AN Emmerdale legend is brutally sacked next week – after a scheming rival blackmails their boss into forcing them out of the village.

The shock twist leaves residents reeling as the long-time character is shown the door in a savage power move that could change everything.

ITV

John wants Robert gone[/caption]

ITV

Robert warns Vic to stay away from John[/caption]

Dodgy John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) has finally shown his true colours in Emmerdale – by plotting to get rid of his own brother Robert (Ryan Hawley) just days after his shock return.

Robert rocked up in the village after being released from prison, determined to reconnect with his family – but not everyone gave him a warm welcome.

And it didn’t take long for tensions to explode, with John secretly threatening his brother before his release… and now dragging Caleb (William Ash) into a sneaky revenge plan.

But things quickly turned sour as Robert tried to warn sister Vic (Isabel Hodgins) to steer clear of John – only for her to brush it off, accusing him of being jealous.

Despite the drama, Robert tried to keep his head down and even landed a trial shift at Caleb’s depot – much to the fury of John and Aaron (Danny Miller), who clearly didn’t want him back.

In tonight’s (Monday) episode, Robert rocked up late for his first day but managed to impress Caleb by name-dropping a few handy business contacts – proving he still knows how to hustle in the Dales.

During his lunch break, Robert was none the wiser as Caleb opened the door to a furious John, who stormed in still raging about his brother’s return.

Fuming that Robert had been given a shot at the depot, John told Caleb he refused to work alongside him – but when pushed for a proper reason, he had nothing to offer.

Instead, John played dirty – and pulled out the big guns.

Reminding Caleb that he helped cover up the murder of Anthony Fox earlier this year, John coldly said he owed him… and it was time to cash in.

To Caleb, it was a dirty move – but to viewers, it was classic John.

With no other option, Caleb backed down and spun a lie that brought Robert’s trial to an abrupt end.

But Robert wasn’t fooled.

After a sly remark from Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson), he clocked that Caleb had been forced to dump him – and he knew exactly who was behind it.

Storming out onto the street, Robert confronted John and the pair came to blows in a heated showdown, only for Vic to burst in and break it up just in time.

As the dust settled, a seething John was left plotting his next move – convinced Robert needs to vanish for good.

But just how far will John go to get rid of his brother for good?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX.

ITV

Robert made a surprise return to the Dales – but not everyone gave him a warm welcome[/caption]

ITV

Caleb is forced to back down to John[/caption]

ITV

John uses Anthony’s murder cover up against Caleb[/caption]

IRELAND AM star Muireann O’Connell has said the Irish housing market is “hopeless” compared to Australia.

The Limerick host recently became a first-time home owner with her fiance after years of gruelling house hunting.

The search for her forever home wasn’t easy and Muireann has even recalled people crying at viewings.

After blood, sweat and tears, the popular presenter finally went sale agreed and became a home owner earlier this month.

But, even after securing her first-ever property, the 41-year-old has told how “hopeless” the buying process feels.

Speaking on Louise Cooney’s podcast, Open Book, Muireann said: “It just feels more than dysfunctional, it feels very hopeless for an awful lot of people.”

She admitted: “But it’s just that the process is the wild, wild west.”

The TV star explained how her close pals who live in Australia can’t comprehend the struggle of buying a home.

Muireann explained: “They’re like, ‘The house just goes up, this is the price of the house, someone bids and there you go, you get yourself a house.

“It’s done in like 10 days.”

The breakfast show host highlighted how a lack of “supply” is the main problem with the Irish housing market.

But, noted that length of the buying process is also a tough factor.

The Virgin Media star even reminisced on her own experience with viewing homes.

She said: “One woman was pregnant and she also had a child with her. The house was already 140,000 over the asking price and she just wept, it was crazy.”

Beside the struggle of buying a home, Muireann has also had a tough time with renovating her new pad.

Whilst the new home is being renovated Muireann and her partner will remain in their Dublin city home which they have lived in since 2017.

HOUSE THAT?

Taking to Instagram, the star expressed her immense struggle with packing up all her belongings for the new property.

The Limerick lady said: “Probably the most viscerally horrible thing to ever happen to me was getting the coil. Awful, I hated it, it should be given under general anastethic.

“But, would I chose to have that procedure done everyday rather than clearing out my house and packing up, yes.”

The Irish host highlighted how she had been living in her current home since 2017, but had found items that belonged to her in 2003.

She cried: “I didn’t even live in Dublin in 2003, how did you get in to this house? Why are you here? Do you spark joy in my life? No!”

Muireann shook her head ashamedly and added: “Look I know I am an over consumer, it is a reckoning and I’m having a bit of an existential crisis about that right now.”

THE 1% Club has knocked out 8 players with an ‘easy’ picture question – but could you solve it in 30 seconds?

The popular quiz show, fronted by Lee Mack, is known for leaving players with their minds boggling thanks to its tough questions as the game goes on.

However for most of the 100 players, they manage to sail through the first few round which are deemed easy thanks to most of the general public being able to correctly answer them.

But for one episode of the Saturday night quiz favourite, eight people fell at an early hurdle.

They all failed to correctly identify the answer to the 80% question – which was all about shapes.

Reading the question aloud, Lee said: “You walk 10 miles northeast, then turn south and walk a further 20 miles.

“You then walk in a straight line back to your starting point. What shape do you make?”

With 30 seconds on the clock, the players did their best to attempt to answer the question.

As Lee joked that if he walked that far he’d have to call an Uber.

Once the time was up, Lee revealed that eight people had been knocked out and that the answer was a triangle.

Meanwhile, a recent episode of the show saw the studio filled with celebrities instead of members of the public.

