revealed

IF awards were given out for most toxic break-up in Hollywood, Alice Evans and Ioan Gruffudd would sweep the board.

Four years after the couple’s marriage ended, their bitter feud continues to overshadow anything either party has ever delivered on the big screen.

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And the end credits are still some way off from rolling, especially when Alice is the leading lady. 

In recent weeks, the actress’s behaviour has become increasingly erratic, from declaring herself homeless to begging her Instagram followers for a place to stay.

Her antics have left fans understandably concerned for her well-being, but there are also suspicions that her brutal honesty is also part of a ‘game plan’ – one she secretly hopes may spark a career renaissance.

An insider told The Sun: “Alice is aware her car crash relationship is the only thing keeping her relevant right now.

“The acting jobs have dried up, and even she admits she’s currently unhireable.

“So documenting both her innermost feelings and stark truths of her desperate situation on social media maintains a profile, and therefore could lead to other opportunities away from acting but still within the industry, like her own reality show.”

The insider added: “Alice knows what she’s doing and will continue airing her dirty laundry in public. She has nothing to lose.”

While Alice, 56, continues to offload on social media, her Fantastic Four actor ex Ioan, 51, is quietly getting on with his life. 

He’s recently remarried to Australian actress Bianca Wallace, who’s felt the wrath of Alice’s sharp tongue, which led to Ioan filing a request for a restraining order against her.

And his most recent movie, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die, banked an impressive $403million worldwide.

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He’s still battling Alice for spousal support and custody and financial support for their two daughters, Ella, 15, and Elsie, 11, but is doing all of his talking via lawyers – unlike his ex, whom he met on the set of the 2000 movie 102 Dalmatians.

Indeed, Alice is updating fans with every cough and spit of the fallout from the pair’s divorce, which she claims has left her financially ruined.

In February, Alice told her 95,000 Instagram followers she, her two daughters, plus their dog Emma were on the verge of being evicted from their home in Los Angeles.

She said it was due to being unable to pay her rent, all while Ioan, who says his ex-wife’s poverty claims are “exaggerated”, was living in comfort in a $5,500 (£4,000) a month apartment with a home gym.

Alice knows what she’s doing and will continue airing her dirty laundry in public. She has nothing to lose

Insider

She claimed there was “no way of renting even the cheapest room anywhere in the city” due to January’s wildfires, which has decimated the rental market. 

Alice wrote: “Four years of hell. And now the girls and I are going to be homeless. Somebody please help. I think I have reached rock bottom.

“In 16 days, we have nowhere to go. Does anybody have a spare room? I’m so sorry for this. So embarrassed.”

In the comments section of the post, Alice replied to many fans’ offers of help, once again opting for stark honesty surrounding her situation.

She revealed that “both sets of grandparents estranged themselves from my girls” when quizzed why her family aren’t supporting her.

Four years of hell. And now the girls and I are going to be homeless. Somebody please help. I think I have reached rock bottom

Alice Evans

She explained: “It breaks my heart. It would be perfectly possible to take sides against me whilst retaining a relationship with my kids.

“They both have their own phones that I have vowed to never touch. Nothing is stopping them from communicating.

“I think it’s a terrible mistake. And punishing children for something they believe their mother has done. Not fair at all.”

She also responded to fans’ offers of rooms to inhabit in countries including Ireland and Mexico, saying she can’t leave LA “without authorisation”, but would have “loved” to take up their kind gestures.

Desperation

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Such was her desperation, she repurposed her GoFundMe page – originally set up in 2022 to help pay for her divorce  – to seek funds for a new home, and she’s now just over $6,500 (£5,000) from reaching her target of $25,000 (£18,000).

Thanking donors this week, some of whom shelled out $2,500 anonymously, she wrote: “Just wanted to tell everybody that me and the girls and Emma are safe with a roof over our heads!

“It’s been a whirlwind, but we made it through the last three days and managed to save all our belongings too! 

“We could never, ever have done this without the incredible love and kindness from all of you. Honestly, I was at my wits’ end and you saved me. 

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will keep you posted. Love you so much.’

Confessing she felt shame in turning to the public for help, she previously wrote: “I’m so embarrassed about this. If you’re here, you know my story. 

Alice is aware her car crash relationship is the only thing keeping her relevant right now

Insider

“You know how much I struggle to keep my two girls healthy and happy and a roof over their heads. 

“You know what I’ve been through. It never ends. I’m just getting squeezed in every which way and smeared in the media so that nobody even wants to employ me.”

Ioan agreed to pay Alice $3,000 (£2,200) per month in child support and $1,500 (£1,100) a month in spousal support in September last year. 

However, Alice has claimed the $4,500 (£3,300) fee was not sufficient to live in LA, and that money raised from the sale of their old marital home has slowly dwindled away, citing legal fees.

In March, the Vampire Diaries star slammed Ioan in a court filing for saying he “does not really believe” she was facing eviction and that she secretly had the money to pay for it, saying it was an effort “to make him look bad.”

Dark turn

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Last month, the rift took another dark twist when Ioan claimed he saw Alice try to give their children cocaine after leaving the door of their family home unlocked so a drug dealer could enter.

The bombshell revelation came in the Welshman’s latest court bid to extend the aforementioned restraining order against him and his new wife, Bianca.

Alice and Ioan married seven years after co-starring in the Disney sequel, tying the knot in Mexico in 2007 during an intimate service attended by close friends and family who had “travelled from all over the world for it”.

They welcomed their first daughter Ella in 2009 before Elsie arrived four years later.

But in January 2021, the pair announced their separation, and it was New Jersey-born Alice, who was brought up in the UK, who revealed the news in a typically blunt style, kick-starting their public feud.

She wrote: “Sad news. My beloved husband/soulmate of 20 years, Ioan Gruffudd, has announced he is to leave his family, starting next week. 

“Me and our young daughters are very confused and sad. We haven’t been given a reason except that he ‘no longer loves me’. I’m so sorry.”

But the rift turned really ugly when Ioan went public with new love and A Ray of Sunshine co-star Bianca, 32, nine months later, sharing a snap of the pair on Instagram alongside the caption: “Thank you for making me smile again.”

Previously, Ioan requested a restraining order against Alice in February 2022 after accusing her of harassment, making up “false stories about him”, and sending his mother “threatening emails.”

The actor’s daughter, Ella, then filed a domestic violence restraining order against him in June 2023 following an incident at his Los Angeles home, which was later rejected.

Two months later, Ioan accused Alice of keeping their children from him and had not seen them in three months, which his ex-wife denied.

She said he was to blame, claiming the actor had not bothered making contact with their daughters for 11 weeks.

Over the last two years, Alice’s complaints have centred around her financial struggles in the wake of their split.

She has said she’s relying on “food stamps”, while Ioan continues his “lavish lifestyle”, buying Rolex watches for his new partner, and is now reportedly considering working at Starbucks.

There have been worse angles for a reality show.

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EVERYONE’S talking about fat jabs – the ‘miracle’ injections trimming inches off waistlines, and helping turn the tide on the obesity epidemic.

But what if there was an even easier – and cheaper – way than Ozempic-like injections, Wegovy and Mounjaro?

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Science sits still for no slimmer and already, the next big thing is looming large on the horizon – and it could be as simple as popping a pill.

Slimming tablets have been around for decades, but now scientists want to harness the new momentum in obesity medicine – and use the billions being made from the jabs – to bring pills back with a bang.

Professor Jason Halford, of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, tells Sun Health: “I think pills will eventually replace injections.

“People don’t particularly like them and they’re a bit afraid of injecting themselves.

“You’ve got to have the device, the needle, the sharps bin, it’s got to be refrigerated, there are all sorts of challenges.

“If you can move it all to a tablet you can increase acceptance and hopefully it will be cheaper and become more widely available.”

