Dynamite deaths save familiar frights, with leading lady Dafne Keen putting in a mournful display.

Ah, the old cursed object causing havoc staple rears its fearsome head once again.

This time it’s an ancient Aztec whistle that plagues a group of high school students as they discover that blowing it will summon their future deaths to hunt them down.

English filmmaker Corin Hardy started down the right horror path with 2015’s haunting The Hallow – but took a serious wrong turn with The Nun (2018).

Whistle falls somewhere in between those outings as Owen Egerton’s ( Follow , Mercy Black ) script adds more depth than you’d expect from this kind of genre fare.

Not least with Dafne Keen’s leading lady Chrys and her dark past that bleeds into her present as she struggles with life at a new school and her crush on the likeable Ellie (Sophie Nélisse).

Thought has clearly also went into the film’s deaths, and their execution, which results in some of the most original and indelible demises in recent modern horror.

The kills start relatively run-of-the-mill but when it becomes clear what is happening to the titular object’s victims, Hardy cuts loose with mangled bodies and an abundance of blood.

READ MORE: MOVIE REVIEW: Is ‘Scream 7’ a worthy entry in horror franchise?

The fact the deaths left such a strong impression despite being very CGI-heavy – something I’m not normally a fan of – speaks volumes about their wicked innovation.

Shaun of the Dead’s Nick Frost pops up in a notable cameo as teacher Mr Craven – perhaps a nod from Hardy to late genre legend Wes Craven?

The whistle’s powers are inconsistent, though, especially when it comes to time-keeping as some victims are bumped off way quicker than others.

There’s also the token visit to someone already impacted by the curse to get more information and anyone who has seen Final Destination , Smile and Talk To Me will often get a sense of deja-vu.

But the dynamite deaths and mournful turn from Keen see Whistle hit enough right notes to warrant a watch.

However, I’m not sure the larger scale sequel-baiting post-credit scene will be music to horror fans’ ears.

● Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on any movie or TV show recommendations you have to your fellow readers.

Claire Pearson got in touch to say: “Vanished on Amazon Prime is a really good mystery.

“Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin play off each other really well.”

● Whistle is showing in cinemas now.

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Rhona I’m-Not-Interested-In-Graham-Foster Goskirk is spending an awful lot of time with Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) in Emmerdale.

The character has made a great deal of effort to tell Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) that she only has eyes for him, but I’m now starting to wonder if Rhona’s been saying this more for her own benefit.

Recently, Graham told Rhona to meet with him so they could discuss their dynamic. He said that if she didn’t turn up, he’d take it as a message to leave her well alone.

Rhona had every intention of meeting Graham, but got distracted due to Ivy injuring herself at nursery. When Rhona got to the bridge, Graham was gone.

He was busy charming Kim Tate (Claire King) into bed. Even though Rhona discovered this and told Graham where to go, the chemistry they have doesn’t seem to be going away.

In this evening’s episode, Rhona and her family were panicking following Dylan Penders’ (Fred Kettle) disappearance. The young man had ran away from the village after posting a letter to the police explaining that he killed Ray Walters (Joe Absolom).

Dylan believes that Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) and Paddy Kirk’s (Dominic Brunt) lives are falling apart because of him, and thought confessing would free them both from prison.

The plan for Rhona, Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock), April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) and Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) this evening was to somehow find Dylan, and intercept the post to get that letter.

Rhona knew that the family needed a miracle if they were going to get the situation sorted on time, and she knew exactly who to ask.

A secret meeting by the river saw Rhona ask Graham to find Dylan, and locate the letter. Despite the fact he only had a few hours to succeed, Graham could see how desperate Rhona was and got to work.

Graham found Dylan and that evening, met Rhona outside the pub with the letter. She was incredibly grateful, and neither of them seemed to care that they were making it very obvious they still had feelings for each other.

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In the pub, as Rhona tried to once again convince herself that Graham wasn’t on her mind all the time, Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) had picked up on their dynamic. He told Graham that he thinks he’s now staying in the village for someone else other than him.

