched its summer Megatron tours, which run for 16 weeks.

These tours will be run by volunteers, who will take explorers on twice-daily trips around Sheffield’s underground.

Dating back to the mid-1800s, the Megatron is a large maze of tunnels located under various parts of the city, including the railway station, BBC Sheffield, the Sheffield Archives, and Red Tape Studios.

The extravagent system was originally constructed to contain the overflow from the rivers Sheaf, Porter, and the Don.

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However, the system of rivers eventually became polluted and even covered over the years.

Now, the Trust is working to uncover and restore these historic features, even taking those who dare venture into the depths of the Megatron on tours in order to fund the project.

On these tours, volunteers share their passion for the ecology of the city’s waterways and other interesting facts as they guide you on the two-mile water walk.

Ticket prices help to fund everything from river clean-ups to the installation of “light wells”, which cast some light onto the hidden rivers for the first time in 150 years.

If you’re looking to participate, make sure you have the proper attire before you embark on this underground adventure.

Varying water depths throughout the tour mean waders and sturdy footwear are recommend.

You will also want to be fairly agile for this experience, with lots to navigate, from slippery algae-covered rocks to tight gaps that require crouching.

This tour also provides glimpses into the city’s industrial past, with aged grindstones, crucible caps, even some tools found along the way.

You may also spot some stalactiteshanging from the tunnels, but make sure you don’t touch these.

And Broad Street West, the culvert transforms into a large single looming arch, named “Megatron” by urban explorers.

The name was chosen in response to Manchester’s “Optimus Prime” culvert, both of which took inspiration from after the comic and movie series “Transformers”.

While the first section of the culvert is built from huge stone blocks from the old Castlefolds Wholesale Market, a shorter stretch of blue brick under Exchange Street was built around 1890 to serve as a ramp for electric trams travelling from Rotherham to central Sheffield.

You may also spot some wildlife on your tour, with a variety of birds, invertebrates, and even the Daubenton’s bat taking up residence.

The public is advised that points of the water can reach chest height on this tour, with rainfall impacting both the current and depth.

While the Sheaf and Porter River Trust Megatron Tour has sold out for July, more information on ticket releases for August and September can be found here.

The Grantchester star has opened up about his heartbreak at the news that ITV’s long-running detective drama is coming to an end after 11 seasons

A former Grantchester star has opened up about his devastation after learning that the show is coming to an end.

Tom Brittney, who played the Reverend Will Davenport in six seasons of the ITV detective drama before leaving in 2024, shared his emotional reaction to the announcement admitting his “heartbreak”.

“Oh, I was both heartbroken, in the sense of like, it was one of the longest running shows I think that ITV had had in that way,” he told Radio Times.

“And so I was very proud of the creators. Because I know after James Norton (who played Reverend Sidney Chambers) left, they were like, ‘We’ll try and get a new guy, it’ll probably fail, but we’ll try it,’ and so there’s no pressure on me to try and keep it going.”

The actor added: “And then luckily, it did, and I did six or seven wonderful series of that, and I loved it. It will always be a special place in my heart.”

The cosy crime drama, based on James Runcie’s collection of novels, first graced our screens in 2014 and has charted the partnership between a Cambridgeshire vicar and police detective for more than a decade.

However, it was announced last year that it was coming to an end. in the final ever series, Robson Green returns as Geordie with Rishi Nair as Alphy, Al Weaver as Leonard Finch, Tessa Peake-Jones as Mrs. C.

Kacey Ainsworth as Cathy Keating, Oliver Dimsdale as Daniel Marlowe, Nick Brimble as Jack Chapman, Bradley Hall as DC Larry Peters and Melissa Johns as Miss Scott.

Speaking about the show coming to an end, actor Robson Green who plays Detective Inspector Geordie Keating said: “From the very beginning, I have had the incredible fortune to be part of this extraordinary team of talented, passionate, and dedicated individuals who have become more than colleagues.

“They have become family. I have made friendships forged through shared laughter, challenges, and triumphs.”

He added: “The bonds we’ve formed extend far beyond the camera lens, and I know that they will endure long after the final scene within the Grantchester world has been filmed. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey.”

You can catch up on Grantchester on ITVX.

Vernon Kay and close friend Paddy McGuinness appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox together on Friday night

A Celebrity Gogglebox star opened up about his health condition on Friday’s episode.

Vernon Kay revealed that he suffers from a foot condition that is a “massive issue” for him. The star opened up about his health condition during Friday’s (July 10) episode of the Channel 4 hit show as he returned to our TV screens alongside his close friend Paddy McGuinness.

Just moments before sharing their hilarious reactions to the week’s top TV shows and films, Vernon announced that he suffers from Morton’s neuroma, a nerve disorder that impacts the third and fourth toes.

According to the NHS, the condition involves a “thickening of tissue” surrounding a nerve in the foot. It typically causes a sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot, often with tingling or numbness in the toes.

Some sufferers report feeling like they are constantly treading on a small pebble. Speaking to Paddy, he said: “I’ve got a massive issue with my left one [toe].”

