terrifying

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a warning to passengers about the dangers of packing power banks in hold luggage after a surge in lithium battery incidents on UK flights

UK-based airlines have prohibited a common electrical device labelled the ‘number one safety risk to aircraft’ after footage emerged showing it erupting into flames inside a cabin. Passengers on flights are being urged not to place power banks or vapes in their checked luggage as the busy summer holiday travel season gets underway across parts of the UK.

Several carriers have begun implementing outright bans on power banks that travellers use to charge their phones and tablets amid mounting safety concerns. Generally, power banks are permitted only in hand luggage, not checked baggage, because of worries they could explode and catch fire mid-flight.

Power banks house rechargeable lithium batteries, which pack a considerable amount of energy into a compact space, and when defective can trigger fierce fires that spread rapidly.

On BBC Breakfast today, correspondent Katy Austin described it as a ‘terrifying situation’ on a recent flight. She said: “Flames broke out in the overhead baggage compartment of an Air China plane last October. The cause is thought to have been a lithium battery. They’re in loads of commonly used devices like laptops, vapes, phones, and power banks. They can store a lot of energy in a small space, but if they overheat or are defective, this video of a test in a lab shows just how quickly a fire can start.

“Last year, UK authorities were informed of 643 incidents where lithium batteries were detected packed in hold bags. That’s nearly twice the number the year before. Reports of devices overheating or malfunctioning also nearly doubled to more than 200. Most were in the cabin where crew could deal with the situation. The fear is that incidents in the hold could not be discovered until it’s too late to control.”

“It contains a lot of energy in a very small space, which is fantastic for, you know, our devices. It means we can use them for longer. But the problem with that is when things go wrong, the fires can be quite ferocious and you can’t put these fires out in the way you can with a normal fire that you might have because these fires are like self fueling.

“The advice for plane passengers is to take items like mobile phones, vapes, and power banks on board with you. Never charge power bank on a flight and turn off laptops completely if they’re going to be put in check-in bags.”

The CAA revealed that reports of passenger devices overheating or malfunctioning last year were almost double the figure from 2024. Instances of lithium battery-powered gadgets being wrongly packed in hold baggage surged by 91% during the same timeframe.

CAA director of aviation safety Giancarlo Buono said: “Pack right for a safe flight, and that means don’t put your batteries in your checked bag. Take them into the cabin with you. This simple tip will make your flight safer for you, and the other passengers you’re flying with.”

Research involving airline passengers revealed that 36% have no idea about the risks associated with packing batteries in hold luggage.

easyJet

EasyJet enforces stringent rules stipulating that all lithium-ion batteries, spare batteries and power banks must be carried in cabin hand luggage only, with a blanket ban on hold luggage due to the risk of fire. Power banks below 100Wh (approximately 27,000mAh) are permitted without prior approval; those between 100-160Wh require authorisation from the airline.

Portable electronic devices containing batteries must be transported exclusively as carry-on baggage.

Should any of these items find their way into checked baggage, steps must be taken to prevent accidental activation and to safeguard the devices from harm; all devices must be completely powered down (not left in sleep or hibernation mode). EasyJet imposes a limit of 15 portable electronic devices per passenger.

Portable electronic devices housing non-spillable batteries must not exceed 12V or 100Wh, and passengers are permitted to carry a maximum of 2 spare batteries. When bringing smart baggage into the cabin, travellers must be able to quickly and easily detach and remove the lithium battery/power bank, although it may remain inside the bag.

Smart baggage will not be accepted for travel if the lithium battery/power bank cannot be readily detached and removed by the passenger. If smart luggage is to be checked into the hold, the lithium battery/power bank must be removed from the smart luggage at Bag Drop and taken into the cabin.

Any exposed terminals must be protected against short circuits. The lithium battery/power bank must be detachable, so if it cannot be removed from your luggage, the bag will not be permitted on board.

For more information, click here.

