White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood will no longer front the Marks & Spencer Christmas advert despite being involved in the promotional clip in August
12:09, 07 Nov 2025Updated 12:09, 07 Nov 2025
Aimee Lou Wood (Image: Getty Images)
Aimee Lou Wood has been ‘dropped by M&S’, according to reports. The White Lotus star was set to be the face of the new Marks and Spencer Christmas advert, but appears to have been cut from the production.
The claim comes after the retail giants are said to have initially wooed the 31-year-old actress with a huge fee. Any appearance would have seen her follow the likes of Hannah Waddingham and Sophie Ellis-Bextor in featuring in the festive fun.
However, despite appearing in the promo clip in August, Aimee is thought to have been removed by the brand who have reportedly chosen to go in a different direction.
A spokesperson for M&S told Mail Online: “We really enjoyed working with Aimee Lou Wood during the early stages of this year’s Christmas campaign – she brought great energy and creativity to the process.
“As the campaign evolved, we started to embed a new product-focused strategy under new leadership. So, rather than a single-hero advert, the campaign was reshaped around a series of festive films and influencer content-drops aligned to key seasonal shopping moments – from gifting and hosting to partywear – delivered through a social-first, multi-channel approach across social media, digital, out-of-home and print.”
It could be seen as a blow for the Stockport-born actress. However, after finding fame in Netflix’s comedy drama Sex Education, she has continued to go from strength to strength before the M&S dropping.
She also portrayed Chelsea in the third series of the Sky Atlantic drama last year. It’s thought she had signed a deal to lead the M&S ad in the summer. But with a change in direction, comes new faces.
It comes as the eagerly anticipated John Lewis advert received a mixed response. It was attempting to pull at the heartstrings with its latest offering that focuses on a father and son struggling to find the words to say how much they care about each other.
That all changes when Dad finds a present addressed to him while packing away the wrapping paper for another year on Christmas morning. This year the famous advert is soundtracked by 90s dance icon Alison Limerick’s hit Where Love Lives, with a newly reimagined version by globally acclaimed artist and producer Labrinth also featuring.
However, while some shed a tear, others blasted the production as “Depressing, boring and not very Christmassy!”
“Just seen the John Lewis Christmas advert,” one user wrote on Twitter/X. “Thought it was dull, depressing, boring and not very Christmassy,”
Another posted on the platform: “The John Lewis Christmas Advert is TERRIBLE!!! What a bunch of nonsense. Unimaginative, unfestive, rubbish. Bring back Moz the Monster or Edgar the Dragon!! #JohnLewisChristmasAdvert #JohnLewis #Rubbish.”
A third was left conflicted, writing: “John Lewis ad 2025 – I’m not sure, it’s underlying message of father son communication is great, but it’s portrayed in such a dark way, you don’t know what’s happening, it’s very vague, and not very festive at all, bordering on depressing even!”
Ben Stokes and Mark Wood will be “raring to go” in time for the Ashes, according to England pace bowler Brydon Carse.
Talismanic England skipper Stokes missed the final Test against India in July because of a shoulder injury, while express paceman Wood has not played a Test since August 2024 as a result of elbow and knee problems.
Both are looking to be fit for the first Test in Perth on 21 November, a series opener that Australia captain Pat Cummins has said he is “less likely than likely” to feature in because of a back injury.
Carse, a Durham team-mate of Stokes and Wood, said: “Ben and Woody are going well.
“I’ve been down to Loughborough in the past couple of weeks, had a couple of nights with them. Ben is looking near enough 100% fit and so is Mark. I’ve been bowling with them.
“It’s exciting to see where they have got to after their setbacks during the summer. They will be raring to go come Australia time.”
Pace bowling and the durability of the respective attacks could be a decisive factor in the outcome of a five-Test Ashes series crammed into the space of seven weeks.
With Aussie spearhead Cummins a huge doubt for Perth and possibly beyond, the home side will rely on Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland, all in their mid-30s. Beyond that, their other seamers are inexperienced or untried at Test level.
The group of fast bowlers named by England is set to be their fastest and most hostile to tour Australia in more than 50 years, albeit with some fitness doubts among them.
By the time of the first Test, Wood will not have played any competitive cricket since February. Despite that lack of action, the 35-year-old – probably the fastest bowler in the world – often claims he is at his best when fresh.