The BBC Radio 2 presenter then revealed: “I’ve got Morton’s neuroma, I can’t feel my left toe. All the nerve endings on my toes – I can’t feel my toes.”

Paddy was in disbelief as he pointed to Vernon’s toe and asked: “What, that one?” Vernon lifted his leg and replied: “Yeah, squeeze as hard as you can.”

Paddy was keen to find out if Vernon really couldn’t feel pain in his feet as he squeezed Vernon’s toes as hard as he could.

Turning to his close pal Vernon, who didn’t flinch, Paddy asked: “You can’t feel that?” Vernon confirmed: “Nope. Nothing.”

While Morton’s neuroma can often be eased by resting or taking ibuprofen, some people may need to see their GP or a foot specialist. Vernon previously stumbled upon a foot specialist at a local service station by chance.

Speaking on his Radio 2 show, he revealed: “So yesterday I was at the services, I was charging the electric car, and I was struggling a little bit with the machine that actually does it, I was faffing around.

“There’s no instructions, it just assumes that you know how to do it, and I didn’t. I didn’t know how to pay, I didn’t know how to get it started.

“Anyway, we got there in the end and this gentleman who was parked in the bay next door to my car wound down his window and said, ‘Hi Vernon,’ I said, ‘How are you?’ We shook hands, he said, ‘You alright there? You struggling?’ I said, ‘A little bit, I think it’s working now’.

“When we said that it went [buzzing noise] and then it started to charge my car. We got chatting away, ‘Where you going? Blah blah blah.’ Said, ‘I’m going just down the road but I’ve run out of energy so I’m just topping up my car’. ‘Brilliant, what do you do for a living?’ ‘I’m a foot specialist’”.

Celebrity Gogglebox airs Friday nights from 9pm on Channel 4.

THERE is a huge theme park that is often dubbed the Disneyland of Turkey – and it has opened a whole new land.

The Land of Legends in Turkey has opened Waterfly, a new water-themed world with 14 slides inside.

The main attraction is the Dragonfly Tower, a 52m tower that is one of the tallest of its kind.

The tower itself has an number of slides, such as the Dragonfly Jet with a helix twist slide.

Other slides include Golden Wing Spiral, Emerald Blue and Sunset Drop, all a range of intensities depending on your bravery.

There is also the family-friendly Butterfly Beach, for younger kids wanting water play without the thrills.

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Outside of this there are two waterparks – Aqua Land and Tropic Lagoon – which have a combined 70 waterslides.

Thrill seekers can head to Aqua Land as this is where the faster rides are.

For a more relaxed visit, Tropic Lagoon is better for younger guests with pools and gentle splash parks, as well as heated pools and wave pools.

Although save time for Turtle Coaster, one of the biggest waterslides in the world which has 14mph speeds and up to four passengers at a time.

The waterparks are open from April to October, during the busier summer season.

But if you want to stay onsite, it is super cheap too.

Seven-night stays at the Land of Legends theme park start from £809pp on an all-inclusive basis, and it includes your return London flights.

Sadly, this is just out of the waterpark season in November, so if you want to be able to access the waterparks, prices jump to £1,339pp.

Visitors all say the same with one writing on TripAdvisor it was their “best ever family holiday” another added that it was the theme and waterpark that made it “paradise for kids”.

Also at the resort is Nickelodeon Land, Adventure Land and themed hotel rooms.

BREAKINGBREAKING,

Appeals court rules the far-right leader ineligible to hold public office for 45 months.

A French appeals court has opened the door for far right leader Marine Le Pen to potentially run in the 2027 presidential election but said she must wear an electronic tag.

A Paris appeals court on Tuesday ruled Le Pen guilty of misusing public funds but reduced the ban on her holding elected office to 45 months, with 30 suspended.

She must now decide whether campaigning in 2027 with a monitoring bracelet as part of her sentence to be served at home is possible.

A lower court last year sentenced Le Pen, 57, to a five-year ban from public office and two years in prison over a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament.

The three-time presidential candidate hopes to run in the race to replace outgoing centrist President Emmanuel Macron in 2027.

Le Pen has said that if the sentence prevented her from campaigning, she would hand the reins over to her 30-year-old lieutenant, Jordan Bardella, leader of their National Rally (RN) party.

More to come…

July 6 (UPI) — Stock in Dell Technologies jumped Monday morning after President Donald Trump promoted the company while opening the stock exchange from the Oval Office.

Dell CEO Michael Dell and Susan Dell were in the Oval Office along with investor Brad Gerstner, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as Trump rang the opening bell. The president used the moment to encourage the purchase of Dell computers, preceding a 7% increase in Dell stock.

“Go out and buy a Dell computer,” Trump said. “Michael and Susan Dell, they are truly incredible.

The Dells donated $6 billion to the Trump Accounts program for children. Public financial disclosures show that Trump actively traded Dell stock in 2025, making 24 trades and purchasing stock 16 times.

We’re going to get him that money back one way or the other,” Trump said. “Then I’ll ask for another $6 billion. We’ll start the whole process all over again.”