Professor Richard Donnelly, editor of the medical journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, and clinical adviser at online weight loss clinic Juniper, agrees.

“Thirty years ago weight loss tablets had a terrible reputation and nobody really wanted to prescribe them,” he adds.

“They had rare but severe side effects and weren’t particularly effective.

“Now there is a whole flood of development and a lot to be optimistic about.

“There is a big hope that developing pills will improve accessibility and cost less.”

There are several pills in development – some stimulate the same hormones as jabs to make us feel full, while others mimic bariatric surgery.

The end goal is the same – to do what willpower alone fails to achieve and stop us eating so much.

While some are yet to even be trialled in humans, one has already been submitted for approval in the US, meaning they could be available before the end of the year.

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The most advanced pills being made are by the same companies behind the fat jabs.

Novo Nordisk, creator of Wegovy and Ozempic, has developed a tablet version of semaglutide, the active drug in those injections.

It applied for approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration last month.

Trials showed patients lost an average of 15 per cent of their bodyweight over 17 months on a 50mg daily dose, compared with eight per cent over 12 months on Wegovy.

Participants were three times more likely to achieve “meaningful” weight loss when they were taking the pill, compared to those not taking the tablet.

Rival company Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro (tirzepatide) announced the results of its pill orforglipron in April.

The two drugs both work by stimulating GLP-1 hormones that make you feel full.

Patients taking 36mg of orforglipron lost eight per cent of their bodyweight in 10 months, equating to 1st 2lbs from an average starting weight of 14st 3lbs – while participants taking a placebo lost just 3lbs.

It compares with 15 per cent weight loss in a year on Mounjaro.

Lilly said their pill “could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use around the world”.

But injections and pills have not been compared head-to-head yet.
Studies are ongoing and taking the science behind these game-changing jabs and applying it to tablets, does not guarantee success.

Pfizer abandoned the development of its drug lotiglipron in 2023 when a trial indicated potential liver damage as a side effect.

Drugs tend to be more easily absorbed by the body when they are injected directly into the bloodstream, compared to being digested through the gut.

And that’s another key consideration – what the potential side effects of these new pills could be.

Unpleasant side effects were the downfall of the old generation of slimming pills.

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The NHS has prescribed a pill called orlistat for years, dishing out £12million worth of it in England last year.

It works by preventing the gut from absorbing fat from food – but it means fat must be passed out in poo instead of digested.

This can lead to flatulence, more regular bowel movements and diarrhoea.

It can also cause bladder pains and breathing troubles – and weight loss doesn’t match up to the jabs.

About eight in 10 patients suffer at least one side effect when using injections, most commonly tummy upset, according to trials.

Early data suggests pills might have similar rates.

Around six per cent of people taking any of Lilly or Novo Nordisk’s pills or injections quit the medicines because of side effects.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, of the Independent Pharmacies Association, says: “The old generation drugs tended to be uncomfortable for a lot of people whereas these new ones are much more effective.

“All medicines will have side effects but the fact that the results are much better now means people are more willing to endure them.”
Prof Donnelly said he still does not expect new tablets to be as strong as jabs, adding: “I don’t think anybody believes these will cause the same level of weight loss that you might be reporting with Mounjaro.

“The flipside of that is that major weight loss might not all be good.

“Some of that might be muscle and if you lose 30 per cent of your body weight that is a fairly major transformation.

“Having an oral agent that reduces your weight by, say, 10 or 15 per cent, might actually be more sustainable, better tolerated and medically safer in some respects.”

While the GLP-1 tablets are likely to be first to market, inventors are also working on a daily pill that mimics the effects of gastric bypass surgery.

‘GASTRIC BYPASS’ PILL

US company Syntis Bio’s offering, named Synt-101 creates a 24-hour lining in the gut that means food cannot be absorbed in the top six inches of the small intestine.

Rather, digestion is redirected to the lower areas of the gut, where hormones that tell the brain we are full, are triggered faster.

Working in a similar vein to surgery, it means patients feel fuller faster – and the lining is passed when the patient goes to the loo the next day.

Synt-101 has passed its first human safety tests and is expected to enter a full-scale clinical trial next year.

Another pill in development, Sirona, is made by UK-based Oxford Medical Products, and contains a “dual polymer hydrogel” that expands in the stomach when it comes into contact with water.

It works like a gastric balloon, filling the patient’s tummy making them feel full for hours, but is passed in their stools “several days” later.

Early data from an NHS trial found patients lost 10 to 12 per cent in a year of treatment and there were no serious side effects.

Experts believe weight loss pills will serve a variety of purposes – as a follow-on treatment after stopping fat jabs, as an option for those who can’t or don’t want to use jabs and for people with less severe obesity, and less weight to lose.

There are hopes they will be less toxic than injections, which often cause side effects like stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Weight regain after treatment is also an emerging issue with the jabs, which can currently only be prescribed for up to two years in the UK.

Rahul Dhanda, chief executive of Syntis Bio, said: “Patients don’t want to be stuck on a revolving door of injections and their side effects; they want to be on a manageable and sustainable weight loss path.

“Oral drugs that are simple, tolerable and safe will be the rational choice for maintenance therapy.”

HERE’S the tanned, toned and totally gorgeous line-up for this year’s Love Island.

The Sun can exclusively reveal Maya Jama’s full squad for the summer includes a footballer, personal trainer and a series of stunning models.

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But their beauty is more than skin deep, as ITV2 has amassed a group with real kudos.

Brilliant former fire-breather Sophie Lee has campaigned for real beauty since she was scarred for life when her act went disastrously wrong, whilst Alima Gagigo has a BA degree in international business.

Love Island bosses will officially confirm the OGs tomorrow, with the series to kick off next Monday.

But for now, take a look at the girls and guys who will be sexing up your summer.

Harry Cooksley

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Footballer Harry Cooksley will be bringing his fancy footwork to the Love Island villa.

The midfielder, 29, has been branded The Surrey Zidane by fans of his team Farnham Town.

Harry – who is known for his goal celebrations – is now hoping to score with the ladies.

A source told The Sun: “Harry’s got the full package – a great, athletic bod and great chat. 

“Love Island’s ladies love a footballer and The Surrey Zidane will be sure to impress as he plays away.

“Execs are finalising who will be in the OG line-up and who will be a bombshell.” 

Tommy Bradley

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Cheeky chappy Tommy Bradley is in tip top shape for the Love Island villa after undergoing a dramatic body transformation.

Tommy documented his prep for the ITV2 dating show on Instagram by posting a stream of videos of his gym sessions.

He was helped by his brother Jamie Bradley, who is a boxer, and the pair love a night out together with the lads.

“Tommy seems to tick all the Love Island boxes as the cheeky chappy of this summer’s series,” a source said.

“He looks to enjoy a night out with the lads and out on the boxing scene with his brother. 

“But he’s also packed on serious muscle over the last year ready for telly’s famous villa and is no longer just a personality hire.”

Sophie Lee

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Fire-breather Sophie will be turning up the heat when she struts into the villa looking for love.

Sophie, 29, is an influencer who almost died in a freak accident on stage in Chicago seven years ago.

The dancer and model, from Manchester, was left with horror burns when an air conditioning unit blew flames back in her face.

Sophie has written a book about her experience and has worked with The Katie Piper Foundation, helping fellow burns victims

A source said: “Sophie is a gorgeous girl and a powerhouse of a woman who has overcome everything life has thrown at her.

“Just like Tasha Ghouri’s amazing time in the villa where she raised awareness for the hearing impaired, Love Island bosses are thrilled to give Sophie the same platform to discuss her accident and how she’s become comfortable in her skin since.”

Shakira Khan

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Shakira Khan likes the finer things in life.

