Mojtaba Khamenei praised his forces for standing up to American and Israeli “arrogance” before warning of “new defeats”.

Iran’s Supreme Leader has blasted Donald Trump and US forces in a fiery new threat. Mojtaba Khamenei praised his forces for standing up to American and Israeli “arrogance” before warning of “new defeats”.

He also boasted that his enemies have had their “weakness and humiliation” exposed to the world, in a new statement released via an Iranian state news agency.

Mojtaba has not been seen in public since the US-Israel war with Iran began and was chosen as the new leader after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial strikes in February. Mojtaba spoke of how his army has “stood up to America’s sinister schemes”.

His statement said: “With its strong divine and popular support and in dense, fortified ranks, it [the army] stands shoulder to shoulder with other mujahideen of the armed forces against the two armies at the forefront of the front of kufr (disbelief) and arrogance, clashing with them hand-to-hand and exposing their weakness and humiliation to the eyes of the world; just as its drones strike like lightning against the American and Zionist criminals, its brave navy is ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats.”

The warning comes after Iran today said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz again, writes the Mirror. There have already been reports of Iranian gun boats opening fire on tankers attempting to cross the crucial waterway.

Mojtaba finished his message by saying: “Greetings and blessings of the Almighty upon all the mujahideen of the Islamic Republic Army of Iran, from its emirs and commanders to its staff and silent, anonymous soldiers; and greetings and blessings of the Almighty upon all its self-sacrificing volunteers and wounded veterans; and His special mercy upon the honorable families of all the martyrs of the imposed war waged by America and the Zionist regime against the great nation of Iran. And peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.”

Iran’s joint military command also said on Saturday that control of the Strait of Hormuz has “returned to its previous state… under strict management and control of the armed forces”.

It warned that it would continue to block passage through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.

Two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said. It said the tanker and crew are safe but did not identify the vessel.

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There are delays on the busy road

There are currently delays on a major Cambridgeshire road following an incident in the area. One lane of the M11 has been closed today (Saturday, April 18) after a car crash happened involving two vehicles at around 12.50pm.

The incident happened on the M11 southbound between J9 (Saffron Walden) to J8 A120 (Bishops Stortford). The traffic is moving slow along the road.

Emergency services have been contacted for more information. Drivers should leave extra time for their journeys.

Inrix, the traffic data monitoring company, said: “Slow traffic and one lane closed due to accident on M11 Southbound after J9A A11 (Saffron Walden). Two cars are currently in lane two.”

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The force said the attack is not being treated as a terrorist incident

Counter-terror police have announced they are investigating an arson attack in north-west London “due to the similarities” with recent incidents in the area.

Police were called to the scene in Hendon at 10.31pm yesterday, April 18, after a man was allegedly spotted approaching a row of shops carrying a plastic bag later found to contain three bottles of “fluid”. According to the Metropolitan Police, he placed the bag by a building before lighting the items inside, and when they failed to fully ignite, the man fled the scene.

Counter Terrorism Policing London is said to be leading the investigation, with the support of the Met’s north-west command area, and no arrests have been made as of yet. The force added that it is not being treated as a terrorist incident, nor is it currently being linked to other incidents in the area. Fire crews were also in attendance at the scene.

Commander Helen Flanagan, of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “At this stage last night’s arson is not being linked to other incidents in the north-west London area over the last week or last month’s arson in Golders Green, but counter-terrorism officers are leading due to the similarities of each attack.

“I would ask that anyone with information or footage that could help our investigation gets in touch with police as soon as possible.

“We will be relentless in our pursuit of those responsible for this and other, similar, hateful acts against London’s communities.”

This follows an incident in the early hours of March 23, when four Jewish community ambulances were torched in Golders Green. Additionally, on Wednesday night, April 15, an “ignited container” was thrown into a Persian media organisation’s premises in Wembley in an attempted arson attack, the force said.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, said: “Since the incident in Golders Green last month we have spoken extensively to community leaders.

“I understand and appreciate their concerns, and I know this latest incident will add to fears in the community.

“Local officers are working closely with Counter Terrorism Policing to support the investigation.

“The community can expect to see a heightened police presence in the area. Since last month’s attack in Golders Green, we have stepped up police patrols and vigilance to reassure communities and disrupt offenders.

