Stefan Dennis has been forced to quit Strictly Come Dancing after suffering an injury, with the Neighbours legend’s exit confirmed in a statement on Monday
Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis has quit the current series of Strictly Come Dancing following an injury.
The star, who portrayed Paul Robinson in the Australian soap, had been partnered with fellow Aussie and reigning Strictly champion Dianne Buswell for the 2025 series.
However, during a breaking news segment on spin-off programme It Takes Two on Monday, it was announced that Stefan would no longer be taking part in the competition.
The revelation was also posted on the official Strictly Instagram page, where Stefan revealed: “This Morning, I woke up to the most disappointing day of my time in my Strictly journey.
“Just when I had finally gained the confidence to do well with my dancing in the comp and achieve more great dances along the way, I was told that on Saturday, I had torn my calf so significantly that I am now forced to withdraw from the show,” reports Wales Online.
He added: “I can’t tell you how devastated I am to have to leave so prematurely, especially, as there has been, and still is, so much love and support from everyone for both Dianne and myself.
“I owe both the Strictly Family and Dianne a massive debt of gratitude for giving me the opportunity to fulfil my dream of being able to dance with my wife (When my leg is better). Fun face for all the avid Neighbours fans… It’s the same leg!”
Pregnant professional dancer Dianne, who claimed victory in last year’s series alongside comedian Chris McCausland, also uploaded a tribute to Stefan on her Instagram profile. She said: “stefo I’m so sorry our strictly journey was cut short just as that confidence was starting to grow. But you can walk away with your head held high. You can go home to your wonderful wife put your hand out and say would you like to cha cha cha with me.
“the main reason for being on this show was to be able to dance with her and you can certainly do that now. You are the kindest human I have ever worked with and I can always say I got to dance with the iconic neighbours legend Stefan Dennis or as my dad calls ya Paul Robertson.”
Fellow professionals and viewers were left gutted by the announcement.
Welsh professional dancer Amy Dowden said: “So gutted for you both. Sending all my love and well wishes xxxx”.
One viewer said: “I’m devastated for you both but thank you for all the joy you’ve given to us!!”
A second said: “Absolutely gutted for you both but you should be so proud of all you achieved on your short but ever so sweet journey, I hope he recovers well sending all the well wishes and love his way.”
And another added: “Gutted for you both as it was clear you were just getting started.”
The announcement follows Stefan’s most triumphant performance on Strictly when he bagged a score of 26 out of 40 from the panel last Saturday.
Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Iconic ITV medical expert Dr Hilary Jones has opened up about how he is set to depart the network after working there for 36 years as a string of cuts will see workforce sliced in half
Dr Hilary Jones has opened up about the end of his ITV career(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Lorraine star Dr Hilary Jones has opened up about his departure from the hit ITV show after being on the air for 36 years. Hilary is leaving after it was announced that the morning offering is set to be cut to 30 minutes long from January.
The reduced schedule will see it air for just 30 weeks of the year instead of 52. The 72-year-old medical specialist has also confessed that he thinks there won’t be any money for him to have a leaving party.
He explained, “I’m still working there until December 31, and then I’m a free agent. It’s liberating from the constraints of a news programme presenter. I’ll probably come back as a guest presenter now and then.”
He then clarified further why the changes to the popular show are happening, as he mentioned that many people are having to move on. He said, “People are being very sensitive to the fact that some people are having to move on.
“A lot of people are being redeployed elsewhere or in the same role. ITV, like everyone else, are having to make changes.” Talking to The Sun, as he was asked if ITV would be throwing a leaving party for those being made redundant, he said: “It would be lovely if they did, but we will wait and see on that one because money is tight.
“Certainly, there are groups of us who feel we’re part of a family, so we will all be going out anyway, whether they pay or not. We are quite happy to dip into our own pockets.”
Attending the Best Hero awards, Hilary also clarified, “I think people at work know where they stand, and many saw changes coming.”
The changes will see the workforce on ITV Studios’ daytime operations cut in half as they try to claw back financial losses. Recent financial results for the network showed their profits are down by 30 per cent in the first half of this year.
Meanwhile, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has described the cuts to her show as “heartbreaking” as she opened up for the first time about her show being slashed. The star also vowed to continue on her self-titled programme amid previous speculation she was prepared to walk away.
Speaking to The Mirror she said, “I don’t see me going anywhere until people get fed up, you know? Until people say, I’ve had enough of that one. It’s really heartbreaking to split up the team, a lot of my team have been with me for more than 20 years and they’re my friends.
“I’ve grown up with them. They were babies when they started with me and now they’ve got babies of their own.” Lorraine said she was pleased that a lot of the team had since been redeployed on other shows.
She added, “It’s been difficult with the cuts, it’s been hard. I’m a lot happier about it now but it was honestly and genuinely all about the team. I wasn’t annoyed or angry about this for me..it was about the team.”
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has plunged France further into a political deadlock after he resigned just hours after forming a cabinet as Paris struggles to plug its mounting debt.
Lecornu – whose tenure, which ended on Monday, was the shortest in modern French history – blamed opposition politicians for refusing to cooperate after a key coalition partner pulled support for his cabinet. He joins a growing list of French prime ministers who since last year have taken the job only to resign a short time later.
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Opposition parties in the divided French Parliament have increased pressure on President Emmanuel Macron to hold snap elections or even to resign – as have politicians and allies in his own camp. Analysts said Macron now appears to be caught on the back foot since Lecornu was widely seen as his “final bullet” to solve the protracted political crisis.
Here’s what to know about Lecornu’s resignation and why French politics are unstable:
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu delivers a statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris on October 6, 2025, after submitting his government’s resignation to the president [Stephane Mahe/ AFP]
What happened?
Lecornu and his ministers resigned on Monday morning after he had named a new government the previous day.
Lecornu took up his office on September 9 after his predecessor Francois Bayrou stepped down. His tenure lasted 27 days, the shortest since 1958 when France’s Fifth Republic began. He was France’s fifth prime minister since 2022 and its third since Macron called snap elections in June last year. He was formerly the minister of the armed forces from 2022 until last month.
