IPSWICH isn’t the first destination that most of us think of when looking for a UK staycation or weekend break.
But it has recently been revealed to be one of the country’s most underrated towns, and it has an award-winning attraction owned by TV presenter Jimmy Doherty.
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Jimmy Doherty’s Farm and Wildlife Park is multi-award winningCredit: Jimmy’s farmThe attraction is found in one of the UK’s most ‘underrated’ towns – IpswichCredit: Alamy
On Tripadvisor it has over 1,800 ‘excellent’ reviews.
Reviewers have described it as an ‘amazing day out’ with others calling it ‘magical’ for the whole family.
Jimmy first eyed up the space in Suffolk for the attraction back in 2002 when it was nothing but an empty barn.
Talking to Sun Travel, Jimmy said: “It was humble beginnings really, it’s been an incredible journey and it’s all about having a really great team with you.
“We’ve moved from being a rare-breed, free-range farm to being a farm park to now a fully-blown wildlife park with all sorts of animals.
“I would love to say this was a well-thought out plan, but it wasn’t at all.”
There are over 100 species and breeds on the farmCredit: Alamy
On the farm are more than 100 species and breeds, from classic farm animals all the way to lions and arctic wolves.
Talking about his favourite ones to see, Jimmy confessed: “I love our ring-tailed lemurs, most of those are rescues.
“They sometimes come and jump on you, and they’ve got youngsters at the moment.”
For those who want to visit the farm, it’s very easy to get there from London.
Just hop on the train from Stratford or London Liverpool Street to get into Ipswich in just over an hour.
The town of Ipswich itself was revealed one of the most ‘underrated’ in the UK by The Telegraph earlier this year.
Found in the south of the country of Suffolk, it was praised for its ‘traffic-free shopping streets lined with ancient buildings’ as well as its open parklands.
The waterfront is a popular spot for ‘trendy cafes, bars, restaurants and galleries’.
Talking about the town, Jimmy said: “Ipswich is a fantastic place, it’s interesting and vibrant, and there’s lots to do down on the waterfront.
“If you’re into football, Ipswich Town has just gone up into the premiership again.
“We’re less than hour from Stratford, and Ed Sheeran is a local – what’s not to love?”
Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is regularly popping up in Ipswich and last week played a surprise gig near the town’s university.
Being a Suffolk resident Jimmy has lots of recommendations when it comes to other local spots to check out, alongside wider Suffolk which he calls the ‘gem of England’.
Ipswich has a waterfront with lots of ‘trendy bars and cafes’Credit: Alamy
Jimmy said: “As a family, we love going to Easton Farm Park in Suffolk, it was one of the very first farm parks to open.
“Then, in Waldringfield, go to the Maybush Inn. It’s great on a sunny day and if you’ve got a paddleboard you can have a paddle in the water there.
“Other spots are Bury St Edmunds which is brilliant for shopping and markets. Then there’s Woodbridge, which is fantastic for antique shops, and Snape is a great spot too.”
Jimmy is pals with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver having first met when they were kids growing up in Essex.
The pair are still in touch and regularly catch-up at their old stomping ground.
Jimmy said: “When we catch-up, it tends to be over a good dinner or lunch with a bottle of red wine.
“Growing up there, we used to call it Saffron ‘boredom’, but now it’s a mecca – it’s brilliant.”
Ipswich also has market streets and half-timbered shopsCredit: Alamy
If you fancy a trip to Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park this summer – it’s open seven days a week.
You can book tickets from £25 for adults and £20 for children – or buy them at the gate.
Jimmy has teased some new arrivals for the summer season too.
He told us: “We’ve got loads going on over the next few months, including some very exciting animals that I can’t tell you about now – but they are arriving at the end of this summer.
“We’ve also just rehomed two Asiatic lions called Rani and Kamal, and a beautiful called Kalinka tiger who are all retiring with us.”
Potential new arrivals could be five Moon Bears which Jimmy is currently trying to save from South Korea.
Jimmy told us: “We’re trying to bring back and give them the life they deserve.”
If successful, the bears could find themselves living out final years and being rehabilitated at the park.
If you want to find out more about the ‘Bears Behind Bars Mission’, click here.
KATIE Price revealed her son Harvey suffered a painful fall at home this morning.
The 24-year-old, who has Prader-Willi Syndrome, took a tumble after waking up early and heading into the kitchen when it was still a bit dark.
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Harvey Price was left in pain after falling over at homeCredit: BackGridKatie Price recently returned from Dubai where her husband Lee Andrews is in jailCredit: Louis Wood
Katie, 48, could be heard saying Harvey was left limping and in pain.
In a video uploaded to Facebook, Harvey was seen enjoying a sensory session with smellies and took a particular liking to lemongrass.
The post was captioned: “Harvey took a little tumble this morning! So lots of TLC for my baby bear!
“Smelling is amazing for his sensory Needs & Taking his mind off the situation!”
Katie recently returned from Dubai where she tried to find out more about husband Lee Andrew’s detention in Al Awir prison.
Lee, 43, claims he was arrested and detained on suspicion of espionage, but the reality is he is in for a private civil matter.
He needs to raise £140,000 to be released and asked Katie to set up a GoFundMe to help out, but she declined, stating there wouldn’t be enough public support.
The Sun’s Showbiz Editor Clemmie Moodie sat down with Katie during her Dubai trip and grilled her about Lee and the many untruths he has told over recent months.
Among them are the claims he bid to buy a majority stake in Chelsea Football Club and visited Katie’s children in person on secret trips to the UK, despite the fact he has a travel ban and can’t leave Dubai.
The full 56 minute sit down interview is available to watchhere.
A NEW airline has revealed plans to launch flights to some dream holiday hotspots.
Global Airlines – which is the UK’s newest airline – is planning on adding flights from the UK to the Maldives before Christmas.
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Global Airlines has revealed that it plans to launch flights to the Maldives from the UK before the end of the yearCredit: Getty
Speaking with Metro, the airline’s founder, James Asquith, said: “Ask anyone in the UK, do you want to go to the Maldives? I think everyone would say: ‘I’d love to, it’s my dream holiday, or I want to go there on honeymoon.’
“And it’s so underserved from the UK.”
The Maldives is known for being a popular destination for British tourists, with flights taking around 11 hours to reach the islands which feature pretty white sand beaches and famous bungalows hanging over crystal clear waters.
There are currently direct flights already from the UK to the Maldives, including from London Heathrow with British Airways.
Asquith also shared that the Maldives is just one of a number of long-haul destinations being considered and that the airline is looking to launch flights from a number of UK regional airports such as Manchester and Birmingham.
In addition to the latest flight route news, the airline is currently buying another plane.
The UK airline currently only has one plane and is in the process of getting anotherCredit: Alamy
The airline’s only plane at the moment, is an A380 – the world’s largest passenger plane.