“This includes armed police patrols as well as deployments of officers from Project Servator, who are specially trained to spot anyone who may be planning or preparing to commit criminal acts.”

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We spoke to Sticky Black Tarmac, a record shop in Leigh, ahead of the big day, to learn more about the store.

What’s your full name?

Brandan Nolan

What’s the name of the business?

Sticky Black Tarmac

What’s the address?

Floor 3 @ Leigh Spinners Mill (WN7 2LB)

Are you the owner/manager?

Yes

When did you open the business?

2021, but have been based in Leigh Spinners Mill since 2023.

Sticky Black Tarmac has been based in Leigh since 2023 (Image: Supplied)

Has it always been in the same location?

Previously based in Walkden before making the move here.

Are you local to the area? Did you grow up here?

Not from too far away, originally from Swinton.

Tell me a bit about your business

SBT stocks an eclectic and global mix of records, new and old.

All the essentials are covered here, your Arctic Monkeys, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, Amy Winehouse, Pink Floyd etc, but I pride myself on introducing people to new music that may not be on their radar, or older records that maybe didn’t get the respect they were due at the time.

It’s a place to explore and move through all sounds.

What do you do? What services do you provide?

Record collections are also bought here, if you’re looking to sell please get in touch!

The store has a large collection of records (Image: Supplied)

Another service offered is ultrasonic record cleaning, the best way to bring dirty or written-off records back to life.

Just ask if you want to know more!

Why did you decide to open your own business?

The freedom of working for myself was a big thing, but most importantly, it’s my passion.

I love connecting with people who share the same interest!

What’s your business background?

Nothing specific previous to this!

I just had a fairly run-of-the-mill office job.

I worked for a great company, but didn’t feel fulfilled in that, so I took the leap into flogging records quite blindly!

Why this type of business?

I love good records!

What makes your business different from others in the same area/field? What sets your business apart from your competitors?

I would say there isn’t really competition between record shops; everyone appreciates that you start doing it because you love it.

There aren’t many other options around here, so it is good to see Resurrection Records in Tyldesley improving the local offering.

Owner Brandan is passionate about what he does (Image: Supplied)

In terms of my shop’s identity though, I’m proud to have a really solid range of records from around the world to discover.

We have a great section of modern Brazilian records, alongside everything from Turkey and the Middle East, even some African classics to discover!

New 7” and 12” releases are also stocked for the local DJ’s.

This year I visited a great new label based in New Jersey called ’That’s Love Records’, who have been a big success here, especially on our online store.

It’s cool to build relationships with people overseas. 

Why do loyal customers return to your business?

I think the great thing about a love of music is that it is an endless pursuit.

People can visit the shop confident that they can both pick up an old favourite, but also a new one.

With social media and AI, it is information overload at the moment.

It’s nice to go to a record shop and have an in-person chat to catch up on what’s new.

What’s next? What do the next few months hold for you and your business?

Who knows! For now, I am just focused on getting through Record Store Day.

I probably am at capacity with my current space, so I would love to get a bigger space in the future.

Scarlett Moffatt opened up about the pain of losing a baby on I’m A Celebrity… South Africa

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I’m A Celebrity… South Africa star Scarlett Moffatt has opened up in camp about the heartbreak of losing a baby while she and her partner were trying to have a second child.

The former Gogglebox star is engaged to ex-police officer Scott Dobinson. Together they share one son, Jude, who arrived in June 2023. However, their hopes of expanding the family have faced difficulties.

Speaking to Sinitta during Friday’s (April 17) episode, Scarlett said: “We tried for a long time and had some losses, and it’s not nice, is it? And because no one talks about it, you think something is wrong with you. You’re like, why is it not happening? It’s a hard one.

“After Jude was born, we tried again and got quite far on and miscarried, and I remembered Scott’s mum and dad took Jude for the day, and me and Scott just laid in bed crying. It was awful. Because in our head, we were like, ‘Oh, like, imagine them running downstairs at Christmas together’.

“You imagine it. When you lose a baby in that way, you’re sort of mourning a life that you imagined. It’s just really sad. We just have to be so grateful we have got ours,” reports the Mirror.

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Speaking in the Bush Telegraph after the conversation, Scarlett reflected on her ability to confide in her fellow campmates.

