rubbish

Councillor slams ‘TikTok tourists’ over rubbish and abuse in Cotswolds village

Councillor Jon Wareing has slammed tourists for abusing locals and leaving rubbish in the village he claims is being “exploited” by a certain type of tourist

BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER, ENGLAND - JULY 21: People sit and walk along by the river Windrush on July21, 2025 in Bourton-on-the-Water, United Kingdom.  (Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images)
This pretty village is being ruined by this type of tourist(Image: John Keeble, Getty Images)

A councillor from a picturesque village has accused a particular type of visitors of exploiting the stunning location. Bourton-on-the-Water, nestled in the Cotswolds, is home to roughly 4,000 people. The village features golden stone buildings and breathtaking views that attract countless visitors.

It’s also a bustling destination packed with activities and an abundance of shops, eateries, cafés, and tea rooms, creating an ideal location for a day out or brief holiday. Yet locals and councillors argue that the village is being damaged by “TikTok tourists”.

This category of visitor journeys to Bourton-on-the-Water to exploit the charming landscape as a setting for their selfies, Instagram reels, or TikTok content instead of genuinely experiencing what the settlement has to offer.

READ MORE: ‘I made more than £70,000 in under 12 hours – and it’s all thanks to TikTok’READ MORE: Eggs keep fresh ‘for weeks longer’ when stored in 1 common kitchen place

Jon Wareing, Cotswold district councillor, said: “This kind of visitor tends to have little real interest in the heritage, culture or natural environment they are exploiting for clicks. They are the ultimate hit-and-run tourist.”

According to Mr Wareing, the settlement, dubbed the Venice of the Cotswolds, has encountered numerous problems in recent times. The councillor revealed he had witnessed accounts of residents suffering verbal and physical harassment, alongside increasing traffic jams.

He also highlighted that litter is accumulating throughout the village “especially on the green”, according to the BBC. However, tourism alone isn’t the sole problem. He continued: “It’s a combination of over-tourism and fast tourism, which refers to people flocking to honeypot locations for the sole purpose of content creation.”

Despite Bourton’s tiny population, the village attracts around 30,000 tourists a year, which is 7.5 times the number of locals, reports the Express.

In May 2024, Mr Wareing put forward a motion to get the council to acknowledge that tourism was creating issues for Bourton, but it was defeated by six votes to four.

He said: “The recent Bank Holiday weekend provided an illustration of a volatile public sentiment on this topic on social media. This is so destructive for our community and is deeply worrying.”

People online have taken to social media to share their complaints, with one user sharing: “Couldn’t pay me to go there in the summer, it’s bad enough the rest of the year but in the summer madness”. Another said: “I will never go back, used to be quiet, but horrible parking issues, expensive, overrated.”

A third urged: “Don’t go there in Summer…tourism has killed it…locals hate it & can’t blame them. Another said how unfortunate it has turned into: “sadly tiktok bloggers have shown these places now England peaceful secrets ruined”.

TikTok said it did not wish to comment.

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You’re right that European tea tastes rubbish – there are reasons why

On the Beach and Lancashire Tea unveiled a brand-new teabag that, in their own words, “will tackle the age-old gripe of why a holiday cuppa never quite tastes like one at home”

A cup of tea on a tray and a young female in the background
Not all teas are brewed equally(Image: Getty Images)

This summer a travel company and tea brand attempted to solve a problem that has been plaguing British holidaymakers for centuries.

After months of research, testing and more than a thousand cups of tea, On the Beach and Lancashire Tea unveiled a brand-new teabag that, in their own words, “will tackle the age-old gripe of why a holiday cuppa never quite tastes like one at home.”

It is one of life’s most recognisable issues. You arrive in a resort in Spain, France or Portugal, pop the kettle on and then discover the only tea bag on offer is a Lipton’s. Worse still, the milk provided is UHT. Despite your best efforts to persevere, the resultant cup is even less tasty than the sum of its parts.

Weaker holidaymakers have been driven straight to the all-inclusive bar.