Monday’s Oval Office event recognized the opening of the Trump Accounts on Saturday. The accounts are available to children 18 or younger and include a $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury Department for babies born from 2025 through 2028.

“The American dream belongs to every child, and today we are equipping the next generation with the right to claim their rightful share of it,” Bessent said.

New York Stock Exchange president Lynn Martin was also in attendance in the Oval Office.

A SPRAWLING new entertainment venue has opened in a major UK hub – and it features more than 170 games.

The £11million attraction will offer visitors a wide range of virtual reality, sporting and gaming experiences.

Mega City has thrown open its doors in Slough today (July 6), bringing a new immersive family entertainment venue to the town.

Spanning more than 55,000 sq ft, the site offers a wide range of virtual reality experiences, 10 bowling lanes and even a karaoke room set across its three floors.

Located just eight minutes from the Elizabeth Line, the 170-game venue also features arcade machines, interactive football, a laser tag arena and an AR clay pigeon shooting experience.

Built on the site of a former Wilko, the entertainment destination comes as part of an £11million investment into Slough’s regeneration.

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Its opening is expected to create more than 80 local jobs, as well as generate footfall for the town centre.

Jeet Grewal, co-founder of Mega City, said: “At its heart, Mega City is about bringing people together. We wanted to create a place where different generations can enjoy shared experiences, feel welcome and make real memories.”

The late-night spot is also open until 2:30am on Fridays and Saturdays and until 1:30am the rest of the week, with a number of food and drink facilities on offer, including a restaurant, desserts bar and cocktail bar.

Grewal added: “Slough is incredibly diverse, vibrant and now well-connected through the Elizabeth Line, and we saw a real opportunity to create a large-scale leisure space that reflects that spirit.”

This follows Slough’s projected £3.5 billion transformation, with plans submitted last month for a £640million housing and leisure development.

The town has experienced a dramatic decline in recent years, with retail closures, a housing shortage and a degrading high street all contributing to the area’s deterioration.

KATIE Price has made a rare sentimental remark about ex-husband Peter Andre in her new Sky documentary.

The reality TV star, 48, shared a sweet comment about ex Peter and how shy he used to make her feel in her latest series, Katie Price: Nothing To Hide.

In the documentary, Katie is sitting down watching her old I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! footage — the show on which she met Peter.

She then opened up about just how much she felt for Peter, calling him her “Prince”.

Katie said: “If I like someone like I liked him, I go all shy. I can’t look at them, and I go all like giddy. It’s pathetic, but that’s what I was like.

“You could see we were into each other and it is so cute to look at. By the end of it I was smitten with him.

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“Meeting Pete and being with Pete were the best times of my life, without a doubt.

“I had my prince, I knew I would be with him forever.”

Katie and Peter met in 2004 and started dating shortly after their time on I’m A Celeb ended.

They got engaged later that same year and tied the knot in 2005.

They went on to have two children, Princess and Junior, before divorcing in 2009.

Earlier this year, Katie married for the fourth time, tying the knot with self-proclaimed millionaire Lee Andrews.

The pair’s whirlwind wedding came after just a week of speaking online.

Recently Katie and Lee reunited after Lee was imprisoned in Dubai under accusations of fraud.

A NEW UK train station has finally opened following a £183million building project.

The transport hub has been in the works since 2023 and opened to the public on June 28.

Cambridge South is the city’s third train station and will expand transport links for passengers.

The station will be run and managed by Greater Anglia.

Thameslink, Great Northern, CrossCountry and more services will also run from the station.

This is set to connect passengers to the likes of London, Brighton and Birmingham.

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A direct route from Cambridge South to London Stansted Airport is also set to run.

The station is located next to the famous Cambridge Biomedical Campus and boasts four platforms that will see up to nine trains per hour pass through.

The site also offers over 1,000 bicycle parking spots, ticket vending machines and lifts that provide step-free platform access.

The arrival of the new station will “deliver better transport options and connectivity for 1.8 million passengers”.

It’s also hoped the transport boost will “grow and level up the economy” by increasing employment opportunities.

Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “With up to nine trains per hour and all passing services stopping, Cambridge South will make a real difference from day one. 

“Cambridge South will bring London, Stansted Airport and international markets closer, supporting the investment and skilled people we need, and creating opportunities locally too.”

IF you’re looking to escape the heat, there is a huge new indoor attraction that is the first of its kind in Europe.

Slick City in Nottingham opened earlier this year, with everything from slides to coasters.

For example, you could head on Royal Flush, where you’ll head down a sheer drop before being whizzed around a massive bowl – just like the motion of a flushing toilet.

Then there is Fast Lane, which is ideal for competitive families as it is a four-lane slide.

On Hyperloop, you’ll head through a number of twists and turns.

The attraction is the first Slick City in Europe and is also home to the world’s first UV AirGlider – a gravity-powered aerial coaster that creates the feeling of flying.

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In between trying out the slides, visitors can test out the interactive games as well.

There’s a freestyle air court and sports court too, which has a cushioned, bouncy base ideal for parkour tricks.

Little ones aren’t left out either, as they can enjoy a soft play area.

While the kids are playing, parents can grab a bite to eat and a drink at the onsite cafe.

