Lucy Staniforth-Grainge, 40, was rushed to hospital after falling seriously ill during the final days of her honeymoon with husband Ian, 41, in early May.

The newlyweds, who married in February, had initially travelled to Turkey for what was meant to be a “trip of a lifetime”.

Ian and Lucy at their February wedding (Image: FAMILY)

But Lucy fell ill during the penultimate day of the trip.

Her condition rapidly deteriorated, and she was admitted to intensive care with breathing complications, leaving Ian fearing he could lose his new wife.

Now, in a positive development, Lucy’s mother-in-law, Sue Todd, has confirmed she is recovering.

“The good news is that Lucy is now out of intensive care and is doing well,” Sue said.

Ian Staniforth 41, and Lucy Staniforth-Grainge, 40 (Image: FAMILY)

“We are all incredibly relieved and grateful for the care she has received.”

However, despite the improvement in her condition, the couple are now facing fresh challenges that mean they are unable to return home to the UK.

“The hospital is ready to discharge Lucy, but at the moment they are effectively stuck in Turkey while everything is being sorted out,” Sue added.

Complications have arisen with the couple’s travel insurance, which the family had hoped would cover the mounting costs of treatment and extended stays abroad.

“Ian and Lucy genuinely believed that everything had been declared correctly when taking out their policy,” Sue said.

Ian and Lucy dancing at their wedding in February (Image: FAMILY)

“But a doctor has identified a medical issue that Lucy herself was unaware of, and this may now affect the insurance payout.”

The uncertainty has left the couple facing escalating expenses, including hospital treatment, accommodation, and rearranged travel.

As a result, Sue has increased a fundraising appeal set up to support the couple, raising its target from £2,600 to £10,000.

Ian and Lucy (Image: FAMILY)

“Because of this, I have had to increase the fundraising target to £10,000,” she said.

“I know times are hard for many people, but if anyone can donate or continue sharing the fundraiser, it would mean the world to our family.”

She added: “Right now, we just want to get Ian and Lucy safely home.”

The appeal has already received an outpouring of support from the local community and beyond, and has managed to raise over £2700.

“Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, shared the fundraiser, sent messages, and supported Ian and Lucy over the last few days,” Sue said.

“The kindness people have shown has honestly been overwhelming.”

Lucy, who is well known in Darlington and a dedicated supporter of Darlington FC, continues to recover as her family works to resolve the situation and bring the couple back to the UK.

Cheryl Holland was in the passenger seat of the car with her husband, Burt, driving, earlier this evening (May 10), when she says she saw the scary sight.

The couple were on their way home from Preston and were approaching Rivington Services on the M61 southbound.

Cheryl says it was there that she saw a ‘young boy’ pushing his ‘little bike’ up the grass verge at the side of the motorway.

Describing the moment she saw the boy, Mr Holland said: “We watch out for deer along that section, because we know they can jump out.

“And the wife says, ‘there’s a little lad’, and I look across, and there he is, a little lad.

“He’s on the grass verge of the other side of the hard shoulder, pushing his little pushbike up towards the Rivington Services.

“So we obviously stopped and called the police.”

Mr Holland and his wife said the police were ‘amazing’ with their response.

He said: “They did a fantastic job.

“They were there within two minutes with roadblocks in place.

“We asked a couple of bobbies, and they said, ‘Oh, yeah, we’ve got him; he’s safe and well’, but anything else that’s gone on, we don’t know.”

Greater Manchester Police has been approached for comment and confirmation of their attendance.

The annual award show took a pause to remember the stars who have died during the past 12 months

The Bafta TV Awards viewers called out a beloved late star who was missing from the ceremony’s in memoriam segment.

A host of stars attended this year’s ceremony, which was held at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London. On presenting duties for the evening was Greg Davies, best known for presenting Taskmaster and appearing in The Inbetweeners.

As is usual with the ceremony, which was dominated by the Netflix series Adolescence, a portion of the programme was dedicated to the stars who lost their lives over the past 12 months.

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Norwegian singer-songwriter AURORA performed a beautiful rendition of Through the Eyes of a Child, from Adolescence, as pictures and clips of the stars who had died were displayed. Among those featured through pictures was Rivals author Jilly Cooper, Only Fools and Horses’ Patrick Murray, Kim Woodbourne, Ozzy Osbourne and EastEnders legend Derek Martin.

