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Ryanair’s cheapest new destination has beautiful beaches and wine for £3 a bottle

RYANAIR have revealed their new, and incredibly cheap, flight paths.

The most budget-friendly flight goes from Stansted to Reggio Calabria from just £14.99 and with weather reaching highs of 17 degrees in March, it’s a great place for an early spring break.

Reggio Calabria's Villa Genoese Zerbi and adjacent ruins.
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Reggio Calabria has plenty of beautiful buildings and ancient ruins[/caption]
People walking along a seaside promenade with palm trees and a beach in the background.
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The promenade is a lovely place to walk and is over a mile long[/caption]
Sculpture of Rabarama (Paola Epifani) in front of Villa Genoese Zerbi in Reggio Calabria, Italy.
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The three enormous statues are out on the lawn by the waterfront for everyone to see[/caption]

In just three hours, you could be landing in Reggio Calabria – the city with sun, beaches, mountains, waterparks, history… and it’s very affordable.

The Reggio Calabria city centre is 8km from the airport and can easily be reached by bus in under 15 minutes for just €2 (£1.66).

It’s not just the flights that are a bargain; we found a hotel from just £22 per night through Expedia.

Be sure to check out some of the local produce too – specifically the wine, as the city ranked fourth cheapest for wine, with bottles available for £3.

Culture vultures should check out the ‘Opera di Rabarama’ – three sculptures created in 2000 on the waterfront, as well as the Riace Bronzes.

These 2,500-year-old Greek bronze statues are in the Reggio Calabria museum, which adults can enter for €10 (£8.32), while anyone between 18 and 25 gets a reduced fee of €2 (£1.66).

Thirty minutes north of Reggio Calabria is the quaint fishing village of Scilla.

The village nestled on a hill by the coast offers one of the region’s most stunning beaches, Spiaggia di Scilla, with crystal clear waters

One TripAdvisor reviewer wrote that it was “one of the most beautiful and wonderful beaches I have ever seen.”.

To keep the kids busy, the AcquaPark Odissea 2000 waterpark is open in the summer months, when temperatures can reach highs of 31 degrees.

Aerial view of Scilla, Italy, showing the town, castle, and sea.
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Scilla is a beautiful fishing town just half an hour outside of the city centre[/caption]

The park has slides, a water roller coaster, pools, a lazy river, plus a pizzeria and bar.

For exploring nature, the Aspromonte National Park is the perfect place to see waterfalls and mountain villages, hidden between the pine trees.

Once you’ve explored Reggio Calabria, make sure to take a trip over to Sicily.

The ferry usually costs around €7 (£5.82) and only takes 35 minutes.

There are 15 sailings a day, so it would be easy enough to pop over for the morning, enjoy a day of strolling about the island with an ice cream, and be back for the evening.

Here are the new Ryanair flight paths

To inspire your next getaway, here are Ryanair's newest, and cheapest, flights

  1. Stansted to Bodrum (Türkiye), from £19.99 – flying now 
  2. Stansted to Dalaman (Türkiye), from £19.99 – flying now 
  3. Stansted to Clermont (France), from £20.65 – commencing March 30
  4. Stansted to Münster (Germany), from £16.99 – commencing March 30
  5. Stansted to Lübeck (Germany), from £16.91 – commencing April 1
  6. Stansted to Linz (Austria), from £19.99 – flying now
JFMB1J Aspromonte National Park, Gambarie, Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy, Maesano Waterfall
In the Reggio Calabria National Park you’ll find the Maesano Waterfall
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Aerial view of Scilla beach in Calabria, Italy.
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The beach and village of Scilla is found on the outkirts of the city[/caption]

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Met Office map shows where SNOW will hit this week as Scandinavian cold air mass descends in -5C dip – check YOUR area

THE Met Office has revealed where snow will hit this week and warns of temperatures dropping to -5C.

Scandinavian cold air coming in from the east is expected to bring bitter gales to the UK this week.

