Hit Bravo series The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills has been airing since 2010 but series 15 has its lowest viewing figures yet

I first started watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills during lockdown. When the world was forced to stay indoors and socially distance, I found escapism in the glamorous Bravo series, living vicariously through the cast members’ lives.

Starting with series one, within six months I had caught up on all seasons and soon wondered how I had lived without the lives of Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump and Lisa Rinna in my life.

Over the seasons, the housewives have undergone huge changes, from losing fan favourites to iconic newcomers joining, all while wearing extravagant outfits and being head-to-toe in designer goods.

When series 15 started back in December, I couldn’t wait to get my next fix, although I was sad to have lost one of my favourites as Garcelle Beauvais quit the show during the series 14 reunion.

With new additions such as Amanda Frances and Rachel Zoe, as well as guests Kathy Hilton, Jennifer Tilly and Natalie Swanston, the fivesome joined series regulars Kyle Richards, Erika Girardi, Dorit Kemsley, Sutton Stracke and Bozoma Saint John in a huge shake-up.

As much as I want to love series 15, which is currently airing, it sadly doesn’t hit in the same way past series do. It appears viewers feel the same way, as series 15 has the lowest viewing figures of a premiere episode.

The series have always seen more than 1million average viewers tune in, with series two bringing in 2.17million for the opening episode, but series 15 had its lowest yet with 0.70. What’s caused this decline?

I personally think that by losing some iconic cast members over the years, from Lisa Vanderpump, Lisa Rinna, Denise Richards and Garcelle Beauvais, while replacing them with relatively unknown celebrities in the Bravo atmosphere, it has left the series feeling disjointed.

We’ve followed the housewives for years, and the only still-standing cast member from series one in 2010 is Kyle, with her sister Kathy regularly appearing as a friend throughout the franchise. The next-longest cast member is Erika, who joined in 2015; Dorit in 2016; and Sutton in 2020.

While it’s nice to shake up the series with new cast members, we’re not always as committed to their journeys as we are to those of long-standing cast members, so they really have to make an impact during their time on the show.

Thankfully, newcomers such as Jennifer, who has joined as a friend of Sutton’s in a guest capacity, Bozoma and Rachel have breathed new life into the series with their hilarious anecdotes, traffic-stopping ensembles and honest insights into their lives.

This differs from fellow newcomer, Amanda, who has left the cast and viewers at home just as confused. Described as a ‘world-renowned thought leader on financial empowerment for women’ and known for her manifesting courses, which have divided the cast, Amanda was introduced as someone who had bought Kyle’s former Bel-Air family home.

This caused confusion from the start, as typically, newcomers have long-standing friendships with housewives already on the show or at least a history with them. But with Amanda’s link being bought by Kyle’s former home, she’s found it hard to settle on the series, and the other housewives have been just as hard on her. And this is my main issue with series 15.

Of course, with any Real Housewives series, we’re used to the drama, petty arguments or gossip between the ladies, but series 15 has taken on a new level of pettiness or dare I say it, nastiness.

Typically, newcomers are given an easy ride on their first series as they settle into the housewives’ dynamics and socialising, but I don’t feel Amanda has been given that grace. Thankfully, Kyle and Sutton have taken Amanda under their wing, but the businesswoman has unfairly found herself and her business under scrutiny.

In one particularly harsh scene, some of the housewives used ChatGPT to dig into Amanda’s life and business, which was relayed back to her, and she hit back at.

Meanwhile, during a group trip to Florence, Italy, the ladies spotted a street vendor selling Venetian masks, which they dubbed ‘Pinocchios’. Newcomer Natalie asked, “Who’s going to be Pinocchio?” to which Bozoma responded, “Amanda!”

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As a long-term fan of the show, the excessive scrutiny and behaviour towards Amanda just seems so unbelievably harsh. I understand the ladies might not get on with Amanda or understand her business, but to use ChatGPT to dig into her life and brand her as ‘Pinocchio’ seems way off the mark.