It wasn’t just UK stars who were honoured, with Grey’s Anatomy’s Eric Dane, Dawson’s James Van Der Beeke and The Cosby Show’s Malcolm-Jamal Warner all featured. Also shown was Married at First Sight Australia’s Mel Schilling.

Those who received video clips of their work were Fawlty Towers’ Prunella Scales, Top Gear’s Quentin Willson, Wycliffe’s Jack Shepherd, ITN News’ Sandy Gall, the BBC’s Alan Yentob and Keeping Up Appearances’ Patrica Routledge.

One star who was not shown at all was Home Alone’s Catherine O’Hara, in spite of her series The Studio winning Best International series moments before the in memoriam. Her co-star Seth Rogen paid tribute to her during his acceptance speech.

He said: “I’d be remiss not to mention one of the key parts of this show, Catherine O’Hara. She meant so much to all of us. I assume her work was as important to you all over here as it was to us. So this is for Catherine. Thank you all very, very much.”

Those watching the Baftas at home rushed to X, previously known as Twitter, to have their say on why they were annoyed by the screen icon’s omission from the poignant segment.

@cj_787 said: “Catherine O’Hara not featured on the celebs who have passed away segment?” @rosekdl9 added: “Did I miss the tribute to Catherine O’Hara in that segment.”

@JulesItsjules wrote: “Where was the legend Catherine O’Hara in the tributes? They always do this. Miss someone out. #BAFTA.”

@PoshKathryn commented: “What the actual F! How do you not include Catherine O’Hara in the memorial section? And while I’m on a rant, a nod to Ted from Gone Fishing wouldn’t have gone amiss either! #baftas.”

Some people have pointed out that the reason Catherine wasn’t featured due to her being show during the Bafta Film Awards earlier in the year.

For West Ham, meanwhile, a costly loss keeps them in the bottom three by a point and 17th-place Tottenham now have a chance to take a big step towards top-flight survival on Monday night as they host a Leeds side who, along with Nottingham Forest, are now mathematically safe from relegation after Sunday’s result in east London.

Figures show there have been 29 road deaths in Northern Ireland so far this year

Extra funding has been granted to re-enforce critical road safety messages amid a recent spike in road deaths in Northern Ireland.

The Department for Infrastructure announced an extra £220,000 funding commitment has been agreed in response to the growing number of road deaths this year.

Figures from the PSNI show there have been 29 road fatalities so far this year, more than twice the number for the same period in 2025, when 14 fatalities were recorded on our roads.

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Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the funding to re-enforce road safety messages will focus on general driver behaviour and motorcyclist safety.

Minister Kimmins said: “Road safety continues to be a key priority for me, and I remain firmly committed to ensuring that all road users can travel safely and with confidence.

“Every road death is a tragedy and more than a statistic, it shatters families and causes devastating grief. Therefore, given the recent spikes in road deaths, I have committed funding in 2026-27 to re-launch three campaigns this month.

“Beginning May 7th, Priorities, Bike Speed and Bike Aware address general driver behaviour and motorcyclist safety as an initial priority.

“Last year I reinstated the road safety advertising budget, approving an allocation of almost £2 million to Road Safety Promotion for the 2025-26 financial year.

“In addition, the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership (NIRSP) has allocated £500,000 in sponsorship, bringing the total budget to almost £2.5 million.

“This budget funded the development of a suite of campaigns to address the main causations of road traffic collisions, including, hard hitting ads addressing speeding, driver behaviour, drug driving and safety around school buses.”

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Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the agency, said: “We are pleased to confirm that all British nationals onboard the MV Hondius have now safely returned to the UK and are being supported by UKHSA and NHS medical experts at Arrowe Park, who have worked at pace to prepare for the safe arrival of passengers at the facility.

Former TOWIE star James Argent has paid tribute to his co-star Jake Hall, who died suddenly aged 35. Sharing an emotional video on Instagram James said Jake was “one of a kind”

Reality TV personality James Argent has honoured his “dear mate” Jake Hall, saying he “loves and misses so much”, after his unexpected death at 35.

The former The Only Way Is Essex (Towie) favourite, known as “Arg”, has turned to social media to commemorate his co-star, whom he described as possessing “infectious energy” and being “one of a kind”. Argent, 38, shared behind-the-scenes footage with Hall from a photoshoot following a “huge weight-loss goal”, telling his nearly one million followers how “lucky” he felt to have that “beautiful memory” preserved.