In an emotional television address on Monday morning, Lecornu blamed political leaders from different ideological blocs for refusing to compromise to solve the crisis.
“The conditions were not fulfilled for me to carry out my function as prime minister,” the 39-year-old Macron ally said, adding that things could have worked if some had been “selfless”.
“One must always put one’s country before one’s party,” he said.
Macron, in what appeared to be a final attempt at stability, then asked Lecornu on Monday evening to stay on until Wednesday as the head of a caretaker government and to hold “final negotiations” with political parties in the interests of stability. It’s unclear what exactly these talks might entail or whether Lecornu might still emerge as prime minister at the end of them.
In a statement late on Monday on X, Lecornu said he accepted Macron’s proposal “to hold final discussions with the political forces for the stability of the country”. He added that he will report back to Macron by Wednesday evening and the president can then “draw his own conclusions”.
France expert Jacob Ross of the Hamburg-based German Council on Foreign Relations said the caretaker agreement was a “bizarre” one, even if legal, and underscored Macron’s desperation to project some form of control even as his options appear to be running out.
“For me, this really secures the narrative that Lecornu was Macron’s last bullet” to solve the current crisis, Ross said.
Why did Lecornu quit?
France has a deeply divided parliament that makes consensus difficult. Far-right and left-wing parties together hold more than 320 seats in the 577-seat lower house and abhor each other. Macron’s centrist and conservative bloc, which has tried to win conditional support from the left and right to rule, holds 210. No party has an overall majority.
After forming his government on Sunday, Lecornu immediately lost the support of the right-wing Republicans party (LR), which holds 50 seats, because of his choice for defence minister — former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.
LR President Bruno Retailleau, who was set to be interior minister in the government, announced on X on Sunday evening that his party was pulling out of the coalition because it did not “reflect the promised break” from pro-Macron ideologies initially assured by Lecornu. He said later on the broadcaster TF1 that Lecornu did not tell him Le Maire would be part of the government.
Le Maire is seen by many critics as representing Macron’s pro-privatisation economic policies and not the radical shifts that Lecornu promised in the three weeks of negotiations before forming a cabinet. Others, meanwhile, hold Le Maire responsible for overseeing the large public deficit during his term as finance minister from 2017 to 2024.
Lecornu’s exit affected the markets with stocks of prominent French companies dropping sharply by about 2 percent on the CAC 40, France’s benchmark stock index, although it has somewhat recovered since then.
Ministers who were supposed to form the government will now remain as caretakers until further notice. “I despair of this circus where everyone plays their role but no one takes responsibility,” Agnes Pannier-Runacher, who was set to be reappointed as ecology minister, said in a post on X.
Demonstrators march during a protest called by major trade unions to oppose budget cuts in Nantes in western France on September 18, 2025 [Mathieu Pattier/AP]
Why has France’s politics become unstable?
The issues go back to the snap elections in June 2024, which produced a hung parliament consisting of Macron’s centrist bloc as well as left and far-right blocs. With Macron failing to achieve a majority and with parliament consisting of such an uncomfortable coalition, his government has faced hurdles in passing policies.
Added to the political impasse are Macron’s attempts to push through deeply unpopular austerity measures to close widening deficits that resulted from COVID-19-era spending.
Bayrou, who was prime minister from December to September, proposed budget cuts in July to ease what he called France’s “life-threatening” debt burden and cut public spending by 44 billion euros ($52bn) in 2026. His plans included a freeze on pensions, higher taxes for healthcare and scrapping two holidays to generate economic activity. However, they were met with widespread furore in parliament and on the streets and resulted in waves of protests across France. Parliament eventually rejected Bayrou’s proposals in September, ending his nine-month run.
Lecornu, meanwhile, had abandoned the holiday clause and promised to target lifelong privileges enjoyed by ministers. He had negotiated with each bloc for three weeks, hoping to avoid a vote of no confidence. By Monday, it was clear that his approach had not worked.
Public anger has increasingly also been directed at Macron since he first imposed higher fuel taxes in 2018 – and later scrapped them after large-scale protests. In April 2023, Macron again drew popular anger when he forced through pension reforms that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64. That policy was not reversed despite large protests led by trade unions. At present, the French president’s popularity in opinion polls has sunk to record lows.
“There is a numb anger in the voter base, a sense that politicians are playing around, and a huge part of the French electorate is disgusted,” Ross said. “My fear is that it is a potentially promising starting position to call for new elections but also a referendum on topics like migration and even France staying on in the European Union.”
President Emmanuel Macron speaks to members of the media at the EU summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 2, 2025 [Leonhard Foeger/Reuters]
What’s next for Macron?
Macron, due to be in office until April 2027, is increasingly under pressure. Opposition groups are capitalising on Lecornu’s resignation, and his own allies are publicly distancing themselves from him in a bid to boost their standing in the next elections, analysts said.
The anti-immigrant and anti-EU National Rally (RN) on Monday urged Macron to hold elections or resign. “This raises a question for the president of the republic: Can he continue to resist the legislature dissolution? We have reached the end of the road,” party leader Marine Le Pen told reporters on Monday. “There is no other solution. The only wise course of action in these circumstances is to return to the polls.” The RN is expected to gain more seats if elections are held.
Similar calls came from the left with members of the far-left France Unbowed party asking for Macron’s exit.
The president, who has not made a public statement but was spotted walking alone along the River Seine on Monday, according to the Reuters news agency, is also isolated within his own camp. Gabriel Attal, prime minister from January to September 2024 and head of Macron’s Renaissance party, said on the TF1 television channel that he no longer understood Macron’s decisions and it was “time to try something else”.
Edouard Phillipe, a key ally of Macron and prime minister from 2017 to 2020, also said Macron should appoint a caretaker prime minister and then call for an early presidential election while speaking on France’s RTL Radio. Phillipe, who is running in the 2027 elections under his centrist Horizons party, slammed what he said is a “distressing political game”.