Meanwhile, a big feature of series 15 has been Dorit, who has found herself falling out with most of the cast while developing strong relationships with Bozoma and Rachel as she navigates her messy divorce with husband PK Kemsley. While Dorit’s fiery rows have provided entertainment throughout this series, as we gear up towards the finale, I’m bored with the same narrative.

We’ve seen Dorit storm off from a day out with Kyle and Erica as the trio tried to address their issues, while an expletive-laden dinner with the ladies saw Dorit walk away from a row with Erica.

The latest episode saw Dorit gear up for her book cover party, but with several housewives not attending due to their fallout with the housewife, the series finale, episode 18, is sure to feature the fallout and yet more arguments.

For the series to succeed, we need to either bring back some fan favourites, introduce housewives with actual history with current cast members, or focus more on the glamorous lifestyles rather than the constant rows.

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills is available to watch on Hayu.

The latest update on today’s scheduled flights

Every day thousands of passengers board a flight from Manchester Airport, a vital northern travel hub which connects the region to more than 200 destinations across the globe.

Summer is on the horizon and we will soon be entering one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Over the past few weeks, many holidaymakers have also been jetting off to sunny destinations to enjoy the Easter break, making it a busy time for air travel.

While the travel industry is nearing its peak season for the year, airports have been facing significant disruption.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

The conflict in the Middle East in recent weeks has exacerbated this, causing delays and cancellations for many. Some have even been left stranded in faraway places for days.

Major airlines which operate within the affected region, such as Emirates and Etihad, have now resumed flights. However, the Foreign Office guidance still advises against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the uncertainty, travel agents report that Brits are still keen to go on holiday abroad and the appetite for travel remains strong.

Below are the latest delayed (by more than 30 minutes) and cancelled flights from Manchester Airport today (Friday, 17 April) according to FlightRadar24.com, as of 8.30am.

Delayed flights

• 8.15am Qatar Airways flight QR22 to Doha. Estimated departure at 9.25am.
• 2.55pm Qatar Airways flight QR28 to Doha. Estimated departure at 3.55pm.

Cancelled flights

• 10.35am Lufthansa flight LH2501 to Munich.
• 11.10am Lufthansa flight LH943 to Frankfurt.
• 6.05pm Lufthansa flight LH947 to Frankfurt.

For more of today’s top stories, click here.

The remains were discovered by fishermen near Peterhead in the North Sea on May 15, 2024.

A skull that washed up on a Scots coast two years ago has been identified as being a missing Norwegian woman.

The remains were discovered by fishermen near Peterhead in the North Sea on May 15, 2024. Detectives were originally treating the death as unexplained.

They were able to establish that the skull belonged to a 50-year-old woman. Significant searches for the woman’s family went underway, including a reconstruction of her face in a bid to appeal to her loved ones by the University of Dundee.

However, the remains were recently identified as a missing Norwegian woman named Eleah Sneve, who vanished from the city of Kristiansand on April 5, 2024. The DNA identification was only made possible after the 27-year-old was searched for via Interpol’s database.

The autopsy carried out at the time did not identify any obvious signs of injury. Police are yet to determine how Eleah died, however, they are exploring a number of theories, including whether she was the victim of crime.

Cops in Norway have apologised to Eleah’s family for a failure in procedure. The rest of Eleah’s remains have never been found.

Terje Kaddeberg Skaar, head of prosecution in Agder Police District, said: “The missing person should have been wanted in the Schengen cooperation when the missing person report was received by the police. We have apologised to the relatives that this has not been done. This case shows that we should be looking for people internationally at an earlier time than was done in this case.

“We are now reviewing our routines at the system level for international wanted persons. We have a great many missing person cases in the district, and it is important that our routines contribute to relatives receiving answers as quickly as possible in the search for missing persons, while at the same time safeguarding the privacy of people who do not want to be found.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A human skull found by a fishing boat in the North Sea around 150 miles off the coast of Peterhead in May 2024 has been identified as a woman from overseas.”

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Sir Keir Starmer is under further pressure over Lord Peter Mandelson‘s appointment as ambassador to the US after it was revealed the Foreign Office overruled security vetting.

