ARSENAL and Manchester City will face off in the League Cup final next month… pitting apprentice Mikel Arteta against master Pep Guardiola.

Arteta, 43, served as Guardiola’s City assistant for three years before becoming Gunners boss in 2019.

The pair won several trophies together, including a League Cup at Arsenal‘s expense in 2018.

Guardiola continued to win plenty of trophies following Arteta’s Etihad exit, even pipping his former No2 to the title in 2023 and 2024.

But the gap has narrowed in recent years, with Arsenal finally finishing above City last season, albeit still below Liverpool, and currently leading them by six points in this term’s title race.

Arteta managed to claim a big early win over Guardiola in his managerial career, beating him 2-0 in the 2020 FA Cup semi-finals behind closed doors after deploying a back-three formation.

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Arsenal went on to win that season’s FA Cup, Arteta’s first silverware as a boss.

But that semi-final triumph would be his only win over Guardiola in his first nine attempts, with Arsenal losing all eight of the others.

These defeats included a 5-0 hammering at the Etihad in August 2021, as well as a 4-1 Eastlands demolition in April 2023 as Arsenal’s title dream that season was crushed.

Amazingly, that was the last time that Guardiola beat Arteta – with the latter arguably now having the upper hand.

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The Netflix adaptation of the classic Gothic novel stars a Downton Abbey favourite.

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Period drama enthusiasts might be missing out on a Netflix treasure, adapted from one of literature’s most cherished classics.

This gripping thriller film, described as “gripping from beginning to end”, features a beloved Downton Abbey star alongside a favourite from Slow Horses.

Rebecca, which arrived on Netflix in 2020, draws from Daphne Du Maurier’s renowned thriller bearing the same title.

Du Maurier’s 1938 Gothic masterpiece remains a timeless classic, celebrated for its compelling themes and shocking plot twists, continuing to captivate audiences nearly a century after publication.

This bestselling novel has inspired multiple adaptations throughout the decades, including Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 version, which claimed the Academy Award for Best Picture.

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READ MORE: ‘Perfect’ Matt Damon thriller based on chilling bestseller is streaming nowREAD MORE: ‘Masterclass’ horror movie that left fans ‘shaken to the core’ now on Netflix

Ben Wheatley’s latest interpretation for Netflix brings together performances from Call Me by Your Name’s Armie Hammer, Lily James and Kristin Scott Thomas.

James has garnered acclaim for portraying Rose in Downton Abbey, Young Donna in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and Pamela Anderson in Pam and Tommy.

Thomas, a distinguished British actress, is recognised for her roles as Diana Taverner in Slow Horses, Fiona in Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Sylvia McCordle in Gosford Park.

The IMDb synopsis for Rebecca states: “A young newlywed arrives at her husband’s imposing family estate on a windswept English coast and finds herself battling the shadow of his first wife, Rebecca, whose legacy lives on in the house long after her death.”

Despite Rebecca holding a rather modest 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, numerous viewers believe the film deserves more recognition based on the feedback, reports the Express.

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Viewers flocked to the comments section to express their opinions, with one remarking: “This movie gripped me from beginning to end. I couldn’t look away, and I didn’t see anything coming. You think you know what the movie is about, then there is a twist, and the whole thing takes a left turn you didn’t see coming.”

“ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! ! !” another enthusiast declared, continuing: “Nothing can touch the original masterpiece however this film, in many ways, is faithful Du Mauriers cunning flip of stereotypes.”

“Loved the thrill, love story, period views, so well made I would watch it again,” a third audience member wrote, whilst another concurred: “Loved the book and this version of it in film. Have watched I many times. Great cast and acting.”

Additional supporters praised how the classic novel had been brought to life on Netflix, with one suggesting: “If you’ve read Rebecca and it’s a beloved novel to you, this movie is amazing. A great rendition.”

Others were baffled by the film’s poor reception, with one viewer stating: “I don’t understand all the bad reviews for Rebecca. I loved the new adaptation. I especially loved the costumes and filming locations. Lily James does a wonderful job.”

“Excellent twist on a classic thriller! I am not sure why this doesn’t have better reviews but it is well worth your time,” one supporter declared, whilst another concurred: “This movie is a stunningly faithful adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel.”