The airline’s founder revealed that Global isn’t focusing on short-haul routes but instead, on flights to America and transatlantic destinations.
Though he also joked that they might give “a crack or two” at flying to Honolulu in Hawaii, which usually takes between 15 and 16 hours.
The airline already previously launched a route last year; however, only two flights took off and since then, there have been no other flights.
After initially launching in 2022, Global Airlines wanted to start flying from London Gatwick by 2023 and have around 100 planes flying across Europe by 2025.
However, due to several delays, only two commercial flights have flown to date, which were between Glasgow and New York in May 2025.
Since then, Global Airlines’ only plane has remained at Tarbes Airport in France, in a storage hangar.
Asquith mainly blames the delays on maintenance check wait times, but he remains confident that the Maldives route will be up and running before 2027.
HELEN Flanagan has revealed her “dream” to be a foster parent when her kids with ex fiance Scott Sinclair have grown up.
The Coronation Street actress, 35, is a mum-of-three to Matilda, 10, and Delilah, seven, and five-year-old son Charlie.
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Helen Flanagan has revealed her ‘dream’ to be a foster carer when her kids grow upCredit: instagramThe Coronation Street alum shares three kids with ex Scott SinclairCredit: hjgflanagan/Instagram
She is proud parent to Matilda, 10, and Delilah, seven, and five-year-old son CharlieCredit: Instagram/hjgflanaganHelen said she believes fostering would be ‘something lovely to do’ and she has ‘adored kids’Credit: Instagram
“When I’m older, I think fostering could be something lovely to do.
“I’ve always adored kids”.
Foster carers temporarily or permanently welcome children into their homes who cannot live with their biological families, offering a safe and stable place to live.
Helen told how she ‘felt lost’ until becoming a mumCredit: InstagramShe parted ways with her long-term fiancé in 2022Credit: Instagram/Helen Flanagan
She then reinforced her point on ITV daytime show Loose Women and said: “I’m in my element being a mum.
“Before I was a bit lost and now I have got Matilda [eldest daughter] she has really completed me.“
“She just made me so much happier. It gives you so much perspective, I’m besotted with her.”
Helen previously told of her parenting approach and said of her brood: “I love them so much, they are my world.
“Sometimes I shout which makes me feel awful and I always say sorry if I do which I think is important.
“I tell them how much I love them, one thing a day they have done a day that makes me proud.”
She added: “Being a mum is amazing but just really hard. I suppose you can just do your best.”
Helen, who co-parents her brood with Scott, has previously spoken about suffering from mum guilt, and the raw emotional pull she feels while working away.
Speaking to the Sun on behalf of Paddy Power, she said: “I feel mum guilt all the time.
“It’s something I deal with constantly. But I try to remind myself that I’m working for my children, so it’s ultimately for them.
“When they’re with their dad, I also see that as encouraging their relationship, which is important.
“I do still feel guilty, but I try to reframe it and look at the bigger picture.”
Perrie Edwards hints Zayn Malik cheated on her after she revealed her ‘hellish’ split and ‘breakdowns’ as she struggled to copeCredit: Instagram/greatcompanypodcastThe pair got together in 2012 and became engaged the next yearCredit: Splash News
The pair became engaged prior to calling time on their relationship, yet things ended badly, with Perrie, 32, claiming thatZayn broke up with her via text.
Rumours were also rife that he cheated on the Black Magic singer and the popstar, who now is a mum of two and set to wed fiance Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, has again hinted at infidelity and “overlap” in a new chat on podcast Great Company.
She bravely re-visited her “hellish” heartache in the chat with Made in Chelsea alum Jamie Laing and said of her split with Zayn: “When you go through heartbreak, it is hellish.
“It’s the worst thing in the world. You can’t eat. You can’t sleep. You feel horrendous.
They broke up in 2015 and she has now hinted at an ‘overlap’ for the One Direction starCredit: Not known clear with Picture DeskPerrie told of feeling ‘abandoned’ and ‘not good enough’ in the aftermath of their splitCredit: Instagram/greatcompanypodcastZayn went on to date Gigi Hadid in 2015, the year he and Perrie splitCredit: Getty Images – GettyShe was in pop band Little Mix at the time and told of her struggles to copeCredit: Getty
“You feel abandoned and you don’t feel good enough and you feel like you’ve been left for something better or whatever it is.
“And then what makes it even worse is, I felt like the world was then looking at me, laughing at me.
‘Not my fans, my fans were like, ‘we love you, we’ll fight your corner no matter what.’ But I felt embarrassed. I felt horrified. It was awful”.
The Shout Out To My Ex hitmaker then told Jamie she didn’t stay sane in the aftermath of the split and had “serious breakdowns”.
Perrie said she felt ‘ridiculed’ in the aftermathCredit: Refer to SourcePerrie said of Zayn ‘they’ve left me for someone more beautiful than me’Credit: GettyZayn starred with Gigi Hadid in the Pillowtalk music videoCredit: YOUTUBEPerrie said ‘then you have a song that they’ve written about you, but then someone else is in the video’Credit: Refer to Caption
She added: “It wasn’t just the heartbreak I was dealing with.
“I was dealing with everybody looking at me and I felt ridiculed. I just couldn’t cope with it.
“I hated it. I was breaking down in performances, which isn’t like me at all. I was breaking down. I was crying constantly. I think I was depressed.
“And I know it sounds ridiculous, but I think it was this plus, this plus, this and everything on top.
Perrie is now a mum of twoCredit: PERRIE EDWARDS / INSTAGRAMShe is now happily loved up and engaged to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with whom she shares two kidsCredit: Getty
“I had to be there for the girls. I had to be switched on. I had to power through for Little Mix, but I also just wanted to be left the f**k alone. But I also was getting followed every two seconds and asked about it 24/7”.
In the lengthy chat she hinted at an “overlap” between Zayn and another of his lovers and admitted she “needed to be careful” how to phrase it.
She then referenced his music video for his debut solo single Pillowtalk, which featured supermodel Gigi Hadid, who would go on to be his girlfriend and the mother of his child.
Perrie said: “I need to be careful how I say this, but there was, let’s just say there was a bit of a… I’m just going to say it.
“So there was a bit of an overlap.
“I think when you’re moving on with somebody else you always get on better.
“When you’re the one left behind, that’s when it’s hard because it’s like, ‘Oh s**t, they’ve left me for someone more beautiful than me, someone better than me.’
‘Whatever it is, that’s how it felt at the time.
“And then you have a song that they’ve written about you, but then someone else is in the video.”
The Sun has gone to Zayn’s rep for comment.
Thankfully, Perrie’s love life is now firmly on the up.
It’s not often that I remark on a casting announcement, much less one about “Scooby-Doo,” but the second I opened an email from Netflix, my jaw dropped.