France needs to “emerge in an orderly and dignified manner from a political crisis that is harming the country”, Philippe said. “Another 18 months of this is far too long.”
“People are seriously speculating that he might step down, and his allies are seeing him as political [dead] weight,” Ross said.
Macron, he added, has three options: elect yet another prime minister who might still struggle to gain parliamentary consensus, resign or more likely call for snap parliamentary elections – which could still fail to produce a majority government. All three options would come with their own challenges for the president, he noted. Macron has repeatedly ruled out stepping down.
The crisis, Ross said, is similarly affecting the president’s political standing on the international front as head of the EU’s second most populous economy.
STRICTLY pro Lauren Oakley has QUIT social media just a day before the first live show – saying “everyone has feelings”.
The dancer, who is partnered with football manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink this series, urged viewers to not troll the stars.
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Lauren Oakley has quit social media just a day before the first live showCredit: Louis Wood
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The pro dancer is partnered with football manager Jimmy Floyd HasselbainkCredit: BBC
Lauren, 34, shared a message with her followers before she takes a break from her X platform while the show is on.
She wrote: “Live show tomorrow. That’s me deleting X for now, have fun everyone. Enjoy the show. Don’t be mean. Everyone has feelings and everyone is trying their best. Think before you type. Love.”
Last series Lauren stepped in for Amy Dowden as her replacement after health concerns and danced withJLSsinger JB Gill.
Taking to the stage for the inaugural Icons Week, the pair blew the judges away and received an incredible 39 points.
VICKY Pattison and Dani Dyer’s dad Danny have rallied around her after she was forced to quit Strictly Come Dancing due to injury.
Strictly contestant Vicky and actor Danny led the stars sharing messages of support on Instagram last night after the Love Islander broke the news of her exit.
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Vicky Pattison has thrown her support behind pal Dani Dyer after her devastating early exit from Strictly Come DancingCredit: Instagram/vickypattison
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Vicky posted a string of photos from behind the scenes on the BBC showCredit: Instagram/vickypattison
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Danny also showed his support on his daughter’s postCredit: Instagram
Mum-of-three Dani was due to perform in her first live show on Saturday night with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, but said: “I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny.
“I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle.”
Dani, 29, continued: “Apparently doing the Quickstep on a fracture is not advisable and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance, so I’ve had to pull out of the show.
“To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement.
“I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.”
Her dad left a broken-heart emoji beneath her post, and Vicky replied, saying: “Absolutely devastated for you Dani.
“I’m going to miss you so much… Love you loads x”
The ex-Geordie Shore star added a string of photos of them together in a separate post on her Instagram grid.
She revealed they formed a close bond during their time together on the show.
Vicky said: “I am absolutely gutted for you!! I have loved every minute of our little @bbcstrictly journey together and I’m devastated this is the end..
Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood reveals his surprising ‘favourite’ star ahead of tomorrow’s launch
“But I know you’ll be back next year with your incredible energy, amazing dance skills and beautiful soul… AND YOU’LL SMASH IT!!!
“I’m already peanut butter and jealous of whatever lucky sod gets to be your dressing room buddy… because you’re the best roomie ever.
“Love you mate and wishing you a speedy recovery… this series won’t be the same without you…”
Dani replied: “Going to miss you, love you millions.”
Just days ago Dani shared her nerves ahead of the live shows.
She said last week: “I’m absolutely petrified about dancing live on Saturday nights.”
Speaking to The Sun about her upcoming Strictly adventure, she was asked if her famous dad Danny Dyer was going to watch – and if he would get emotional.
The mum-of-three revealed: “He’s going to. He will try and keep it together. Him and my mum are making a little date day of it.
“They’re coming on the launch show together. They’re really excited.”
Asked whether she could persuade The Football Factory star to do Strictly in the future, she said: “When it [Strictly] was announced, someone said Dani Dyer is doing it – they thought it was my dad. It’s not Danny Dyer – it’s the other one.
Cardiff say they have begun a review process to find Sherratt’s long-term successor.
The region’s interim managing director, Jamie Muir, said: “The fact he has been approached by Wales is testament to the progress we have made as a club with him at the helm as head coach.
“We are confident with the staff that remain in place and are fully focussed on kicking off the new season on Saturday night in positive fashion.”
Former Osprey’s coach Tandy took over his role as Wales head coach on 1 September and has already added Danny Wilson to his management team with responsibility for the line-out and contact areas.
Sherratt returned to Cardiff for a second stint as Backs and Attack Coach in 2021 and spent the past two seasons as head coach.
“I am proud that we have been able to put the club back on solid foundations, have implemented a playing style that resonates with the history and city, and enjoyed so many memorable moments at the Arms Park,” added Sherratt.
“The timing is not ideal, however I am confident that the club is in good hands with some excellent coaches and staff behind the scenes.”
A Good Morning Britain news presenter has announced his departure from the ITV show, as he lands a new role at GB News – which he’s ‘thrilled’ to start in September
21:10, 29 Aug 2025Updated 21:16, 29 Aug 2025
A Good Morning Britain star has revealed he’s leaving the show amid ITV’s ongoing cutbacks. News reporter Will Godley has been a crucial part of the news team on the morning show for the last four years, delivering news updates from across the country. However, on Friday, Will revealed his time on ITV would be coming to an end – as he lands a new role on GB News.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce the news, Will announced: “JOB NEWS. Thrilled to be starting as a National Reporter at @GBNEWS in September!
“That means I’m sadly saying goodbye to @GMB after 4 wonderful years. A huge thanks to the brilliant team, who even made the nightshifts amazing. Really excited to get stuck in at GB News!”
The ITV news reporter will be moving over to GB News(Image: X/@willgodley)
From January 2026, ITV daytime will undergo huge schedule changes. Good Morning Britain will be extended by 30 minutes to run from 6am to 9.30am daily. However, programme Lorraine, which airs straight after, has been cut in half and will run for just thirty minutes from 9.30, rather than an hour.