Person with umbrella in rainy city.
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Shoppers in Glasgow take on the rain as 30mm falls around some areas of Scotland[/caption]
Map of Scotland showing overnight temperatures.
Met Office
A cold snap is set to hit the UK with some areas dropping to as low as -5C[/caption]
Two women walking in the rain, one using an umbrella.
Alamy
Glaswegians brace with brollies as the rain risks turn to snow[/caption]

From today, high pressure is set to move in bringing many regions dry weather, but not for long as a freezing winds are set to hit the UK.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Frank Saunders said: “It’s worth being aware that despite a largely pleasant week ahead, there’s a good chance the UK will experience a dip in temperatures at the weekend and into next week.

“High-pressure is set to move in, bringing along with it easterly winds, low temperatures and an increasing risk of wintry hazards like snow and ice.”

It comes after mixed conditions kicked off the start of February, including sunny spells, and a scattering of rain and fog.

Downpours over the past few days have seen up to 30mm of rainfall around some areas of Scotland, affecting Newcastle as well.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued five alerts and two warnings in place yesterday in preparation.

Some 40 flood alerts and eight warnings were put in place across England as well.

Today eight flood warnings and 35 flood alerts remain in place, with six removed in the last 24 hours.

Areas expected to be impacted are clustered around the south, with Salisbury attracting a slew of warnings and alerts.

The showers creep up the UK and will also affect Reading, Oxford, Slough, and Luton with alerts spread across these regions.

The Met Office has flagged that land, roads, and some properties could flood and there could be travel disruption from today.

As the week continues Brits are expected to have a big “switcharound,” as per Meteorologist Alex Deakin, as the mixed weather conditions turn into a cold snap.

As the southeasterly wind ramps up there are warnings of wintry showers with temperatures dropping significantly overnight.

It should be a dry night with a patches of freezing fog in the southeast and chilly winds remaining in the north.

Temperatures drop as low as -5C in Belfast, -3C in Birmingham, -2C in Manchester and Cardiff, and -1 in London, Newcastle and Glasgow.

The forecaster said: “As the high shifts up towards Scandinavia it means the winds have completely switched direction.

“So we start with a Westerly wind and we’re going to end the week with more of an Easterly wind and that will bring colder air as we head towards the end of the week and into the weekend.

“It is likely to turn quite a bit colder.”

From Thursday cold conditions are settling including overnight frosts and widespread settled weather.

The chance of Atlantic fronts appearing from the rest might bring the possibility of snow and Brits are told during this nationwide temperature drop they’ll probably spot some frost.

Northern and Western Scotland are most likely to see snow over on high ground with some showers across Northern Ireland as well.

Weather presenter pointing at a weather map of Europe showing wind patterns.
Meteorologist Alex Deakin warns Brits to prepare for a cold snap this week

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I thought I was being scammed after WWE offered me trials on Instagram… but here’s why I chose boxing instead

PREPARING himself for Olympic glory, boxer Delicious Orie received a suspicious Instagram message offering him trials with the WWE.

But the super-heavyweight star brushed off the invite as nothing more than a scam.

A boxer from Great Britain reacts after a boxing match.
PA
Delicious Orie was beaten in the opening round of the 2024 Olympics[/caption]
Man sitting on a rooftop at dusk, wearing a beige tank top and dark shorts.
@deliciousboxing
Orie was on holiday in Thailand when he realised he had been offered WWE trials[/caption]

It was only after he was controversially beaten in the opening round of the 2024 Paris Games that he gave the DM a second thought.

By then, Orie was on holiday in Bangkok enjoying some well-earned rest off the back of heartbreaking defeat to Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan.

He did a bit more digging and realised the offer from the WWE was real – and had already been accepted on his behalf.

Orie, 27, told SunSport: “So they messaged me actually on Instagram – this was during the Olympics.

“So I wasn’t on my social media during the Olympics. I actually saw it on holiday a few weeks after.

“And I’m looking up, I’m just looking through the messages and I’m seeing the WWE – initially I thought it was just like one of those fake things trying to get scam you.

“But then I opened the message, I looked into the account and I’m like, ‘This is all legit, you know, they want me out.’

“So I’m in Thailand, I bell my manager because I messaged them back and said, ‘Yeah, of course, let’s talk.’

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“And they said, ‘Oh no, we’ve already been speaking with your manager and we’ve sorted everything out, you’re flying out this day.’

“I’m calling my manager like, ‘What’s going on here? I’ve haven’t been told this!

“And he goes, ‘You just need to chill out, just relax, have a good time on holiday and then you can reset because your mind’s going to be going.’