The 22-year-old’s Instagram page is filled with gorgeous travel snaps from Haiti, Dubai and New York – and she’s not afraid of a bikini showcase too. 

In one recent post, she showed off her impressive figure in black and silver bikini top and thong briefs.

Shakira captioned it: “Haiti cos u ain’t me 💋.”

One follower replied: “Wow!! 🤩 gorgeous lady x.”

A source said: “Shakira is jaw-droppingly gorgeous and will land a place in Love Island’s history books as a real beauty.”

Megan Forte Clarke

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Stunning actress Megan will definitely turn a few heads this summer.

Megan originally hails from Ireland but trained at The Brighton Academy of performing arts and musical theatre.

She has more than 20,000 followers on TikTok and isn’t afraid to take the mickey out of herself.

But once in the villa, she Megan might give the swimming pool a miss.

One of her TikTok videos shows Megan screaming and terrified while making her way through the rides at Siam Park water park in Tenerife.

Speaking of her experience, she told a follower: “It took 10 years off my life.”

Megan is already friends with Love Island alumni Harriett Blackmore.

Dejon Noel Williams

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Hunky Dejon Noel Williams will definitely be making the most the villa gym this summer.

The personal trainer and semi-professional footballer is a fitness fanatic and has already worked with a string of big name sportswear brands.

Dejon’s social media accounts are full of sexy photos of his ripped body and he already has an Instagram following of more than 11,000 fans.

His bio reads: “I go beyond the gym—helping you build Strength, Confidence & Discipline for life.”

Dejon recently took part in his first HYDROX competition and told his fans: “I trained for the moment, and the moment didn’t break me. First Hyrox down.”

In 2021, he represented the Grenada national football team.

Blu Chegini

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Businessman Blu will be swapping his wardrobe of smart suits for swimming trucks when he walks into the villa.

Blu is based in London and currently works as a construction project manager.

He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2023 with a Bsc Hons in Construction Project Management and works for a firm in the captial’s swanky Fitzrovia.

Blu also spends a lot of time in Marbella, meaning he will feel right at home in the Spanish sun.

Alima Gagio

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Alima Gagio is another of this year’s lot who brings a lot more to the table than just 10/10 looks. 

The stunning Scot has an BA Hons degree in International Business and proudly posted online about her achievement.

Posing with a bunch of flowers on her graduation day from Glasgow Caledonian University, her 2,250 followers rushed to congratulate her. 

Elsewhere the gorgeous travel fan shares images from her holidays around the world, posting updates from Lisbon, Mykonos, Ibiza and Morocco. 

Alima also loves a trip down south to London for a bouji dinner and cocktails with her friends.

Ben Holbrough

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Buff Ben will feel right at home with his top off in the Majorcan sunshine.

The model is 6ft 2ins and is a big fan of showing off his six pack in mirror selfies on social media.

In a video on his Star Now modelling page, he says: “My main line of work is modelling, which I’ve been doing for about five or six years now.

“But when I’m not doing that, my hobbies are either going to the gym or playing football.”

Ben already has a connection to the reality TV world, as he is followed on Instagram by Married At First Sight star Lacey Martin.

Helena Ford

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Blonde beauty Helena Ford hopes to find herself a match in the Love Island villa.

The gorgeous influencer is already mates with Love Island alumni Zara McDermott and loves travelling the world as a member of cabin crew.

Helena is based in the UK, the majority of of her social media snaps have been taken in the luxury destinations she has visited with her job.

She has been pictured in Dubai, Miami, Cape Town and Lake Como in Italy.

Helena also has a TikTok account where she posts ‘come with me’ videos as she jets off around the world.

Megan Moore

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Gorgeous girl Megan is another fan of travelling the world.

The influencer was last snapped in Spain just two weeks ago as she topped up her tan ahead of her big villa entrance.

Little is known about Megan but she already has several thousand fans on Instagram.

Commenting on a recent photo of her, one gushed: “Most beautiful girl inside and out.”

Another added: “Stunning my girl .”

And a third told her: “You are just delightful.”

Kyle Ashman

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Unlike most of Love Island’s line-ups, Kyle doesn’t come into the villa with a social media packed with model shots. 

The hunk has just one snap online, showing off his rippling six-pack as he poses on a rooftop. 

But he looks to be more than villa-ready – and will head straight to the garden gym.

On his Instagram page he has two emojis, one of which depicts a man lifting up a barbell. 

The second emoji suggests he is a devout Muslim and will join the likes of Islanders including Nas Majeed who have practised the faith in the villa. 

Viewers can look forward to filling in Kyle’s blank pages as we learn more about him. 

Bombshells

IF the gorgeous gaggle of guys and girls above isn’t enough, then a troop of bombshells are ready to explode into the villa once the show is underway. 

The Sun revealed last week that 6’5” Aaron Buckett was lined-up and can now share the update that he will appear later in the series to tempt the girls away from their partners.

The PT is such a hunk, execs have decided to hold him back until the early couplings look secure – then deploy him at the perfect time to lure a lass away and create maximum drama.

Elsewhere, two beauties have been named as in the mix for later on. 

They are make-up artist Lucy Quinn, a 20-year-old from Liverpool.

A source told Mail Online: “Lucy is single and ready to mingle. She can’t wait to enter the Love Island villa and is counting down the days until it becomes a reality.” 

Then there is beauty salon owner Rose Selway, who counts Islanders including Lucinda Strafford and Jessy Potts among her clientele.

A source told MailOnline: “Rose is friends with many former stars of the show so has a good idea what it’s like being in the villa and now she finally has the chance to experience it herself.”

The trio will join the throng of Islanders poised and ready to land in the villa throughout the series run. 

An ITV spokesman said: “As always there is a lot of speculation around the Love Island line up – we will be announcing the Love Island 2025 cast in due course.”

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THE BRITISH cities with the worst availability and speed of electric vehicle charging have been revealed in new research.

More and more people are making the switch to EVs each passing year, but access to charging infrastructure continues to be a key concern for motorists.

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Cost, speed and access to EV chargers can vary vastly from region to region across the country.

But new data from Available Car has shed light on exactly which cities are the best and worst to drive an electric vehicle.

Researchers looked at the number of charging points per 10,000 people within a five mile radius of city centres.

They also noted the average cost and time it takes to charge half an EV battery.

The data examines 53 major cities across the UK, excluding London.

Liverpool was found to be the city with the lowest number of chargers, with just two chargers per 100,000 people within a five mile radius of the city centre.

Newcastle barely did better at 2.4 chargers per 100,000, while Bradford and Leeds followed up with 2.6 each.

Smaller cities boasted far better numbers in the EV charging accessibility ranking.

Ripon was the city with the highest number of chargers per 100,000 at 63.1 – far ahead of second placed Salisbury at 43.7.

But simply finding a charger isn’t the only issue EV owners face.

Available Car’s data also highlighted a major regional disparity in the time it takes to charge half a battery.

Leicester is the city found to have the slowest EV charging times – taking an average of 8.25 hours to get to half charge.

Available Car’s report reads: “The city’s slower charging infrastructure highlights the need for investment in faster chargers to support the growing demand for electric vehicles.

“Without quicker charging options, Leicester may face challenges in encouraging more drivers to switch to electric.”

But Leicester EV drivers have some solace – as the survey also found it to cheapest city to charge your car, where a half full battery would cost an average of £12.60.

Brighton & Hove and Portsmouth followed Leicester as the next slowest for charging, 6.24 and 5.67 hours respectively.

Wakefield recorded the speediest charge of the cities surveyed, taking an average of just 0.8 hours.

The researchers used a Tesla Model Y as the benchmark vehicle when gathering the data.

Their report adds: “Making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) should be an exciting step towards greener, more sustainable driving.

“However, one of the biggest barriers preventing drivers from switching from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles is having to rely on their local charging infrastructure, particularly the time it takes to charge and the cost involved.