Not only that, but the show will only run for 30 weeks a year, with Good Morning Britain running until 10am on the weeks it’s off air.
This Morning will stay in its usual slot of 10am-12.30pm slot on weekdays throughout the year, with Loose Women staying in the 12.30-1.30pm slot. However, like Lorraine, the panel show will also only air for 30 weeks of the year.
It comes after Noel Phillips was axed from the ITV show (Image: noel_philly/Instagram)
News of Will’s departure comes just months after it was revealed US correspondent Noel Phillips had been axed from the show.
It emerged via Deadline that he has been dropped from his position on the programme as ITV attempts to shave £15 million from its budget. The journalist joined the show in 2021 as a US correspondent, covering a number of huge events, including the US elections and LA wildfires.
“I’m still in disbelief,” he told the hosts. “I remember two weeks ago I was lying on the kitchen floor numb, refusing to accept the fact I did something so stupid.
“I felt embarrassed, I felt ashamed, I felt worthless. On top of that, the excruciating pain of all of this is the mental trauma.”
“How could someone like me who reports stories like this fall a victim? How could this happen to me?”, Noel was left questioning.
CORONATION Street star Adam Hussain has broken his silence after quitting the soap.
The 24-year-old, who played Dev and Sunita Alahan’s son Aadi for five years, insisted it’s “not goodbye forever”.
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Adam Hussain sent a message to Corrie fansCredit: Instagram / adam__hussain_
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The actor has played Aadi for five yearsCredit: ITV
The ITV actor joined Corrie in 2020 when he took over from Zennon Ditchett, who had already played the character for ten years.
He announced his plans to leave in April this year – and has now revealed he’s landed a role in a new feature film.
In a video message shared by Coronation Street, Adam says: “I just want to say thank you so much to everyone for watching Aadi on Corrie over the years.
“These past five years have been so educational and such an experience.
READ MORE ON CORONATION STREET
“I’ve made friends that will last a lifetime.
“And I’ve grown not just as an actor, but as a person as well.
“But I just want to say that it’s not goodbye forever, more like a see you later.
“And if you want to keep watching me, then I will be around in other stuff so keep your eyes peeled.”
In an interview with the Mirror, Adam – who has been auditioning for new roles since filming his final scene in June – said: “I want to spread my wings a little, go out in the big world and see what else I can do.
“I am really excited as I’ve got a new role in a horror feature film. I can’t say too much yet, but I am looking forward to it.
Adam Hussain’s Bold Exit: Coronation Street Shake-Up
“It’s very relieving to know I can always return whenever I want to.
“And they’ve told me the door will always be left open if I ever want to come back.”
He was flooded with support from fans in the comments.
One said: “Such a huge talent… all future tv and film dramas should count themselves very lucky that he is now available!”
Another added: “Wish you were staying! Your character had so much potential and would have loved to see your journey but wish you well in the future.”
Someone else wrote: “You are an amazing actor so we hope to see you back on TV very soon. All the very best buddy.”
CHRISTINE McGuinness was seen breaking down in tears tonight, as she quit Celebs Go Dating and said she just “wanted to go home”.
The model – who was married to comedianPaddy McGuinness, 51, until theirsplit in 2022– made the shock decision to leave the show on the latest episode.
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Christine McGuiness quit Celebs Go Dating tonightCredit: Channel 4
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Paddy McGuinness’ ex-wife opened up to the Celebs Go Dating agentsCredit: Channel 4
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The star became tearful as she explained her reasons for quittingCredit: Channel 4
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Christine began to cry and said she wanted to ‘go home’ and ‘be with her kids’Credit: Channel 4
Speaking to the show’s agents, she said: “Well, I’ve been thinking quite a lot whilst we’ve been in Ibiza and I think I need to date in more of a natural environment.
“I think I just would love to meet somebody and date more privately. It’s where I’m kind of feeling myself going back, when I want to go freely forward.
“Right. And I’ve made the decision to leave the agency.”
READ MORE ON CELEBS GO DATING
Continuing she said: “But as much as I am very, very comfortable talking about my sexuality and being me, and I know that I want to continue dating women, I’ve found that outside attention far too much.
“And I’ve found myself feeling like I’m hiding more. And I don’t want that. That’s not what I want.”
Christine then began to cry as she revealed she just wanted to “go home” and “be with her children”.
The tearful star said: “”I’ve been missing the kids loads this week. I think all the love I need right now is waiting for me at home.”
In an exclusive interview with The Sun earlier this month, love guru Anna Williamson opened up Paddy’s ex-wife’s sudden exit.
Emotional Christine McGuinness opens up about Paddy’s ‘mistakes’ in split saying ‘the trust was broken’
The star admitted Christine’s decision to join the show after her public split was a “brave” move, and it equally took courage for her exit the process after discovering it “wasn’t the right time” for her.
Anna explained: “It wasn’t the right time for Christine to continue her journey in the agency.
“I think this is the absolute beauty of what the Celebrity Dating agency does – yes it’s a TV show, but it’s also real.”
Anna added: “She realised that perhaps this actually wasn’t quite the right time for her to be doing that and took a great deal of confidence and bravery inside to recognise and actually now is not the right time.”
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The Sun were first to reveal Christine had left the show while filming in MayCredit: Channel 4
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Christine split from comedian Paddy McGuinness in 2022Credit: Getty
In a statement, she said at the time: “I joined Celebs Go Dating with great intentions but have realised that dating on a public platform and the attention that brings is just too soon for me.
“They’ve said the door is always open for me, which I’m so grateful for, but for now I’m returning home to my family.”
SACRAMENTO — State Food and Agriculture Director Clare Berryhill, a charter member of Gov. George Deukmejian’s Cabinet and an aggressive promoter of California farm exports, resigned Tuesday, effective May 22.
