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EMMERDALE star Lucy Pargeter is engaged to a big-time drugs gang member who she has visited in prison.

Lucy, 48, has been to see Elliott Walker, 54, who helped start one of the largest amphetamine factories ever busted in Britain.

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Emmerdale star Lucy Pargeter is engaged to a big-time convicted drugs gang member[/caption]

Jason Bye

Lucy visiting the criminal in prison[/caption]

She drove four hours from her Yorkshire home to HMP Hollesley Bay, Suffolk, and back — 500 miles in all — where Walker is doing six years.

Our picture shows her last weekend parking in the visitors’ car park of the 460-capacity Category D nick.

Lucy, who split from her former partner in 2019, had stated in a podcast that she was in an “exclusive new relationship”.

Last year, the mum of three, who has played Chas Dingle on ITV’s Emmerdale for 23 years, revealed in a personal Instagram video post that she was wearing a diamond engagement ring.

A source said: “Her relationship has been the talk of the prison because some other visitors obviously recognised Lucy the other day as she’s been on Emmerdale for ages.

“And Elliott has made no secret of telling other inmates she’s his fiancee.”

It is not known how and where Lucy met Walker, who is thought to be close to a release date.

Walker, from Kidbrooke, South East London, was locked up in 2021 after admitting conspiracy to supply amphetamine.

He bought equipment for the drugs lab in Henley-in-Arden, Warks, which was smashed by the National Crime Agency.

It was said to be capable of producing 400kg of amphetamine — with an estimated street value of £10millon — every month.

Gang members had chemistry training in order to run the operation and the drugs were distributed in London, Kent and the West Midlands.

Another gang member got 18 years after admitting drug and money laundering offences.

Others were found guilty at trial.

Lucy, who came third on I’m A Celebrity in 2013, has told previously that she had breast implants removed as they hampered her breathing.

The Sun on Sunday has approached her for comment.

Alamy

The mum of three drives four hours from her Yorkshire home and back to HMP Hollesley Bay in Suffolk[/caption]

CORK blitzed Dublin with a magnificent seven to march into another All-Ireland SHC final.

A fortnight removed from their quarter-final upset of Limerick, the Dubs were brought crashing back to earth by the rampant Rebels.

Alan Connolly bagged three goals, while Brian Hayes and Tim O’Mahony hit two apiece as the Leesiders earned a shot at atoning for the defeat to Clare in last year’s decider.

It was a statement win from Pat Ryan’s side, which will only serve to enhance their status as favourites to end the 20-year drought when they face Kilkenny or Tipperary in the July 20 showpiece.

Against a Dublin side who had kept clean sheets in each of their previous three outings, Cork showed that no cobwebs were allowed to gather during the four-week break since their penalty-shootout defeat of Limerick in the Munster final.

Victorious boss Ryan said: “Our preparation over the last three to four weeks has been excellent, which was a huge focus on what we wanted to do after coming off the Munster final. 

“Credit to the players, credit to their families, their spouses, girlfriends and all that side of it for giving the lads the space to be able to prepare in that four weeks and we got that performance we wanted.”

In their previous 28 games, the only game in which Cork failed to register a goal was last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin. 

Backed by the vast majority of the spectators at a close-to-full Croke Park, they were ruthless and clinical early on here as the ball rattled the Dubs’ net THREE times inside the opening 14 minutes.

Hayes claimed the first when he did brilliantly to deceive Seán Brennan by flicking the ball onto his hurley before steering the sliotar past the keeper.

With O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Declan Dalton particularly influential in the middle third, Hayes then turned provider for Connolly to fire home emphatically.

Back from injury for his first appearance in nine weeks, Dalton’s long-range accuracy was typically impressive.

The Fr O’Neill’s man finished with 0-5, with three of those scores launched from inside his own half.

O’Mahony did the heavy lifting for Connolly to score his second goal in as many minutes.

But the finish from the Blackrock marksman was sheer artistry as he beat Brennan with the type of one-handed smash that would draw applause from the galleries at Wimbledon.

Nevertheless, creating chances was not a struggle for Dublin either and it was Cian O’Sullivan who led their fight. The Naomh Bríd ace, whose father hails from Cork, finished with 2-5 from play.