“Unlike petrol and diesel drivers, EV owners must navigate the UK’s charging network, where charging speeds and costs vary significantly based on location and charger type.”

THE horrified wife of the Liverpool parade suspect was said to have only found out about the chaotic rampage when she saw her car on TV.

A 53-year-old suspect, a white British dad of three, remains in custody after cops were granted more time to quiz him.

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Neighbours of the suspect said he was “quiet” and “didn’t go out partying”.

He is believed to be a business man who ran a now-dissolved firm.

Yesterday a neighbour in the city’s West Derby suburb revealed the suspect’s wife’s shock “when she saw her car on the TV news”.

The neighbour added: “The wife is a really nice woman and they have children.

“No one can believe this has happened.

“She first realised when she saw it was her car on the telly, when she saw it being driven at the parade.

“The normal police cars turned up at teatime then Matrix vans turned up later that night.

“Everyone’s just in shock. I genuinely don’t know what’s happened.

“They seem like a nice family.”

The neighbour described the suspect as a “regular family man” and a “bit of a complainer”, adding: “I wish I knew more.”

Vans from elite police unit Matrix have been at the £250,000 four-bed house since Monday’s incident.

Police confirmed yesterday the number of injured had risen from 65 to 79, including at least four children.

Seven people remained in hospital in a stable condition.

The driver was arrested on Monday at the scene — in Water Street — on suspicion of attempted murder, driving while unfit through drugs, and dangerous driving.

Police have until today to either bring charges, release him, or apply for a further extension.

They were scouring the dashcam content and CCTV to piece together the driver’s movements.

Officers believe he gained access to the packed street, which had been blocked off, by tailgating an ambulance as paramedics entered to treat a man suspected of suffering a heart attack.

A MASS grave of more than 50 skeletons has cast light on tribal warfare in Iron Age Britain, where gangs engaged in bloody turf wars.

Historians previously believed mass slaughter events involving hill fort tribes in the west country were caused by invading Romans.

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But radiocarbon dating of human remains unearthed in 1936 have revealed the victims were actually killed a century before the Romans arrived.

Researchers believe “localised gangland infighting” was actually behind the killings, which happened to be at one of Europe’s biggest hill forts, the Daily Mail reported.

“We can now say quite categorically that these individuals died a long time before the Romans arrived and over a long period of time, not in single battle for a hill fort,” Dr Miles Russell, principal academic in prehistoric and Roman archaeology at Bournemouth University, said in a statement.

The Romans didn’t arrive in Dorset until 43AD.

Cut marks on the victims suggest they were killed by “lethal weapon injuries” – and in very public displays.

Experts say their deaths could have acted as a warning to others not to fall out of line.

Dr Russell, who has spent several years researching the burial site at Maiden Castle near Dorchester, added: “The deaths were a series of gangland-style executions.

“People were dragged up there and put to death as a way of one group exerting control over another.”

The executions took place between the late first century BC to the early first century AD – suggesting the violence was lethal across multiple generations.

“These were Mafia-like families. Game of Thrones-like barons with one dynasty wiping out another to control trade links and protection rackets for power,” Dr Russell continued.

“What we are seeing is the people who lost out being executed.

“Most of them had cranial trauma with no sign of defensive wounds. They were repeatedly struck with a sword to the head with the skulls smashed to oblivion.

“You are talking overkill, not a single death blow. These were gangland executions carried out in a very prominent and obvious way as a warning to others.”

The Maiden Castle grave site is one of the most famous archaeological discoveries in Britain.

When it was unearthed in 1936, dig director Sir Mortimer Wheeler suggested the injuries were “the marks of battle” with the Romans.

The misinterpretation of the Maiden Castle site, dubbed the “war cemetery”, brings into question how other archaeological cemeteries across the south west have been understood.

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The countdown to the 2025 season of Love Island is underway – with the new season expected to start next month. As the start date draws closer, the first contestant has reportedly been revealed.

A personal trainer has been unmasked as the first Love Island contestant for the upcoming summer 2025 season. ITV’s long-running reality dating show is set to make a come back in a few weeks time – and rumours are emerging over the upcoming cast.

First to be linked to the show is a fitness fanatic called Aaron Buckett – who is set to turn heads down to his height alone. The personal trainer, from London, stands at an impressive 6 foot 5 inches tall and frequently shows off his muscles online.

The 2025 summer season of Love Island will be the 12th season of the show since it returned to ITV in 2015. After the show made headlines by casting The Only Way Is Essex star Joey Essex in the 2024 season, show bosses are said to be desperate to ensure the 2025 season has a cast worth talking about too.

There are hopes that Aaron’s charm will also work in favour along with his good looks and athletic physique. As Love Island traditionally airs from early June, the new season could be just days away.

A source told The Sun of Aaron’s casting: “It’s a fact of life that girls go crazy for a tall lad and Aaron is a man mountain. He’s got great chat too.”

The source added: “Aaron is in the mix for this year’s cast but execs are still finalising whether he’ll be in the opening line-up or as a tempting bombshell.”

When asked for comment, and ITV spokesperson told The Mirror: “The Love Island cast for series 12 is yet to be confirmed. The Islanders for the new series will be announced in due course.”

An exact start date for Love Island has yet to be revealed, however show host Maya Jama has been whipping fans into excitement over the new season. The presenter, 30, gave a recent update via Instagram Stories where she ordered her followers to stand by.

The video showed a letter which read: “Attention: Love Island is coming soon. Attendance mandatory. Signed, CEO of love, Maya x.”

Soon after, the official Love Island account re-posted the clip and captioned the update: “100% our type on paper.” The news was like music to the ears of Love Island fans who reacted with excitement about the new show.

Fans are able to apply to be contestants on the show. The official Love Island application website declares: “ITV2 are looking for vibrant singles from across the UK who want to head to the sun, in search of love!

“The chosen cast will spend time in a luxury villa, getting to know one another, but to remain in paradise they must win the hearts of the public and their fellow Islanders who ultimately decide their fate on Love Island. If you think you’ve got what it takes, then we want to hear from you straight away.”

Strict rules and conditions are in place for those that want to find fame via the show – including the fact that applicants must be aged 18 years or over if they want to apply. A string of reality stars have gone on to find fame after appearing on the show.

Chris Hughes, who featured in season three of the show in 2017, recently returned to the spotlight as a contestant on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother. He is now drawing even further attention for his emerging romance with American singer JoJo Siwa.

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With Love Island series 12 just around the corner, here is everything we know so far on the latest series, including ‘confirmed’ islanders, return date and the gorgeous host

It’s confirmed, Love Island will be blessing our TV screens once again for a summer of drama, scandals, and most importantly, love!

The official Love Island Instagram page recently dropped a teaser for the latest season, claiming that it is ‘coming soon’. The teaser displayed a pink printer which printed, “Attention: Love Island is coming soon. Attendance mandatory. Signed, CEO of love, Maya x.”

Fans were sent into a frenzy, with many sharing their hopes and dreams for the new series. One fan commented, “Please bring back the ‘step forward if you fancy’ at the beginning!!”, while another added, “The population has been waiting for this”.

As the first islander has been ‘revealed’, fans are keen to know as much information as possible. So, let’s dive into what we know so far…

Who are this year’s islanders?

Does a personal trainer who is 6 feet and 5 inches tall sound good? Well, that’s how tall Londoner Aaron Buckett is, and he is the first islander who is ‘confirmed’ to join the 2025 series of the popular dating show. Aaron isn’t short on muscles or followers as he boasts hundreds of thousands of fans on Instagram and TikTok.

A source claimed to The Sun: “It’s a fact of life that girls go crazy for a tall lad and Aaron is a man mountain. He’s got great chat too.” They continued, “Aaron is in the mix for this year’s cast but execs are still finalising whether he’ll be in the opening line-up or as a tempting bombshell.” Other islanders are yet to be ‘confirmed’.