Though, Slick City isn’t just for kids – big kids (adults) can also have fun at one of the adults-only nights on the first Friday of every month.

The neon-lit attraction is for ages four and older and if you just want to watch you don’t have to pay entry.

There are a number of different ticket types available including ones for shorter 90 minute sessions and ones for longer two hour sessions.

Tickets cost £19.95 and £24.95 per person, respectively.

If you want to go on the AirGlider you’ll have to pay extra though – it’s £4 for one ride or £10 for three rides.

When at the attraction you also have to wear CitySocks, which cost £3 a pair – but you can keep and re-use them.

One recent visitor commented: “The slides are insane and it’s just so much fun.”

Another added: “Unique experience, such a great idea.

“It’s like a waterpark without the water.”

Little Disasters is a gripping Channel 5 drama series that has been keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

Channel 5 audiences have been gripped as they follow the compelling series Little Disasters, starring EastEnders‘ Jo Joyner, Bridgerton’s Shelley Conn and The Office’s Patrick Baladi.

The six-part drama chronicles the lives of four friends who have been close for a decade. Yet their bond faces its ultimate test when a single incident transforms everything.

When one of the women, Jess (Diane Kruger), brings their baby daughter to hospital with an unexplained head injury, her close friend and A&E doctor Liz (Jo) finds herself with no option but to alert social services.

This triggers a devastating domino effect as the pressures of motherhood, hidden truths and feelings of guilt are all laid bare in the Channel 5 drama.

Meanwhile, the central question persists: what truly happened to the baby to cause her injury?

The concluding episode of the series is scheduled to broadcast this week, with revelations that could potentially shatter the group completely unveiled, reports the Express.

Last year, actress Jo posted some behind-the-scenes photographs from her time filming the programme, including shots of her alongside castmates wearing prosthetic pregnancy bumps in a flashback sequence.

Another image captured Jo wearing a pink wig, which was donned by Emily Taaffe in one episode. Further snaps featured the cast relaxing during breaks, sharing meals and enjoying games.

Others show Jo smiling at the camera sporting various hairstyles. She captioned the post: “What I did last summer…! After three months in Malta, I had two weeks at home before heading off to Budapest to film the first half of #littledisasters an adaptation of the gripping novel by @svaughanauthor. It was just long enough for me to change my hair from blonde to dark brown with the help of Tracy @westgate_salon & @racoonintl”.

“Filming in 38 degrees in the bustling city surrounded by a wealth of talent. Sitting next to a beautiful and talented Chanel model every morning in makeup, whilst having broken veins and dark circles painted on me, did nothing for my ego.

“But getting to play the down-to-earth, capable and witty Liz more than made up for it. Blessed to have spent the hours off set having great meals, hikes and conversation, and not to forget, crosswords- with the best of cast mates, glad and grateful for the visits from friends and family @n1cky00.

“Yes, we did all try the pink wig on! Choosing baby bumps is harder than you’d think. After spending the first half of the year away, it was a joy to come home and film the remainder in Richmond last summer.”

Little Disasters is currently available to stream on Channel 5.

A NEW multi-million-pound waterfront park is set to open today – and it’s three times larger than London’s Trafalgar Square.

Visitors will be able to walk across a 55-metre bridge from the High Street to the revamped riverside.

Stockton-on-Tees‘ Waterfront Urban Park is set to be unveiled today (June 20), as part of the council’s vision to regenerate the struggling town centre.

The £23million project will bring a “dynamic space for events, leisure and community life” to the area, where residents will be able to enjoy three separate play areas, event spaces and even a skate spot.

The focal feature of the park is a 21,000sq ft amphitheatre designed for live events, which connects the upper and lower sections of the park via 402 granite steps.

Ten-metre play towers, an oval lawn and facilities that can accommodate pop-up food and drink vendors are also key landmarks in the area.

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The history of the town centre has also been integrated into the space, with text, poetry and illustrations featuring Stockton’s heritage carved onto floor and wall surfaces.

Activities for children include a toddler trail, swings, climbing nets, trampolines and “exhilarating” slides connecting the amphitheatre to the riverside.

The waterfront space features sweeping views of the River Tees, and more than 17,000 plants have been installed from over 224 species.

The entire project, completed by contractors Esh Construction, cost more than £41million, which included the demolition Castlegate Shopping Centre and the Swallow Hotel.

Building began in December 2024, and now the opening will take place as part of Armed Forces Celebration Day.

Councillor Paul Rowling, the deputy leader and cabinet member for resources and regeneration, said: “Stockton Waterfront urban park is going to have a transformational effect on the borough, the wider Tees Valley and beyond.

“The Waterfront Park is set to be a catalyst for further investment and drive our ambitions for the future. This is only the beginning of that journey.”

The project has been named “one of the most ambitious regeneration projects in Europe” in a bid to help revitalise the deprived market town.

A HUGE new lido has opened in the UK with saunas and a wellness space.

Found at Canary Wharf’s Eden Dock in London, Sea Lanes is a new ‘floating’ lido.