‘I don’t know what you mean’, Graham said as he witnessed Rhona kissing Marlon.

Is it only a matter of time until something happens between them?

MORE: Emmerdale star confirms he’s staying after fears he’d left the show

MORE: Joe and Jamie Tate war ‘confirmed’ in early Emmerdale ITVX release as Kim reveals the truth

MORE: Emmerdale ‘confirms’ who will take Joe Tate down a peg – and it will be most delicious

A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of burglary

A man has been arrested after a burglary at a post office in Cambridge. Cambridgeshire Police were called to the post office on Kings Hedges Road after receiving reports of a burglary taking place at around 2.30am today (Friday, March 20).

Thousands of pounds of cash was stolen during the incident. A 38-year-old man, of no fixed address, has been arrested on suspicion of burglary. He currently remains in custody. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

If you have any information, dashcam footage or doorbell footage that could help the police, you should report it through the force website using the reference 35/20500/26.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “A 38-year-old man, of no fixed address, has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and is in custody.”

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Whorlton Bridge, which spans the River Tees, has been closed since 2019 after safety concerns revealed it could no longer support vehicles or even pedestrians.

Now, following a major redesign and more than £12 million in repairs, the Grade II*-listed structure is expected to welcome people back later this year.

Whorlton Bridge, which spans the River Tees, has been closed since 2019 (Image: STUART BOULTON)

Durham County Council (DCC) previously said the project has proven far more challenging than first anticipated.

Originally estimated to cost £8.4 million, the restoration has already exceeded that by £3.6 million, with almost all of the bridge’s historic components deemed unusable.

The 193-year-old suspension bridge, one of the oldest of its kind in the UK (Image: STUART BOULTON)

The 193-year-old suspension bridge, one of the oldest of its kind in the UK, was dismantled piece by piece in the hope that original materials could be restored and reused.

However, specialist testing found that around 96 per cent of its 1,800 components were beyond saving.

Mark Readman, DCC’s head of highways, previously said the structure’s historic status made the work particularly complex.

First opened in 1831, it was originally built to carry horse-drawn carts (Image: STUART BOULTON)

“Whorlton Bridge is a Grade II-listed structure of international significance, which also provides a vital link between Whorlton village and nearby communities,” he said.

“As a Scheduled Monument, its restoration has been an intricate process, with special consent required for all work.”

Initial structural assessments painted a stark picture.

Engineers found the bridge could not withstand load conditions for either vehicles or pedestrians, with critical failures identified in the main chains and link pins.

A further analysis confirmed it would not be safe even for pedestrian use alone, forcing its full closure in December 2020 after an earlier vehicle ban.

Originally estimated to cost £8.4 million, the restoration has already exceeded that by £3.6 million (Image: STUART BOULTON)

First opened in 1831, it was originally built to carry horse-drawn carts transporting coal.

It has retained a 3-tonne weight limit since 1914 and is considered one of the earliest surviving iron chain suspension bridges in the country.

During the Second World War, Winston Churchill famously stood on the bridge to observe military training exercises along the River Tees.

Despite the setbacks, the project is now entering its final stages.

A new design has been completed, replacement components have been manufactured, and reassembly is due to begin this spring.

The installation of a new deck is scheduled for June, putting the bridge on track to reopen later this summer.

DCC said the aim has always been to preserve the bridge’s historic character while ensuring it is safe for future generations.

“We would like to thank the public for their patience during the restoration,” Mr Readman previously added.

George Davey started sexually abusing young girls more than 50 years ago

A paedophile has been jailed for over 22 years for sexual offences against girls over decades of offending. George Davey, 76, abused his first victim between 1975 and 1985 and a second victim between 1983 and 1986.

He sexually abused a third girl between 1995 and 2003 and a fourth victim between 2001 and 2002, as well as later in 2022. Davey sexually abused his fifth victim in 1993. More recently, he exposed himself to a woman between 2019 and 2020.