READ MORE: ‘No way to escape the crowds’ as three major factors shift Spain’s peak seasonREAD MORE: Tourists warned to swerve Europe’s ‘most overrated city’ and head to quieter alternative instead

A woman in a bath robe holding a cup of tea
Travelling can be difficult for tea-lovers(Image: Getty Images)

According to world-renowned tea expert Jane Pettigrew, it is not tribal brand loyalty that has blinded Brits to the pleasures of European tea. It is genuinely worse (or different at least). And for two main reasons.

The first is the type of tea.

According to Jane, the colonial history of European countries has left the Continent’s various populations with very different tastes in tea.

Brits “still choose to drink cheap black tea grown in India, Sri Lanka or East Africa, and blended to give a strong, coloury tea without much in the way of subtle and wonderful flavours,” explained Jane, who is an advocate of the more complex, subtler flavours delivered by loose-leaf teas from countries including China.

Broadly speaking, in Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal tea is bought from Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam which has a “flavour profile blended (which) is gentler, thinner, less robust than British blends and therefore British tourists don’t like” it.

Another differentiating factor is milk.

“Most Brits still put milk in their tea (and still sometimes sugar, although I think the use of sugar has reduced a little). That style of tea is very British and is due to the fact that British colonies were in the regions of the world from which our tea comes (India, Sri Lanka, and East African countries such as Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, etc), which all started growing tea under British colonial rule,” Jane explained.

“France on the other hand (as well as some African colonies) had colonies in French Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) where Chinese-style teas have been grown since the days of colonisation. So the sort of teas that the French drink tend to be lighter, more subtle, never with added milk or sweetener.”

READ MORE: You’re probably making one big booking mistake that gets you the worst roomREAD MORE: ‘I went on UK rail route named world’s most beautiful and it lived up to the hype’

Jane, who has won many different tea-related awards during her long career and is the author of World of Tea, despairs at the sense of superiority that many Brits have when it comes to a cuppa.

“Brits are really picky about how they like their tea, and don’t want those other types of lighter blends or specialty teas that Europeans choose,” she told me.

“The fact that Brits see their chosen brands of cheap black tea in paper tea bags as superior is evidence that they actually know nothing about tea. In general, Brits expect their daily brew to be cheap, strong and robust. In fact, what they prefer to drink is actually without any real subtle flavour, and is cheap because the cost of the types of tea that go into our traditional blends has hardly increased since the 1950s.”

Whether indeed picky or suffering from an unfounded sense of superiority, many Brits are convinced the teabag is the source of the issue. More than two-thirds (66%) of tea-drinking Brits admit to taking their own teabags on holiday with them, according to an On the Beach poll.

Even if you are armed with a solid supply of Yorkshire Gold or Barry’s before heading onto the Continent, that doesn’t mean your cuppa will be as comforting or delicious as it is at home.

The other major problem with mainland European tea is the water.

“The worst enemies to brewing good tea are limescale, chlorine, and dissolved heavy metals. So I advise everyone, except perhaps in Japan where the water is almost too soft, to use Brita filter taps or jugs to remove most of the offending ingredients,” Jane explained.

If tea is brewed in hard water, as in London and most areas to the north and south of the English capital, it can completely change the colour, aroma, and flavour profile of the brew. Often, this can cause a filmy layer to form on the surface of the tea, making the liquor cloudy.

Jane has carried out taste tests of the same tea bag brewed in filtered and unfiltered water, and says the results are stark. “People don’t believe you that it’s the same tea used for both brews,” she said.

Odds on, the cup of tea that you like will be determined by what you’re used to. And, given this is based on both bag and water, this can be tricky to emulate. For example, in Spain, regions like Burgos and San Sebastián are known for having soft water, whereas cities like Valencia, Malaga, and Almeria have hard water, meaning the brews in each will vary considerably.

Jane’s top tip is to invest in a water filter and to go loose.

“I always take some good loose-leaf tea with me when I travel because once you arrive at your destination, you may not find anything you like that is readily available. And if hotels and restaurants where you are staying don’t have any tea that Brits prefer, it is easier to ask for just hot water and brew your own,” she said.