Ryanair

Passengers may carry up to 15 personal electronic devices (this includes but is not limited to: smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras, handheld game consoles, headphones, power banks). Spare lithium batteries (including power banks) must be individually protected to prevent short circuits by placing them in their original retail packaging, or by otherwise securing terminals by taping over any exposed terminals or putting each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch, and must only be transported in carry-on baggage.

Passengers are also permitted to bring up to 20 spare lithium batteries, as long as they don’t surpass 100Wh each. Spare lithium batteries, including power banks taken into the cabin, must not go beyond 100Wh and mustn’t be used to charge or power other portable electronic devices during taxi, take-off or landing.

They must not be placed in cabin baggage stored in the overhead locker. Rather, they ought to be kept in cabin baggage under the seat in front of you, or carried on your person.

Devices or batteries exceeding 100Wh are banned in both the cabin and hold, apart from electric wheelchair batteries. Spare batteries, including power banks, are not allowed in checked baggage.

For more information click here.

TUI

TUI’s regulations forbid passengers from packing loose lithium batteries, power banks, or spare batteries in checked-in luggage. These items must only be carried in hand luggage.

Power banks must generally not exceed 100Wh, and terminals must be safeguarded against short circuits. Devices shouldn’t be recharged while on board.

Dry AA(A) batteries (type Alkaline, NiMh, NiC) for small personal items such as a pocket torch or a radio are permitted, provided they’re inside the device or contained in sturdy packaging. When devices are placed in hold baggage, measures must be taken to protect the device from damage and prevent accidental activation; the device must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode).

Spare batteries and power banks should be individually protected against short circuits by keeping them in their original packaging, with terminals covered in tape or placed in a plastic bag in hand luggage.

Airline approval is always required for medical devices. For further information, see section Baggage – Medical baggage.

TUI fly requires that all power banks must be carried in hand luggage, never in checked baggage. They must be packaged to prevent short circuits (original packaging or terminals covered with tape).

Generally, capacity is limited to 100 Watt-hours (Wh) per battery, with power banks not permitted to be used for charging devices or recharged while onboard.

• Hand Luggage Only: Due to fire risk, all lithium-powered battery packs must be in the cabin. Capacity Limits: Power banks up to 100 Wh (roughly 27,000 mAh at 3.7V) are generally permitted.
• Safety Requirements: Terminals must be protected against short circuits, such as by taping them or keeping them in individual plastic bags.
• In-flight Usage: Power banks cannot be used to charge phones or laptops during flight, nor should they be recharged using aircraft power outlets.
• Storage: Keep them in your seat pocket or under your seat, not in overhead bins

For more information click here.

Anna Maxwell Martin takes on an intimidating new role that’s miles away from Motherland in this gripping Apple TV drama

The new Cold War thriller features some very recognisable names.

Apple TV’s highly anticipated For All Mankind spin-off Star City is finally here and has received rave reviews across the board.

Taking viewers back to the 1970s in this alternate version of history in which the Soviet Union won the space-race, the series picks up with the Russian politicians, engineers, cosmonauts, and KGB agents overseeing more missions to the Moon.

While the USSR is still basking in the victory of becoming the first nation to put a man on the Moon in 1969, tensions are running high as the threat of the US still looms large during the Cold War.

The series begins today (Friday, 29th May) with six more episodes coming each Friday until a riveting finale on 10th July.

But who is in the cast of Star City? From a major sitcom star to actors from some of the most acclaimed dramas of the past few years, let’s take a closer look at where you’ve seen them before.

Star City’s main cast

Rhys Ifans – Chief Designer

Welsh film and TV icon Rhys Ifans portrays the secretive figure at the head of the Star City program, known only as the chief designer.

You’ll have seen him recently as Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon, HBO’s popular Game of Thrones spin-off, as well as portraying Xenophilius Lovegood in the Harry Potter franchise and as Curt Connors/The Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man, a role he reprised in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

His performance as comedy legend Peter Cook in Channel 4’s Not Only But Always won him a BAFTA TV award, and he is also well-known for his role as Spike in Notting Hill opposite Hugh Grant.