Davey’s crimes were brought forward in December 2022 when one of the victims had reported she had been sexually abused by him. This encouraged other victims to come forward.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, March 18, Davey, of Shelthorpe Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, was jailed for 22 years and four months. He was sentenced after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to:

• Nine counts of indecency with a child,
• Two counts of attempted rape of a girl under 16,
• One count of indecent assault on a girl under 14,
• One count of indecent assault,
• One count of sexual assault on a female,
• One count of exposure.

DC Louise Wick, who investigated, said: “This conviction for historic offences shows that justice is possible no matter how long ago the crimes occurred. The sentence reflects the gravity of Davey’s predatory abuse and the devastating harm it has caused to his victims.

“I would like to thank them for their remarkable courage in coming forward and supporting a prosecution, which has led to Davey being jailed for a very long time. I hope this result offers some reassurance to the victims and their families as they continue rebuilding their lives.”

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It will feature a gym, roof garden and cafe

Bob W, the tech-powered hospitality operator, has signed a long-term lease with Z Development for a newly built 84-unit serviced apartment property in Belfast, marking its debut in Northern Ireland.

The ground-up development at 57 Dublin Road will open as Bob W Belfast City Centre in Q2 2026. The 3,742 sqm building (4,173 sqm total room area) comprises 84 large, fully furnished apartments and represents Bob W’s first asset in Ireland, further strengthening its growing presence across the UK and Europe.

Located in the heart of Belfast, within walking distance of City Hall, Victoria Square, Queen’s University and the Linen Quarter, the property offers strong public transport connectivity via nearby Belfast Grand Central Station, with rail and bus links across Northern Ireland and direct connections to Dublin. Both George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport are easily accessible.

The firm took to Instagram to announce their arrival in the city with a post that was captioned “Belfast, we’re coming for the craic”. Adding that “our first-ever Northern Ireland spot officially lands this summer. Expect hand-picked local design and the city’s best bits right on your doorstep”.

The purpose-built scheme will feature an in-house gym, rooftop garden and an externally managed café at ground level, creating an activated mixed-use environment for guests and the local community. Apartments will include fully equipped kitchens and smart room technology, supported by Bob W’s digital front desk, seamless self-service check-in and 24/7 remote guest support via the Bob W app.

Philip Grace, Chief Development Officer of Bob W, said: “Entering Ireland is an important milestone for Bob W. Belfast is a city with strong cultural identity, growing international appeal and a thriving business community. It fits perfectly with our strategy of launching in dynamic European cities where guests are looking for design-led, flexible accommodation in central locations.

“A ground-up development like this allows us to embed sustainability, smart technology and operational efficiency from day one, delivering a seamless experience for modern travellers while creating long-term value for our partners.”

The company has a portfolio of 7,000+ units across major cities in Europe and the UK, with additional openings planned throughout 2026 and beyond.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Worries about the British economy have long been dominated by one persistent concern – weak productivity. Since the financial crisis of 2008, growth has stagnated, leaving the UK trailing well behind the US, France and Germany across that whole period.

One familiar response to this problem is to suggest that if the British workforce could somehow produce more in less time, prosperity would follow and all would be well. New technology, particularly AI, is often presented as the solution.

The UK government certainly seems to like the idea, placing AI and technological innovation at the centre of plans to boost economic performance. At a speech to business leaders on March 17, chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves promised £2.5 billion of investment in AI and quantum computing to get things moving.

But what if productivity is not the problem we should be solving?

Increasing the country’s “output per hour” – the unit by which productivity is measured – does not necessarily make work more secure, more fairly rewarded or more socially useful. And nor does it make the UK more economically resilient.

In fact, it can do the opposite. Prioritising efficiency to boost productivity – by cutting costs and relying on tightly configured supply chains – can make economic systems extremely fragile.

Productivity problem

The problem with focusing too much on productivity is most obvious in some of the sectors that are central to our day-to-day lives. The effectiveness of care work, healthcare and education, for example, all depend on human interaction.