So in conclusion, continental European tea may well taste rubbish to the British tongue, but only because it’s different.

When it comes to the special On the Beach and Lancashire Tea brew, I gave it a whirl in Sicily this summer. While my mind has not been blown or my life changed, I can confirm it delivered a decent cuppa.

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BBC Radio fans fume ‘this is rubbish’ after beloved host bids heartbreaking farewell

Simon Logan has said an emotional goodbye to fans as his show came to an end

Simon Logan at the BBC Newcastle studios
Simon Logan’s show has ended(Image: Simon Logan)

BBC Radio‘s Simon Logan has bid a heartfelt farewell to his listeners as his show concludes after four years.

The star has presented an 80s and 90s show on BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Radio Tees since 2021, but it has now wrapped.

A petition to keep him on the airwaves had been filed, but although more than 600 people signed it, the show has ended.

Bidding farewell to his listeners on Sunday, Simon said, “What is it they always say, all great things must come to an end.”

He went on: “Whether you’ve ever got in touch with the show or whether you have just listened to our show, thanks to everybody on our Facebook group.”

Simon Logan
The star told listeners that ‘all great things must come to an end’(Image: BBC)

“The time has come to say farewell, seriously, thanks for being there,” he said.

The DJ went on: “We’ve had a blast, haven’t we? Hope to catch you really soon. And whatever you’re doing tonight, always stay forever young. Ta-rah.”

The song that played out in his last broadcast on the show was Forever Young, by Alphaville.

Fans were sad to see the show end, with one saying: “This is a great show on Sunday afternoon and looks like it will get replaced with more than likely a load of BBC rubbish!”

Simon Logan
Fans had petitioned to keep Simon’s show on the airwaves(Image: BBC)

Somebody else sniped: “It’s disgraceful what’s happening to BBC local radio, the people making the decisions are clearly not proper radio peeps, probably fresh from uni with a degree in social media.”

One said it was a “huge loss to the BBC”.

Simon Logan is a rare jewel in the crown and had one of the most listened to shows on BBC Local Radio,” they added. It was a “Crazy decision by those in charge.”

Simon’s show will be replaced by a national show, All England, which will broadcast across the BBC’s 39 local radio stations at 2 pm. on Sundays.

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Column: Newsom’s redistricting plan is a power grab. But the GOP objections are rubbish

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One accusation hurled at Gov. Gavin Newsom for his retaliatory redistricting move against President Trump and Texas Republicans is that he’s overriding the will of California voters. Rubbish.

The flawed argument goes like this:

Californians — once upon a time — voted overwhelmingly to ban partisan gerrymandering and strip the task of drawing congressional seats from self-interested legislators. In a historic political reform, redistricting was turned over to an independent citizens’ commission. Now, Newsom is trying to subvert the voters’ edict.

“It is really a calculated power grab that dismantles the very safeguards voters put in place,” California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin said in a statement last week, echoing other party members. “This is Gavin the Gaslighter overturning the will of the voters and telling you it’s for your own good.”

Again, baloney.

Power grab? Sure. Overturning the voters’ will? Hardly.

Newsom is asking voters to express a new will–seeking permission to fight back against Trump’s underhanded attempt to redraw congressional districts in Texas and other red states so Republicans can retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives after next year’s midterm elections.

First of all, that anti-gerrymandering vote creating the citizens’ commission was 15 years ago. It was a wise decision and badly needed, and still a wonderful concept in the abstract. But that was then, this is now.

Just because a ballot measure was passed one or two decades ago doesn’t mean it has been cast in stone. Would Californians still vote to ban same-sex marriage or deny public schooling to undocumented children? Doubtful. Circumstances and views change.

Second, that 2010 electorate no longer exists. Today’s electorate is substantially different. And it shouldn’t necessarily be tied to the past.

