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The Eurovision Song Contest is back once again and viewers around the world will be looking forward to their annual fix of the international music competition when it all kicks off this week

The Eurovision Song Contest is back once again – with several acts from around the world ready to wow viewers in the hopes of winning the international competition.

Last year, JJ won for Austria with Wasted Love, meaning that this year, all the action takes place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, with Cosmó taking the reins for the country’s capital city with Tanzschein.

In total, 35 countries will take part in the semi-finals whilst 25 will make it to the grand final of the whole thing, which will take place on Saturday 16 May. For the United Kingdom, YouTube star LookMumNoComputer will be on hand with Eins, Zwei, Drei, following on from entrants of recent years like Sam Ryder, Mae Muller, Olly Alexander and Remember Monday.

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With current bookies’ odds of 5/4, Finland look set to become victorious this time round. The song is titled Liekinheitin, and it will be performed by violinist Linda Lampenius and singer-songwriter Pete Parkkonen.

Speaking about the track, the pair told The Independent: “The story behind this song is actually quite deep and sad. It’s about when you get involved with someone and let them fall in love with you, but when they get too close, you turn ice cold.

“The protagonist in Liekinheitin can either be seen as the victim of someone’s behaviour, or as a person who becomes addicted to other people, even when they know that the relationship will never evolve. It symbolises the passion these two people are experiencing, but it’s also the desperation that could kill you.”

Hot on their heels is Greece, with bookies giving the country odds of 6/1 after it was announced that Akylas will be representing them with the track Ferto. Over the years, Finland, who have competed a total of 58 times since debuting in 1961, have finished in last place on 11 occasions and won in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah, which was performed by Lordi.

Just one year before their victory, Greece won with Helena Paparizou, who performed the track My Number One four years after she initially finished in third place with Die For You when she was part of the Eurodance duo Antique alongside Nikos Panagiotidis.

For the UK, odds vary drastically from 33/1 all the way to 250/1 – implying that the current entry is set to fall rather low down in the pecking order.

The semi-finals will kick off on Tuesday 12 May at 9pm on BBC One and will be hosted by Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon, who will return to front the second heat at the same time on Thursday evening. Over on the radio, Sara Cox will be on hand with her commentary at the same time, and will also occupy a Wednesday slot from 4pm to 7pm.

Friday will see Murder on the Dancefloor singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor head up Eurovision Kitchen Disco for BBC Radio 2 from 9pm to 11pm, and will be back at 1pm on Saturday afternoon for Your Ultimate Eurovision Superstar! She will follow on from Dermot O’Leary, who will take to the airwaves from 8am until 10am and celebrate the song contest with his Radio 2 show.

Everything will come to a head at 8pm on Saturday 16 May when Graham Norton will be back to provide coverage as one country will be crowned the latest champion of the contest. International viewers may be able to stream the contest on its official YouTube channel but, in the UK, it remains exclusive to BBC One.

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Kath Cross and Stuart Hall have been living full-time in their campervan and have travelled over 25,000 miles on their epic adventures

A couple sold all their possessions to buy a campervan and travel the world – for just £30 a day. Kath Cross, 49, and Stuart Hall, 48, have travelled over 25,000 miles on epic adventures through the Sahara desert, Europe and Scotland in their make-shift home.

The pair have been living in their 7.5m Mercedes Sprinter ever since Kath sold all her possessions and stopped paying rent four years ago. To date they have toured over 15 countries – and will have exceeded 20 by the time they get back from their current trip to Montenegro.

The couple work on the road full-time under the name Vanavigation – where they create, write and share travel content. Though their spending plan varies slightly depending on which country they are residing in, the pair say on average they spend around £900 to £1,200 a month – cheaper than Kath’s old house rental in Cardiff.

This means they budget around £30 to £40 a day for their lifestyle – with half spent on fuel. Kath, from Cardiff, said: “It was a choice we made between one life and another – and we don’t regret a second of it.

“When I sold my possessions, it made me realise that you are supposed to own things – not them own you. When you have a mortgage, a car payment, you are owned by society, fixed because you have to stay where you are and pay your bills.

“The more of my stuff I sold the more free I felt – the more I am realising those possessions owned me and pinned me in one place. Life owns you and you are supposed to own it.”

Kath and Stuart bonded over their shared love of nature and the outdoors after meeting in a South Wales walking group back in 2021. They hiked over 105 peaks in the UK during their first year of dating and Kath decided that Stuart was the person she wanted to travel the world with.

She soon after decided to pack up her four-bed rental house and sell all of her possessions back in 2022 when her daughters left home. Stuart and Kath have since travelled over 25,000 miles – including their first trip all the way to the Sahara desert, which Kath described as her “lifelong dream”.

Kath said: “I had an idea that when my kids left home I wanted to drive to the Sahara – it was a dream I’d had for years. Stu already owned the van, and we had been together a few months when we visited Scotland for a month in the campervan. We didn’t kill each other and got on very well.

“So that winter I decided that I was going to downsize my life, my kids had left home, the four-bed rental was too much for me and I just didn’t want it anymore. It was taking every penny that I earned just to keep the rental going – but we knew we could live cheaper on the road.

“A lot of people are scared of the big adventure, but Stu was up for the idea and so we drove to the edge of the Sahara desert and haven’t looked back.”

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The mother-of-two is able to ensure a steady monthly income for the pair after she set up her own business online back in 2012. As a single parent, Kath wanted to ensure she could earn a living while being at home with her children – and her copywriting and freelance work saw her amass 1.6million followers on Facebook in 2014.

Stuart, who works for an agency as a truck driver, works when they visit the UK after trips to help top up their money before their next adventure. Her and Stuart are both work together to produce content for Vanavigation – releasing weekly Youtube episodes, travel guides and insightful blogs across social media on how to travel the world.

Kath said: “Life really is a lot cheaper in the van – you don’t need two wages. We were away for 101 days and our average spend was £1000 a month – this is less than my rent used to be in Cardiff and we lived like kings and queens.”

Despite more than half their budget being on fuel, the pair say they don’t live like they are on holiday – and mostly cook in the van and only pay for a few activities a month. Kath said: “As fuel prices have gone up we have just slowed down!

“We just drive a bit slower and make a few less stops – which means we extend the trip really. When you’re in North Macedonia and paying 130 a litre for diesel, there is no point rushing back to pay whatever horrifying price it is in the UK at the moment.”

The pair are able to live in their fully-equipped campervan which boasts a full working set up including: a shower, toilet, king-size bed, sink, and a fully working kitchen with an oven, gas burner. Stuart, who converted the inside of the van shortly after purchasing it, said: “We can even do a roast dinner.”

So far, the pair have driven 3,000 miles to Denmark and back, 7,000 miles around Spain and Portugal, 2,000 miles to Scotland and 8,000 miles to the Sahara. They are currently in Montenegro, and are just shy of 5,000 miles on their trip which has seen them drive through France, Italy, Albania, Greece, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

Their next stops are Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and France. Kath and Stu said their Sahara trip has been one of their many highlights – which also include their visit to the Atlas mountains, Kosovo and Denmark.

