years

The original Traitors star Amanda Lovett left fans in shock as she sported a fresh faced new look during her appearance on Uncloaked alongside stars including Charlotte Church

She became a fan favourite as one of the original Traitors on the BBC show until she was eliminated after her co-star Wilfred Webster turned on her. But now the Amanda Lovett, 57, has set tongues wagging once again following her recent appearance on the BBC show’s spin-off programme Uncloaked.

Amanda Lovett appeared on Friday’s episode of The Traitors Uncloaked with Ed Gamble, Charlotte Church and the most recent banished star of this series, Fiona. But it was her fresh-faced appearance that made viewers take a second look as she appeared completely different to her previous TV stint, while on the first series of the show.

It has been reported that Amanda has taken great care to look after her skin with the use of creams and non-invasive procedures in a bid to tighten her face, resulting in a more youthful look. One fan wrote: “Sorry but amanda looks PHENOMENAL #TheTraitors.” Another said: “What on earth has happened to Amanda #TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUK #Uncloaked.”

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Meanwhile a third person added: “Uncloaked – how the f*** does Amanda not look ANYTHING like Amanda?!?!” A fourth penned: “Amanda (S1) looks 20 years younger on uncloaked omgg.” Previously, the mum of five, who is also a grandmother claimed that her treatments were only temporary and so she made the decision to undergo a neck and lower facelift.

At the time she said: “I was looking at myself on the camera, and I kept seeing myself at all these different angles that I had never seen before, as it’s so different to having a picture taken. I noticed my face and neck were just getting saggier and saggier.” She added: “I started to think about needing to wear a scarf or polo necks just to hide this area of my body that I didn’t like. But then I thought, ‘why should I do that when there is help out there that can sort this issue out and take the years back a bit?'”

The procedure is believed to have cost an estimated £7,600 and reportedly took up to five hours while awake under local anaesthetic. Recalling the procedure, she said: “I was a bit apprehensive at first – I wondered how bad it would be choosing to be awake rather than asleep, but it really wasn’t that bad. It felt like a lot of tugging, pulling and tugging. I found it comforting – I even dozed off at one point.”

The recovery period took three to four weeks according to the reality TV star as she waited for the swelling to go down. But her full recovery took three months. She added: “It takes time to heal, but I was back going out with friends after three weeks. Now I haven’t got a scar or anything. It’s absolutely amazing.”

Fans of The Traitors recently complained to BBC bosses as they felt the programme Uncloaked was spoiling the main show by giving away key pointers. The spin off show airs shortly after the main show and invites the murdered contestants and those who have been banished, as well as celebrities to discuss the recently aired show.

But at the end of the Uncloaked, show host Ed Gamble teases his guests and viewers have noticed that he usually gives an insight into who will be the next person to leave. During Friday’s episode featuring Charlotte Church and Amanda, they were invited to discuss Fiona’s exit and their appearance was shown on Thursday night’s episode of the spin off show, leaving some fans to figure out the outcome before the main show aired.

Taking to Twitter one person said: “So I worked out a theory last night, and I didn’t tweet it because I didn’t want to spoil tonight’s show but, alas, it came true. Regarding #Uncloaked, their guests keep spoiling the show, and I’m tweeting this so they hopefully see it and stop it!! @BBC.”

Another person said: “They have themed guests, and the pattern is too obvious. For example, Mark was on last night after Amanda got banished by chance, because he was banished by chance too. The other guest was Fozia, murdered face to face… just like Maz.”

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It’s been a steady progression by Onley since the London-born cyclist joined the Netherlands-based team, Team Picnic–PostNL, in 2023.

His first individual professional win came the following January in an uphill finish on stage five of the 2024 Tour Down Under, ultimately finishing fourth overall.

Onley, though, came into that year’s Tour de France “just trying to go for stage results, which meant there is certain days when I would sit up and take it a bit easier”.

That was with the knowledge that he was not in a position “to be fighting for a top-five finish overall”.

That all changed last year.

“It really feels like it came quite quickly in the last few months before the Tour,” he said.

“Everything started to click into place and so I was starting to gain a lot more confidence in myself as well.”

While he was initially targeting stage wins in his second Tour de France, with the general classification being a secondary aim, it soon became clear that a podium finish was a possibility.

Onley would finish just over a minute behind third-placed Florian Lipowitz of Germany. Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard was eight minutes in front in second, while winner, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia, was 12 minutes better off.

“I still feel very far away,” the Scot said as he looked forward to the coming season. “To the front two, there is a big gap from the rest of us, but I definitely feel that, in the next couple of years, a podium finish is definitely possible if things go the right way for me.

“And there’s also two other Grand Tours in Italy and Spain where sometimes the competition’s slightly less deep. If it goes the right way, then why can’t I try to win one of those?”

One of the co-owners of the Swiss bar where 40 people died in a fire on New Year’s Eve has been detained.

Sources told Swiss media that Jacques Moretti, a French national, was a potential flight risk.

The blaze at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana left 116 people injured. Many of the victims were aged under 20.

It emerged this week that the bar in the ski resort had not undergone safety checks for five years.

Jacques Moretti and his French wife Jessica, who own the bar together, had been placed under criminal investigation by Swiss prosecutors.

They are both suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence, the prosecutors’ office in Valais said.

The prosecutors have said they believe the fire started when people celebrating the New Year raised champagne bottles with sparklers attached, setting light to sound-insulating foam on the ceiling of the basement bar.

On Friday, Switzerland staged a minute of silence on a national day of mourning for the victims of the fire.

Church bells then rang across the country for five minutes.

Trains and trams came to a halt and Zurich airport briefly paused operations.

At a local commemoration staged in Crans-Montana, there was a standing ovation for firefighters.

WHEN it comes to holiday heartbreak, there’s only one place to get back on track, and it has white sand beaches and clear waters.

One TUI agent who has worked at the Penarth store for 31 years reveals there’s only one place to heal a broken heart.

TUI agent Hannah Sterling said: “Thailand. It works for everyone, but especially for people going through relationship changes. I’ve seen it work magic for hundreds of my customers over the years.”

“The beauty of Thailand is that it offers exactly what both groups need, just in different ways. For newly singles, it’s the perfect solo travel training ground.”

Hannah continued: “Don’t underestimate the power of Thailand for relationship transitions. It’s not just a beach destination – it’s a place that genuinely changes people.”

She carried on to say one of the biggest draws is “stunning beaches” and “incredible food”.