Consider:

  • Of the 23.6 million adult California citizens in 2010 — the eligible voters — an estimated 3.6 million have died, or more than 15%, according to population experts at the state Finance Department.
  • In all, “at least half of the voter registration file is totally new compared to 2010. And that might even be an understatement,” says Eric McGhee, a demographer at the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. “There’s been a lot of turnover. It’s a different electorate.”
    People have left the state and others have moved in. Millions of kids have become voting adults.
  • There are roughly 6 million more Californians registered to vote today than 15 years ago — 23 million compared to 17 million. “That’s a pretty huge change,” says Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc., who has drawn the proposed new Democratic-friendly California congressional maps for Newsom.
  • And the partisan makeup of registered voters has become more favorable toward Democrats, who enjoy a nearly 2-to-1 advantage. In last year’s presidential election, Democrats accounted for 46% of registered voters and Republicans 25%. In 2010, it still seemed somewhat competitive. Democrats were at 44% and Republicans 31%.

PPIC researchers recently reported that “partisanship now shapes the state’s migration — with those moving out of the state more likely to be Republican and those moving in more likely to be Democrat. … This process makes California more Democratic than it would otherwise be.”

So, Newsom and Democratic legislators are not thumbing their noses at the voters’ will. They’re asking today’s voters to suspend the ban on gerrymandering and adopt a partisan redistricting plan at a Nov. 4 special election. The good government process of map drawing by the citizen’s commission would return after the 2030 decennial census.

The heavily Democratic Legislature will pass a state constitutional amendment containing Newsom’s plan and put it on the ballot, probably this week.

It would take effect only if Texas or other red states bow to Trump’s demand to gerrymander their congressional districts to rig them for Republicans. Trump is seeking five more GOP seats from Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott is trying to oblige. Republicans already hold 25 of the 38 seats.

Newsom’s plan, released Friday, counters Texas’ scheme with a blatant gerrymander of his own. It would gain five Democratic seats. Democrats already outnumber Republicans on the California House delegation 43 to 9.

Neither the governor nor any Democrats are defending gerrymandering. They agree it’s evil politics. They support redistricting by the citizens’ commission and believe this high-road process should be required in every state. But that’s not about to happen. And to stand by meekly without matching the red states’ election rigging would amount to unilateral disarmament, they contend correctly.

“It’s not good enough to just hold hands, have a candlelight vigil and talk about the way the world should be,” Newsom declared at a campaign kickoff last week. “We have got to recognize the cards that have been dealt. And we have got to meet fire with fire.”

But polling indicates it could be a tough sell to voters. A large majority believe the bipartisan citizens commission should draw congressional districts, not the politicians who they don’t particularly trust.

“It’ll be complicated to explain to voters why two wrongs make a right,” says Republican strategist Rob Stutzman, a GOP never-Trumper.

Former GOP redistricting consultant Tony Quinn says: “There is no way to ‘educate’ voters on district line drawing. And Californians vote ‘no’ on ballot measures they do not understand. … It’s sort of like trying to explain the basketball playoffs to me.”

But veteran Democratic strategist Garry South doesn’t see a problem.

“The messaging here is clear: ‘Screw Trump’,” South says. “If the object is to stick it to Trump, [voter] turnout won’t be a problem.”

Gerrymandering may not be the voters’ will in California. But they may well jump at the chance to thwart Trump.

What else you should be reading

The must-read: Newsom’s decision to fight fire with fire could have profound political consequences
The TK: Trial in National Guard lawsuit tests whether Trump will let courts limit authority
The L.A. Times Special: Hundreds of Californians have been paid $10,000 to relocate to Oklahoma. Did they find paradise?

Until next week,
George Skelton


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ITV production staff hit out at ‘rubbish’ household names escaping jobs amid bloodbath

Richard Madeley is among names remaining in roles on ITV programmes, like Good Morning Britain, despite a huge cull this summer – a bloodbath which will see more than 200 off-screen roles cut

Susanna Reid's job on Good Morning Britain is thought to be safe
Susanna Reid’s job on Good Morning Britain is thought to be safe(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Backroom staff at ITV are reportedly “furious” to see “the little people get the boot” in favour of “the big names” amid the broadcaster’s bloodbath.

