update

BBC series compared to Miss Marple gets update as star ‘delighted’

The popular detective series first aired back in 2024 and features David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin

There’s brilliant news for fans of the hit detective series Ludwig, as it looks as though it’ll be back for a third series.

The BBC crime drama initially premiered in 2024 and featured David Mitchell portraying twin brothers John Taylor and DCI James Taylor.

When John visited his sister-in-law, Lucy Betts-Taylor (Anna Maxwell Martin), events took a dramatic turn as he discovered his brother had vanished from their Cambridge residence.

As she revealed that James had been behaving oddly while working on a case, Lucy informed John that her husband had instructed her to escape with their son after he failed to return home one evening.

Nevertheless, she defied his instructions and enlisted his twin brother to assume John’s identity and pose as a member of the police force in a bid to uncover the truth, reports Cambridgeshire Live.

Despite his early reservations, he ultimately consented as his puzzle-solving abilities enabled him to recognise that the letter his brother left contained hidden messages.

Following a series packed with twists and turns, John eventually confessed that he wasn’t his twin brother. Yet, they received an unexpected voicemail from the real James.

Acknowledging he disappeared, James instructs his twin to carry on investigating the corruption in Cambridge.

While the second series is scheduled to broadcast later this year, it appears there could be additional episodes in the pipeline as TVZone reports that a third instalment has been commissioned.

The BBC declined to comment when contacted by Cambridge News. Discussing the second series, David Mitchell said: “I’m delighted that John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor has failed to escape the clutches of the Cambridge police and will have to continue to face up to the city’s alarming conundrum-based crime wave.”

Alongside David and Anna reprising their roles in Ludwig, audiences can also expect to see Dipo Ola (DCI Russell Carter), Dylan Hughes (Henry Betts-Taylor), Dorothy Atkinson (DCS Carol Shaw), Ralph Ineson (Chief Constable Ziegler) and Karl Pilkington (DI Matt Neville) all return to the screen.

The series has garnered widespread acclaim from viewers since its debut, with one fan declaring: “#Ludwig on BBC is amazing!” Another enthused: “Oh my goodness @BBCiPlayer – #Ludwig was absolutely incredible! When is series 2 out??!!”

A further viewer remarked: “Clever, witty and perfectly casted! Back to classic entertainment! Just what we need these days, and we need more of it.”

While another enthusiastic fan shared: “A WONDERFUL ENTERTAINING MURDER MYSTERY, EVOCATIVE OF MISS MARPLE HERSELF. Ludwig from the BBC, is a beautiful written mini series.”

The first series of Ludwig is available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer.

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Busted’s Matt Willis gives health update on James Bourne after star revealed he was having ‘life extending’ surgery

BUSTED’S Matt Willis today gave a health update on James Bourne after the star revealed he was having “life extending” surgery.

The singer, 42, was forced to pull out of the band’s tour last year with just hours to go after falling seriously ill.

Matt Willis today gave a health update on his Busted pal James BourneCredit: ITV
Matt was asked about his good friend on Good Morning Britain todayCredit: ITV
It came after singer James revealed he was having surgery to ‘extend his life’Credit: instagram
James was forced to pull out of Busted’s last tourCredit: Rex

Last week, after months of silence, James revealed he was having “major surgery” in a bid to “extend his life”.

Today, his best pal Matt, who he has known for over two decades, gave an update on his good friend’s health battle.

Asked on Good Morning Britain about how James’ condition and how he was doing, the star replied: “Ah, I mean, it happened quite quickly.

“He got ill just before the tour started, so he had to pull out of the tour, so we kind of put something up there.

HEALTH UPDATE

Busted star James Bourne reveals he is having major surgery to ‘extend life’


health battle

Busted could ‘never perform again’ says Matt Willis 

“But he put something out recently, kind of an update of how he’s getting on.

“And, you know, he’s not very well, but he’s going to be… he’s getting better.

“You know, he’s on the mend.”

Matt also added that he was “seeing James later”.

It comes just days after James issued a worrying update to his fans last Saturday.

“I realised it’s been about six months since I posted last,” he wrote on an Instagram story.

James and Matt have been friends for well over two decadesCredit: Instagram

“I have a plan in place to have major surgery that should extend my life and hopefully make me well enough to come back to what I love the most which is touring and making music.

“It really sucks to be out of the game.

“But there is hope!”

James and Matt shot to fame alongside Charlie Simpson when Busted arrived on the pop scene in 2002 with What I Go To School For.

Busted formed in 2002 and made big stars out of Matt, Charlie and JamesCredit: Getty

The band split a few years later, and then reformed in 2015, much to the delight of fans, and have been together ever since.

However, in September James pulled out of the band’s tour with McFly with just hours to spare.

In his statement, the singer cited health problems and said he “hoped to come back further down the line”.

He wrote: “The VS tour kicks off tomorrow night in Birmingham and as excited as I’ve been all year for this tour to begin, I’m really sorry to say that over the last 8 days it has become clear that I am not in good enough health to play these shows,”

Although he didn’t disclose what the health issue is, James said at the time: “There’s a lot of information I still don’t have about my condition but my bandmates, management and I are unanimous in deciding that I should focus on medical stuff for now.

“I really hope I can be in a position to come back further down the line.

“It’s still going to be an amazing show and I will miss being there!”

James posted the update on his Instagram account last SaturdayCredit: Instagram

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Italy airport strikes update as three UK tourist hotspots face disruption – key dates

Major strikes across Italy are set to disrupt airports and other transport routes, potentially affecting large numbers of UK travellers

A series of strikes is planned throughout April in Italy that could cause significant disruption for British holidaymakers. According to official figures from the Ministry of Transport, the month will see 14 strikes spread across six days. The nation gets around five million visits from UK travellers every year, according to official data.

The aviation sector will be affected in April with three major tourist cities facing action, and there will also be a series of strikes over public transport. The first strike date will be on Thursday, April 10, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Air traffic control, ground staff and flight attendants are set to strike on that date.

Il Gazzettino reports that eight strikes will hit the aviation sector simultaneously that day. The walkouts – almost all lasting four hours (1pm to 5pm) and taking place nationwide – are set to involve key locations such as the area control centres in Rome and Milan and major airports including Naples, Malpensa in Milan and Rome Fiumicino.

Travellers are being warned that delays and cancellations could occur. People are being urged to monitor travel information before travelling.

Italian media reports say the action on April 10 could have potential knock-on effects on flights and routes throughout Italy. Other strikes then follow later in the month.

Reports say that between April 13 and 24, there will be a further five strikes in local public transport, all regional or company-specific. The cities affected span a wide geographical area: from Naples (Eav) to Florence (Gest), from Vasto to Milan, where the ATM group will cease operations for eight hours on April 24.

There will also be a strike in the rail sector on April 13, according to local media reports. It is set to affect on-board catering services rather than train operations, and a maritime walkout (April 17) in the Strait of Messina, with an eight-hour stoppage by BluJet staff.

On April 19, Gest tram staff in Florence will strike for four hours from 1pm to 5pm, while on April 20, public transport in Chieti will be disrupted from 9am to 1pm. A public transport strike will also take place in Lombardy on April 24 in Milan when drivers and train operators strike from 8.45am to 3pm.

Elsewhere, from April 14 to 18, freight transport in Sicily is expected to grind to a halt, with protests likely to impact logistics and product distribution across the island. On April 16, press workers will strike in protest at the failure to renew the national contract, while the following day, April 17, doctors and healthcare workers will also walk out. Unions are condemning the failure to renew their contracts.