A chocolate brown Great Dane puppy with blue eyes and a teal collar sitting on a tile floor gazed at me from my computer screen — I squealed. I mean, look at him. His floppy ears, grumpy little face and paws you just want to shake hands with. He’s perfect.
“Scooby-Doo: Origins” is the streamer’s upcoming live-action series, slated for release in 2027, featuring this mystery-solving pup. It marks the first time a real dog has played Scooby-Doo. For many viewers, their first exposure to Scooby and his gang was via the ‘70s Hanna-Barbera animated version, which aired on Cartoon Network in reruns in the ‘90s and early aughts, or the reboots on ABC and the WB, now the CW, more recently. Several live-action theatrical and TV films have been made over the years, but they’ve always featured a computer-generated dog. Yes, that means it took nearly six decades to have a real-life Scooby.
The previously announced cast includes key players in the Scooby gang: Mckenna Grace as Daphne Blake, Tanner Hagen as Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley and Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones. Paul Walter Hauser is also slated to appear as a series regular in an unnamed role. Showrunners Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg helm the series.
According to the show’s logline, it’s a “modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog” that takes place at summer camp. Said dog may have been witness to a supernatural murder, leading the group of teens to set out to solve the case. It’s an origin story for Scooby and his gang.
While I wouldn’t consider myself a “Scooby-Doo” superfan, I am a fan of very cute dogs. I’ll have my Scooby snacks ready in case we ever cross paths.
SUGABABES singer Keisha Buchanan has revealed that she was KIDNAPPED from school – shortly before achieving her first hit with the band.
The 41-year-old singer first joined the group at the tender age of 13 and they signed their first record contract in 1998.
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Sugababes singer Keisha has revealed she was kidnapped at 16 years oldCredit: Livelaughlukepod/YouTubeThe star was preparing to make her Sugababes debut as well as sit her GCSEs at the time of the incidentCredit: Getty
But the singer has now revealed how she was kidnapped in 2000 – shortly before the band’s debut single Overload hit the UK top 10.
Keisha revealed that she was taken by a man from school for several hours before she was returned home.
The scary incident caused her parents to decide it was no longer safe for the star to go to school, resulting in her missing her GCSEs.
Keisha, who won The Masked Singer earlier this year, made the confession on the Live, Laugh, Luke podcast.
The star revealed that she was kept captive for a number of hoursCredit: GettyThe singer has been performing with the band for 28 yearsCredit: Getty
The Push The Button hitmaker said: “I had like this incident right before my GCSEs where I was kidnapped.
“So, because it was quite a traumatic experience, my parents were, like, ‘yeah, so we’re going to do a different type of education.’
“So I kind of finished like my education, but I just couldn’t do my GCSEs.”
Keisha had been preparing to debut with the Sugababes at the time and had already left school to focus on music but had briefly returned in order to sit her GCSEs just before they released their first single at the time of the incident.
In the interview, she revealed that she wasn’t able to share more details of the scary incident as she planned to tell the full story in her impending autobiography.
Keisha did add: “I was basically taken after school by someone.
“I think I just sort of blocked it and then had to just get back into, you know, promotion of our first single.”
Keisha revealed how she was held captive for a number of hours – an experience that left her seeking therapy from the age of 16.
Elsewhere, she confessed that only Siobhan ultimately ended up being accepted back into school for the exams after all three originally left in order to record their debut album, One Touch, over the course of two years.
Despite at first claiming her parents pulled her out of school as a result of the terrifying kidnapping incident, Keisha then appeared to suggest the school had refused to re-enroll her for examinations anyway.
She said: “We ended up leaving school. Siobhan went back to school to take her GCSEs and they accepted her back.
“When Mutya and I tried to get back, they were so rude.
“They were like, ‘Oh no, no, no, you’re not coming back. Like you guys thought you were going to be these pop stars. Let’s see what’s going to happen.’
“So they wouldn’t accept us back.”
Keisha further stated that she discussed the kidnapping ordeal in very early promotional interviews for their debut single but has since kept it out of public view and intends to tell the lengthy story in her own memoir.
TWILIGHT star Taylor Lautner has revealed the gender of his unborn baby in a sweet video with his wife Taylor.
The couple, who are expecting their first child together, took to Instagram to share the exciting news with their fans.
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Taylor Lautner and his wife have revealed the gender of their unborn childCredit: instagram/@taylautnerThe pair found out they’re having a girlCredit: instagram/@taylautner
In the video, the pair are seen covering their eyes while finding out the gender on a laptop in front of them.
They scream in excitement as the word ‘Girl’ flashes on screen in pink.
She begins crying as he puts his arms around her to console her.
He looks at her and says: “We did it,” as they both wipe away tears from their faces.
They captioned it: “Our little secret is now yours,” with pink and blue heart emojis.
Their fans flocked to the comments section to share their well-wishes for the soon-to-be-parents.
One person gushed: “I will forever be watching this on repeat. It’s a girl! I guessed right! I’m so excited for you guys!”
Another social media user commented: “I love how intimate this moment was for you both.”
Somebody else enthused: “Congratulations to a beautiful couple that will be the best parents in the world.”
Yet another wrote: “It’s so nice and wholesome to see a man so excited to have a girl!
The couple announced they were expecting in MarchCredit: Instagram/taydomeHe’s best known for starring in the Twilight movie seriesCredit: Handout
“Congratulations guys, this beautiful angel is lucky to have such wonderful humans as her parents.”
While a fifth added: “My kids are obsessed with Shark Boy and Lava Girl and watch it about five times a week and now shark boy is having a baby?! Congratulations!”
A POPULAR English seaside theme park has revealed plans to open its own hotel.
Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea, Essex – named the best seaside attraction in the south by the UK Theme Park Awards last year – wants to build the accommodation right by its entrance.
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Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, has revealed plans to build a hotelCredit: Alamy
The hotel would have seven rooms and be above the Sands By The Sea fish and chips restaurant.
Currently, the space above the fish and chips restaurant is an empty office that was previously used by Radio Essex.
Few other details have been revealed about the hotel, but SKArchitects – who are behind the project – shared that the accommodation is a “unique” waterfront spot, with a restaurant below and 24-hour staffing at the theme park.
Guests would also have access to the nearby Three Shells Beach and views of the Thames Estuary.
According to the Southend Echo, Matt Dent, Southend Labour councillor for business, culture, tourism and music, said: “I can certainly see the advantages of providing more tourism accommodation on the seafront, particularly having it basically inside the park.
“That is going to be a huge draw and major selling point to families looking to make the most of the abundant offerings at the seafront.”
Recent data from credit card company Aqua revealed the UK’s top 10 affordable theme parks and named Adventure Island in eighth place.
The park is free to enter, but to go on the rides you’ll need to buy a wristband, which is either £25 online or £28 on the gate.
The hotel would feature seven rooms and be right by the entranceCredit: Alamy
In total, there are 40 rides to explore, including seven rollercoasters such as Rage, which boasts several twists and turns.