Another viewer gushed: “What a ride! ! ! This genre bending thriller will take you on the wildest roller coaster of your life. The next time someone asks me what my favorite movie is, I’m saying Rebecca.

“This movie surpassed my every expectation. Here I was, sitting on the couch expecting some lame romance but nope! ! I am going to pass this movie down through generations of my family.”

Yet not all viewers shared this enthusiasm, with one critic noting: “Bland to the point of boring.”

Someone else stated: “What was an interesting, suspenseful book with hints of psychological thriller in it became a vapid, rushed, and bland movie that sapped two hours of my life. If you like your movies to stick to the plot of your books, avoid this.”

A third viewer grumbled: “As much as I love the actors and actresses in this movie, nothing about it really had me enjoying the film. The clichés were handed out like appetizers and the plot of the film was all over the place. Wasn’t a fan.”

Despite the film’s less than stellar Rotten Tomatoes rating, the abundance of positive feedback from fans suggests that Rebecca may well be an underappreciated gem.

Rebecca is available to stream now on Netflix.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

Omar Marmoush, starting ahead of the rested Erling Haaland, helped himself to a brace, while Tijjani Reijnders scored his first Carabao Cup goal to put City 5-0 up on aggregate at the break. Newcastle, who lifted the trophy by beating Liverpool in last season’s final, were brave throughout and did have their chances, but Anthony Elanga’s second half consolation was all they had to show for their efforts across two legs.

​The former Halifax at 67 -68 Baxtergate, Whitby – the town’s last high street bank – can now be converted into an adult gaming centre (AGC) as part of plans by Luxury Leisure which trades as Admiral.

​A North Yorkshire Council planning committee rejected the proposal last March following a parliamentary petition and more than 500 objections “based on loss of amenity, the unsuitable location, noise disturbance, and because it would be to the detriment of Whitby and the character of the town”.

​The refusal has been overturned on appeal by a Government planning inspector.

​The inspector said he found “no compelling evidence” that the proposal would lead to noise levels that would adversely affect or disturb the living conditions of the residents in nearby properties.

​The inspector said he took into consideration “the weight of public opposition to the proposal” but his decision was based on its acceptability based on planning policy.

​“Owing to the discrete nature of AGCs, I consider that such uses can be successfully accommodated in shopping areas without resulting in harm,” he added.

​Council did not defend ‘this approach’

​The MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Alison Hume, had presented a petition to the House of Commons – signed by more than 400 residents – urging the “Government to encourage North Yorkshire Council to reject the application” just days before councillors rejected the scheme.

​However, at the appeal stage, North Yorkshire Council did “not supply an appeal statement defending this approach,” a report published by the Planning Inspectorate notes.

​Following the original decision to reject the application, several NYC councillors said the committee should have approved the application with restricted hours instead of refusing it.

​The AGC will be allowed to operate on a 24-hour basis.

​However, the inspector ruled in favour of the council after Luxury Leisure also applied for an award of costs on the grounds that councillors had “behaved unreasonably” leading to “unnecessary or wasted expense in the appeal process”.

​In his decision on the application for costs, the inspector said: “Although I took a different view on the matter at appeal, the council’s members were entitled to take the opposite view, contrary to its officers.

“On the basis of what is before me, I am satisfied that this judgement was exercised reasonably”.

​‘Las Vegas of the East Coast’

​When the planning committee decided to reject the AGC proposal last year, Cllr Derek Bastiman said: “If it’s approved, Whitby will become the Las Vegas of the East Coast.”

​Addressing the main concerns about possible effects on the living conditions of neighbouring residents, the inspector said he was “satisfied that it would not generate anti-social behaviour”.

​A report states that the AGC will offer a range of gaming machines limited to “low stakes of between 10p and £2 and will not include fixed odds betting terminals”.

​The inspector’s report states: “AGCs play background music internally similar to a retail unit, the noise of which is contained within the building, whilst the machines themselves are quiet”

​“The appellant sets out that customers are free to walk in prior to 10pm, after which the doors are normally locked, and customers are individually ‘buzzed in’.

​He added: “I would further note that owing to the 24-hour nature of the use, exit or arrival would not be concentrated at closing or opening times as can sometimes be a feature of other late opening uses.”