Anna Maxwell Martin – Lyudmilla Raskova

Anna Maxwell Martin plays the head of Star City’s KGB surveillance department, Lyudmilla Raskova, in a performance the Guardian has described as “terrifying”.

Martin has appeared in a huge range of popular British dramas, including Line of Duty, Ludwig, and ITV’s Until I Kill You, which won her an International Emmy Award.

She has also won BAFTA TV Awards for her roles in Bleak House and Poppy Shakespeare and is well-known among comedy fans for playing Julia Johnstone in the hit BBC sitcom Motherland.

Agnes O’Casey – Irina Morozova

Irina Morozova, a recent KGB recruit at Star City, is portrayed by English and Irish actress Agnes O’Casey.

O’Casey has landed supporting roles in major dramas in the 2020s, including Dangerous Liaisons, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, and Netflix’s Black Doves.

On the big screen she has appeared in Small Things Like These with Cillian Murphy and in The Miracle Club, Dame Maggie Smith’s final film.

Alice Englert – Anastasia Belikova

Anastasia Belikova is an untested female cosmonaut in the Soviet space program and portrayed by Australian actress Alice Englert.

Previously best known for her film roles, she has appeared in Ginger & Rosa with Elle Fanning, Beautiful Creatures with Alden Ehrenreich, and Netflix’s The Power of the Dog with Benedict Cumberbatch, which was directed by her mother Jane Campion.

Englert also appeared with O’Casey in Dangerous Liaisons, as well as BBC’s The Serpent and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and made her directorial debut with the 2023 film Bad Behaviour starring Jennifer Connelly.

Solly McLeod – Sasha Polivanov

Sasha Polivanov is described as “a reckless cosmonaut who has yet to live up to his potential” and is portrayed by Solly McLeod.

McLeod is a British actor known for playing the title role in ITV’s adaptation of Tom Jones, and has also played Ser Joffrey Lonmouth in two episode of House of the Dragon with Star City co-star Ifans.

He is also set to appear in the major upcoming films Practical Magic 2 and Anxious People, adapted from the bestselling novel by Fredrik Backman.

Adam Nagaitis – Valya Mironov

In contrast to Sasha, Valya is a respected cosmonaut in the Star City program brought to life by British actor Adam Nagaitis. Nagaitis previously portrayed a Russian firefighter in HBO’s acclaimed miniseries Chernobyl.

He has also appeared in the film The Last Duel with Matt Damon and Adam Driver, as well as TV series The Responder, The Agency and A Thousand Blows.

Ruby Ashbourne Serkis – Tanya Mironova

Ruby Ashbourne Serkis is the actress daughter of The Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis and will be portraying Tanya, the wife of one of Star City’s cosmonauts.

She has previously appeared in TV series Shardlake and I, Jack Wright, as well as two recent Cillian Murphy films; Netflix’s Steve and the Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man.

Josef Davies – Sergei Nikulov

Josef Davies portrays Sergei Nikulov, a young engineering prodigy working at Soviet Ground Control. Davies is best known as Sören in Young Wallander and he has also appeared in Andor, Grace, and Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, as well as the hit WWI film 1917.

Supporting cast and guest stars

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Star City also features an extensive cast of supporting stars. They include:

• David Dencik (The Assassin) as Maxim Tarasov
• Eliot Salt (Rivals) as Vika Yegorova
• Ellie Piercy as Galina
• Robin Berry as Rem Balabanov
• Chris Leaney as Viktor
• Eadie Johnson as Zoya Morozova
• Aurelijus Pocius as Zhenya

There are also some major names and rising stars making guest appearances throughout the first season. They include:

• Niamh Algar (The Iris Affair) as Yana Akhmatova
• Jenny Walser (Heartstopper) as Leonova
• Sam Strike (Outer Range) as Pavel Fetisov
• Ian Drysdale as Doctor Borovsky
• Sam Wilkinson as Alexei Leonov
• Neringa Bulotaité as Natalia Ivanovna
• Sean Gilder as Vladimir Belikov
• Jamie de Courcey as Stanislav Kalinsky
• Fadily Camara as Celine
• Michael James as Galytzin
• Šarūnas Datenis as Arkady
• Priya Kansara (Bridgerton) as Lakshmi, a gifted scientist

Star City continues Fridays on Apple TV.