“And I’m like, well it’s too late now my mind’s going now. But yeah, I went out there just to have a look, see what they offer and it was a fantastic experience.”

Orie did undergo a physical trial with the WWE in Florida – but stopped short at any high-flying turnbuckle moves.

He said: “We did bits, it was very light, though. I’d watched a lot of the real physical jumping off the the ropes and all that stuff.

“The main reason why was they were a little bit more cautious on it because as athletes and the things that we’ve got going on behind the scenes, injuries, as you may know, there’s there’s a high injury rate in wrestling, jumping off things and stuff like that.

“So I got to try out a little bit, but not too much.”

What Orie realised most though was the WWE stars’ talent on the microphone – something boxers rarely excel at.

He said: “That’s why the likes of Tyson Fury and all them stand out so much because he’s able to do that, whereas you don’t get many in the UK that can do it.”

A shirtless boxer flexing his muscles in a boxing gym.
Orie only began boxing at 18
A boxer from Armenia celebrates his victory over a British boxer in a boxing match.
PA
He suffered a controversial Olympic defeat to Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan[/caption]

Orie – born in Moscow to a Russian mother and Nigerian father – moved to the UK aged seven seeking a better life.

He only started boxing at 18 and excelled as an amateur winning national titles as well as Commonwealth gold and European bronze.

And with still so much to achieve in the professional ranks, Orie decided to politely turn down the WWE’s approach.

He said: “I was thinking what’s gonna get me the most fulfilment out of my life?

“I could have gone down that route, but do I wanna be a 70 year old looking back thinking what could I have been as a professional boxer?

“I think there’s something quite real, raw, primal about boxing.

“There’s nowhere to hide, the amount of work you put in is what shows. No matter whether it is you win, lose, it doesn’t matter.

“It’s how much work you can portray and show people how much work you you’ve put in. And that’s basically what I wanted to do.

I’m just looking through the messages and I’m seeing the WWE – initially I thought it was just like one of those fake things trying to get scam you.

Delicious Orie

“That’s the reason why I decided to sort of say, ‘Look, amazing offer, but definitely the professional boxing is for me.'”

Orie has now turned pro with Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren at heavyweight with his debut set to be announced soon.

And he arrives on the scene just as superstars Anthony Joshua, 35, and Tyson Fury, 36, prepare to depart leaving a gaping gap.

Orie said: “When I started boxing, I knew that there was a target audience that I can appeal to.

“I believe that I’m quite real and I could just appeal to normal people and I can also try and inspire as many people that were or still are in my position or were in my position in the past.

“So I thought to myself, there’s definitely a, a gap in that market for me. So from before I even thought about turning professional, I knew that.”

Orie expects to fight regularly in 2025 – and promises plenty of eyeballs – where they are booing or cheering.

He said: “I’ll be very, very busy, and it’ll be very, very exciting.

“There’ll be people gathering together watching Delicious Orie box, whether they don’t like me or like me, doesn’t matter.

“They’ll be watching me box.”

Two boxers posing in a boxing ring.
@deliciousboxing
Anthony Joshua with Orie[/caption]

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Top 10 trailblazing women who have most inspired others from Jessica Ennis-Hill to Ellen MacArthur

AMELIA Earhart and Jessica Ennis-Hill are the women who have most inspired others to step out of their comfort zones, according to research.

Research of 2,000 adults found 20 per cent were encouraged to do something new after learning about the amazing feats of Amelia Earhart, who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Three women hikers in a forest.
OnePlus
Research has revealed the women who have most inspired others to step out of their comfort zones[/caption]
Portrait of Dame Ellen MacArthur at Greenwich Yacht Club.
John Cassidy
Retired sailor Ellen MacArthur topped the list of trailblazers[/caption]
Jessica Ennis-Hill holding a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
SWNS
Former athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill came second among the top 10 inspiring women[/caption]

While 10 per cent decided to step out of their comfort zone following the incredible achievements of Ellen MacArthur, the fastest person to solo circumnavigate the globe by sailboat.

Other women recognised for their positive impact include cyclist Laura Kenny (10 per cent), astronaut Sally Ride (10 per cent), and boxer Nicola Adams (nine per cent).