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For solo travellers, Hannah suggests starting with beaches that will be slightly busier like Railay Beach near Krabi.

Another spot is the popular island of Phuket where Hannah said there’s a good mix of solo travellers and couples.

Hannah’s advice for newly single travellers is to learn a few Thai phrases so you can order dinner, or try some bold activities like taking on a “surf lesson”

You get everything with Thailand from big and bustling cities like Bangkok to the beautiful island of Phuket.

One Travel Writer, Hope Brotherton, visited Phuket and here’s what she found: “When I touched down in Phuket, I was immediately greeted by the vibrancy of the island and my senses were somewhat overwhelmed by the sounds and sights.

“The mountainous island is framed by magnificent beaches like Rawai Beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kamala Beach, Kata Yai Beach, Kata Noi Beach and Mai Khao Beach. There’s also Bangtao Beach, which stretches for 8km and is home to soft white sand and crystal clear water.”

She added: “All the major beaches in Phuket like Patong Beach, Kata Beach, Karon Beach and Nai Han Beach offer instruction and equipment for diving, snorkelling, windsurfing and sailing.”

Another option is Koh Samui, an island which Travel Reporter Alice Penwill visited last year.

The island not only has incredible beaches and hotels, but lots of nightlife – Chaweng Beach has lively beach clubs with fire shows and music.

The best time to visit Thailand is between November and early April – so you can set off as soon as tomorrow.

During this time of year, temperatures average between 32 and 36C, and there are up to nine hours of sunshine every day.

One-way flights from London Heathrow to Phuket in January, start from £275 with a stopover in Shanghai.

TUI offers package holidays to Phuket, the cheapest being in Maikhao Palm Beach Resort which starts from £1369pp in January – which works out as £195 per night.

It’s a 7-night stay from January 26, 2026 with flights Manchester Airport staying in a Deluxe Double Room with bed and breakfast.

The resort has 225 elegant rooms, gardens, traditional Thai-Lanna architecture and a pool.

For more, here are 10 top solo holiday trips from Moroccan retreats and exotic islands to UK walking tours and no-fly cruising.

Plus, here are five winter sun holiday destinations where you can get more for your money – and the expert guide to each.

KATHERINE Ryan has made a candid confession about motherhood, just three months after welcoming baby daughter Holland.

The comedian, 42, is a mum-of-four and also shares kids Fred, four, and Fenna, three, with her husband Bobby Koostra, while her 16-year-old daughter Violet is from a previous relationship.

And now, Katherine has hinted that there will be no more children to come – something which wasn’t an easy decision.

Sharing a snap of baby Holland in her arms to Instagram, Katherine wrote: “Meanwhile, I gave away a bunch of newborn clothes today and it was heartbreaking.

“I’ve been addicted to pregnancy for give years and giving it up is tough.”

Back in October last year, Bobby described his partner Katherine as the “MVP ” and “Patrick Mahomes of child birth” – referencing the American football player’s famously strong performance on the field.

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In the post, which announced the birth of their daughter Holland, he shared a picture of Katherine sipping on a glass of champagne and revealed she had given birth in just 45 minutes.

Previously, Katherine admitted to The Sun that she “loved” having children and wanted to keep going for as long as possible.

She said in February last year: “I love having children. You can make people – it’s magic.”

“So I’d like as many as we can until it becomes an issue where I can’t spend time with the ones I already have. I think that’s the balance.”

Talking before she had Holland, Katherine continued: “One more, at least, and then if I felt like I had enough attention or life left in me – because I’m also getting old and tired – then I think I’d like five or six children.

“And I do have a Kardashian mindset, in that when I’m gone, or I’m no longer of interest and I’ve got my little pied-à-terre in Marylebone and I’m alone – an eccentric elderly woman watching musical theatre by myself while Bobby’s inside – it’d be so nice for the siblings to get together and have this life beyond me.”

However, parenthood hasn’t been smooth sailing for Katherine either.

Last year, she admitted how “sleep deprived, tired and hungry” both she and Bobby were while juggling their brood.

Appearing on Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo’s podcast, Newlyweds, she said: “It really tests your relationship. 

“You used to be the most important person in each other’s lives, you cease to be the most important person in each other’s lives. There’s a shift in, you know, roles and responsibilities and focus. 

“You’re both tired and you’re hungry and you’re sleep deprived – that’s how they torture prisoners. I haven’t slept in four years, but I’m kind of fine with it.”

With three kids under five, the sleep is unlikely to come back just yet!

That escalated quickly. We’re barely into 2026, and events are already unfolding that could meaningfully reshape the political landscape.

The death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother and U.S. citizen who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday, has the potential to shake the political landscape in ways reminiscent of George Floyd’s killing in 2020.

The Trump administration initially claimed Good “weaponized her vehicle” in an act of “domestic terrorism,” an account that appears to be contradicted by video evidence. Whether the incident escalates into a broader political reckoning — or fades from public attention — may determine its lasting effect on President Trump’s popularity and his immigration policies.

Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to invade Venezuela and capture then-President Nicolás Maduro remains controversial, even among some of his fans.

The attack drew immediate criticism from Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson and Laura Loomer, with Carlson and Loomer going so far as to float the claim that Maduro’s ouster was really about imposing gay marriage on Venezuela (this is impressive, because it manages to combine foreign policy, culture war panic and complete nonsense into a single sentence).

But this schism isn’t limited to ex-House members, podcasters and conspiracy theorists. Inside the administration, the balance of power appears to be tilting away from the noninterventionists and toward the hawks — at least, for now.

The current beneficiary of this shift is Secretary of State Marco Rubio. As recently as last month, JD Vance, who has generally staked out an anti-interventionist posture, seemed like Trump’s obvious heir. Now, Rubio’s stock is up (if “Lil Marco” falls short, he can always settle for Viceroy of Venezuela).

That’s not to say Rubio is anywhere near being Trump’s clear successor. Venezuela could disappear from the headlines as quickly as it arrived, buried beneath the next crisis, scandal or social media outburst. Or it could go sideways and dominate headlines for years or decades.

Military adventurism has an uncanny habit of doing exactly that.

If Venezuela turns into a slow-motion disaster, Democrats will reap the benefits as will the GOP’s “America First” contingent.

But January hasn’t just presented a possible touchstone for Republicans; Democrats have been hit with their own challenge, too: the Minnesota fraud scandal, which has already pushed Democratic Gov. Tim Walz out of a reelection bid. It is the kind of story that reinforces voters’ worst suspicions about their party.