Stuart, from Southampton, said: “We drove to the edge of the sand dunes and were drinking coffee out of own mugs from home. Then we opened up the curtains and there were 40 camels outside – it was totally surreal. I had only ever been on package holidays before.”

Kath said they also loved their visit to the Atlas mountains because of the scenery and people they met during their trip and volunteering. She said: “There are communities there that have nothing, and they just want to help you.

“We helped a guy stuck in the snow and he wanted to take us to his village, which had 66 houses and a mosque. His family made us food and drinks and the kids in the village came to meet us and it was only a few months after the earthquake. It was so special connecting with the local communities.”

The pair are strong advocates for following your dreams and travelling the world in a mindful and sustainable way. Stuart said: “We choose to step lighter on this earth.

“My big diesel van has much less of a carbon footprint than a three-bed house where people leave the lights on. We don’t buy new stuff, we wear clothes until we can’t wear them anymore and we live light on plastics. We love this life and we learn so much about people.”

Kath said: “You can’t dream yourself into this life, you have to make intentional decisions to get here. You have to let go of other things to get here. We left the rat race – and we’re really glad about it.”

You can follow their adventures here: “https://www.facebook.com/vanavigationuk/

SOPHIA Grace and Rosie were the viral child stars who went from their Essex bedrooms to rubbing shoulders with Hollywood’s finest – landing roles alongside the likes of Ariana Grande, appearing on the Ellen Show and even bagging their own movie.

But fast forward 15 years and the cousins have traded the bright lights of Tinseltown for very different lives back home in the UK, as The Sun lifts the lid on how they coped after they were no longer the cheeky youngsters the world fell in love with, and avoided the dreaded child star ‘curse’.

Sophia Grace, now 23, and Rosie, now 19, were cousins who rose to prominence by uploading videos from their Essex bedrooms to YouTube.

In 2011, it was a video of the duo, who were then eight and five, respectively, performing a cover of “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj that caught the attention of US megastar Ellen DeGeneres.

She invited them to fly across to the US to appear as guests on her eponymous show, which led to a regular slot for the girls and exposure to fans across the pond, who fell in love with the tutu-wearing duo and their British charm.

The girls had their own segment on the show where they would chat with A-listers, from Justin Bieber to Hugh Grant and Taylor Swift. This then led to them bagging appearances on Nickelodeon show Sam and Cat, which featured Ariana Grande in the titular role, and their own movie by the channel, Sophia Grace & Rosie’s Royal Adventure.

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However, as Sophia Grace and Rosie got older, the high-flying opportunities also came to a halt, with the young women no longer as in demand as their younger selves once were.

A close friend of the cousins tells The Sun: “People don’t realise how intense it was back then for the girls. One minute Sophia and Rosie were just kids playing dress-up, and the next they were everywhere – on TV, interviews and cashing in on big brand deals. 

“It felt like the world couldn’t get enough of them. But that kind of spotlight doesn’t really grow with you, it stays frozen in time.

“I remember when things started to shift. It wasn’t dramatic, the calls just slowed down. Not because they weren’t talented, but because they weren’t those tiny girls in tutus that the world couldn’t help but fall in love with anymore. The industry loves a moment, it’s not always about the person behind it.”

Now, Sophia Grace is a doting mum-of-two and often shares mumfluencer content with her little ones to her Instagram page, which still boasts an impressive 1.5 million followers.

Whilst Rosie, who has just shy of one million followers, is an aspiring pop star and often shares music videos and new songs to her profile.

Despite the pair still successful online, that doesn’t mean it’s been an easy transition, as they navigated being shunned from Hollywood for simply growing up.

The friend said: “They had to go through that strange identity thing a lot of child stars face. Like, who am I if I’m not that version of me everyone fell in love with? It’s not just about losing jobs, it’s about outgrowing a character the whole world still expects you to be.

“There was definitely a period where it hurt. They’d worked so hard, and suddenly it felt like they had to prove themselves all over again, but as completely different people. That’s exhausting, especially when your past success kind of boxes you in.”

This had the girls thinking about what is next as they reinvented their careers, rather than remaining stuck.

“What people don’t see is how much strength it took for them to step back and rethink everything. They didn’t just cling to what used to work. They had to start asking bigger questions like what do we actually enjoy now? What kind of life do we want outside of all that?

“They’ve had to evolve and figure out who they are without the glitz glam and cameras. And I think that was harder than actually being famous in the first place.

“There’s something bittersweet about it. Now they’re building something quieter, more personal and it actually belongs fully to them this time.”

Child stars who have been catapulted to fame so young are famously at risk of falling victim to the “curse”, which has seen numerous celebrities fall off the wagon after earning their careers at such a young age.

From Drew Barrymore to Macaulay Culkin and Britney Spears, several stars have spoken out about their struggles with mental health, addiction, financial issues and more after being put under such pressure so young.

But Sophia Grace and Rosie have managed to successfully manage becoming household names so young whilst avoiding being plagued with the curse.

“People always expect a sad ending with child stars, like it’s inevitable that something will go wrong once the spotlight fades. But that was never going to be their story,” said the friend.

Explaining how they managed to remain grounded, they said that the pair have always been “normal and down to earth”, even when things were “unpredictable” in their careers.

“Sophia was always the one with that natural warmth. Even as a kid, she had this way of making people feel comfortable around her, what you saw was exactly what you got,” said our insider.

“Becoming a mum didn’t change her either, it’s been the making of her. She talks a lot about wanting to give her child stability, something consistent and safe, because she knows firsthand how unusual her own childhood was.

“What people see online is only a small window into their world – behind the scenes she’s very careful, and very protective of her family life. She’s also been smart financially, which people don’t expect. She made sure early on that she wasn’t just spending what she earned, she was thinking about the future. She’s got investments, savings and she’s financially fine for a very long time.”

And for Rosie, it seems that music was always the long-term plan.

“She stepped back, took time to grow up outside of the spotlight, build up her confidence and then came back to it on her own terms. That’s something I really admire about her. She’s spent years working on her voice, writing, figuring out what she actually wants to say as an artist instead of trying to recreate something from the past. 

“There’s a lot of discipline there, and a kind of quiet confidence that people may have otherwise overlooked. She’s not chasing attention at all because she’s building something meaningful and long term.

“The thing that really stands out about both of them is that they never lost themselves in it. They had good people around them from early on, family who kept things steady and didn’t let the fame become everything. And they listened to that. They made choices that weren’t the flashiest, but they were the right ones for the lives they all wanted.”

The duo were also meticulously careful about money, our source says, despite having an influx of earnings so young.

“At the end of the day, they didn’t just grow out of being child stars, they grew into adults with lives that are  real and wonderful. And that’s something you can’t fake for likes.”

An estimated five million people travel from the UK to Italy on holiday each year – and chef Vincenzo Prosperi has named the one authentic city that should be on every traveller’s radar

An Italian chef has highlighted an “authentic” city worth visiting – and it’s not Milan, Venice or Florence. The recommendation comes as roughly five million Britons jet off to Italy for holidays each year.