If you were to break down the cost of a £25 wristband, each ride would be as little as 63p to go on.
The park also has a couple of waterslides, as well as rides for smaller kids such as a carousel, small land train and a soft play area.
Today, if you wanted to visit Adventure Island and stay close to the theme park, you’d have to book into one of the hotels or B&Bs along the seafront.
Nearby options include The Palace Hotel from £102 a night and just steps away from the entrance of the pier or The Hope Hotel, which sits at the end of Southend Beach and costs from £85 a night.
A number of other hotels around the UK have hotels near the entrance, including Alton Towers, which has the Alton Towers Hotel, Splash Landings Hotel and the CBeebies Land Hotel, all within the entrance plaza.
The Sidemen’s Josh Bradley has revealed he’s set to become a dad for the first time as his wife is expecting baby boyCredit: InstagramThe streamer took to Instagram to share a series of sweet snaps and captioned them: “Mum and Dad for real this time”Credit: Instagram
In the snaps, Josh and his wife Freya Nightingale brimmed with happiness as they shared their joyous news with their followers.
After smashing a pink and blue gender reveal cake, the delighted couple shared they were having a baby boy.
The happy pair also posted a sweet image of their baby scan to their family and fans.
Fans flocked to comment and one wrote: “Announcement & gender reveal in one. YUPPPPP love you both so muuuuchhhh. Coolest parents.”
The loved up couple also shared an image of their baby’s scanCredit: InstagramThe excited parents shared their gender reveal with their family and fansCredit: InstagramJosh and his wife were overjoyed with the news that they were having a baby boyCredit: InstagramIn bombshell news the Britain’s Got Talent judge revealed he had recorded his last video with his matesCredit: The Sidemen/Instagram
Another said: “Yes!!! Congrats!!!”
A third added: “Amazing news.”
A fourth wrote: “Oh my god!!! Huge congratulations to you both. This is the most amazing news.”
While a fifth said: “KSI left and now Josh and Freya are having a baby, the good news can’t stop coming.”
The Sidemen put up a long post on their social media which seemed to criticise the way in which KSI did it.
They wrote: “Ideally, we would have loved the opportunity to give JJ the send off he deserved, a proper farewell video, time for everyone to process it, and a chance to celebrate everything we’ve built together.
“Unfortunately JJ released the news before we had agreed on a mutual way of letting our audience know.”
In the video KSI posted he said: “This is honestly the hardest video I’ve ever had to make in my life.
A BRITISH seaside town has unveiled plans for a £1.8million makeover.
The picturesque coastal area is set to introduce a car-free promenade along with new shops, outdoor seating and beach-side gardens.
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Felixstowe is a popular seaside spot in SuffolkCredit: kk_ttProposals for a £1.8million makeover have been put forwardCredit: Jonathan Wilson
Felixstowe boasts sandy shores and sweet coloured beach huts along with an Edwardian pier that’s 2,640 ft long.
The Suffolk port town attracts thousands of tourists every summer, providing a quintessential British seaside experience.
And now the are has unveiled plans to give the beachy location a £1.8million revamp.
The South Seafront Project aims to “create a beautiful, welcoming environment which supports the visitor economy as well as benefitting both residents and businesses”.
The plans outlined by East Suffolk Council add that the makeover will focus on ensuring the “seafront continues to be a viable tourism destination” as well as making Felixstowe an “attractive place to live, work and visit all year round”.
The council also hope to “address the higher levels of deprivation in the South Seafront area” with the refurbishments.
The budget will be used to improve lighting and signage along the seafront plus boosting the town’s transport options and providing better access to the front.
Cars could be banned from the road along the promenade in order to create opportunities for independent stores, food outlets, outdoor seating and garden spaces.
While the finer details of the proposals are still being developed, it is hoped that councillors will give backing to the plans.
If the work is able to go ahead, it’s predicted that it will be able to begin by next spring.
PAULTONS Park has announced it will open its very first watercoaster next year.
The new attraction will be an addition to Valgard: Realm of the Vikings and it will be one of the biggest rides ever built in the theme park.
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The new watercoaster will open in Paultons Park next springCredit: Paultons ParkIt will be called Serpent’s Curse and have top speeds of 44mphCredit: Paultons Park
Called Serpent’s Curse, the watercoaster will be 471-metres long, with top speeds of 44mph and will open next spring.
For ride enthusiasts the details say that it will have ‘a lift hill, fast-flowing twists and curves, and a dramatic plunge into a final splashdown.’
Talking about the new ride, Paultons has said it will be one of the ‘biggest rides ever built’ at the park.
This isn’t the only new addition, as another second water ride will open at Valgard too – although it already exists at the park.
Seal Falls, the junior minilog flume water ride will be re-themed and relocated to new land.
The ride will be renamed ‘Little Serpents’.
James Mancey, deputy managing director at the park, said: “We always have a surprise or two up our sleeve, and Serpent’s Curse is potentially our most exciting reveal yet.
“We’re working with the world-renowned MACK rides to bring their fantastic water coaster to the UK.
“The speed and exhilaration of the coaster with such a dramatic finish into the water makes for something really special that works brilliantly within the Viking theme.”
Sun Travel worked out that while the entry cost is steep, children under one-metre-tall go free.
And the cost per rollercoaster, if you ride them all, works out to £4.68.
In May 2026, Paultons Park opened its new world, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, which cost £12million to build and has its very first inverting rollercoaster.
The ride called Drakon, has been called the ‘crown jewel of Valgard’.
The new land also has a swing ride and Middle Ages themed ‘feast’ dining.
Katie Price has revealed details of her last phone call with husband Lee AndrewsCredit: Katie Price / BackgridLee is said to be in Al Awir prison over a civil matterCredit: Instagram
But after she spoke to him, it emerged he “needs a six-figure sum” instead.
And now Katie has shared her fears for Lee, saying she was worried he would not be released anytime soon.
Revealing details of her last phone conversation with Lee, Katie said: “I’m absolutely knackered, it’s the second morning because I spoke to Lee yesterday and he wants me to go to the Al Awir prison because he’s given me permission to get all his phones, his belongings.
Katie said Lee’s given her permission to ‘get all of his phones and belongings’Credit: wesleeandrews/InstagramKatie said she was exhausted as she continues to fight to get Lee out of jailCredit: Instagram/@wesleeeandrews
“So I’m going there now.
“I still need to hear back from his lawyer if I can get a visit to see him.
“It’s Wednesday and I go on Friday… time is running out.”
Katie admitted she was now able to reach her husband because she had a Dubai number for him in prison.
“I’m feeling knackered today, I’m excited, but excited for what? Because I don’t know if I’m seeing Lee but at least I now know he can ring me, I’ve got the Dubai number so at least I know he can ring me,” she added.
“So let’s go to the prison again.”