​The inspector also dismissed concerns about an impact on the character and appearance of Whitby’s conservation area as no external alterations had been proposed.

​“Should any external changes be required, along with advertisement displays, these would be considered as part of any future applications for planning permission or advertisement consent,” he added.

‘Wasting no time’

​Cllr Neil Swannick, who represents Whitby Streonshalh on NYC, said he was disappointed by the inspector’s decision but added that it “came as no surprise”.

​“The Government seems to have now woken up too late to the disastrous consequences of the three words in planning law – ‘aim to permit’ – which are letting through a tide of these gambling dens on to our high streets,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

​He added: “In fact, the owners are wasting no time: workmen are already on site turning the former Halifax bank into an [adult gaming centre].”

​Luxury Leisure has said it will invest £500,000 in the property and create 12 full-time equivalent jobs.

​The company added: “The proposal will result in the viable re-use of vacant retail premises and in the professional agreement of the North Yorkshire planning officers will not harm the vitality and viability of Whitby town centre.”

​Luxury Leisure, which is part of the Novomatic Group, said it employs more than 2,000 staff in the UK and accounts for 22.5 per cent of the UK adult gaming centre market “such that it is a highly experienced responsible operator in this market”.

​It added that there would be “no noisy amusement arcade equipment which attracts under-18s and has an impact on amenity”.

LAW enforcement officials have returned to the property of Nancy Guthrie four days after she was abducted from her Arizona home.

Photos captured by The U.S. Sun showed several federal agents accompanying Pima County Sheriff’s officers as they searched the sunbaked woodland near Guthrie’s home on Wednesday afternoon,

Law enforcement officials taped back up the 84-year-old’s house to block access to the property.

The police resurfacing at Guthrie’s home comes days after Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said authorities had completed their investigation at the property and had returned it to the family.

The U.S. Sun observed a K9 sniffing through the rugged area surrounding Guthrie’s property.

Federal agents were also seen stepping in and out of Guthrie’s garage.

It’s unclear whether a tip or a new development led Pima County deputies to return to the scene of the crime.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said detectives conducted a “follow-up” at Guthrie’s home.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The U.S. Sun.

What we know about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance…

A concerned neighbor, who asked not to be named, told The U.S. Sun she was praying for Guthrie’s safe return as she observed federal law enforcement officials canvassing the property on Wednesday.

“I always felt like she was exposed,” the woman said referring to Guthrie.

“Like, how many people knew she lived here because her daughter’s very wealthy. That’s the thing.”

The woman said she last spoke with Guthrie weeks before Pima County police say she was physically taken from her home against her will on Sunday morning.

The neighbor said she returned to her home at around 9:30 pm on Saturday evening, about 15 minutes before authorities said Guthrie was dropped off at her residence by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, the husband of her daughter Annie.

However, the woman did not recall hearing anything of great concern before she went to bed on that evening.

“I heard dogs barking, but we have a lot of coyotes at night, so we hear a lot of barking and whooping from the coyotes that are around the neighborhood,” she added.

“But if it’s something loud, everybody would hear it.”

Timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home on February 1, 2026.

Timeline:

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• January 31, 9:45 pm: Family members drop off Nancy, 84, at her home in Tucson, Arizona, after having dinner with her.
• February 1, 11:00 am: A parishioner at Nancy’s church calls the mom’s children and says she failed to show up for service.
• February 1, 12:15 pm: The family calls 911 after going to Nancy’s property to check on her.
• February 1, 8:55 pm: The Pima County Sheriff’s Office gives their first press conference, and reveals some clues found at Nancy’s home caused “grave concern.” They say helicopters, drones, and infrared cameras are all being utilized in the search.
• February 2, 9:17 am: Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says search crews have been pulled back, as Nancy’s home is considered a crime scene.
• February 2, morning: Savannah releases a statement that’s read by her co-hosts on Today, and thanks supporters for their prayers.
• February 2, evening: Nanos tells the media they fear Nancy has been abducted.
• February 3: Nanos admits they have no suspects, no leads, and no videos that could lead to Nancy’s recovery. He and the FBI beg for more tips and accounts from residents.
• February 3: A trail of blood is pictured outside Nancy’s home, where there were reportedly signs of forced entry.