The 50-metre long and 1.3-metre deep pool is a year- round attraction and has two saunas.

In total there are six lanes for swimming.

Sea Lanes has dubbed it the city’s “leading destination for open water swimming,health and wellbeing”.

Next to the lido, visitors will also find a clubhouse, where wellness events are hosted.

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The first at the clubhouse is on June 25 and features an Open Water Masterclass with Olympian Katy Sexton.

There’s a spot to grab a bite to eat by the pool as well with breakfast dishes including mushroom and avocado flatbread (£11) and build-your-own-lunch bowls from £11.

The pool will be open from 6am to 9pm Monday to Friday and from 7am to 7pm at the weekends.

Make sure to check the website before you visit as well, for the latest details about the weather and water temp.

With this weekend’s weather expected to hit highs of 30C, the current 16.4C water makes for a refreshing dip.

There are a number of different memberships available including the Swim and Sauna membership, which gives unlimited access to the pool and saunas all year round.

It costs £90 per month.

Alternatively, visitors can pay-per-swim, which will cost £10 for a swim session, £10 for a sauna session or £18 for both.

If visitors want to rent a wetsuit, they can do so at a small store too.

The first visitor at the pool today said: “First one in the water on opening day.

“What a fantastic facility in the middle of Canary Wharf!

“The pool was the perfect temperature for swimming without wetsuit.

“The changing facilities were bright and clean with lovely hot showers, hairdryers and lockers.

“Love the two saunas with whole wall picture windows facing the pool.

“From the chats with other swimmers, I can picture a wonderful community developing here.”

Former US President Barack Obama opened his presidential centre in Chicago, using the occasion to call for unity, urging Americans to reject division and invest in the next generation.

June 18 (UPI) — The Obama Presidential Center will open Thursday in Chicago with a long list of celebrities attending.

The grand opening will be livestreamed starting at 11 a.m. CDT Thursday on Obama.org and on the Obama Foundation’s social media accounts. The opening is invitation-only, and there are no more tickets for the Midway Plaisance Park watch party in Chicago.

The center will be open to the public beginning Friday, and it’s expected to see up to 1 million visitors per year. Tickets, which are $30, are sold out through October.

The center is a 19-acre space on the south side of Chicago that features a tall building that includes a museum of the Obamas’ lives. It shows what life was like in the Obama White House.

The campus also has a branch of the Chicago Public Library, an NBA regulation-size basketball court and Women’s Garden dedicated to women leaders in Chicago. It also has an auditorium, a media suite that visitors can use, a Wetland Walk, a fruit and vegetable garden and a playground.

But it’s not a presidential library and doesn’t house the Obama presidential documents. Those are in the mostly digital Barack Obama Presidential Library run by the National Archives, though the center does have some artifacts on display that are on loan.

Some of the celebrities planning to perform are Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Marc Anthony, The Roots, Common, Eddie Vedder, Bono and The Edge, Tems and Marsai Martin.

Every living president will be there except President Donald Trump.

CEO of the Obama Foundation Valerie Jarrett has said Trump is welcome to visit the museum, and they’d love to give him a tour. She said he simply was not invited to the dedication.

“I can tell you that this is a celebration for those who helped get President Obama where he is. And this is a gift to them,” Jarrett said. “And so the people who will be here are the people who’ve been helpful along the way.”

EUROPE’S largest funfair is returning to the UK this weekend, as the huge stretch of rides comes back for its 144th year.

Over 400 spectacular attractions will be on offer for all the family, including a new record-breaking ride for the ultimate thrillseekers.

The Hoppings is back for its 144th year this weekend, as Newcastle’s Town Moor anticipates the return of Europe’s biggest funfair.

Located at the heart of the city centre, the funfair offers over 400 attractions and rides for thrillseekers and families alike – from the giant ferris wheel, to the classic helter skelter.

Despite occupying a smaller space than previous years, due to drainage works on the Moor, the fair still keeps all its excitement, and visitors can expect to see a jam-packed line-up.

After centuries of history, and a deep-rooted sense of North East nostalgia the fair evokes, generations of Geordie families love returning to The Hoppings year after year.

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This year, the fair has unveiled a whole host of adrenaline-pumping rides, including the return of fan-favourites Atmosfear and Extreme.

The stage has been set for the arrival of a record-breaking high-flying experience with the launch of the brand-new Elevate85 attraction.

Climbing up to 80metres, this drop tower with flying chairs has been hailed as “the world’s highest travelling ride” – only 10metres shorter than London’s Big Ben.

Foodies have another reason to celebrate with a brand-new Spud Bros stall joining the line-up, only weeks after the launch of its popular North Tyneside store.

The daily line-up also includes a Live Lounge stage with country, rock, and pop music, alongside delicious treats on offer from the Feast Street food village.

The arrival of the Hoppings in the last week of June is a fixture of the Geordie calendar, and has been since 1882.

Opening on the Town Moor over a century-and-a-half ago, the fair was initially marketed as a tee-total event to counteract the boozy activities of Newcastle Race Week.

Its initial form included traditional amusements and roundabouts, as well as kite-flying contests and military shows – a step away from its current form.