The research was commissioned by global technology brand OnePlus, which has teamed up with adventurer Elise Wortley for a historically accurate expedition retracing Dorothy Pilley’s footsteps across Corsica, with mountaineer Edurne Pasaban, and former Miss Finland turned explorer Lotta Hintsa.

It also emerged 64 per cent think the stories of pioneering women need to be told to help more embrace their inner explorer.

However, 53 per cent admit they couldn’t name a single female explorer, either real or fictional.

People were more likely to recognise Lara Croft (63 per cent) or even Dora the Explorer (59 per cent) than Jane Goodall (22 per cent).

While only nine per cent recognised the name Gertrude Bell, one of England’s premier archaeologists in the early 1900s.

And only three per cent – fewer than one in 20 – knew the name of Dorothy Pilley, a mountaineer who paved the way for female climbers.

Elise Wortley, who will be capturing the expedition on the OnePlus 13 device which is built for explorers, said: “Dorothy Pilley should be essential learning for all of us and the fact that this pioneering woman doesn’t feature in our history books and culture is truly devastating.

“This fascinating woman was one of the first female mountaineers and trailblazing adventurers, who inspired so many generations of women that came after her, yet, only three per cent of Brits can recognise her.

“I am as ready as ever to retrace her steps alongside Edurne and Lotta and we couldn’t be more excited to capture our journey through this expedition, bringing Dorothy Pilley’s incredible story to life and inspiring future generations to embrace adventure and exploration as she did.”

The findings, conducted via OnePoll, revealed 82 per cent were aware of the life and times of Charles Darwin, and 75 per cent knew the name of Marco Polo.

In fact, 84 per cent believe there’s too much of a male perception when it comes to discovery and exploration.

While 56 per cent would have liked to have learned more about female explorers in school, college or university.

Celina Shi, from OnePlus Europe, said: “It has never been more important to pay homage to the pioneering women that paved the way before us.

“There are so many fascinating expeditions led by women that still are forgotten, so we’re delighted to be working with Elise, Lotta and Edurne on this adventure.

“Being an explorer comes in so many shapes and forms, and we are excited to capture in a way that Dorothy Pilley wasn’t able to.”

Top 10 trailblazing women

1. Amelia Earhart – First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic

2. Jessica Ennis-Hill – Olympic heptathlon gold medalist

3. Greta Thunberg – Swedish environmental activist who sparked a global movement for climate action through her school strikes and passionate advocacy

4. Dorothy Pilley – Pioneering British mountaineer and writer who championed women’s climbing, co-founded the Pinnacle Club, and authored the influential memoir “Climbing Days” in 1935

5. Ellen MacArthur – Broke the record for fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe

6. Laura Kenny – Britain’s most decorated female Olympian in cycling

7. Sally Ride – First American woman in space who flew on two shuttle missions and later became a passionate advocate for science education, inspiring girls to pursue careers in STEM

8. Nicola Adams – First woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing

9. Mary Anning – Palaeontologist who made ground-breaking fossil discoveries

10. Gertrude Bell – Explorer and archaeologist who mapped parts of the Middle East

Read More »

Ozzy Osbourne announces final Black Sabbath gig as band reunite for ‘greatest heavy metal show ever’ with HUGE line up

ROCK veteran Ozzy Osbourne will play his final EVER show this summer, amid his worsening battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The music icon has announced he will return to the stage one more time with his band Black Sabbath for a homecoming show at Villa Park in Birmingham, topping a star-studded bill.

Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performing onstage.
Getty
Ozzy Osbourne is reuniting with Black Sabbath for one final show[/caption]
Black Sabbath backstage at the London Music Festival '73.
Getty
Sabbath are widely regarded as the founders of metal music[/caption]
Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne holding Aston Villa jerseys.
Today at Aston Villa, Sharon Osbourne and Tony Iommi announced that the original Black Sabbath will play for the first time in 20 years

Huge names from the world of heavy metal including Metallica and Slayer have also joined the line-up to celebrate Ozzy’s incredible legacy, with proceeds from the concert going to charity.

The one-off gig on July 5, called Back To The Beginning, is being dubbed “the greatest heavy metal show ever” and will see Ozzy play a short set before reuniting with Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward.

It will be the first time the original line-up of Black Sabbath have performed together in 20 years.