When will Love Island return?

Unfortunately, all we know is that Love Island series 12 will be starting ‘soon’, so we all have to sit and wait impatiently. Last year’s series began on Monday 3 June, so we imagine the date won’t differ too much this year.

This year’s Love Island is expected to return to its usual stomping ground in Mallorca, Spain, where islanders will be surrounded by the iconic fire pit, rectangular pool and large kitchen. It is also expected that the terrace and the hideaway will be making a welcome return, as that is where most of the drama goes down.

Who is hosting the series?

It has been confirmed that Maya Jama will be returning, delighting fans. Ever since stepping into the role in 2023, fans have found her to be a perfect fit to host the show.

What channel is Love Island on?

Love Island will be returning to ITV and ITVX.

Who won last year’s Love Island?

Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan stole the hearts of the nation and were subsequently crowned the winners of the 2024 summer series. The sweet couple made history as the first Black couple ever to win the UK’s franchise.

Sadly, the couple decided to go their separate ways after a few months and announced their split in an emotional statement.

Mimi said: “I know a lot of you gave been wondering about Josh and I and why we haven’t been making appearances. The truth is we have been trying to figure it out since leaving the villa, but unfortunately things aren’t going to work between us right now.”

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The seaside rich list is out from millionaire’s row to the bucket and spade champions of the north – check out how some of the UK’s favourite getaway destinations rank

Britain’s most expensive seaside towns and the bargain “hidden gems” have been revealed. While the beaches of Sandbanks in Dorset still sit at the top of the seaside rich list, there are bargains to be had in the north of England according to the latest research.

But home buyers wanting to move to Sandbanks will not get much change from £1 million with the average house price £965,708 last year, according to Lloyds. While some of the cheapest can be found at Blackpool at £146,764 and Newbiggin-by-Sea in Northumberland at £132,863.

Sandbanks in Dorset, a popular location for celebrities such as former football manager, Harry Redknapp, with its array of upscale restaurants and glitzy nightlife. The bank said the average house price in Sandbanks has fallen by 3%, or £33,595, compared with 2023, but still sits at the top of its coastal property league.

One of the most expensive properties on the peninsula is a waterfront mansion on the site of a bungalow that John Lennon bought for his aunt 60 years ago, which has gone up for sale for almost £15m.

It was renamed ‘Imagine’, in honour of the land’s connection to Lennon, who once described sandbanks as the most beautiful place he had been. Salcombe in Devon is second on the Lloyds list, with an average house price of £826,159 in 2024.

Foodie hotspot Padstow in Cornwall, where celebrity chef Rick Stein operates is third , with buyers paying £715,974 on average to live there and enjoy the charm of its harbour and seafood scene on a daily basis.

But Newbiggin-on-sea in Northumberland is described as a “hidden gem” with it’s rugged beauty but rock bottom prices. It is described as a bay “teeming with marine wildlife, a peaceful beach known for its glowing sunrises and fiery sunsets, and Sean Henry’s intriguing Couple sculpture that sits out at sea. They’re all waiting for you in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.”

Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Lloyds, said: “Coastal living continues to hold a special appeal – whether it’s the lure of sea views, sandy beaches, or a slower pace of life. “Our latest research shows the most exclusive seaside spots – like Sandbanks – still command premium prices.

“In some of the UK’s most desirable coastal towns, average prices have dipped slightly over the past year.

“But, over the longer term, values remain significantly higher – especially in the South West, where demand from lifestyle movers continues to shape the market. At the other end of the scale, there are still pockets of real affordability – particularly in Scotland, where buyers can find coastal homes for a fraction of the price.

“For those willing to look beyond the traditional hotspots, there are some hidden gems offering great value and a strong sense of community. It’s also important to recognise that not all coastal areas share the same fortunes.

“Some seaside towns face significant challenges, from seasonal economies to a lack of affordable housing for local people.”

Here are Britain’s most expensive seaside locations, with the average house price in 2024, according to Lloyds:

1. Sandbanks, South West, £965,708. 2. Salcombe, South West, £826,159. 3. Padstow, South West, £715,974. 4. Aldeburgh, East of England, £619,693. 5. Lymington, South East, £608,253. 6. St Mawes, South West, £552,198. 7. Lyme Regis, South West, £531,815. 8. Budleigh Salterton, South West, £496,998. 9. Dartmouth, South West, £495,643. 10. Kingsbridge, South West, £484,986

Here are Britain’s least expensive coastal locations, according to Lloyds, with the average house price in 2024:

1. Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, £103,078. 2. Rothesay, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, £111,764. 3. Millport, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £114,008. 4. Port Bannatyne, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, £115,421. 5. Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland, £116,211. 6. Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland, £117,751. 7. Ardrossan, North Ayrshire Scotland, £124,532. 8. Wick, Highlands, Scotland, £126,708. 9. Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, £128,888. 10. Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, Scotland, £129,194

Here are England and Wales’s least expensive coastal locations, according to Lloyds, with average house prices in 2024:

1. Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, North East, £132,863. 2. Fleetwood, North West, £146,338. 3. Blackpool, North West, £146,764. 4. Withernsea, Yorkshire and the Humber, £148,402. 5. Maryport, North West, £153,243. 6. Seaham, North East, £157,100. 7. Blyth, North East, £158,265. 8. Hartlepool, North East, £158,271. 9. Cleethorpes, Yorkshire and the Humber, £166,909. 10. Whitehaven, North West, £170,673

Here are the most, followed by the least, expensive coastal locations in each region or nation, according to Lloyds, with average house prices in 2024:

East Midlands – most Chapel St Leonards, £214,802 least Skegness, £202,559. In the East of England Aldeburgh, £619,693 – Lowestoft, £238,372. North East it is Whitley Bay, £310,918 then Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, £132,863. In the North West Grange-over-Sands, £308,419 then Fleetwood, £146,338. In Scotland, St Andrews, Fife, £458,381 then Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, £103,078. South East it is most Lymington, £608,253 and least East Cowes, £239,605 and in the South West Sandbanks, £965,708 withe the least in Plymouth, £248,668. In Wales top spot goes to The Mumbles, £417,043 with Prestatyn, £192,331 at the bottom and in Yorkshire and the Humber Whitby/Robin Hood’s Bay, £299,161 and Withernsea, £148,402

THE FULL list of finalists on Britain’s Got Talent has finally been revealed after a tense semi-final.

The last live show before the forthcoming ITV grand finale of the talent variety competition was filled with controversies.

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Ten acts have made it through to the highly-anticipated final show of Britain’s Got Talent.

For the first time, all of the performers will face the public vote after a number of Golden Buzzers sent contestants straight through.

The Blackouts, Olly Pearson, Jasmine Rice, Joseph Charm, and magician Harry Moulding were the acts to receive the five golden buzzers.

The acts who won each of the semi-final shows were Vinnie McKee, Stacey Leadbeatter, Ping Pong Pang and Hear Our Voice.

Eight-year-old singer Binita Chetry was the last artist announced to win the public vote.

This comes as the long-running variety competition was engulfed with controversy over the ‘biggest set up ever.‘

Harry Moulding claimed that he was “going to create a special moment of real magic for one person” at the start of his act.

The performance was full of incredible tricks which involved pop star references and predictions before the live show.

One contributor – who was also named Harry – appeared in a pre-recorded VT that was filmed in Paris.

His girlfriend Jess was sat in the audience and she was ‘randomly’ chosen by the magician to come onto the stage.

At the end of the clip, Harry miraculously appeared in front of Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Bruno Tonioli, Amanda Holden and KSI.

He got down on one knee and popped the question to his partner, who tearfully accepted.