Airport strikes on April 10 in Italy

Italian broadcaster Espansione TV reports April 10 in particular promises to be a challenging day for those planning to travel by air. The nationwide strike in the sector is expected to affect several of Italy’s most significant airports. Delays, cancellations, and potential operational disruptions cannot be ruled out during the protest period. Passengers are urged to monitor their flight status in real time via the airlines’ official websites.

A 24-hour national strike by railway infrastructure maintenance personnel is also scheduled for Saturday, April 11. The protest could affect the smooth running of services, particularly in the handling of breakdowns and technical interventions, the broadcaster reports.

The broadcaster says that April 24 is also set to be a challenging day for public transport users across Lombardy. The Confial-Trasporti union has announced a fresh strike, which will hit services running in the Milan, Como, and Monza areas particularly hard, with the ATM Group bearing the brunt of the action.

The walkout will run for 8 hours, it is reported. In Milan, tram, metro, and bus services face disruption between 8.45 am and 3pm, while in Monza, passengers may experience interruptions from 2.50 pm through to the end of service.

The Como-Brunate funicular, run by ATM, is also facing potential disruption from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.

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Influencer Chantelle Thompson shares teary update on having husband’s child

PREGNANT influencer Chantelle Thompson has shared an emotional update on having her footballer husband’s child – a year after his death.

The social media star, 36, lost her beloved husband Joe Thompson last April, after he died at the age of 36 from cancer.

Skincare influencer Chantelle Thompson gave fans an emotional update on her pregnancyCredit: Instagram
Chantelle is having her late husband’s baby after he died last yearCredit: Instagram
Chantelle shared her IVF journey with her followersCredit: Instagram

Chantelle, who is best known for being a skincare influencer, revealed her incredible news that she is set to welcome her late husband’s third child in February.

Now, in her latest Instagram post, the star gave fans an emotional update on her pregnancy journey so far, which this time she is doing “alone”.

Chantelle shared a video which showed her going through the various stages of IVF – which included injecting hormones and having hospital appointments.

It also showed her emotional roller-coaster, and at one point she is seen wiping away a tear in the car.

‘incredible news’

Wife of ex-Man Utd star pregnant with his child year after tragic death


‘BRAVE’

Who is Joe Thompson’s wife Chantelle Perry and how many children did they have?

Speaking over the video, Chantelle said: “I never imagined I’d be here alone making this decision to have Joe’s baby without him being here.

“But before he passed, he told me that I would have a baby boy and he even gave me his name.

“So it isn’t just a decision, it feels like a promise I’m keeping.

Chantelle, who married late husband Joe in 2016, also captioned the video with a touching message, which read: “Some events in life break you and rebuild you at the same time.

“Walking into an IVF clinic on my own was never part of the plan. But neither was losing Joe.

“After being told we couldn’t have children naturally again but then falling pregnant with Athena was a miracle.

Joe was a promising footballer who died aged just 36Credit: Getty

“I didn’t think I would be returning to the IVF clinic to have more children, let alone doing it alone!”

Continuing, she said: “Before Joe passed, during one of his out of body experiences he told me that I’d have a baby boy… and he even gave me his name.

“I know Joe’s experiences were real and I trust everything he told me.

“So when my intuition told me to start IVF I did…. And here we are pregnant on the first attempt.

Chantelle married Joe in 2016Credit: Instagram @iamchantellethompson

“This isn’t just about having a baby. This is about love continuing, even after loss.

“Knowing that Joe is with me every step of the way!”

Chantelle and her late husband Joe welcomed their first child, a daughter named Thailula-Lily, in September 2014 and had a second daughter in 2022 named Athena Rae.

Sadly, Joe passed away a year ago, after battling cancer for the third time.

The footballer, who started his career at the Manchester United Football Academy, was found to have stage four lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, which had spread to his lungs.

When Chantelle shared her pregnancy news in February, she talked about how her life had gone from “darkness to light”.

Chantelle shared her pregnancy news last month with a sweet video which included her daughtersCredit: Instagram

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Love on the Spectrum gets huge season 5 update as fan favourite quits show

Netflix has shared an update on Love on the Spectrum’s fifth season

The future of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum has been confirmed, but there’s good and bad news.

Fans have been following the dating show for six seasons overall, including two instalments of Love on the Spectrum: Australia. It centres around adults on the autism spectrum as they tackle the uncertain world of romance.

Season four was released on April 1st, coinciding with Autism Acceptance Month, and has already climbed Netflix’s most-watched charts.

This series shed light on couples viewers have become obsessed with over the last few years, as well as newcomers who want their own shot at love.

But what does the future hold for Love on the Spectrum?

Will Love on the Spectrum return for season 5?

Yes, Netflix has confirmed that the dating show will come back for a fifth series.

The streaming giant has also teased what’s in store. “In Season 5, Love on the Spectrum will follow a group of neurodivergent daters as they navigate the confusing world of relationships,” they shared.

“By learning the inexplicable rules of dating (rule No. 1: don’t say “I love you” on the first date) and embracing the many intricacies of communication styles and sensory sensitivities, the romantic hopefuls offer an unfiltered look at life and love on the spectrum.”

The news comes as fan favourite Connor Tomlinson shared his own major update.

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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan. This lets customers watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes the new season of Bridgerton.

Is Connor returning for Love on the Spectrum season 5?

Connor has confirmed that he will not return to the show for series five. He told Variety that three seasons were “enough to tell his story”.

“It is with humility and a heavy heart that I share I will not be partaking in season five,” he told the publication. Connor went on to joke: “I’ve chosen to pass the torch to the next person who can make it as big as me.”

But it probably won’t be the last time fans see the Netflix star as he is venturing into acting.

He explained: “Don’t worry about me — I’m still going to be in the acting business, especially voice work. I’ve always been a huge fan of animation and would love to be involved with a TV show.”

Love on the Spectrum is streaming now on Netflix.

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BBC Breakfast Naga Munchetty issues Easter egg hunt warning before Storm Dave update

BBC Breakfast’s weather presenter promised it wasn’t all bad news for this holiday weekend

BBC Breakfast: Naga Munchetty apologises to Carol Kirkwood

One of the hosts of BBC Breakfast shared their own warning to viewers who might be planning an Easter egg hunt this weekend.

The morning show returned to screens on Saturday (April 4) for another regular instalment despite it being an extended bank holiday weekend. As usual, it delivered the day’s top stories from the UK and across the world, including the latest from Iran and updates over the Artemis II launch.

Today’s show was presented by Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt as they provided the latest on the headlines and more. One of the biggest stories of the latest edition of the show was weather updates ahead of the expected arrival of Storm Dave hitting the country.

Ahead of the latest update Naga had her own message for viewers at home. She told the audience: “It is Easter weekend. If you’re out on an Easter egg hunt, perhaps you may need to time it. I think Louise is going to tell us more about that.”

It seems that Naga was advising those at home they may have only a limited time to mark Easter Sunday before the effects of Storm Dave are felt. However, BBC Breakfast’s weather presenter Louise Lear began her report by saying: “I don’t want you all to think the weather is going to be hideous because of Storm Dave.”

She emphasised that it is later today that the storm is due to hit, addressing those who might be wondering when the worst of the weather is due to begin. She added: “There is some tricky weather out there, particularly overnight.”

Multiple weather warnings are currently in place across the UK over the weekend with gusts between 70 – 90mph from later today until tomorrow morning.

This could threaten many people’s plans for this Easter holiday weekend and, as Naga hinted, present limited time if you often take part in Easter egg hunts outside.

Storm Dave is due to hit parts of the UK over the weekend and could cause disruption to travel plans. It is expected to hit hardest on Saturday evening, before beginning to weaken on Sunday as it moves into the North Sea. Louise did end her report by predicting that Easter Monday will be the ‘better’ day of the three this weekend.