During the past five years, parts of Minnesota’s Somali diaspora became entangled in alleged fraudulent activity, reportedly submitting millions of dollars in claims for social services that were not actually rendered.

The details are complicated; the implications are not. Public programs retain support only when voters believe they are competently managed, and this story suggests the opposite.

The fact that the scandal involves the Somali community makes it even more combustible. Fair or not, it provides ready-made ammunition for those eager to stoke racial resentment, discredit refugee policies and turn bureaucratic failure into an indictment on Democrats.

The fallout extends well beyond Minnesota. Kamala Harris has been signaling interest in another presidential run, and Walz was her vice-presidential pick in what was already a truncated and awkward campaign. That decision alone won’t sink a future bid for her, but it certainly doesn’t strengthen her already dubious case that she has exceptional political judgment.

More troubling for Democrats is the fear that Minnesota is the tip of the iceberg. Walz’s exodus was sparked by a right-wing YouTuber who started doing some sleuthing — and brought attention to years-old investigations by the Walz and Biden administrations. Other influencers are already promising similar exposés elsewhere.

Right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, for example, has announced plans to descend on California, declaring it “the fraud capital of the world.” Newsom returned fire with a vicious Trump-like retort, demonstrating once again why he became the Democratic frontrunner in 2025.

Newsom’s Twitter rejoinder aside, it’s not crazy to think that the Democrats’ recent momentum could be squandered if it turns out more of these scandals exist and have been ignored, downplayed or (worse) covered up.

It’s risky to describe anything in modern politics as a turning point, because each week reliably produces something that eclipses the last outrage. Still, the opening days of this new year already feel consequential. Seeds have been planted. Whether they mature is the question.

Buckle up. It’s only January.

Matt K. Lewis is the author of “Filthy Rich Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”

The Duff Beer mascot, called Duffman, made his final appearance, delivering his last trademark “Oh yeah!”, during series 37’s episode Separation — a parody of Apple TV+’s Severance

The Simpsons has announced the “permanent” retirement of a longtime character after nearly three decades on the air.

In the season 37 episode Separation — a parody of Apple TV+’s Severance — the Duff Beer mascot Duffman made his final appearance, delivering his last trademark “Oh yeah!”

The episode, which aired Sunday, features Barry Duffman entering the Simpson household to break the news to Homer, Marge, and their children—while simultaneously addressing viewers. Speaking in the third person, the Duff Beer spokesman revealed that the character was being officially retired.

“The Duff Corporation has, uh, retired that character forever,” he announced. “All the old forms of advertising are now passé. Corporate spokesmen, print ads, TV spots. Today’s kids can’t even sing the jingles.”

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Voiced by Hank Azaria, Duffman is known for his red cape, utility belt lined with Duff beer cans, and exaggerated superhero persona. He first appeared in the 1997 episode The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson and remained a recurring presence through season 37.

In his final storyline, Duffman attempts to recruit Homer into a mysterious corporation called EOD, before ultimately deprogramming himself. He sheds the persona for good, appearing in civilian clothes after seemingly hanging up his cape, according to TVLine.

Duffman’s exit comes less than two months after another long-running Simpsons character met a more tragic end. Alice Glick, the First Church organist and a recurring character for 35 seasons over 34 years, died during a sermon in a recent episode.

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The changes arrive amid ongoing fan debate over the show’s future, with criticism alternating between frustration over the deaths of minor characters and concern that the series continues indefinitely as the main cast’s voices audibly age. The show also sparked controversy in June 2025 after killing off Marge Simpson—though only in a flash-forward set years in the future.

In recent seasons, several other minor characters have also been written out, including Larry the Barfly, marking a notable shift in the long-running animated series’ approach to its extended cast.

In 2023, Bart’s longtime antagonist Sideshow Bob (voiced by Frasier star Kelsey Grammer) was killed off, but it was in another flash-forward in that year’s Treehouse Of Horror Halloween episode, which isn’t consider canonical.

Even as The Simpsons has moved to cull some of its less-popular characters, it has also brought back iconic faces in recent years, including the Albert Brooks–voiced Jacques, a French bowler who tried to score a strike with Marge.

Matt Groening’s show first aired in 1989, and over the last nearly 40 years has run several hundred episodes, and a total of 37 seasons and counting.

Jan. 6 (UPI) — The bar where 40 people were killed and 116 injured in a blaze in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day had not undergone an annual safety inspection since 2019, the town’s mayor admitted Tuesday.

Mayor Nicolas Feraud offered his apologies at a news conference, saying the municipal council was “profoundly sorry” but said he had no explanation as to why no checks on The Constellation bar had been carried out for so long.

“I have no answer for you today. We regret that — we owe it to the families and we will accept the responsibility. We’re profoundly sorry about that and I know how hard that will be for the families,” said Feraud.

He said the town had a five-strong team of people responsible for inspecting more than 10,000 buildings but did not give that as the reason for the failure and insisted he and other councilmen and women would not be resigning.

He said now was not the time to “jump ship” after being elected by Crans-Montana residents.

An outside contractor will now be brought in to carry out a safety audit and inspection of 128 public establishments in the town, but the failure has raised questions over Switzerland’s system of local politics run by non-career officials, many of them part-timers who often have day jobs.

However, Feraud did announce a local ban on use of sparklers — believed to have set the ceiling of the bar ablaze when pyrotechnic champagne bottles were carried too high aloft — inside all commercial premises.

Soundproofing foam on the ceiling that has been blamed for the rapid spread of the fire was within code when The Constellation was last inspected but Feraud said the use of sparklers in spaces fitted with the foam was irresponsible.

Feraud also pointed to crowding in excess of the legally permitted capacity of the premises, which he said was the responsibility of the management of the bar, but said it would for judges to decide whether local officials should fall under the criminal investigation being pursued by prosecutors.

He said the French owners of the bar, Jacques Moretti and Jessica Moretti, were under investigation, but had not been arrested. A second venue they owned had been shut, he added.

The prosecutors’ office for the Valais region said the couple were being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.

Feraud said the council had provided prosecutors with all relevant documents and would join the case as a civil party.

The developments came as authorities completed identification of all the victims and began the process of returning them to families in Switzerland, Italy, France and countries around the world.

The majority of those caught up in the tragedy were young with an average age of 19.

