Blogs

RYAN Tubridy and his bride-to-be showed off her engagement ring as they celebrated Radio 1 legend Joe Duffy’s departure at a bash.

The former Late Late Show host and fiancee Dr Clare Kambamettu made their first official appearance as soon-to-be newlyweds at Duffy’s leaving do.

Mark Doyle

Mark Doyle

Mark Doyle

Beaming Tubs and Dr Clare flashed the ring as they rocked up to The Duke pub in Dublin’s city centre on tonight.

The loved-up pair were in town to pay their respects to Duffy, 69, hours after he hosted his final Montrose broadcast today.

Co Kildare based Clare is a clinical psychologist and a former Rose of Tralee.

It’s believed that she and Tubridy began dating after she appeared as a guest on his former RTE Radio 1 One show.

Clare previously opened up about the big moment and revealed just how unexpected it really was.

She told the Rose of Tralee podcast: “I was completely surprised. I actually didn’t pick up on his nervousness at all, and it was a big shock.

“Without saying too much, he had told me that he was going down to find out about how we would hire bikes when he was actually going to collect my engagement ring.

“I just thought nothing of it. I was like, ‘Grand, thanks for doing that’.

“So I don’t know if I would have been more or less shocked to have an electric bike turn up in the hotel room.”

Clare also praised the broadcaster’s choice of engagement ring and admitted she’s a “little bit obsessed”.

Close pal Ryan shared a snap of himself and Joe and admitted he was looking forward to the knees-up in the capital last night.

Duffy, who left his Liveline show after nearly 27 years, was congratulated by the many faces from throughout his career.

Among those at the star-studded party were Miriam O’Callaghan, Aonghus McAnally, Brush Shields, Syl Fox, John McColgan, Mike Murphy, Marty Morrissey, Alan Hughes and Karl Broderick.

Other pals and colleagues out for the night included Brenda Donohue, Health Minister Dr Jennifer Carroll MacNeil, Gay Byrne’s daughter Suzy and her daughter Sadhbh, and Charlie Bird’s widow Claire Mould.

‘HERE’S TO THE NEXT CHAPTER’

Prime Time host Miriam paid tribute to her friend of many decades, and said: “Joyous evening spent celebrating the incredible Joe Duffy.

“Brilliant broadcaster, lovely guy. That’s all that matters in the end, he was a really good person.

“Here’s to the next brilliant chapter, Joe.”

GAA legend Marty also got a photo with his pal and hailed his impact on Irish radio. Marty posted: “Joe’s instinct as a journalist and broadcaster was simply top class and his connection with the audience was magical.

“We will miss listening and talking to Joe every day. Congratulations, my friend, on a fantastic career. Thank you for everything.”

Earlier, host Claire Byrne joined the tributes on Duffy’s last day in RTE, as friends and ­family gathered for his exit, sharing: “What a great send-off for Joe today!”

President Michael D Higgins sent a message praising Duffy’s “lifelong commitment to justice, equality and public service”.

And Taoiseach Micheal Martin personally called in to the show, telling Duffy: “You were, and are, the voice of the people.”

Live music was performed by the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band and the Camembert Quartet, who opened the show with a special rendition of Thank You for Being a Friend, among others.

Humble Duffy noted the Liveline would be open as normal on Monday, even if he wasn’t there.

Signing off for the last time, Joe kept it short, telling listeners: “Love you all, it’s been a ­privilege.”

Mark Doyle

Sadhbh O Byrne with her Mum, Suzy Byrne (Gay’s daughter) & Mike Murphy[/caption]

DESSIE FARRELL insists the Jacks will be back after quitting as Dublin boss last night.

The Sky Blues are on the hunt for a new gaffer after Farrell announced his decision to step away after their All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Tyrone. 

The Na Fianna clubman spent six seasons in charge. He led them to their sixth All-Ireland in a row in 2020 in his first season at the helm, and landed Sam Maguire again in 2023. 

But a host of high-profile departures in the likes of Brian Fenton, Jack McCaffrey, Paul Mannion and James McCarthy saw them struggle for form this summer. 

Their shock Leinster SFC loss to Meath was their first provincial championship defeat since 2010. 