The previous day, Katie posted a clip while at a hair salon in Dubai as she told fans she was “all glam, just to go to bed and chill”.
She said: “The time is half five, I’m going to go back to the hotel, get in bed and watch telly all night until tomorrow morning.
“That’s so bad, coming to Dubai and I’m going to bed at half six in the evening, that’s shocking.
“I could go and party, have a drink, but I’m happy to go back to the hotel for a cup of tea in bed.”
A MAJOR UK airport has released a first look at its highly anticipated new Wetherspoons.
Opening in September, the pub will be a budget option for travellers looking for a pre-flight drink.
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Manchester Airport Terminal 2 is set to get its first ever WetherspoonsCredit: AlamyThe new pub is named the Belle Vue, inspired by a historic entertainment venueCredit: Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport is getting its first ever Wetherspoons this September with a design inspired by sporting culture in the North West.
The 3,000 sq ft pub will have more than 300 covers, becoming the final major food and drink venue to open as part of the refurbishment of Terminal 2.
John Hutson, JD Wetherspoon chief executive, said: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport.
“We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”
Terminal 2 has doubled in size since the refurbishment began a decade ago, costing the airport over £1.3billion.
Manchester Airport’s newest pre-flight pub is called the Belle Vue, commemorating the city’s historic entertainment venue that had a pub, greyhound racing and a speedway track.
Shutting in 2020, the Belle Vue offered a step back in time to explore the Manchester’s culture in the Victorian era.
Now, the sporting elements of the Belle Vue will be transformed into the pub’s new decor, with artistic impressions hinting at a clubhouse-style design.
The pub’s interior has a clubhouse-style design with sports memorabilia decorationsCredit: Manchester AirportSpanning 3,000 sq ft, the pub has plenty of room for holidaymakers to enjoy pre-flight pintsCredit: Manchester Airport
Inside, the walls are adorned with sporting memorabilia from the North West, and checkered flag floors.
The Belle Vue joins a host in new hospitality venues arriving at Manchester Airport, including a Fever Tree cocktail and champagne bar, and the Great Northern Market street food hall.
Wetherspoons currently operates 10 pubs across airports, including three in Gatwick and two in Heathrow.
Manchester’s Belle Vue joins the over 800 Wetherspoons pubs across the UK, and the over 30 locations in Greater Manchester.
Stephen Turner, chief commercial officer at Manchester Airport, said: “We’re very excited to be able to reveal more detail about Terminal 2’s new JD Wetherspoon pub The Belle Vue, which will encapsulate the spirit and traditions of sporting entertainment in Manchester.
“This will be the first JD Wetherspoon pub at Manchester Airport and it is fantastic to have yet another household name taking its place among those opening units in the terminal, as part of its £1.3bn transformation.”
STONEHENGE is considered one of the most well-known historical sites in the UK – and it’s getting a new addition.
Next to the stone circle – which was nearly named one of the seven Wonders – will be a replica Kusuma Neolithic Hall that will open in the next few months to visitors.
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A Kusuma Neolithic Hall is being built next to StonehengeCredit: PAStonehenge is considered one of the most well-known historical sites in the countryCredit: Alamy
The Kusuma Neolithic Hall has been under construction for the last nine months.
It’s based on an ‘archaeological footprint’ that was found just two miles away – it was first excavated in 1928.
The original remains are thought to date back 4,500 years and are being reconstructed as part of a £1million project.
It’s in its final stages and has been built by volunteers who are using authentic tools of the time, like axes, along with materials like thatch and timber.
HE is the nineties pop star who finally found his happily ever after.
But for Phats & Small singer Ben Ofoedu, the road to marital bliss was paved with a painful history of what he now describes as mental abuse and emasculation by former partner Vanessa Feltz. Something which friends of the Channel 5 presenter vehemently deny.
Ben Ofoedu says he is finally ready to tell his side of the story after years of headlines surrounding his bitter split from Vanessa FeltzCredit: RexBen and Vanessa were together for 17 years before their dramatic break-up played out publiclyCredit: Getty
He is happier, healthier, and four stone lighter. But behind his beaming smile and the tales of his idyllic new life, there lies a darker, turbulent history that he is only just now ready to reveal to the world.
In a searingly honest new interview with The Sun, Ben has opened up about the toxic reality of his 17-year relationship with television and radio veteran Vanessa Feltz, making explosive allegations about the profound psychological toll of their high-profile romance.
While the collapse of his engagement to the Channel 5 presenter in 2023 was highly publicised following his admitted infidelity, Ben claims the public has only ever heard half the story. Now, after intense therapy and finding true love, he is shedding light on what really went on behind closed doors.
Ben and Vanessa Brown tied the knot in a lavish £100K ceremony last yearCredit: Alexandria French PhotographyThe star says marrying the aesthetics entrepreneur has transformed his lifeCredit: Instagram
Through his recent charitable endeavours with his new bride, the singer has found himself reflecting heavily on his own past.
“We do a lot of charity stuff for victims of abuse, and you come across a lot of men in these situations,” Ben explains.
“Men who’ve been mentally abused, not so much physically. People think abuse means physical, but you can be abused mentally.
“Everything from emasculation to being told you’re not good enough. It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
When asked if this observation stems from his own personal experience with his famous ex-fiancée, Ben doesn’t flinch.
“Yeah, oh yeah, without a doubt,” he states firmly. “Emasculation, people referring to you as not being able to read, down-talking you, a constant barrage of insults. People don’t have to look too far to see where it came from.”
The trauma, he reveals, is deep-seated, creeping up on him over the course of almost two decades.
He recalls: “When I was out of it. When you’re in it, it’s so subtle, so gradual that you don’t quite see it happening, you don’t quite know. You question everything and ask, ‘Why did that happen? Why did I feel like that?’ When someone professional starts going through it with you, you can see the patterns and stuff like that. Yeah, I had therapy after that.”
Today, Ben refuses to even utter his ex’s name, a stark indicator of the deep freeze between the former couple.
“There is only one Vanessa,” he declares, referring lovingly to his new bride. “I don’t know that other lady. And I definitely don’t know her from the comments she’s said. I don’t know that lady anymore.”
He confirms that he has no contact with the 64-year-old broadcaster, nor does he have any desire to ever cross paths with her again.
He insists: “No, not at all, and I really wouldn’t want to. I’ve got nothing to do with her, I want nothing to do with her. People are in your life for a season, a reason, or a lifetime, and she was there for a season. It was a long season, but it was maybe a bit too long.”
The fallout from the split undeniably damaged his public reputation, painting him squarely as the villain of the piece.
But Ben is deeply critical of how his former flame handled the break-up.
“The truth is, I’m kind of a musician, and that’s kind of what it is, it’s only tied to her until something else happens and there’s a new story being written, it’s the past really, that’s what that is.