While countless holidaymakers head for coastal spots like Puglia or Rimini, the nation is equally renowned for its stunning city escapes. According to chef Vincenzo Prosperi, known as Vincenzo Plates online, there’s one particular city that offers a genuine taste of Italy.

Vincenzo champions Bari on the Adriatic Sea as an “old town where the nonnas make pasta on the sea”. In a YouTube video, he said: “A really wonderful city.

“It has really improved in the last 10 years. It is one of the best places to see in the south of Italy. This is authentic, this is great.”

Boasting just over 315,000 residents, Bari ranks amongst the most significant cities in southern Italy. It serves as both a breathtaking Mediterranean port and a thriving university hub, reports the Express.

Bari divides into separate districts. The old town, known as Bari Vecchia, comprises a maze of ancient streets housing the historic Basilica of Saint Nicholas, which originates from the 11th century.

The delightful Piazza del Ferrarese gazes out over the Augusto Imperatore waterfront while its palm-lined avenues provide the ideal fusion of historic town and contemporary seafront. Its name derives from a Ferrara merchant who resided there during the 1600s and maintained his warehouses on the square.

Remnants of a Roman road stretching back to the 2nd century lie cordoned off on the piazza. Nowadays tourists can savour a peaceful moment while observing the vibrant boats gently rocking in the harbour.

Meanwhile, the Murak Quarter, constructed under Joachim Murat, serves as the pulsating centre of contemporary Bari. It’s renowned for its orderly grid pattern of streets, thriving retail area, and lively café scene.

Its energetic character stands in stark contrast to the ancient old town. Travel authority Mark Wolters advises that anyone visiting Bari must head to Strada Arco Bass where residents prepare orecchiette pasta right on the street.

In a YouTube video, he said: “When you come here, you’re going to see there’s a street where all these grandmas, all these ladies, are making orecchiette, they’re making a special kind of pasta from here.”

He added: “We bought two bags for like five euros and it was so worth it. We got to see the lady and she was making them and they had them out there, it was a really cool thing.”

Mark also urges travellers to Bari to try the focaccia barese – a bread crafted from mashed potato and semolina flour. He said: “Focaccia is like a really fluffy, almost like a pizza-bread dough bread, and in it they put tomatoes and olives and it is fantastic, it’s a really special one from here.”

The expert advises that anyone keen on embarking on a road trip around the wider Puglia region should pick up a hire car at Bari airport before exploring the surrounding area. He explains that you “don’t want to drive” in the city itself, particularly around the old town.

Flights from the UK to Bari start at around £70 on Skyscanner. During the summer months, temperatures can soar to as high as 30C, with May typically seeing highs of around 23C.

MOLLY-MAE Hague just revealed that a fire broke out at her £5million mansion ahead of her giving birth to her second child.

The influencer and TV personality, 26, shared the scary ordeal over on her YouTube channel.

In a vlog posted to her page yesterday, Molly-Mae talked all things preparing for her baby shower.

However, the sweet anecdotes suddenly took a terrifying turn when she recounted her home security team contacting her about a fire at her property.

She shared: “The security company is calling me and are like, ‘Just to ask you a question, is the fire in your skip on purpose, is there meant to be a fire in your skip?’

“I’m like, ‘Give me a second’, run to my builder Glen and I’m like, ‘Glen, there’s a fire!’

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“He was like, ‘Yep, we’ve got it under control’. Basically, the full skip set it on fire.

“Like, what? What the hell is going on this morning.

“All I’m trying to do is have a shower and find an outfit for this baby brunch tomorrow and instead I’m Fireman Sam over here.”

The fire news comes shortly after Molly-Mae revealed the latest renovations in her stunning home.

Earlier this month Molly-Mae showed off the gorgeous new bedroom the mansion, sharing a series of snaps to her dedicated home remodelling Instagram account.

Gone were the warm cream and brown tones, in favour for a more cool grey aesthetic.

Molly-Mae replaced the wooden four-poster bed with a standard double bed and giant leather headboard, behind which sat a wall-to-wall mirror.

She also replaced the shell inspired circular ceiling fixture with a more sleek metallic and glass version.

At the other end of the room, Molly-Mae removed the inset arched shelves and cabinets for two floor-to-ceiling mirrors which sat on either side of the new, darker fireplace.

Molly-Mae also removed the TV from above the cream and black veined marble fireplace and replaced it with a stunning piece of artwork.

Two grey chaise lounges sat on either side of the room, replacing the cream one-seater armchairs that were there before.

Even the old bedroom was gorgeous, Molly explained why she felt the need to overhaul it completely.

“There was absolutely nothing wrong with the space before but because we’re planning to be here for a long time, we really wanted to make it feel completely like us… you all know how much I love my neutral, calming spaces,” she wrote.

“I honestly couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out… I’m so excited to keep making more special updates to our new home.”

Molly-Mae and her partner Tommy Fury purchased the luxurious mansion back in 2024.

It’s a Victorian-style building located in Cheshire which reportedly features six bedrooms.

RUSSELL Brand has confessed he thinks about going to prison “every day” ahead of his rape trial and denies being a “grifter”.

The comedian and actor, 50, who now hosts a podcast is facing trial on three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault against six women from 1999 to 2009.

He denies all the charges against him.

The star, who wore a crucifix around his neck, talked at length with Piers Morgan on his YouTube show Uncensored.

Asked if he thought about the reality of going to jail if he was found guilty, Brand said: “Yes… all the time, every day.”

He added: “I will be with God wherever I am. And of course, I would prefer to be with God with my wife and my kids… I’m not saying that that’s not a difficult image, you know, and a difficult thing to contemplate, of course it is.”

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Brand, who brought a Bible with him, continued: “We are going to find out the truth, and we’re going to deal with the truth.

“Because actually, I am not afraid of the truth and if the truth is I am going to prison, then I am. My job will be, do not be afraid of that truth, that is what you are going to do.”

The one-time Hollywood star claimed he would face being behind bars “with God” if he was found guilty of the charges against him.

He also strenuously defended his innocence.

Morgan put it to him that there were people who considered him “basically just a massive grifter”.

Brand immediately shot back: “No, that’s what they say about you.”

Morgan added: “You’re very eloquent, you can be very persuasive with the power of your words, but that actually when it comes to any of these issues, you don’t really have a personal principle.”

Brand said: “I do, I do.”

In an earlier interview for The Megyn Kelly Show podcast admitted he had sex with a 16-year-old when he was 30.

He said his relationships at the time were “exploitative” – but stressed his sex with the girl was legal.

Brand said: “In Europe and in the United Kingdom where I’m from, the age of consent is 16. And I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30.

“But when I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger and I was an immature 30-year-old.”

Brand told host Megyn Kelly his relationships in the past were “selfish”.

He continued: “I did not apply enough consideration barely any I suppose really to how that sex was affecting other people.”

At the height of his fame, the actor starred in a number of Hollywood films, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.

His trial at Southwark Crown Court is due to start on October 12.

Coachella’s got you all in your head? Think you’d rather watch Bieber while you’re in your bed?