All-rounder Stokes, 34, is vital to England’s Ashes hopes, but has a history of pushing himself to breaking point. He has not completed any of England’s past four Test series and in the home summer against India his large bowling workload resulted in the shoulder injury.
Stokes and Wood are also the only pace bowlers in the England squad to have played in a Test down under before, but Carse believes the touring seamers will not suffer for their lack of time in Australian conditions.
“You can look at it two ways,” said Carse, speaking at the Toyota Professional Cricketers’ Association awards.
“Stokesy and Woody have played in Ashes series down in Australia, so they have the experience to fall back on.
“A couple of the other seamers have played in A trips out there. Hopefully that experience will allow them to feel a level of confidence going into the Ashes.”
England’s talismanic leader sat out of the final Test against India with a shoulder injury but the 34-year-old was back training in early September.
Stokes has also had two serious hamstring injuries in the past couple of years and England’s chances are likely to hinge on his availability.
He has played nine Tests in Australia and averages 28.61 with the bat, while he’s claimed 19 wickets at 40.94.
His presence is key to England’s ability to balance the side and he was arguably the pick of their bowlers this summer.
Ben Duckett (opening batter)
Tests: 38, Runs: 2,872, Average: 42.86, Centuries: Six
The 30-year-old will open the batting for England and has played a pivotal role with his counter-attacking style under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.
He’s having a fine 2024 too, averaging 60.20, but he’s yet to play a Test in Australia.
The left-hander averaged 35.66 in the five-Test home series against Australia in 2023.
Zak Crawley (opening batter)
Tests: 59, Runs: 3,313, Average: 31.55, Centuries: Five
The right-hander has come under external pressure for his place in the side after a lean couple of years, but England have stuck by him with this series in mind.
They believe the quicker, bouncier pieces in Australia will suit Crawley and his naturally aggressive style can put the hosts on the back foot.
He averaged 27.66 in three Tests on the last tour down under.
Ollie Pope (Top-order batter)
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Ollie Pope has lost the vice-captaincy to Harry Brook
Tests: 61, Runs: 3,607, Average: 35.36, Centuries: Nine
Another whose place has come under scrutiny, but having filled in as captain when Stokes was injured he was always going to be part of the group.
However, Pope has lost the vice-captaincy to white-ball skipper Harry Brook for this series.
Pope will act as the back-up wicketkeeper in case of any injury or illness to Jamie Smith.
He’s averaged 47.70 so far in 2025, but that is boosted by 171 against Zimbabwe.
The right-hander has played three Tests in Australia and averages a measly 11.16.
England’s Mr Reliable, but not always in Australia.
He may be England’s all-time leading run-scorer but he’s yet to score a century in 14 Tests in Australia.
The right-hander averages 35.68 in that time, but let’s hope that first century comes or we’ll have to deal with a naked Matthew Hayden, external walking round the MCG in Melbourne.
Harry Brook (Vice-captain and middle-order batter)
The 21-year-old is likely to be England’s spare batter. He impressed during a debut series against New Zealand last winter but has had a frustrating summer with limited opportunities.
He scored his first professional century in a one-day international against South Africa earlier this month though and England would feel comfortable picking him if needed.
Smith has been very accomplished with the gloves and bat since making his Test debut in 2024.
However, by the end of the first five-Test series this summer he did look fatigued and frazzled.
England’s aggressive style with the bat means he could spend most – if not all – days in the field in the series so it could be another learning curve on his first tour of Australia.
The wildcard in the squad, with Jacks’ two previous Tests coming in Pakistan as a second spin option in December 2022.
However, the Surrey man has been picked over Leicestershire’s Rehan Ahmed, Hampshire’s Liam Dawson or out-and-out spinner Jack Leach as the second spin option.
He will offer England depth with the bat but his spin is untested really.
He has bowled just 74 overs in the County Championship this season, taking five wickets at 38.80.
Jofra Archer (pace bowler)
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Jofra Archer took nine wickets in two Tests against India after a four-year gap between red-ball appearances for England
Tests: 15, Wickets: 51, Average: 30.62, Best figures: 6-45
Definitely the X-factor with the ball. A series of injuries have hampered Archer’s Test career but his long-awaited return against India this summer was undoubtedly a success.
He will have to be carefully managed throughout the series – and how England do that may determine their chances.
The right-armer is yet to play a Test in Australia, but enjoyed success with 22 wickets in his debut series in 2019.