The Met Office’s forecast said: “A rapidly deepening area of low pressure, Storm Dave, will cross Scotland on Saturday night before clearing into the North Sea on Sunday.”

Those travelling during the warning period have been told there could be disruption on the roads as well as on rail, air and ferry services. There could also be dangerous conditions from large waves along the coastline as well as gusts of up to 90mph in exposed areas.

The Met Office also warned some areas could experience power cuts, while warning “injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible”. Earlier, the RAC predicted it would be the busiest Easter on the roads since 2022.

BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and streams on iPlayer.

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Jesy Nelson admits SMA update is ‘bittersweet’ despite celebrating major campaign milestone

JESY Nelson has admitted the SMA update is “bittersweet” as she insisted “there’s still so much more to do” as she continues her campaign.

The singer has campaigned for all newborn babies to be screened for SMA after her twins, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe, were diagnosed with the rare condition which causes progressive muscle wastage.

Jesy Nelson said the SMA update is ‘bittersweet’ despite the major campaign milestoneCredit: Instagram / jesynelson
The singer’s twin daughters were diagnosed with a rare condition – which causes progressive muscle wastage.Credit: Instagram

Jesy has previously said it is unlikely they will ever walk and tragically may not live to the age of two.

The 34-year-old launched a petition for more health checks for babies, with it reaching almost 150,000 signatures.

In a letter addressed to Jesy and Giles Lomax, the chief executive of the charity SMA UK, Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that screenings will be rolled out earlier than planned.

Now, they will begin as part of in-screening evaluations (ISE) from October 2026 instead of January 2027.

‘MILESTONE’

Victory for Jesy Nelson as newborns to be screened for life-changing condition


Brave battle

Jesy Nelson shares cryptic quote about ‘storms’ amid baby twins’ SMA diagnosis

Jesy took to Instagram with a new clip as she explained that it was a “proud moment” but said there was still a long way to go.

She said: “Hi guys, I just wanted to come on here to share some information I’ve heard over the last couple of days.

“As you know I’ve been campaigning to try and get SMA as part of the newborn screening here in England.

“My girls were diagnosed with SMA type 1 – unfortunately they weren’t tested at birth because it weren’t here in England.

“But they have now decided to roll that out in October for all babies in England to be tested at birth for SMA, which is absolutely incredible.

“I know it’s a really big moment for the SMA community because this has been going on for years, trying to get this passed.

“It’s a real proud moment but at the same time it’s a bit bittersweet because they are only doing it in certain areas of England.

“So if you do not live in that certain postcode of England then your baby won’t be tested for SMA, which is really sad and it’s essentially postcode lottery for your baby which should not be the case, all babies lives matter.

“As amazing as it is, there is a long way to go in terms of that, so I’m going to keep pushing and trying as much as possible to get this in all areas in England.

“Also, the petition that all of you signed and get the 100,000 signatures, is now going to be debated in parliament is amazing.

Jesy said that it was a ‘proud moment’ but said there was still a long way to goCredit: Instagram

“That’s all down to you guys, you are all incredible.

“I just want to say that I am so appreciative of all the support and love and messages.”

She wrote in the caption: “I wanted to update you all on something very close to my heart…

“SMA screening is now set to start earlier, from October 2026 instead of 2027 which is such a huge step forward for early diagnosis and the SMA community.

“It’ll be rolled out in selected areas first, so while this is real progress there’s still so much more to do. We need to keep pushing to make sure every baby has the opportunity to have this heel prick test at birth.

“Also… the petition YOU all supported has reached the stage for a parliamentary debate which means even more awareness where it matters most.

“I truly am grateful for all your support not only for me and my girls, but for everyone in the SMA community… We’re getting closer. Love you all.”

It is believed that more than 400,000 newborns will benefit from the move.

But 163,000 newborns will remain untested so they can act as a control group to compare outcomes.

This has been branded by experts as “unethical” and means that an estimated 11 babies a year will still be diagnosed too late.

ISE is used to test proposed new screening programmes or changes to existing programmes before being adopted nationally.

SMA is a rare but devastating degenerative condition, affecting around one in 14,000 babies, with the majority being type 1 which affects babies less than 6 months old. 

Common symptoms include muscle weakness, such as floppy or weak arms and legs, movement problems, problems with breathing or swallowing, tremors and bone and joint issues that can lead to spine curvature. 

 Most types of SMA are caused by inherited faulty genes and crucially can be picked up through a heel prick blood test.

Tests, including genetic blood tests, are available before, during and after pregnancy but historically have only been offered to at-risk parents and children. 

Jesy’s twins have since had a one-off infusion that puts a missing gene back into their body to stop other muscles from dying.

However, they will not be able to regain any muscles that have already died.

SMA screening is now set to start earlier, from October 2026 instead of 2027Credit: Prime Video

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Jane Fallon shares health update days after undergoing surgery following breast cancer diagnosis

JANE Fallon has shared a new health update just days after undergoing surgery amid her breast cancer battle.

The author, who is the partner of Ricky Gervais, told fans earlier this month that she was suffering with breast cancer, despite having no symptoms before the diagnosis.

Jane Fallon has shared a fresh health update just days after undergoing surgeryCredit: Instagram/janefallon2
The author is the partner of Ricky GervaisCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Now, Jane has revealed the positive news that the surgeons have “basically got it all”.

She said in a clip shared to her X account: “The surgeon said I can lift some weights so I’m starting with this one,” as she picked up her cat.

“Just a little update, all is good, yesterday I had my follow up and they have basically got it all.”

Jane explained that she will be having another procedure to ensure that they have removed “everything”.

“What they haven’t got is a clear margin around the edge of what they have taken so I am going to have to have another op,” she continued.

“It will be just to make sure they get everything, which is a bit of a pain, but it isn’t a worry they just need to make sure they have a clear margin, so will be the exact same operation as last time.”

Opening up about her second operation, Jane said she is feeling more confident especially as the recovery has been better than she expected.

She shared: “But I do know now that the recovery is so much easier than I thought it was going to be, this is me 10 days later. 

“It’s a pain but not a worry at all [having a second op].

“So it’s good and hopefully next week I will hear after Easter to get it out of the way and then will have to wait for that to be tested and see where we are. 

“Meanwhile I’m going to try and get a few workouts in and carry my cat around.”

Jane admitted she was “lucky” she was diagnosed “so early” and that is it important for women to get screened. 

She wrote in her caption: “(Mostly) good update: Things I forgot to say in the video: I’m still getting fabulous treatment.

“And I know how lucky I am to have had my diagnosis so early – from a routine mammogram with absolutely no symptoms.

Jane is preparing for a second procedure but said she is feeling confidentCredit: X/JaneFallon

“I’ve had so many conversations with lovely people who’ve come up to me in the street in the last couple of weeks & told me their own personal experiences, and it’s totally rammed home both how different it is for everyone and also how important screening and early diagnosis really is.

“Oh, and as Tamoxifen is one of the options being debated for me I wanted to ask if anyone has experience and how the side effects were.

“I’ve read they can be rough.”

Jane has been with comedian Ricky for over 40 years, with the couple meeting back in 1982.

She is known for career as an author, having penned books such as Getting Rid of MatthewGot You BackQueen BeeWorst Idea Ever, and Faking Friends

Revealing her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this month, Jane assured fans not to “panic” and said her prognosis was “excellent”.

She said on Instagram: “About a month ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer – very early stage thankfully & the prognosis is excellent.