After KSI chose to send the act straight through to the final with his Golden Buzzer, droves of viewers took to social media as they claimed the show was ‘rigged’.

Writing on X – formerly known as Twitter – one fan fumed: “Cowell said this boring idiot is the frontrunner – so if he wins (despite everyone watching losing the will to live) you’ll know that this trashy, s***** programme is fixed.”

A second claimed: “That was either an amazing magic trick or there was some absolute collusion going on there. Decent act but had to have been set up somehow.”

“What the f*** do they expect him to do for the final now?? Biggest fix ever, magic my bloody a***,” furiously wrote someone else.

As a fourth added: “Utterly rigged and the trick itself was too grand and ridiculous it shouldn’t even be called magic. I know exactly how he did it, it was rigged.”

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The final of Britain’s Got Talent will air on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, May 31.

TOTTENHAM stars are set for a big payday after their Europa League triumph.

Brennan Johnson created history by scoring the only goal in Bilbao to beat Manchester United.

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And in doing so he pocketed some extra cash for himself and his team-mates.

The Spurs squad have earned a big bonus for winning the Europa League.

Boss Ange Postecoglou will receive £2million for his role in the famous win, report the BBC.

While the squad will be given £3m to be divided between each player.

Some stars will also earned a pay rise if they have a Champions League qualification clause in their contract.

Tottenham will compete in Europe’s elite competition next season for the first time since 2022/23.

That means there could be an extra £100m in the coffers thanks to prize money, TV revenue and additional sponsorships.

Spurs’ Europa League win saw them scoop a £10.95m cash prize from Uefa.

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Tottenham’s qualification mean there will be six English teams competing in the Champions League next season.

Liverpool and Arsenal have booked their place which means Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will fight it out for the final three spots on Sunday.

BRUNO FERNANDES has opened up on how he “convinced” he was destined to join Tottenham.

Spurs take on Fernandes‘ Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao this evening.

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But in another reality, the 30-year-old could have been lining up for the north London club.

Six months before a January transfer window deal took Fernandes to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon for £47million, Spurs were deep in discussions to sign the midfielder.

There had been five meetings between the two parties with Fernandes’ camp left impressed by their structure and Sporting all set to accept the bid.

Of the talks, a source involved in the talks told the BBC: “They were absolutely next level when it comes to detail.

Even the rooms at the training ground – each one was decorated just like the players’ bedrooms at home, the ones they share with their partners.

“The bed was exactly the same. Even the flowers in the garden gave off a scent that’s meant to be beneficial – it was mind-blowing.”

However, the deal fell through when the Sporting board decided to hold out for an offer twice the size which ultimately never arrived, before selling Raphinha to Rennes instead.

Indeed, Fernandes had been so convinced he would be leaving that when club president Frederico Varandas tried to explain the situation he told him to go away.

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In an interview in January 2020 before he joined Man Utd, Fernandes said: “It was the team that wanted me the most and was the only one I agreed to talk with, because there were other clubs that didn’t interest me or whose project was not up to my expectations.

“Tottenham fit into everything I wish I had at that moment. It is an appealing championship. Knowing that Tottenham would be willing to pay for me and make every possible effort to take me, leaves a player eager to take that step.”

But five years later, the “Portuguese magnifico” has become the heartbeat of the Red Devils.

In the last five years, no outfield player has made more appearances (288) or played more minutes (24,747) across Europe‘s top five leagues than Fernandes.

The all-action club captain has almost single-handedly kept the team afloat this season with 19 goals and 19 assists in all competitions.

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That includes 12 goal contributions in the Europa League, featuring a hat-trick in the last-16 against Real Sociedad, a penalty in the 5-4 win at Old Trafford over Lyon and a brace in Spain against Athletic Bilbao.

Earlier this month, he had said: “The manager and physio say that I need to relax and rest, but I say no. When I die, I will have a lot of time to lay down and rest.”

Fernandes is one of five players still at Man Utd who was in the matchday squad when the club fell to defeat on penalties against Villarreal in the final in 2021.

He, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof all started the game under then boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while Amad Diallo and Harry Maguire were unused subs with the latter missing the clash through injury.

Man Utd have lost to Spurs three times this season – twice in the Prem and once in the League Cup – but have the chance to salvage the club’s worst-ever Premier League finish with a European trophy and a spot in next season’s Champions League.

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Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash

During the programme’s original run on Channel 4 from 2005 to 2016, the executive producer and the banker turned out to be the same person

The identity of Deal or No Deal’s mystery banker was a secret for many years before it was revealed that they were actually a huge Coronation Street star. During the programme’s original run on Channel 4 from 2005 to 2016, the executive producer and the banker turned out to be the same person.

Deal or No Deal’s banker turned out to be Glenn Hugill, who is best known for his role as Alan McKenna on Coronation Street from 1996 to 1997. The star appeared in 86 episodes of the show as he took on the role of detective Alan, who dated Fiona Middleton and was meant to marry her.

READ MORE: ‘Life changing’ curl cream that tames frizz in hot weather creates ‘forever fans’

However, their wedding ceremony was called off when Jim McDonald revealed his affair with Fiona, and Alan soon departed the cobbles. The actor also appeared in shows like Dalziel and Pascoe, The Upper Hand and Chandler & Co. In 2001, he took on a presenter role for the 2001 series The Mole.

In early 2023, Glenn sold his production company, Possessed, to ITV and became C.C.O. of Wheelhouse, the media empire founded by American talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. He was previously the managing director of the company, which quickly became one of the most successful production companies in the UK.

When he was 10 years old, Glenn scored a 207 in a national IQ test designed for under 16s, which was the highest recorded result in the country.

Local newspaper The Northern Echo once reported he took another test made for adults and recorded a result of 177, the highest score the test was capable of registering.

Glenn is said to have held the role of banker on Deal or No Deal for a decade, but it isn’t known who replaced him for the new ITV version hosted by Stephen Mulhern.

Stephen previously said: “I don’t know who the Banker is. So I wouldn’t be able to recognise who it was. So, he could walk past me at any point.”

The voice on the phone is “male” but Stephen added: “Supposedly, he goes into the hotel and listens to the contestants and what they’re up to. So when he comes on the phone to me, I’ve got to repeat what he says.

“So, he’ll say, ‘Just tell them blah, blah, blah, blah, blah’. But he gives him nicknames. So like, ‘Two Wine Wendy,’ because she’s always having an extra wine. It’s quite creepy.

“That first time the phone rang, it was like, ‘What’s he going to sound like? What’s he going to be like?’ But he takes no prisoners. There’s one contestant in particular who has a really bad ride and a really bad time, and at the end of it, the contestant is nearly in tears, and the phone rings.

“I’m thinking ‘Okay, he’s going to at least console a tiny bit’. And he went, ‘Just tell him it’s not a pity party. Let’s crack on with tomorrow,’ and put the phone down.”

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READ MORE: Shoppers race to snag £25 BBQ that’s ‘perfect for small spaces’ for under £10

BRITAIN’S most unhealthy high street sandwiches have now been revealed.

Brits will be shocked to know that most of their favourite lunchtime meal deals have more saturated fat and sugar than fast food and desserts.

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Most of them also have more calories than McDonald’s cheeseburgers and a bar of DairyMilk chocolate.

Leading the list of unhealthy sandwiches, Pret’s Posh Cheddar & Pickle Baguette sandwich contains a whopping 643 calories.

That is more calories than two McDonald’s cheeseburgers combined, which come at 295 calories each.

Even a Big Mac has almost 150 fewer calories than Pret’s flagship lunchtime meal.

Meanewhile, Waitrose‘s No1 The Perfect Ploughman’s Cornish Cheddar Sandwich comes 13.1g of saturated fat – making it one of the unhealthiest items on the list.