His first goal was timely, giving Dublin some hope as it arrived within a minute of Connolly’s second. He rifled the sliotar to the roof of the Cork net after it was squared by Seán Currie. 

Dublin were inches away from raising another green flag later in the first half, only for Fergal Whitely to strike the crossbar with his attempt to cut the gap to five points in the 20th minute.

By then, the Dubs had already replaced two of their starting backs.

Andy Dunphy was called ashore after picking up an early booking for a foul on Patrick Horgan, before Conor McHugh was forced off with an injury.

With centre-back and skipper Chris Crummey also missing through suspension, it was not the kind of start that Niall Ó Ceallacháin had in mind.

The Dublin manager said: “We’re very disappointed. The way it panned out was obviously not how we planned it or what we’d hoped for this morning, needless to say. 

“First of all, by far the better team won the game. Absolutely no question. No excuses. 

“We had to be better in lots of ways. I thought they were excellent though as well.

“They were very well set up and were extremely sharp, full of energy, very aggressive. They were the better team throughout.”

Aiming to reach their first All-Ireland final since 1961, Dublin were also seeking to bridge a 98-year gap to their last Championship triumph over Cork.

But the Munster champions looked capable of raising a green flag whenever the ball was delivered to the general vicinity of their inside line. 

And the fourth arrived in the 32nd minute when a sublime Horgan and Connolly combination teed up Hayes to do the rest.

On a day when the Cork forwards hogged the plaudits, there were performances of the highest calibre from several occupants of their rearguard too.

The man who stood out was Seán O’Donoghue. Trailing by 4-13 to 1-11 at the break, Dublin fashioned a goal chance within a couple of minutes of the restart. However, Ronan Hayes was foiled by a hook from O’Donoghue. It was one of many key interventions made by the Inniscarra man.

Fine work from Horgan engineered Cork’s fifth goal in the 42nd minute, with O’Mahony finishing neatly. But Dublin saw a chink of light as their opponents momentarily looked flat and listless.

The centrepiece of an unanswered burst of 1-3 for the Sky Blues was a second goal for O’Sullivan. The Cork defence were caught napping when he netted following a quickly-taken Currie free.

A point from John Hetherton, who was a late addition to the starting line-up, brought Dublin back to within nine points on 49 minutes. Yet Cork turned the screw in the final quarter as they surged home in style.

The Dubs were hit for six when O’Mahony flicked home his second. And after a rampaging run from sub Robbie O’Flynn, Connolly wrapped up his fourth Cork hat-trick in 16 months with a lethal finish from a tight angle.

Ryan added: “It wasn’t perfect. There’s lots of stuff we’ll go after as regards what we want for the All-Ireland final. 

“But we’re in the All-Ireland final tonight and we’ll get to watch two great teams go at it tomorrow really hammer and tongs. That’s a special place to be for us.”

CORK 7-26 

DUBLIN 2-21

CORK: P Collins; S O’Donoghue, E Downey, N O’Leary; C Joyce 0-1, R Downey, M Coleman; T O’Mahony 2-1, D Fitzgibbon 0-3; D Dalton 0-5, 2f, S Barrett, D Healy 0-1; P Horgan 0-8, 6f, A Connolly 3-2, B Hayes 2-1.

Subs: R O’Flynn for Healy 50 mins, S Kingston 0-2 for Horgan 55, T O’Connell for R Downey 59, C Lehane 0-1 for Barrett 63, J O’Connor 0-1 for Dalton 67.

DUBLIN: S Brennan; P Smyth, J Bellew, A Dunphy; P Doyle, C McHugh, C Donohoe; C Burke 0-3, B Hayes 0-1; R McBride, C O’Sullivan 2-5, F Whitely 0-3; S Currie 0-7, 7f, J Hetherton 0-1, R Hayes.

Subs: D Lucey for Dunphy 14 mins, D Power for McHugh 20, D Burke 0-1 for McBride h-t, D Ó Dúlaing for R Hayes 46, C O’Riain for O’Sullivan 66.REFEREE: J Murphy (Limerick)

WE are living in what experts are calling a “golden age” of cancer treatment.

New medicines are being developed every year, and half of patients diagnosed now survive for ten years or more — up from 24 per cent in the 1970s.