“I’ve not really much to say for her. I think she was completely classless the way she dealt with things, it’s not my sort of person, I don’t know her anymore, I don’t recognise her.”
Addressing the fallout and the damage to his reputation, Ben remains philosophical.
Ben and Vanessa split in 2023 following his admitted infidelityCredit: Getty – ContributorTV star Vanessa previously spoke openly about the heartbreak of the split — but now Ben insists there was ‘another side’ to the storyCredit: Getty
“Yes, completely. The great thing that happened was I got to know who my friends were,” he admits.
“I understand the general public doesn’t know me personally, but my wedding was a great testimony of the people who know me and the friends that I had, the people who really knew me. You reap what you sow; that’s all I can say. You reap what you sow. It doesn’t take a genius to see what’s going on.”
When pressed on the cheating scandal that ultimately torpedoed the relationship, Ben is defensive, taking a swipe at how his ex monetised the pain.
“Now about the infidelity, I never said that it was the way to do things,” he explains.
“For Vanessa, that was her story, and she used it and monetised it, and when it’s not working for her, she moved on to something else. I wouldn’t monetise a real relationship that had real problems. I think to tell the media that it’s over before you tell the person is not… I don’t know many situations that do that.”
When asked if his new wife worries about his history of being unfaithful, Ben is quick to shut down the narrative that he is a serial cheat.
He told me: “I don’t know if doing it once is a history, I don’t know if that constitutes a history of it. She made me look worse than I was, and it garnered a lot more attention. I don’t know if once is a history, that’s what I will say about that. There’s never been any conversation about that at all.”
He also casts doubt on whether his previous 16-year engagement was ever destined for the altar at all, bluntly suggesting the intention to actually tie the knot was not there “from the other side”.
He also has a brutal theory as to why his ex has failed to find lasting romance since their bitter split.
“I mean, I don’t know if I would want to be with a lady who’d want to discuss every single detail of their private life,” he said.
“I think how men saw me come out of that situation, they think, ‘No thanks, not for me’.”
But Ben is finally ready to reclaim his narrative. He is currently putting the finishing touches on his own autobiography, playfully titled Turnaround: Memoirs of an Ageing Boy Bander, which he hopes will hit the shelves this December.
“I’ve been writing it. I was going to put it out last year, but there were a few parts I missed out when I read through; I need to give the full context. Everything’s in the book; it’s about turnaround moments in my life, good and bad. That period of my life.”
“But it’s nice for people to see the actual context and how we got together and what happened behind closed doors, you’ve only heard her side of the story,” he adds, taking a thinly veiled swipe at his ex’s memoirs.
“I didn’t respond to anything she said in her book, and obviously it didn’t do very well, that’s the thing. I’m not doing it for that. I talk about my musical journey, it brings me up to the current day, and what a happy relationship can be like.”
He confirms no lawyers have had to get involved with his manuscript: “No, I won’t mention her name. She cleverly didn’t mention mine, she called me OHW [One Hit Wonder], but people will know.”
Asked if the book will definitely hit shelves this year, he says: “Aiming for December, but I don’t know. It’s not quite finished, I need to type two more chapters, making sure everything is real and really happened, making sure. We’re hoping for December, that’s what we’re pushing towards.”
The contrast between his turbulent past and his blissful present truly couldn’t be starker. Ben is buzzing with energy as he discusses his 30-year-old wife, Vanessa Brown.
The couple, who married after a whirlwind romance, are utterly inseparable.
“I found myself again, I am buzzing,” he says. “Every day is happy, we got together, and within six months we were married, when you know you know.”
He has strong advice for others when it comes to love, formed by the fire of his past mistakes.
“These long drawn-out engagements, unless you’ve got a couple of kids and are waiting to afford the wedding, I think they’re pointless,” he says.
“You’re engaged to be married, not to be engaged. I don’t think that works, and that’s just from experience. If you meet someone, within six months, you pretty much know whether you’ll get married or not. Don’t carry on the relationship more than six months if you’re not sure you want to spend the rest of your life with that person.”
He also revealed that the couple are actively trying for a baby.
“Hopefully, by the end of the year, that’s what we’re trying to do. If Vanessa fell pregnant late this year, that would be amazing news; that’s why we’re travelling and doing all the things couples do before they have kids.
“We want as many as God provides. I come from a big family, and I know what it’s like to have brothers and sisters. I always loved that growing up.”
For Ben Ofoedu, the dark days of his past are now firmly in the rearview mirror.
He insists that with Vanessa 2.0 by his side, a tell-all book on the way, and exciting baby plans for the couple, his life is now complete.
Representatives for Vanessa Feltz were contacted for comment.
An airline pilot has shared advice for anyone who deals with anxiety on flights
A pilot shared advice for passengers in a popular video (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
Anxious travellers could enjoy calmer travel days by following three pilot-approved tips. An airline pilot has revealed several steps nervous passengers can take to calm their nerves before boarding.
The advice was shared by Simon Belmont, who describes himself as an airline pilot, Airbus A350 Captain and a fear-of-flying coach. With over 130,000 followers on TikTok, Simon regularly shares tips and tricks for passengers on social media as @Flyman_simon. In a recent video, the pilot shared his top recommendations for holidaymakers feeling anxious about upcoming trips.
He wrote: “Holiday travel can feel extra intense when you are already a nervous flyer. Crowded airports, delays, noise and rushing around can make anxiety feel even bigger.” Fortunately, the pilot identified three steps passengers can take to help alleviate their stress.
In the post, Simon urged passengers to give themselves plenty of time on travel days, be polite to staff, and ensure they’ve packed properly. As he explained, making sure you “keep fed, watered, and entertained” is key to a good flight. “A calmer flight often starts before you even board. Small changes really do help,” the expert pointed out.
In his video, Simon told viewers: “I’ll give you three top tips to try and make it de-stressed. If you’re a fearful flyer, de-stressing that journey really does lower your levels, and it stops you peaking, maybe overthinking, and doing all that doom thinking that gets you worried about flying.”
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Simon said: “Number one, give yourself plenty of time. That is one of the biggest things. If you’re up against the clock, wondering whether that gate’s going to close and you’re going to make the flight, it’s stress from the second you leave your home or the hotel, sat in traffic. So give yourself that extra bit of time.”
He continued: “When you get to the airport, be really courteous, really nice and friendly. Remember all of those staff, all the security staff, and everyone else, they’re not trying to hold you up. They’re trying to do their job. They’re not going to cut corners on safety, and they are going to try to get you through as soon as possible.”
The pilot also advised people to pack entertainment. He explained: “Keep entertained and keep fed and watered. So keep things to keep you busy when you are sat around waiting.”
“Make sure that you have got some snacks, you’ve got some things to eat to keep that blood sugar level up, and that will again de-stress you, put you in a much happier mood, and give you a much better chance,” Simon explained.