Mark Wood (pace bowler)
Tests: 37, Wickets: 119, Average: 30.42, Best figures: 6-37
England’s prime speedster, but can they get him on the field? His last Test was in August 2024 and he hasn’t played any cricket since February after surgery on a knee injury.
He was targeting a couple of matches for Durham before the end of the season but that now seems unlikely. He’s been left out of the white-ball squads for New Zealand in October too so he’ll be relying on the warm-up games to get up to speed.
The right-armer picked up 17 wickets in four Tests during the last Ashes down under.
Brydon Carse (pace bowler)
Tests: Nine, Wickets: 36, Average: 30.11, Best figures: 6-42
The Durham seamer has been impressive since his debut last summer and his style of banging the ball into the pitch could bring rewards in Australia.
He is unlikely to make it through all five Tests though, so England will again have to decide where he’ll be most effective.
This will be first taste of Ashes cricket.
Gus Atkinson (pace bowler)
Tests: 13, Wickets: 63, Average: 22.01, Best figures: 7-45
The Surrey seamer provided a pretty quick reminder of his ability and threat when he returned for the final Test against India in July.
Atkinson has been superb since being introduced to the Test fold in 2024 and he looks set to take the new ball in Australia and could be the leader of the attack in his first Ashes series.
Josh Tongue (pace bowler)
Tests: Six, Wickets: 31, Average: 30.00, Best figures: 5-66
The Nottinghamshire seamer impressed against India this summer. There were questions about his ability against the top order but he grew as the series progressed and was a banker for this squad.
He played one Test in the 2023 series against Australia, taking five wickets, but this will be his first taste of conditions down under.
Matthew Potts (pace bowler)
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Matthew Potts’ previous Tests have come in England, New Zealand and Pakistan
Tests: 10, Wickets: 36, Average: 29.44, Best figures: 7-68
The outsider who has forced his way in.
It seemed like Potts had fallen out of favour but the Durham man is included over Chris Woakes, whose record overseas isn’t as strong as at home and is recovering from a shoulder injury sustained against India in August.
Potts has taken 28 wickets in 10 County Championship matches at 39.60 this summer.
This will be first taste of Ashes cricket.
Shoaib Bashir (spinner)
Tests: 19, Wickets: 68, Average: 39.00, Best figures: 6-81
The 21-year-old will be England’s frontline spinner in the Ashes.
He’s had a successful start to his Test career and became the youngest Englishman to take 50 Test wickets, but he can be expensive and has been targeted by some sides.
That is likely to be the case for some of Australia’s batters, including dangerous middle-order batter Travis Head, so how Bashir and England can limit the damage will be important.
He could also be rusty having missed the final two Tests of the summer with a broken finger. It means the warm-up games in Australia will be his only cricket in the past four months by the time the first Test starts in Perth.
The widely followed growth investor keeps making moves.
Cathie Wood is in a good groove again. The largest of the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) she manages as CEO of Ark Invest is up by 77% over the past year, crushing the market. The aggressive growth stocks she favors are in style on Wall Street, and investors are paying attention to her moves.
She did a little more buying than usual on Tuesday, adding to her funds’ existing positions in Advanced Micro Devices (AMD -0.92%), Airbnb(ABNB 1.31%), and Figma(FIG 2.27%). Let’s take a closer look at these three dynamic stocks.
1. Advanced Micro Devices
It has been a wild ride lately for AMD investors. The maker of central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and other types of microprocessors has seen its shares more than double since bottoming out in early April after the first wave of concerns about President Donald Trump’s tariffs rattled the market. However, despite that surge, the stock is barely trading 5% higher over the past year. Yes, this chipmaker has underperformed the market over the past year. No one said that investing in AMD was going to be boring.
The case for buying AMD stock these days is clear. Booming demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) means that tech players will keep building out massive new data centers to crank out resource-intensive results. AMD makes chips that propel data centers onto their AI-rendering journeys. It’s not the top dog in this niche, but there is clearly room for more than one canine here.
Image source: Getty Images.
There are some signs that AMD stock might be taking a breather — the shares have slipped by 15% from the 52-week high they touched last month. After a year of accelerating revenue growth, AMD’s top-line increase slowed to 32% in the second quarter. Management is forecasting revenue growth of just 28% year over year in the current quarter.