Then you’re in luck! Hot off the success of both “Swag” albums and a (literally) stripped down Grammys performance, Beliebers will be able to watch Justin Bieber’s day 2 headlining set at 11:25 p.m. on the Coachella YouTube livestream.

Before Bieber takes the Main Stage, viewers at home will be able to catch The Strokes, Labrinth and David Byrne at the Outdoor Theatre, PinkPantheress at the Mojave and more.

And check out Coachella’s livestream app on iOS and Android.

Here’s who you can watch on Saturday’s livestream feeds (times presented in PDT):

Main Stage

5:30 p.m. Addison Rae; 7 p.m. Giveon; 9 p.m. The Strokes; 11:25 p.m. Justin Bieber

Outdoor Theatre

4 p.m. Los Hermanos Flores; 5:10 p.m. Alex G; 6:10 p.m. Blondshell; 7:05 p.m. Sombr; 8:30 p.m. Labrinth; 10:20 p.m. David Byrne

Sahara

4:00 p.m. Zulan; 5 p.m. Hamdi; 6:15 p.m. Yousuke Yukimatsu; 7:15 p.m. Teed; 8 p.m. Nine Inch Noize; 9:10 p.m. Rezz; 10:30 p.m. Adriatique; 11:55 p.m. Worship

Mojave

4 p.m. Jack White; 4:50 p.m. Fujii Kaze; 5:50 p.m. Royel Otis; 7:30 p.m. Taemin; 8:55 p.m. PinkPantheress; 10:15 p.m. Interpol

Gobi

4:05 p.m. Whatmore; 5:10 p.m. Luisa Sonza; 6:15 p.m. Geese; 7:05 p.m. Noga Erez; 7:50 p.m. Davido; 9 p.m. Bia; 10:10 p.m. Morat

Sonora

4:20 p.m. Ecca Vandal; 5:30 p.m. Ceremony; 6:40 p.m. Rusowsky; 7:50 p.m. 54 Ultra; 8:45 p.m. Die Spitz; 9:45 p.m. Mind Enterprises; 10:45 p.m. Freak Slug

Quasar

5 p.m. Joezi; 7 p.m. Afrojack x Shimza

There’s been a delay on the livestream during previous festivals, so don’t worry if Bieber, The Strokes or another one of your favorite artists starts a little later than their posted time.

YouTube travel expert Mark Wolters, who has travelled to more than 80 countries, says there are two areas of a hotel guests should avoid staying in – and they may even consider asking to move rooms

A travel expert has claimed there are two parts of a hotel where guests should never stay.

Globe-trotting YouTuber Mark Wolters, who runs the channel Wolters World, suggested people should even look to move if they are situated near one of the areas in question.

Mark has visited more than 80 countries so knows a thing or two about staying in hotels, what to expect and what should not be considered acceptable.

While it is generally considered poor etiquette to complain in the UK, he uploaded a video detailing the specific situations where people should be asking to change room in their hotel.

Two of those scenarios are when the room is located near the lifts (or even an ice machine) or by the stairwell.

Speaking on his channel, which has 1.17 million subscribers, he said: “You might want to think about your sleep. If you’re by the elevators (lifts) or ice machine, those are heavy traffic, heavy noise areas. No matter what time people are coming home, they’re using the elevators, right. You’re going to have the drunk people coming back late, the people coming back from the wedding, or the little kids going to the pool in the morning, you’re going to have a lot of movement there.

“So if you want to get sleep, say, ‘can I move my room away from the ice machine or away from the elevator because that might make it a little bit harder to sleep.”

He went on to recommend asking the front desk to move if you’re hotel room is by the stairwell, which he branded a “weird access point”.

Mark said: “Another thing to think about is if you’re by the stairwell. The stairwell is an odd access point. It might have little weird noises, you might want to consider that.”

The well-travelled YouTuber suggested there are a number of other occasions which might persuade tourists to ask their hotel for a switch in rooms.

One of these could be if you feel generally unsafe. This could be an issue with the windows or the door or even your neighbours in the hotel.

Mark explained: “You do not need to explain to them why this makes you feel uncomfortable. It’s about your safety. Something of the things to look out for – the door doesn’t feel quite secure, check the locks, look at the peephole.”

Another big issue could be if the room is not clean. This could include the bed not being made or something unsavoury being left in the toilet.

He added: “We’ve seen lipstick on the mirror in the bathroom. We were like: ‘This obviously hasn’t been cleaned very well.’ These kind of things are important to bring up because sometimes rooms are missed by the cleaning crew or people left a little bit later, these things do happen.

“Maybe you’re ok with the cleaning crew coming up but do you want to wait two or three hours? That’s why it might be better to ask for a new room instead of waiting for them to clean those rooms because they don’t clean those rooms in five minutes.

“When I’m talking about cleanliness I’m also talking about the smell.”

Key dates for next year’s awards season — and the one after that — are already on the calendar.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday announced the dates for the 2027 and 2028 Oscars ceremonies, on March 14, 2027, and March 5, 2028, respectively. The awards show’s 99th and 100th iterations will be its last hurrahs with longtime distributor ABC before a move to YouTube.

In another nod to streaming, the Actor Awards (formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards) also set the dates for their next two shows, which like this year’s ceremony will stream live on Netflix. Presented by SAG-AFTRA, the 33rd Actor Awards are slated for Feb. 28, 2027, and its successor for Feb. 20, 2028.

The Producers Guild of America also announced its 2027 ceremony will take place on Feb. 27, 2027, and its 2028 iteration, on Feb. 19, 2028.

The 2027 and 2028 Oscars will also be the last two ceremonies held at the Dolby Theatre after more than a quarter century at the Hollywood mainstay. Beginning in 2029, the Academy Awards will move to L.A. Live’s Peacock Theater, which is expected to be renamed before the Oscars arrive. The new agreement runs through 2039.

Anchoring the ceremony at the sprawling L.A. Live campus rather than in the heart of Hollywood is expected to allow the academy greater control over crowd flow and event programming, and provide better means for hosting visitors. Similarly, the Oscars’ move to YouTube is aimed at expanding the show’s reach in a streaming-dominant era.

This year’s ABC telecast averaged 17.9 million viewers, a 9% drop from last year’s 19.7 million viewers on ABC and Hulu. The dip ended a four-year streak of ratings bumps.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” led this year’s Oscars with six wins including best picture, director and adapted screenplay. “Sinners,” which earned a record 16 nominations, followed behind with four awards.

“Sinners” also won big at the Actor Awards, with television categories dominated by “The Studio” and “The Pitt.”

Times staff writers Josh Rottenberg and Stephen Battaglio contributed to this report.

HOLLY Willoughby is turning up the heat — as she plans to install a sauna at her £8million London home.

The TV host, 45, has been researching fancy brands and asked her 8.1million Instagram followers about the health benefits of classic and infrared units.

Mum-of-three Holly and her telly producer husband Dan Baldwin, 50, bought the six-bedroom home in South West London last year.

Her sauna search comes as the ex-This Morning host and former golden girl of ITV shuns ­traditional broadcasters and prepares a comeback on YouTube with an edgier image.

A source recently told The Sun: “Charli XCX might think she’s the original Brat girl, but Holly will give her a run for her money.”