SAVANNAH’S AGONY

Savannah Guthrie and her elder siblings, Annie and Camron, broke their silence on their mother’s disappearance in a gut-wrenching video on social media.

The siblings were seated together as they pleaded for their mother’s safe return and sent a heartbreaking message to their mom’s alleged kidnappers.

Addressing the online reports about a ransom note from her mother’s alleged kidnappers, the family said they were “ready to talk.”

“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. As a family we are doing everything that we can,” Savannah said.

“We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated.

“We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her.

“We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.

“Please, reach out to us.”

Fighting back tears, the Today co-host, 54, said, “Our mom is our heart, and our home. She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart is fragile.

“She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine, she needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer.”

Annie, Savannah’s older sister, added, “We are human, just normal human people who need their mom. Mama, mama, if you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you.”

Meanwhile, Camron, Savannah’s elder brother, said, “We love you, mom. Stay strong.”

THE shattered children of Nancy Guthrie have broken down in tears as they issue a dramatic plea to their mother’s alleged kidnappers and say they’re ready to talk.

Savannah Guthrie and her elder siblings, Annie and Camron, released an emotional statement on social media where they begged for their mother’s safe return.

“Our mom is our heart, and our home. She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine, she needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer,” the Today show co-host, 54, said as she read from a prepared statement.

In the gut-wrenching video, Savannah and her elder sister, Annie, were reading from written statements where they thanked supporters for the “prayers for our beloved mom, Nancy.”

“We feel them and we continue to believe that she feels them too,” Savannah said.

Annie added, “We are human, just normal human people who need their mom. Mama, mama, if you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you.”

Read more in The U.S. Sun

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‘READY TO TALK’

Savannah addressed the online reports about a ransom note from her mother’s alleged kidnappers, saying the family was “ready to talk.”

“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. As a family we are doing everything that we can,” Savannah said.

“We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated.

“We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her.

“We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.

“Please, reach out to us.”

What we know about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance…

Savannah continued as she fought back tears, “Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman, you are God’s precious daughter, Nancy.

“We believe and know that even in this valley, he is with you. Everyone is looking for you, mommy, everywhere.

“We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again.

“We speak to you every moment and we pray without ceasing and we rejoice in advance for the day that we hold you in our arms again. We love you mom.”

Savannah’s older brother, Camron, added, “We love you, mom. Stay strong.”

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said on Tuesday that they were aware of an alleged ransom note sent to several local media outlets.

In a statement shared on social media, the sheriff’s department wrote, “We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie.

“We are taking all tips and leads very seriously. Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI.”

The alleged threatening ransom note demanded millions worth of Bitcoin and provided chilling details on what Nancy Guthrie was wearing as well as specific on how her home was damaged, according to TMZ.

Pima County officials have not confirmed the legitimacy of the note but said they were made aware of it on Monday and shared it with Guthrie’s family.

Timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home on February 1, 2026.

Timeline:

• January 31, 9:45 pm: Family members drop off Nancy, 84, at her home in Tucson, Arizona, after having dinner with her.
• February 1, 11:00 am: A parishioner at Nancy’s church calls the mom’s children and says she failed to show up for service.
• February 1, 12:15 pm: The family calls 911 after going to Nancy’s property to check on her.
• February 1, 8:55 pm: The Pima County Sheriff’s Office gives their first press conference, and reveals some clues found at Nancy’s home caused “grave concern.” They say helicopters, drones, and infrared cameras are all being utilized in the search.
• February 2, 9:17 am: Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says search crews have been pulled back, as Nancy’s home is considered a crime scene.
• February 2, morning: Savannah releases a statement that’s read by her co-hosts on Today, and thanks supporters for their prayers.
• February 2, evening: Nanos tells the media they fear Nancy has been abducted.
• February 3: Nanos admits they have no suspects, no leads, and no videos that could lead to Nancy’s recovery. He and the FBI beg for more tips and accounts from residents.
• February 3: A trail of blood is pictured outside Nancy’s home, where there were reportedly signs of forced entry.

AGENTS RETURN TO NANCY GUTHRIE’S HOME

The family’s heartbreaking plea came hours after federal law enforcement agents and Pima County deputies returned to Guthrie’s home on Wednesday afternoon.

