However, during the most recent episode, he made an unusual demand when it came to his funeral plans.
He told his wife: “By the way, if I do die, Mary, I want to insist on something. I don’t want Frank Sinatra’s song ‘I did it my way’.”
She replied: “You didn’t do it at all, let alone doing it your way!” The Channel 4 star also told his wife he didn’t want the song Bohemian Rhapsody played.
Mary asked: “No? What do you want?” He commented: “I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday,=.”
Laughing at his remark, she said: “You wouldn’t want that! That would be so annoying.” He added: “Annoying right until the last minute!”
It wasn’t long before people commented on his hilarious request, with one person on X saying: “Giles wanting, ‘I wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’ as his funeral song is just the most Giles thing ever. I love it, but pray it doesn’t come for many, many more years to come.”
Although Mary and Giles have been regulars on the series for 10 years, this series welcomed a plethora of fresh faces, including mother and daughter-in-law Sara and Lara, mates Jake and Calum, and family Andre, Sarah and daughter Chee.
This comes as the show bid farewell to Scottish couple Roisin and Joe, who first appeared on Gogglebox in 2022. Earlier this year, they announced they won’t be in the new series as they weren’t asked to return.
In a statement at the time, they wrote: “After three and a half years of sitting on the sofa Channel 4 have decided it’s time for Joe and I to stretch out legs and have not asked us back for season 26.
“Therefore we are leaving the Gogglebox family. We couldn’t be more grateful to Studio Lambert for the opportunity, the experience has actually been so mad and we will miss watching TV with you all on Friday nights!
“It’s been an honour to represent Scotland as some of the first Scottish people on the show and prove we don’t actually need subtitles.”
Of course, Scheffler is far from solely responsible for the foursomes defeats.
His partner Russell Henley did not cover himself in much glory during Friday’s 4&3 beating by European pair Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Henley is fourth in a world ranking system skewed by the omission of LIV golfers, but looked shaky on his Ryder Cup debut.
Even Scheffler – whose game is based on consistent driving and metronomic irons – could not dig them out of trouble.
“Scheffler and Henley certainly failed to fire but the European performance was perfect,” said former European Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson, who is analysing the Bethpage action for BBC Radio 5 Live.
“They made the Americans earn everything and they really couldn’t come up with the goods.
“The Americans put on a little spell at the end there, they had a little bit of life coming but it just wasn’t enough and it was far too late.”
Scheffler was bullish afterwards, saying he felt his pairing did “some good things”.
“We just didn’t hole enough putts early. We had some chances. I think the putts just didn’t fall,” he added.
On Friday afternoon, he aimed to make amends in the fourballs alongside debutant JJ Spaun.
Whether he will get another chance in the Saturday foursomes remains to be seen.
The outdoor experts at Go Outdoors analysed TripAdvisor reviews and average rainfall to reveal the best places for an autumn walk, with the Forest of Dean coming out on top
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The Forest of Dean is the place to go for an autumnal walk(Image: Getty Images)
A pretty forest with little rainfall is the best spot in the country for an autumn walk, according to Go Outdoors.
The outdoor experts analysed TripAdvisor reviews and average rainfall to reveal the best places for an autumn walk.
Taking the top spot as the best place for an autumn walk is the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, with a score of 9.3 out of 10. The forest boasts a TripAdvisor rating of 4.8 out of 5, and it’s clear that visitors are drawn to it during the autumn, with 84 reviews mentioning the word ‘autumn’.
This ancient forest has changed many times over the centuries. In medieval times, it was a royal hunting forest, before becoming a source of timber for the navy’s Tudor warships. By the Victorian era it was a major site of industry, with coal mining and tramways punctuating the landscape.
Winkworth Arboretum came in at number two(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
In 1938 the forest made history when it was designated the first National Forest Park. While it is primarily a tourist spot today, it remains a working forest, producing sustainable timber for the UK market.
The Forest of Dean is also a stronghold for nature, harbouring large areas of woodland and open spaces which provide a mosaic of habitats for a wide variety of wildlife.