Deukmejian, who made the announcement in a prepared statement released by his office, did not name a successor to the 61-year-old Berryhill, a rough-hewn grower and former state legislator known for his candor. He said Berryhill wanted to spend more time on his family’s farming operations in Butte and Stanislaus counties.
The announcement was not entirely unexpected. For some time Berryhill had indicated privately that he was tiring of the $85,552-a-year position and was considering returning to his farms full time.
“He has been thinking about it for a long time. Each time, we’d talk him out of it,” said a colleague. “This time he did it.”
One top-level Administration official who asked not to be identified said a successor to Berryhill probably would be chosen from outside the Department of Food and Agriculture. Mentioned in speculation as a possible replacement is Jack C. Parnell, state director of fish and game and a one-time assistant to Berryhill in the agriculture department.
Berryhill, who as food and agriculture director is a member of the governor’s Cabinet, traveled with Deukmejian to Japan in January and to Europe earlier this month to promote California as a good place to do business and to seek more markets for state agricultural products.
In a statement, Deukmejian said Berryhill’s “expertise and knowledge, particularly in the area of promoting agricultural exports, will be missed.”
Berryhill, a lifelong resident of the Stanislaus County community of Ceres, where he and his family grow grapes, was narrowly elected to the state Assembly in 1969, winning by only 38 votes out of 60,569 cast. In 1972, he was elected to the Senate but refused to seek a second term because it had “become obvious that a legislative career and the proper management of my business interests are incompatible.”
Deukmejian named him to direct the Department of Food and Agriculture shortly after he took office in 1983.
An Australian politician and convicted rapist has resigned from parliament moments before he was to be kicked out, after losing a legal challenge to remain.
Gareth Ward, 44, was last month found guilty of sexually assaulting two young men, aged 18 and 24, between 2013 and 2015, and is now in custody pending sentencing.
Earlier this week, Ward launched a legal bid to stop the New South Wales (NSW) parliament from expelling him, but it was dismissed on Thursday after the court rejected arguments that the move was an “affront” to democracy.
Plans to expel him on Friday were thwarted when, less than two hours before a vote to remove him was due, Ward quit as the independent member for Kiama.
Ward’s resignation letter was received by parliament at 09:08 local time on Friday (00:08 GMT), shortly before a vote at 10:30 was due to expel him.
His resignation – which comes years after the sexual assault accusations first emerged – means Ward will no longer receive a parliamentary salary.
It also triggers a by-election in the south-coast NSW electorate Ward has held since 2011.
In 2021, Ward quit as a state government minister and left the Liberal Party, but refused to leave parliament and was re-elected in 2023.
During his legal challenge, Ward’s lawyers argued that attempts to kick him out of parliament before the appeals process was finished was “an affront to the foundations of representative democracy”.
NSW Premier Chris Minns told the media on Friday that Ward’s resignation “should have come earlier”.
“If you are convicted of some of the most serious charges – sexual assault in NSW – you can’t sit as a serving member of parliament drawing a parliamentary salary,” the Labor leader said.
“How can you represent your community from behind bars?”
Opposition leader Mark Speakman labelled Ward’s legal bid to stay in parliament “disgraceful”, and accused the former MP of “playing games” with the public and parliament.
Ward, due to be sentenced next month, has said he intends to appeal the guilty verdict.
Rushanara Ali has resigned as Homelessness Minister, Downing Street has confirmed.
The move comes after she was accused of hypocrisy over the way she handled rent increases on a house she owns in east London.
There were calls for her to step down from homelessness charities and opposition politicians.
In a letter to the prime minister she has said that remaining in the role would be “a distraction from the ambitious work of this Government”.
In a story first broken by the The i Paper, four tenants who rented a house owned by Ali in east London were sent an email in November giving them four months’ notice their lease would not be renewed.
However, the property was re-listed shortly after they moved out, at a rent £700 a month higher.
Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused Ali of “staggering hypocrisy” over the handling of the property but Ali’s spokesman said she “takes her responsibilities seriously and complied with all relevant legal requirements”.
In a letter to the prime minister, Ali wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that I offer you my resignation as a minister.”
Insisting that “at all times I have followed all relevant legal requirements” she added: “I believe I took my responsibilities and duties seriously, and the facts demonstrate this.
“However, it is clear that continuing in my role will be a distraction from the ambitious work of the government.
“I have therefore decided to resign from my Ministerial position.”
Responding to her resignation, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer thanked her for her work, which he called “diligent”.
The PM praised her work to repeal the Vagrancy Act and added: “I know you will continue to support the Government from the backbenches and represent the best interests of your constituents in Bethnal Green and Stepney.”
A source close to Ali said the previous fixed-term contract had been ended because the house was being put up for sale and the tenants had been told they could stay on a rolling basis while the house was on the market, but they had chosen to go.
The house was put on the market in November 2024 with an asking price of £914,995 but was reduced in February by £20,000 and the i Paper said it was only re-listed as a rental because it had not sold.
The government’s Renters’ Rights Bill is in its final stages in Parliament, and will ban landlords re-listing a property for rent, if they have ended a tenancy in order to sell, for six months.
Landlords must also give four months’ notice when the legislation is passed, which is not expected to be until at least next year.
London Renters Union spokesperson Siân Smith said Ali’s actions were “indefensible” and she “must step down” due to a “clear conflict of interest” with the Bill in its final stages.
Ali had to give up part of her ministerial portfolio in October last year, when she came under fire for her attendance at a conference linked to the parent company of one of the firms heavily criticised in the recent Grenfell inquiry.
Giving up her duties managing building safety and the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire, she said she was relinquishing her building safety brief because “perception matters”.
Welcoming her resignation, a Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: “Rushanara Ali fundamentally misunderstood her role.
“Her job was to tackle homelessness, not to increase it.
“At a time of widespread political disillusionment, her actions were staggeringly irresponsible and only added insult to injury after years of delay for renters’ rights reform under the Conservatives.”
A MAJOR high street bank has become the latest British lender to quit the Net Zero Banking Alliance, the bank said on Friday.