They failed to top their All-Ireland series group after a round 2 loss to Armagh, before Tyrone ended their campaign at Croke Park last night. 

And Farrell admits 2025 was always going to be his final farewell after back to back All-Ireland quarter-final defeats – but insists Dublin will rise again.

He said: “I would have informed the County Board at the start of the season that regardless of what happened this would be the last hurrah. 

“I’ve informed the players in the dressing room there as well that I’d be stepping away. I’ve had a great innings. 

“I think it’s just come to a natural end. It’s easier to say it today than I have to say it next week or in a couple of weeks’ time.

“While everyone’s bitterly disappointed, sometimes failure is greatness waiting to happen. This could be a big platform for that group going forward. 

“A lot of lessons in this season for players and for the group, and I think they’ll be better for it and well set up to attack a new season in 2026.

“Some of the new lads we brought in this year, still getting to know them, but a great crop of fellas as well. It augurs very well for Dublin football.”

Farrell says 2025 was always going to be a transition year for Dublin after the host of departures.

But the 1995 All-Ireland winning hitman loved every second of his time in charge as they won two All-Irelands and five Leinster SFC crowns under his watch. 

He said: “I think everyone involved, management, coaches, backroom and players knew that this was going to be a different season. We just embraced that challenge and see where it took us.

“I definitely don’t want to make it about me because it’s always and always has been about the players. Ultimately, they’re the men who step into the arena. 

“They’re the men in the formative years of their lives who dedicate so much to playing for their county. I have huge admiration and respect for them. 

“I think the overriding feeling for me now is that I will miss the people. It’s not necessarily the position because some of the relationships are really important to me. 

“Some of those lads have been like kids to me, watching them grow up.

“They’re a special group and I’m very, very grateful for them and for all they’ve given. They’ll drive on and Dublin will be a good place next season and the season after.

“I think between being a player for Dublin underage and as a senior player and then as an underage coach and senior coach, manager, whatever you want to call it, I’ve got the guts of 40 years. 

“It’s a long time and it’s been a privilege every year, every step of the journey. I’ve met some great people. I’ve had a ringside seat for some of the best players that ever performed in the arena out there.”

LOVE Island star Wil Anderson has revealed he’s undergoing a hair transplant after ‘struggling for years’ with hair loss.

The 24-year-old shared a picture of his shaven head as he prepares for surgery, heading to a specialist clinic in Kent for the procedure.

Instagram

Wil has shared he is undergoing a hair transplant[/caption]

Instagram

The 24-year-old Love Islander said he had been ‘struggling for years’[/caption]

Rex

Wil’s decision was supported by girlfriend Uma[/caption]

He also posed with his doctor at KSL Clinics, who previously did the hair transplant of radio DJ Dean McCullough before he entered the I’m a Celeb jungle last year.

Sharing before and after photos, Wil explained that, despite his young age, he has been dealing with a receding hairline ‘for years’ and wanted a permanent solution.

He wrote: “After many years of using various methods to help mask my hair loss, I’ve decided to go for a permanent solution.

“Even though this is a permanent solution it still requires consistent use of hair care products to maximise results. ”

Promising he would “keep you guys posted on my journey”, he thanked the clinic before declaring: “Now time to rest up and recover.”

Fellow 2024 Love Islander Ronnie Vint was first to send his support, writing: “Yes brother ” in the comments.

His girlfriend, Uma Jammeh, also shared her celebration of the decision, simply writing: “Yay!!!!!” in the comments too.

However, others were confused by the star’s decision, with one writing: “i thought his hairline was sound tbf”

Another added: “What is wrong with going bald?? Some extremely attractive bald men” prompting another to add “he would have looked amazing bald.”

Wil’s decision comes after he and Uma moved into their swanky new home in London – less than a year after getting together on Love Island.

Uma entered the show as a bombshell but ended up quitting the show shortly after Reuben Collins tried to swipe her in a coupling up and Wil was dumped from the island.

Rather than stay with Reuben, Uma instead announced that she would be leaving too, and they’ve been together ever since,

The duo shared videos of their new pad in May, boasting panoramic views of the city and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Uma has also become the face of a six-figure ad campaign for L’Oreal Paris, being branded their “Chief Gloss Officer”.