One analyst did downgrade the stock late last week. Erste Group’s Hans Engel feels that its valuation is elevated given the lack of improvement in its operating margins and its unimpressive returns on equity. AMD also trades now for about 27 times next year’s expected earnings, which Engel believes is a bit too high. So he replaced his earlier buy rating on the stock with a hold rating.
That valuation may seem high for a company experiencing decelerating growth, but there are external issues contributing to the drag. AMD, like others in this space, has been caught in the crossfire of the trade war, which is restricting sales of its potent Instinct MI308 GPUs into China. It’s still selling plenty of chips elsewhere, though, and its client and gaming segment is in the midst of a resurgence, with sales up 69% in the second quarter.
2. Airbnb
Airbnb shareholders could probably use a vacation. The stock is up just 4% over the past year — and trading 7% lower year to date despite 2025’s generally buoyant market environment. The top app for booking vacation properties has found revenue growth for the fourth consecutive year. However, the 13% year-over-year increase it booked in its latest quarter was its healthiest result in more than a year.
There are certainly plenty of reasons to be concerned about investing in Airbnb. Trade war rhetoric is making international travel less savory. Closer to home, more companies are requiring employees to return to working in offices, which means fewer will be able to travel — often using an Airbnb — while still getting work done remotely. The biggest area of looming concern for the company’s outlook, though, is that the U.S. economy may be softening. Consumer confidence has been dropping for the past year, and when people are worried about their finances, they may not see springing for a getaway as prudent. Meanwhile, hotel chains are hopping into Airbnb’s niche, offering standalone property rentals to loyalty club members who are pining for something different.
The good news is that Airbnb is still a moneymaker. It has generated $4.3 billion in free cash flow over the past year. Management appears to see the stock as a good deal at current prices, given that it announced a $6 billion share buyback authorization this summer. It’s trading at just 25 times forward earnings, a historical low for the travel platform operator.
3. Figma
It’s hard to consider Figma a market laggard. It priced its initial public offering (IPO) at $33 per share just two months ago. The provider of cloud-based design tools for websites, apps, and other digital platforms was 64% higher than that as of Tuesday’s close. However, because of the initial feeding frenzy around the offering — which was 40 times oversubscribed — the stock had jumped as high as $143 on its second day of trading.
Figma is not textbook cheap, but it is down more than 60% from its late July peak. Ark Invest got in on the IPO, and Wood has been adding to that position in recent weeks as the shares have moved lower.
Figma checks off a lot of boxes for growth investors. Revenue rose by 48% last year. It is decelerating this year — with year-over-year growth of 46% and 41% through the first two quarters of this year, respectively — but that’s still a healthy clip. It is in a competitive space, but it’s clearly broadening its appeal to a growing audience. It trades at a much higher earnings multiple than AMD or Airbnb, but its sharp pullback after the initial IPO pop does provide a potential entry point for investors. Wood seems to think so, at least.
Rick Munarriz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices and Airbnb. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The three members of the group remained in the woodland but moved a few metres from their previous encampment
A self-styled “African tribe” has been evicted from privately-owned land in the Scottish Borders – only to set up a new camp just metres away.
Five sheriff officers entered the makeshift encampment in woodland near Jedburgh at 08:00 while the three members of the self-proclaimed Kingdom of Kubala group were still asleep.
The group packed up their belongings and moved them the short distance to a new site in the woodland, on the other side of a wire fence.
The “tribe” have been living in the wood for several weeks despite formal attempts to remove them from the land.
The eviction order was issued by Sheriff Peter Paterson last week after the group ignored a previous instruction to leave their encampment.
They said they were reclaiming land that was stolen from their ancestors 400 years ago – but the local council said they were breaking the law.
The group have a growing online presence, with more than 100,000 followers on TikTok and Facebook, and have received worldwide media attention.
Ghanaian Kofi Offeh, 36, and Jean Gasho, 42, who is originally from Zimbabwe, first arrived in the Jedburgh area in the spring.
Describing themselves as King Atehehe and Queen Nandi, they set up camp on a hillside above the town in the Scottish Borders.
They were joined by “handmaiden” Kaura Taylor, from Texas, who calls herself Asnat.
The eviction was carried out by sheriff officers, who were supported by four police officers, on Tuesday morning.
Shouting could be heard from the woods as they woke them.