Swiss authorities say fire safety inspections had not been carried out at the bar in Crans-Montana since 2019.

No safety inspections had been carried out for more than five years at a Swiss bar where 40 people were killed during New Year’s celebrations, local authorities have revealed.

Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud said at a news conference on Tuesday that no fire checks had taken place at the Le Constellation ski bar since 2019.

“Periodic inspections were not conducted between 2020 and 2025. We bitterly regret this,” Feraud told reporters in the Alpine ski resort.

The fire tore through the popular ski bar early on New Year’s Day. Most of the victims were teenagers. The youngest who was killed was a 14-year-old Swiss girl, followed by two 15-year-old Swiss girls. The oldest was a French national, aged 39.

Police said on Monday that 83 people are still being treated in hospital. In total, 116 people were injured in the blaze.

Authorities believe the fire started when revellers raised champagne bottles with lit sparklers attached, setting light to sound-insulating foam on the ceiling of the bar’s basement.

Feraud said the foam was considered acceptable at the time of the last fire safety check at the bar in 2019.

The mayor announced that all sparkler candles have now been banned inside bars and clubs in Crans-Montana. A statement from the local council said an external agency has been commissioned to further inspect all public establishments.

Authorities are investigating the two people who ran the bar on suspicion of crimes, including homicide by negligence. On Sunday, police said circumstances did not currently merit them being put under arrest and they did not see any flight risk.

Historic chippy on Sharrow Vale Road gained its distinctive name from locals during World War One and continues to gather large queues all these years later

Sheffield boasts one of Britain’s oldest fish and chip shops, and potentially one of the world’s, with punters regularly forming queues stretching beyond its entrance.

Established in at least 1895, the chippy on Sharrow Vale Road remains amongst the original fish and chip establishments still operating today. Two Steps amusingly earned its moniker from locals during the First World War when, as multiple fish and chip outlets appeared in the vicinity, it stood out as the one requiring ‘two steps to get in’.

The informal name swiftly became its official title, distinguishing it from rival establishments. Historical records suggest it was initially opened by a gentleman called James Boulton, appearing in the 1895 trades directory as a ‘fried fish dealer’, according to The Star.

Throughout its history, the cherished establishment has passed through various owners, with Laggy currently at the helm, having served patrons for the past two decades. Before him, the longest-serving proprietors were Nan and Graham, who dedicated 34 years working behind the historic counter.

Upon assuming control of the chippy, he sought to implement several crucial modifications, prioritising the sourcing of premium ingredients. Despite evolving fashions in the fish and chip industry, he revealed to The Star that he categorically refuses to offer the notorious battered Mars Bar.

The owner explained: “It ruins the oil, and I don’t agree with it anyway. It’s a heart attack on a plate.”

One recent visitor described their visit as nothing short of “fabulous”. The satisfied customer wrote on TripAdvisor: “I travel a few miles to get to this chip shop. It has amazing staff, and the owner is fab. Will not swap this chip shop for any other.”

Another loyal customer shared: “Have to say this place is by far the best chippy in town! I’ve been a regular visitor on Fridays for almost 20 years, and this place is often busy, with the queue stretching out the door, even in the rain. Well priced, and they don’t skimp on portions. I can rarely actually finish my tea. Good mix of all your chippy favourites.”

Following their experience at the legendary establishment, one reviewer declared it “the best fish and chips by far”. They elaborated: “Very good quality, perfectly cooked and incredibly generous portion size. All items are competitively priced, and the staff service and management attitude in resolving any issues are impeccable.”

Pinpointing Britain’s definitively oldest fish and chip shop proves tricky, with several contenders competing for the accolade. Rock and Sole Plaice in Covent Garden, London, stakes its claim as opening in 1971, making it the capital’s most venerable chippie still dishing up its time-honoured recipes.

Meanwhile, another establishment literally rebranded itself as ‘The Oldest Fish and Chip Shop in the World’ on Sandy Way in Yeadon, West Yorkshire. Yet it shuttered permanently in 2016, potentially elevating this Sheffield favourite to the position of Britain’s longest-surviving fish and chip shop still trading today.

Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro stood in a Manhattan courthouse Monday a captive criminal defendant: surrounded by heavy security, deprived of his power as a head of state and facing drug, weapon and conspiracy charges likely to keep him behind bars for years.

“I was captured,” he said in Spanish, before pleading not guilty during a brief arraignment. “I am a decent man, the president of my country.”

Just two days prior, more than 2,000 miles away in Caracas, Maduro was seated “atop a corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking,” according to a sweeping indictment unsealed Saturday.

What preceded Maduro’s swift downfall was not just his weekend capture in what President Trump called “one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might” in U.S. history, but decades of partnership with “narco-terrorists” from Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico to enrich himself and his family through “massive-scale” cocaine trafficking, the indictment claims.

The allegations, built off a 2020 indictment, stretch back a quarter-century and implicate other Venezuelan leaders and Maduro’s wife and son. They suggest extensive coordination with notorious drug trafficking organizations and cartels from across the region, and paint a world Trump himself has long worked to instill in the minds of Americans — one in which the nation’s southern neighbors are intentionally flooding the U.S. with lethal drugs and violent criminals, to the devastation of local communities.

It is a portrait of drugs, money and violence every bit as dramatic as the nighttime raid that sent jets and helicopters into Venezuelan airspace, U.S. special forces into Maduro’s bedroom and Maduro and his wife into U.S. custody and ultimately to their arraignment in court Monday.

It appears to rely on clandestine intelligence and other witness testimony gathered over the course of decades, which Maduro’s defense team will undoubtedly seek to discredit by impugning the cast of characters — some drug traffickers themselves — whom prosecutors relied on.

Legal experts said it could take years for the case to reach trial, slowed not only by the normal nuance of litigating a multi-defendant conspiracy case but the added complexity of a prosecution that is almost certainly predicated in part on classified intelligence.

“That’s very different than a typical drug case, even a very high-level drug case, [where] you’re not going to have classified State Department cables the way you’re going to have them when you’re actually prosecuting a head of state or a former head of state,” said Renato Stabile, an attorney for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in a similar cocaine trafficking case in 2024 before being pardoned by Trump last month.

Joe McNally, the former acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles, said he expects the case will take at least a year to get to trial, after prosecutors “show their cards” and Maduro’s attorneys review that evidence and seek out their own witnesses.

He said he expects a strong case from prosecutors — despite it being “not easy to prove a case that involves high level cartel activity that’s happening thousands of miles away” — that will appropriately play out entirely in public view.