Rex

Uma and Wil have been together for a year[/caption]

Instagram

The couple have been travelling the world together since meeting in the villa[/caption]

TOMMY Fury was spotted on a wild night out this week, without Molly Mae.

The boxer, who recently reunited with his partner, reportedly partied until the early hours after she revealed problems related to his boozing were behind their painful split.

Getty

Tommy Fury was spotted on a night out with pal until the early hours[/caption]

mancpicss66

Molly has previously spoken about how much she dislikes Tommy going out[/caption]

mancpicss66/Aaron Parfitt

Molly and Tommy were seen out with Bambi yesterday[/caption]

Tommy, 26, could be seen chatting to his brother Roman’s partner, who bears a striking resemblance to Molly at Bubble Room in Alderley Edge.

They later headed over to The Symposium night club and danced until 2am, where according to MailOnline he was reportedly seen hugging her. 

The club is well known in the area and is owned by Hollyoaks hunk Ashley Taylor Dawson, who plays Darren Osborne on the show.

Mum-of-one Molly shocked fans last year when she announced her split from Tommy. 

He was later accused of cheating on her with a ‘blonde stranger’ on a lads’ holiday to Macedonia – something Tommy has repeatedly denied. 

The former Love Island star admitted yesterday that alcohol and partying was behind his split from the star, saying: “We broke up because I had a problem with alcohol and I couldn’t be the partner that I wanted to be anymore.

“It kills me to say it, but I couldn’t. I loved a pint of beer, loved to drink.”

She later sobbed as she recalled pleading with the boxer to ditch the alcohol during her sister Zoe’s big day in July.

In heartbreaking scenes in her warts-and-all Prime Video documentary, she said: “At my sister’s wedding I literally begged him, I pleaded with him to not drink.

“And … it’s just really sad … I don’t know why I’m crying now. It’s just so sad. It just affected me.”

She added: “He wanted to have a family life but also have the life of a 25 year old boy with no responsibilities and the two don’t go hand in hand.

“He’s never had an alcohol problem, it’s just that alcohol caused problems for us.

“It got to a point where I wasn’t really looking forward to anything because alcohol affected it so much.”

However the pair managed to work past their problems and have since reconciled.

They were spotted yesterday looking happier than ever on a family day out.

Molly’s rep declined to comment. Tommy’s rep has been contacted.

Getty

Tommy was seen chatting to brother Roman’s girlfriend[/caption]

A BOY died after taking ecstasy with friends to celebrate his 15th birthday, an inquest heard.

Joshua Reeson, pictured above, paid for the drug which the three pals took late at night at one of their homes.

He started shaking and sweating and was told to leave by his friend’s parents.

He was later found by the adults who had gone out looking for him.

Joshua, who had fallen and hit his head, was taken to hospital where he died the same day.

He had multiple organ failure from the MDMA on September 27, 2020.

Mum Michelle said: “One spur-of-the-moment decision, one wrong choice, and everything changed.

“Drugs took Joshua away from us.”

A drug-related death conclusion was recorded at the inquest at Northallerton Coroner’s Court, North Yorks.

Alexander Payne, 20, of Middlesbrough, was jailed for 4½ years for conspiracy to supply MDMA and cocaine in December.

North Yorkshire Police

JAMIE Vardy has delighted fans after joining a new “dream team” since becoming a free agent – after he was pictured partying with his Leicester City pals while on holiday.

The striker, 38, who last month drew the curtains on his 13-year chapter at the club, was seen reunited with his former teammates and their families in Portugal.

instagram/zoemaguirewilkinson

Joined by wife Rebekah, 43, Jamie beamed for the camera at the beach alongside Harry Maguire, James Maddison and Leicester City coach Andy King.

Maguire’s sisters, Daisy and Zoe, his wife Fern and dad Alan were also in tow.

Fans voiced their delight at the reunion, with one posting: “Dream team!”

Another said: “Lovely to see former players still socialising together.”

In response, Rebekah commented: “Always! Unbreakable bonds.”

Another supporter described it as a “heartwarming” picture.

It’s understood the reunion took place in the Algarve.

It comes just weeks after Rebekah’s bitter six-year libel court battle with Wayne Rooney’s other half Coleen finally ended, resulting in a £1.4million bill for the Vardys.