ITV is making huge changes to its daytime programming, and is axing more than 200 off-screen roles as a result. Good Morning Britain is merging with ITV News, but all of their top presenters – who include Susanna Reid, Richard Madeley, Julie Etchingham and Tom Bradby – will remain in post for now at least, it is said.

Madeley, 69, penned a short-term deal to remain in his position for six more months at least. It is understood Kate Garraway is safe – as is presenter Adil Ray, who looked set to be axed. Instead, insiders say his shifts will be cut. Yet, ITV was brutal to axe Noel Edmonds’ big TV comeback after just one series despite its huge launch.

And the daytime cuts primarily affect tireless production staff, who work off screen. The consultation period, which will determine who will be the victims of these brutal financial cuts, has been underway for some months and employees are said to be angry with the situation.

READ MORE: Frank Grimes dead: Coronation Street actor dies after short illnessREAD MORE: The Chase’s Shaun Wallace surprises followers with move away from ITV show

Lorraine Kelly
Lorraine Kelly may quit next year, it is believed(Image: ITV)

One insider told Mail Online: “All the big names are staying while the little people get the boot. It is horrendous. You’d think if you wanted to save a big lump of cash you could get rid of some of the presenters. There are loads of them. But no, instead they’ve all been told they are safe.”

For now, everyone on Good Morning Britain and ITV News will continue their separate shows. This Morning’s presenters will also stay in situ. In response to this, he insider added: “The cuts will fall to those who earn pennies in comparison. When this was all announced, we thought some of the stars would go – and rightfully so. Some of them are rubbish. Rather than there being three or four backstage workers doing a certain job, there will be one – but there will still be loads of presenters.” The source did not identify names when using the word “rubbish”.

ITV has always said it has to slash costs. Some onscreen journalists are also facing the axe in a bid to balance the books, but it is thought none of the mainstay hosts are affected.

One presenter told Mail Online: “It’s awful to see, awful. These people work so hard and they’ve still lost their jobs. And where are they going to go?… The industry is getting smaller and smaller for production staff.”

Loose Women and Lorraine have also been decimated by the cuts, with presenters on the former facing the prospect of only being aired for 30 weeks a year. Lorraine, too, is going from 52 weeks a year to 30, as well as being cut back from an hour to just half an hour in transmission time.

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Spanish holiday island loved by Brits overwhelmed by piles of stinking rubbish

Llucmajor, a district in the south of the Balearic island, has found itself facing Birmingham-levels of uncollected waste, with residents complaining of terrible smells and rats

Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca, Llucmajor, Aerial view of bay of Cala Pi
Llucmajor is having big bin issues (Image: Getty Images/Westend61)

Residents in part of Majorca have become overwhelmed by great piles of stinking rubbish.

Llucmajor, a district in the south of the Balearic island, has found itself facing Birmingham-levels of uncollected waste. Great mounds of mouldy food, household rubbish, and general gunk have been building up in the streets.

The roasting hot southern Spanish weather is making things worse, as the sun heats up the black sacks, turning them into putrid whiff bombs. This is a particular problem in a neighbourhood that is home to a large poultry farm, controversial not just because of the intense pong of hot chicken waste, but also due to allegations that the animals live in poor conditions.

“This is not an isolated case. We residents are tired of excuses and the lack of response. We demand immediate solutions,” one resident told the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

READ MORE: Huge boost for Brits as five-months of airport strikes come to an end

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Others have complained that the situation is not new and that Llucmajor has suffered such unpleasantness for far too long.

PSOE spokesperson Jaume Oliver said: “In Arenal, the population doubles starting July 15 due to tourists and second-home residents. The town hall knows that the same thing happens every year, and yet they don’t increase services. We are not ruling out taking legal action against the town hall.”

Another resident blamed a “systematic failure of the waste collection service” for not dealing with the rubbish build-up. “With this heat, the smell is unbearable, and at night there are tons of rats. It’s disgusting and scary,” they told Crónica Balear.

