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Sophie Turner’s Joan is just Sansa Stark with shoulder pads

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Sophie Turner's Joan is just Sansa Stark with shoulder pads

As Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, Sophie Turner excelled as a pure soul in a morally depraved medieval universe. In lightweight but enjoyable biopic Joan, she portrays another underdog heroine once again travelling to a bygone era. Sporting a Bananarama haircut, she plays real-life 1980s jewel chief Joan Hannington, Thatcher-era London’s so-called “Criminal Godmother.”

Turner’s Hannington is Sansa with an EastEnders accent and a fashion upgrade – rather than princess frocks, it’s pastel blouses and mammoth shoulder pads.

But her Joan is also a hot streak of contradictions under the clobber and the eye makeup. She’s a loving mum but someone who will endanger her future with her daughter by stealing a car so that she can visit the child in foster care (an actual incident detailed in Hannington’s memoir, I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief). And while Turner puts great effort into playing her as an oppressed woman with a heart of gold, Joan is undeniably enthusiastic about her descent into criminality.

SNOWED IN PRODUCTIONS FOR ITV AND ITVX JOAN EPISODE 1 Pictured:SOPHIE TURNER as Joan and MIA MILLICHAMP-LONG as Kelly This image is under copyright and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes in your print or online publication. This image cannot be syndicated to any other third party. Copyright ITV For further information please contact: Patrick.smith@itv.com 07909906963
Turner’s character is both an enthusiastic criminal and a doting mother (Photo: Snowed In Productions/ITV)

Joan is part giddy heist, part social drama, and the two genres combine unevenly in a series that feels torn between escapism and the desire to be something grittier.

Turner’s character is introduced as a frightened victim of an abusive criminal boyfriend, Gary (Nick Blood), who does a runner after falling out with the wrong people. Joan is left to answer for his deeds and when gangsters break in and threaten her, she puts her daughter into care and flees from the seaside town of Herne Bay in Kent to London, where she eventually bags a job selling expensive necklaces to posh women. There, she finds another calling: pinching the jewels by swallowing them whole and retrieving the stash with the help of an olive oil laxative (a scene that mercifully takes place off-camera).

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Turner is best when playing Joan as a female version of George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven. Charming and with a knack for accents, she disarms her pervy boss at the jewellers – but rather than submit to his advances, she gulps down those diamonds from the stock room and pegs it. Later, she falls in with charming antique dealer Boisie (Frank Dillane), a cad with useful underworld connections.

Frank Dillane as charming antique dealer and Joan’s boyfriend Boisie (Photo: Snowed In Productions/ITV)

Where Turner struggles and Joan stutters is when it tries to go all Ken Loach. Turner struggles to get under the skin of a woman brought up in care and betrayed by all the men in her life – she lacks the acting heft. These scenes are a box-ticking exercise – it’s as if they have been included simply because they feature in Hannington’s memoir, rather than out of any genuine desire to explore Joan’s traumas.

Joan also fails to lay the groundwork for the character’s transformation into a natural-born criminal. She is introduced as the lead character in a dour kitchen sink drama. But when she overhears a posh woman nattering to a pal in a London park, she can effortlessly mimic the accent and eventually wangle her way into that jewellers job. Her display of chameleonic powers arrives completely out of the blue.

Switching between these japes and scenes of dark social realism is disconcerting, though the drama does a great job evoking 1980s London. Outrageous fashions, naff music (The Style Council feature early on), and retro cars conjure visions of fluffy dice and ZX Spectrums. It’s a fantasy version of the decade – but one which Joan explores with gusto. It’s when it tries to be bleak and realistic that the wheels come off.

‘Joan’ continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV1

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Trump Claims Biden and Harris Have Mental Health Issues

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Trump Claims Biden and Harris Have Mental Health Issues

Donald Trump is locked in a heated contest with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.

Accused of Immigrants in Floods

One of the central issues in the race is immigration at the southern border, which continues to dominate voter concerns, according to polls.

During a recent campaign event, Trump intensified his rhetoric against Harris, who recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border as part of her presidential campaign. Trump accused Harris and President Joe Biden of allowing undocumented immigrants to flood the U.S, according to Digi24.

He claimed some of these immigrants aim to “rape, rob, and kill Americans,” a comment he acknowledged was “dark.” Trump further condemned Harris, blaming her for what he sees as the erasure of U.S. borders and insisting she should never become president.

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Japanese equities drop in early trading after leadership election

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Austria’s far-right Freedom party scored a historic victory in the country’s parliamentary election on Sunday, with the result consolidating pro-Russian, anti-establishment forces in central Europe.

The FPÖ was projected to win just under 29 per cent of the ballots cast, according to a near final official estimate of the vote late on Sunday, bolstering the claim of its firebrand leader Herbert Kickl to become Austria’s next chancellor.