Following in second place is Winkworth Arboretum, with a score of 8.51 out of 10. With over three quarters (78.2%) of reviews mentioning ‘autumn’, it is clear that the Surrey-based arboretum comes to life during this season.
Managed by the National Trust, it is home to over 1,000 tree species, with many changing colour in the autumn months. With relatively low rainfall, averaging just 62mm from September to November, visitors can generally expect drier conditions for their autumn strolls.
Rounding out the top three is Derbyshire’s Padley Gorge, with a score of 8.35 out of 10. Home to beautiful wooded landscapes, this gorge thrives in autumn, with nearly one in four (23.9%) reviews mentioning ‘autumn’.
The gorge also has various easy-to-moderate trails, including the Padley Gorge and Burbage Brook walk, making it an accessible destination for walkers of all levels to explore in this season.
Natalie Wolfenden, author and hiking enthusiast at Go Outdoors, said: “There is still so much to explore when summer comes to an end. The UK’s natural beauty comes to life in the autumn months, with the leaves shifting colour and the changing wildlife, I simply love it!
“To fully enjoy your autumn stroll, preparation is key. Layers are essential in the autumn months as they can be added or removed depending on the weather conditions on the day. What’s more, rain can come when least expected, so be sure to wear a good pair of walking shoes as well as packing a waterproof jacket and trousers. This will help you make the most of your walk, no matter what the weather throws at you.”
Speaking to the Special Forces staff on the show, an emotional Adam explains how he was diagnosed with depression.
He struggles to get his words out before saying: “One of them was with my partner…and…we, erm lost something…when it was really close to getting there a second time and telling everyone.”
As the tears fall, the staff clarify that he’s talking about a miscarriage and Adam nods.
Read More on Celebrity SAS
He adds: “I think I was proud of the fact that I was excited for it, which I didn’t think I ever would be.
“And when it got taken away, and it was 10 times worse for her, I think it hit us like a tonne of bricks.
“We just really, really went to a bit of a bad place. And to be honest, in front of her I pretended I was cool, and pretended I was absolutely fine.”
Later in the episode, the tears flow again as the celebrities are tasked with reading out their ‘death letters’, which they were asked to write to their loved ones.
As Adam stands up to read his out, he pays tribute to Laura and how much he is thinking of her, before saying: “The last few months have been really tough, but nowhere near as tough as you.
Adam continues to read: “We lost a baby recently” but then starts to sob, as his co-stars look just as emotional, not knowing what he had been through until that moment.
Laura Woods gives birth to first child with Adam Collard as couple reveal sweet name in adorable post
He says: “I wish I had one more night to give you the world’s biggest cuddle. Love you always, Adam.”
Conor Benn then goes over to give Adam a cuddle, who sheds more tears as he is consoled over his loss.
In a piece to camera, Adam praised Laura, saying: “I’d say I’m pretty closed off as a person and she definitely helped me to open up.”
MISCARRIAGE is generally the death of an unborn baby in the first 24 weeks – approximately six months – of pregnancy.
Miscarriages may not be spoken about a lot but they are very common. Baby loss charity Tommy’s estimates there are at least 250,000 per year in the UK and that one in every five pregnancies ends in miscarriage.
It may not be clear why a miscarriage happens but they are rarely caused by anything done by the mother or father. Usually the embryo has a random genetic defect that means it cannot develop properly.
Most women can go on to successfully have healthy babies in the future.
The NHS says most miscarriages cannot be prevented but avoiding smoking, alcohol and drugs while pregnant can reduce the risk.
Some of the other most common reasons for a pregnancy to fail in the first 24 weeks are ectopic pregnancy and molar pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy is where a fertilised egg implants somewhere outside of the womb, usually in a fallopian tube. It cannot survive and grow there so either dies naturally or must be terminated.
Molar pregnancy is rarer but happens when a fertilised egg and/or placenta does not develop properly at the start of a pregnancy. There is no single reason why it happens and cannot be prevented, though it may be more common in very young or old mothers.
A baby who dies after 24 weeks is considered a stillbirth.