Recently Emma Bunton was spotted beaming alongside pal Holly at a Disney launch after the Spice Girls reunion was cancelled.

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The singer, 50, attended the press day of Disney Adventure World and World Of Frozen at Disneyland Paris in France.

She appeared to put her band’s woes to one side as she posed for pictures with her longtime friend Holly.

Baby Spice got into the spirit of things by donning a pair of Mickey Mouse ears as well as a tie with the famous character on it.

She looked chic in a white shirt tucked into a pair of straight leg jeans and a cream wool coat.

Emma wore her blonde locks straight and opted for a subtle make-up look.

Meanwhile, Holly wore a black t-shirt tucked into jeans with a black coat and some brown boots.

She too got into the Disney spirit with a set of ears as the two put on their widest smiles for photos.

The two women have been firm friends for several years and are often spotted socialising with their group of friends, including Melanie Blatt and Christine Lampard.

“Everyone is at least a dormant ballet nerd,” declares 22-year-old Eden Lim, while sitting for an interview in the suburban Dallas studio where she and her sister, Jordan, 24, film and edit their popular YouTube channel “Ballet Reign.”

Judging from the near-universal backlash to Timothée Chalamet’s recent bad-mouthing of ballet, Eden’s summation of the central tenet of their show may be true. With 67,000 subscribers in 166 countries and growing, the Lim sisters are mixing Gen Z humor and exuberance with astounding erudition to bring ballet to a new generation and fire up older, longtime fans.

With episode titles such as “Addictive Ballet Moments to Alter your Brain Chemistry” and promises like “This will increase your lifespan and double your morale,” they are on a mission to ensure that ballet not only survives but thrives.

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Mirthfulness is the Lim sisters’ medium, but their message is serious. During each show, they parse video clips of great performances, often by explaining the history of the piece and giving detailed behind-the-scenes stories. They dissect the most famous pas de deux with trenchant insight and introduce their audience to the greatest dancers, including Natalia Osipova and Roberto Bolle. With signature, irrepressible enthusiasm, the sisters help viewers see precisely what makes the shows and dancers so extraordinary.

Eden, left, and Jordan Lim of YouTube channel “Ballet Reign” trained as professional dancers before deciding to focus on their show full time.

(Larsen & Talbert / For The Times)

A video clip featured in the “Addictive Ballet” episode shows New York City Ballet principal dancer Ashley Bouder launching herself into a jeté so high she seems to leave Earth’s gravity. In midair she manages to turn herself 180 degrees before being caught by her partner, despite her momentum seeming to drift into his arms like a feather blown by a breeze.

While watching the singular feat, Eden exclaims, “Call the news channels! We found a person who can actually levitate!”

Jordan says the goal is to make viewers feel equipped to say, “I understand what’s going on, and I can appreciate it, and I can appreciate that this was done well.”

“Ballet Reign” launched three years ago with modest hopes. The sisters sought a mere toehold in the YouTube universe, aiming for a narrow niche audience of fellow ballet fanatics (“ballet nerds”) ages 16 to 25. To their initial astonishment, they have attracted a far wider viewership spanning all ages, even followers who hitherto had only scant interest in ballet. They have drawn in many young children and older adults, with those 65 and up now their third-largest subscriber group.

The show has rapidly won acclaim from within and outside of the ballet world — perhaps because the depth and breadth of their knowledge makes it hard to shake the suspicion that they secretly are Ivy League professors.

The Lim sisters speak with sophistication about classic ballets and dancers they love — delivering their message through a whimsical show that has attracted fans of all ages.

(Larsen & Talbert / For The Times)

They comment with equal sophistication on ballet steps, choreography, history, musicology and the minute details of costume design. Eclectic references pop out of nowhere — a metaphor from quantum physics, an aside that the flute is the instrument whose sound is closest to a sine wave, that a serinette is an 18th century music box used to teach caged canaries to sing.

Even actual professors laud the show.

Nicolas Krusek routinely shows “Ballet Reign” episodes in his classes for adults on ballet history at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Krusek says what makes the show compelling “is the spirit of the videos, just the sense of joyousness and benevolence that they communicate, and a real sense of reverence for the art and the artists.”

John Meehan, a Vassar College professor of ballet and former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, calls their episode on Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” ballet “amazing,” adding that it conveys at least as much information in much more palatable form than a “dry” university lecture.

Julie Cronshaw, director of the Highgate Ballet School in London, says even for learned, longtime balletomanes the show opens up a whole new realm of understanding and appreciation. For those weighed down by adult concerns, watching an episode leaves them feeling uplifted.

This is why Jordan believes “Ballet Reign” has attracted a significant older audience — and also because the sisters honor tradition.

“They’re looking at the content and saying, ‘These are pieces that I grew up watching. And these are the dancers that I adored when I was younger,’” Jordan says.

Eden says she hopes “it’s because our content, and the way we deliver it, is able to touch hearts.”

The Lim sisters keep a disciplined schedule, turning out polished, deftly produced episodes 52 weeks a year.

(Larsen & Talbert / For The Times)

The show also benefits from its high production values, with expertly edited clips from performances, clever blurbs of text and quirky cutaways to, say, a pole vaulter as an allusion to how high a dancer jumps.

Episodes generally begin the same way, with the sisters sitting behind a table with an old-fashioned radio-days microphone nicknamed “Mike-elangelo” between them. Eden kicks things off by announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Ballet Reign.”

A flash of superimposed text identifies them as “*Very certified*, extremely serious ballet experts.”

Jordan and Eden revel in each other’s company, finish each other’s sentences and play off each other with insightful or witty interjections.

“We grew up best friends from the beginning, and that’s never changed,” Jordan says.

They keep a disciplined, grueling schedule, turning out polished, deftly produced episodes 52 weeks a year.

Comments validating their efforts come in frequently. “You really helped me through a dark time,” reads one. Another notes, “I was going through a really difficult life transition and having your videos helped me get through.”

Jordan says, “That’s a sort of impact that I genuinely did not see coming.”

The sisters are openhearted and enjoy revealing ballet’s best-kept secrets, but they have kept a remarkably mysterious online profile. Until now, they have never even disclosed their last names, let alone anything about their background, education or experience.

There is also nearly nothing on the internet, and fans have long wondered about their credentials, including whether they are professional dancers themselves.

On the show the sisters certainly come across as if they were. Surprisingly, the answer is no — with an “almost” caveat.

The oldest of four siblings, Jordan and Eden spent nearly all of their childhood in Ottawa. From the time they were small the sisters beelined toward becoming professional ballet dancers. Jordan says when she was 4 she got up at the crack of dawn every day and put in a VHS tape of a ballet class that her mother, Mary Lim, had bought. With fierce determination, she performed tendus and relevés along with the older students on the tape.

Eden’s ballet fascination quickly followed. Mary says she soon realized she had no choice but to send them to ballet school.

“Obviously, if you look at a 4-year-old doing ballet at 7 a.m. every single day, you’re like, OK, let’s try lessons,” Jordan says.