The officials remained on site for about 90 minutes, by which time the tribe’s tents had been dismantled and their possessions packed up.
The group then set up a new camp just metres away on the other side a of a wire fence.
They would not directly comment when asked by BBC Scotland what had happened.
The three previously camped on the left of the wire fence and have now moved a few metres to the right
The group claimed ancestral rights to land and insisted that the Kingdom of Kubala had been born.
Scottish Borders Council initially evicted the trio from the hillside site above Jedburgh in July.
But rather than leave the area, they moved about a mile further out of town to a woodland next to an industrial estate.
Mr Offeh previously said he was “not afraid” of the warrant for their eviction.
The land’s owners, David and Mary Palmer, successfully applied to the courts for the tribe to be evicted.
The camp is located near Jedburgh in the south of Scotland
However, Scottish Borders Council said they had failed to comply with an order to leave the land by 17:00 on Monday.
Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton said last week that the group were breaking the law by taking up residence on someone else’s land.
He said the landowner had been left with “no option” but to seek an order from the sheriff.
Mr Hamilton, deputy leader of the council, said it was disappointing – but not surprising – that the group had ignored the ultimatum to leave the site.
“They have rebuffed every opportunity to engage with us,” he said.
“We can help them, but we won’t sit back and let them break the law.”
DREAM TEAM managers have until 11am on Saturday morning to confirm their transfers for Gameweek 3.
We’ve assembled some tempting transfer targets separate from the too-obvious-to-list options for your consideration.
4
Horses for coursesCredit: Dream Team
Harvey Barnes (£4m)
Anthony Gordon (£4.5m) would have been a viable option this week had he not seen red against Liverpool on Monday night.
But Dream Team managers can follow the same logic with Newcastle’s No11.
The Magpies are due to face Leeds this Saturday with the Whites having been hammered by Arsenal in Gameweek 2.
Daniel Farke’s side were also humiliated by Sheffield Wednesday’s youngsters in the Carabao Cup.
Newcastle may have had their hearts broken by Arne Slot’s troops last time out but they showed they pack a punch even when a man down to the champions.
Barnes is a true horses-for-courses selection as he boasts a formidable record against Leeds of five goals in six Premier League appearances.
The 27-year-old should be guaranteed playing time while Gordon serves his suspension with Newcastle’s next home game also a favourable match-up in the form of Wolves.
4
Wood already has two goals to his name this seasonCredit: Reuters
Chris Wood (£4.3m)
Dream Team bosses could do a lot worse than targeting West Ham’s weaknesses at present.
The Hammers lost 3-0 to Sunderland on the opening weekend and got thrashed 5-1 by Chelsea in Gameweek 2, not to mention a Carabao Cup capitulation at Wolves.
Nottingham Forest will feel confident of a positive result against Graham Potter’s mob this Sunday and their big target man might be first in line to benefit.
Alternatively, four of their midfielders are already into double figures for points: Morgan Gibbs-White (£4.7m), Callum Hudson-Odoi (£3.7m), Dan Ndoye (£3.3m) and Elliot Anderson (£3.7m).
September brings a tricky trip to Arsenal for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men but that’s more than countered by favourable fixtures against Burnley and Sunderland.
Forest will also commence their Europa League campaign after the international break.
Dream Team bosses should ensure they have plenty of players active in Europe once the midweek fixtures start coming thick and fast.
4
Set-piece specialistCredit: Getty
Pedro Porro (£5.1m)
Both Brennan Johnson (£4.7m) and Richarlison (£3.3m) are among the most popular recruits ahead of Gameweek 3 at this stage.
And that’s perfectly understandable.
But we’re choosing to shine a light on Tottenham’s defence after two clean sheets from as many outings.
Cristian Romero (£3.6m), Micky van de Ven (£3.8m) and Djed Spence (£3.8m) are all more affordable but it feels like Porro is on the brink of a mega haul.
The Spaniard continues to take up advanced positions and, in the absence of James Maddison (£4.5m), he’s on set-pieces.
It’s worth remembering that Porro racked up a whopping 51 bonus points last season.
Spurs host Bournemouth this weekend but it’s their trip to West Ham in Gameweek 4 that looks most inviting.
4
Cunha came close against FulhamCredit: Getty
Matheus Cunha (£5m)
A pure one-week punt to finish.
Manchester United are at home to Burnley on Saturday and their new No10 will be licking his lips at the prospect.