“I had a routine mammogram a week before Christmas. I had no symptoms but the brilliant radiographer spotted something iffy & sent me for further tests & eventually a biopsy.

“Since then I’ve had more mammograms, more biopsies and an MRI so they can pinpoint the problem area precisely. It’s been a lot, I’m not going to lie.”

The star added that she has been under “incredible” care.

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Jet2 update for passengers booking holidays to Greece this spring

The airline and tour operator has shared advice for passengers on social media

Jet2 has issued an update for passengers worried about disruption to their spring travel plans. With the Easter holidays here at last, many families have booked European getaways over the next few weeks. However, some passengers are worried about possible cancellations.

Greece faced travel disruption this week after a deadly storm hit parts of the country, and Crete was enveloped in a Saharan dust storm. Passengers have also been warned of possible jet fuel shortages caused by the Iran war.

One passenger who shared their concerns with Jet2 has been told that all flights are currently planned to go ahead as normal. Taking to X, a customer named Liz Hughes asked Jet2 for guidance ahead of an upcoming trip to Corfu later this month.

Liz wrote: “We have return flights booked Man-Corfu 13-20 Apr. Should we be worried about cancellations?” A Jet2 employee named Lily responded to the question on Friday (April 2).

Replying from the @Jet2tweets account, Lily said: “Hi Liz, all flights are planned to go ahead as normal. If anything were to change regarding your booking, we would be sure to reach out to you directly to make you aware, and discuss the options available to you. Thanks, Lily.”

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The news comes as Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has recently said passengers could face severe disruption in early May if the Middle East conflict continues. Speaking on Sky News Michael O’Leary said: “Fuel suppliers are constantly looking at the market.

“We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June, and we hope the war will finish sooner than that and the risk to supply will be eliminated.”

Oil prices have surged since February due to Iran’s block on tankers passing through a key shipping passage, the Strait of Hormuz. The Business Secretary has said there are no supply chain issues for jet fuel “at this moment.”

Peter Kyle told Times Radio: “I was looking immediately after the conflict started, where we interact in order to get resilience into our society, into our economy, we’ve been working with all these key sectors, identifying sectors where there may well be challenges down the track. We have no (fuel) supply chain issues at this moment at all.”

UK airlines are not experiencing disruption to their supply of jet fuel, according to an industry association. An Airlines UK spokesperson said: “UK airlines are currently not seeing disruption to jet fuel supply and continue to engage with fuel suppliers and Government to monitor the situation.”

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Scott Mills’ BBC sacking update as bosses ‘unaware’ boy was under 16

Sources claim that the current senior management took swift action after finding out for the first time that Mills’ accuser was under 16

The BBC was unaware of the full extent of the police investigation into Scott Mills including the accuser’s age, sources claim. The presenter – who today broke his silence to thank his former listeners – was interviewed by police in 2018 under caution after being accused of serious sexual offences against a boy under the age of 16. Mills and his agent spoke to some senior BBC figures about the claims at the time. Mills was never charged with any crime because of a lack of evidence.

At the time, Director general Tony Hall was not aware of the “full picture” including the accuser’s age., although it’s unclear if other managers did. However after learning about the age in the last week, the newer management took swift action.

It comes as the BBC admitted yesterday they had known about the police investigation in 2017 but were “doing more work to understand the detail of what was known by the BBC at this time.”

Insiders say it was also difficult for the BBC to have made their own inquiries into the investigation, and that they were “limited” in what the police would tell them. Last night Mills issued a statement via his lawyers in which he thanked well-wishers.

He said: “I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss.”

He also opened up about the police investigation. He said: “The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation. In response to this the Metropolitan Police has made a statement, which I confirm relates to me. An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018. As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.

“Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed 7 years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter. The BBC had hours earlier issued their own statement, confirming our story yesterday that it “acted decisively” after receiving “new information” in the weeks prior to his sacking.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Scott Mills had a long career across the BBC, he was hugely popular and we know the news this week has come as a shock and surprise to many. We also recognise there’s been much speculation in the media and online since Monday. We hope people understand that there is a limit to what we can say because we have to be mindful of the rights of those involved. What we can confirm is that in recent weeks, we obtained new information relating to Scott and we spoke directly with him. As a result, the BBC acted decisively in line with our culture and values, and terminated his contracts on Friday March 27.”

The BBC added that iit “made a significant commitment to improve its culture, processes and standards”, and added that it set out “behavioural expectations for everyone who works with or for the BBC” and was “clear action would be taken” if they were not met last year, following an independent culture review.

Mills last hosted Radio 2’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday March 24 and signed off with “see you tomorrow”, before being replaced by Gary Davies. In an email sent to staff on Monday, Lorna Clarke, the BBC’s director of music, acknowledged the news was “sudden and unexpected, and therefore must come as a shock”. It has also been announced that children’s cancer charity Neuroblastoma UK has decided to “part ways” with Mills, who had been a patron since 2021.

A statement from the charity said: “Following his dismissal from the BBC, Neuroblastoma UK have taken the decision to part ways with Scott Mills and he is no longer a patron of our charity.” We have gone to Mills’ team for comment.

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Spain strikes at 12 airports Wednesday update as unions say planes taking off with unloaded luggage

Aircraft also forced to take off without possessions, Spanish media report

Spanish media have reported that luggage has been left behind or simply not been unloaded from aircraft as a massive strike across 12 airports continues in the run-up to Easter. After the second day of the indefinite strike called at 12 Spanish airports by Groundforce, at least six planes had to depart this Monday from Madrid-Barajas Airport without passengers’ luggage, ABC reported

The strike continues at Groundforce’s ground handling facility, a Globalia group company that provides services to the airports of Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Málaga, Gran Canaria, Valencia, Ibiza, Bilbao, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and air cargo in Zaragoza.

These work stoppages, called by the unions CCOO, UGT, and USO due to wage disputes with the company, are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the morning, afternoon, and night shifts – from 5 to 7am, 11am to 5pm, and from 10pm to midnight.

Some airports have had little disruption, Europress reported. Palma Airport was said to be operating almost as normal early on Wednesday morning, with isolated delays due to a ground staff strike.

Specifically, there have been two delays to departures and four delays to arrivals, according to information from Aena obtained by Europa Press. Ibiza Airport, which is also affected by the ground staff strike, has not reported any incidents.

READ MORE: Spain 12 airports strike Monday update on flights delayed as lawyer says ‘get there 3 hours early’READ MORE: Spain 12 airport strikes Tuesday update as aircraft take off ‘without luggage’

Union FeSMC-UGT said widespread impacts include widespread delays averaging nearly one hour per flight, flights left unattended, with essential ground handling services clearly overwhelmed, and cancellations, especially during peak hours.

They also claimed thousands of bags have been left unloaded or delivered late, generating an unprecedented logistical collapse.

A spokesman said: “All of this constitutes the epilogue to irresponsible management by the company, which has opted for conflict instead of dialogue. A company that, judging by the facts, seems to care very little about its workers, its customers, and the thousands of affected passengers.

“The current situation reflects a complete breakdown in labour relations and an unprecedented deterioration of the internal climate, with an uncertain future if there is no immediate change in attitude.”

Meanwhile, ground handling company Menzies, which provides services to airlines such as Norwegian, EasyJet, and Canaryfly in the Canary Islands, reached an agreement and called off a strike planned for April 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, coinciding with the peak days of Holy Week.

The strike, which had been called due to the company’s “organisational insolvency,” was going to affect approximately 3,000 of the group’s employees in Spain, 600 of them in the Canary Islands. It should be noted that the first days of the strike were scheduled for last Saturday and Sunday, but were cancelled due to the start of negotiations between the union representatives and the company.