“He’ll have his day in court. It’s not a military tribunal,” McNally said. “His guilt or innocence will be decided by 12 people from the district [in New York where he’s been indicted], and ultimately the burden will be on the prosecutor.”

The case against Maduro

According to the indictment, Maduro and his fellow indicted Venezuelan leaders have since about 1999 “partnered with some of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers and narco-terrorists in the world” — including the FARC and ELN groups in Colombia, the Sinaloa and Los Zetas cartels in Mexico and the Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela.

Among the others indicted in the case is Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, aka “Niño Guerrero,” a purported leader of Tren de Aragua.

Trump has accused Tren de Aragua of committing violence in the U.S. and used alleged ties between it and Maduro to justify using a wartime statute to deport Venezuelans accused of being in the gang to a notorious Salvadoran prison. However, Maduro’s links to the group have been heavily questioned in the past — including by U.S. intelligence agencies — and the indictment doesn’t spell out any specific links between Maduro and Guerrero Flores.

The indictment alleges Maduro and his co-conspirators “facilitated the empowerment and growth of violent narco-terrorist groups fueling their organizations with cocaine profits,” including by providing “law enforcement cover and logistical support for the transport of cocaine through Venezuela, with knowledge that their drug trafficking partners would move the cocaine north to the United States.”

It specifically alleges that between 2006 and 2008, when he was foreign affairs minister, Maduro sold diplomatic passports to people he knew were drug traffickers, specifically so they could move drug proceeds from Mexico back to Venezuela “under diplomatic cover” and without military or law enforcement scrutinizing their flights.

It also alleges that between 2004 and 2015, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, “worked together to traffic cocaine, much of which had been previously seized by Venezuelan law enforcement, with the assistance of armed military escorts.”

It alleges the couple “maintained their own groups of state-sponsored gangs known as colectivos to facilitate and protect their drug trafficking operation,” and “ordered kidnappings, beatings, and murders against those who owed them drug money or otherwise undermined their drug trafficking operation, including ordering the murder of a local drug boss in Caracas.”

The indictment references a half-dozen other criminal cases already brought in the U.S. against others with alleged ties to Maduro and his alleged co-conspirators, several of whom have been convicted.

What’s ahead

Stabile said the legally questionable nature of Maduro’s capture will no doubt be a factor in the criminal proceedings ahead, with his defense team likely to argue that his detention is unlawful. “That’s going to be front and center, and I assume it’s going to be the subject of a motion to dismiss,” he said.

Whether anything will come of that argument, however, is less clear, as courts in the U.S. have in the past allowed criminal proceedings to continue against individuals captured abroad, including former Panama dictator Manuel Noriega. Part of the U.S. argument for why Noriega could be prosecuted was that he was not the legitimate leader of Panama, an argument that is likely to be made in Maduro’s case, too.

Beyond that, Stabile said how the case plays out will depend on what evidence the government has against Maduro.

“Is his case just gonna be based on the testimony of sources and cooperators, which is pretty much what it was in President Hernandez’s case?” Stabile said. “Or are there recordings? Are there videos? Are there bank records? Are there text messages? Are there emails?”

McNally said he will be watching to see whom prosecutors have lined up to testify against Maduro.

“In most of the high-level narcotics trafficking cases, international narcotics trafficking cases that have been brought and go to trial, the common thread is that you end up with cooperators — individuals who were part of the conspiracy, they were the criminal partners of the defendant, and they ultimately decide, hey, it’s in my self-interest to come forward and testify,” McNally said.

“They obviously are cross-examined, and they’ll frequently be accused of … lying for their own self-interest,” he said. “But in my experience, cooperators in these types of cases are especially valuable, and the key is to then corroborate them with other witnesses who tell the same story or documentary evidence.”

According to the Valais police, those identified include 10 Swiss people, two Italians, one person with Italian-Emirati citizenship, one Romanian, one person from France, and one from Turkiye.

Swiss police say they have identified 16 more of those who died during a fatal fire in a bar on New Year’s Eve that killed 40 people, in one of the country’s deadliest disasters.

According to the Valais police on Sunday, those identified include 10 Swiss nationals, two Italians, one person with Italian-Emirati citizenship, one Romanian, one person from France, and one from Turkiye.

So far, 24 people have been identified among those who died in the blaze at the Le Constellation bar in the mountain resort of Crans-Montana, southern Switzerland.

The wait for families for news of their loved ones has been anguished.

Of those identified, the youngest person to have been killed is a 14-year-old Swiss girl, followed by two 15-year-old Swiss girls.

According to the police, 10 other bodies identified on Sunday were teenagers aged between 16 and 18. Two Swiss men, aged 20 and 31, and a French national, aged 39, were also identified.

Officials are continuing efforts to identify the remaining casualties from the fire that injured about 119 people, some of whom suffered severe burns and were transferred to burn units across Europe.

For the local community, the aftermath of the tragic fire is causing acute distress.

Damiano Vizioli, a 24-year-old living in neighbouring Sion, was in Le Constellation on New Year’s Eve but had gone outside to smoke a cigarette when the bar was suddenly engulfed in flames.

“I’m not sleeping well because I can hear the people screaming,” Vizioli told the Reuters news agency. He went back to the bar, desperate for news of a friend working there whom he has not heard from since.

Eric Schmid, a 63-year-old local businessman, also told Reuters that the disaster will be felt “quite deep, and I think it’ll take time to heal”.

“We [the Swiss] are mountain people. We will survive, of course, but that’s not the most important thing,” he said.

“It’s more about the kids and all these people who have been affected. But the messages and signs of solidarity are super important,” he added.

Swiss prosecutors said on Saturday two people who ran the bar are under criminal investigation on suspicion of offences including homicide by negligence.

MANY of us have fond memories of our UK seaside summer holidays growing up.

Fish and chips, building sandcastles, braving the British waters – this is all a part of growing up holidaying in the UK.

But as time went by, many seaside resorts lost their sparkle, leaving behind abandoned fairgrounds or forgotten piers, especially following the boom in cheap package holidays abroad.

Thankfully, many major seaside resorts in the UK have had some serious revamps – with new restaurants, hotels, cafes and shops breathing fresh life into these beloved beach towns.

Now, some of these familiar towns are becoming family holiday hotspots, and are fast-becoming some of the UK’s must-visit destinations.