She said: “I feel like we’re really open in camp. You’re so far away from your normal world you can almost talk about anything. We’ve all listened and spoken with such care to each other that I really believe that we’ve got friendships for life.

“When all you want is a family. It’s really hard when that doesn’t just come naturally and easily. You know, you question yourself. You question, why is it not happening? Is it ever going to happen? And it’s just really hard, like it just makes life feel heavier.”

Scarlett, 35, won the I’m A Celebrity crown in Australia in 2016. Her relatable and genuine manner on the current series has endeared her to countless additional viewers.

She’s also proved popular amongst her fellow campmates, forging friendships with the likes of Sinitta and Ashley Roberts, and tackling a challenge alongside Ashley last week.

In an interview with Heat Magazine earlier this month, she quipped that her postponed nuptials might mirror her parents’ 27-year engagement, ensuring they were certain about each other.

Scarlett said: “I’m not stressed about it, and I think that’s the problem. I got engaged three years ago. I think me and Scott are so laidback that nothing gets done.

“We need an intervention where someone comes in and physically books everything for us because we just keep going, ‘We’ll sort it next year.’”

However, she confirmed she wants it arranged before reaching her landmark birthday in 2030. She added: “We’re in no rush, but I’ve definitely said before I’m 40, ideally. But then you might ask us that question at 40, and I’ll say 50.”

I’m A Celebrity… South Africa is available to stream on ITVX

The Sands National Helpline provides a safe, confidential place for anyone who has been affected by the loss of a baby. You can call the Sands Helpline on 0808 164 3332 or visit www.sands.org.uk

Hollywood A-lister, Alec Baldwin, was found not guilty of manslaughter following the fatal shooting on the set of his film, Rust – however he now faces a civil trial

Alec Baldwin is due back in court following the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins. The cinematographer and mum-of-one, 42, died on the set of the actor’s film, Rust, in 2021 when a live round was discharged from a revolver that Baldwin, 68, was using as a prop.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico stated that neither Baldwin nor first assistant director David Halls knew that the gun in question was loaded.

On January 31, 2023, the district attorney charged Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with one count each of involuntary manslaughter. Halls agreed to plead guilty to the charge of the negligent use of a deadly weapon.

On February 23, 2023, Baldwin pleaded not guilty, and on April 20, it was reported that prosecutors had indicated that the charges against him were being dropped.

However, on Friday, April 17, a Los Angeles judge ruled that a lawsuit filed by Rust crew member Serge Svetnoy against the actor will proceed.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maurice Leiter ruled that a lawsuit brought by Svetnoy will proceed to determine if Baldwin negligently fired a loaded revolver on the film set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, which struck and killed the mother, according to Mail Online.

The new lawsuit comes after the 30 Rock star said the aftermath of the fatal shooting has ‘taken 10 years off’ his life.

Back in October, manslaughter charges were dismissed by a New Mexico judge after she determined that prosecutors allegedly withheld evidence.

Now, Svetnoy is suing the film’s star and production company for emotional distress suffered due to alleged negligence on set.

Prior to the shooting, several crew members reportedly walked off set, citing safety concerns, including two previous accidental discharges of prop guns.

Baldwin, who fired the fatal shot from a prop revolver, has always maintained that he had no idea the gun was loaded with live rounds and denied ever pulling the trigger. The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured in the shooting.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Svetnoy’s attorney, John M. Upton, said they were ‘pleased with the Court’s decision to deny the motions for summary judgment brought by Rust Movie Productions and Alex Baldwin.

‘These rulings enable our client to present his case at a jury trial, now scheduled for October of this year,’ he added. ‘He looks forward to finally having his day in court on this long-pending matter. ‘

The Mirror has contacted Baldwin’s rep for comment.

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Emergency crews raced to the M90 late on Friday night.

A major Scottish motorway has been locked down for more than 12 hours following a reported “fatal” crash. Emergency services were called to a serious collision on the M90 near Kinross at around 10.30pm on Friday.

Amey North East Trunk Roads, which maintains roads on behalf of Transport Scotland, has been sharing updates since the initial crash. Posting on X, formerly Twitter, at 11.40pm, the transport agency said the motorway was “closed in both directions between Kinross and Arlary” with a diversion in place.