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Kate Middleton revealed she had acupuncture as part of her recovery from cancer[/caption]

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Like the Princess of Wales, Paige Nunu turned to acupuncture after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma[/caption]

But cancer remains the UK’s biggest killer and researchers are seeking ways to change this.

This week, the Princess of Wales revealed she had acupuncture as part of her recovery from cancer.

Kate, 43, told patients at a cancer wellbeing centre at Colchester Hospital she’d tried the traditional Chinese medicine, which uses thin needles inserted into parts of the body to relieve pain and promote healing.

Kate said: “Looking at it from a mind, body and spiritual perspective really matters.”

Like the Princess of Wales, Paige Nunu turned to acupuncture after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma — a type of cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Nerve pain

Administering the treatment herself is not something the 32-year-old ever thought she would do.

But Paige, from Stockport, has been taught how to do it at The Christie hospital in Manchester to deal with the severe pain she has been left with after chemotherapy.

Diagnosed in 2022 after having symptoms for 12 months, Paige’s prognosis meant aggressive treatment was her best option.

The pain was so bad some days that even walking was difficult. I was offered medication, but I wanted a more holistic approach

Paige

“I was stage four when I was told I had cancer,” the mum-of-one tells Sun on Sunday Health.

“It wasn’t put down to cancer for quite a while. It meant I had to have intense chemotherapy that escalated. Every dose was stronger than the last, which came at a cost.”

Left with nerve pain in her hands and feet, and fibromyalgia, which causes widespread pain, Paige turned to acupuncture.

She says: “The pain was so bad some days that even walking was difficult. I was offered medication, but I wanted a more holistic approach.

“I’d had acupuncture before and had always found it really effective so when I was offered it at The Christie, I went for it.”

Acupuncture is not the only complementary therapy having a positive effect.

A study presented to the American Society of Clinical Oncology last month found exercise reduced the risk of cancer patients dying within eight years by up to a third.

Getting the blood pumping could also help to stop tumours returning within five years.

The results of the landmark trial across the US, UK, Australia, France, Canada and Israel showed that exercise can be an effective complementary therapy.

About 35 per cent of people with cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) alongside traditional treatment plans, according to Cancer Research UK.

Several studies have found they reduce adverse symptoms both during and after conventional medical treatment.

While Paige is treated at The Christie, Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London offers aromatherapy in cancer care, University College Hospitals in London offer aromatherapy, massage, reiki and reflexology, and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital does reflexology, massage, reiki and the M Technique — a massage suitable for frail patients.

Availability on the NHS is limited and dependent on postcode and treatment centres, and is often funded by charities.

After giving birth to her daughter Sahara, now 14 months, in 2024, Paige found it difficult to get to acupuncture appointments so her nurse taught her to do it herself.

“I had acupuncture once a week and it really helped with the pain,” she says.

AFP

Kate said: ‘Looking at it from a mind, body and spiritual perspective really matters’[/caption]

“I got my mobility back and I could walk properly again.

“At the end of last year, my therapist said she was planning to train some patients to do self-acupuncture so we could do it at home.

Regain control

“I jumped at the chance, particularly as I had recently given birth and the juggle of childcare with my weekly appointments was difficult.”

The Christie is one of Europe’s largest experimental cancer medicine centres, with more than 3,000 patients and around 700 clinical studies taking place at any one time.

It is also one of the first to offer self-training for acupuncture as a complementary therapy alongside traditional cancer treatments.

Eileen Hackman, integrative therapy health and wellbeing lead who taught Paige how to do her own acupuncture, says: “Research shows that acupuncture benefits cancer patients physically and psychologically.

“Patients describe it as life-changing as it enables them to regain some control.

“Many feel it makes their lives generally easier to cope with.”

Putting needles in yourself might sound daunting but it’s had such a huge impact

Eileen Hackman

Paige was taught how to safely insert and remove the needles in her hands and feet.

She does it every few weeks and says: “When Eileen did the acupuncture, it looked easy, but having tried it myself, it can be fiddly.

“I get frustrated if I place them incorrectly and they slip out. The difference is big though — it relieves the pain I’m in by around 60 per cent, which means I can walk and use my hands a lot more comfortably.

“My hands are sometimes so bad I can’t pick things up so it makes a huge difference, especially with how much I need to do as a stay-at-home mum.

“Putting needles in yourself might sound daunting but it’s had such a huge impact.”