THE UK’S tallest spinning pendulum ride has officially launched at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and I was lucky enough to climb aboard before it opened to the public.

Called Aviktas, the £9million attraction made its debut on 21 May after more than a year under construction.

Spinning riders 138ft in the air, it is the biggest gyro-swing in the UK — nearly double the height of the previous record-holder, Maelstrom at Drayton Manor, Staffs, which tops out at 74ft.

The ride has been built on the former site of the Bowladrome, a popular arcade and bowling spot that had been part of the Blackpool seafront since the 1960s before closing last year.

Now that space is home to four enormous legs, each weighing 16 tons, which anchor Aviktas’s towering structure.

At the end of a swinging arm sits a circular gondola, where 40 riders are strapped into outward-facing seats.

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From there, the pendulum swings up to 120 degrees over the Blackpool coastline.

So what did it actually feel like to ride?

Aviktas was far more intense than I was expecting.

As you are strapped in, a thumping soundtrack composed especially for the ride pumps out from all directions, helping to build the suspense.

But what sets Aviktas apart is the lack of over-the-shoulder restraints — the only thing holding you in here is a lap bar, which really ramps up the fear factor.

Before you know it, the floor below you drops to leave your feet dangling, and the swinging begins.

It is gentle at first, but as each swing climbs higher than the last, so does the G-force — with the rush of air pushing your cheeks back as you plummet between arcs.

But the best bit comes right at the top.

For a few seconds at the peak of each swing, you feel weightless, as if floating in mid-air, while the crowds stare up at you from below.

Then you whoosh back down and do it all again on the other side.

It is terrifying but exhilarating — made worthwhile by the views, which offer glimpses for miles down the coast, right down the promenade to Blackpool Tower and beyond.

This is a proper stomach-churner but, if you are anything like me, you will be eagerly queueing up to ride it again before your feet hit the ground.

It is surely the best ride of its type in the UK right now — but it is also just one of many reasons to head to the Lancashire coast this summer.

The new ride arrives during a big year for Pleasure Beach, which celebrates its 130th anniversary as the UK’s oldest amusement park, having first welcomed visitors in 1896.

It has remained family-owned ever since.

Earlier this year, it was named one of the world’s best theme parks by Tripadvisor, the only UK park to make the top ten.

Last season saw the revamp of Launch Pad (formerly Ice Blast), and River Caves is also on the list for an overhaul soon.

What is more, the Pleasure Beach is one of the cheaper big theme-park days out in the country, with standard prices starting from £28 for kids and £30 adults.

For those who like to keep their feet on the ground, there is a new ticket type called Flex Pass.

Costing £18, it is aimed at non-riders and includes park entry, a ride on the Pleasure Beach Express, and the option to buy individual ride tickets as you go.

Looking for somewhere good to stay nearby?

The award-winning Boulevard Hotel sits right under the massive drop of the Big One coaster.

Just a one-minute walk from the park, it boasts rooms with sea or park views.

They start from £85 a night and even include free Pleasure Beach tickets.

With overseas travel looking a bit less certain this summer than it has in recent years, more of us are looking for staycation fun at the British seaside.

Trains from London run to Blackpool in just over three hours.

From Manchester, it is barely more than an hour.

There is also the Sandcastle, the UK’s largest indoor waterpark, which celebrated its 40th birthday earlier this year with a £500,000 refresh.

Inside are a dizzying 18 slides and a huge wave pool, kept at an inviting 30C no matter what the weather is doing outside.

Tickets start from £24.95.