Source: NHS
5
Adam is very emotional as he speaks about what they went through
5
The couple welcomed son Leo in January following their previous heartacheCredit: Instagram
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 4 with all episodes available to plus members on Channel4.com
Even after he had climbed to the top of the world rankings, there were some doubts about Scheffler’s game.
The statistics proved he was the best from tee to green. They also proved he was among the worst with the putter.
In late 2023, a call was made to English putting guru Phil Kenyon – whose client list is a who’s who of major champions – in a bid to improve with the flatstick.
Attention was particularly paid to Scheffler’s reading of the greens and increasing the stability of his grip.
Switching to a claw grip – where the right hand acts as a pincer lower down the shaft – has transformed Scheffler into one of the most reliable putters in the game.
The tweak helped him become the first player to defend the PGA Tour’s Players Championship, win a second Masters, Olympic gold and five other titles in a stellar 2024 that also had echoed Woods.
Leading the putting statistics after three rounds at Portrush, having holed 97% of his putts inside five feet and 90% of those within 10 feet, put him in command. He holed putts of 14, 15 and 16 feet on Sunday.
“[The grip] was something we tested out last year and felt comfortable from the start,” Scheffler said.
“I use it as we get closer to the hole, lag putting. Outside of 15 to 20 feet, I’m still putting conventional.
“It was something we felt could help us improve, and so far it has.”
While improved putting has taken Scheffler to Woods-esque heights, will it help him move closer to replicating his iconic predecessor’s achievements over the longer term? That remains to be seen over the coming years.
Laura Woods is one of the most recognisable faces on TV when it comes to football presenting
Inside Laura Woods’ life off screen including Love Island star fiancé
The Women’s Euro 2025 has officially kicked off, with an exciting tournament expected as the Lionesses strive to retain their European Champions title.
Wales have also made their first appearance in the competition, having qualified for the first time.
The tournament got underway on Wednesday, July 2, at the Arena Thun stadium and will host 34 matches before a champion is crowned.
England and Wales will join 14 other nations in the quest to lift the trophy on July 27.
The final will be held at St Jakob-Park stadium in Basel, Switzerland, conveniently located near the Eurovision final venue.
ITV has announced Laura Woods as part of its punditry team, following her successful stint covering major sporting events on the channel.
Laura Woods is now back presenting after she took a break during her pregnancy(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
The 36 year old, originally from Dagenham in London, is also well-known for hosting talkSPORT’s breakfast show, where she formed a brilliant partnership with co-presenter Ally McCoist, reports Lancs Live.
Laura commanded the 6am-10am breakfast slot on talkSPORT for three years, during which she garnered several awards, including the esteemed ARIAS Best Speech Breakfast Show and the SJA Sports Presenter of the Year twice.
In July 2023, Laura revealed she was leaving talkSPORT to take up the role of lead presenter for TNT Sports’ Champions League and boxing coverage. She also covered the Olympics and some Premier League matches.
Laura Woods is a presenter for TNT sports
Laura embarked on her television career in 2009, beginning as a runner at Sky Sports before working her way through numerous positions within sports broadcasting.
She has now established herself as one of the most familiar figures in English football presentation, progressing through the ranks at Sky Sports to secure prominent roles as both presenter and touchline reporter for their Premier League coverage.
Laura’s expertise eventually led her beyond Sky Sports as demand for her presenting talents grew. She joined DAZN to front Women’s Champions League and Matchroom boxing coverage, whilst also spearheading ITV’s Women’s World Cup presentation.
Despite her passionate Arsenal allegiance, Laura was drawn to TNT Sports’ fan-focused philosophy.
Discussing her excitement about the position, she revealed: “I think the thing that sold me the most was they want to be near the fans, they want to be by the fans. And I think for me as a presenter, what I’ve really enjoyed is that rough and ready presenting. Going to the ground, being amongst the fans – it’s different, isn’t it? You can’t replicate it in a studio.”