Paige, who is now cancer-free, adds: “Being able to take ownership of my health in this way has been incredible. I hope, in time, the pain will lessen more.”

Jam Press/Paige Nunu

Paige during treatment[/caption]

Some complementary therapies may be harmful or interact with other treatments, and Caroline Geraghty, specialist information nurse at Cancer Research UK, says: “It may be OK to use some complementary treatments along-side treatment prescribed by your doctor. However, the influence of things you see online can be misleading.

“It’s important to speak with your cancer doctor, GP or specialist nurse if you’re considering using any complementary therapies, as some may affect the way your treatment works.”

LOVE Islanders often have secret connections to famous people and it’s no different for Casa Amor beauty Lucy Quinn.

The 21-year-old makeup artist from Liverpool is hoping to make a bombshell entrance on Sunday’s show.

Shutterstock Editorial

Lucy Quinn has a very famous pop star uncle[/caption]

ITV

She may be new to the world of reality TV but she’s likely been given some telly advice from her famous X Factor star uncle.

If you haven’t already guessed by the surname… Lucy is the niece of singer Ray Quinn, who competed on the singing competition in 2006.

Ray finished as the runner-up to Leona Lewis on the third series.

Ahead of entering the villa, Lucy was asked what is the one thing people are most surprised to learn about her. 

She then made the confession about her famous relative, saying: “Ray Quinn is my uncle!”

The blonde beauty is hoping to catch the eye of one boy in particular.

She said: “I want to find someone. I have my eye on one boy, Tommy.

“I think he’s just a lovely lad and he’s got good morals.

“I’ve been watching at home with my mum and dad. My dad said ‘I think you should pick him.’ So I want to listen to my dad on that one.

Opening up about how she’d feel to turn one of the lads head, she said: “I don’t really mind doing that because I’m not going in there to make mates, I’m going in there to find someone.

“If I need to step on someone’s toes, I will . If someone else can’t understand that, then I’ll have to have a conversation with them to talk it out.”

Last night Harry was left stunned as his ex-girlfriend arrived in the villa in the first look at Casa Amor.

The fan-favourite part of the show sees a whole host of stunning bombshells introduced to test the current Islanders.

Viewers saw Meg announcing the imminent arrival of six new female bombshells.

The new girls made their way to the villa, where they greeted the boys from the terrace.

But upon seeing them, Harry could be heard saying: “Oh my god, it’s my ex.”

It comes as The Sun revealed the identity of Harry’s ex-girlfriend – after fans spotted a secret tribute to her.

The Sun uncovered that the woman is named Emma, after viewers noticed Harry’s wrist tattoo of the letter “E” and began digging for clues online.

Emma previously shared a sunset selfie to Instagram, where she was seen cosying up to Harry in matching baseball caps, hers bearing an “E” and, his, an “H”.

The image, which has since been deleted, was dated 18 April 2022.

Emma also bears a striking resemblance to one of Harry’s co-stars, sparking comparisons from fans who claim she looks “more like Shakira than Helena”, Harry’s current partner in the villa.

The 30-year-old has been at the centre of much villa drama throughout the current series.

Fans previously branded him a “gaslighter” and demanded he be removed.

Instagram @lucyquinnmakeup_

The makeup artist said she has her eye on one boy[/caption]

GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA burst into tears on the football pitch after the horror injury suffered by Jamal Musiala at the Club World Cup.

The goalkeeper was starring for Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup against Bayern Munich.

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Gianluigi Donnarumma burst into tears after the injury to Jamal Musiala[/caption]

But Musiala was left in a bad way following a collision with Donnarumma, 26, at the end of the first half.

As he challenged for a ball at the byline, Musiala was shielded away from it by Willian Pacho and at the same time, Donnarumma dived to jump on the ball.

However, as Musiala was caught in the middle of the pair, his left leg got caught under the body of the Italian goalkeeper.

And as he tumbled over the PSG star, Musiala’s leg was caught under his rival’s body.

He was then seen immediately screaming in pain as his foot was visibly bent out of shape at the ankle.

The 22-year-old’s team-mates looked distraught upon seeing the gut-wrenching injury.

WATCH EVERY MATCH OF THE CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LIVE ON DAZN

England captain Harry Kane was seen with his hands on his head before gesturing for a stretcher to be brought over.