The likes of Chris Hughes, I’m a Celeb winner Jill Scott, TV presenter Paddy McGuinness and Tommy Fury all took part.

Other celeb names included Scarlette Douglass, Iain Stirling and Westlife singer Brian McFadden.

However, things took an interesting turn on the show when Lee got to the 60% question.

He asked: “Which four-letter word fills all the gaps to create footballing phrases?”

Look here to find out what happened.

Elsewhere, The 1% Club fans called out a ‘difficult’ question on ITV and insisted the correct answer ‘can’t be done’ – but would you get it?

And a contestant on the show was left shocked by a strict rule that means you can be kicked off the show instantly.

Plus, three contestants were left stumped by a tricky letter riddle that whittled down the competition in its final stages.

Finally, a question on The 1% Club wiped out players from the get-go – despite being deemed as easy.

TAKE a look at the five best playgrounds near beaches for a fun free family day out this summer.

With temperatures reaching 27C across the country this week, there are lots of fantastic spots to visit with kids that won’t cost you a cent.

Ardigillan Castle

There are some top playgrounds you can visit with kids for free this summer[/caption]

Skerries Mills / Facebook

They are all located nearby stunning beaches[/caption]

Up first is Ardgillan Castle Demesne, situated in North County Dublin on an elevated coastline between Balbriggan and Skerries.

Ardgillan Castle playground

The spectacular 194-acre parkland with stunning gardens is only 32 kilometres north of Dublin city.

It is perfect for an enchanting adventure or a magical family day out surrounded by stunning coastal landscapes and rich history.

The state-of-the-art playground has over 30 pieces of play equipment to enjoy, from cradle swings for the very young to a large climbing net for older children (under 12).

The playground is set in an elevated location overlooking the Irish Sea and is easily accessed from the main car park through a woodland walk, which is very close by.

Balbriggan Beach is an ideal walking spot that’s just minutes away, and visitors can enjoy views of the Martello Tower, Bremore Castle, and an 18th-century Lighthouse.

Skerries’ picturesque harbour, is also close by, with cosy cafes and friendly bars all act as magnets for people enjoying this seaside fishing town.

Up next is Skerries Mill playground – located just a 43 minute drive from Dublin city centre, and is also reachable by public transport.

Skerries Mill playground

It was opened in 2021, and has been a huge hit with both locals and tourists.

And it’s just 3 minutes from Skerries beach, which makes it the perfect addition to a day out.

The natural playground is right beside windmills and overlooks the river, offering a stunning view – especially during the summer.

It caters to kids of all ages and abilities, so all children can experience the fun.

What’s more, the beautiful Killiney Hill Park that overlooks both Dalkey and Killiney villages in Dublin is another top spot to visit.

Killiney Hill Park

The wooden playground caters to kids of all ages and abilities, so all children can join in the fun.

Young ones will get their energy pumping on the multiple climbing structures.

The swings cater for both little kids and older ones while the he giant-sized see-saw will keep everyone busy – big and small. 

Adventurers will love the enchanting climbing castle with a fun slide.

The gorgeous wooden knight merry-go-round is perfect for small children. 

There are views of Dublin in all directions and it’s just a 16-minute walk from Killiney DART station along with a six minute drive from the stunning Killiney Beach.

Malahide Castle Playground in Co Dublin is another must-visit for families this summer.

Malahide Castle Playground

Located just 20 minutes from Dublin city centre, it’s the perfect destination for a fun and easy day trip as the weather gets warmer.

With wide open spaces, stunning grounds, and a fantastic playground, it’s an ideal spot for families – and it’s open all year round.

One of the standout features is the large wooden play structure inspired by a castle theme, complete with towers, bridges and slides and a zipline.

Here, kids can climb, swing, and slide while parents relax nearby and take in the stunning views of the castle grounds.

And just a short drive away is the stunning seaside town of Malahide, which offers plenty to explore after a visit to the playground.

The nearby Malahide Beach is another favourite for families, with its long stretches of sand, gentle waves and beautiful coastal views.

And lastly, St Anne’s Park in Clontarf, Co Dublin, boasts a themed playground with swings, slides and wooden towers that is designed to entertain the children.

St Anne’s Park

For children, they can opt for colourful wooden play equipment facilitating pretend play such as train, horse & cart, tractor, plane and animals.

There are also multi-play units with slides suitable for children above 2 years old, some springers, several climbing structures and a few traditional swings, including a baby swing.

And the best thing is that there’s always something newly developed in the park, including the newly established wobbly crocodile and the Viking ship for the young visitors.

But do not fret, older children can opt for the long zip wire and a giant spider web that encourages them to climb to the top – giving them an incredible view of the park.

For adults, they can take a lovely stroll to the ornamental pond or to the lovely rose gardens – a perfect break from the kids with your partner.

If you are planning to do a little exploration in the area, try venturing to the majestic North Bull Island, which boasts a mile-long stretch of sandy beach.

It takes about ten minutes to reach from the park’s entrance to the sandy beach, making it an ideal destination for a day trip during the summer.

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A fun family day out doesn’t have to break the bank[/caption]

Alamy

Malahide Castle playground makes for a fantastic family day out[/caption]

Alamy

St Anne’s Park is home to stunning rose gardens[/caption]

The Thai-Cambodian border checkpoint at Chong Sai Taku in Ban Kruat district, Buriram, has been closed by the military following a protest involving Cambodian visitors at Ta Kwai temple in Phanom Dong Rak district, Surin, on June 21. This temple is a point of contention between Thailand and Cambodia. A group of 30 Cambodian visitors …

The story Thai-Cambodian border checkpoint closures amid protest tensions as seen on Thaiger News.

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