Eden, left, and Jordan Lim of “Ballet Reign” are the oldest of four siblings and spent nearly all of their childhood in Ottawa before relocating to Texas to pursue their careers.

(Larsen & Talbert / For The Times)

By 2015, the girls needed a better ballet school than was available in Ottawa. Their parents packed up the family and moved to Dallas, where the pair enrolled in the Ballet Academy of Texas. Aside from ballet classes they were entirely homeschooled, but they had plenty of experience dancing in school performances, ballet competitions and with real companies.

Mary says the intent was “to give them an opportunity to move and carve their own path … We wanted them to find their passions.”

The moment the sisters had worked for all their lives arrived in 2020, when the time came to set off around the country — and the world — to audition for ballet companies. But the COVID-19 pandemic hit just as they got started, and almost everything in the ballet world shut down.

Jordan says the hiatus led them to reflect for the first time on whether their lifelong ambition was truly what they wanted. At the same time they groped for a way to put their passion for ballet to temporary use.

For years the sisters had fantasized, half-seriously, about having their own YouTube channel. Eden convinced an initially reluctant Jordan it was time to make the daydream real, and “Ballet Reign” premiered on Dec. 21, 2022.

The sisters say they convinced themselves they were using the show to take “a gap year” while waiting out the pandemic. As the first months passed, and their audience widened and sent glowing feedback, they began to realize they were having a big impact and touching lives. It dawned on them that this wasn’t just an interlude but their calling.

In an agonizing twist, just as the show had gotten underway, Jordan received word she had been accepted by a professional ballet company. She turned down the offer.

“It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Jordan says, but in retrospect the right one.

Jeremy Spake became a firm favourite on the BBC series Airport, which first aired in 1996, and has since gone on to enjoy a successful media and aviation career before alleging workplace issues

Jeremy Spake, who was first catapulted into the limelight an astonishing 30 years ago on the BBC series Airport, is now almost unrecognisable. The programme, similar to ITV’s own successful Airline, gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the daily workings of Heathrow Airport and the aircraft departing from there. Now 56, Jeremy was featured on the show in 1996 during his stint as a ground services manager for Russian airline Aeroflot.

He swiftly became a viewer favourite during his time on the show, which subsequently paved the way for additional television opportunities. He went on to host Toughest Jobs in Britain, a documentary series that followed workers in some of the UK’s most challenging and physically demanding roles, as well as the medical programme City Hospital.

He also authored two books, titled Jeremy’s Airport and The Toughest Job in Britain. Jeremy’s Airport drew from his experiences working at Heathrow, guiding readers through a typical week on the job, while The Toughest Job in Britain saw him reflect on some of the incredibly tough jobs he tackled while presenting the show.

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While pursuing his media career, Jeremy was also steadily ascending the corporate ranks in his day job. Proficient in Russian, Jeremy eventually climbed to the position of services manager for Aeroflot before being promoted to Deputy Director of Isle of Man Airport.

Nevertheless, Jeremy chose to resign from his position at the Isle of Man airport, describing ‘bullying, harassment and mobbing on an almost industrial scale’ via his LinkedIn profile. Reports emerged in 2023 that he was pursuing legal action against the Isle of Man government for personal injuries, alleging damage to his mental wellbeing.

He subsequently fronted a six-episode documentary series aired on the BBC, The Airport: Back In The Skies. The fresh series witnessed Jeremy returning to his roots, reuniting with former colleagues, and examining closely how the sector was recovering following the coronavirus crisis.

Production for The Airport: Back In The Skies kicked off in October 2021, after approximately eighteen months of lockdown measures, travel restrictions, and vaccine passport requirements, while the airport was working to rebuild operations and restore full capacity.

Thankfully, Jeremy has never been one to stand on the sidelines and pitched in by helping to prepare a Boeing 737 for departure and lending a hand to holidaymakers stranded during the turmoil.

The television personality has also released his own audio book, Jeremy’s Airport Audio Book, which recounts the Airport narrative with extra commentary and fresh anecdotes that didn’t feature in the original BBC television programme. Adding another dimension to Jeremy’s repertoire, he now presents daily aviation updates on Instagram, for Air News Daily.

However, Jeremy now has a dramatically different look. His brown hair has disappeared as the star is now completely bald and he has swapped his smart goatee for a clean-shaven look. The website for the channel says: “Jeremy is a seasoned broadcaster and aviation professional with 40 years experience of working with some of the largest airlines and airports around the world and brings his unique insight to every show.”

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March 26 (UPI) — A California jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for negligently designing addictive social media platforms that harm children, in a landmark verdict that could have lasting implications for the tech industry.

The Wednesday verdict marks the first time technology companies have been found liable for creating addictive online products, amid increased scrutiny of the industry and a wave of litigation.

“This jury saw exactly what we presented from the very first day of trial: that these companies built digital spaces designed to negatively influence the brains of children, and they did it on purpose,” Mark Lanier, lead trial counsel and founder of The Lanier Law Firm, said in a statement.

“The evidence showed that Meta and YouTube knew their platforms were hooking children and harming their mental health, and instead of fixing the problem they kept developing features to maximize the time kids spent on their apps. Now a jury has told them that is not acceptable, and you are being held accountable.”

UPI has contacted Meta and YouTube for comment.

The verdict follows a seven-week trial centered on a now-20-year-old plaintiff known to the court by her initials K.G.M., who testified that her use of Instagram, owned by Meta, and YouTube, an Alphabet product, from a young age caused her to develop anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts.

During the trial, she testified that the platforms’ addictive design features, including algorithm-generated recommendations, beauty features and push notifications caused her severe mental harm.

“[The plaintiff] put a human face on what these companies have known for years: that their platforms were engineered to hook young users, and that the children most vulnerable to trauma were the ones they were most effectively reaching,” Rachel Lanier, co-lead counsel and managing attorney of The Lanier Law Firm’s Los Angeles office, said in a statement.

In its verdict, the jury found Meta 70% responsible for the harm the plaintiff suffered and YouTube 30% responsible, and ordered the Mark Zuckerberg-owned tech behemoth and Google‘s video-sharing service to pay her a combined $6 million, half for compensatory damages and half for punitive damages.

Of the punitive damages, Meta is to pay $2.1 million and YouTube $900,000.

This was the first trial in a much larger consolidated case involving more than 1,600 plaintiffs seeking to hold social media companies responsible for the harm they suffered from using those products.

“This is a major victory for the public, for social media users and for child safety,” Libby Liu, CEO of nonprofit legal organization Whistleblower Aid, told UPI in an emailed statement.

“Each successful lawsuit paints a crystal clear picture showing that Meta is not above the law and can and should be held accountable.”

The verdict came down a day after a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for misleading consumers about the safety of its products, ordering the company to pay $375 million in civil penalties for violating the state’s consumer protection laws.

During the trial, state prosecutors showed that Meta’s design features enabled predators to engage in child sexual exploitation, while demonstrating that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to addict young people.

Following the verdict in Los Angeles County, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, a Democrat, celebrated it as “another critical step toward justice that puts Meta and other big tech executives on notice that they cannot evade responsibility for design choices that jeopardize child safety.”