It is the first time the FPÖ, which has embraced increasingly hardline and extremist policies on immigration and the war in Ukraine in recent years under Kickl, has come first in a national election.

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Iran warns Israel attacks ‘will not go unanswered’ after Houthis targeted in Yemen

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Iran warns Israel attacks 'will not go unanswered' after Houthis targeted in Yemen

Israel is now waging war on three battle fronts in the Middle East – in Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen – with all eyes on how Iran may retaliate against a series of humiliating blows.

A stunning series of attacks in Lebanon this week have not only killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, but has almost wiped out the group’s senior military leadership, according to reports.

The Israeli military said on Sunday that it had killed seven senior leaders of the Lebanese militant group since 20 September, including Nasrallah, who was Hezbollah’s leader for 32 years.

This evening, hundreds of Israel’s tanks gathered on the country’s northern border with Lebanon, suggesting Tel Aviv is planning a ground invasion of its neighbour, The Times reports.

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The United States issued a last-minute appeal to both sides for restraint, warning Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, that war would not return 60,000 displaced Israelis to their homes in the north of the country.

A prominent general in Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was also killed in the Israeli air strike that targeted Nasrallah in Beirut on Friday.

It remains unclear how Iran will respond, but its foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has vowed that the Israeli attacks “will not go unanswered”.

Even as it kept up its barrage against Hezbollah in Lebanon over the weekend, the Israeli military targeted Houthi fighters – another Iranian-based group – in Yemen, some 2,000km away.

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The attack on Sunday, which hit the port city of Hodeidah, was in retaliation for recent Houthi missile strikes aimed at targets in Israel, the Israeli military said.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed dozens of Israeli Air Force aircraft, including fighter jets and spy planes, participated in the strikes against infrastructure and ports that it claimed were being used to transport Iranian weapons.

“The IDF attacked power plants and a port, which are used to import oil. Through the targeted infrastructure and ports, the Houthi regime transfers Iranian weapons to the region, and supplies for military purposes, including oil,” the Israel military said.

The Houthi movement has repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Israel in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians, since the Gaza war began on 7 October.

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In a post on X, Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesperson for the Houthis, said the Israeli strikes on Sunday would not cause the group to “abandon Gaza and Lebanon”.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Herzi Halevi said Israel can reach enemies even farther away. “We know how to reach very far, we know how to reach even farther, and we know how to strike there accurately,” he said during a meeting with senior officers.

The attacks against Hezbollah and Yemen – both part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance”, a collection of factions and governments that include the Palestinian group Hamas – mark a game-changing moment for the region, and a stunning victory for Israel.

But it ushers in one of the most dangerous periods for the Middle East in nearly a year of conflict, resetting the balance in Israel’s proxy war with Iran.

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Iran’s leadership is divided over what to do next, with hardliners wanting a strong response, including a direct attack on Israel, while moderates are urging restraint, the New York Times reported, citing sources.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been taken to a secure location inside the country amid heightened security, sources told Reuters, signalling a sense of extreme anxiety in Tehran as it decides its next steps.

Khamenei was deeply shaken by Nasrallah’s death and was in mourning, four Iranian officials told the New York Times. In public, Khamenei signalled that it would be Hezbollah, not Iran, that would be leading any response to Israel, and that Tehran would play a supporting role.

“It will be Hezbollah, at the helm of the resistance forces, that will determine the fate of the region,” he said.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that “Israel is winning”, but warned that “difficult days are still ahead”.
“We should not forget that we are still in the midst of a difficult war, the costs of which are heavy,” he said.

Lebanon ‘experiencing the largest wave of displacement in its history’

One million people in Lebanon – a fifth of the country’s population, have fled their homes as a result of the Israeli strikes, according to the Lebanese government.

“Lebanon is experiencing the largest wave of displacement in its history,” caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, said on Sunday.

“Our priority is to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression through continued diplomatic efforts. We have no other choice.”

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, said more than 1,400 Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian refugees “are now sheltering in seven” of its facilities.

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“Many are traumatised and scared,” the agency said in a post on X.

The UN World Food Programme began an emergency operation to provide food for those affected by the conflict.

In Gaza, meanwhile, at least four Palestinians were killed and several injured in an Israeli air strike on a school north of the enclave sheltering displaced civilians, according to local health officials.

The attack on Sunday targeted the Umm al-Fahm School in the town of Beit Lahia. The Israeli military acknowledged the attack, claiming that it targeted a Hamas command centre.

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It brings the death toll in Gaza to 41,600, according to Palestinian health authorities.

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Major UK airport to open its first Wetherspoons pub in £1.3billion transformation for Brits heading abroad

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The new terminal will be completed in the summer of 2025

A MAJOR UK airport has announced the opening of its first Wetherspoons pub as part of a whopping £1.3 billion transformation.

Brits jetting off from Manchester Airport can now enjoy a pint at the airport’s first-ever JD Wetherspoon pub next year.