He has vowed it will be his final performance due to his battle with Parkinson’s disease, which he went public with in 2020.

Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon will also play at the show, with profits being shared equally between Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

Ozzy said: “It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning….time for me to give back to the place where I was born.

“How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”

Music Director, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello said: “This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever.”

Other stars who will perform include Duff McKagan and Frank Bello from Anthrax, Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit and The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan.

Disturbed’s David Draiman, Jake E Lee and Jonathan Davis from Korn, Mike Bordin from Faith No More will be there too.

And Slash, Wolfgang Van Halen, and Zakk Wylde complete the current line-up, with more expected to be added.

Tickets for the show will go on sale at 10am GMT on Friday, February 14, at LiveNation.co.uk.

Speaking in 2022, Ozzy said: “That’s the only thing that reminds me I’m getting older: things going wrong and not working anymore. But I still feel young at heart.

“I am determined to get back on stage, even if I have to be nailed to a board and wheeled on.

“Survival is my legacy.”

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne presenting an award at the Grammy Awards.
AFP
Ozzy with wife Sharon at the Grammys in 2020[/caption]
Ozzy Osbourne performing at an NFL halftime show.
Getty
The Prince of Darkness can’t wait to return to his hometown for the farewell show[/caption]
Ozzy Osbourne at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Getty
He’s faced major health problems in recent years[/caption]

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В Одесі відновили каркас 16-поверхового будинку, у який влучила російська ракета (відео)

Унаслідок російського масованого ракетного удару секція ЖК «Люксембург», що на вул. Середня, 24, зазнала серйозних пошкоджень: ракета повністю зруйнувала 4-й поверх, частково зруйновано ще кілька поверхів. Загинули 3 людини. На початку 2024 року в будинку було проведено стабілізаційні роботи, що дало змогу зупинити подальше руйнування конструкції. Відновлювальні роботи виконує ТОВ «Стікон» – переможець тендеру. «На сьогодні вже завершено […]

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Steamy EastEnders affair exposed – just days before crucial live episode viewer vote

THE steamy secret affair on EastEnders has been exposed, just before the 40th anniversary.

Viewers have tuned in to see Denise Fox (Diane Parish) grapple with her feelings for both ex Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and hunky Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).

Scene from EastEnders showing a woman and a man.
BBC
Denise and Ravi’s affair has finally been exposed in EastEnders[/caption]
EastEnders scene: a man comforts a distressed woman.
BBC
Jack thought he needed to rescue Denise from a potential robbery[/caption]
Scene from EastEnders showing two men standing outside a building at night.
BBC
However, it was Ravi who was the mystery man in the B&B[/caption]

On tonight’s EastEnders, shock-waves are sure to ripple through Albert Square as her hidden liaisons were finally exposed.

At the beginning of the episode, Denise was still unhappy with Ravi, and Jack was trying to be spontaneous.

He was positioned in a pop up Jacuzzi in his back terrace garden and he invited his estranged partner to join in an attempt to win her back.

This was after he previously cheated on her with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).

Meanwhile, after hearing that he was completely cut out of Nish’s will, Priya (Sophie Khan Levy) tried to rekindle her own relationship with Ravi.

However, Ravi told her that he was seeing someone new, and that the relationship was serious, but he did not reveal the identity of the mystery woman.

Later, Denise was busy cleaning number 20 with her loud hoover, just as Ravi planned to surprise her.

Not hearing any response, but knowing full well Denise was in the B&B, he climbed through the window.

Just after receiving news that she was appointed as a trustee over the late Nish Panesar’s businesses, Bernie Taylor caught a glimpse of a man climbing through the window.

At the Vic later, she hurriedly told Kim (Tameka Empson), Chelsea (Zaraah Abrahams) and Yolande (Angela Wynter) that their property was being burgled.

Along with Callum Highway (Tony Clay), they all rushed out to their house as a confused Denise was practically dragged out by Jack.

However, everyone was shocked to find that it was Ravi who was the man inside, as he put his clothes back on.

Priya seemed utterly broken as everyone present put two and two together.

As Denise started to explain, he interjected with his own announcement.

Denise Fox's biggest EastEnders storylines

Diane Parish who plays Denise Fox has been a regular fixture in Walford since 2006. Over the years she's been embroiled in some dramatic storylines, such as...