The prime minister is facing calls to resign and follow in the footsteps of Sir Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office’s most senior civil servant, who was confirmed to be leaving his role on Thursday over the revelations.

Sir Keir has previously insisted due process was followed in the appointment, and that Lord Mandelson had lied about the extent of his links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is leading the calls for Sir Keir’s resignation following the latest discovery. She said: “If he has misled parliament, as it looks like he has, he should resign.

“If he has broken the ministerial code, as it looks like he has, he should resign. If he withheld documents by a cover-up from parliament, he should resign.”

Darren Jones, the prime minister’s chief secretary, said it was “astonishing” and unacceptable that the Foreign Office was able to overrule the vetting process for Lord Mandelson, and Sir Keir is “furious”.

Farage accuses Starmer of using sacked civil servant as ‘sacrificial lamb’

The Independent’s political journalist Athena Stavrou reports:

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Nigel Farage has accused the prime minister of using a top civil servant as a “sacrificial lamb” in an attempt to save his own position.

The Foreign Office’s top civil servant Sir Olly Robbins was effectively sacked after the revelation that officials took the rare step of overruling the recommendation from UK Security Vetting to clear Lord Peter Mandelson.

But the Reform UK leader suggested “there is no way” Sir Olly would have overruled security service advice alone, describing him as “one of the most professional civil servants in this country”.

“They are all over the place on this, it is totally unbelievable and Robbins, he’s the sacrificial lamb in an attempt to try and save the prime minister, and it just isn’t good enough,” Mr Farage told LBC.

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He called for a “full-scale investigation” into the matter, and added the government’s explanation is: “Just not credible, not believable in any way at all. I am in absolutely no doubt in my mind that this prime minister misled the House of Commons and lied to the country outside of the House of Commons.”

Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 08:35

Badenoch: Everyone involved in Mandelson scandal is gone – except Starmer

Kemi Badenoch has said everyone involved in the Mandelson scandal is now except for Starmer, as she calls for him to resign.

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In a post on social media, the Tory leader wrote: “Keir Starmer has now sacked everyone involved in Mandelson’s appointment – Chris Wormald, Morgan McSweeney, Olly Robbins.

“But Starmer was ultimately the one who approved it. He’s got no one left to sack. It’s time for him to take responsibility. He should go.”

Keir Starmer has now sacked everyone involved in Mandelson’s appointment – Chris Wormald, Morgan McSweeney, Olly Robbins.

But Starmer was ultimately the one who approved it. He’s got no one left to sack. It’s time for him to take responsibility. He should go. https://t.co/KDLG1wHaMI

— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) April 17, 2026

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Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 08:33

‘I know he is lying’: Badenoch accuses Starmer of ‘taking us for fools’ over Mandelson vetting scandal

The Independent’s political journalist Athena Stavrou reports:

Kemi Badenoch has accused the prime minister of continuous lying over the decision to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.

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The Conservative Party leader said Sir Keir Starmer’s story “does not stack up” as she accused him of “taking us for fools”.

She argued it is “completely preposterous” that the prime minister had not been told that Lord Mandelson’s clearance had not been advised by security service.

“It doesn’t matter what story the prime minister is telling, at some point there is deliberate dishonesty, whether it’s the cover up story or the original story,” she told LBC.

“It can’t all be true. That’s why I know that he is lying.”

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Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 08:30

Top civil servant is the ‘sacrificial lamb’, says Farage

Nigel Farage said Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office’s top civil servant, was the “sacrificial lamb in an attempt to try and save the Prime Minister”.

He told LBC: “None of this adds up, the idea they weren’t told about the vetting.

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“Remember, in the House of Commons, Starmer actually said that the vetting had told him about the ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, then outside of the House, in Hastings, he gave a speech in which he said that Mandelson had cleared security vetting.

“They are all over the place on this, it is totally unbelievable and Robbins, he’s the sacrificial lamb in an attempt to try and save the Prime Minister, and it just isn’t good enough.”

Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 08:22

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Starmer was right to say Mandelson passed vetting procedures, says Jones

Keir Starmer was right to say Peter Mandelson had cleared security vetting procedures when he had been asked previously, Darren Jones has said.