Donnarumma was also visibly upset by the accident and had to be consoled by the team benches as he held his gloves over his face.

The Italian was shown on camera in tears having sunk down to one knee before the half-time whistle was blown.

Musiala was stretchered off the field of play before being taken to hospital.

According to Sky Sports in Germany, it is suspected he has suffered a fibula fracture.

Following the game, Donnarumma shared a picture of himself in tears walking off at half-time to Instagram.

He paid tribute to Musiala in the caption, saying: “All my prayers and well wishes are with you @jamalmusiala10,”

Despite the horror collision, Donnarumma was in fine form for his club as he helped them win the match 2-0 despite going down to NINE men.

PSG fielded the same starting 11 that had won the Champions League seven weeks earlier in Bayern’s stadium, with the exception of Bradley Barcola replacing Dembele in the front three.

In the final 12 minutes of normal time and 11 minutes added on, PSG scored twice, had two men sent off and then saw a penalty awarded against them at the death overturned on review by English referee Anthony Taylor.

Pacho was sent off for a lunge of Leon Goretzka, and PSG substitute Lucas Hernandez soon followed him for a mindless elbow on Raphael Guerrero.

But the European champions held on, and Ousmane Dembele sealed victory deep into stoppage time to put them a step closer to being crowned kings of the world as well.

It felt harsh all round on Bayern, who were the better team for much of the match and lost Musiala to a sickening ankle injury just before half time.

That moment took the shine off what was one of the best games of the tournament.

Luis Enrique’s side will face one of Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final.

The other clash in the last four sees Fluminense take on Chelsea.

A COUPLE have come under fire after taking their baby to a tattoo salon – however, it’s the little boy’s name that’s got everyone talking.

Mum and TikToker Morgan Presley, who welcomed the baby in May, explained that she simply didn’t ”trust people” enough to get a babysitter.

tiktok.com/@morganpresleyxo

The parents sparked fury after taking their son to a tattoo salon at just few months old[/caption]

tiktok.com/@morganpresleyxo

As the two parents were desperate to have their facial piercings changed, they decided to take their baby son to the tattoo salon with them.

In the now-viral video, Morgan explained that her son had reached the ”grabby” stage and was constantly pulling her eyebrow piercings.

”My luck, he would rip them out,” she said.

Knowing she would face backlash, the mum-of-one also said: ”To the people who will say, ‘Just get a babysitter‘ – I don’t trust people.”

While the couple were getting their piercings changed to more fitting ones, their son was chilling and peacefully sleeping in the background.

However, while the pair were chuffed with their new facial piercings, Morgan and her partner came under fire for taking the little one along to the tattoo salon.

One person wondered: ”not hating at all, but in the uk tattoo and piercing shops are 18+, surprised they let your baby in there, is that normal in all parts of usa?”

Another was baffled, writing: ”You don’t trust people but you post him online?”

A third critic chimed in: ”Once again people proving they shouldn’t be parents.”

But it’s not just the day-out at the tattoo salon that sparked a fierce debate – Morgan and her husband were also slammed for naming their baby ”Pony”.

The parents revealed the son’s name earlier this year in a video that’s since gone viral, admitting that finding a boy that ”excited” them was ”so hard”.

”Instead of going to baby name lists, we went to our record collection trying to look for a record that kind of spoke to us the most, that had sentimental meaning.

”And that’s how we ended up landing on Pony Ramone Presley.”

In the clip, Morgan added that Presley was not his last name – and was intended for ”safety” reasons.

”On our first date, we danced to this record by Orville Peck which is called Pony.”

Meanwhile, the middle name was inspired by The Ramones – a band the two were ”heavily, heavily listening to” during the pregnancy journey.

‘We are naming future adults not just babies’

The boy’s name, as adorable as it may be, has not proven to be a major hit amongst concerned social media users, who slammed the parents.

One said: ”Giving him a fake last name from his safety doesn’t feel very useful lmao. How many Pony Ramones are there?”

Another wrote: ”I’ve said it once I’ve said it again we are naming future adults not just babies.”

A third critic chimed in: ”People choose names for their children as if they were choosing a name for a pet.”

”I’m so happy to live in Germany, where you’re not allowed to give your children names that could harm them!” a viewer from Europe commented.