“We have been experiencing collection failures for months, but what has happened in recent days has surpassed all limits.”

READ MORE: Spain travel warning for Brit as little-known rule could land them £520 fineREAD MORE: Wizz Air scraps dozens of routes as hot weather is breaking its planes

According to local reports, the council’s contracts with waste collection companies expired in May. The town hall has said that there will soon be a tender for the service. “In the meantime, FCC is obliged to provide the service until a new contract is awarded. The company is having problems with trucks and sick workers. In some areas, it is using leased vehicles.”

The situation in Llucmajor is similar to that in Birmingham, where residents are dealing with the consequences of more than 100 days of strikes by the city’s refuse collectors.

The Mirror’s Sanjeeta Bains visited Brum in June, stopping off at Balsall Heath, an inner-city area. There she found “a horrifying trail of stinking rubbish including food waste from local takeaways lying just yards from people’s front doors.”

“Flies swarmed around half-eaten burgers and dirty nappies, and even after getting back in the car, there was no escaping the foul smell. I had to fight the urge to drive home and get straight into the shower. And to make things worse, brazen fly-tippers have been emboldened to take advantage of the council chaos.”

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Doctor Who’s ‘woke, boring rubbish’ storylines have caused staggering number of fans to turn off

MORE than half of Brits who used to watch Doctor Who say they turned off because it had become “woke, boring rubbish”.

That is the result of an ­independent survey conducted as star Ncuti Gatwa exited the Tardis with a paltry 2.3 million viewers on Saturday.

The Doctor and Ruby Sunday standing by the TARDIS in the snow.

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More than half of Brits who used to watch Doctor Who say they turned off because it had become ‘woke, boring rubbish’Credit: BBC
Ncuti Gatwa regenerating as the Doctor in Doctor Who.

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Ncuti Gatwa exited the Tardis with a paltry 2.3 million viewers on SaturdayCredit: PA
Billie Piper regenerating as the Doctor in the Doctor Who season 2 finale.

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Billie Piper has made her triumphant comeback to the show as the new DoctorCredit: Unpixs
Illustration of Doctor Who viewer statistics: 1 in 3 viewers say it's worse; 46% say it prioritizes social justice and woke issues over quality; top words used to describe the show are "rubbish," "woke," and "boring."

In a shock twist, he appeared to regenerate into the Doctor’s former companion Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper — but many are not convinced she is the Time Lord’s 16th incarnation.

The Sun exclusively revealed last month that Ncuti, 32, would be leaving the role after two series — the shortest tenure of any actor in the role since Christopher Eccleston, who left the rebooted BBC show after one series in 2005.

The survey quizzed 2,135 adults and found 42 per cent of current and former viewers said it had got worse since its relaunch two decades ago, with ­stories increasingly preachy and worthy.

Even one in three current viewers think it has got worse.

Plotlines over the past three years have featured trans heroines, non-binary baddies and drag-queen villains — and the Doctor coming out as gay, and crying in most episodes.

James Johnson of pollsters JL Partners said: “This is the first ever major poll done on attitudes to Doctor Who and the results are bleak.

“The public believe a once-great show has lost its way — and their biggest complaint is it puts pursuit of wokeness above entertainment value.

“The main words associated with it are rubbish, boring, and woke.

“If the BBC want to grow the show’s audience once more, they will need a total revamp.

“And to get back to telling entertaining stories rather than preaching lessons that simply do not have an audience among the British public.”

The poll found 46 per cent of current viewers think it puts social justice and woke issues above quality, compared with 37 per cent who believe the show puts quality first.

Those who have stopped watching say it puts social justice and woke issues first by a ratio of three to one.

The average age of current viewers is 42, compared with 51 for ex-fans.

They are also heavily Labour voters compared to a more politically diverse former audience.

The wokery ratcheted up after Doctor Who was taken over for a second time by showrunner Russell T Davies in 2023.

He was the man who rebooted the show in 2005 with Eccleston, followed by David Tennant.

David Tennant as the Doctor in Doctor Who, holding his sonic screwdriver.