And last month we told how the Vardy’s were selling their lavish Portuguese home for a huge seven figure sum.

The couple are hoping to fetch £9.7 million for the massive pad in Quinta do Lago, which boasts three pools, a gym and six bedrooms.

A source denied they’re trying to claw back cash and said the pair are looking for a new holiday home.

In May, the Vardys enjoyed a trip to Turkey, staying at the Lujo Hotel in Bodrum, where rooms can cost up to £10,000 a night.

Jamie is said to be holding crunch talks as he weighs up lucrative offers ahead of the new season, and is rumoured to be considering moving Stateside.

Despite his nine Premier League goals in 2024-25, he was unable to save Leicester from relegation.

The Foxes made an instant return to the Championship after a dismal campaign saw them finish 19th.

He said: “I’m always excited for what comes next.”

Rebekah threw Jamie a lavish surprise party celebrating his final appearance for Leicester last month.

BARBIE actress Margot Robbie says she loves traipsing round London looking for ghouls.

The Aussie, 34, revealed she gets spooked at The London Dungeon — but is too old for her former nightclub haunts.

She told a crowd at Glastonbury: “Do you know what I do when my family comes down? The London Dungeons Tour.

“Has anyone else done that? Isn’t it so good? It’s so fun. I just love it — I have probably done it like four times.”

Margot added: “Then there is also a Ghosts, Galleries and Ghouls walking tour, which I highly recommend.

“It is so amazing — you’ll be somewhere you walk around all the time and they will be like, ‘There are 3,000-year-old skeletons under your feet right now.’”

Margot, who was at Glastonbury with husband Tom Ackerley, revealed she no longer goes to her favourite London club Infernos in Clapham, where she used to live.

She said at the Pilton Palais cinema: “I’m 34 and I don’t think they’d let me in.

“They would be like, ‘No go away old lady’.

“Our roommate has a 99-year ban.”

DUBLIN’S knockout blow was always coming – and Tyrone landed it as Dessie Farrell quit as boss after last night’s All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park. 

Six All-Irelands in a row in 2020 and a magnificent last dance under the Na Fianna man in 2023 have been followed by back to back All-Ireland quarter-final exits.

The Sky Blues have been on the ropes all summer. Last year it was Galway, this time it was Tyrone – who edged an arm-wrestle to reach their first semi-final since going all the way in 2021. 

The glory days were always going to end, and last night it felt like they were firmly over after Farrell stood down as manager. 

A masterclass from Red Hand stalwart Kieran McGeary was vital along with five two-pointers to Dublin’s none as McGeary, Peter Teague and Peter Harte on the double all raised first half orange flags. 

But the Sky Blues folded when the chips were down. When questions were asked, only Tyrone gave answers as Farrell’s men misfired with 10 wides and only scored 0-16 from 30 scoring chances. 

Cormac Costello spurned big goal opportunities at the start of each half as their night never really sparked. 

The Dubs faithful came in hope more than expectation. Hill 16 rarely found voice, and the old terrace slowly emptied the more Tyrone choked the game. 

When Luke Breathnach’s score got them back within a point on 64 minutes, the trademark Dublin surge never came.

Tyrone stood up to the mark instead as Ben McDonnell and the Canavans split the posts to banish the Blues and Morgan’s two-pointer just before the hooter iced the cake. 

Con O’Callaghan was thrown into the fray with a strapped hamstring but not even he could save them, as they only managed 0-6 in a shocking second half performance. 

Tyrone led 0-11 to 0-10 after an arm-wrestle of a first half, but it was far off the classics these two served up in their gripping All-Ireland quarter-finals 20 years ago. 

Eoin Murchan peeled away from Darragh Canavan to carve open the Red Hand defence after just three minutes, but Costello failed to punish them as his low drive flashed wide. 

Morgan got a hand to it and Stephen Cluxton converted the 45, but an error-ridden game unfolded from here. 

The Red Hands made hay on two-pointers all the same, as the Canal end of Croker seemed to suck the long rangers over the bar. 

McGeary and Teague lashed over from outside the arc before Harte did it twice.

His first orange flag sent his men 0-6 to 0-3 in front, but a rare burst of Dublin intensity minus O’Callaghan – who did not start – clawed them level. 