Under the video, Argent wrote: “I’ve been processing the loss of my dear mate Jake. Watching videos, looking through photos, listening to voice notes and reading messages from our friendship. It hurts real bad.

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“This footage was taken around four years ago as I’d just hit a huge weight-loss goal. Jake was so proud of me, he organised a full shoot with a videographer/photographer using his own clothing designs at his studio in east London.”

Argent recalled feeling “unsure” about the photoshoot but revealed TV personality Hall “insisted”, adding: “He did this because he wanted me to finally feel good about myself. He gave me so much confidence. He spent the day raising me up.

“We didn’t stop laughing and had so much fun together. I’m so lucky to have this beautiful memory.

“Jake had infectious energy and was one of a kind. Love and miss my mate so much.” The comments were inundated with messages of support from fans, friends and former co-stars alike, including fellow Towie alumni Billie Shepherd, Danielle Armstrong and Ferne McCann.

Hall joined the Towie cast in 2015, going on to date co-star Chloe Lewis before departing the show in 2024. He also ran his own menswear label, By Jake Hall.

Tributes have continued to pour in over recent days, with soap star Ryan Thomas posting a heartfelt message on Sunday morning, in which he revealed the last text he received from the TV personality.

Thomas shared a black-and-white video montage featuring himself and Hall with his 1.3 million followers, praising him as “always the coolest guy in the room”, who had “class, charisma” and a “magic about him that nobody else had”.

Paying tribute to Hall’s eight-year-old daughter River, Thomas also wrote: “His next chapter is written in the stars now and it’s all about River. I promise she’ll grow up surrounded by love and stories about how inspiring and powerful her daddy is.”

The mother of his child posted a message to Instagram on Saturday, saying that both she and her daughter’s hearts were “shattered”.

Albanian model Misse Beqiri shared a series of photographs of herself, Hall and their daughter, saying the influx of messages following his death was “both heartbreaking and beautiful all at once”. The Real Housewives Of Cheshire star also described how she loved Hall from “the very first moment I saw you”, adding: “You left behind your mini version, our River, and for that we are forever grateful. You will always live on through her, and you will forever be with us.”

Fellow celebrities also stepped forward to pay their respects, including Hall’s close friend and former Towie co-star Vas J Morgan, who took to Instagram to describe his death as a “deeply difficult loss”, expressing his wish that they had been given more time together.

Former Made In Chelsea star Akin Solanke similarly shared a heartfelt photo alongside Hall on Instagram, writing: “If I never told you how much you inspired me, I hope you knew regardless.”

On Wednesday, well-known celebrity DJ Fat Tony posted a moving tribute on social media, saying: “Devastating news we love you @jakehall such an awful loss to the world you beautiful man x.”

Michael Pennington, who played Death Star Commander Moff Jerjerrod in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, has reportedly died at the age of 82

Michael Pennington, who starred in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, has died aged 82.

The Shakespearean performer, who portrayed Death Star Commander Moff Jerjerrod in the beloved sci-fi classic, passed away on Sunday, May 10, according to reports. Pennington founded the English Shakespeare Company and earned widespread recognition for his theatrical performances, featuring in productions of Hamlet, The Judge, and The Henrys.

Pennington also starred as Antony in the acclaimed 2012 staging of Cleopatra and Antony. At the time he confessed his surprise at securing the prized part. He said: “I’d thought vaguely that it was time that I was playing the Prospero’s and the Lear’s, although there has been quite a spate of King Lear’s recently.”

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Speaking to the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2012 he continued: “So Antony wasn’t really on my radar, although more so perhaps than ‘Richard III’ or Benedick in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ which have never really appealed to me.

“I’d played Antony before in an audio production for the Open University with Lindsay Duncan but I’d always thought of Antony as being very stocky in stature – like Anthony Hopkins who did in fact play the part opposite Judi Dench at the National in the 1980s.”, reports the Mirror US.

He added: “But it’s been absolutely glorious to do. Once you start to work on one of his plays, Shakespeare fires you off in all directions.” Pennington also opened up about his regrets regarding his role as a Jedi.

He said, “I look at it now and I think I overact horribly and I can’t even remember the story-line. We all did it for a song but I suppose that it has given we some kind of calling card for movies. Whenever I come out of the Stage Door after a performance, all people would ask about was ‘Star Wars‘.”

The acclaimed actor also revealed that establishing The English Shakespeare Company stands as one of the greatest achievements of his career. He said, “In retrospect, I’m most struck by the sheer bravura and unlikeliness of it. It’s given me a fund of remarkable stories to dine out on, particularly about some of the scrapes which we got into.”