But teaching a class, caring for an elderly person or treating a patient require time, attention and professional judgment, making it difficult to increase “output” in the same way as in more automated sectors. There are limits to how much faster a nurse or teacher can work without undermining the quality of what they do.

Economists have long recognised that services which depend on human interaction – referred to as being “labour intensive” – face limits to productivity growth, because many of the tasks involved cannot be significantly sped up or automated without affecting quality.

This dynamic is referred to as “Baumol’s cost disease” – an economic theory which shows that costs will inevitably rise over time in labour-intensive sectors, despite little or no productivity growth.

Yet these sectors are essential to long-term social wellbeing and economic stability. They sustain everyone’s health, skills and security.

Another issue with increasing productivity comes down to the fact that for quite some time, the UK economy has been heavily weighted towards areas like finance, education and the creative industries. Manufacturing plays a much smaller role.

But in manufacturing, technological improvements can translate more directly into higher output per worker. This is what happens when industrial robots automate assembly-line tasks, allowing a single worker to oversee machines producing far more units than manual labour alone could achieve.

In contrast, much of the work undertaken in the UK, from management to care, depends on interaction, judgment and time. Its value is real but not easily measured.

The UK is therefore trying to solve a productivity problem in sectors where productivity is inherently difficult to define and improve.

Alternatives to output

This in turn points to a broader issue. The future of work is not just about how much we produce, but about how work is organised, how its rewards are shared, and how it fits into the rest of life.

None of this means productivity should be ignored – but it is a narrow measure. When treated as the primary goal of economic policy, it can produce an economy that appears efficient on paper yet fragile in practice, with rising output alongside stagnant living standards.

This was evident in the UK after the global financial crisis, when employment and GDP recovered while real wages stagnated for much of the 2010s. Productivity growth alone does not guarantee broadly shared prosperity.

The UK’s productivity slowdown is often framed as a failure to generate enough output per worker. A more uncomfortable possibility is that it reflects a mismatch between what the economy measures and what society needs.

Technology like AI may increase what workers can produce in an hour. But if the problem lies in how work is organised and valued, greater efficiency alone will not be enough.

Questions about the future of work should not begin with productivity statistics alone. They should begin with a simpler inquiry: what do we want the work we do to achieve in the first place?

Dame Jenni Murray, the legendary broadcaster who presented BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour for more than three decades, has died aged 75.

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BBC Radio 4 icon Dame Jenni Murray has died. The legendary broadcaster, who spent more than three decades on the network, had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.

The 75-year-old broadcaster became the longest-serving host in the BBC Radio 4 programme’s history before her exit in 2020, having first appeared on the show in 1987. Last year, she said she was “grateful” for the Christmas period, admitting she initially believed she didn’t think it would happen.

In November, she said that she spent hours in the hospital after suffering what she believed to have been an asthma attack. However, she was subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19.

“Several of us were lined up alongside the corridor wall waiting for attention,” she said of being in hospital.

Dame Jenni spent the night in a “squishy blue plastic chair,” as there were no beds available.

During her tenure at the BBC, Dame Jenni interviewed high-profile figures such as Bette Davis, Margaret Thatcher, Monica Lewinsky, Hillary Clinton, Kate McCann, Dame Judi Dench, Saoirse Ronan and Joan Baez, who sang Diamonds And Rust in the studio for her.

Dame Jenni joined BBC Newsnight in 1983, before moving to Radio 4 as a presenter on the Today programme. She became the regular presenter of Woman’s Hour in 1987 and was made a dame in 2011 in recognition of her contribution to broadcasting.

BBC director-general Tim Davie said: “Her legacy endures in the countless conversations she started, the many issues she championed and the lives she touched.”

Columnist and author Mark Urban paid tribute on X, saying: “Very sorry to see that Jenni Murray has died – as a trainee producer I was dispatched to BBC Southampton in 1984 and worked with her in the newsroom. She was whip smart, always cut through the BS, and her journalism was guided by empathy.”