Brian Howard pounced on a loose ball for Costello to fire over before the lively Brian O’Leary followed suit when Niall Devlin was caught in possession for Tyrone, and the Na Fianna man soon doubled his tally. 

The first 20 minutes were end to end, but the damp and dreary weather started sapping the energy from the game. 

Harte’s second boomer flung Tyrone ahead again before Davy Byrne’s brilliant block denied them a goal when Mattie Donnelly played Rory Brennan through. 

Costello was fouled and made it 0-9 apiece from the resulting free to take his tally to 0-5.

But the Dubs had four wides and as many shots dropped short at that stage as their shooting really let them down. 

Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne had an epic midfield tussle with Brian Kennedy, and managed to squirm free from the Tyrone skipper to feed Killian McGinnis in front of the Hill to score. 

Darren McCurry had the final say of the half after the hooter, and it was anyone’s game with just a point in it at the break.

But slowly but surely, Tyrone wore them down. Another sliding doors moment arrived when Ó Cofaigh-Byrne played Costello in and Rory Brennan slipped – but again the Whitehall man missed the target. 

Brian Howard flashed another two-point effort wide, and Tyrone smelt blood as Ruairí Canavan, Ciarán Daly and Niall Devlin gave them daylight at 0-14 to 0-11. 

O’Callaghan entered the fray to the roar of the day, and waved his magic wand when he sent Mattie Donnelly out for a hotdog and fired over. 

But that was it from Dublin’s king, who almost had a goal when Luke Breathnach tried to find him at the back post but Morgan flung himself the ball before it got there. 

And the wides kept coming as Howard, Sean Bugler and Con all missed before Eoin McElholm danced around Kilkenny and pointed at the other end to pull Tyrone two clear again.  

Breathnach got Dublin’s last of the game, and Cluxton was the next to miss when his two-point effort failed after Howard was fouled. 

Tyrone found another gear, helped when Ruairí Canavan entered the fray to score 0-2.

His second when he stole it off Howard summed up Dublin’s night of misery. 

Morgan’s two-point free sparked a mass blue exodus – from fans to Farrell. 

It was an ugly way to bow out, but they only had themselves to blame given their poor shooting and lack of intensity – which were staples of all their success.  

Dublin cemented themselves as the greatest team of all when they romped to five on the bounce under Jim Gavin, before Farrell added two to his name as boss.  

But back to back last eight exits and their shock Leinster SFC loss to Meath leaves far more questions than answers in the big smoke with a new manager on the horizon and Cluxton likely to call it quits this time. 

The party goes on without them – and Tyrone are invited after a four-year semi-final absence.   

DUBLIN 0-16

TYRONE 0-23

TYRONE: N Morgan 0-3, 1tpf, 1 45; C Quinn, P Hampsey, N Devlin 0-1; P Teague 0-2tp, R Brennan, K McGeary 0-2tp; B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; S O’Donnell, M Donnelly, C Daly 0-2; D McCurry 0-2, 1f, P Harte 0-4, 2tp, D Canavan 0-3. 

Subs: M O’Neill for O’Donnell 10mins (blood); B McDonnell 0-1 for Brennan 44, E McElholm 0-1 for McCurry 52, A Clarke for Quinn 56, C Meyler for Teague 59 (blood), R Canavan 0-2 for Harte 63, M O’Neill for McGeary 68

DUBLIN: S Cluxton 0-1 45; E Murchan, D Byrne, S MacMahon; B Howard, J Small, L Gannon; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, K McGinnis 0-1; S Bugler, C Kilkenny 0-1, N Scully 0-1; P Small 0-2, C Costello 0-6, 2f, B O’Leary 0-2. 

Subs: C Murphy for McGinnis 44mins; C O’Callaghan 0-1 for O’Leary 50, L Breathnach 0-1 for Scully 57, T Lahiff for Ó Cofaigh Byrne 59, McGarry for Bugler 65, T Clancy for Murchan 68

REFEREE: D Coldrick (Meath)

NOISY nookie next door sparked at least 100 complaints from neighbours in a year.

Loud love-making with moaning, groaning, headboard banging and squeaky bedsprings stopped others getting a good night’s kip.