He went on to express his immense pride in having shaped the next generation of actors and the wider theatrical world through the founding of the ESC. He said, “Yet at the same time we also succeeded in turning a lot of young actors, who might have drifted off elsewhere, into Classical actors. And I see the influence of the ESC everywhere, wherever Shakespeare is done in belt and braces, whenever the productions are irrelevant and joyful.”

Tributes for Michael have been pouring in from co-stars and fellow actors. His good friend and fellow screen veteran Miriam Margolyes confirmed news of his passing in a post uploaded to her social media.

The Harry Potter actress emotionally penned: “Michael Pennington has died. An old friend, from Cambridge days, a very fine actor, brilliant, wise, clear. I am sad beyond measure. Bless your dear memory. Old chum.”

Fans have also shared their sorrow, one devastated fan wrote: “May the force be with you brother.” Another called the actor a “legend”, writing: “May he rest in peace.”

Michael’s cause of death is currently unknown.

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Half of children across the UK now own an AI-enabled toy or device, a new survey reveals, despite widespread parental anxieties regarding their safety and the potential for data risks.

The findings highlight a growing chasm between the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence technology in children’s products and the availability of clear guidance for families on their safe use.

The poll, conducted by the British Standards Institution (BSI) to mark its 125th anniversary, found that 50 per cent of children aged 16 and under have already been given at least one AI-powered toy or learning device, such as interactive robots or smart tablets.

Yet, almost half of parents (47 per cent) believe their child would be better off growing up without any access to AI, while a significant 75 per cent express concern that internet-connected AI toys could expose their children to unwanted content or data vulnerabilities.

Despite these profound worries, the survey uncovered a striking paradox: 54 per cent of parents indicated they would be more likely to allow their child to play with an AI-enabled toy unsupervised than to play outside on the street without an adult present (51 per cent), or to let their children visit local shops or parks alone (46 per cent).

Further concerns emerged regarding children’s understanding of AI. Fewer than half of parents (46 per cent) believe their child could distinguish between a human and an AI, and just 43 per cent think their child could accurately assess information provided by an AI chatbot.

A substantial 78 per cent of parents are worried that these devices might respond to sensitive questions in ways they cannot oversee, while 70 per cent fear AI praising or criticising behaviour without understanding its appropriateness or safety.

The demand for clearer safeguards is evident, with nine in 10 parents (91 per cent) stating that a recognised safety certification or mark for AI toys would be important, and nearly a third (29 per cent) deeming it essential.

More than 80 per cent (83 per cent) believe manufacturers should adhere to established standards or codes of conduct, and 72 per cent want clearer information on whether products meet safety or security requirements.

Currently, while traditional toy safety marks like CE or UKCA address physical risks such as choking, and some devices comply with information security standards like ISO 27001, there is no widely recognised, dedicated framework specifically addressing the unique safety, behavioural, and developmental considerations posed by AI in toys.

The UK government has recently published its proposed new product safety framework, which aims to address risks of harm linked to AI, including in children’s toys.

Laura Bishop, BSI’s digital sector lead for cybersecurity and AI, commented: “AI-enabled toys are quickly becoming part of everyday childhood, both in play and learning, and they do have the potential to offer real benefits in terms of development or access to information.

However, the frameworks to support safe, transparent and age-appropriate use are still catching up. Our research shows that while parents are increasingly introducing these technologies into their children’s lives, they are doing so without clear, consistent information about how they work or what safeguards are in place.

As the AI toys and devices available to children evolve and become more sophisticated, it is essential that the frameworks around them develop at the same pace.”

MP Emily Darlington, a member of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, echoed these concerns: “These findings clearly show that AI toys are becoming part of children’s everyday lives far more quickly than Government is able to regulate them or give parents necessary information on the impact they will have on a child’s development.

“Parents are currently being asked to make decisions about complex technology without clear, accessible guidance on how it works, what data it collects, or how to use it safely. It’s our job as the Government to help parents feel informed and confident about the choices they make for their children, rather than leave them to figure it out on their own.

“All of this underlines the need for clearer standards and guardrails, so innovation doesn’t run ahead of safety. Otherwise, we risk children growing up in a world with powerful technologies that we still don’t fully understand – and it may be too late.”

The survey was conducted by Focaldata, polling 1,000 UK parents in April.