The Hoppings has evolved to represent the warmth and welcoming nature of Geordies themselves, and shows a city beyond bustling nightlife and football passion.

Now, the fair attracts over half a million annual visitors to indulge in the vibrant lights, exhilirating rides, and all the fun of the fair.

For those wanting to visit Newcastle, The Hoppings is the perfect starting point for organising a tour, with the city centre situated a 30-minute walk away from the Town Moor.

From there, a walk along the Quayside to see the famous Tyne Bridge, The Glasshouse and River Tyne is a must, with foodstalls often lining the streets on weekends.

Newcastle, and surrounding North East towns, are incredibly well-connected with the Tyne and Wear Metro, with 60 stations and two separate lines.

Many may not know that the city has some of the best coastlines in the UK – travel 30 minutes east on the Metro and visit Tynemouth Longsands and enjoy the scenic views from the coastal villages.

Entry to The Hoppings is completely free this year, with standard ride prices ranging from just £3 to £5 and high-thrill attractions costing slightly more.

The Hoppings is returning for its 10-day bonanza between June 19 and June 28, running from 2pm to 11pm on weekdays, and 1pm to 11pm on weekends.

The saga of the Constellation class frigate is emblematic of so many chronic issues with the Navy’s way of procuring warships. The vessel that was supposed to make the wrongs of the Littoral Combat Ship debacle right failed spectacularly and the timing couldn’t have been worse. Now Constellation is dead and the Trump administration is building a different frigate from a different yard. While the Navy has said why it is moving on, we wanted the other side of the story. We recently had a conversation with George Moutafis, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group, to get exactly that.

Before we get to the questions and answers, however, here is the backstory.

The U.S. Navy needed the Constellation class frigate, badly, and the program to construct it seemed built to deliver. Rather than a clean-sheet design, the service chose the proven Franco-Italian FREMM as its parent design, betting that adapting an existing platform would be far faster and cheaper, and overall less risky than starting from scratch.

It wasn’t. Among the issues plaguing the program, constant change orders pushed the design far from its origins. Two years into construction, the first ship was barely 10% complete while its design was still being finalized. Meanwhile, costs and schedules blew well past original projections.

As a result of these issues, the Navy late last year cancelled the program. That left Fincantieri’s Wisconsin yard sidelined while a contract to replace the Constellation class frigate went to rival Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula.

In the wake of the program’s implosion, the Navy created the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) system. It uses a hired manager to hold the prime contract and run the show, overseeing shipyard performance, controlling subcontracts, and acting as a buffer between the service and the builder to keep costs and schedules on track.

In a wide-ranging, hour-long exclusive interview, Moutafis – appointed CEO on July 1, 2025 as the wheels were already falling off this project – gave us unique insights into Fincantieri’s version of how Constellation turned into a debacle and what needs to change as a result. He also touched on an array of other topics, which we will address in future installments.

Some of the questions and answers have been edited for clarity.

Q: Why was the Constellation class frigate cancelled from your point of view? What happened that caused the program – which was seen as a must-succeed endeavor, and hugely promising – to get to the point where it was shuttered?

A: It’s for sure a tricky situation. On one hand, the way the Constellation class program was initially laid out and envisioned – potentially a lot of the things that were driving it may have been ahead of its time.

So, while you’re saying you want to attempt to do one thing, but at the same time you’re not evolving the way you execute can lead you to an undesired effect. And I say this because in my eyes, some of those lessons learned out of Constellation are being manifested in the things that the Navy has been rolling out the past few months – a new approach that empowers PAEs [Navy Portfolio Acquisition Executives] to make decisions, to minimize change, to embrace innovation and new technologies. All these elements that we see now being rolled out, I think to a certain degree, connect back to lessons that have been learned out of the Constellation class journey.

Q: What lessons, specifically?

A: Figure out what you want to prioritize, to what extent you want to prioritize schedule, and what’s the best way to say this. When you know when you need something delivered and at what pace, then enable the right level of decision-making. Because otherwise – I don’t want to sound this the wrong way – but perfection sometimes is the enemy of more than good enough.

Going beyond the Constellation class, now the needs are for vessels to be out there for the warfighter as soon as possible. For sure, we will see many cases where it will be considered that a vessel with these capabilities – even though potentially, in some areas, it may not have enough tons of steel on its sides, or whatever – it will be good enough to assist the warfighter as they head into harm’s way.

Those trade-offs are now being placed at the PAE level, allowing Navy leaders at that level to make the right decisions – figuring out whether to continue going down a design spiral versus just moving out with production and enabling us to have the right capabilities on time for the warfighter.

You can see former Navy Secretary John Phelan announce the cancellation of the Constellation class in the following video.

Q: Could the Constellation class have been salvaged? What would have needed to change to get it to a place where it was affordable, on time and efficient?

A: I think the initial and envisioned approach was a healthy one. Had we kept on track with what was, back then, the principles that led to the selection – but also how it was originally set up – we probably would have kept closer to the original design. And thus allowing [us] to be closer to the original schedule. And thus allowing [us] also to build the vessel that was desired, without delays or major changes.