And in some cases, council officials gave those complaining noise diaries or recording equipment to monitor sound levels.

Randy Rotherham had the highest number of recorded complaints about the racket made during romps, with 15.

One irate caller in Islington, North London, told the council the neighbours “were making sex noises through the night and the bed was making creaking and banging noises as well”.

A resident blamed for a sexual din in Bradford was sent a council warning letter.

When that did not work, a council worker planted a recording device in the home of the neighbour who had complained.

A noise officer then listened to the recording, and deemed the racket “unreasonable”.

A resident of Telford, Shrops, complained the neighbours’ headboard kept banging against the wall.

And in Kingston, South West London, a local said the couple next door were “having the loudest sex imaginable”.

The survey of councils under Freedom of Information rules found 30 recorded 98 such complaints.

But the true total will be much higher as the majority could not give a number. Culprits could be fined £110 or even face court action.

Getty

Noisy nookie next door sparked at least 100 complaints from neighbours in a year[/caption]

TEENS are bombarded with up to 360 phone messages a day – and could spend a total of 25 YEARS glued to their mobiles, a Sun on Sunday probe reveals.

Concerned experts are warning that the shock usage poses a threat to kids’ mental health.

Getty

Teens are bombarded with up to 360 phone messages a day – and could spend a total of 25 YEARS glued to their mobiles[/caption]

We tracked four youngsters’ phone use over seven days and the results surprised even their parents.

One 16-year-old got almost 2,500 alerts — that is nearly 360 messages a day and one text every two-and-a-half minutes.

Another was sent more than 1,600 messages, and one 15-year-old admitted she had messaged a friend back and forth for 967 consecutive days.

Our shock findings come as a new report lays bare the amount of time kids spend on their devices — and experts fear youngsters’ mental health is being hit by extreme usage.

Labour MP Joani Reid, who is leading the call for a ban on smartphones in schools, said: “Hundreds of messages a day isn’t just about distractions in school — it’s about safety.

“Every notification could expose our kids to serious dangers — grooming by predators, cyberbullying and graphic, harmful content. Apps like Snapchat and TikTok often shield these interactions from parents, leaving teenagers vulnerable and isolated.

“We need tougher regulations forcing tech companies to prioritise child safety over profit. Parents alone can’t monitor every message or app — Government and schools must step up.”

Addictive apps

A new study has found that the average secondary school pupil is on their mobile for five-and-a-half hours each day.

If they keep that up, they could spend up to 25 years of their lives staring at a phone screen.

And 68 per cent of youngsters polled by Fluid Focus said their academic performance was affected by their smartphone use, with 40 per cent admitting to constantly checking their mobile while studying.

Popular teenager Art McGrath, 16, from Leyton, East London, had the most smartphone traffic of all the youngsters we tracked — receiving a staggering 2,493 messages in seven days.

His notifications comprised 2,320 Snapchat messages, 112 WhatsApp chats and 61 Instagram alerts. This averages out to 356 messages a day.

Art said: “Snapchat is the main messaging app. I’ve been on it since I was around 12. Everyone is on it.

“I have groups with different friendship groups. I don’t give myself phone breaks. If I get a message, I can end up stuck in a loop.”

Snapchat is the biggest player in the world of youngsters’ messaging apps and is used by 74 per cent of teens in the UK, according to Ofcom.

It has been accused of exposing youngsters to bullying and grooming, and slated for its addictive qualities.

‘Zero tolerance’

Snapchat insists it has a “zero tolerance” approach to sexual exploitation and says it removes harmful content immediately.

Its Streaks function, which tracks the consecutive days two users have messaged each other, has been criticised for being addictive.

But bosses at the tech firm say it is just a “fun thing”.

Grace Dainty, 15, from Witney, Oxfordshire, maintains a Streak of 967 days with one pal.

Over seven days, she received 1,620 messages, with the vast majority — 1,594 — on Snapchat.

She said: “All of my friends, bar one, are on Snapchat. I have a Streak with my best friend of 967. I don’t want to let this go. When I get an alert, I look at my phone and respond straight away if it’s good.

“If a close friend didn’t reply straight away, I would be concerned.”