“We will seek court-mandated changes to Meta’s platforms that offer protections for kids,” he said in a statement.

The rulings come as more attention is being paid to the effects social media has on youth, resulting with Australia in December banning those under the age of 16 from social media, while other countries are considering similar restrictions.

ANASTACIA Kingsnorth has been a queen of social media since starting her YouTube Channel aged 11 – but now a fierce backlash is threatening her empire.

The Brit content creator, 25, has ventured into podcast hosting, has written her own book and been the face of many ad campaigns.

Yet this year, the TikTok star – who has a rumoured net worth of over £1million – faced a sticky spot after her boyfriend appeared to cause “jealous” tension with her pal, Love Island alum Saffron Barker.

And now fans have reacted in fury after her latest paid partnership with Air Up featured a clip created by AI.

Earlier this week, Oh Anna podcast host Anastacia took to her socials to upload a clip promoting the German based brand’s latest flavoured water.

Scenes showed a giant version of the star wearing a lemon polka dot co-ord as she strolled through the London streets.

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Her height meant she could scoop up a pink water bottle branded with the Air Up logo before she took a sip.

The slurp appeared to transport her into both a new location – the roof of Buckingham Palace – and a new denim pinstripe outfit.

She wrapped the clip by visiting locations including St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben.

Yet on TikTok, her followers have alleged she has used AI to create the scenes – and claimed the technology goes against Air Up’s environmentally friendly credentials.

Criticisms came from two angles – the nature of content creation as a creative process, and also for AI using huge volumes of water, seemingly going against green principles.

The Sun has gone to Anastacia’s rep for comment.

Fans have claimed Anastacia, whose content focusses on lifestyle, leisure and beauty, has abandoned the “creative process” with her latest venture.

One TikTok user, who works in marketing, ranted: “Honestly, I am not happy about it.

“And I don’t think a lot of people are, judging by the comments on the video”.

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She added: “It really cuts down on what content creation really is.

“If you work in marketing like myself you will know that this is totally wrong.

“The whole point of content creation is creative process”.

Fans of Anastacia, who has previously collaborated with ITV bosses for a Love Island promotion, continued to take to the comments in fury.

One simply posted: “Who’s idea was this?? Omg”.

A second mused: “I do like some of their content, but Ana and her family don’t seem hugely aware or maybe even that bothered by environmental issues unfortunately. (a LOT of consumption etc!)”.

A third added: “The funny part about it is , the ad is for a refillable water bottle (to try and tackle plastic waste etc) but then it the ad is literally AI!! you couldn’t write it honestly”.

A fourth mused: “The hypocrisy of these ‘influencers’ is gross tbh”.

“I’m surprised the brand approved it to be honest…says a lot about them too! I think being aware of the environmental impact AI has is important too”.

And another user surmised: “For me its the context of the ad being for a refillable water bottle while using AI which uses tons of water. It is a little ironic”.

Campaigners have previously flagged the significant carbon, energy and water use that AI requires.

Previously, Sasha Luccioni, climate lead at AI company Hugging Face told The Guardian: “What I’m worried about is that we’re deploying AI in such a way that we don’t have a good idea of the energy use.

“We’re essentially operating on the hypothesis that it’s not a problem – or that if it is a problem it will somehow be solved – instead of getting ahead of it.”

While Anastacia has posted the video to her Instagram grid, the brand is yet to feature it on their page.

Davina McCall has opened up about one of her concerns ahead of the Comic Relief programme due to be broadcast on the BBC and YouTube simultaneously for the first time

TV host Davina McCall has joked that she is “mildly terrified” of one of her Comic Relief colleagues.

Davina, 58, will be co-hosting Comic Relief alongside a bevvy of different comedians and television personalities and has opened up about her fears ahead of the programme this evening (Friday, March 20).

Speaking to Bella magazine, Davina said: “What’s so nice is that I’m hosting with Joel Dommett, and Joel’s actually one of my best friends!

“So, it’s great to be presenting with him. Knowing that I’m with him while also presenting with Nan (Catherine Tate) is very reassuring, because actually, I am mildly terrified of Nan, if I’m honest.”

Davina also spoke of her job in making sure all the celebrities who do appear and take part on stage don’t break any rules, including when it comes to swearing.

She added: “How I’m going to stop her from swearing, I just don’t know! Obviously ‘please do not swear’ was my catchphrase – so I’m going to have to stay on my toes.”

Davina’s opening up about being on guard and making sure everyone behaves during Comic Relief comes after the former Big Brother spoke out about her health.

Earlier this year, she backed a call by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) to improve the understanding between menopause and mental health.

The menopause occurs when periods stop because of a drop in hormone levels. It can take place between the ages of 45 and 55, but can sometimes happen earlier. During the transitional phase, known as the perimenopause, a variety of symptoms can hit people.

Speaking about the impact of those symptoms Davina, an honorary fellow of RCPsych spoke of the wider impact of the menopause on someone’s life, reports the Independent.

Davina, who has also battled breast cancer and a brain tumour in recent years, said: “Some women sail through the menopause unscathed. But some don’t, and the impact on their mental health can be devastating and have a huge impact on their lives and their relationships.

“Together, we must make the link between mental health and menopause known across society, among health professionals, NHS, government, members of the public and employers, to improve the policies, care and support provided for all women experiencing menopause.”

Meanwhile, the Comic Relief broadcast is set to begin at around 7pm on BBC One from MediaCityUK in Salford. As well as streamed on the BBC, it will go out live on the BBC’s YouTube channel.

ABC’s Sunday telecast of the 98th Oscars averaged 17.9 million viewers, ending a four-year streak of audience increases.

The figure from Nielsen is down 9% from the 19.7 million viewers who watched the telecast on ABC and Hulu in 2025.

After ratings for the Oscars cratered to an all-time low of 10.5 million viewers in 2021, the event’s audience levels ticked back up in recent years.

But the show has not topped 20 million viewers since 2019, as younger viewers are content to watch highlights of the ceremony on social media, rather than sit through a three-hour-plus telecast on traditional TV.

The awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood honored “One Battle After Another” for best picture, Michael B. Jordan for lead actor in “Sinners,” and Jessie Buckley for lead actress in “Hamnet.” Conan O’Brien was the host for the second straight year.

Critics said the ceremony was light on political statements about President Trump, whose name was not mentioned during the telecast. The show’s highlight was an extended “In Memoriam” segment that gave extra tribute to legendary actor and filmmaker Robert Redford and slain actor, director and producer Rob Reiner.

ABC had success in selling out the commercials for the Oscars, which is perennially the most watched non-sports telecast of the year. But the network will only have the event for two more years as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences chose to take a better financial offer from YouTube for the rights to the telecast starting in 2029.

O’Brien poked fun at the YouTube move. He closed with a video that shows him being appointed Oscars “host for life.” As he takes in the honor, poison gas seeps into the office he is given. After O’Brien’s lifeless body is wheeled out, a name plaque with a new host is put on the door. His successor is YouTube star Mr. Beast.