Barclays argued that the departure of several global lenders has left it no longer fit to support the bank’s green transition.
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Barclays has become the latest British lender to quit the Net Zero Banking Alliance
Barclays’ decision to quit the foremost banking alliance focused on tackling climate change follows on from HSBC and several major US banks.
It also raises questions about the ability of the group to influence change in the sector going forward.
The bank said in a statement on its website: “After consideration, we have decided to withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance.”
It added that its commitment to be net zero by 2050 remained unchanged and that it still saw a commercial opportunity for itself and its clients in the energy transition.
Earlier this week Barclays published the first update on its sustainability strategy in several years.
It said the bank made £500 million in revenue from sustainable and low-carbon transition finance in 2024.
Jeanne Martin, co-director of corporate engagement at responsible investment NGO ShareAction called the decision to leave the Net Zero Banking Alliance “incredibly disappointing and a step in the wrong direction at a time when the dangers of climate change are rapidly mounting.”
Barclays said the alliance was no longer fit for its purpose: “With the departure of most of the global banks, the organisation no longer has the membership to support our transition.”
The Net Zero Banking Alliance, a global initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, lists more than 100 members on its website – including leading international financial institutions.
A spokesperson for the alliance said it remains focused on “supporting its members to lead on climate by addressing the barriers preventing their clients from investing in the net-zero transition.”
In February, the rate dropped to 4.87%, followed by another cut in April to 4.61%.
In February, the bank reduced the rate to 4.87%, followed by another cut in April to 4.61%.
Now, just months later, rates are set to drop again, leaving savers questioning whether to stick with the account or explore better options elsewhere.
How Barclay Card Changes Could Affect You
ANALYSIS by Consumer Reporter, James Flanders:
Barclaycard’s change to its credit card repayment structure sounds great if you don’t dig into the details.
After all, Barclaycard says it’s “making the changes to give you greater flexibility each month”.
In practice, it means that if you can’t afford to pay off your balance in full at the end of each statement period, you can repay much less under the minimum repayment option than you have done previously.
If you only pay the minimum amounts on occasion, this is super useful.
But if you rely on this type of repayment plan in the long term, it could will cost you hundreds of pounds extra in interest.
It could also negatively affect your credit file as it’ll take you much longer to clear your debt.
More interest will be applied to your outstanding balance, too, as less is paid down each month.
For example, if you have a balance of £5,000 on a Barclaycard at 24% interest, where you only make the minimum payments and don’t spend on the card.
Under the old “2.5% of the balance plus the interest charged” rule, it would take around 14 years to clear the balance.
In total, you’d expect to pay about £3,500 in interest.
But with the new “1% of the balance plus the interest charged” calculation, it will take over 30 years to clear the same balance.
You’d then end up paying a whopping £8,500 in interest.
Before taking out a new credit card or increasing the amount you borrow, it’s vital to consider the consequences.
You should only borrow money if you can afford to pay it back.
It’s always vital to ask yourself if you actually need to borrow before committing to a new credit card, personal loan or overdraft.
If you use a credit card, I’d recommend that you always pay off your balance in full at the end of each statement period.
Lenders have a responsibility to help customers who are in debt.
If you’re in a debt crisis, your first point of call should be your lender.
They might help you out by offering you a reduced interest rate or a temporary payment holiday – so check in with your lender if you’re struggling.
Franchises could see teams based in major cities like London, Tokyo, Cape Town and Miami.
Reports suggest that no club has been set aside for Rees-Zammit.
On his decision to end his NFL career, 32-time capped international Rees-Zammit said on social media: “I’ve got an exciting announcement to make! I’ve decided to leave the NFL and return to rugby!
“It’s been a great experience but it’s time to come home.
“I’ve decided that this is the best time to make this decision to give myself time to get everything in place for next season.
“There’s only one thing that’s on my mind, that’s coming back to rugby and doing what I do best. I can’t explain how excited I am!!
“There’ll be more news to come soon but for now, see you soon rugby fans.”
BBC Radio 2’s listening figures have plummeted since a presenter switch upCredit: PA
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Scott Mills took over the Breakfast Show slot, yet listeners have dropped as the year goes onCredit: Supplied
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Zoe Ball quit her Breakfast Show in DecemberCredit: PA
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For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Zoe Ball presenting her last show on BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, which she has hosted for six years, at BBC Broadcasting House in central London. Issue date: Friday December 20, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Ball. Photo credit […]Credit: PA
Yet at the time, Zoe said she would remain on BBC Radio 2.
She said: “After six incredible years on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it’s time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family.”
Telling her listeners about her decision, she said: “I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.
Zoe Ball’s career so far
Zoe was born in Blackpool and is daughter of the children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.
She appeared on television at a young age as part of the studio audience of the Saturday morning children’s show, Saturday Superstore when her father was a guest.
The star began her career in broadcasting as a presenter on the pre-school programme Playdays.
After various behind the scenes roles, she earned a spot as a regular host of Top of the Pops, when she alternated with the likes of Jayne Middlemiss and Jo Whiley.
In 1996, she was chosen to front BBC One‘s saturday morning show Live & Kicking, which led to stints on The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.
But she maintained a huge presence on the radio as she was chosen to be the co-host of BBC Radio 1 Breakfast alongside Kevin Greening in October 1997.
Zoe was later appointed the sole host of the show in a groundbreaking move by the corporation as she was the first female DJ to hold the post.
The presenter chose to leave the station in March 2000 to start a family, where she was succeeded by Sara Cox.
As a mainstream face in TV through the noughties, she hosted a range of huge programmes for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, Extinct in 2006, and both Soapstar Superstar and Grease Is The Word in 2007.
In mid-2002, she returned to radio when she joined Xfm (later known as Radio X), when she was the voice of the weekday drivetime show until December 2003. In 2004, she stood in for Ricky Gervais while he filmed the second series of The Office.
In October 2005, she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Ian Waite, The star impressed viewers with her footwork and the duo waltzed into third place.