WITH a glass of wine in hand, watching the sun set over the sea as clear waters lap the shore, I could have been in the Algarve.

But no, rather than basking in Portugal, I was holidaying with the family at a caravan park on east Devon’s Jurassic Coast.

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Devon’s stunning Jurassic Coast[/caption]

Perched on a clifftop, Ladram Bay Holiday Park was our escape for the weekend — and the place certainly exceeded every expectation.

The award-winning, family-owned site has 140 caravans, 11 lodges, three apartments, safari tents and glamping pods and — where we stayed — one recently renovated former fisherman’s cottage.

We arrived on a Friday, kicking off our shoes and running down the winding footpath to the beach.

Ladram overlooks a gorgeous section of the coast and even has its own private beach — accessible only to guests, via a slipway at the bottom of the park.

By 4pm on the Friday we were happily splashing about in the sea, building sandcastles with our toddler and cracking open a beer.

Splash park

It’s how I wish most weekends could start, to be honest.

And the weekend only gets better from here.

We then spend the evening enjoying a delicious feast at the site’s main restaurant, Pebbles, which caters for young and old alike with an extensive menu.

My partner reckoned his 8oz Devon sirloin steak and chips, for £22.50, was among the best he’s ever tasted — while I found the House Bay Burger, £16.95, delicious.

Even better when washed down with a mojito — one of the many cocktails to choose from.

The next day, we sampled some of the local attractions.

Crealy Theme Park is a mere 20 minutes away for those seeking family fun.

Or a short drive along the coast can take you to Sidmouth, Budleigh, Salterton and Exmouth — the latter boasting a huge sandy beach and traditional seaside attractions.

We were lucky with the weather and enjoyed sunshine for our entire stay, but Ladram also caters for those rainy days.

The indoor pool is magnificent — one of the cleanest I’ve ever known — and offers free family playtimes as well as exercise classes.

The adjoining outdoor splash park is brilliant, too, for cooling off on a hot day, while the indoor fun slide kept us all entertained — even the grandparents.

Instagram/ladrambay

Ladram overlooks a gorgeous section of the coast and even has its own private beach[/caption]

As well as an on-site gym, huge outdoor adventure playground, indoor soft-play centre and enormous amusement arcade, the park also boasts pottery and art classes in its new studio.

And it has its own nine-hole mini-golf course.

And all that’s before you even start on the evening entertainment in Waves Bar — with bingo, a pool table, darts, kids’ disco, singers and the Ladram Stars Showtime.

We stayed for the weekend but could have spent a whole week and still not have been bored.

The accommodation was immaculately kept and the wide range of caravans and lodges means there’s something for every family’s size and price point.

Our cottage was decked out with everything you could possibly need — a fully equipped kitchen, bathrooms well-stocked with indulgent Bramley toiletries, logs for the fire and even a welcome hamper full of treats.

I had scouted out nearby supermarkets in advance, to stock us up for the weekend.

But I needn’t have worried. The on-site shop Ladram Stores stocks everything from freshly baked goods to beachwear and wine.

You could visit for the week and not have any need to leave.

Enjoy a fresh breakfast at the on-site Beach Shack cafe overlooking the sea, or kick back and cool off with an afternoon drink and ice-cream.

If you fancy fish and chips, you can order in advance via Ladram’s snazzy app and go and collect it from the on-site chippy, Coast Takeaway, at your desired time.

Ladram is not like other holiday parks, it’s practically a village. And you can tell every member of staff really cares.

The site caters particularly well for kids — with the fabulous amenities on offer including a huge outdoor adventure playground.

Our toddler was able to join in with everything.

We could hear the waves lapping the shore from our cottage — a literal stone’s throw to the beach.

And when we visited Portugal just a few weeks later, I looked out at the coastline, from our accommodation, and realised it didn’t look too different at all from that special view back at Ladram.

A MAN aged 102 is the oldest in England to be given Viagra on the NHS figures reveal as thousands of older people use the pill.

A record 250,000 prescriptions for the performance-enhancing “blue pill” were given to over-80s in the last year, including the sprightly centenarian.

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Figures revealed a man, aged 102, was prescribed Viagra by the NHS[/caption]

According to The Mirror’s analysis of 106 clinical commissioning groups across England, a whopping 4.71 million prescriptions were issued by the NHS last year.