He continued: “Keep hydrated because at the other end you want to be able to enjoy the holiday, the business trip, seeing family and friends. Dehydrated, you’re going to feel groggy and crappy.
“So yeah, give yourself plenty of time. Be courteous, remember the people are working hard, and keep yourself fed, watered, and entertained. So download those videos, take little games, card games, whatever you can.”
ACTRESS Mariah Ann Martin has been left devastated by discovering her husband has had an affair – resulting in a secret baby.
The Perception actress has claimed her ‘love of her life’ husband has fathered a child outside of their 13-year marriage – just months after welcoming their fourth child.
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Heartbroken actress Mariah Ann Martin has revealed her husband has fathered a child outside of their marriageCredit: Instagram/ @ariahmaeThe crying Disney+ star has shared her heartache with followersCredit: Instagram/ @ariahmae
The Son of Phantom star took to social media to share her profound heartbreak – documenting her grief just an hour after the shock discovery.
According to the stunned 32-year-old, her husband Jon has recently welcomed a newborn with another woman.
The heart-breaking revelation marks a bitter conclusion for the couple who have been together over a decade.
She wrote alongside the emotive footage: “I’m usually insanely private… But I’m good at hiding my shame… my pain…
“But I think it’s time I do something different.. I’m so embarrassed. I’m so heartbroken that I could crawl into a cave and decompose… but I won’t… I can’t…”
She added: “To my friends. Buy a plane ticket and come help me pack my house.”
Mariah and her estranged husband share four childrenCredit: Instagram/ @ariahmaeShe opened up about the harrowing discovery on social mediaCredit: Instagram/ @ariahmae
A video on Instagram shows the earth-shattering aftermath as she found out about the deception.
She tearfully said: “It’s been an hour since I found out the love of my life, my college sweetheart, the father of my four children, my husband, has a baby that’s one week old. And I’m devastated.”
The star continued: “And I tend to keep these things to myself because of shame and embarrassment — but it really caught me off guard.
“And I’m so hurt. But, I’m okay. And, I’m wondering what God’s hand in this is. I’ve always believed it was something divine, but sometimes, maybe your grace runs out – for him.
The star posted a candid video just an hour after finding out the life-changing newsCredit: Instagram/ @ariahmaeMariah and her husband Jon had been together for 13 yearsCredit: Instagram/ @ariahmae
“He’s never cheated on me before and when he does, he gets a baby out of it. And that’s just something I won’t be able to do…. I feel like this is a bottom I never deserved.”
Reams of followers rushed to her rescue and shared their sorrow for her.
Paloma Faith sympathised: “I feel sorry for your husband because he will probably realise too late that he squandered the greatest woman he ever or will ever meet and hopefully you will live a better life than ever before.”
Nadia Sawalha penned: “I can see you have a huge heart, a deep soul, an unshakeable moral code, the strength of a lioness, a strong faith, exquisite beauty and the ability to be vulnerable. A 360 degree woman for whom anything is possible.”
Former Towie star Georgia Kousoulou added: “Sending you so much love. Bigger things are coming for you.”
In a follow-up video, she explained: “The calls and check-ins have stopped… the house is quiet… and I’m left with silence.
“And piercing through this silence is a clear and loud sense of peace. The peace that surpasses all understanding.
“I almost wish I wanted to drink, party, plot revenge, cuss folks out, binge eat, find comfort in the arms of another man or any of the self defeating things people do in times like this… but I don’t.
She called him the love of her life and her childhood sweetheartCredit: Instagram/ @ariahmaeThe news has rocked the star’s world and she has been left crushedCredit: Instagram/ @ariahmae
“There is no void to fill. I’m sad but God’s presence in this season is so loud that all my flesh wants to do is rest.”
Updating fans further about her social media break, the teary star shared her next moves and revealed: “Okay, this is the last video I’m gonna post together an entire break for my entire phone, because that video is at like 800,000. I’ve gained 10,000 followers overnight.
“I really do appreciate all the support, and all the prayers, and all the voice notes, and everything. I do feel insanely grateful for that.
“The reason why it’s getting that much attention has nothing to do with me, but everything to do with that universal feeling of betrayal.
“I was in a relationship for 13 years. I was proud. I was proud that I loved him, he loved me… up until he told me, he was my best friend.
“I felt like I knew him. As deep as you can know a person and finding out, but that’s not the case.”
She stated positively: “I’m gonna work it out. I’m the working it out queen.”
Fans commented: “I just want to give you the biggest hug…”
“Keep watching this video and you’re making me wanna cry,” admitted a second.
“My God mama. My heart hurts for you, it could just as easily be anyone. You did nothing wrong!!!” encouraged a third.
IN one of Norfolk’s best seaside towns is a pier over 100 years old – and it could soon undergo a huge revamp.
On what will be the year of its 125th anniversary, the Pavilion Theatre in Cromer is being considered for an upgrade worth millions.
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The Pavilion Theatre on Cromer Per could undergo a revamp worth millionsCredit: AlamyThe theatre sits at the very end of the pier in the seaside townCredit: Alamy
The Pavilion Theatre sits on the end of Cromer Pier and hosts shows throughout the year from tribute acts to vintage festivals.
It also reportedly shows the “world’s only remaining full-season end-of-pier variety show”.
Now, the local North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) is considering making improvements to the theatre at the predicted cost of £2.4million.
The Grade-II listed pier itself was built in 1901 as was the theatre which at the time was originally a bandstand.
It was converted into the enclosed pavilion it is today in 1905 with several repairs made throughout the years.
The most famous performances there have been by the likes of Paul Daniels, Ken Dodd and Cannon and Ball.
Possible upgrades to the theatre include installing new heating and cooling systems, upgrading lighting and sound, and refurbishing the theatre’s 440 seats.
As for the wider town, Cromer on the north coast of Norfolk is actually considered one of the best in the UK.
Last year when The Times totted up its ‘best seaside towns in the UK’ from Cornish harbours to a good old British resort, Cromer made the list.
Coming second, just below Aldeburgh in Suffolk, The Times said Cromer is the “real deal” a “traditional port town with a Victorian pier, pastel-tinted beach huts, a bucket-and-spade beach.”
Cromer is considered one of the best seaside towns in the UKCredit: Alamy
Travel Reporter Jenna Stevens, who hails from Norfolk, has given her verdict on the town.
She said: “Cromer mixes old-school seaside town tradition with trendy places to eat and shop, meaning this is a staycation spot that will please the whole family.
“The town’s real showstopper is Cromer Pier, which dates back all the way to 1391. The original jetties built over the years have been washed away by storms and rebuilt, but the pier you see today has jetted out over the water since the Victorian era.
“Perched at the end of the pier is the Pavilion Theatre, which puts on shows from Beatles tribute acts to Mamma Mia-themed parties.
“Plus it’s well worth a visit to catch the Cromer Pier Show with dazzling guests with high-production singing, dancing and comedy.