In 2011, she returned to the franchise as she took over as the host of the magazine spin-off show, It Takes Two.
She also filled in for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014, when The Traitors star took leave after her daughter suffered serious burn injuries.
EXCLUSIVE: Six months ago, Mark Danby left the UK behind for the warmer climes of Spain, uprooting his life and switching for Manilva, but noticed a certain “contrast” between the two nations
Mark Danby left the UK behind to seek out the sunnier climes of Spain (Image: Tapas Guy/YouTube)
A man has claimed Spain is “20 years or so behind the UK” in a specific aspect. Mark Danby from Stockport, Greater Manchester, decided to shake things up and moved to sunny Spain six months ago, making his new home in Manilva, part of Malaga on the Costa del Sol.
Enjoying his new life under the Spanish sun, Mark has encountered some hurdles, previously opening up about the challenges of the local visa system.
As an IT professional by day and the ‘Tapas Guy‘ on YouTube, he made his move via the digital nomad visa, aimed at those working remotely for companies overseas or as self-employed.
Despite the benefits, it seems that slow bureaucratic processes can be a universal headache, with Mark noting that “everything takes so long”. This may stem from a stark “contrast” between life in Spain compared to the UK.
Mark was struck by the “biggest culture shock” following his move abroad, which he shared in an online video. He pointed out how Spain appears to trail “about 20 years or so behind the UK” in terms of technology adoption.
A view of ‘Puerto de la Duquesa’ yachts and boats docked in Manilva(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
He explained: “And I describe it as being Spain being about 20 years or so behind the UK in kind of technology. Everything takes so long. They don’t go for electronic systems. They like their pieces of paper; that is the biggest shock.
“They are paper pushers; they’re pen pushers. Everything is paper, like when you go for your…your sort of your visa applications or your… as I’m now waiting for my TIE card, which is my foreign residency card, everything is paper processed.”
Mark highlighted that he is in the throes of waiting for his card and revealed they’ve “already kind of accepted it”. He described the bureaucratic process where applicants must go to a police station to hand in paperwork and have their fingerprints taken, and the individual produces the card
He added with a hint of frustration: “If they had a little printer machine by them, they could just press a button and print it out, but oh no. You know, it has to go through the paper process and it has to..”
Mark elaborated on the nature of the procedure: “You know, it can take another…you have to sort of make another appointment to go back. Everything’s booked up solid and, you know, I’ve still not got it. Everything takes a long time, a very, very long time.”
Mark works in IT but also shares Spain-related content on his YouTube channel(Image: Mark Danby/YouTube)
A TIE card refers to a Spanish Foreign Identity Card (or tarjeta de identidad de extranjero in Spanish). It allows people to prove their legal status as a foreigner in Spain and is required by people with a visa that lets them stay for longer than six months.
Spain complies with Schengen zone rules, which stipulate particular passport criteria and allow individuals to roam freely across the zone visa-free for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day timeframe.
For more Spanish travel advice, visit the GOV website here.
The Ultra-Orthodox Shas party says it will leave the government in response to dispute over mandatory military service.
A key partner in Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition says it is quitting, leaving the Israeli prime minister with a minority in parliament.
The Ultra-Orthodox Shas party said on Wednesday that it was leaving the coalition in protest against lawmakers’ failure to guarantee future exemption from military conscription for religious students.
“Shas representatives … find with a heavy heart that they cannot stay in the government and be a part of it,” the group said in a statement.
Leading a minority government would make governing a challenge for Netanyahu. But Shas said it wouldn’t work to undermine the coalition once outside it and could vote with it on some laws. It also wouldn’t support its collapse.
The departure of Shas comes one day after another ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), resigned from the government over the same issue, which has sparked an explosive debate in the country after more than 21 months of war with Hamas in Gaza.
While ultra-Orthodox seminary students have long been exempt from mandatory military service, many Israelis are angered by what they see as an unfair burden carried by the mainstream who serve.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders say full-time devotion to holy scriptures study is sacrosanct and fear their young men will steer away from religious life if they are drafted into the military.
Last year the Supreme Court ordered an end to the exemption. Parliament has been trying to work out a new conscription bill, which has so far failed to meet the demands of both Shas and UTJ.
Their joint move leaves Netanyahu with a minority government but is not expected to usher in immediate elections or undermine efforts to secure a possible Gaza ceasefire.
However, the Israeli leader will be more susceptible to the demands of his far-right coalition partners, who oppose ending the war while Hamas remains intact.
Resignation of United Torah Judaism lawmakers leaves Netanyahu with razor thin 61-seat majority in the 120 seat Knesset.
Israel’s ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), has announced it is quitting the country’s fractious right-wing coalition due to a long-running dispute over mandatory military service, threatening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hold on power.
Six of the remaining seven members of UTJ, which is comprised of the Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael factions, wrote letters of resignation, Israeli media reported late on Monday.
UTJ chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf had resigned a month ago. A spokesperson for Goldknopf confirmed that, in all, seven UTJ Knesset members are leaving the government.
Degel HaTorah was quoted by news reports as saying the decision was made “in accordance with the directive” of the group’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Dov Lando.
Degel Hatorah said in a statement that after conferring with its head rabbis, “and following repeated violations by the government of its commitments to ensure the status of holy yeshiva students who diligently engage in their studies … [its MKs] have announced their resignation from the coalition and the government”.
The decision would leave Netanyahu with a razor-thin majority of 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament.
It was not clear whether Shas, another ultra-Orthodox party, would follow suit.
Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers have long threatened to leave the coalition over the conscription bill. They argue that a bill to exempt “yeshiva” or seminary students from conscription was a key promise in their agreement to join Netanyahu’s coalition in late 2022.
In June, on the eve of Israel’s war with Iran, the coalition barely survived after governing lawmakers reached a deal with ultra-Orthodox parties regarding exemptions to the mandatory military service.
The ultra-Orthodox have long been exempt from military service, which applies to most other young Israelis. But last year, the Supreme Court ordered the Ministry of Defense to end that practice and start conscripting seminary students.