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The show in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston, followed by David TennantCredit: BBC

Who has starred in Doctor Who?

Which actors have portrayed the famous Time Lord over the years?

  • First Doctor: William Hartnell (1963 – 1966)
  • Second Doctor: Patrick Troughton (1966 – 1969)
  • Third Doctor: Jon Pertwee (1970 – 1974)
  • Fourth Doctor: Tom Baker (1974 – 1981)
  • Fifth Doctor: Peter Davidson (1982 – 1984)
  • Sixth Doctor: Colin Baker (1984 – 1986)
  • Seventh Doctor: Sylvester McCoy (1987 – 1989)
  • Eighth Doctor: Paul McGann (1996)
  • Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (2005)
  • Tenth Doctor: David Tennant (2005 – 2010)
  • 11th Doctor: Matt Smith (2010 – 2013)
  • 12th Doctor: Peter Capaldi (2014 – 2017)
  • 13th Doctor: Jodie Whittaker (2018 – 2022)
  • 14th Doctor: David Tennant (2023)
  • 15th Doctor: Ncuti Gatwa (2023 – present)

A respectable 5.1 million tuned in to see his “comeback episode” with David returning to play the Doctor for a second time in 2023.

The actor then handed over to Ncuti who had his first full series as the Fifteenth Doctor last year.

One Whovian writing on X/Twitter, said: “Thanks to RTD (Russell T Davies) Ncuti is tainted and ‘15’ will be remembered as the worst Doctor with the worst era in the history of Doctor Who.”

The Sun revealed BBC bosses were considering a hiatus for the show, though execs maintained they would not make a decision until the second series had aired.

Russell T Davies teased a return on Saturday, saying: “After 62 years, the Doctor’s adventures are only just beginning!”

But that seems optimistic given their current multimillion-pound deal partnership with Disney+ is facing an uncertain future — and the viewing figures for one episode of the last series fell as low as 1.6 million.

A spokeswoman for Doctor Who said: “Doctor Who remains one of the biggest dramas on the BBC and is the most watched drama for under-35s, as well as being one of the most popular brands on BBC iPlayer.

“As we have previously stated, a decision on any future deal between the BBC and Disney+ regarding Doctor Who is yet to be made and any other claims are pure speculation.”

WARNING: ALIENS AHEAD

By Thomas Godfrey

A THEATRE adaptation of sci-fi novel The War of the Worlds has been slapped with a woke warning — as it features Martians.

The alien invaders, who try to destroy humanity in H.G. Wells’ 1895 book, have been included in a list of potential triggers.

The 3D immersive experience at central London’s Hallmark Building also has warnings about violence.

A spokeswoman said: “The notices ensure transparency and inclusion.”

But ex-Tory minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke said last night: “They clearly think the public is stupid.”

7 Hints that Billie’s no true Doc

BILLIE Piper’s arrival on Saturday as Ncuti Gatwa left was seen as a sign the show would continue.

Known for playing past companion Rose Tyler, Billie appeared to debut as the 16th Doctor.

But Whovians think she may not be the true Time Lord, meaning a big question mark hangs over the troubled show’s future.

TV Editor Rod McPhee looks at seven clues:

  1. NOT CREDITED AS THE DOCTOR: Every new Time Lord has been introduced as the Doctor in the end credits. In Saturday’s episode, hers simply read: “introducing Billie Piper”.
  2. RUSSELL T. DAVIES WON’T EVEN SAY: After the twist, Doctor Who’s own showrunner said of Billie’s return: “Quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told.”
  3. BILLIE HINTED SHE’S STILL ROSE: Just after her return, Billie posted on Instagram a picture of herself holding a rose with the caption: “A rose is a rose is a rose.”
  4. TENNANT’S RETURN WAS CLEARER: When Jodie Whittaker regenerated into David Tennant in a similar twist, execs immediately confirmed he was the Doctor.
  5. ROSE IS LINKED TO THE TARDIS: Ncuti tapped into the Tardis before regenerating. Fans reckon it caused Rose to return, since she held the power of the Tardis in 2005.
  6. SHE STILL SEEMS TO BE REGENERATING: Billie is still glowing when the episode ends, suggesting the transformation is incomplete and the true Doctor is yet to emerge.
  7. THE BBC DON’T CALL HER THE DOCTOR: The corporation avoids calling her the Doctor in a news item released soon after the episode.