“The Prime Minister was right… because the security and vetting process had been conducted and the Foreign Office granted what’s called developed vetting status to allow for Peter Mandelson’s appointment, so he had been through the process and he had been cleared by the Foreign Office to start the role, so the prime minister was right about that,” he told BBC.

“What the prime minister was not told until Tuesday evening this week was that the Foreign Office’s decision to give that developed vetting status, and to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador, was against the recommendations of security and vetting officials.”

Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 08:18

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Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 08:16

PM ‘furious with the state’ over Mandelson vetting

The Independent’s political journalist Athena Stavrou reports:

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Sir Keir Starmer is “furious” after discovering the Foreign Office overruled security advice on Lord Peter Mandelson over his appointment as US ambassador.

Chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones denied the prime minister misled parliament over the former Labour peer’s security clearance, but said he was “furious with the state” over the process.

Mr Jones said Sir Keir discovered the Foreign Office had ignored the security advice recommending Lord Mandelson should not be appointed to the role in Washington.

“It is utterly unacceptable, not just in the individual case of Peter Mandelson and respect of the prime minister’s fury at the Foreign Office for not having taught him this information, but the very fact that their processes were in place that allow for that to happen in the first place,” he told Sky News.

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“That’s why in my role in the Cabinet Office, immediately last night, I suspended the rights for these organisations to make these judgments.

“I’ve asked for an urgent review about what decisions these organisations have taken in the past to overrule the recommendations from UK security vetting, and I was due to announce a broader, independent review of the vetting process anyway. And this will now be part of that.”

Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 08:10

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Top Foreign Office official sacked after Mandelson vetting dispute

Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 08:06

Starmer was ‘right’ to say due process had been followed ‘because it had’

Keir Starmer was “right” to tell parliament that due process had been followed throughout Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, “because it had”, Darren Jones said.

The chief secretary told BBC: “The prime minister was right when he told the House that due process had been followed, because it had, but the fact that that process did not require officials to tell the Foreign Secretary or the prime minster that they ignored the advice of security and vetting officials is totally unacceptable.”

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Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 08:04

Mandelson had access to top secret documents despite failing vetting process

Peter Mandelson would have been able to see top secret documents during his time as UK ambassador to the US, the chief secretary to the prime minister has admitted.

Darren Jones told Sky News: “The Foreign Office granted developing vetting status to appoint him as ambassador. That meant that he would be allowed, as a point of principle, to see the documents you would need to see as ambassador.”

He said he could not confirm in an “itemised way” which “individual documents did he see or not see”.

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Harriette Boucher17 April 2026 07:58

While Arsenal learned to compete at the highest level, Guardiola continued to evolve.

That tension – between adapting and remaining faithful to an idea – defines the 55-year-old’s career.

“He starts incorporating new concepts,” said Segura. “Above all defensive transition, that’s where he evolves enormously.

“Arteta incorporated more physical profiles than Pep. Pep seeks more technical players… Arteta looks for strength, speed, power.”

But there are still plenty of points of convergence.

“Both have looked for pieces to improve the offensive transition,” added Segura. “City with [Erling] Haaland… Arteta with [Viktor] Gyokeres.”

There is an element where the comparison becomes most revealing. In elite football, what defines coaches is how they respond to difficulty.

Arteta is in that moment now. He has built a team capable of competing with the best. But the final step – winning consistently at the very top – is where he wants to get to.

When results do not follow, the temptation is always the same; change and react to external pressure. Arteta has not abandoned those ideas. He has doubled down. He has asked more of his players, pushed harder but within the same framework.

In elite sport, losing is considered part of the process. The next step is evolving and trying again with the same effort, or more.

Guardiola has lived that cycle repeatedly. After setbacks, after criticism, he has returned to his principles and expanded them.

Former Burnley, Everton and Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche has witnessed that resilience up close.

“In difficult times, Pep didn’t panic,” he said. “He adjusted, but he stayed true to what he believes.