The U.S. Sun observed several law enforcement officials canvassing Guthrie’s home and the woods surrounding the property.

Officials were at the home for about two hours and taped off the property as they were seen coming in and out of Guthrie’s garage.

Sport commentator Ian Abrahams shared his annual Pancake Day tradition on social media and people were horrified by his choice

We’re all for trying new flavours, but this pancake topping has gone way too far.

It’s that time of year when sugar and lemon make their appearance as Pancake Day rolls around. Across Britain, households will be flipping their pancakes for brekkie this morning – an absolute treat.

There’s a world of topping choices out there, so whether you stick with classic sugar and lemon or reach for the Nutella, it’s down to personal taste.

Yet some go for something rather more outlandish – though be warned, it could spark a heated discussion at the table.

One man did exactly that, leaving his mates “disgusted” – with some even suggesting he deserves locking up for it.

Sports commentator Ian Abrahams, nicknamed Moose, posted a snap of his yearly Pancake Day creation on X, formerly Twitter, back in 2019, controversially smothering it in tuna before rolling it up. Yes, you read that correctly – tuna.

Unsurprisingly, people were revolted by his bizarre filling and rushed to comment, though he branded it “delicious” with a grinning emoji. He insisted pancakes and tuna “go well together” to the absolute horror of social media.

One appalled user shot back: “That looks awful! Wouldn’t feed it the dog!” Whilst another said: “Moose you need locking up for this mate,” to which Moose proudly responded: “Have it every year.”

Someone else pleaded: “Please tell me you are joking?” His simple answer: “Nope”. If you’re not keen on replicating Ian’s peculiar pancake, we’ve got a few other ideas you might fancy.

A pancake tutorial video shared by appliance brand Currys went viral on TikTok, leaving viewers utterly gobsmacked with their unconventional method.

Others have taken to the social media platform to test out the hack for themselves, with fantastic results.

The popular video features a pancake enthusiast layering several sheets of baking paper at the bottom of the air fryer basket, before pouring a small dollop of pancake batter on top. The food lover then adds another sheet of paper and repeats the process until the air fryer is filled.

The final product reveals perfectly plump, American-style pancakes sporting a golden hue on top. The pancakes are then piled high into a tantalising stack before being lavishly drizzled with chocolate sauce and sprinkles.

However, Mark Brickhill, managing director of Goole-based O&H Vehicle Conversions, (OHVC) stresses the firm still operates, and he and his leadership team did all they could to avoid such a move.

The company has been making such vehicles, mostly ambulances, since 1988.

Mr Brickhill continued: “In 2025, we delivered a record 227 NHS Emergency Double Crewed Ambulances (DCAs), up from 186 in 2024, whilst also growing and diversifying the business with a £19 million turnover.

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“We are working with licensed Insolvency Practitioners to explore all available options in the circumstances. It does not mean the company has ceased trading.”

His focus was on delivering a rescue deal “with discussions currently underway,” he said in a statement.

The company’s day-to-day operations would continue without change and it remained focussed on fulfilling customer obligations.

Mr Brickhill explained OHVC had suffered delays in the delivery of chassis, delaying £2.2million of planned and achievable sales in recent months.

The company switched towards Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) production for both the Ambulance and Police Services, but delayed production caused by retraining staff and the lower margins such vehicles deliver, did not bridge the financial gap caused by the chassis delay.

Mr Brickhill thanked shareholders for supplying £25million to design and manufacture innovative British products.

But governments have increased budget pressures, lowering industry margins and forcing British vehicle conversion companies into administration.

Yet many such vehicles are being imported and are often more expensive and, he said even fail to meet the same standards UK producers must meet.

Mr Brickhill continued: “It also means that British tax payers’ money is not fuelling our own economy or supporting British manufacturing, supply chains and jobs.

“For every £1 of Government money spent in domestic factories, there is a x2.8 multiplier effect for UK PLC.”

A fundamental change in government procurement was needed and he hoped the company’s filing for administration may prove a catalyst for such a change.

Mr Brickhill added in his statement: “In the meantime, we will continue to work with our professional advisors to achieve the best possible outcome for all our creditors and stakeholders in the circumstances.”