This is again more than two McDonald’s Cheeseburgers combined, which come with just 5.4g of fat each, according to a DailyMail analysis.

Next comes M&S’s Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese Ploughman’s sandwich with 11.3g of saturated fat.

To give some context, a Big Mac burger has just 8.8g of fat.

Both these sandwiches contain more than half of the NHS‘s daily saturated fat limit for women, which is 20g.

When it came to unhealthy sugar content, Sainsbury’s Brie Bacon & Chilli Chutney Sandwich topped the charts with 19.7g sugar.

To put that into perspective, one would need to have two KitKat chocolate bars with 10.3g of sugar in each to beat the Sainsbury’s sandwich.

M&S’s All Day Breakfast Sandwich – a popular choice of meal on the go – has almost 10.1g of sugar.

That’s slightly less than a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnut that comes with 12g of sugar.

NHS recommends that adults only consume a maximum of 30g of sugar each day to lead a healthy life.

Most of the sandwiches sold on Britain’s high streets are also far saltier than fast food.

For instance, Pret’s Ham & Grevé Baguette contained 3.85g of salt, making it saltier than four large portions of McDonald’s fries (0.82g of salt each).

And surprisingly, even M&S’s Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese Ploughman contained 1.78g – slightly more than two large McDonald’s fries.

Adults are advised to consume less than 6g of salt per day, according to the NHS.

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But as most of the supermarket sandwiches are unhealthy options for lunch, Brits can choose to swap them for healthier meals.

For example, a Cheese Ploughman’s sandwich from Boots comes at just 429 calories, making it the healthiest option so far.

And if you feel fancy, you can also try Itsu’s King Prawn Rice Box salad, which comes at just 407 calories.

It’s a filling option thanks to wholegrain brown rice, veggies, prawns and seeds.

Meanwhile, a Tuna Melt Panini from Starbucks packs in an impressive 28g of protein and has just 443 calories.

But if you are really conscious about your health and want to keep things below 400 calories, then Greggs‘ Pesto and Mozzarella Pasta can be your saviour.

This tasty option from Greggs is just  375 calories, even though its packed with cheese.

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THE SECRET ingredients to the perfect Eurovision song have been revealed and it might be bad news for the UK’s act. 

As various European countries go head-to-head tonight, a leading betting company has revealed that winning Eurovision songs always have three key traits.

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Sport Betting Online found that the first of the three factors relates to whether the song is written in a minor or a major key; minor keys often sound sadder, where major keys tend to sound happier and more joyful.

80 per cent of the winning songs, including Nemo’s The Code and Loreen’s thrilling Tattoo, are written in a minor key. 

Most winning songs also have an average tempo of 106 beats per minute (BPM), with Maneskin’s Zitte e Broni having 103 BPM and Kalush Orchestra’s Stefania having 105 BPM.

The final factor relates to language, as ten of the last 15 winning songs were written in English.

Despite that advantage, the UK act has the odds stacked against them – according to exclusive information from Sports Betting online.

Remember Monday’s track is written in a major key and has an average BPM rate of 136.

A spokesperson from the betting company said: “Remember Monday’s entry brings a vibrant and relatable energy to Eurovision 2025.

“Their harmonious vocals and genre-blending style align with several successful trends.

“However, the song’s major key and humorous theme might set it apart from the emotionally intense entries that have recently won.

“If audiences are ready for something fun and feel-good, the UK may have a dark horse on its hands.”

Despite the track bucking several winning trends, Remember Monday’s song was well-received when they took to the stage on Thursday.

Fans could be heard cheering throughout the trio’s performance, while singing along to What the Hell Just Happened’s catchy lyrics.

Brits loved the track too, with one writing on social media: “Remember Monday could WIN THIS WHOLE THING. INCREDIBLE. Perfection in the arena!”

UK fans can only hope that its broad appeal – with country aesthetics being on trend and English being the language of most winning songs – will take the trio to a win.

Sports Betting Online also analysed the frontrunners at this year’s singing competition, though, and one group is set to take the contest by storm. 

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Sweden’s Bara Badu Batsu – performed by KAJ – has an average BPM of 106 and is written in the minor key, specifically A Minor. 

The track is sung in Swedish with Finnish phrases, which does buck the trend of winning songs being in English.

However, experts think this may work in the trio’s favour – just a singing in Italian took Maneskin to a win.

Following close behind is Austria’s JJ who will be singing a track entitled Wasted Love. 

This track has 133 BPM, which is much faster than the average winning BPM, but is written in a minor key. 

It is also sung in English, which normally broadens a song’s appeal at the competition. 

The final frontrunner is France’s Louane, whose track was recorded at 88 BPM and is sung in the singer’s native language. 

Her heartbreaking song is entitled Maman – the French word for “mother”.

With all of the data considered, the competition is Sweden’s to lose. 

The contest will kick off on May 13, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland, before ending on May 17.

Last year’s winning artist Nemo will be performing their track – entitled The Code – at the finale.

However, not every country in Europe will be appearing at the competition.

Russia has been banned from competing due to controversies surrounding the invasion of Ukraine.

Other countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, have pulled out due to funding problems.

Israel has confirmed that it will be competing at Eurovision 2025, despite an open letter – signed by several former winners – urging judges to ban the country from the contest.

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TENS of thousands of fed-up energy customers have lodged official complaints – and have been handed compensation

Fresh figures from the Energy Ombudsman reveal that British Gas came out worst out of all energy companies in the UK.

The firm received 48 complaints per 100,000 domestic customers between October and December 2024 – the worst rate in the country.

With an estimated 7.5 million UK households on its books, that’s around 3,600 complaints officially accepted by the Ombudsman in just three months.

The stats reveal how many cases were accepted per 100,000 customers – giving a clearer picture of which firms are falling short.

Here’s how the rest stack up:

• Scottish Power – 27.8 complaints per 100K (approx. 1,390 cases, based on 5 million customers)
• EDF Energy – 26.6 per 100K (1,463 cases, 5.5 million customers)
• OVO Energy – 26.4 per 100K (1,056 cases, 4 million customers)
• Octopus Energy – 22.5 per 100K (1,643 cases, 7.3 million customers)
• E.ON Next – 21.2 per 100K (1,060 cases, 5 million customers)
• Utility Warehouse – 18.7 per 100K (187 cases, 1 million customers)
• Utilita – 11.1 per 100K (approx. 89 cases, 800,000 customers)

Utilita and Utility Warehouse were the best of the bunch, with the lowest complaint rates – while Octopus Energy continued its strong customer service record with a below-average rate.

These figures show how many complaints were accepted by the ombudsman after customers failed to get a resolution directly from their supplier.

All energy firms have been contacted for comment.

OVERALL COMPLAINTS FALL – BUT THOUSANDS STILL STRUGGLING

Across the board, the number of energy disputes accepted by the Energy Ombudsman fell by 24% in 2024, down to 92,938 cases from 122,829 the year before.

That’s a positive step – but complaints are still a third higher than in 2021, showing many customers are still getting a raw deal.

The most common problem? Billing issues, which made up 58% of all cases.

Top gripes included:

• Disputed gas or electricity usage
• Incorrect account balances
• Back-billing – with over 3,200 cases involving bills for energy used months or even years ago

CAN YOU CLAIM COMPENSATION?

If your energy firm hasn’t resolved your issue after eight weeks, or you’ve hit deadlock, you can raise it with the Energy Ombudsman – for free.

They can order suppliers to:

• Refund money
• Issue a written apology
• Pay compensation

HOW MUCH COULD YOU SAVE IF YOU SWITCH TO A FIXED TARIFF?

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch.com, told The Sun: “Energy prices are predicted to fall in the coming months with the new price cap, but there are bigger savings to be made by switching to a fixed tariff now.

“The average household on a standard variable tariff could currently save around £332 versus the April price cap by switching to a fixed deal.