Buy the new Lionesses Euro 2025 kit
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The Lionesses are among the favourites to win this summer’s Women’s Euros and the new official kit is out now. Fans can snag home, away and a new goalkeeper shirts in time for the tournament.
Laura Woods and Adam Collard welcomed their first baby together in January, 2025(Image: Instagram/laurawoodsy)
Laura’s family life
Away from the cameras, Laura and former Love Island star Adam Collard welcomed their first child together, son Leo Ernie Collard, in January 2025.
The pair went public with their romance in October 2023 before becoming engaged twelve months later in St Ives, Cornwall – described as the “place they fell in love”.
Last summer, Laura made the personal choice to keep her pregnancy under wraps while covering Euro 2024 for ITV, despite being in the know.
Speaking to The Times, she confessed: “It was constant, the morning sickness was quite difficult to battle and I was exhausted all the time.
“It didn’t matter how much sleep you actually got, you’d still be knackered. At least there were rest days when I was able to just chill out in my [hotel] room.
“I would have liked to keep it quiet for a little bit longer but I really felt like I couldn’t any more and now I’ve done it it’s a relief.”
Alex Corbisiero during the Lions’ tour of Australia in 2013(Image: Getty)
Laura Woods’ rugby ex
Before finding love with her current partner Adam, Laura had a long-standing relationship with Alex Corbisiero, an ex-England rugby star known for his participation in the triumphant 2013 Lions tour of Australia.
The duo ended their eight-year romance, with Laura indicating that they were too close for comfort, leading to her decision to part ways.
Alex, who has celebrated Premiership glory, bravely battled testicular cancer diagnosed in 2019 and joyfully shared his two-year cancer-free milestone on social media in 2022.
He is currently imparting his expertise as a scrum coach for San Diego Legion and contributes to rugby broadcasting stateside.
Charlie Woods has taken a big first step out of his father’s immense shadow in the golfing world.
The 16-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods made a huge statement this week by winning the American Junior Golf Association’s Team TaylorMade Invitational at Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, Fla. He shot a 15-under-par 201 (70-65-66) to finish three shots ahead of a trio of players tied for second place.
“Being able to say to myself that I’ve won in an absolutely amazing event and to say I preformed under some high, high pressure situations is just huge going forward,” Charlie Woods said afterward, “because I haven’t been able to say that I have done that. And now that I can, it is just a big thing for my mental game going forward.”
Currently ranked as the No. 609 boys junior player in the U.S., Woods is expected to move into the top 20 next week, after topping a 71-player field that featured four golfers who currently rank in the AJGA’s top five. That includes top-ranked Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., who finished six shots behind Woods and in seventh place with a nine-under 207.
Playing in his first AJGA invitational, Woods finished the event with 26 birdies — the most ever at an AJGA Invitational, based on information available to the organization — to go with one eagle. He was tied for 14th place after Monday’s opening round but had pulled into a tie for second going into Wednesday’s final round.
“I didn’t look at the leaderboard once today,” said Woods, who gained fully exempt AJGA status with his victory.
A sophomore at Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Fla., Woods finished tied for 25th at the prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley (a tournament that counts toward the AJGA rankings but is not an AJGA-sanctioned event) in March.
He and his father have competed in the parent-child PNC Championship every December since 2020. They finished as runners-up in 2021 and 2024, with Charlie Woods notching his first hole-in-one at the most recent event.
Aimee Lou Wood has named a critically acclaimed film that is currently available to stream for free in the UK
Comedian takes aim at ‘cheap shot’ SNL sketch on Aimee Lou Wood
Aimee Lou Wood has revealed one of her top film picks that UK viewers can stream for free.
The much-admired film is presently available on Channel 4 and promises to touch your heart in just a little over an hour.
The cherished British actress, known for her roles in The White Lotus and Sex Education, recently popped into the Criterion Closet to chat about some of her most treasured films.
She highlighted Céline Sciamma’s touching work on the themes of youth and bereavement, Petite Maman, labelling it as a ‘heartbreaking’ film that’s a must-see.
With the film’s critical praise and its brief runtime of 70 minutes, available at no cost on Channel 4, it’s easy to fit into your viewing schedule before it disappears from the service, reports the Express.