Here are some of the seaside towns that were once left to ruin – only to have become the coolest places to visit in recent years.

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Folkestone, Kent

Folkestone was was once dubbed a “dump” in a viral TikTok video, and was left rundown after years of neglect, despite being a popular holiday resort back in the Victorian times.

Not only was there once a direct train from London to the harbour itself, but it had a thriving funicular, lido and even rollercoaster.

Yet over the years, these were all left to fall into disrepair before closing or being knocked down.

However, the seaside town is becoming a new coastal hotspot.

The town was named the Best Place to Live in South East England last year in The Sunday Times, and even charted as Time Out’s best UK place to visit in 2025.

Folkestone has undergone major transformation in recent years.

Once a tired ferry port, Folkestone has been refreshed with the addition of trendy seafront bars, high-end restaurants, and a thriving Creative Quarter.

The once-derelict Harbour Arm celebrates it’s 10th anniversary this year, now lined with nearly 70 food and retail stalls, bars and live music spots.

Linking the Harbour Arm to the Lower Leas Coastal Park is the Boardwalk – a path over the calm shingle beach made from old railway sleepers.

Or wander up the hilly, cobbled streets from the harbour into the town centre, and you’ll find the vibrant Creative Quarter – packed with galleries, studios, and independent shops.

Here you’ll find the Folkestone Quarterhouse, showing a range of theatre shows, comedy and music events and festivals.

In fact the town is home to many artistic festivals – celebrating everything from poetry to documentaries.

The seaside town even attracts hoards of Kate Bush fans for the viral Wuthering Heights day.

And the transformation isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

The historic Leas Lift, a Grade II listed funicular railway taking passengers between the seafront and promenade, is set to reopen in 2026.

Cromer, Norfolk

Cromer in North Norfolk was seen as a dated seaside town for a long time.

With trendy seaside towns like Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham drawing in crowds to North Norfolk each summer, to many Cromer appeared bland and dreary in comparison.

However, Cromer has recently reinvented itself with a wave of new cafes, shops and quirky art spaces.

And with Norfolk being named a must-visit destination by Condé Nast in 2025, the limelight is shining back on the Victorian seaside town.

“Come for the party but stay for one of the UK’s very best summer getaways […] as you stroll Cromer’s charmingly retro pier” states the travel magazine.

Cromer Artspace is home to contemporary art and exhibitions, whilst the artisan Grey Seal Coffee shop offers a trendy new spot to grab a flat white.

And recently, new dessert spot Norfolk Crumble has seen queues long out the door for its unique crumble flavours and popular thick shakes.

Down at the Blue Flag beach, you’ll find a maritime museum, pretty painted beach huts, and Norfolk’s best waves for surfing.

There’s also a year-round weekly market on Fridays, and the Amazona Zoo where you can meet jaguars, parrots and anacondas.

Hastings, Sussex

For many, Hastings has not been a top pick when choosing a seaside town to visit in the South-East of England.

In fact, a Which? survey of more than 3,500 people saw the resort rank in last place under the “best small UK cities for a short break“.

However, the Victorian seaside town has been undergoing a glamorous a glow-up.

Hastings was one of 101 UK towns to be given a share of investments from the government in their £3.6bn Towns Fund – a plan to “level up our regions”.

The program has seen the addition of public art, extra green spaces, and even a boost in affordable housing for locals.

Thanks to these investments, Hastings is not only becoming a desirable place to live – but a trendy seaside spot to visit.

Historic Hastings Castle is home to Norman ruins and breath-taking clifftop views, whilst the iconic Hastings pier (opened in 1872) is a Victorian classic revamped.

The pier, which suffered a dramatic fire in 2010, has been rebuilt with cafes, children’s rides, and even live music in the summertime.

It’s also home to the Pavilion Restaurant and Bar, a 2x AA Rosette-winning restaurant inside of the original pier’s only remaining building.

There’s also plenty to see and do in Hastings with the kids, including the traditional Flamingo Amusements, and Hastings Aquarium – home to pufferfish, pythons and axolotls.

There’s also the exciting Smugglers Adventure – a journey through caves and caverns to discover the secrets of real smugglers.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Southend-on-Sea has long had a divisive reputation, and was even once dubbed the “worst place on earth” by a resident on TripAdvisor.

In fact, Which? Travel ranked the Essex town number 10 in their list of the Top 10 Worst Seaside Towns in the UK earlier this year.

Many have thought the town to be an unsafe place to visit, but a £16 million cash injection has revived the once-faded seaside resort.

Now, Southend is swapping tacky for trendy, with a line-up of brand new restaurants, hotels and revitalised shores.

The well-known Essex Mimosa restaurant has opened up a stylish location on Southend’s seafront, and the brand-new boutique Seven Hotel has added a splash of luxury to the resort.

Plus an £8m refurbishment of the popular Cliffs Pavilion arts venue is underway, which will see a major restaurant expansion, a modern new entrance and brand new outdoor piazza.

Another major change the town has seen is the introduction of a “green oasis” on the seafront.

Work is underway to create luscious gardens which will both prevent flooding and add a pretty landscape of canopies and greenery.

Alongside these new additions, classic attractions such as Adventure Island continue to bring in hoards of thrill-seeking tourists.

Many continue to return to Southend year after year for the ever-popular pier and railway, chasing a wave of childhood nostalgia from bucket and spade summer holidays.

Now in the coming years, the seaside town is set to offer the perfect mix of classic coastal charm and modern design.

THE daughter of an Academy Award-winning actor has sadly been found dead on New Year’s Day.

Victoria, daughter of Tommy Lee Jones, was sadly found dead in a California hotel on New Year’s Day.

Emergency services were called to the swanky Fairmont San Francisco at 2.52am, where paramedics pronounced the 34-year-old dead.

At this time, the cause of death remains unknown, and officials have not released additional details.

Victoria was the daughter of Tommy and his first wife Kimberlea Cloughley.

She followed in her father’s footsteps, acting in several films including 2002’s Men in Black II and One Tree Hill.

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Police in the Netherlands were pelted with fireworks and faced an “unprecedented amount of violence” on New Year’s Eve, officers have said.

A 19th century church in Amsterdam was engulfed by fire in the early hours of New Year’s Day, although the cause of the blaze is not yet known.

The Vondelkerk, which overlooks the largest park in the city, the Vondelpark, has been a tourist attraction since it was built in 1872.