Throw in Blackpool’s Tower, the Illuminations, and fish-and-chips for good measure, and you have a budget break for the family that can more than match any excitement abroad.

The BBC star finds it ‘heart-breaking’ that her great x3 grandfather had such a difficult start in life – and was later declared ‘destitute’.

Zoe Ball was famously the top-earning presenter at the BBC, earning a high of £1.4million a year as host of the Radio 2 Breakfast show back in 2021. But in the new series of Who Do You Think You Are?, the radio star discovers that her great x3 grandfather James Temby, a Cornish miner, was deported from Guernsey as a young father for being “destitute”.

He and other members of the family, who had travelled there to start a new life with the promise of work in the granite quarries, were ordered out after two years. And this came after he’d already had a particularly tough start in life – spending six weeks in Bodmin jail as an illegitimate two-year-old after his single mother Julia was locked up for six weeks in 1851 for an “assault” an another woman.

On hearing how the pair of them would have spent time in the pitch black at the Cornish reform prison, which restricted access to light in order to encourage better behaviour from inmates, Zoe is horrified. “It’s heart-breaking isn’t it?” she says.

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Standing in the tiny, draughty cell – which could have been the very one where her ancestors were incarcerated – she also learns that the prison was silent, and so all speaking was banned, and that the inmates also had their heads shaved to prevent lice.

Zoe gasps: “That’s tough living isn’t it? It’s pretty devastating to think of a two-year old living in these conditions. Must have been terrifying for both of them.”

Jess Marlton, general manager of The Bodmin Jail which is now a hotel and museum, agrees: “Trying to keep a two-year-old quiet I should think was quite a challenge.” But she explained: “There was nowhere else for him to go and no other means to support him.”

Zoe stays the night in one of the converted cells and admits she had to “sleep with the light on”. Afterwards there is happier news when she discovers that James went on to marry her great x3 grandmother Mary Ann at the age of 19 and, despite the setback in Guernsey, he and his family fared better once they returned to England. They were initially sent to Plymouth in 1869 but by 1875 had moved 400 miles north to County Durham, which is where Zoe’s late mother Julia grew up.

James successfully secured work in the coal mines and they also ran a greengrocers shop. By the time he died 40 years later, at the age of 73, he was said to be held in the “highest esteem” by the local community. Shown a picture of the shop, based in Hunwick, Zoe says of Mary Ann: “There she is, she’s got her pinny on ready to work. It’s so wonderful to see their faces.” The couple had five children who all went on to marry.

Zoe – who’d speculated at the start of the film that she was descended from “a long line of wrong ’uns” – is thrilled to see that James was “respected in the end”. She admires the “strength and resilience” he showed in moving around to find work and support his family and feels she was actually “quite wrong” about the family history journey she’d expected to go on.

Zoe, 55, also tells the programme that she was brought up by her dad, former TV presenter Johnny Ball, from the age of two when her parents divorced, and didn’t have any contact with Julia for 14 years – which was “pretty tough”. Having fully reconciled with her mother in her later teenage years, she says that Julia’s death, in 2024, made her take a long hard look at her own life. “It really made me step back and reevaluate what’s important,” she explained. Speaking of her 15-year-old daughter, Nelly, she said “I really just want to be mum and be around for her, before she’s grown up and off into the big wide world like her brother.”

In the programme the former Radio 2 breakfast star also learns that her impoverished maternal grandmother was a serial fantasist who had “delusions of grandeur”and was sent to a mental hospital.

Margaret ‘Peggy’ Minto was committed for acute mania after being put on trial for shoplifting. Poor Peggy’s fantasies continued even while she was undergoing treatment, which included electroconvulsive therapy – an electric current passed through the brain.

Zoe’s only regret is that Julia did not live long enough to find out the fascinating details of their shared ancestry. “It’s been hard to do this without Mum,” she sighed. “I want to ring her up – I know she’d be really chuffed.”

– Zoe Ball’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? airs on BBC1, May 26 at 9pm.

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