NHS England’s new national cancer plan focuses on catching cancer earlier and treating it faster. The government has also promised to meet all cancer waiting-time targets by 2029. This includes a long-missed target, namely that most patients should start treatment within 62 days of being referred by their GP.

Why does the UK lag behind comparable countries?

Cancer survival in England has improved, but it still trails behind countries such as Australia, Canada and Nordic nations for many common cancers.

For some of the deadliest cancers – lung, liver, oesophageal, pancreatic and stomach cancers – the UK ranks near the bottom of the league table among similar wealthy countries. Fewer patients are still alive five years after diagnosis compared to other nations.

No single cause explains this gap. A key factor is that people in the UK are more likely to be diagnosed when their cancer is already advanced. This makes it harder to cure and limits treatment options.

Getting to see a specialist can also be slow. Patients struggle to get GP appointments, symptoms may not seem urgent at first, and people often need multiple visits before getting referred to a specialist.

Once in the system, patients hit more delays. The NHS has fewer CT and MRI scanners per person than many comparable health systems, contributing to waits for imaging and other tests.

There are also longstanding workforce shortages, especially in radiology and oncology. This means fewer specialists to read scans, plan treatment and deliver radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Limited surgical capacity, operating theatre time and radiotherapy machines cause further delay treatment.

How countries record cancer survival accounts for some of the difference. But even when researchers adjust for this, the UK still lags behind the best-performing countries. The result is a system where many individual steps function under strain, and those small delays add up for patients.

What actually happens to a patient during the 62 days?

The 62-day target measures the journey from urgent referral for suspected cancer to starting treatment. In principle, a person referred urgently by their GP, a screening programme or a hospital doctor should have their diagnosis confirmed and their initial treatment underway within just over two months.

That sounds straightforward. But for patients, it’s a complex and emotionally draining experience.

The journey usually starts when someone notices a worrying symptom – a breast lump, unusual bleeding, a persistent cough or a change in their bowels – and gets a GP appointment. If the GP is concerned, they make an urgent referral to a specialist clinic. The patient then waits for their first hospital appointment, where they’ll have further assessment and tests: blood tests, X-rays, endoscopy, CT scans, MRI scans or ultrasound.

If scans show something suspicious, the next step is often a biopsy. This lets a pathologist confirm whether it is cancer and identify the type.

Modern pathology may also include molecular and genetic tests, which help decide which treatments are most likely to be effective.

All of this information is then brought to a multidisciplinary team meeting, where surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and specialist nurses discuss the case and agree a plan.

Only after that can the first treatment be scheduled, whether that is surgery, radiotherapy, drug treatment or active monitoring. Delays can happen at every stage: getting the first appointment, accessing scans or endoscopy, receiving pathology results, convening the multidisciplinary team, and finding an operating theatre or radiotherapy slot. And the 62-day clock keeps ticking.

For patients, what appears as a single target number actually represents weeks of waiting, uncertainty and repeated encounters with an overstretched system.

Is early diagnosis always beneficial?

Catching cancer early has become a cornerstone of cancer policy. Cancers caught early are easier to treat and more likely to be cured.

A small, localised tumour can often be removed with surgery or treated effectively with radiotherapy or drugs. But cancers that have spread are harder to control.

This link between early detection and survival drives efforts to encourage people to seek help quickly, expand screening programmes and speed up diagnosis. But early diagnosis isn’t always beneficial for everyone or every type of cancer.

Screening can lead to overdiagnosis. This means detecting very slow-growing cancers or abnormalities that would never have caused symptoms or shortened someone’s life. People in this situation may live for years with a cancer label, alongside the physical and psychological consequences of surgery, radiotherapy or drugs that they might not have needed.

So-called “false positives” are another important issue. Tests sometimes flag abnormalities that aren’t cancer, but still trigger scans, biopsies and procedures, as well as significant anxiety for patients and families.

For some aggressive cancers, finding the disease a little earlier on a scan may not change the eventual outcome if available treatments remain limited. The challenge is to design programmes that catch the right cancers early, using accurate and targeted tests, while clearly explaining both benefits and risks so people can make informed decisions.

What does ‘9.5 million more tests and scans’ really mean?