Elsewhere in the Netherlands, a 17-year-old boy and 38-year-old man were killed in fireworks incidents. In Bielefeld, Germany, local police said two 18-year-olds died after setting off homemade fireworks.

The head of the Dutch Police Union, Nine Kooiman, said she had been pelted by fireworks and other explosives on her shift in Amsterdam.

The amount of violence was “unprecedented” she said.

Reports of attacks against police and firefighters were widespread across the country.

Petrol bombs were thrown at police in the southern city of Breda. In Rotterdam, the city’s eye hospital said it had treated 14 patients, including 10 minors, for eye injuries. Two received surgery.

A 17-year-old boy from Nijmegen and a 38-year-old man from Aalsmeer were killed in fireworks incidents, local media reported.

In Amsterdam the 50-metre high tower of the historic Vondelkerk church collapsed. Authorities said the roof was badly damaged but the structure was expected to remain intact.

The neo-Gothic basilica was designed by architect Pierre Cuypers whose works also include the Rijksmuseum.

A ban on unofficial fireworks is due to come into force in 2026. According to the Dutch Pyrotechnics Association, a record €129m (£112m) had been spent on them this year.

The Graham Norton New Year’s Eve Show on BBC One, which featured actors Will Arnett and Owen Cooper as guests, looked back at the highlights – and low points – of 2025

TV host Graham Norton took aim at Donald Trump minutes into his New Year’s Eve special last night.

During his review of 2025, the veteran broadcaster was quick to turn his attention to the US President’s visit to the UK to meet the Royal Family. Graham, 62, flashed up a photo of Melania Trump wearing a wide-brimmed purple hat and joked she looked like “a lamp”.

He then quipped that the statement headwear may have been worn to stop her husband from leaning in for a kiss — setting the tone for a night of trademark digs just minutes into The Graham Norton New Year’s Eve Show on BBC One.

The Irish comedian kept the jokes rolling, leaning into the moment as he told viewers: “He was welcomed by the King and Queen, who were clearly happy to be photographed with him — Melania, not so much.” When the camera cut back to Melania’s oversized purple hat, Graham quipped: “I’m just a lamp. Please ignore me, I’m just a lamp,” before repeating, “Just ignore me,” while playfully mimicking her accent.

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Yet, Graham took the gag further, Express.co.uk reports. He added: “Actually there is a security reason why Melania always wears a hat.. A nice wide brim can literally save her from a fate worse than death”” before footage showed Mr Trump attempting to kiss her on the cheek — only to be blocked by the hat.

Graham looked back at the highlights — and low points — of 2025 on the festive edition of his programme. His savage swipes came minutes into the episode of the BAFTA-winning chat show, pre-recorded ahead of its BBC One and iPlayer broadcast.

Tom Hiddleston, Laura Dern and Will Arnett, alongside Owen Cooper, Carey Mulligan and Tim Key joined Graham on the red sofa to ring in the new year. Alison Limerick provided the night’s music by performing her dance classic Where Love Lives.

The BBC recommissioned the programme for three more series earlier this year. Speaking at the time, the broadcaster said the programme remains one of its biggest entertainment successes, averaging 2.9 million viewers per episode across its most recent run and continuing to pull in huge numbers across social platforms including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

Graham, born in Dublin, Ireland, said hosting the programme remained both “a pleasure” and a “privilege”, teasing that the team were already looking ahead to welcoming more global stars onto the sofa.

This year’s New Year’s Eve line-up reflected that star power, with Hollywood names, British comedy favourites and breakout TV stars all joining Graham to look back on 2025.

New Year’s Eve celebrations are unfolding across the world as countries move into 2026 one time zone at a time.

The first major cities to mark the new year welcomed midnight with fireworks over their waterfronts, and large crowds gathered at public viewing points.

As the night continues, countries across the Americas will close out the global transition with events stretching from Rio de Janeiro’s beaches to Times Square in New York City and beyond.

This gallery shows how people are marking the start of 2026 around the world.

Leicester Tigers stalwart Dan Cole will leave the club after 18 years due to personal reasons.

Cole, 38, played for the Tigers between 2007 and 2025 before taking up the role of recruitment and retention manager after hanging up his boots.

The former prop turned out over 340 times for the club – breaking the record of league appearances for Leicester in 2023-24.

“I am leaving Tigers with a heavy heart,” Cole said.

“This club means everything to me and it has been an honour to represent the badge. Unfortunately, a change in personal circumstances dictates that I cannot give the role the attention it deserves moving forwards so I am stepping away.

“I have no doubt that the club is on strong footing for 2026 and beyond and wish Geoff, the players and everyone at Mattioli Woods Welford Road the best of luck.”

Leicester-born Cole won four Premiership titles during his time at Welford Road.

Dragons endured a nightmare 2025 that was winless until they beat Lyon in the Challenge Cup on 14 December, which was followed by a stunning URC victory against Connacht six days later.

Filo Tiatia’s men finished bottom of the URC last season, but resilient recent displays have given reason for optimism.

Dragons are currently 15th, but could go 10th with victory against Scarlets.

Not only do they want to avoid propping up the pile this season, they would love to avoid being Wales’ worst side for the first time since 2019-20.

Head coach Tiatia believes their battling display at Cardiff provided encouragement.

“There were some positives, and we stayed in the fight to try and win it at the end,” he said.

“We were maybe five or 10% off in terms of some physicality parts of game, but we have lots to take forward into Scarlets.”

Scarlets are currently bottom of the URC, although they do have a game in hand, and recent progress was brought to a dramatic halt against Ospreys.

“The games are coming thick and fast,” said head coach Dwayne Peel, whose side have Champions Cup fixtures against Pau and Northampton on the horizon.

“The Dragons is another important game and another tough game for us. We have to make sure we go to Rodney Parade with a spark and full of energy.”

Like Ospreys, a New Year’s Day win would dramatically change the picture in the URC and give some hope of repeating last season’s charge to the top eight.

NEW Year’s Eve just isn’t right without fireworks, whether it’s a low-key Catherine wheel in your garden or a powerful professional pyrotechnic production.

So here’s the lowdown on the best of this year’s dazzling displays, ranging from riverside revelries in London to castle rock rockets in Edinburgh.

Where is best to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks in the UK?

London

London’s Thames-side New Year’s Eve fireworks display is reliably one of the UK’s most spectacular year after year.

Choreographed bursts over the London Eye and Westminster are timed to coincide with the midnight chimes of Big Ben.