“I think it’s brilliant management from Pep, and Arteta… they have tried to win a certain way, but they have also evolved to play in ways that we knew before.”

There is another layer to the challenge Arteta faces, one created, in part, by Guardiola himself.

“The biggest shift in football now is that winning isn’t enough anymore,” added Dyche. “People ask how you win.”

Guardiola changed expectations.

So now Arsenal, despite their development, are judged on results of course, but also on perception.

BEIRUT (AP) — A 10-day truce appeared to be holding in Lebanon early Friday, promising a pause in fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and possibly clearing one major obstacle to a deal between Iran and the United States and Israel to end weeks of devastating war.

But it remained unclear whether Israel would completely stop strikes on Hezbollah, and whether the militant group would recognize a deal it did not play a role in negotiating and which will leave Israeli troops occupying a stretch of southern Lebanon.

Barrages of gunshots rang out across Beirut as residents fired into the air just after midnight to celebrate the beginning of the truce, and displaced families began moving toward southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs despite warnings by officials not to attempt to return to their homes until it became clear whether the ceasefire would hold.

U.S. President Donald Trump heralded the deal a “historic day for Lebanon,” even as he expressed confidence that the war with Iran would soon end in a Las Vegas speech.

“I will say the war in Iran is going along swimmingly,” Trump said. “It should be ending pretty soon.”

An end to Israel’s war with Hezbollah was a key demand of Iranian negotiators, who previously accused Israel of breaking the current ceasefire deal with strikes on Lebanon. Israel said that deal did not cover Lebanon.

Pakistan’s army chief met Thursday with Iran’s parliament speaker as part of international efforts to press for an extension of the ceasefire.

While oil prices fell on hopes of a deal, the head of the International Energy Agency warned that energy shocks could get worse if the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t reopen soon. Iran closed the crucial waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil normally passes, shortly after the war began. Europe has “maybe six weeks or so” of jet fuel left and broader economic consequences will grow the longer the strait is closed, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The leaders of France and the U.K. will gather dozens of countries — but not the United States — on Friday to push forward plans to reopen the strait.

The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.

Pakistan’s army chief met Thursday with Iran’s parliament speaker as part of efforts to press for an extension to a ceasefire that has paused almost seven weeks of war between Israel, the U.S. and Iran.

Even as the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports and renewed Iranian threats strained the ceasefire, regional officials reported progress, telling AP the United States and Iran had an “in-principle agreement” to extend it to allow for more diplomacy. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations.

Mediators are pushing for a compromise on three main sticking points: Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts.

Trump suggested the ceasefire could be extended.

“If we’re close to a deal, would I extend?” Trump said in an exchange with reporters. “Yeah, I would do that.”

___

Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. AP journalists Matthew Lee and Ben Finley in Washington, Samy Magdy in Cairo and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

WrestleMania week is here, and it’s almost time for the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Metro is already on the ground in Las Vegas with fans looking forward to seeing the likes of Oba Femi, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley and more in action, but there are a couple more stops before the Showcase of the Immortals lands in Sin City.

Every year, the company honours legends of the past to truly kick off the festivities, and this year’s class looks to be a special one with the likes of Stephanie McMahon and AJ Styles getting recognised.

Although it used to be a standalone event a couple of nights before, more recently, the ceremony has been held after SmackDown, and this is set to continue.

We’re still waiting to find out exactly who will induct each legend, but The Undertaker appears set to honour McMahon, while John Cena is hosting WrestleMania 42 and would be a perfect fit for Styles.

Here’s everything you need to know.

When is WWE Hall of Fame 2026?

The 2026 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony airs Saturday morning, April 18 at 5am for fans in the UK.

Once again, the event will be held after SmackDown, but it won’t be returning to Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

This time, it’s being moved to Dolby Live at Park MGM, which is just across the road from where SmackDown will take place at the T-Mobile Arena.

Where can you watch WWE Hall of Fame 2026?

Fans in the UK can tune into the 2026 Hall of Fame induction ceremony either live or on demand for free via YouTube. Simply click the link here.

Why isn’t the WWE Hall of Fame 2026 on Netflix?