Financial journalist Paul Lewis said: “Devastatingly sad that the brilliant broadcaster and journalist Jenni Murray has died aged 75. I have met her several times recently and was so impressed with her staunch feminism, great writing, wit, and empathy.

“RIP Jenni. You were a treasure and will be much missed.”

Mohit Bakaya, Controller, BBC Radio 4 and Director of BBC Speech Audio paid tribute, saying: “Jenni Murray was a formidable voice in British broadcasting who was warm, fearless and beloved by listeners. During her decades at Woman’s Hour, she helped shape the national conversation with intelligence, rigour and a remarkable ability to connect with audiences.

“Jenni leaves an indelible legacy on generations of listeners. We are profoundly grateful for her outstanding contribution to Radio 4, and she will be deeply missed.”

Ben Murkin had committed multiple acts of physical violence against the cat.

A man has been banned from keeping all animals for life and given a suspended prison sentence after “astonishing cruelty” that resulted in the death of a ragdoll kitten. Ben Murkin, of Mill Lane, Fordham, Ely, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on March 6 to be sentenced in a prosecution brought forward by the RSPCA.

Om March 6, 2024, a veterinary practice was contacted by a family member who said Murkin’s cat Whisper had fallen and was struggling to breathe. By the time they arrived at the practice with Whisper, the kitten had already died.

Whisper’s death was reported to the RSPCA after concerns about the injuries. An independent post mortem found that Whisper had suffered injuries including a bruised head, a left eye haemorrhage, reddening and bruising of the tail area, and multiple injuries to limbs, consistent with a strong human grip.

Murkin claimed the injuries occurred when he was carrying out CPR. The post mortem also found evidence of current and old rib fractures and a fracture on the lumber vertebrae.

He had also ignored advice from the bet to bring the cat back on two occasions. These included after bringing in the kitten for limping after a supposed fall in December 2023 and in February 2024 after treatment for a fractured tooth and red gums.

Some of the specific acts of cruelty detailed in court included kicking Whisper against a wall, picking her up by the tail and throwing her down the stairs, and throwing Whisper against the door.

The expert vet concluded in their report: “It is my expert opinion that clearly Whisper suffered as a result of the injuries she sustained however they were caused. She sustained multiple and severe injuries both to her lip and upper canine, to her ribs on the right hand side and then to her face, chest and abdomen in the final incident.

“All of these will have caused her to suffer pain and distress. The final set of injuries the duration of the suffering will only have lasted as long as she remained conscious which is likely to have been a short period of time.

“It is my expert opinion that the injuries sustained by Whisper were the result of deliberate and intentional trauma inflicted upon her by a person with the intention of her causing her serious harm and suffering.”

The court heard he got Whisper with his girlfriend as emotional support as he was lonely. When the relationship ended, he started to resent the cat. The judge described Murkin’s actions as an “extraordinary response”.

The judge noted this had been “astonishing cruelty to an animal” and said Murkin had committed other acts of physical violence on the cat. The offence was placed in the highest category because the injuries were “prolonged and repeated, inflicted with significant force, and resulted in death”.

Murkin had pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to Whisper by inflicting trauma causing injury and for failing to provide prompt veterinary treatment, in respect of the injury to the cat’s gums and fractured canine tooth.

He was given a 22-month prison sentenced that has been suspended for 18 months. He has been ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. He has been banned for keeping all animals for life and was ordered to pay £500 court costs and £187 victim surcharge.

RSPCA Inspector Emily Astillberry said: “The actions in this case were of astonishing cruelty to a defenceless animal. It is heart-breaking to hear what Whisper – this small ragdoll kitten – had to endure such cruel and sustained suffering. She was still so young when she died and had to endure such pain and suffering during this short life.”

In mitigation the court heard the defendant had expressed genuine remorse for what he had done, was deeply ashamed and disgusted with himself, and was seeking to improve himself.

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