One of the most eye-catching promises in the new plan is to deliver 9.5 million more tests and scans by 2029. Much of this extra activity is expected to take place in community diagnostic centres, which bring CT and MRI scanners, ultrasound, endoscopy and blood tests closer to where people live.

Extending opening hours into evenings and weekends should give patients more flexibility and, in theory, shorten waiting times for investigations and diagnosis.

But tests and machines are only part of the picture. Every scan needs a professional to interpret it, and every endoscopy list requires trained staff and recovery space.

England already has a shortage of imaging specialists, and increasing the number of scans without increasing the number of people who can report them risks swapping one bottleneck for another.

Laboratories also need enough biomedical scientists and pathologists to process additional blood tests and tissue samples. If staffing does not keep pace, the promise of millions more tests could translate into longer queues for results and less time for doctors to explain findings and discuss options with patients.

New technologies, including artificial intelligence to support image reading and automated laboratory systems, may help to increase efficiency, but they still rely on human oversight and do not remove the need for a well-trained, reasonably staffed diagnostic workforce.

How realistic is the staffing fix?

The success of the plan depends heavily on people, not just equipment. Yet there are already substantial gaps in the cancer workforce, especially among radiologists, oncologists, pathologists, specialist nurses and radiographers.

Professional bodies have warned for several years that the shortfall in key specialties is growing, with services relying on overtime, outsourcing and temporary staff to keep up with demand. These pressures affect not only the speed of diagnosis and treatment, but also the time healthcare professionals can devote to communication, compassion and shared decision-making.

Training more specialists is essential but slow. From entry to medical school to becoming a consultant radiologist or oncologist typically takes well over a decade, meaning that decisions made now will only fully affect services in the 2030s.

Meanwhile, the NHS will keep relying on recruiting from abroad, the private sector, and new ways of working that expand what nurses and other non-doctor professionals can do.

The risk is that without serious attention to burnout, working conditions and retention, new trainees will simply replace experienced staff who leave because of workload and stress. Any realistic staffing fix will therefore need to combine expanded training with measures that make cancer services sustainable places to work: manageable rotas, protected time for training, supportive leadership and a sense that delays and shortages are being addressed rather than normalised.

Who benefits first – and who might miss out?

Cancer care in England is already unequal, and a national plan that ignores this risks making the gap worse. People in poorer areas are more likely to develop certain cancers, get diagnosed late, and die from them.

Access to primary care varies widely. Some communities face long waits for appointments or can’t see the same doctor regularly.

Rural patients may need to travel far for scans, endoscopy or radiotherapy, while some urban communities face language barriers, cultural differences or mistrust that make screening and early diagnosis programmes harder to access.

Expanding community diagnostic centres, mobile services and workplace partnerships could reduce some barriers – but only if they’re deliberately placed where they are needed most. But if new facilities go to already well-served areas, or if information campaigns and booking systems don’t reach marginalised groups, the extra capacity will mostly benefit people who already navigate the system easily.

Ensuring that the benefits of earlier diagnosis and faster treatment reach everyone will require careful use of data on stage at diagnosis, waiting times and outcomes, broken down by region, ethnicity and deprivation, and a willingness to direct extra resources where need is greatest, not just where uptake is easiest.

What does ‘success’ look like for patients after treatment?

Politically, the headline ambition is framed in terms of five-year survival, and improving that is undeniably important. From a patient’s perspective, though, success is more than being alive at a particular time point.

Many people live with the long-term consequences of treatment, including fatigue, pain, bowel or bladder changes, sexual difficulties, early menopause, cognitive effects and altered body image. These can disrupt work, relationships and everyday activities long after the end of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Anxiety about recurrence is common, and routine follow-up appointments can be both reassuring and a source of renewed fear.

A cancer plan that truly serves patients has to focus on how people are living, not just how long. That means investing in rehabilitation, psychological support, specialist nursing, social care and fair access to financial and employment advice.

It also means recognising that some patients will never be “finished” with cancer but will live for many years with incurable disease, requiring ongoing treatment and support to maintain the best possible quality of life.

When we judge whether the new targets have been met, we should therefore look beyond the headline numbers. Success would be a future in which more people are diagnosed early, treated promptly and supported to rebuild their lives, with fewer left waiting in pain or confusion, and fewer feeling abandoned once the last dose of treatment has been given.