Since January 2025, Netflix has been the official home of WWE in the UK, but there have been some exceptions for certain shows.

Some broadcasts, like Saturday Night’s Main Event and Lucha Libre AAA shows, have been streamed on YouTube, as they fall outside of the Netflix deal.

The Hall of Fame falls under that arrangement too, meaning international fans will be able to stream for free on the platform.

WWE Hall of Fame class of 2026 inductees

• Stephanie McMahon
• AJ Styles
• Demolition (Ax and Smash)
• Dennis Rodman (Celebrity wing)
• Sid (Sid Justice/Sid Vicious/Psycho Sid) (Legacy inductee)
• Bad News Brown (Legacy inductee)
• Immortal Moment: Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant from WrestleMania III

When did AJ Styles retire from WWE?

AJ Styles retired from WWE after losing to GUNTHER at the Royal Rumble in January.

The Phenomenal One has since confirmed his in-ring career is officially over, and he has no plans to wrestle again besides a potential tag match with his son in the distant future.

He made it clear over the last couple of years that he was winding down, telling Metro before WrestleMania 40 in 2024 that his body was essentially begging him to quit.

‘I don’t want to do it anymore. And it’s not because – of course I want to wrestle,’ he admitted at the time. ‘But my body, it’s like, “Please stop. Please stop.” I think this would be a good place to end my career, in the WWE.’

Styles kept going a little longer than that, but eventually decided to end his career at the Rumble, the same premium live event where he made his WWE debut in January 2016.

Now, he’s helping the company behind the scenes as a talent scout of sorts, helping identify and prepare the next generation of stars to keep the business strong.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: How controversial Hulk Hogan really felt being booed at final WWE show

MORE: The ‘best wrestling show’ is completely free to watch online – here’s how

MORE: Nintendo GameCube is my favourite console even though I know it’s not the best – Reader’s Feature

Baye Bireme Fall died from a single stab wound, a post-mortem found

Two teenagers have appeared in court charged with the murder of a 16-year-old boy who was stabbed to death. Baye Bireme Fall was attacked near the Orton Centre shopping centre in Peterborough on Sunday, April 12, Cambridgeshire Police said.

A post-mortem examination found that he died from a single stab wound, the force said. Two teenagers were charged with his murder. They appeared before Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court in separate hearings on Thursday, April 16.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and address. No details about the case were opened and there was no application for bail.

The boy was not asked to enter a plea. He was remanded into youth detention accommodation until an appearance before Cambridge Crown Court on Friday, April 17.

The boy’s parents sat in the well of the court, close to the secure dock. His mother said “love you” as her son was led away by three security officers.

The second defendant, 18-year-old Emidas Krutkevicius, appeared before Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court separately later in the day. Krutkevicius, of Garton End Road, Peterborough, spoke only to confirm his personal details.

He was not asked to enter a plea. He has been remanded in custody until an appearance before Cambridge Crown Court on Friday.

Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called just before 7pm on Sunday. Baye died in hospital just before 9.30pm that evening.

Baye’s family said in a tribute released through police earlier this week that he was “an amazing boy and son whose heart is pure and kind towards other people”.

In 2025, some 1,032 excess deaths were associated with waits of 12 or more hours in EDs while awaiting admission.

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Stormont has been urged to address the “catastrophe” unfolding in Northern Ireland’s hospital emergency departments (EDs).

A report by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) stated that, in 2025, some 1,032 excess deaths were associated with waits of 12 or more hours in EDs while awaiting admission.

The body’s State of Emergency Medicine in Northern Ireland report found that, while the overall death figure for 2025 is slightly lower than in 2024 (1,122) and 2023 (1,063), the estimated mortality figure has more than doubled over five years.

READ MORE: The number of accidental deaths and hospital admissions
in a single year in Northern IrelandREAD MORE: ‘I’ve survived two open heart surgeries and a stroke at just 24 years old’

In 2020, the estimated mortality figure was less than half of what it was in 2025 – at 461. A decade ago, in 2016, there were 60 excess deaths attributed to long waits.