Only two players have registered more shots than Cunha across the first two league games and the Brazilian forward is the outright leader for shots on target.
It feels as if his first goal in red is just around the corner and what better platform than Old Trafford against a newly-promoted team?
Many gaffers will feel they can’t accommodate a short-term move such as this (a Manchester derby awaits in Gameweek 4) especially with the European competitions looming large but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Cunha bagged a big double-digit haul against the Clarets.
*18+ New UK customers. Bet £10 on accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0). Get 4x £5 Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
Aug. 24 (UPI) — Classical musicians and instrument makers are warning of a looming crisis ahead of a U.S. meeting in September on Brazil’s push to ban most international trade in Paubrasilia echinata, also known as Pernambuco, the tropical hardwood used in professional violin bows that has been endangered for decades due to centuries of overharvesting.
Brazil in June formally asked the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, to transfer Pernambuco from Appendix II to Appendix I, the treaty’s highest level of protection, records show. Delegates will decide at the Nov. 24-Dec. 5 conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in the Federal Register that it would hold a public meeting on Sept. 10 to develop U.S. positions on CoP20 agenda items, including species proposals such as Brazil’s pernambuco uplisting. Written comments are due Sept. 17.
Steven Cundall, who runs the Texas-based Luthier Shop, was one of dozens of people and organizations who submitted public comments over the weekend. The violinmaker said in his comment that he would rather support strengthening protections under Appendix II rather than elevating it to an Appendix I listing.
Cundall said this would allow for expanded conservation efforts and heightened protections while avoiding the significant impact an Appendix I listing could have on the music industry, collectors, musicians, orchestras, and management authorities.
“Most antique bows as well as modern bows cannot be certified proving that they are not illegal according to the pending status change,” Cundall further explained in a Facebook post.
“String instrument musicians, collectors, quartets, orchestras, luthiers, bowmakers or anyone with uncertified Pernambuco bows will not be able to travel with their bows outside of their countries without fear of having their bows confiscated by customs authorities in CITES member nations.”
He suggested that the sale or resale of any Pernambuco bows could be prohibited in the same manner as elephant ivory.
“Bows made of Pernambuco, Brazil’s national tree, are without equal,” Yo-Yo Ma said in a statement published by the International Alliance of Violin and Bow Makers for Endangered Species.
“I urge musicians and the public to join the call for conservation and sustainable use of this precious species-there is work to be done and the world of music can play an important role.”
The fight has been years in the making. Pernambuco was first listed under CITES protection in 2007, which allowed trade but regulated it with export permits to ensure the wood was legally sourced and that trade would not endanger the species.
Since 2007, finished bows already outside Brazil have been essentially exempt, as musicians could travel and trade without paperwork. But Brazil has renewed calls for stricter controls since 2022.
In February 2023, CITES started requiring permits for finished bows exported from Brazil for the first time. Bows already abroad remain exempt from re-export permits. An Appendix I listing would go further.
In their public comment, the pianist for the Boston-based musical group called the Pernambuco Chamber Ensemble said the orchestra raises funds and awareness for conservation efforts and “certainly” supports Appendix II protections.
“But it is not reasonable to require document over 250 years of bows,” they wrote. “And obtaining CITES permits would create unworkable restrictions on travel for musicians.”
Dodger Stadium is the proud owner of the most home runs in baseball this season. The long-ball trend might not be an anomaly.
On Saturday night, the Dodgers and Washington Nationals combined for eight home runs, the most in a Dodgers game this season, but only three came off L.A. bats.
Dodgers right-hander Dustin May gave up three of those home runs, all solo shots, in a 7-3 loss to the Nationals. Andy Pages, Will Smith and Teoscar Hernández hit home runs in the fifth, sixth and ninth innings, respectively.
In the fourth inning, Nationals slugger James Wood used all of his 6-foot-7, 234-pound frame to launch a sinker from May to break a scoreless game. Pages only took one step from his position in center field as he tracked the ball off Wood’s bat — he knew where it was headed.
The 451-foot solo blast gave the Nationals a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Three-hole hitter Luis Garcia Jr. followed Wood with a solo home run.
For being middle of the pack offense — ranked 18th overall in runs scored — the Nationals flexed their muscle with their young stars. CJ Abrams socked a two-run home run in the seventh off Dodgers reliever Jack Dreyer, his second in as many games.