In an update shortly after 1am, Amey reported that the crash had claimed someone’s life. Amey wrote: “The M90 remains closed in both directions due to a fatal RTC. Northbound Lane 1 will be opened shortly. Police and Amey crews are on site. No delays in the area.”

The northbound carriageway had one lane reopened before 3am on Saturday, with fire crews departing the scene in the same period.

Crash investigations reportedly completed at around 10.30am, and vehicle recovery was completed around an hour later but only one lane was open northbound by 1pm, with the southbound carriageway still fully closed.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The M90 southbound is still closed at Kinross, between junctions 6 and 9, following a two-car crash.

“We were made aware around 10.30pm yesterday and emergency services remain at the scene. A local diversion is in place. Please avoid the area.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received the call at 10.40pm to a two-vehicle crash on the M90. Three appliances were dispatched, with the last one leaving the scene at 2.36am.”

The latest Amey update at 12.40pm read: “M90 Southbound remains closed due to an RTC, with lane 2 remaining closed Northbound. Crash investigations have been completed. Recovery has been completed; the debris clean-up has now commenced. Standard diversion remains in place. No delays showing in the area.”

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The village was also a filming location for a much-loved TV series

If you are looking for somewhere to visit this spring, then a Cambridgeshire village home to thatched cottages, a historic church, and highly-rated pubs should be on your list. Those who have lived in the county for many years may often find themselves looking for somewhere a little bit different to explore.

Grantchester can be found just two miles south of Cambridge, known best for its tranquil riverside meadows, historical ties to poet Rupert Brooke, and for being a filming location for a popular TV series. You can reach it by taking a peaceful walk from Cambridge, perfect for a warm day.

Grantchester has also been picked out as one of the UK’s best villages to visit in spring by London North East Railway (LNER). LNER has highlighted the best spring villages to visit by train, looking at everything from walking trails and nearby gardens to the variety of flowering plants.

The company said: “We also considered how each village comes to life in spring, from bursts of colour to those picture-perfect moments you’ll want to linger a little longer.”

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Grantchester was included among these places in the East of England region. Explaining the reasons for choosing Grantchester, LNER said: “Grantchester is a landscape of thatched cottages and wildflower meadows that feels like it’s been plucked straight from a Sunday night drama.”

The train operator also encouraged those who are adventurous to follow the river to Byron’s Pool, a wooden nature reserve where Lord Byron himself used to swim. LNER said it is a “peaceful, shaded escape that feels worlds away from the academic hustle of the city nearby”.

It is no wonder why the beautiful village of Grantchester has been chosen. Set in beautiful countryside but within walking or cycling distance to Cambridge’s city centre, the village makes for the ideal day visit out, or even a forever home.

Arguably the most notable feature in the village is the Orchard Tea Garden, a top-notch spot that has even been a favourite of illustrious characters over the years. From Virginia Woolf and Alan Turing to Stephen Hawking and King Charles, many people have a special place in their hearts for the tea rooms.

Offering delectable items including scones and homemade cakes, “there’s nothing quite like having a scone under the blossoming apple trees to mark the start of the season”, LNER added.

Grantchester was once home to one of the best-known English poets, Rupert Brooke, who studied at Cambridge University in the early 20th-century before moving to the village. He lived at The Orchard from 1901-1911 and at The Old Vicarage between 1911-1912.

Equally as fascinating, the village was featured in ITV’s much loved detective drama, Grantchester. Key filming spots include the Church of St Andrew and St Mary, the village centre, and Grantchester meadows.

Home to several pubs including The Red Lion and The Grantchester Green Man, this village has a spot that everyone can enjoy. Additionally, the picturesque village has Grantchester Church, featuring some Norman stonework but primarily of 14th and 15th-century construction.

This is the text from The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email. Sign up here to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

The US is reported to be greatly expanding the scope of its naval blockade of Iran, asserting the right to board and seize any ships it believes to be carrying “contraband” or “conditional contraband” bound for Iran from anywhere on the open seas. Respected maritime news and intelligence agency, Lloyd’s List, says this means that “almost any industrial cargo bound for Iran could plausibly be intercepted”. This will considerably raise the stakes in an already fraught situation.

Opinions are already divided as to how effective this “blockade of a blockade” is likely to be. The US president made the decision on April 12 to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.” The intention was to make clear to Tehran that they were ultimately not in control of the strait and certainly wouldn’t be allowed to profit by imposing a charge on ships it allowed to pass through.