The new terminal will be completed in the summer of 2025

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The new terminal will be completed in the summer of 2025Credit: Getty
Bosses confirmed that the new Wetherspoons will 'feature nods to sporting greats of the North in its decor'

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Bosses confirmed that the new Wetherspoons will ‘feature nods to sporting greats of the North in its decor’

The new pub is part of a £1.3 billion project that will transform Terminal 2.

The popular pub chain will join major brands like Chanel, Pandora, LEGO, and Greggs, all expected to be added to the terminal.

Bosses have confirmed that the new Wetherspoons will “feature nods to sporting greats of the North in its decor”.

The pub’s name has yet to be announced, but future customers are assured they can look forward to the usual Wetherspoons offerings.

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Brits will be able to enjoy discounted cooked breakfasts along with a wide selection of beers, wines, ciders, and spirits.

The highly-anticipated Terminal 2 is set to open in the summer of 2025 and will feature the Great Northern Market.

The new food hall will be able to seat a whopping 472 travellers and will hope to bring the best of Manchester’s street food scene to the airport.

Manchester Airport retail director Richard Jackson said: “We are proud of the world-class facilities on offer in Terminal 2, and a key part of our vision for the finished terminal is to provide an unrivalled experience for passengers shopping and dining before they catch their flight.

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“We’re delighted to be bringing such a varied offering to the second phase of our brand-new Terminal 2, with local brands complemented by well-known high street names and options to suit every budget.”

Bosses recently announced a huge change for Brits jetting off from the major airport.

‘Queues moving well’ in Dublin Airport following major power outage that saw huge delays for holidaymakers

The airport, currently being revamped, has confirmed that 11 airlines will move terminals his fall.

The airlines, including Jet2.com, will move from Terminal 1 and 3 to the brand new Terminal 2 between October and November.

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More airlines are expected to follow the move next year.

Several airlines have begun operating from the revamped Terminal 2 – part of which opened in 2021 – which is being doubled in size to cater to 70 per cent of the total flyers using the airport.

Major airlines including Austrian, Lufthansa and Swiss will move to the brand-new terminal in October.

This will be followed by Egyptair, SunExpress, Biman Bangladesh and Jet2.com which will start operating in the new Terminal in November.

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Passengers who have already booked parking or launce access near Terminal 1 or 3 can contact the airport to change their bookings, Travel Weekly reports.

However, passengers who have booked parking or lounge access through third-party agents will have to contact the provider.

A huge renovation project at Manchester Airport is nearing completion, with plenty of brand-new facilities that will excite passengers.

The £1.3billion project, which was first announced back in 2015, was split into two phases.

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The early stages of the project saw Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2 more than double in size before its west side reopened to passengers in July 2021.

Now in its final phase, work is focusing on the east side of Terminal 2, including a second pier with additional boarding gates.

Construction work on the pier began back in June 2023, and it is nearly complete, as reported by Marketing Stockport.

When the brand-new pier opens, it will double the aircraft capacity at Manchester Airport.

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INCREDIBLE PLANS

Airbus A380 passenger jets will also be compatible with the new boarding gates.

There are plenty of other features for passengers to get excited about when the expansion opens in 2025, including 27 new restaurants, bars and shops.

Specific shops will be announced later this year but several local brands including Manchester brewers Joseph Holt and Seven Bro7hers are slated to be inside the revamped terminal.

The revamped Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport will feature a “market-style food hall” and there will also be a “boutique shopping area”.

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There will also be a champagne bar, artisan cafes and a brasserie.

A new security hall, complete with 3D scanners, will also be added during this phase and a new dual taxiway system designed to improve airfield efficiency.

When the west side of Terminal 2 opens in 2025, it will become the main terminal at Manchester Airport, catering for more than 70 per cent of passengers.

Jill Fraser, Manchester Airport Transformation Programme delivery director, said: “The last 12 months have seen an incredible amount of work and it’s amazing to see the project really taking shape.

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“From the creation of more than 500 jobs, to the work to improve the way the airfield works – this is a huge project but one that will have so many benefits for our passengers.

“We’ve already started to see some of the benefits of the programme, with our passengers who have used Terminal 2 giving amazing feedback and the award of the prestigious Prix Versailles.

“And the exciting thing is that we’ve not even finished yet – so we’re looking forward to an epic 18 months ahead. We’re proud to connect the North to the world and are looking forward to passengers seeing everything we deliver.”

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Strictly Come Dancing celebrity issues five-word response after becoming first eliminated star

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Strictly Come Dancing celebrity issues five-word response after becoming first eliminated star


Olympic swimmer Tom Dean was the first celebrity to be voted off of Strictly Come Dancing after finding himself in the bottom two alongside Toyah Wilcox on Sunday night.

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FT Crossword: Number 17,855

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FT Crossword: Number 17,855

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