Negotiations have concluded with an agreement between all parties, representing significant progress in labour rights and improved working conditions, thanks to the “constant effort and advocacy of UGT,” the union stated in a press release.

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Spain 13 airport strikes Tuesday update as aircraft take off ‘without luggage’

Passengers arrive to discover their posessions have been left behind as days of walkouts start at sites – full list

Passengers flying from 13 Spanish airports hit by strike action have landed to discover all their luggage has been left behind, local media has reported. Canarias said the first day of the strike by Groundforce workers, the ground handling operator that services Air Europa flights, resulted in continuous delays across all the airline’s flights and passengers arriving at Canary Island airports without their luggage, having had to leave it behind at their point of origin.

Alternating work stoppages are taking place between 5 and 7 am, 11 am and 5pm, and 10 pm and midnight, the first day of the strike affected 13 Spanish airports, three of them on the islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, where delays occurred throughout the day. These delays did not originate at the island airports but rather on flights arriving primarily from Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao, with delays approaching an hour.

Airports impacted are Barcelona-El Prat, Madrid-Barajas, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Bilbao, Lanzarote, Alicante, Valencia and Malaga. The Groundforce strike is scheduled for this Wednesday (April 1) and Good Friday (April 3), with the possibility of becoming indefinite.

Because the aircraft operate on a network, delays accumulated throughout the day, causing significant disruptions to flights departing from the three affected airports in the archipelago. At major airports on the Iberian Peninsula, such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao, planes departed without luggage in their holds throughout Monday, leaving many passengers arriving at their destinations without their belongings.

READ MORE: Spain 12 airports strike Monday update on flights delayed as lawyer says ‘get there 3 hours early’READ MORE: Spain airport strikes warning as Easter travellers face severe delays

It’s worth remembering that the most affected route is Madrid-Gran Canaria, on which Air Europa operates seven flights daily. According to Orlando Robledano, secretary of the aviation sector at the UGT union, the strike’s impact on Canary Island airports has been reduced due to the minimum services imposed by Groundforce on all Lanzarote Airport employees. Even members of the works council received this notification requiring them to comply with these minimum services, making it impossible to achieve the level of participation required for a strike of this nature.

This, coupled with the fact that domestic flights at Canary Island airports are protected and must be serviced regardless of delays, meant that the problems were less severe at the islands’ airports than at those on the mainland. Other affected airports include Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, and Málaga.

Hosteltur reported that strikes at Canary Island airports during the peak days of Holy Week, between Maundy Thursday (April 2) and Easter Monday (April 6) may be called off as workers at Menzies—who provide check-in, boarding, and baggage services to airlines such as Norwegian, EasyJet, and British Airways—along with the works council and their union representatives from UGT, are close to reaching an agreement to call off the strike that was set to affect nearly 3,000 of the group’s employees in Spain, 600 of them in the Canary Islands.

At least six planes took off from Madrid-Barajas Airport on Monday without their passengers’ luggage due to an indefinite strike by the ground handling company Groundforce. On this first day of the strike, disruptions are being reported at all airports, although the most significant impacts are felt in Madrid and Barcelona, according to union sources, Telecinco reported.

Passengers report long queues and checked baggage left on the tarmac during the first day of the strike The indefinite strike by Groundforce ground staff began this Monday at Barcelona Airport, with protests taking place at three different times. The affected services are all those related to ground handling.

Long queues were reported at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, where Alberto García said: “There have been some delays, and some planes have even departed with very little luggage. It was the protesters themselves who informed passengers that their bags would not arrive on time.

“The unions continue fighting for their objective and are demanding that the company comply with the wage agreements stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement.” At this time, many people have seen their flights significantly delayed or have had their luggage left behind.

In Madrid, people have had to wait for extended periods to check their luggage. Some report waiting for “four or five hours.”

Many planes, especially those arriving from Madrid, “are arriving without luggage, and the problems are spreading,” a UGT spokesperson told Europa Press, adding that “there is no guarantee that luggage will arrive.” The delays “affect not only direct flights but also many connecting flights, since passengers arrive without their luggage and therefore miss their next flight.”

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Spain airport strikes update as first action set to begin in less than 24 hours

Many of Spain’s major airports are set to be hit by strike action this week.

UK tourists hoping to travel to Spain for Easter sunshine should be aware that workers are set to strike at several of the country’s biggest airports.

The strikes affect ground-handling services at the airports of Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Palma, Ibiza, Málaga, the Canaries and more and the first of the action is set to start on Monday. The strikes are by Groundforce and Menzies workers and are a result of salary disagreements.

The Groundforce strikes had been due to start on Friday but they were delayed. However, it is believed they will now start on Monday, take place at set times of day in the mornings, afternoons and nights and continue indefinitely. Majorca Daily Bulletin reports that “there is as yet no indication as to whether there will be further suspensions of strike action”.

Menzies workers were due to have gone on strike this Saturday and Sunday. That was also suspended but 24-hour strikes from April 2 to 6 have not been called off.

Groundforce operates at Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Málaga, Gran Canaria, Valencia, Ibiza, Bilbao, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Menzies operates at Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Tenerife South and Tenerife North.

The Traveler website reports that “travellers heading to Spain over Easter face a challenging season, as walkouts by airport ground staff threaten queues, baggage delays and potential timetable disruption at some of the country’s busiest hubs”. It added that “reports indicate that the stoppages are partial rather than full shutdowns, typically concentrated in several time bands during mornings, midday and late evenings. This pattern mirrors earlier labour disputes at Madrid, where limited ground handling strikes created bottlenecks at baggage reclaim and during boarding, while flights continued to operate under minimum service rules.”

It added: “For most holidaymakers, the most visible impact of the strikes is likely to be queues and slower processing rather than mass cancellations.”

Travel and Tour World, a B2B travel publisher, says travellers “are being urged to check their flight status regularly and stay updated on the latest developments”.

Strikes not the only problem

The strike action coincides with the ongoing rollout of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) which could cause further delays. Under this system, which has been rolling out since October and is expected to be fully operational by April 10, all travellers from the UK and other non-EU countries have to be photographed and fingerprinted at EU airports and border points.

The Telegraph reports that the Home Office and travel organisations “are advising holidaymakers to allow extra time to arrive at their destinations on both entry and exit because of predicted queues of two to four hours at busier airports”. It adds: “Delays at airports on return journeys have already led to some holidaymakers missing their planes home, even though they arrived within the required two-hour limit.”

It reported how Tenerife airport has already seen “acute delays” with one recent traveller saying on Facebook that she had spent three hours queuing in passport control, writing: “Our flight left with 15 passengers on and ditched the rest of us here in Tenerife to fend for ourselves.”

Another traveller said she had been astonished to arrive at her airport departure gate in Paris recently to find a long queue. She said: “I had entirely forgotten about the additional security checks. Only one kiosk was open, with a queue of at least 30 people, and the clock was ticking down to our flight’s departure. As we stood there, another 40 individuals joined the queue behind us, yet still, only one kiosk was operational.

“The process was painfully slow. The queue barely seemed to budge, and more people continued to join behind us. From the snippets of conversations I caught, everyone appeared as taken aback – and stressed – as I was.

“Fortunately, my partner and I had started relatively close to the front, so we managed to reach the gate just in time. As for the people behind us, I have no clue.”

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Spain airport strikes update for UK travellers over March and April dates

Talks broke down this week that would lead to widespread disruption for travellers over Easter to airports in places like Mallorca and the Canary Islands

UK tourists have been given a significant update over planned strike action at multiple airports in Spain. Talks broke down this week before officials announced that strikes would be held over several dates in March and April.