The problem for the US is that traffic through the strait remains largely at a standstill. Reuters’ live tracker of traffic in the strait suggests a considerable gathering of vessels on either side of the waterway, with very little evidence of ships actually transiting the strait.

It is, writes maritime strategy expert Basil Germond, of Lancaster University, a question of who can withstand more pain from the economic fallout. So the US plan to seek and seize ships wherever they are on suspicion of carrying almost any sort of industrial cargo is clearly aimed at increasing that pain for Iran.

À lire aussi :
US naval blockade of Strait of Hormuz: what it involves and the risks attached

But one of the dangers is how far and how fast the situation might escalate. There was a fraught moment on April 14 when it appeared as if a Chinese-linked tanker had transited the strait. The Rich Starry, registered in landlocked Malawi, is Chinese owned and crewed. Would the US try to board the boat? How would China react if it did?

China buys about 90% of Iranian oil and is one of the few countries whose tankers were getting in and out of Iranian ports unchallenged, writes Tom Harper, an expert in Xino-US relations at the University of East London. US seizure of any Chinese tankers would be bound to considerably ratchet up tensions between the two superpowers.

As it turned out, the Rich Starry turned back in the Gulf of Oman and re-entered the strait without being stopped or challenged by the US. But the new US operating instructions could well make a confrontation more likely. Harper explores the implications of the US-Iran conflict for relations between Washington and Beijing in the run-up to Donald Trump’s planned state visit to the Chinese capital next month.

À lire aussi :
US blockade of Strait of Hormuz ratchets up tensions with China ahead of Trump visit to Beijing

Meanwhile the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon continues unabated. Ambassadors from the two countries met in Washington this week, where they resolved to hold direct, high-level talks. The US president has said that the leadership of the two countries would also speak, “for the first time in 34 years”, but the office of Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun denied any knowledge of the arrangement, saying that a ceasefire would need to be in place before any talks could take place.

Whether the US president has the leverage over Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to make that happen is another matter. The US and Israel certainly have one of the strongest partnerships of any two countries, write Bamo Nouri and Inderjeet Parmar of City St George’s, University of London. The US was the first country to formally recognise the state of Israel in 1948 and Washington has since provided the Jewish state with more than US$300 billion (£220 billion).

Wars against Soviet-aligned Arab states in the 1970s showed how Israel could be an important cold war bulwark against the spread of communism in the Middle East.

Israel’s influence in the US is often put down to the strength of the Jewish lobby there. But it is the perceived strategic value of the relationship, Nouri and Parmar believe, that is the key factor: “When core US strategic interests have been at stake, US policy has overridden lobbying pressure”.

À lire aussi :
Why the US and Israel’s alliance endures – even when it strains

A reset for Hungary-EU relations?

To Hungary, where the 16-year prime ministership of Viktor Orbán came to a close in a landslide election on April 12. The two-thirds majority won by Orbán’s opponent, Péter Magyar, gives the incoming PM the power – if he so chooses – to reverse some of the more illiberal measures implemented by the authoritarian Orbán.

It was a resounding victory: 138 seats to Magyar’s Tisza party to just 55 for Orbán’s Fidesz. All the more remarkable when you consider how the comprehensive state capture of Hungary’s media over Orbán’s tenure and the ferocious propaganda campaign the outgoing prime minister waged, using every organ of state to boost his chances.

Alexander Bor, an expert in propaganda and election manipulation at Central European University, explains that Orbán’s campaign hit two snags: the people’s disillusionment at Hungary’s parlous economy and a well-run campaign by a credible challenger in Magyar.

À lire aussi :
Viktor Orbán’s election loss shows the limits of his propaganda machine

Magyar’s victory went down well in Brussels, writes Michael Toomey, an expert in EU democracy at the University of Glasgow. Orbán’s warm relationship with Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was no secret. He did all he could to block EU aid packages for the defence of Ukraine and at one point was even revealed to be passing on information from closed EU ministerial meetings with his Russian friends.

“Had Orbán managed to prevail in the recent elections, the relationship between the EU and Hungary is likely to have reached a breaking point”, Toomey concludes.