On our end, from day one or day two – let me say that once the Navy decided their shift, we opted to consciously become a true partner and showcase that we are a true partner to the Navy and the nation. We said, ‘Okay, we will adjust, we will move forward.’ And it’s a clear reality that what we have in Wisconsin is an asset for the Navy, especially in a time like this that leaves all of us eager to serve the way you would need us to serve – whether it’s today through serial production of landing ships and/or icebreakers or others. And in the future, should the small surface combatant segment have additional needs, it’s obvious that the infrastructure [in Wisconsin] has been built to ideally serve that type of vessel, so we’re ready to answer the calling.

Q: Why didn’t the Navy just take the base class and do minimal modifications to it? It became what seemed like a totally new ship.

A: That’s a great question, Howard, but I would need to speculate to answer that one, and I wouldn’t want to do that, because you’re right. But at the same time – what’s the saying? Hindsight is 20/20. It’s probably one of those occasions at this point. But it’s a great question. I’d love to be with you when we pose it to the right folks.

Q: But what do you think is the answer to that question, from your point of view?

A: From our point of view – from the get-go, when the award was made, it was made because there was a review of the requirements, a review of the design, and a review of all the elements that led to recognition that the parent design possessed exactly the right features to represent the path forward. So collectively, we had marched on that path. We might find ourselves in a different situation right now, but like I said, it’s one thing asking somebody to change their M.O. and adopt a new approach without fully empowering them or doing something drastic to signal that type of transformation. And it’s another where we said ‘we will try this new approach.’ But there was a lot of follow-through that was needed.

Everybody has developed experiences in certain ways, and everybody – especially when you have folks that have been doing it for decades – has developed their own rules of thumb and approaches to dealing with certain situations. It’s not easy to pivot an entire structure to a new idea or a new approach. So like I said, probably it was the right idea, but a little bit ahead of its time.

Q: What do you think of the lessons that should be learned from the Constellation class’s story?

A: I want to be a glass-half-full type of guy, so that’s why I connected back the things that I’ve been seeing being rolled out by our Navy the last few months as indeed adopting some of those lessons learned. So I’ll go back to the fact that they’ve decided to find new ways to apply the principle that schedule is king. And those new ways include changes that are not just at the leadership level, not just at the level following that, but indeed of restructuring and reorganizing the teams that are there to implement those guidelines – because that’s key in order to be able to change your ways and adopt lessons learned.

So I’m hopeful that this new approach of the PAE setup will be an enabler to adopt the lessons learned: of how to move fast, of how not to mess with a design especially when it’s meeting and exceeding requirements, of how to manage change – not in the rollout of a change, but in the decision-making of whether to adopt change or not. So a lot of those new ideas that they’ve been trying to apply are promising to that effect.

Q: The Navy adopted the new VCM program to oversee construction of the new Landing Ship Medium (LSM) vessels you are working on. This is a direct result of what happened with the Constellation class, right?

A: I would definitely think so, because it indicates the whole idea that the Navy is recognizing – instead of applying the typical layers of full team presence in the shipbuilder’s yard, additional layers of engineering design, etc. – we’re saying, ‘Okay, in a case where we want to go fast, let’s make our decisions ahead of time, select the design, check it quickly ahead of time, and assign it as a production-related design in the hands of that VCM, and allow an industry set of characters between the VCM and the shipbuilder to deliver.’

Q: What does Fincantieri have to give up in this VCM approach?

A: Thinking on this – Fincantieri, as a global group, likes to be end-to-end with the end customer. Our strategy is to develop the design according to the needs and requirements, move forward all through construction, and even post-construction to provide full support throughout almost the entire lifecycle of a vessel. That’s the Fincantieri model around the globe.

In this case, we’re looking to adjust to the approach that the Navy is looking to apply – and we can view it as a benefit. We can take it on as a build-to-print: be the shipbuilder that respects this design, doesn’t try to mess with it, just works out all the kinks to ensure producibility, and then moves swiftly into quick serial production.

From that perspective, we’re not really giving up something – we’re just placing at the disposal of the nation the assets that are already in place, and looking to produce as many vessels as quickly as possible.

Q: How will this speed up U.S. shipbuilding?

A: How I interpret this strategy is the Navy saying: in programs that work, find an approach that allows them to almost get out of the picture. They recognize schedule is priority number one and a quality vessel is priority number two. In order to enable that ‘build more and build fast’ approach, they’re seeking to place somebody – the VCM – to take on the construction, provide them with a mature, production-ready design with no changes to it, and enable the kind of interaction you’ve seen in commercial shipbuilding. That allows those two parties – the VCM and the shipbuilder – to work fast through daily decision-making in a way that favors schedule without compromising quality.

They’re seeking to equip the VCM with a design that will not be touched – a build-to-print situation – and empower them to make these types of decisions daily, so that at the end of the day they simply deliver a vessel to the Navy, minimizing the Navy’s need or propensity to intervene.

It’s an innovative approach, and it definitely requires all parties to give up habits and practices that have taken hold in the past. As long as parties stick with this new approach, it has a great chance of success. On our end, we’re trying to be disciplined in respecting it and pushing forward.