The report also contends that overcrowding and long waits in EDs are not the result of an increase in demand, and that the numbers attending departments has “barely changed”, while the number of long waits, and deaths, have “skyrocketed”.

It found that in 2025, one in 12 (8.3%) patients waited 24 hours or longer, while a RCEM survey conducted in December 2025 found that one ED recorded a wait time of over 124 hours – more than three days.

The report makes a number of recommendations for the Northern Ireland Executive.

These include ending corridor care and mortality associated with long waits in ED by the end of the decade, adopting a “whole-system approach to ending ED overcrowding”, with responsibility for performance spread across the entire patient pathway.

The recommendations also include ensuring accountability for ending overcrowding and to implement measures to make excess deaths associated with long waits in ED to be treated with the same seriousness as deaths in other medical specialties.

Dr Michael Perry, Northern Ireland vice president for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, urged that the situation is treated like the “catastrophe in need of redress that it is”.

“Behind these numbers are stories of families ripped apart by avoidable deaths which have happened because successive governments have failed to grab the ED crisis by the horns,” he said.

“We must not let the slight reduction on the previous year give us false assurance that the problem is being fixed. Such a glacial pace of progress is not good enough.

“Our health service has the highest rates of long waits in EDs, and deaths per capita resulting from them, of any UK nation. That statement should shock our policymakers to the core.

“Politicians and system leaders need to treat this like the catastrophe in need of redress that it is.”

Dr Perry said it is a “fixable problem”.

“While, sadly, we cannot help the loved ones who have already experienced a bereavement at the hands of a broken system, we know what measures can prevent future heartbreak,” he said.

“Our report contains the answers. Accountability, a whole-system approach to patient flow and targets to ending corridor care and deaths associated with long waits will make the difference.

“We look forward to hearing from policymakers eager to put these measures in place.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “The minister and department acknowledge the continued pressures on our emergency departments.

“This is a complex problem with no quick fix but the only medium to long term solution is to reduce demand and manage demand differently.

“That means reducing the number of people coming through ED doors, as well as getting people out of hospital as soon as they are fit for discharge to free up beds.

“Our reset plan is attempting, over the next three years, to refocus our work towards earlier support and intervention, prevention, providing neighbourhood-based care and encouraging people to take more responsibility for their own health on a routine basis.

“We are also looking at how we can care for our frail elderly patients better by providing more care closer to home and preventing avoidable admissions to hospital.

“However, we recognise that this will take time to have an impact and it is not helped by the very challenging financial position.

“In the interim, we will continue to manage the quality of care we are able to provide to the best effect ensuring the needs of our patients and staff remain our priority.

“The minister has discussed patient flow and hospital discharge issues with HSC chief executives, and all agreed the need to increase community capacity was the most important single change that is required.

“This is consistent with the reset plan towards a neighbourhood model of delivery.”

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The tree in question is location outside 26 Lostock Junction Lane, Lostock.

It is Mrs Beaumont, who lives at number 26, who applied to have the preservation order repealed.

A preservation order prevents a tree being chopped down, uprooted, felled, or in any way altered without specific, written council permission.

Permission has been sought in this case because the tree is located on a public footpath and is causing a ‘physical obstruction’.

The pavement has been reduced to a width of around 90cm due to encroachment from the tree, from a starting width of 2.2m.

The oak outside of 26 Lostock Junction Lane (Image: Google Maps)

The application notes that the UK standard for a minimum pavement width is between 1.5m and 2m, meaning the path is now under that.

This is causing a ‘substantial obstruction and trip hazard’ for anyone walking on the ‘narrow passage’, according to the application.

The tree is not only a hazard for pedestrians, according to Mrs Beaumont, but hazardous to drivers as well.

This is because the oak blocks the Beaumonts’ view as they they pull out of their driveway, making it difficult to see if traffic is coming towards them.

The application form also notes that the tree is of ‘low quality and value in the landscape’, with some parts in ‘advanced decay’.

Bolton Council‘s planning department will now decide on whether the tree preservation order will be upheld or whether the tree can be chopped down.