A young girl meets a mysterious friend while struggling with the loss of her grandmother(Image: (Image: Pyramide Distribution))
While discussing her top picks, Wood acknowledged Thelma and Louise, accessible on Prime Video in the UK, and Petite Maman as two standout movies.
Speaking about the celebrated French creation from 2021, she referred to it as “the sweetest, most haunting, beautiful film and it just tears me apart.
“It’s just mums, mums. Anything about mums gets me right in the ticker. I love my mum, I’ve got her name tattooed on my arm.
“And I also love [Sciamma’s] Portrait of a Lady on Fire, so I love all of her movies, so she’s just one of my faves.”
For those needing more persuasion, cinephiles have shared glowing five-star feedback supporting Wood’s enthusiasm for Petite Maman.
One enthusiast exclaimed over the motion picture, celebrating it as “A beautiful, tender hug of a film.
“And refreshing to have a film mainly from a child’s point of view. The child actors were wonderful. As was the pace of the film. Perfection.”
This gem of a movie is currently streaming on Channel 4(Image: (Image: Pyramide Distribution))
Another fan commented: “Mysterious, enchanting and very unusual. It draws you into their world and makes you ask questions. Very poignant. I wanted more!”
Meanwhile, a fan on Letterboxd raved: “What Céline Sciamma achieves in a mere 72 minutes is dumbfounding.”
They added: “A moving and tender portrait of familial relationships told through a fantastical but still grounded lens of time travel. My heart is full and I wept as the credits rolled. Sciamma is truly a master of the craft.
“I hope every living soul gets a chance to watch this.”
These glowing reviews make Petite Maman a must-watch for the week.
WASHINGTON — Markets rejoiced this week over news that the Trump administration, after six weeks of maximalist rhetoric, had struck a preliminary deal with China to lower tariff rates between the two countries. Tech stocks led the rally, with investors hopeful that President Trump had finally retreated from plans for a protracted trade war with a vital trading partner.
But the celebration may be premature, industry insiders, foreign diplomats and market experts said, telling The Times that Silicon Valley will face strong headwinds in the months ahead — the makings of a perfect storm of uncertainty that could still tip the U.S. economy into recession.
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Investigation at Commerce
Wall Street reacted with similar exuberance last month on word that tech products, such as smartphones and computers, would be exempt from Trump’s 145% tariffs on China — a figure that was reduced in the deal struck on Monday to 30%, marking a significant reduction, but still far higher than tariffs have ever been on Chinese imports.
And yet the April 12 White House announcement outlining exemptions was widely misunderstood as a walk-back. In fact, those tech products, including the iPhone, are exempted from existing tariff rates only temporarily, because the Commerce Department is conducting an ongoing review of whether to impose separate import duties on the sector over specific national security concerns.
The investigation, under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, is progressing, with the Commerce Department recently ending its acceptance of public comments. The department, led by Secretary Howard Lutnick, could issue findings anytime in the coming months, alongside a tariff rate of unknown size that may severely affect Silicon Valley companies.
The review is causing uncertainty in its own right. But Lutnick has indicated that action is forthcoming. He has repeatedly advocated for the iPhone to be manufactured in the United States — a process that would require a large, skilled workforce in high-tech manufacturing produced by the very universities being targeted by the Trump administration, and would substantially increase the price of computing products for American households.
Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary who has earned greater confidence than Lutnick from the business community, is the one leading trade negotiations with China, where many of those products are made. That has Silicon Valley executives questioning which one of them is in charge, and whom they should be speaking with, according to one tech executive, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly.
“The core issue for Silicon Valley lies in the uncertainty and potential cost disruption these bring to critical technology components, especially semiconductors,” said Subhajyoti Bandyopadhyay, a professor of information systems and operations management at the University of Florida.
“While ostensibly about national security, the application of these investigations can introduce significant volatility into supply chain planning and investment decisions. Companies might hesitate to commit to certain sourcing strategies if there’s a persistent threat,” he added. “All of which is to say that there will be quite a bit of turbulence ahead for strategic planners of Silicon Valley firms.”