Airports set to be affected by the measures included Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, , Gran Canaria, Málaga, Alicante, and Tenerife (South and North). Now an update has been reported in the Spanish press.

Two sets of strikes at Spanish airports have been partly cancelled, according to Spanish media reports. There had been concerns about extensive disruption at major airports throughout Spain owing to industrial action.

Larazon now reports that trade unions have postponed imminent strikes due to start today that would have seen staff at airport services operators Groundforce and Menzies walk out. The update comes after advances in wage negotiations – but strikes planned for later on have yet to be cancelled, according to local media.

Spanish reports say that trade unions have called off the first day of strike action at Groundforce, Air Europa’s ground handling company, and the first two days of the strike scheduled for this weekend at Menzies, another airport ground handling operator. This is according to sources from the UGT trade union speaking to Efe.

The partial and indefinite strikes planned Groundforce strikes were set to began this Friday. They would have coincided with the beginning of the Easter holiday exodus.

Ultimahora reports that the industrial action at Groundforce had been scheduled for the morning, afternoon and night shifts (from 5am to 7am, from 11am to 5pm, and from 10pm to midnight) with plans set to continue indefinitely. Additionally, the UGT has agreed to call off the first two days of industrial action at Menzies, planned for this Saturday and Sunday. In Menzies’ case, the strike had been called exclusively by UGT – the main union at the firm – for 28 and 29 March, and between 2 and 6 April.

The English language Majorca Daily Bulletin reports that 24-hour strikes for Menzies staff from April 2 to April 6 have not yet been scrapped. It also reported that there is no sign of further suspensions to the other planned strike action for Groundforce staff.

The strike notice at the ground handling operator covered all businesses within the group (Menzies Aviation Ibérica and Menzies Ground Services) and around 3,000 employees. The union had cautioned that, should no deal be struck with the company, the strikes would be rolled out to every weekend until the year’s end.

Groundforce operates at Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Málaga, Gran Canaria, Valencia, Ibiza, Bilbao, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Menzies operates at Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Tenerife South and Tenerife North.

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The Hotel Inspector declares ‘new low’ before owners provide huge end of show update

Thursday’s episode of Channel 5’s The Hotel Inspector saw two friends in Bramber, East Sussex, attempt to turn their hotel and pub around

The Hotel Inspector followed best friends Jack and Danny on Thursday’s episode as they attempted to save their hotel and pub.

The two pals, who had been best friends since meeting on a ski season in 2010, had decided to go into business together, gambling everything to run the 16th-century Castle Inn, a 20-bedroom pub and restaurant in the charming village of Bramber, East Sussex.

However, after six months, the two pals were struggling as occupancy had plummeted with Jack having to dip into his wedding funds and Danny uprooting his young family from Birmingham to East Sussex to make the business venture work.

Thankfully, British hotelier, businesswoman and The Hotel Inspector host Alex Polizzi was on hand to help the duo turn things around. Alex, 54, was unimpressed with the hotel’s bare and dated decor, including fake flowers and all white decoration everywhere.

Alex even admitted she was “horrified” by the “ghastly” sitting area, saying there was no charm at all in the hotel, even likening the space to a canteen.

As part of her plan to combat some negative online reviews, Alex invited three different duos to come and stay. However, the next morning, the hotel guests didn’t hold back their words as they provided honest and brutal feedback.

One guest said of the dining space and “wedding like” white padded chairs used: “We use these [the chairs] in mental health hospitals because then people can’t throw them at you…” to which Alex pointed out: “That’s a new low!”

It was then revealed that the guests would be invited back, where they could see the changes made at the hotel and then provide a review for the hotel.

Talking about the brutal feedback, one of the owners said: “Luckily we’ve actually got each other through this because otherwise I don’t think I could have gone through that complete pounding alone.”

After gathering a £5,000 makeover budget, the team got to work modernising the dining area into a contemporary and clean space with green panelling walls, as well as stylish new furniture. The team also made some changes to the bedrooms, providing luggage racks, stylish lamps and removing unnecesary furniture.

Alex advised the duo to invite all the locals over for a ‘meet the owners’ evening, which was a roaring success and the guests who had previously stayed there loved the new features, saying they’d be happy to stay again.

At the end of the show, after Alex’s work and advice was done, the duo provided an update four weeks later. They revealed: “Hi Alex, hope you’re well…

“Just wanted to say, thank you very much for everything you and your team have done here. The locals have been raving about the changes, the food offerings, and the new decor. The vibes around the village are great!

“We’ve noticed a strong traction in repeat customers and new ones. Thank you very much for your support, hopefully see you soon!”

The Hotel Inspector continues on Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 5.

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Lapland UK announces major update for families as tickets go on sale today

Christmas is still quite some way away, but one attraction is already putting tickets on sale for its magical experiences, and if previous years are anything to go by it could sell out quickly

It doesn’t feel that long since the Christmas decorations were packed away, but one festive attraction is already putting its tickets on sale today (March 27) for the Christmas 2026 season.

Tickets for LaplandUK, which has locations in Ascot and Cheshire, will go on sale tomorrow at 10AM with over a million people expected to join the queue. The experience is often likened to booking Glastonbury tickets, as hopeful parents will need to wait in a virtual queue and have ten minutes to complete their order once they reach the front.

Ticket prices for 2026 have been confirmed, starting at £60 for midweek dates in November, up to £155 per person for peak weekends in December. Both venues will also host a ‘Superstar Day’ on November 25 which is “adapted for families and guests with access requirements to create a quieter, more relaxed and accessible environment.”

While the tickets are costly, the cost does include a range of experiences that set it apart from the average Santa’s grotto. Families receive a special gift boxed invitation ahead of their day out to build the excitement, and this message from Father Christmas personally invites little ones to visit LaplandUK to help the elves with toy-making.

On arrival, visitors step into a magical world, walking through several different interactive experiences from the Elven Bazaar, where guests have to work out how to enter the door to Lapland, to the Lapland Bakery where kids can help make some Christmas treats before enjoying storytime with Mother Christmas.

The experience lasts around four-and-a-half hours, according to the LaplandUK website, and also includes ice skating, a soft toy for every child, a small toy to give to kids on Christmas Day, and of course, a special visit with the man in red himself, deep in a snowy forest.

Husband-and-wife founders of LaplandUK, Mike and Alison Battle, took to Facebook to update fans of the attraction about changes that are being made for 2026. Alison said: “Every year, we challenge ourselves to make the experience more special, more magical, more believable. And this year, we’ve got some very exciting things in store for you.”

The pair announced that invites would be sent earlier this year, towards the end of the summer, to build anticipation of the event. They added that the return experience will be upgraded, so that “coming home will be just as magical”, and that visitors to Little Rudy’s Stables will now be able to make reindeer food to take home with them.

One of the major changes will be in the Elven Village, which the pair said has expanded over the years to be more immersive and include more characters. Guests will now get more time in the village to listen to stories at Fable’s Library, skate on the ice rink, and meet characters along the way.

READ MORE: Latest Middle East flights updates including Wizz Air, TUI, British Airways and EmiratesREAD MORE: Latest Portugal travel advice for Brits after Foreign Office update

Those hoping to grab tickets for LaplandUK can either register on the official site to get a ticket booking link ahead of the sale, or visit the website from 9am to join the queue.

LaplandUK’s Facebook page confirmed that both sites will have their own booking queues accessed through a unique link. It said: “Upon entering a queue, you will be randomly assigned a place before bookings open. When the queue begins moving at 10 AM, you’ll gradually make your way forward.