Prescriptions for drugs such as Viagra and Cialis were up 100,000 on the year before.

And that could be just the tip of the iceberg with many opting to buy the drug privately.

The NHS in England alone spent more than £20million helping men dealing with erectile dysfunction.

Figures also revealed that those in their 60s were given the highest number of Viagra pills.

The NHS said erection problems are “very common” in men over 40 and become more likely with age and illness.

It comes as older people are increasingly using dating sites and hook-up apps looking for sex.

Perhaps the most famous elderly Viagra user was Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy.

Known for throwing wild and extravagant parties at his luxury mansion, the magnate’s hearing loss has often been blamed on taking the pills.

The most common side effects are headaches, feeling sick, indigestion and dizziness but many people have no side effects at all or only mild ones.

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, was first developed in the 1990s to treat hypertension and angina.

But during clinical trials, the side-effect of increased erections was discovered and it was approved for medical use in 1998.

The NHS warns that a recent heart attack or stroke could make taking the pill more dangerous.

But it advises that most men aged 18 and over can take sildenafil safely.

Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, has previously said that elderly men are fast becoming “generation Viagra”.

He said: “Contemporary ­culture sends out the signal that sex is for life.

“A lot of elderly man feel they must have a full-on sex life by any means necessary.“

The Sun recently reported how research revealed the sex drug has surprising health benefits and could help up to 3 million ageing Brits.

Studies suggested it could potentially prevent back pain and fractures in old age and even reduce the risk of dementia.

It was also revealed last month that men from Yorkshire need the most help in rising to the occassion, according to new figures.

NHS stats show men in the North used the little blue pills much more often than in the South last year.

THE NATIONAL Lottery results are in and it’s time to find out who has won a life-changing amount of money tonight (July 5, 2025).

Could tonight’s £15million jackpot see you handing in your notice, jetting off to the Bahamas or driving a new Porsche off a garage forecourt?

You can find out by checking your ticket against tonight’s numbers below. Good luck!

Tonight’s National Lottery Lotto winning numbers are: 09, 12, 18, 37, 43, 45 and the Bonus Ball is 15.

Tonight’s National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are: 06, 18, 21, 28, 29 and the Thunderball is 08.

The first National Lottery draw was held on November 19 1994 when seven winners shared a jackpot of £5,874,778.

The largest amount ever to be won by a single ticket holder was £42million, won in 1996.

Gareth Bull, a 49-year-old builder, won £41million in November, 2020 and ended up knocking down his bungalow to make way for a luxury manor house with a pool.

Sue Davies, 64, bought a lottery ticket to celebrate ending five months of shielding during the pandemic — and won £500,000.

Sandra Devine, 36, accidentally won £300k – she intended to buy her usual £100 National Lottery Scratchcard, but came home with a much bigger prize.

The biggest jackpot ever to be up for grabs was £66million in January last year, which was won by two lucky ticket holders.

Another winner, Karl managed to bag £11million aged just 23 in 1996.

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I’M not one for getting up and dancing in front of strangers.

So I’m impressed by the gumption of the hotel guests, who get up, no questions asked, when the music starts playing.

Alamy

The Magic Life chain of TUI, Beldibi, Turkey[/caption]

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Sunbathe to music by the poolside paradise[/caption]

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The hotel’s lush gardens[/caption]

But what I did not expect was them to break into a dance routine.

No, it’s not a flash mob, but hotel guests singing and dancing to the TUI Magic Life anthem in unison.

The next evening, I’m amused at myself, getting up and joining in, singing “Feel the magic in the air, ooo lay-o-lay-oh-lay” as I wave my arms.

Apparently, the Magic Life chain of TUI brings a certain buzz.

I’m at the one in Beldibi, Turkey, which is the smallest.

Giddy with gin, mum and I stroll to our hotel room and bump into a lady in the lift who claims it’s her 66th time at a Magic Life resort.

“It’s my favourite place in the world,” she tells us.

“I’m the Queen of Magic Life!”

And she’s got the badge to prove it — literally, she’s wearing it, given to her by the adoring staff.

So what’s the deal with this, we wonder?

As a pair who have done their fair share of all-inclusive holidays, my mum and I wanted to see what makes these hotels “next level”, as claimed on the website.