Washington’s Nathaniel Lowe celebrates in the dugout after hitting his second home run of the game in the eighth inning Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Wood and Abrams were acquired by the Nationals in the Juan Soto trade with San Diego in 2022.
May gave up a home run in the sixth to Nathaniel Lowe — who also hit a homer in the eighth inning for his first multi-home run game. May gave up five hits, struck out five and walked two, tossing six innings for the third time in his last five starts.
Outside of Pages, Smith and Hernández’s home runs, the Dodgers (47-31) threatened to score when Mookie Betts and Tommy Edman reached via singles in the fifth. Nationals starting pitcher Jake Irvin, however, struck out Freddie Freeman to end the threat. Irvin struck out seven and walked none in 5 ⅓ innings.
Shohei Ohtani, who will start on the mound Sunday against the Nationals (32-45) in his second pitching appearance of 2025, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.
Eight home runs at Dodger Stadium is unusual, but low humidity in L.A. could be a factor in helping hard hits soar. Climate change researchers have even pondered the effect that warmer climates could have on home runs, with a 2023 study in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society stating that more than 500 home runs since 2010 could be credited to global warming.
Across the last six seasons, Chavez Ravine has ranked top five in home runs on five occasions. In the 43 games the Dodgers have played at home in 2025, there have been an average of 3.39 home runs per game (146 home runs overall and 23 more than second-place George M. Steinbrenner Field).
Glasnow update
Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder) is scheduled to pitch two innings for triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. Relief pitcher Luis Garcia (right adductor) is set to appear for single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday as well.
Both rehabilitation outings are their first since joining the injured list.
On his first ball for England since September 2023, Luke Wood dismisses Evin Lewis lbw for a golden duck to put West Indies on 0-1 in the second T20 International in Bristol.
As a victim of ‘Babes in the Wood’ killer Russell Bishop describes how the monster has cast a dark shadow over her life, we speak to the Detective Inspector responsible for putting him behind bars
Rachael has spent decades looking after her shoulder after the horrific attack
Malcolm Bacon’s first major inquiry as a Detective Inspector was more than 30 years ago but he can remember the details as if it were yesterday. Rachael Watts was just seven years old when she was kidnapped in broad daylight before being sexually assaulted and strangled.
The schoolgirl survived against the odds and helped to convict evil Russell Bishop, who had been wrongfully acquitted of murdering Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway a few years before in the infamous ‘Babes in the Wood‘ case. Now 42, Rachael is the subject of a new Sky documentary about the impact of the monster’s attack on her life.
Retired police officer Malcolm appears in the two-part programme and is convinced Bishop would have struck again if he hadn’t been caught. “He was a psychopath, a really dangerous person who would absolutely have killed again,” he told The Mirror. “I’m fully convinced he thought he had killed Rachael. He thought he could get away with it but she turned into an incredible witness.”
Retired detective inspector Malcolm Bacon said Bishop ‘wasn’t very bright’(Image: Sky UK)
Rachael became a victim of predator Bishop in 1990, soon after moving to the Brighton area of East Sussex with her family. She had planned to roller skate to a friend’s house but bumped her head, returned home and was given a pound by her father to buy sweets from the local shop.
The schoolgirl took a wrong turn on her way home and asked a man for directions. It was Bishop, who was tinkering with his red Ford Cortina. Without saying a word in reply to her, he threw her in the boot of his car and drove his victim to a well-known beauty spot in the South Downs.
“When the information came in that a girl had been discovered at Devil’s Dyke, the main thing was to preserve the scenes,” said Malcolm. “The first ‘scene’ was Rachael herself and the second was the Dyke, which was a huge area. There were only a few roads in and out, so once we sealed them off, we were fairly happy we had a sterile area.”
When the predator reached Devil’s Dyke, he put Rachael on the back seat of his car and removed her clothing before sexually assaulting and strangling her. He then discarded her underneath some gorse bushes.
“He disposed of me like he was flytipping,” said the survivor, fighting back tears in the documentary. “Just like I was an old mattress or something, just thrown into a bush somewhere. He left me thinking I was dead.”
The terrified schoolgirl came around in the dark, and as she stumbled out of the bushes, a nearby couple who had been enjoying the sunset wrapped her in a blanket and sought help. Heartbreakingly, she asked them: “You two aren’t kidnappers, are you?”.