Being kidnapped by her husband Lucas Johnson 

  • In 2009, Denise reunited with Lucas, the father of her daughter Chelsea, unaware of the notorious EastEnders villain’s murderous ways. However, during the course of their marriage Denise finds out the truth, and after confessing to murdering Denise’s ex-husband Owen, she becomes his next victim.
  • To stop her from turning him into the police, Lucas fakes Denise’s death by killing a prostitute and claiming it’s her, all while keeping Denise prisoner locked up in the house next door. After weeks of torment, Denise finally escapes.

One night stand with Phil Mitchell

  • Denise has a one night stand with Phil in 2016 which results in a pregnancy. She gives birth to their son Raymond the following year. Denise was in a relationship with Kush Kazimi when she found out she was pregnant and he initially believed he was the father of the baby. However, her scan revealed that she was too far along with the pregnancy.
  • Afterward, Denise didn’t want to reveal to her family who the father of the baby was (although it is eventually revealed that it is Phil) and decided to give him up for adoption, a decision she later struggles to come to terms with.

Descending into poverty

  • In 2017, Denise struggles to get by due to employment and money troubles, but she hides the truth of her situation from her family and friends. Actress Denise Parish described this as “a very important story about social injustice.”
  • Denise was forced to eat out of bins to get by after her pride stopped her from using food banks, all while no one in her life knows she’s struggling. She pushed away her boyfriend Kush during her struggle, but eventually confessed to Kim about what she’d been going through. 

The Six 

  • During an explosive episode, Denise hit Nish Panesar with a champagne bottle on Christmas day 2023 and was also involved in covering up Keanu Taylor’s murder after he was stabbed by Linda Carter.
  • The after effects of this have had a huge impact on Denise, leading her to experience anxiety and hallucinations before being sectioned due to psychosis as The Six have continued to cover up the events of that night.

“I’m in love with Denise. Alright? We’re together,” he proudly claimed as Jack and Chelsea stood in disbelief.

This comes as viewers will be able to decide who Denise chooses during the highly anticipated interactive storyline as part of the show’s 40th anniversary.

For the first time ever, viewers get to vote for their choice of outcome, which will be revealed during a special live episode in anniversary week.

Scene from EastEnders showing three women reacting dramatically.
BBC
Kim and Yolande rushed home from the Vic after Bernie told them the property was being robbed[/caption]
EastEnders scene: four teenagers and a woman standing together on a street at night.
BBC
Priya was left heartbroken after the revelation[/caption]
A man from EastEnders.
BBC
Ravi confessed that he is in love with Denise and they were ‘together’[/caption]
A woman with a concerned expression.
BBC
Chelsea was left completely dumbfounded long with Jack Branning[/caption]

EastEnders continues on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.

Read More »

The £1.85 secret weapon Princess Kate is using nonstop in her new comeback wardrobe

Collage of Kate Middleton in four different outfits.

FOR the sixth time in a row, the Princess of Wales has chosen the same look – and I’m a big fan. 

Whether it’s with her favourite Zara midi dress or a stylish wide leg trouser, it’s Princess Kate’s shoulders that catch my eye. 

Catherine, Princess of Wales, speaking with emergency services personnel.
Getty
Princess Catherine is repeatedly relying on a style tweak that we can all make for less than £5[/caption]
Catherine, Princess of Wales, in a red coat, waves.
Getty
Kate the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey in December wearing a tailored coat[/caption]

This week, Kate’s team said that she will no longer spill the details of where her outfits are from when she steps out for public events. 

Catherine, 43, hopes that this will draw attention away from her and pull it towards her work, after her cancer journey gave her a “new perspective”, according to a palace source. 

And while I agree that she doesn’t need to tell us about what she’s wearing and the focus should be on her brilliant work, we’ll still stop and admire what she wears – which is exactly what happened to me this week. 

For her recent outings, mum-of-three Catherine has created a structured silhouette with the use of eighties must-have, shoulder pads. 

At her first public appearance of 2025, Kate made an emotional visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London where she thanked staff for their “exceptional” care. 

Kate Middleton at the Royal Marsden Hospital.
BackGrid
Kate Middleton at the Royal Marsden Hospital wearing a burgundy check coat[/caption]

Catherine looked understated but by no means less elegant or normal wearing a long tailored coat from Blazé Milano with a burgundy skirt by Edeline Lee. 