“Energy prices continue to be volatile, with cost-of-living pressures still squeezing households despite falling inflation rates. 

“It only takes a few minutes to run a comparison and you may be surprised at how much you can save, compared to lingering on standard variable rates with your current supplier.”

MISSING OUT?

Shockingly, just 43% of customers are being properly signposted to the Ombudsman when they’re eligible – meaning thousands could be missing out on compensation.

Ed Dodman, chief ombudsman at Energy Ombudsman, said: “Our role is not just to fix problems – it’s to make the whole energy sector fairer and more transparent.

“While the fall in complaints is welcome, there’s still work to do. Every customer deserves to know their rights – and how to get the help they need.”

HOW TO COMPLAIN & GET WHAT YOU’RE OWED

1. Raise your issue directly with your energy supplier
2. If it’s unresolved after eight weeks, or you’ve reached deadlock, go to www.energyombudsman.org
3. You could get a refund, apology, or compensation – at no cost

TOP REASONS FOR COMPLAINTS

• Disputed meter readings
• Wrong balances
• Backdated bills
• Faulty smart meters
• Rubbish customer service

If your provider is one of the worst offenders, it might be time to make a switch and save – especially if you’ve been overcharged or ignored.

OTHER ENERGY FIRM FAILINGS

Ofgem has collected more than £400million in payments since 2020 through its compliance and enforcement activities, with the money used to help struggling households with their bills.

Back in September, OVO Energy was forced to pay out £378,512 to 1,395 customers over the historic failings.

Impacted customers received around £271 on average.

Ofgem found OVO took too long to address the almost 1,400 customer complaints, in some cases taking up to 18 months.

It also delayed actioning Energy Ombudsman decisions when complaints were upheld, Ofgem said at the time.

E.ON Next was also ordered by Ofgem last June to pay £5million to customers who suffered poor customer service.

The regulator said a review of the firm’s customer service standards and complaints-handling across the sector uncovered “severe weaknesses”, with customers facing long call waiting times and a high level of unanswered calls.

More than 500,000 customers were potentially affected, according to Ofgem.

The month before, Ofgem ordered Good Energy and OVO to pay out £2.7million to thousands of customers who were overcharged.

HOW DO I COMPLAIN ABOUT MY ENERGY SUPPLIER?

Similar to financial services firms, energy companies have to have a complaints procedure for customers to follow.

When you make a complaint, make sure you follow this so they have the information they need to resolve the issue.

Simply explain what the problem is and what you want your supplier to do about it.

Check your energy supplier’s website for an explanation of how to launch a complaint.

Energy suppliers have eight weeks to respond and come to a decision.

If it doesn’t or you’re not happy with the response, you can take the firm to the Energy Ombudsman.

The Energy Ombudsman may be able to help if you have a complaint about an energy or communications provider.

Before you can submit your complaint to it, you must have logged a formal complaint with your provider and worked with the firm to resolve it.

You must also have received a so-called deadlock letter, where the provider refers your complaint to the Energy Ombudsman.

You can also complain if you haven’t had a satisfactory solution to your problem within eight weeks.

The Energy Ombudsman then bases its decision on the evidence you and the company submit.

If you choose to accept its decision, your supplier then has 28 days to comply.

The Ombudsman’s decisions are binding on the energy company.

If your supplier refuses to follow the instruction, the Ombudsman may get in touch with Ofgem to remedy the situation – but there’s no set period for escalating issues to the regulator and it’s not up to the customer.

If an individual chooses not to accept the Ombudsman’s final decision, they lose the right to the resolution offer.

Customers still have the right to take their complaint further through the courts.

But remember this can be a costly and lengthy exercise, so it’s worth thinking carefully before taking this step.

VOTING in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 can be accomplished via a variety of handy methods.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to support your favourite acts in the Grand Final on Saturday My 17, as well as when the results will be revealed.

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Eurovision 2025 is well underway, with the song contest returning to Switzerland, where the very first of its competitions was held way back in 1956.

The first semi-final of Eurovison 2025 took place on Tuesday, May 13, and the second was held on Thursday, May 15.

Eurovision’s showpiece, the Grand Final, follows on Saturday, May 17.

Voting rules

There are some important rules to keep in mind when voting in Eurovision 2025:

• You cannot vote for your own country’s entry
• Each person is allowed to vote up to 20 times, but only once per act per voting method
• Voting is open to viewers in all participating countries, as well as the “Rest of the World” — i.e. non-participating countries
• In the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final, all participating countries are eligible to vote, not only those competing in the final itself
• Votes from the Rest of the World are aggregated and count as one additional set of points.

Voting windows

For the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final on Saturday, 17 May 2025, voting opens just before the first song is performed and stays open until about 40 minutes after the last song finishes.

If you are voting from the Rest of the World, online voting opens at midnight on the day of the final and closes when the live show begins.

During the Grand Final, voting for the Rest of the World also opens just before the first song is performed, and will again remain open until approximately 40 minutes after the last song has been sung.

How to vote

Voting in Eurovision 2025 involves two main methods.

You can vote for your favourite acts by telephone, using either a landline or a mobile phone.

Another popular method is through the official Eurovision app, which is available on iOS, Android and Windows devices.

In some countries voting by SMS is also possible, but not in the UK.

In countries where voting my SMS is possible, the appropriate numbers will be displayed on-screen by each participating broadcaster, as well as on the official voting website — esc.vote, which also features a countdown to the next Eurovision broadcast.

Phone

To vote by phone, the relevant numbers will appear on-screen.

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Use the long (11-digit) number for your chosen country if calling from a landline, or the short (7-digit) number if using a mobile phone.

Note that shortcodes may not work in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

App

Alternatively, you can use the official Eurovision app to cast your vote.

Simply download it from your device’s app store, then during the show, follow the prompts to cast your vote for your favourite acts.

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App users will receive a special thank-you message from their chosen performers, adding a nice personal touch to the experience.

Results revealed

As for when the results will be revealed, after voting closes (which is about 40 minutes after the final performance), the results are announced in two main stages.

First, each participating country’s jury points are announced by a national spokesperson.

These points range from one to eight, then 10, and finally 12 points awarded to their top ten acts.

After the jury points are revealed, the combined public televote from each country and the Rest of the World is announced.

This televote dramatically adds to each act’s total score. The winner is the act that achieves the highest combined total of jury and public points.

The results are usually revealed between 11.15pm and midnight, following the conclusion of voting and the interval acts.

TRAGIC billionaire Mike Lynch’s superyacht sank because it was vulnerable to wind, a report claims.

Investigators examining the sinking of the 180ft Bayesian off Sicily last year say it was knocked over by “extreme wind” and could not recover.

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Brit tech tycoon Lynch, 59, and daughter Hannah, 18, were among seven killed in the disaster.

An interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch said the yacht had a “vulnerability” to lighter winds but the owner and crew would not have known.

It added it had “limited verified evidence” as the criminal probe in Italy had restricted its access.

Andrew Moll, chief inspector of marine accidents, said: “The findings indicate that the extreme wind experienced by Bayesian was sufficient to knock the yacht over.

“Further, once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70° the situation was irrecoverable.

“The results will be refined as the investigation proceeds, and more information becomes available.”

Five people were injured “either by falling or from things falling on them”, while the deck hand was “thrown into the sea”, a report said.

Two guests used furniture drawers “as an improvised ladder” to escape their cabin.

The skipper instructed guests and crew on an area of the deck to “swim clear of the mast and boom as the vessel was sinking”.

Survivors later made their way onto a life raft released from the Bayesian.

They went on to be rescued on a small boat dispatched by yacht Sir Robert Baden Powell, which was also at anchor nearby.

A search was conducted of the accident site.

All the bodies of those who died were subsequently recovered by the local authorities.

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