Mum Caroline, a 46-year-old social worker, said: “I was surprised at the number of messages. This has opened my eyes to how Snapchat works.”

I was surprised at the number of messages. This has opened my eyes to how Snapchat works

Caroline Dainty

While Grace may feel as if constant messaging is key to her friendships, psychologist Dr Charlotte Armitage insists: “As much as people feel like they’re connected through phones, they’re not — it’s a pseudo-connection.

“We need a connection in real life to feel the benefits. Our relationships are crucial for health and life longevity, so we become more disconnected.

“It’s snowballed in the last five years and it’s getting worse with AI, because not only are people not talking to other people, in apps they are now talking to bots instead.”

Dr Armitage, the author of Generation Zombie, also warned of the addictive nature of messaging apps.

She said: “The brain becomes used to frequent stimulation and struggles to focus without it, as it starts to search for the next hit of dopamine.

“This has consequences for a child’s attentiveness, interpersonal skills such as listening in conversation, ability to engage in academia or any other activity that doesn’t provide a dopamine release at regular intervals.”

A study from King’s College London found that one in four children has “problematic smartphone usage”, meaning they use their devices in a way that is consistent with addiction.

Banned in lessons

But none of the teens we polled considered their phone use to be unusual or over the top. They all went to bed with their devices and checked them as soon as they woke.

Every one of them was allowed to take their handset to school, though the vast majority were banned from using devices in lessons.

Some continued to text anyway, while others said teachers didn’t enforce the rules.

Lottie Taylor, 14, from Farsley, Leeds, received 1,243 messages over a week — 75 per cent of them via Snapchat.

She said: “I like Streaks and have 39 people I send to on a daily basis.

“I wake up and the first thing I’ll do is get on my phone. The longest streak I’ve got is 574 with my best friend. I like to keep them up. It’s a symbol of friendship. I check my Streaks last thing at night as well.”

I wake up and the first thing I’ll do is get on my phone. The longest streak I’ve got is 574 with my best friend. I like to keep them up. It’s a symbol of friendship. I check my Streaks last thing at night as well

Lottie Taylor

Lottie’s mum Lydia, 43, a primary school teacher, said: “It’s hard to get Lottie moving on a morning because she won’t get out of bed until she’s done her Streaks.”

In Snapchat messages shared with The Sun on Sunday, Lottie and her friend discuss meeting up in the park.

Lottie says: “Ikk [I know] we need to hang out… Bruh I just washed my hair.” Her pal replies: “Aw bless. Anyway meet you at mine then we’ll out.”

Meanwhile, Logan Hook, 15, from Pudsey, West Yorkshire, received 528 messages in a week on Snapchat and WhatsApp.

He said: “I’m in a couple of WhatsApp groups for football mates, and one with school mates.

“I don’t think I get a crazy amount of messages, but I will chat to arrange stuff or talk football.”

In messages on a football team WhatsApp group, sneakily sent during class time, one friend laments his poor performance on the pitch, saying: “I was awful.”

Another pal adds: “I didn’t play bad but didn’t play good either”, before Logan replies: “What do you think ur doing texting in class”.

ART McGRATH, 16 – Leyton, East London

Darren Fletcher

Art McGrath, 16, from Leyton, East London gets 2,493 messages a week[/caption]

Messages per week: 2,493

Average per day: 356

Platforms: Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram

Parent: Dad Nick, 54, a writer, gets around 160 messages in a day, mostly on WhatsApp.

LOGAN HOOK, 15 – Pudsey, West Yorks

Glen Minikin

Logan Hook, 15, from Pudsey, West YorksLogan Hook, 15, gets 528 messages per week[/caption]

Messages per week: 528

Average per day: 75

Platforms: Snapchat and WhatsApp

Parent’s use: Mum Kirsty, 44, a doctor’s receptionist, gets around 55 messages a day, mainly on WhatsApp.

LOTTIE TAYLOR, 14 – Farsley, Leeds

Glen Minikin

Lottie Taylor, 14, from Farsley, Leeds receives 1,234 messages per week[/caption]

Messages per week: 1,234

Average per day: 178

Platforms: Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok

Parent’s use: Mum Lydia, 43, has around 186 messages a day on WhatsApp, texts and Instagram.