Rachael took off her roller skates and offered her attacker money in a bid to escape(Image: Sky UK)
The former DI is convinced Bishop thought he had killed his victim, saying: “She was strangled and suffocated to the point what’s known as petechial haemorrhages took place (tiny pinpoint spots of bleeding under the skin caused by straining for a long time) which are quite indicative of a strangle injury. Usually, they only come out at the point of death, really. That’s how close to death she was.”
The young girl’s memory of her ordeal until she was strangled unconscious would prove vital. “Rachael was a fabulous witness,” said the retired cop. “She was able to explain everything she saw, the man in the red car with a moustache. In the boot of the car, she saw a can of WD40, the same that her dad used. She found a hammer too and started banging on the boot lid.”
Incredibly, Rachael had the presence of mind to take off her roller skates in the boot of the car, to aid any chance of escape once the boot was opened. “She formulated an escape plan,” said Malcolm. “She offered Bishop the pound she had been given if he would let her go.”
Four years earlier, a double child murder had taken place in Brighton’s Wild Park, which became known as the ‘Babes in the Wood’ murders in the press after the children’s tale of the same name. Nicola and Karen were nine-year-old schoolgirls when they went out to play and never came home.
Their bodies were found in the park close to their homes the next day. They had known Rachael’s future attacker, Bishop, then 20 and a local labourer and petty criminal, and he was charged with killing them.
But the monster’s then-girlfriend, Jennifer Johnston, changed her story in the witness box after previously saying a blue sweatshirt found close to the scene had been his. And to the horror of police and psychologists involved in the case, Bishop was found not guilty by a jury at Lewes Crown Court in December 1987.
Bishop had brain cancer and died behind bars in 2022 (Image: PA)
With the predator free to roam the streets once more, the experts’ worst fears came true. Rachael was his next victim, with retired DI Malcolm describing her as an “articulate, intelligent seven-year-old girl who met a monster”. This time, Bishop wouldn’t be able to evade justice thanks in large part to the bravery of his victim, who picked him out of an identity parade and testified against him in court.
“Her first account got us all going,” said Malcolm. “The red car was mentioned in a first briefing, and an intelligence report had come through days before saying Bishop had been seen in a red car.
“He went on to admit to driving it and put himself at the point of the abduction at the relevant time. I arrested him on suspicion of kidnapping and indecent assault, and we got his car, opened up the boot and in there was WD40 and a hammer with chip marks on the boot, corresponding to what Rachael had said.”
“He tried to become chatty with us,” added the former police officer. “‘What’s going on? You trying to fit me up? Of course, it’s not me. He was a psychopath; his whole entity was to look after himself. He would try and manipulate things, but he wasn’t very bright.”
Bishop was later jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 14 years for attempted murder, kidnapping and indecent assault.
Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows’ families waited a long time for justice(Image: PA)
“He was prowling, we suspect he had been following other little girls around,” said Malcolm. “We did get another report from another girl who was followed by a man in a red car. If the circumstances were correct, she might have been another victim.”
Dubbed ‘Britain’s bravest girl’ for stopping a paedophile killer from striking again, Rachael’s life was irreparably blighted by Bishop, suffering from crippling depression, agoraphobia and complex post-traumatic stress along the way.
As a teenager, she had frequent nightmares where the predator would climb through her window and kill her. The survivor had four children and, in the course of her adult life, moved around a lot and changed her name a couple of times in a bid to remain anonymous.
But in 2022, Rachael told her children the secret she was “going to take to my grave” after Bishop died from brain cancer. Today, she’s speaking out in public to rid herself of the “boulder” of a secret that has cast a dark shadow over her life.
As for the families of the ‘Babes in the Wood’, they finally achieved some form of justice in 2018, after the 2005 scrapping of the ‘double jeopardy’ rule combined with advances in forensic technology meant evil Bishop was able to be tried for a second time. This time, he was rightfully convicted for his abhorrent crimes, receiving two life sentences and ordered to serve a minimum of 36 years behind bars.
In April last year, Nicola and Karen’s families received apologies from Sussex Police for failures in the original investigation into their murders. And in 2022, Bishop’s ex-girlfriend, Johnson, who had changed her evidence at his original trial to devastating effect, was jailed for six years for perjury and perverting the course of justice.
Watch The Girl Who Caught a Killer on Sky and streaming service NOW