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Man and company charged after 27 TONNE mountain of rotting rubbish dumped in road bigger than two double-decker buses

A MAN and his company have been charged after a 27 tonne mountain of rotting rubbish was dumped in a road.

The mound of industrial waste, which is longer than two double-decker buses combined, was dumped by fly-tippers back in January.

A large pile of fly-tipped rubbish on a roadside.

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The27 tonne mound of rubbish was fly-tipped on Watery Lane, LichfieldCredit: BPM
A worker surveys a large pile of fly-tipped rubbish.

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A man and a company have now been charged for dumping the wasteCredit: BPM
Aerial view of a construction vehicle removing a large pile of illegally dumped waste from a road.

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The pile is longer than two double-decker buses combinedCredit: PA

Furious locals complained about being trapped inside their homes by the humongous 80ft mountain of waste.

Local businesses were also been left stranded due to the blockage on Watery Lane in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

Now, Lichfield District Council said a man from Uttoxeter now faces multiple charges.

These include depositing waste, endangering road users, dangerous driving, breaching HGV drivers’ hours regulations, and obstructing the highway.

A company, based near Stafford, has been charged with depositing the waste and obstructing the highway.

Resident Elaine Hutchings, who owns a livery yard, previously said that the festering pile could be smelled from a distance.

She explained that the rural road – which was already inaccessible on one end due to ongoing works – was now completely unusable.

She said: “It’s industrial rubbish, building waste, you can smell it.

“Watery Lane is used as a cut-through. The one end was already shut due to scheduled works and this being dumped this morning means residents and businesses will be left isolated.”

She added that nine or ten households had been cut off – with a small number, including Elaine’s, able to escape their properties via an alternative route set up by housing developer Redrow.

The local told how staff from Lichfield District Council had been on-site to move the build-up, adding: “I had a message from a farmer and they sent me a photograph.

“I drove up and called the council, councillors and the police were already there.

“They are trying to sort the logistics of trying to get it moved.”

Both the man and company who have been charged are due to appear at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on July 1.

Councillor Doug Pullen, the leader of Lichfield District Council, said: “This was an appalling act of environmental crime.

“Local people woke up to find their only route to and from their homes completely blocked, and the cost to the taxpayer of removing and disposing of the waste was nearly £10,000.

“Thanks to the swift action of our environmental health officers, suspects were quickly identified, leading to these charges.

“We take a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping, because that’s what our communities rightly expect.

“This case is about more than prosecution. It’s about protecting our environment, supporting law-abiding businesses, safeguarding local people—and sending a strong message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated.”

CRIMINAL OFFENCE

FLY-TIPPING means dumping waste illegally, instead of using the kerbside collection service or your local recycling centre.

From a bin bag left in front of your bin store or on the street to a mountain of tyres abandoned in a field, it’s all flytipping.

Flytipping is a criminal offence. If you’re caught you face a fixed penalty notice of £200.

But if you get taken to court, you could be fined up to £40,000 or sent to prison for a maximum of five years.

It’s up to you to store and dispose of your household waste legally, safely and responsibly.

This means using your bins correctly and taking them in again once emptied. Check your local Council website for the correct way to use your bins.

If you have any information relating to a flytipping incident you can report it anonymously on your local council website.

Credit: The Scottish Government / Glasgow City Council 

A large pile of fly-tipped building waste blocking a road.

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The mound was 10ft highCredit: PA
Excavator removing a large pile of illegally dumped waste from a road.

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Resident Elaine Hutchings said that the festering pile could be smelled from a distanceCredit: PA
Aerial view of contractors removing a large pile of fly-tipped waste from a road.

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Aerial shots reveal the full length of the moundCredit: PA

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