“Cromer is also home to a pristine, Blue Flag beach, which attracts sunbathers for its flat, golden sands, surfers for its waves and wild foragers for its fresh cockles and mussels.”
Cromer Pier stretches out to seaCredit: Alamy
Jenna continued: “And when it comes to seafood, you can’t miss out on trying some delicious Cromer Crab. You’ll find this famous Brown Crab cropping up on menus all the way along the North Norfolk coast, so what better place to try some than the town in which they were freshly caught?
“However the charm of this seaside town isn’t all found at the pier, it’s recently become a lot trendier, too. In the lanes behind the seafront, Cromer has recently seen a wave of new vintage shops, cool cafes and quirky art galleries arrive.
“Pop into Grey Seal Coffee for a smooth flat white in a beachy, boho setting, or have a nosey in Cromer Artspace to admire local artists’ landscapes.
“For a memorable bite to eat, Norfolk Crumble has captured the love of locals, whipping up tasty pots of crumble loaded with toppings like popcorn and banoffee, as well as ice-cold thickshake.”
The Tanner Scott redemption story took a dark, twisted turn Saturday night.
Not because the Dodgers reliever gave up three runs in the eighth inning to the Philadelphia Phillies, blowing a save opportunity and getting tagged with his first loss of the season. Getting knocked around happens.
But comments directed toward Scott’s wife on social media afterward were beyond alarming. Maddie Scott reposted vile comments from one user in particular that threatened not only her and her husband, but also their newborn son.
“When did it stop being a game?” Maddie Scott wrote on an Instagram story that has expired but was captured by the New York Post. “I don’t speak out often. Ever actually. I promise you, you don’t know what it’s like unless you’re living it.”
The answer to her rhetorical question is layered. Maybe baseball stopped being a game when her husband signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers before the 2025 season, elevating expectations.
Maybe the end came seven years ago when a Supreme Court ruling led to sports gambling becoming legal. Or maybe fun and games ceased some 20 years ago when Facebook, Twitter and Instagram launched and anonymous threats could be dispatched by anyone with an account.
Death threats directed toward athletes have become disturbingly frequent. Without giving oxygen to the threats by repeating them, Scott is hardly the first pitcher whose family has been targeted after a loss.
Scott took heat last year when he pitched poorly in his first season with the Dodgers. Expected to become the team’s closer, the left-hander had an MLB-high 10 blown saves and did not pitch in the postseason.
This year, however, Scott has bounced back admirably. Even after the loss Saturday, he has a sparkling 2.19 earned-run average and five saves.
In 1790, President George Washington signed a bill creating the first U.S. copyright law.
In 1859, construction concluded and bells rang out for the first time from London’s Big Ben clock tower.
In 1889, a flood in Johnstown, Pa., left more than 2,200 people dead.
In 1902, Britain and South Africa signed a peace treaty ending the Boer War.
In 1916, the Battle of Verdun passed the 100-day mark. It would continue for another 200 days, amassing a casualty list of an estimated 800,000 soldiers dead, injured or missing.
In 1921, the Tulsa race massacre was set off when a mob of White residents attacked the Black residents and businesses in the Greenwood District. The total number of those killed in the violence is unknown, with an Oklahoma commission established in 2001 estimating between 75 to 100 people dead. The number of displaced Black residents was far greater.
In 1940, a thick fog hanging over the English Channel prevented the German Luftwaffe from flying missions against evacuating Allied troops from Dunkirk.
Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, England, on May 31, 1940. File Photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum
In 1985, seven federally insured banks in Arkansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Oregon were closed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. It was a single-day record for closings since the FDIC was founded in 1934.
In 1996, Israeli voters elected opposition Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister.
In 2003, Eric Robert Rudolph, the long-sought fugitive in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing and attacks on abortion clinics and a gay nightclub, was arrested while rummaging through a dumpster in North Carolina. Rudolph, whose bombings killed two people and injured many others, was sentenced to four life terms in prison.
In 2005, Mark Felt admitted that, while No. 2 man in the FBI, he was “Deep Throat,” the shadowy contact whose help to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the 1972 Watergate break-in led to U.S. President Richard Nixon’s resignation.
In 2014, U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 28, captured in Afghanistan nearly five years earlier, was released by the Taliban in exchange for five detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. In March 2015, the Army announced that Bergdahl had been charged with desertion.
In 2019, a shooting a a Virginia Beach, Va., municipal center left 12 victims and the shooter — a disgruntled former employee — dead.
In 2021, China announced plans to allow couples to have a third child, scrapping its controversial two-child policy amid a slumping birth rate and aging population.
A TIKTOK rapper has shocked fans when he revealed he is the son of a huge 90s boyband star.
The cheeky lad didn’t hold back as he roasted his famous father for his “s*** music” as he poked fun at him at one of his gigs.
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TikTok rapper Phoenix JD has revealed he has a famous 90s boyband star dadCredit: Tiktok/@ph0enixjdThe social media star poked fun at his dad in a new videoCredit: Tiktok/@ph0enixjd
Phoenix’s dad is Spike Dawbarn (right) of the boyband 911 – seen here with Jimmy Constable, and Lee Brennan in 1996Credit: GettyPhoenix poked fun at his dad’s music. Spike seen here in 2024Credit: BBC
“But yeah, and then this is them on stage. There’s me dad on the right.”
Poking fun at Spike, he said: “Thankfully, I don’t get my musical ability from him, you know, I’ve got a bit about me.
“I hope he doesn’t see this now. He’ll kill me.
“But hey, this is him at 51 still trying to do back flips – and nearly decked it.
Spike’s son said he only went to the gig ‘to see Blue’ who his dad’s band were supportingCredit: Tiktok/@ph0enixjd911 were one of the biggest boybands of the 90sCredit: Getty
“I would’ve flipping loved it if he decked it.”
Phoenix also added he only went to the gig “to see Blue”.
Fans of 911 from back in the day went wild for the video, with one joking: “Oi your dad was a legend to us fossils!!”
Another quipped: “Lmfao! The way your roasting your dad! I’ll have you know 14-year-old me loved your dad’s band!”
The boyband’s fans rushed to their defenceCredit: Getty
This fan said: “I was obsessed with 911 still love them now! You’ve got your dad’s humour!”
Appearing on the BBC’s Boyband Forever doc, the star spoke about his bizarre living arrangements when the band were in their heyday.
“Jimmy got one bedroom, Lee got another bedroom and I was in the cupboard like Harry Potter,” he explained.
“On a mattress, in a cupboard. It’s literally where you’d just throw a load of coats in there.”
“And I just didn’t care to be honest, I wasn’t bothered,” he laughed.
In their early days, the band would tour schools across the country and perform for students.
“I used to come in, press play, do your singing and dancing routines, do your bit then load yourself back in the van and go to the next school,” he said.