Jamaica has seen a spike in demand from UK holidaymakers seeking sunshine destinations, with TUI offering direct flights from the UK and temperatures reaching 30C in April

Brits are trading Dubai for a sun-drenched island offering direct flights and balmy 30C temperatures in April. This shift comes as holidaymakers begin to seek out travel destinations that bypass the Middle East.

Travellers bound for the region have faced disruption due to ongoing instability and conflict in Iran. British Airways has already confirmed that flights to Dubai, Bahrain, Tel Aviv and Amman in Jordan have been suspended until at least 31 May. This has triggered a surge in bookings for locations such as Portugal, Spain, France and certain US states.

However, one Caribbean island has seen a notable increase in interest. Alongside destinations like the Dominican Republic, Phuket in Thailand and Goa in India, Jamaica has experienced a boom in demand, according to Neil Swanson, managing director of TUI UK and Ireland, who spoke to the BBC.

The airline provides direct flights from Manchester to this sunny isle. However, passengers should brace themselves for a journey expected to exceed 10 hours, reports the Express.

Once they’ve landed on this petite island, home to approximately 2.8 million inhabitants, Brits can bask in the sunshine and immerse themselves in the local culture. The average daytime temperature in Jamaica for April fluctuates between 25 to 30C, dipping to around 22 to 24C at night.

Travel expert Mark Wolters reckons visitors to Jamaica rarely need to pack a jacket. In a YouTube video on his Wolter’s World channel, he explained: “You’re going to be fine with shorts and a t-shirt all-year round, that’s not going to be a problem.

“The busy season here starts January, December and it goes through March. The time when you don’t want to come here is July/August because it is insanely hot.”

According to Visit Jamaica, tourists “feel the vibe” the moment they arrive on the island, becoming absorbed in the music, nightlife, and cuisine. It states: “Tasting your way through the island is a great way to connect with the history of Jamaica as you learn more about what makes our food so special with each dish you try.

“Savour every delicious bite and come back to ‘Mmmmm!’ Jamaicans celebrate life with food, so you know it is made with love.”

Jamaica features an impressive selection of stunning beaches that extend for miles. Negril’s Seven Mile Beach is celebrated for its spectacular sunsets and lively atmosphere whilst Montego Bay Marine Park is favoured by holidaymakers keen to discover the underwater realm showcasing vibrant wildlife.

The Blue Mountains rise majestically above Jamaica and consistently draw outdoor enthusiasts. Those visiting the mountains can even taste the world-famous Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.

The island also boasts captivating waterfalls and verdant rainforests. In April, it plays host to a unique carnival that parades through the streets of Kingston.

The carnival season is accompanied by a week of breakfast parties, soca cruises, Jamaican music and extravagant costumes. Besides being reachable by plane, Jamaica is a favoured destination for cruise holidays.

American Airlines pilot Captain Steve Scheibner has shared crucial travel tips for passengers – warning them to avoid the seat back pocket he calls a “black hole of despair”

An airline pilot has issued a stark warning to passengers never to stash their personal belongings in the rear pocket of plane seats for one straightforward reason.

Captain Steve Scheibner is an American Airlines pilot widely recognised by his huge YouTube following as Captain Steeeve. He revealed the advice in a recent video where he offered a string of travel tips for air travellers.

He regularly encounters people at the agent’s desk because of their use of the rear pocket during their journey, experiencing a “fingers crossed” situation where they face “diminishing” chances.

Captain Steve labelled the pocket the “black hole of despair” and cautioned people against placing anything valuable in it whilst they’re flying unless they “don’t ever want to see it again”.

He stated: “Stop putting personal items in the seat back pocket in front of you. If you want to lose it and never see it again, put it in that dark hole that is the seat back pocket in front of you.”

Captain Steve revealed he’d encountered numerous passengers who’d disembarked the aircraft but abandoned personal items in the seat pocket, and were subsequently unable to return to the flight to retrieve them.

He continued: “If the airplane is still at the gate, fingers crossed that somebody who cares can go out there and find the thing that you left in that seat back pocket.

“But the odds are diminishing with every minute that ticks by after you leave that seat and you leave it in that black hole of despair. So, my friends, do not put your personal items in that seat back pocket, unless of course, you don’t ever want to see it again.”

This comes as reports suggest budget airline passengers could soon experience a peculiar new way of flying – standing-only seats. The novel upright seats, allegedly designed for flights lasting under two hours, would allow passengers to lean rather than sit.

Initially unveiled by Italian company Aviointeriors back in 2018, the ‘Skyrider’ seats would enable airlines to “increase the passenger number by 20%”, resulting in “increased profits”, according to a company spokesperson.

They also maintained that the seats would provide an “increased upright passenger position” whilst ensuring “adequate comfort”. Nevertheless, one expert believes the seats could pose a challenge regarding “perception”.

Dr Akhil Bhardwaj, a former engineer and senior lecturer at the University of Bath’s School of Management, told the Express that such a development would demand “very strict oversight”.

Dr Bhardwaj stated: “The idea of a flying bus that packs passengers might seem appealing, but it might undermine the perception of how the industry thinks about safety. At the very least, such a move requires a very strict oversight and a very clear explanation to the flying public why this is safe.”

YOUTUBER Gabriella has revealed a heartbreaking health update, as she prepares to have a hysterectomy.

The social media star, who is just 31, revealed her news in a candid Instagram post.

The fashion vlogger, who first launched her channel in 2013, gave fans an update, revealing she had been put into early menopause.

Gabriella bravely opened up about how she was set to have a hysterectomy.

This type of surgery is very rare for a woman her age and involves removing her womb.

However, preparing for the operation has had some extreme side effects, which she has now shared with fans.

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Taking to her latest Instagram Stories, Gabriella bravely penned: “Are you going through early menopause?!

“I was put on medication to induce the menopause before I have a hysterectomy as it helps some people’s endo symptoms – and it helps the team know what HRT to put me on after surgery based on how I reacted to the menopause med.

“I’ve actually been told to stop taking it 2 weeks before my op (which is now).

“So I’m having a really glamorous mix of menopause symptoms and withdrawal from the meds at the same time and it’s hell.”

The star also shared a selfie of her giving a thumbs down and she emotionally wrote over the snap: “Not doing so well over here.”

The influencer also revealed that her sleep had been badly affected by her symptoms.

“Going into the menopause is all well and good until it gives you insane insomnia to the point where your Sultrahumanhg ring says your ideal bedtime is 5am!” she wrote.

Gabriella is best known for her fashion and make-up vlogs where she often shows off her huge hauls of goodies.

Over the last 13 years she has built up a huge following and has amassed nearly 600K fans on Instagram, and almost 1M on YouTube.

Gabriella got her first big break in 2014 when she teamed up with YouTuber OG Zoella, for a beauty haul collaboration.

The two then went on to become best friends before a fall out around ten years ago.

Speaking at the time, Gabriella addressed the feud in a lengthy video.

“Sometimes people just grow apart, that’s what happens,” she told fans.

“To be honest I’m quite upset about mine and Zoe’s friendship because we were so close at one point.

“So close. And I classed her as my absolute best friend. Part of the reason we’re not close now is probably my fault.”

The Influencer Insider – Get all the gossip on all your favourite online stars

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