The bespoke maroon tartan coat with double breasted finish, that nipped her in at the waist, was accentuated further by the structure in the shoulders. 

Princess Catherine visiting a textile manufacturer in Ammanford, Wales.
Getty
Catherine in Wales wearing hight street brand Zara and sharp-shouldered coat[/caption]

At the end of January, when the Princess of Wales visited Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice, where she is now patron, she slipped on her Zara check dress that she has worn numerous times before.

She paired it with another tailored cream coat with a similar silhouette. 

Catherine, Princess of Wales, departing the National Portrait Gallery.
GC Images
The Princess of Wales at The National Portrait Gallery, London, in a smart blazer[/caption]

Plus on Tuesday she joined school children for a trip to the National Portrait Gallery in London wearing a brown, padded shoulder blazer. 

Tailoring is never too far away from the catwalk or the high street, with brands like Yves Saint Laurent championing power-shoulders and suiting, plus other stars like Hailey Bieber are wearing the look too. 

Hailey Bieber walking in Tribeca, New York City.
Getty
Hailey Bieber is a fan of eighties inspired padded shoulders in her coats[/caption]
Bella Hadid modeling a black suit at Paris Fashion Week.
Getty
Bella Hadid models for Yves Saint Laurent in structured tailoring trend[/caption]

But the trend and Kate’s new found and repeated love of the strong outline can be achieved for as little as £1.85. 

If you want to give your old coats or blazers a modern facelift and create definition on your figure with the angular lines strong shoulders make, you can buy shoulder pads from Amazon or your local haberdashery. 

And no, you don’t need to be a seamstress to do it either. 

Two black shoulder pads.
Amazon
Shoulder pads can be found on shops like Amazon for just £1.85[/caption]

These days a needle and thread isn’t essential, shoulder pads can be bought with sewn in bra straps that can clip onto your top, or velcro pads that you just stick to your own jacket to make the transformation fool-proof. 

Shoulder pads worn with bra straps.
You can buy shoulder pads with velco or bra strap style fastenings
Amazon

Kates fashion influence will always be there because she dresses so well and her style isn’t unattainable for us mere mortals to copy, or at least try to.

And I’ll be doing that – one shoulder pad at a time.

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Families of Nottingham attack victims slam NHS failings and doctors who let triple killer ‘get away with murder’

THE families of the Nottingham attack victims have slammed doctors for their “failure” to treat triple killer Valdo Calocane appropriately.

Dr Sanjoy Kumar, the father of Grace O’Malley Kumar, said he would be writing to Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

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Triple killer Valdo Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order[/caption]
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Nottingham stab victims, from left: Ian Coates, 65, Barnaby Webber and his friend Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19[/caption]
Dr. Sanjoy Kumar and Dr. Sinead O'Malley speaking at a press conference.
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Dr Sanjoy Kumar and Dr Sinead O’Malley, the parents of Grace O’Malley-Kumar[/caption]

He wants him to order the mental health trust in question to hold individual clinicians “responsible” adding: “We demand accountability.”

His words follow those of the mother of Barnaby Webber, Emma Webber, who said that a report into Calocane’s care is a “horror show”.

She added that it showed mental health teams “missed opportunities because “they just didn’t do their jobs properly”.

Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order for a spate of attacks in Nottingham in June 2023.

He killed 19-year-old students Barnaby and Grace and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people.

Dr Kumar said on Wednesday: “We’ve been failed at every intersection that Valdo Calocane had with any authority.”

He demanded individual accountability for the failures shown in the report.

Dr Kumar added: “This report published highlights the failures of the mental health trust, but it fails my wife and I, as clinicians working at the NHS, for the failure to treat Valdo Calocane appropriately.

“We will be asking the Secretary of State for Health to order the trust to hold individual doctors responsible as they know Valdo Calocane was an evil, violent man – a known risk to the public who did not take his medication.”

The report said Calocane was not forced to have long-lasting anti-psychotic medication because he did not like needles.

The review said other patients cared for by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust also committed “extremely serious” acts of violence – including stabbings – between 2019 and 2023.

Mrs Webber urged the Prime Minister not to renege on the promise of a public inquiry following the report’s publication.