Our seaview balcony room is modern with upscale touches, and I get to watch the sunrise each morning from bed!

We go for breakfast, wondering if we should have been up at the crack of dawn to lay towels on sunbeds.

But we are pleasantly surprised to find there is no scramble, with dozens of beds to choose from.

Though the hotel is the smallest of the TUI Magic Life group, with 200 rooms, it’s still spacious.

With the pool, beach and lawns, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to sunbed spots.

But the views are also worth mentioning because Beldibi is surrounded by natural beauty.

A village near Kemer, it’s less than an hour away from the city (and airport) of Antalya.

The hotel has a backdrop of rugged mountains and is next to a golden sandy beach.

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A modern seaview room[/caption]

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Myra is famous for its carved tombs[/caption]

The gardens, however, really make this hotel special.

They are maintained by a team of gardeners, one of whom offered me fresh, juicy strawberries as I strolled past the herb garden — full of lavender, mint and parsley.

Tree-lined paths meander through lawns dotted with sunbeds, hammocks and swing seats.

While there’s lots of welcome shade in the hotel grounds, you’ll find plenty of sun on the beach.

There is one vast outdoor pool but with lots of activities and rather loud music, we preferred other areas of the hotel, like its private jetty.

You can hire sunbeds or a cabana — with a mini-fridge and a hammock-like net you can lie on, that hangs over the sea.

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Feast on local dishes and salads[/caption]

With packages ranging from €99 to €229 (£84 to £196), it’s an extra worth considering if you really want ultimate peace and seclusion.

When you stay at this resort, however, you do get a 3-in-1 deal.

There’s free entry to the Land Of Legends theme and water park, with rides, slides, shops and more.

And you can also use the Rixos Sungate hotel nearby — featuring its own mini-waterpark with 13 flumes and various pools.

To be frank, we were far too happy where we were and didn’t use either.

When you’re not snoozing under the sun, there’s a list of activities to choose from every day, including mountain biking, beach volleyball and tennis.

It’s not all exercise, though there are nearly ten fitness classes per day.

Darts, shuffleboard, and archery are popular too, all bookable with mobile app Magic Life.

There’s also a decent gym, indoor pool and spa complete with beauty salon.

While Mum got a pedicure, I enjoyed a full-body 45-minute massage that was very reasonably priced at £58.

And there are almost 60 excursions to choose, from jewellery shopping and traditional Turkish baths, to the historic day trip we opted for.

Stunning blue waters

The first stop was Simena, an ancient town half-submerged under water, caused by an earthquake in the 2nd century AD.

It’s only accessible via a half-hour boat trip in stunning blue waters — with time for a short swim stop.

Even more marvellous was the ruined city of Myra, renowned for its tombs carved into cliff faces.

The tombs date back to the 4th century BC, built by the Lycian people, who believed that burying someone as high up as possible would help them reach the afterlife easier.

Back at the Beldibi, we enjoy dinner on the terrace of the main restaurant, Magico, illuminated by atmospheric lights each night.

The food is of a high quality with plenty of local dishes, from kofta to fresh salads.

At breakfast, we didn’t just have eggs — they were scrambled with chorizo, folded with cheese or eggy bread, alongside roasted potato wedges, sauteed mushrooms and baked beans.

Lunch, at the Downtown restaurant by the pool, was vibrant and included crunchy salads with a side of treats — pizza, chips and an ice lolly for dessert.

There are two other speciality rest-aurants you can book for dinner once per week at no extra cost, as well as a coffee shop and two bars — one of which, the Wunderbar, is open 24 hours.

The outdoor bar is nestled in the gardens surrounded by tropical plants.

By day, this is the perfect spot for shade and a sea breeze — and by night, it glows in the dark.

There are plenty of comfy, private areas where you can have a romantic drink, too, watching Antalya sparkling on the horizon over the dark ocean.

The Stage is where the magic starts at 10.45pm each evening.

Entertainment is on a two-week schedule, so you should never see the same show twice.

The team genuinely make an effort to get to know all the guests, and solo travellers even have their own designated staff member called a Magic Angel.

As the beats get louder and heavier, the entertainment team go around tugging on guests’ wrists, willing them to get up.

The party can go on until 2am and we find ourselves staying later and later as the week goes on.

I guess you could say I am a Magic convert — I won’t be settling for anything less now.