Our next installment of this interview focuses on how Fincantieri is planning to help build Trump’s Golden Fleet and the challenges ahead.

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

TEDDY SWIMS says he is glad he was 30 years old before achieving global success – otherwise he could have gone off the rails.

The US star, whose single Lose Control sent his profile rocketing in 2023, said he doesn’t understand how younger stars like Benson Boone have coped with their early fame.

Teddy explained: “He’s crushing it at, like, 23. If they would have gave me that at 23, I would have sent that straight up my nose.

“Thank God it happened to me at the time it did and I’m capable of understanding this and taking it seriously.

“I’d have probably been so terrible about it. I’d have spun out immediately if I’d been given that at such a young age.”

Since then though, Teddy’s had further hits with The Door and Bad Dreams, but doesn’t let success get to his head.

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He said: “I try not to hang up my diamond or platinum records in my house, because I feel like I’ll just be looking at them and be like, ‘My best days are behind me,’ or something.

“So I try just to keep my head down and keep rocking.”

Asked if they’re in storage, he confessed: “A lot of them I’ve given to my family on Christmas. It saves me a little money there too.

“You know, my aunt’s got The Door gold record from a year ago.”

A real beauty spot, Maya

MAYA JAMA is clearly feline fine as she turns up the heat in a skimpy leopard-print mini dress.

The Love Island host sizzled as she fronted the dating show’s ITV2 spin-off Aftersun in the slinky number.

Maya, who previously dated grime star Stormzy, split from her Manchester City footballer boyfriend Ruben Dias in April after 18 months together.

But she clearly isn’t moping around, and has been on holiday in Ibiza, where she flaunted her curves in a tiny bikini.

Maya said of the break-up: “I’m an all-or-nothing girl, I don’t casually date, so yes, I will love loudly or not at all – and if it ends, it ends. I decided a long time ago not to base my life decisions on public opinions.”

Sounds like she’s got the dating game sussed.

JACK WHITEHALL has apologised to Becky Hill for calling her a “Wetherspoons Whitney”, claiming the pair “had a chuckle” about his dig – despite her writing diss track Daddy’s Range Rover about him.

I revealed last month how Becky has penned the song all about him making her the butt of a joke while he hosted the 2024 Brits.

Jack says: “I think my biggest surprise is it’s taken so long for some- one to write a diss track about me. I apologised when I saw her.”

Becky doesn’t sound like she sees the funny side, however – blasting the “privately educated nepo baby”.

Jesy’s hol of a look

LITTLE MIX singer Jesy Nelson celebrated her 35th birthday pondering what is coming next for her.

Holidaying with friends, she mused: “Whatever will chapter 35 bring?”

Well, it is unlikely to bring a reunion with her estranged former bandmates.

Jesy was not a guest at Perrie Edwards’ wedding to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in Portugal over the weekend, after Perrie said Jesy made her “blood boil” by claiming she felt unsupported during a mental health crisis.

Whatever comes next, it’s going to be a page-turner.

LEAH LETS LOOSE IN IBIZA

ENGLAND women’s football captain Leah Williamson made the most of her break from the game by enjoying a wild girls’ trip to Ibiza.

I’m told the Arsenal player let her hair down at the White Isle’s most legendary club Pikes last week.

Then on Friday night she let loose at Calvin Harris’ residency at superclub Ushuaia, where she partied with pals and her model girlfriend Elle Smith.

One onlooker told me: “Leah was ­having a great time doing shots with her mates – she was really ­living her best life.”

A calf injury meant she was ruled out of the last Lionesses squad, and it sounds like she is still feeling the effects as Leah wasn’t dancing as much as her mates.

But I reckon a blow-out in Ibiza might be just what she needs before getting her head back in the game.

FRESH off a collaboration with Ed Sheeran, Martin Garrix has teamed up with Madonna.

The Dutch DJ debuted Bizarre, one of the tracks from Madge’s highly anticipated Confessions II album, during a New York party.

From the clip I’ve heard, it sounds like an absolute beast.

ASTON: MY BOY’S READY TO HAVE BITE AT POP STARDOM

JLS star Aston Merrygold reckons he could have the next Justin Bieber on his hands in the form of his talented eldest son.

He revealed that eight-year-old Grayson Jax is already showing serious star potential.

The Beat Again singer said: “My oldest is full-on – he’s ready, he wants to do everything. He’s so much better than I ever was. Little Justin Bieber on the way.”

While fans wait to see if another Merrygold is about to hit the charts, Aston is juggling life as a musician with being a hands-on dad to his three children and setting a good example.

The singer has teamed up with Bupa Dental Care to launch the kids’ story and audiobook The ­Dentist’s Apprentice, aimed at ­helping youngsters overcome fears over check-ups on their teeth.

Aston said: “The whole premise is about trying to get rid of dental anxiety that young people have.

“Having all that pent-up anxious energy is not healthy for anyone. The dentist is about check-ups, it’s about prevention.”

Aston will soon be back on the road with JLS for their UK tour.

They are playing eight more shows, ending in Derby on August 29.