She said: “It has to have teeth – there’s no point in doing it otherwise.”

The mother of Grace, Dr Sinead O’Malley-Kumar, said there had been poor decision-making and “laziness” among health staff who treated her daughter’s killer.

Timeline of the Nottingham attacks

THE attacks started around 4am on June 13 on Ilkeston Road, Nottingham, when Calocane launched at Barnaby and Grace.

Prosecutor Karim Khalil KC said the “brutal” attack was captured from a taxi’s dashcam.

He added: “That footage shows that the devastating violence of the attacks was mirrored only by the deliberate and merciless way the defendant acted.”

Once he killed Grace and Barnaby, rampaging Calocane attempted to break into a home but was punched in the face by a stunned occupant.

Undeterred, he made his way to Magdala Road where he came across caretaker Ian.

He then used the van to run down the three pedestrians.

Police announced a “major incident” was taking place around 7am.

In the hours that followed, they revealed three people were dead, another was fighting for his life and two were injured.

Valdo Calocane was identified as the man, and arrested on suspicion of murder.

The families of Grace and Barnaby gathered at a vigil the day after they were killed.

On June 16, three days after the attack, he was charged with the triple murder.

One week after the attack, one of the men who was run down by Calocane’s van opened up about the horror and said he “remembered everything“.

On July 12, grandfather Ian was farewelled at a service filled with loved ones.

Two days later, “extraordinary” Barnaby’s mum broke down in tears at his funeral – where hundreds gathered to say goodbye.

And on July 21, more than 1,000 mourners came together to pay tribute to Grace.

Calocane was found guilty of the manslaughter of Grace and Barnaby, and 65-year-old grandfather Ian Coates on January 23.

“If any of them knew that Valdo Calocane was going to go out and share student accommodation with their children, I suspect their choices may have changed,” she said.

“Accountability on an individual level is essential.”

Solicitor Neil Hudgell, acting on behalf of the families of the Nottingham attack victims, said they will meet the Government next week to discuss a statutory public inquiry.

NHS England commissioned Theemis Consulting to carry out an independent investigation into the care and treatment provided to Calocane by NHS services.

It detailed four hospital admissions between 2020 and 2022 and multiple contacts with community teams before he was discharged to his GP because of a lack of interaction with mental health services.

Investigators found that “the offer of care and treatment available for VC (Valdo Calocane) was not always sufficient to meet his needs” and this was “not unique” to his case.

Health officials have admitted it is “clear the system got it wrong”.

NHS officials published the report in full after initially saying they would only publish a summary due to data protection laws.

Dr Jessica Sokolov, regional medical director at NHS England (Midlands), said: “It’s clear the system got it wrong, including the NHS, and the consequences of when this happens can be devastating.

“This is not acceptable, and I unreservedly apologise to the families of victims on behalf of the NHS and the organisations involved in delivering care to Valdo Calocane before this incident took place.”

Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national mental health director, said: “It is clear there were failings in the care provided to Valdo Calocane which is why the trust responsible was placed in our highest oversight and support programme, which has seen them overhaul their risk assessment processes.

“Nationally, we have asked every mental health trust to review these findings and set out action plans for how they treat and engage with people who have a serious mental illness, including how they work with other agencies such as the police.

“And we’ve instructed trusts not to discharge people if they do not attend appointments.”

Ifti Majid, chief executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We apologise unreservedly for the opportunities we missed in the care of Valdo Calocane and accept the Theemis report in its entirety including its findings and recommendations.

“We are making clear progress with a Trust-wide plan, which is already delivering key improvements in areas such as risk assessment and discharge processes.

“We are also improving the way we listen and engage with patients, families, our colleagues, and local partners – to make sure concerns are acted on as quickly as possible.

“I know that this will never undo the catastrophic damage caused by these events – when three lives were tragically lost, and others changed irreparably.

“But we will do everything possible to prevent similar incidents happening again and remain totally committed to improving services for the communities we serve.”

Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, speaking at a press conference.
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Emma Webber, the mother of Barnaby Webber, during a press conference[/caption]
CCTV footage of two students walking home.
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Calocane killed 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar[/caption]
Family members of Nottingham stabbing victims at a press conference.
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The families of the three murder victims[/caption]

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