Netanyahu had been pushing hard to resolve the deadlock over the new military conscription bill, which has led to the present crisis.
He is under pressure from his own Likud party to draft more ultra-Orthodox men and impose penalties on dodgers, a red line for the Shas party, which demands a law guaranteeing its members’ permanent exemption from military service.
Netanyahu’s coalition, formed in December 2022, is one of the most far-right governments in the country’s history.
A major soap star had been looking forward to putting themselves through challenges as a contestant on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins – only to be forced out of the competition before it even began
10:30, 13 Jul 2025Updated 10:31, 13 Jul 2025
A major star has been forced to quit Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins(Image: PA)
Famous stars have been known to suffer injury while competing on Channel 4’s brutal reality show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and forced to drop out of the contest. But now one star may have achieved a first for the long-running reality show – by being forced out of the show before they even made it to filming.
Soap icon Patsy Kensit was due to take part in the upcoming new season of the show. However, it appears her training in advance of the physical duration show left her too injured to take part.
Patsy, 57 – famous for playing Sadie King in Emmerdale and Emma Harding in EastEnders – had been taking her involvement in the show seriously and hitting the gym hard in order to get herself prepared for the trials that she would face on the show. Who Dares Wins sees contestants endure physical and psychological tests that the armed forced would experience in order to prove their mettle and determination.
But now it has been revealed that Patsy was sent home when she turned up to take part in the new filming as she had injured herself ahead of the cameras starting to roll. A source has explained that showmakers ordered the actress to return home to avoid any risk of further injury.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Patsy had been running at pace on a treadmill while wearing a weighted backpack filled with books and weights as part of her intense training regime. The added weight caused her to lose balance and fall backwards off the machine, bruising her arm and shoulder in the process.”
Patsy Kensit broke her arm – forcing her out of the show(Image: Getty Images)
The source added: “She even flew out to Morocco, where the filming was taking place, but production soon spotted the injury and she was sent home.”
The Mirror has contacted representatives of Channel 4 for comment, while a spokesperson for Patsy said: “The production company Minow who make Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins, were amazing the way they looked after Patsy. Their duty of care was second to none and very impressive. Patsy is on the mend and will of course make a full recovery.”
Earlier this month, Patsy was spotted with her arm in a sling while she attended a gala performance of the Faulty Towers theatre show in London’s West End.
Asked about her injury at the time, the star revealed: “I broke my shoulder in 3 places 3 weeks ago!!! I’m healing and a slight boogie with my besties I’m staying with this week will be a tonic for sure …”
The soap icon has been managing to enjoy herself despite her injury(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
While the star has been enjoying nights out despite her injury, there is one event she has made clear she won’t attend – the Oasis reunion tour dates.
Patsy was married to singer Liam Gallagher, 52, from 1997 until 2000 and they share 25-year-old son Lennon Gallagher together. Appearing on Good Morning Britain recently, Patsty revealed she was pleased to see her ex back on tour as Oasis and that her son would have the chance to see his dad perform with the iconic band – who famously split in 2009.
She told the ITV show: “My 24-year-old son, he’ll be there and he’ll have a lovely time. Great for him to see all of that and I’m happy for his dad, I think it’s a wonderful thing. But I won’t be attending.”
Oasis kicked off their Live ’25 Tour in Cardiff, Wales, earlier this month and this weekend they have been thrilling fans in their native Manchester. Liam and older brother Noel Gallagher, 58, have been singing to 80,000 strong crowds at Heaton Park where they belted out 23 of thier biggest hits.
The brothers – who shocked fans last year by announcing they had buried the hatchet to reform their group and hit the road again – will be on tour until late November. They have 41 dates set over the coming months – with the climax of the tour set to take place on 23 November in Brazil.
The tour has won rave reveiws from fans and critics alike. The Mirror’s Daniel Bird said: “Walking out at Heaton Park, you could never have imagined that there was once a feud between the two siblings. Putting on a united front, the two legends walked out to their 2000 track, F***in’ In The Bushes, to a crowd of 80,000 people, with the atmosphere instantly becoming electric.”
The leader of the party, John Steenhuisen, said the initiative was a ‘waste of time and money’.
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) party has withdrawn from a “national dialogue” initiative after the leader of the party referred to it as nothing more than a “waste of time and money”.
John Steenhuisen said on Saturday that corruption was plaguing the government, which he blamed on President Cyril Ramaphosa, but stopped short of leaving the coalition.
“Nothing will change in South Africa for the better if we keep the same people around the cabinet table who have involved themselves in corruption,” Steenhuisen said during a news conference.
Following last year’s general election, where Ramaphosa’s African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in three decades, it was forced to team up with the DA, the second-biggest party, to form a government called the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The two parties are ideologically different, however.
The DA is market-friendly and right-leaning, while the ANC is a centre-left party, leaving the two sides to repeatedly clash over issues such as the budget and Black empowerment laws.
Last month, Ramaphosa launched a process to unite the country, referred to as a “national dialogue”, to address the most significant issues affecting South Africa, including high unemployment and crime.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attends a news conference, in Washington, DC, United States, on May 21, 2025 [Leah Millis/Reuters]
‘All bets are off’
Adding to the tensions, on Thursday, Ramaphosa fired DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield from his position due to an unauthorised overseas trip to the United States.
Steenhuisen denounced that decision and said Whitfield had sent written requests for the trip, which had been ignored by Ramaphosa.
In an ultimatum, Steenhuisen said that the ANC must fire Thembi Simelane, Nobuhle Nkabane and other ANC members who face corruption allegations in 48 hours, otherwise “all bets are off and the consequences will be theirs to bear”.
On Friday, a statement from the presidency said the decision to sack the minister was due to a “clear violation of the rules and established practices” for ministers.
“Let it be clear that the President shall not yield to threats and ultimatums, especially coming from members of the Executive that he has the prerogative to appoint in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,” the presidency added.