À lire aussi :
Orbán’s downfall is a positive for EU-Hungary relations – but the reset will not be smooth

Trump vs Pope Leo

One relationship which appears to be under a degree of strain is that between the US president and Pope Leo XIV. Leo, the first pope born in the US, has been a highly visible and vehement opponent of the US war with Iran, calling for peace and condemning “those who wage war”, whose hands he said, quoting scripture, “are full of blood”.

Trump replied, not quoting scripture, that the pope was “weak on crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy,” adding that he was only elected to the papacy because he is American and the Catholic church “thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”

Massimo D’Angelo, an expert in the Catholic church’s diplomacy, explains why the US president is likely to come off worse in this particular contretemps.

À lire aussi :
‘I’m not a politician’: why the clash with Pope Leo could prove dangerous for Donald Trump

Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

The actor was diagnosed with Stage Three skin cancer, which spread to his neck.

Hope Street star Finnian Garbutt has died at the age of 28 after a battle with cancer.

The actor, best known for his role as PC Ryan Power in the popular BBC crime series, was diagnosed with Stage Three skin cancer, which spread to his neck.

His family said in a statement: “Hi everyone. We’re absolutely heartbroken to announce that Finnian passed away yesterday after a sudden decline in his condition.

“He passed peacefully at home, as he wished, surrounded by his family.”

Finnian was diagnosed with cancer four years ago after his barber found a lump behind his ear, which he initially thought was an ingrown hair. He underwent surgery to remove the cancer in 2022, but it had sadly spread.

He shared the news of his end of life diagnosis in a heartbreaking update just a few weeks ago and a crowdfunding page was set up to support his wife Louise and daughter Saoirse, writes the Mirror.

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His loved ones said: “We want to thank everyone for their support, their kind words, and for being with us during this really difficult time. And thank you also to everyone who donated to our GoFundMe page. The peace of mind you all gave Finn during his last days made his passing so much easier to bear.

“We will always love and miss you, Finn. You were the greatest husband, father, son, brother, and friend we could ever ask for, and knowing that you’re no longer in pain gives us all comfort, despite our own immense pain at losing you.

“We will soon be announcing details of his funeral. In the meantime, we ask that our family’s privacy be respected at this really difficult time. Thank you so much, and with all the love in the world, Louise, Luke & the family xxx.”

Finnian revealed his tragic news in March, writing on his Instagram: “Over the last month or so I’ve been having quite a bit of pain in my back and hip. My cancer team admitted me the other day for observations and to do a few scans.

“Unfortunately the scans have shown that the cancer has progressed rapidly in my body and I am now entering the last stages of my life.”

He added: “I’m putting this out there as it is really difficult to tell people individually and I hope now it’s in the open then I can enjoy the time with my amazing family and friends.”

Finnian also added that since his diagnosis four years ago, he had “achieved so many of my life goals – 30 episodes in a TV show, being the lead in a movie (that should be out soon), buying my own house, marrying my best friend and becoming a father to the most incredible baby girl who never fails to make me smile”.

He ended the statement by thanking those who had reached out throughout his cancer journey, and added: “If anyone wants to meet up for a pint, coffee or general bit of craic please reach out and we can try and make it work.”

Tributes have since poured in for the star, with Cameron Cuffe saying: “Finnian brought so much joy to so many and his memory will be cherished forever. My deepest condolences to all the family at this time.”

Luke Delaney added: “I’ll raise a glass to you tonight Finn. A remarkable man who’ll be deeply missed. Sending all my love to your family during this heartbreaking time. Rest in peace mate.”

Finnian received floods of support and the GoFundMe page saw people flock to make donations and share tributes and supportive messages. One supporter wrote: “I’m heartbroken for this brave young man and his beautiful little family. I hope my donation helps to give him some peace knowing that his family will be taken care of.”

Another added: “You are some man. Love to you and your beautiful family”. And a third said: “We look forward each week to watch Hope Street here in America. You have been a great addition to the cast and we were devastated to hear of your diagnosis. Sending you and your family strength to see this through.”

The actor’s go fund me has so far raised more than £100,000, with a flood of donations in the hours since his death was announced.

In a message of thanks to donors before his death, Finnian wrote: “You are all incredible people and I am so blessed that you have helped me in so many ways over the last few weeks. My family will benefit so much which is such a tremendous weight off my shoulders. Thank you, Finnian x”.

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