“Once you reach the front, you will have 10 minutes to complete your booking for your chosen location.. We truly cannot wait to welcome you to Lapland to make treasured memories together this Christmas.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

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Spain airport strikes update as three major UK tourist spots set for disruption – dates

Delays are expected at check-in, baggage handling and other services affecting UK holidaymakers

Major UK tourist hotspots are set to face disruption within days due to widespread strike action. The Canary Islands in Spain is getting ready as unions prepare to go on strike this and next month.

Airports across the Canary Islands are bracing themselves for industrial action by ground handling staff over the Easter period. Trade unions representing workers at Menzies and Groundforce have announced walkouts.

More than 1,500 employees throughout the islands are expected to take part, according to Spanish website Canarias7. Aviation hubs in the Canary Islands are making preparations for the ground handling strike announced for Easter week, which forms part of a nationwide protest.

Three major spots used by Brits are set to be affected, according to the website. Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura are all set for disruption.

The industrial action has been organised by staff at Menzies and Groundforce. Reports say the action will almost certainly lead to hold-ups in ground operations – including check-in, baggage processing and collection.

Menzies has a workforce over 600 and handles operations for carriers including Norwegian, British Airways, and EasyJet, among others. It operates at Gran Canaria, Tenerife North, and Tenerife South airports, as well as on the mainland at major airports such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga and Alicante.

The UGT union-coordinated action will kick off this weekend (28th and 29th March), with further stoppages planned for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th April, during the peak travel period for Easter week. Groundforce is a Globalia group firm providing services to Air Europa. We reported earlier this week that the action is taking place over rights and working conditions for staff.

Unions say they are taking strike action over the implementation of pay scales among other things. Close to 900 employees across the Canary Islands – encompassing Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura – face disruption. The Groundforce industrial action is set to begin tomorrow, 27th March, with walkouts planned for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays across staggered time slots: 5:00-7:00am; 11:00am-5:00pm; and 10:00pm-midnight.

On the Menzies action, Spanish media reports say that should no agreement be reached, the strikes will continue every Saturday and Sunday until 31 December, following the same timetable. That could lead to months of disruption.

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The Pitt’s Noah Wyle shares thrilling update on HBO hit’s third season

With hit medical drama The Pitt finally available to watch in the UK on HBO Max, leading man Noah Wyle has shared some tantalising insight into its future beyond season two

The Pitt’s Noah Wyle has delivered an exciting update on the third season of HBO’s smash-hit medical drama.

He also teased his hopes for the future of the drama, hinting it could run “forever” if audiences are still tuning in.

Wyle portrays Dr Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch, a senior attending physician working in a crowded and underfunded emergency room in Pittsburgh.

Throughout each season, Dr Robby, along with a team of doctors, nurses, and medical students, experience a single 15-hour shift, with the second instalment taking place during a busy 4th of July.

The former ER star was in London this week for the UK launch of the series where he spilled two important rules that every episode of the hit series must follow.

Speaking to HBO Max Chairman Casey Bloys, Wyle was asked how soon the cast and crew will be ready to start up production on season three.

“Very soon, boss, very soon,” Wyle joked. “We are in the process of writing character arcs for season three for everybody.”

He went on to explain how the series’ unique storytelling format presents a compelling challenge for the writers, which includes himself and creator R. Scott Gemmill.

“It’s a very interesting show to break because, unlike a lot of shows that are 22 episodes that may play over a calendar year, this is 15 hours of one day,” he continued. “So you’re painting with a much finer brush.

“The character’s arc is not really enough to go through the courtship of a romance, but it’s enough to get your head turned.

“It’s maybe enough to lose faith, maybe enough to find faith, but these are really small arcs that happen over the course of the day but can be really satisfying if you’re engaged with that character.”

Thankfully, The Pitt quickly found a devoted audience in the States, with the second season premiere amassing an impressive 7.2 million US viewers within its first week of release.

“We have these characters who seem to be resonating on a one-to-one with audiences,” Wyle added.

“Everyone’s feeling, ‘I’m a little Javadi (played by Shabana Azeez), I’m a little Samira (Supriya Ganesh), and I have a little Langdon (Patrick Ball) in me, or I know a Whitaker (Gerran Howell)’, and that makes it really exciting to see where they’re going to go next, and to write for where they’re going to go next.”

Hinting at the third season’s narrative, Bloys and Wyle revealed that the upcoming instalment is also building to an explosive and potentially life-changing event in much the same way as the first two seasons.

“We’ve built a pressure cooker where every hour we turn up the temperature, we add more ingredients, then just when it’s about to explode we drop a piano on it,” Wyle revealed.

“You’ve done that successfully for season two and now you’re thinking about it for season three?” Bloys clarified, and Wyle confirmed “Yes”.

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“One of the gratifying things about season two is that we realised we don’t need a big ‘deus ex machina’ plot device to keep this engaging,” he said. “There’s something really satisfying about watching everyday people trying to get through the course of the day, beset by all the trials and tribulations that come over the course of that day.

“If that is satisfying television then this show could run forever, because we don’t need a helicopter to come down in the ambulance bay, we don’t need to jump the shark.”

The Pitt is available to stream on HBO Max with new episodes on Thursdays.

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Netflix fans ‘can’t wait’ after update on ‘best show in the world’

Netflix has confirmed the third season of one of their most popular shows is now in production

Netflix has announced the third series of popular rom-com Nobody Wants This is presently in production.

Featuring Adam Brody as rabbi Noah and Kristen Bell as agnostic podcast presenter Joanne, the programme chronicles the duo as they begin an unexpected romance.

The second series wrapped up with Joanne choosing to convert to Judaism while Noah comes to terms with wanting to be with her regardless.

Series three is consequently expected to commence with their relationship more solid than ever, though there will inevitably be additional drama to unfold with Joanne’s sister, Morgan (portrayed by Justine Lupe) and Noah’s brother, Sasha (Timothy Simons), and sister-in-law, Esther (Jackie Tohn).

Showrunners Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan informed Netflix: “We are so grateful to Netflix and 20th for giving us another season of Nobody Wants This”, reports the Express.

They continued: “This job is criminally fun. Working with the uniquely gifted Erin Foster [creator], this unbelievable cast of talented, hilarious pros, amazing writers, and incredible crew has been a truly great experience.”

Foster shared with the streamer when the third series was originally announced: “I couldn’t be more excited to head into a third season of this show.”

She added: “It is a privilege to be able to write about my favourite couple on a scale like this. As long as it doesn’t take too much time away from me watching reality TV at night, I’ll do it for as long as they want me to!”

The second season of Nobody Wants This demonstrated even greater triumph than the first, accumulating 18 million views within its initial 11 days and securing a position in Netflix’s Top 10 chart across 82 countries.

Netflix and lead actress Bell ignited excitement amongst devotees with a collection of behind-the-scenes photographs as production commences in Los Angeles, California.

“Can’t wait to see them be silly and cute on my screen again,” responded one user beneath Bell’s Instagram post.

Someone else declared: “Hurry!!! We can’t wait for season 3.” Another stated: “Best series in the world ever.”

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The season 4 Bridgerton premiere was held in Paris last night

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And a final fan enthused: “Finallyyyyyy!!! We have been waiting for this!!”

Season two featured numerous thrilling guest stars, including Seth Rogen, Kate Berlant, and Leighton Meester, so devotees are anticipating further major names could participate in the entertainment for season three.

A launch date for the third season remains unconfirmed, but as the previous instalment commenced filming in March 2025 and was released later that same year, viewers could anticipate the series to return in October or November 2026.

Nobody Wants This is available to stream on Netflix.

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Latest Portugal travel advice for Brits after Foreign Office update

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Brits heading to Portugal ahead of the school holidays, with warnings around new rules on how long you can stay

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued advice for Brits travelling to Portugal.