Looming battle with Europe
Announcing the reduction in trade tensions with China on Monday, Trump turned his attention to the European Union, another major trading partner, and levied a threat.
“The European Union is in many ways nastier than China,” the president said. “They’ll come down a lot. You watch. We have all the cards. They treat us very unfairly.”
But the Europeans believe they have some cards, as well.
Trump’s focus on trade with Europe has been on tangible goods, such as agricultural products, manufactured items, pharmaceuticals and cars — a grouping of products that on their own would show a significant U.S. trade deficit with the continent. But European officials use different math. They want to account for European use of U.S. digital services to level the playing field.
One European official, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said that the taxation of digital services — such as online advertising, social media platforms and streaming services — is expected to be a “significant” component of the upcoming negotiations.
“Silicon Valley should be very concerned,” said Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. “The U.S. really stands to lose if there are certain tariffs that are brought to services, and I think people in the U.S. understand that, and would try to prevent it from happening.”
Targeting the U.S. digital sector offers Europe potent leverage in negotiations with the Trump administration, not only because it represents such a large portion of the American economy, but also because it applies acute pressure on Trump’s political allies in Silicon Valley — a tactic that could ultimately persuade him to cave.
“Trump blinked on the China tariffs at least in part because China aggressively retaliated,” Strain said. “That will be interesting to watch if other trading partners modify their strategy: learning that punching the bully in the nose is the right thing to do.”
Rates remain high on China
One of Trump’s first calls on Monday morning after announcing his temporary truce with China was to Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook. “He’s going to be building a lot of plants in the United States for Apple,” Trump said. “We look forward to that.”
Apple can’t build them fast enough. Although it committed $500 billion in investments over the next four years in U.S. production, including new plants and a manufacturing academy, uncertainty in the interim will force the company to make hard decisions on its product lines.
Despite some protection from the exemptions in place as the Commerce investigation proceeds, the California tech giant still faces hurdles from the tariffs that remain high across supply chains — not just in China, where rates remain at 30%, but also elsewhere in Asia, including India and Vietnam, which face 10% import duties. In the most recent earnings call, before the China deal was announced, Cook estimated that Apple could incur a $900-million hit from tariffs.
“For companies like Apple, and indeed much of Silicon Valley, this overall environment isn’t just about weathering a storm; it’s about fundamentally rethinking global operations,” Bandyopadhyay said. “We’re already witnessing the strategic pivots.”
To offset the costs of tariffs, Apple could increase the prices of iPhones in the fall. But the company also has to walk a fine line both politically and financially. The Trump administration has been critical of companies such as Amazon that have considered showing consumers the impact of tariffs.
“This is all sort of a game of poker, and also remember, Tim Cook is 10% politician, 90% CEO,” said Dan Ives, a Wedbush Securities analyst who covers the technology sector.
Ives said the upcoming iPhone 17 could cost $100 more than the current model, but his firm estimates that could reduce demand by 5%, delaying consumers’ purchases of new devices. Other analysts said it is tough to say if prices will increase, with the smartphone maker keeping prices relatively stable in recent years.
The debate over Apple’s fate has proved to be a sensitive point in U.S. negotiations with Beijing. Last month, the Chinese Foreign Ministry recirculated a video from a visit Cook made to China in 2017, in which he explained why Silicon Valley companies find themselves so reliant on the Chinese supply chain.
“The popular conception is that companies come to China because of low labor costs. I am not sure what part of China they go to, but the truth is China stopped being a low-labor-cost country many years ago,” Cook said at the time. “The reason is because of the skill, the quantity of skill in one location, and the type of skill it is.”
“The products we do require really advanced tooling and the precision that you have to have in tooling and working with materials that we do are state-of-the-art,” he added. “If you look at the U.S., you could have a meeting of tooling engineers and I’m not sure we could fill a room. In China, you could fill multiple football fields.”
Times staff writer Queenie Wong in San Francisco contributed to this report.