Watched by huge crowds along the river, official viewing areas are ticketed.

This means a great many people choose nearby bridges, streets, bars or boats to get a glimpse of the glittering skyline.

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​Edinburgh

The Hogmanay fireworks over Edinburgh Castle are another must-see, with rockets fired from the castle rock ringing in the New Year.

The sensational spectacle is visible across much of the city, while a pulsing street party unfolds below on Princes Street.

The combination of live music, traditional Hogmanay rituals and the dramatic castle backdrop makes this one of the most atmospheric midnight moments in the whole of Europe.

​Newcastle

Newcastle’s Quayside puts on a striking New Year display over the River Tyne.

It utilises the Tyne Bridge and Glasshouse (formerly the Sage) as a spectacular stage for beautiful bursts in the sky.

There are family-friendly fireworks at 6pm, followed by the midnight main event.

​Manchester

But fear not – there’s lots of live entertainment leading up to the New Year countdown.

Cardiff​

Cardiff’s New Year 2025/26 celebrations centre around the City Hall.

Live music will be performed on a stage in front of the City Hall, so you can have a dance before the fireworks start.

There’s also the Winter Wonderland, with a big wheel​, festive drinks and traditional Welsh food.

Other great fireworks displays can be found in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, Brighton Beach, ​York’s Castle Howard, Northern Meeting Park in Inverness, and Birmingham’s Centenary Square.

Can I watch New Year’s Eve fireworks on TV?

As Big Ben strikes midnight, live coverage of London’s spectacular fireworks display on the River Thames will be broadcast live on TV.

From 11.30pm, BBC One will be airing Ronan Keating and Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party.

The Boyzone legend will be joined by a host of pop and screen stars, and will even perform alongside former bandmates Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch.

It’s time to ring in the New Year and there’s no better place than celebrating with Jools Holland, Mirror man Mark Jefferies can now reveal the secrets behind the celebrations

It’s 8.47pm and I’ve only had two ­bottles of beer but I am on my feet singing and dancing along ­without a care in the world. Others are arm-in-arm or hugging and a few people look a bit teary. In this make-believe world I have entered, it’s New Year’s Eve, and it’s midnight.

I celebrated 2026 before all of you, thanks to Jools Holland and a magical night in a dazzling West London TV studio on December 10. Jools Holland’s Hootenanny is as much part of the festive calendar as soaps and the monarch’s Christmas Day speech. Tonight is the 33rd time Jools will bring in the new year for millions.

Comedian Peter Kay even wrote about it in his latest book, saying that his mum still thinks it is live. My big question before going to Versa Studios was how do they create the party atmosphere which, it turns out, is as authentic as it looks on TV.

Guests are offered drinks at a free bar (rare for the BBC) and take their seats. Later, they are given glasses of prosecco to help celebrate “midnight” – about 30 minutes after the music starts.

Jools asks us to be quiet when the artists sing and cheer as loud as possible at the end. “If you feel the urge to dance and physically move, that is marvellous. Everyone is looking very beautiful and we’ve some incredible musical guests.”

This year’s bill includes Rolling Stone guitarist Ronnie Wood, Olivia Dean, Craig David, Lulu, Jessie J, The Kooks, Heather Small, Imelda May and the 1st Battalion Scots Guards.

Executive Producer Alison Howe says the mix of musicians is important and there are several versions of the running order and set list, which change before the final version on the day.

The other key thing is people who go along let themselves believe it is New Year’s Eve. She says: “You kind of enter into a magical world where you forget about what’s happening outside the doors.”

The show is also a big deal for lots of the musicians. Kooks frontman Luke Pritchard says: “It’s quite nerve-racking but in the best way. Hootenanny’s not just another gig, it’s THE New Year’s show. Everyone’s watching, hopefully everyone’s in a good mood, and you’re part of this moment that only happens once. It’s a proper privilege to be fair.

“And knowing you’re the soundtrack to someone’s night, maybe the song they’re kissing to at midnight or dancing round the kitchen with their nan and that means a lot to me. It’s quite touching when you think about it.”

After posing for a photo with me, Jools is off and doesn’t stop for the next three hours, greeting and chatting to A-list stars. Once the recording starts, he is introducing music, playing it himself on the piano and with his band or interviewing famous faces in the crowd. The only help he gets is from whiteboards with names or directions on, so that he can navigate a giant circle of bands, singers and guests.

When the recording is over, Jools tells me: “It’s a bit like a swimming pool you just throw yourself in and it’s all right, really, once the water’s OK and you start swimming, you keep the momentum going.

“You’re trying to remember what you’re playing on piano. When that finishes, you think what happens now? That’s why they’ve got a board, so I can remember where I’ve got to go to for the next bit.”

The aim is to film it without any breaks or stops and, aside from a couple of brief moments when production requests a pause which is necessary, filming is non-stop. Jools explains: “You want the energy to keep going. So if we record it in one and then it’s like real. It was all just, bang, bang, bang.

“There’s a few little mistakes in there, but who cares? It is what it is.” A definite highlight is singing sensation Olivia Dean, who performs hits and joins Jools in a version of Natalie Cole’s 1975 debut hit This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).

He says: “Olivia Dean has gone ballistic this year. When she was on the show a couple of years ago she was playing clubs. Now she is selling out stadiums around the world, from Rio to Munich to London’s O2, and adding on nights.

“She’s a remarkable, ­unbelievable person. She likes doing stuff with us, or doing stuff for me, because she goes back to what she used to listen to when she was a kid, things like Carole King, and in this case, doing that Natalie Cole song.

“I thought it was great. The sort of thing someone might do at a Christmas party. When I was little my nan would have a Christmas party and all my uncles and aunts would sing their favourite songs, which were often the musical songs. And it’s a bit like that.”

Jools’ band is the other key element, playing with many of the artists, including new songs and cover versions they don’t usually perform when on the road.

They get a day’s rehearsal in the studios and then the other bands join them on the afternoon of the recording day, so everyone gets to soundcheck and practise their tracks.

Jools says: “There’s a lot for my band to learn, lots of music to learn, and lots of things to arrange for the horns. That’s the bit the general public doesn’t see.

“Listening to stuff in their hotel rooms, making notes, so when we go into rehearsal, and the first time it’s counted in and we play, it sounds all right. And I’m not just saying this, the band has never sounded better.”

Jools’ Annual Hootenanny, BBC2 and BBC iPlayer, tonight, 11.30pm.

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