To ensure that Brits are aware of any warnings, entry requirements, security, safety, or health risks before travelling to destinations across the globe, the Foreign Office is constantly updating its travel advice. The advice can change rapidly, or remain the same for months, but just last week, a change was made for those visiting Portugal.

In an update on Friday, 20 March, which is still current as of 25 March, the FCDO updated the entry requirements for Brits heading to the popular European destination, which offers sprawling beaches and vibrant cities. The government stated that if you’re staying for longer than 90 days, within a 180-day period, and need to extend in “exceptional circumstances”, you must take action.

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The FCDO website stated: “If you’re visiting Portugal and need to extend your visa-free stay for exceptional reasons, such as a medical emergency, you must apply to AIMA using their contact form (access is only available to users in Portugal). If you’re in Portugal with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

“If you’re in Portugal with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.”

As it stands, UK residents with a British passport can travel to Portugal without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you are a tourist, visiting friends or family, attending a business meeting, cultural or sports events, or visiting for short-term studies or training.

This also applies to Brits visiting the Schengen area, which comprises 29 European countries, who can travel without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Countries in the Schengen area include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

However, the FCDO outlined: “If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit. Visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days. If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.”

Additionally, from 10 April 2026, the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is expected to be fully rolled out. This means that when travelling into the Schengen area for short stays, you may be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, which is done at the border on arrival for free.

Brits travelling to the Schengen area must also be aware of the passport requirements. The government states that the passport must:

  • Have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
  • Have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)

If your passport does not meet the requirements above, you may be denied entry to the country and turned away at the airport. You can renew or replace your passport online through the government website.

Brits are advised to renew or replace their passports as soon as possible, as processing can take around three weeks and sometimes longer during the peak travel season. For more information on Portugal’s entry requirements, visit the government’s foreign travel advice page.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

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Beloved rock star shares health update after undergoing surgery to remove three new brain tumours

NEW Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert has had surgery to remove three tumours in his brain after a tough battle with rare adrenal cancer.

The 45-year-old rocker went to A&E on February 20 after experiencing weakness in his leg that caused him to fall.

New Found Glory’s Chad Gilbert has had surgery to remove three brain tumoursCredit: Instagram / xchadballx
The guitarist was diagnosed with a rare adrenal cancer in 2021Credit: Instagram / xchadballx

It came three days after he struggled to control his left hand during a show in Nashville.

Taking to Instagram, Chad revealed how a CT scan showed three tumours in his brain, leading to emergency surgery to remove them.

The operation was a success and he felt improvements straight away.

He wrote on Instagram: “I regained function of my left hand immediately. My radiation oncologist described it like this: ‘this is not a fatal blow and not the end of your story, just the beginning of a new chapter.’

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“My recovery has been bumpy at times but I’m feeling much better now and getting stronger by the day.”

Chad thanked those who had checked in on his wife Lisa Cimorelli and their daughter, four, over the past month.

He continued: “More stories to come when my brain is working well again. Love you all and am looking forward to sharing more music and fun with you as we come out of this.”

Pictures accompanying the post showed him in a hospital bed at various stages in his recovery and ended with a smiling picture of him doing an activity with shapes to help his cognitive function.

Emo veterans Hawthorne Heights wrote: “We love you Chad! Keep fighting. The world is a brighter place with your riffs and positivity.”

Dashboard Confessional commented: “I love you bud.”

Another post branded Chad the “strongest man on the planet!”

Musician Chad, who was previously had a short marriage to Paramore’s Hayley Williams, was first diagnosed with cancer in December 2021 after wife Lisa found him unconscious in bed.

He was rushed to hospital and doctors found a large adrenal gland tumor that had spread to his liver. The tumour was surgically removed along with half of his liver and gallbladder.

Though he was declared cancer-free the following month, it returned in his spine in August, leading him to have a six-hour surgery to remove the affected vertebrate and replace it with an artificial disc.

There was more disheartening news the following year after nodules were discovered in his lungs.

He went through intense rounds of chemotherapy while continuing to perform and release music with New Found Glory.

The band’s latest album, Listen Up!, was released the same day Chad experienced issues with his hand on stage.

Florida rockers New Found Glory released their debut album in 1999, but it was with their third record, Sticks and Stones, that they achieved stardom.

My Friends Over You became a huge hit and the band’s lyrics inspired the names of more recent groups like All Time Low and The Story So Far.

Their success continued into the early noughties with the album Catalyst, which peaked at number three in the US, and the single All Downhill from Here.

He is recovering well following his latest opCredit: Instagram / xchadballx
Chad is the main songwriter for the punk veteransCredit: Getty
He was previously married to Paramore’s Hayley WilliamsCredit: Alamy

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Jesy Nelson says her ‘heart is super heavy’ as she shares SMA screening battle update

JESY Nelson has revealed her “heart is super heavy” as she shared an SMA screening battle update to social media.

The doting parent, 34, has been relentlessly campaigning for SMA1 screenings in England after her twins were diagnosed with the rare muscle wasting disease.

Jesy Nelson has revealed that her “heart is super heavy” as she shared an SMA screening battle update to social mediaCredit: Instagram/@jesynelson
Jesy also shared a beautiful video clip of her gorgeous daughter OceanCredit: Instagram/@jesynelson
The doting parent has been relentlessly campaigning for SMA1 screenings in EnglandCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

Jesy took to Instagram and said “Today my heart feels super heavy. It’s a very bitter sweet moment today knowing that Scotland has become the first UK nation to screen babies for SMA.

“We’re so close yet so far.

“I will never be able to understand why we are still not testing for it in England.

“To know that my girls lives and so many other children in England could look so different if this had of been there for them.

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“But never the less I will keep fighting and pushing for change because nobody should ever have to go through this heartache.”

Earlier, Jesy also shared a beautiful video clip of her daughter Ocean sitting up, as she said: “She’s proving everyone else wrong,” and that they are “going to get there.”

Jesy recently became successful in gaining over 100K signatures on her petition to fund SMA1 screenings.

The good news meant it will now be debated by MPs in the House of Commons.

Jesy has been campaigning for change and demanding the heel prick test be included in newborn health plans to help catch the condition early.

The tots have the most severe form of a rare muscle wasting disease and may never be able to walk.

The former X Factor star gave birth to her little girls prematurely at 31 weeks in May last year.

Jesy first revealed her children’s’ devastating diagnosis in an emotional video.

She has emotionally spoken out about how she could have saved her twins’ legs before their diagnosis.

It comes after the second series of her show Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix has already been confirmed and will be coming to the small screen later this year.

The popstar confirmed she’ll be fronting the follow-up programme on Amazon Prime Video focussing on her little girls’ health battle.

The singer, 34, rose to fame in the band after they were created on talent show The X Factorbut left the group in 2020 – with the girls continuing on as a three-piece following her departure.

The singer recently opened about a secret suicide attempt days before quitting the group.

Her abrupt exit from the girl band had been shrouded in mystery and she claimed her cry for help was ignored by bandmates Leigh-Anne PinnockPerrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall.

It was the second time Jesy had tried to take her own life following an overdose in 2013, which she ­previously opened up about in her NTA-winning BBC documentary Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out.

Jesy broke down in tears after reaching over 100K signatures on her petition to fund SMA1 screeningsCredit: Instagram
The former X Factor star gave birth to her little girls prematurely at 31 weeks in May last yearCredit: Instagram/JesyNelson
The beautiful tots have the most severe form of a rare muscle wasting disease and may never be able to walkCredit: Instagram/JesyNelson

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