If he pops up on Would I Lie To You? , Last One Laughing, or wanders into shot on Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing , you know you are about to get a story that starts small and ends in tears of laughter.

His tales have become the sort of thing people fire into WhatsApp chats with a simple: “You’ve got to watch this.”

The way he tells them

Plenty of comics tell daft stories. What makes Mortimer different is how real his nonsense feels.

Think about that hilarious self‑dentistry story on Would I Lie To You? . He talks about his teeth going wrong after a chocolate bar and calmly drifts into describing how he sorted it out himself, like he is chatting about putting up a shelf.

@uanddave Would you let Bob Mortimer in your mouth? #bobmortimer #wouldilietoyou #comedy #dentist Watch Would I Lie To You? on @UKTV Play ♬ original sound – U&Dave

You can see the panel wobbling between disbelief and total acceptance, because he throws in just enough everyday detail to make the madness sound possible.

It is the same with the Chris Rea bath tale, or the gaming‑chair saga, or the time he explains a run‑in with the police that should not make sense but somehow does.

He never rushes. He circles back, adds a tiny extra detail, and suddenly you realise you have leaned forward without noticing.

It feels less like a TV bit and more like listening to the best storyteller in the pub who has finally warmed up and started on the good stuff.

Fans talk about his episodes of WILTY as the ones they always click on first. You hear people say they have “lost an hour” rewatching his clips, because once you start on one story you end up jumping straight into another.

Why Gone Fishing hits differently

Then there is Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing , which feels like a completely different show until Bob opens his mouth and you realise it is the same brain at work, just with more sky and fewer studio lights.

On paper, it is two blokes by a river.

null (Image: BBC/Robert Pereira Hind)

In reality, it is long, daft conversations about nothing in particular that suddenly open up into something very honest about getting older and being scared.

You get the wobbly walks along the bank, the dafter moments when he ends up on his backside or arguing with a camping chair, but you also get those pauses where he and Paul Whitehouse talk very plainly about heart surgery and what comes after.

The switches between clowning and vulnerability feel natural rather than forced.

It is exactly how a day out with an old mate often goes: serious for five minutes, then completely stupid again.

That is why people lean on Bob when life feels heavy.

A Teesside voice in a national spotlight

Through all of this, Mortimer has never sounded like he has drifted away from where he started.

The way he describes streets, neighbours and jobs feels very recognisable if you grew up anywhere in the North East.

null (Image: John Bailey)

There is a particular rhythm to how he talks about stupid decisions, daft plans and old cars that belongs to this part of the world.

That is why younger viewers who find him through clipped‑up WILTY stories or short Gone Fishing moments often end up digging back through older work like Shooting Stars .

They are not just stumbling across a random panel‑show regular. They are discovering someone whose voice carries a whole region with it, even when he is talking about something as daft as improvised dentistry or a spa day gone wrong.

Why the clips never die

In an internet full of things you only watch once, Mortimer’s stories are oddly rewatchable.

The punchline is never the only point.

null (Image: Ian West/PA)

You come back for the way he sets it up, the way his face goes serious just as the story goes ridiculous, and the way everyone around him slowly falls apart.

Even when you know where his dentistry tale is heading, you still want to hear how he gets there. The same is true of Gone Fishing .

In the end, that is why the love for Bob Mortimer keeps bouncing back every time a clip resurfaces.

He brings proper oddness into the most ordinary settings, but never sneers at the people or places in his stories.

He sounds like a Teesside neighbour, behaves like the funniest person in your friendship group, and somehow turns dental cement, motorway lay‑bys and quiet riverbanks into part of the country’s shared in‑jokes.

For a lot of readers here, he will always be that lad from Middlesbrough who made it big and never stopped sounding like one of us.

Donald Trump said the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, should spend more time ‘fixing his broken country’ and less time ‘interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran nuclear threat’

Donald Trump has mocked Germany as a “broken country” after its chancellor said Iran had “humiliated” the US.

The president said the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, should spend more time “fixing his broken country” and less time “interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran nuclear threat,” in a scathing Truth Social post.

He also slammed the chancellor for being “totally ineffective” in ending Russia’s war on Urkaine.

“The Chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy, and less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat, thereby making the World, including Germany, a safer place! President DJT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social today.

Trump’s comments come after Merz previously said the US was being “humiliated” by “very skilled” Iranians.

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The stylish crime drama follows a group of young Surrealist artists in the 1930s and is now free to watch.

A “must-watch” murder mystery that is ideal for Agatha Christie enthusiasts is now available to stream at no cost.

This Is Not A Murder Mystery centres on a circle of young Surrealist artists during the 1930s.

The Belgian English-language crime drama has arrived on Channel 4, having originally broadcast last year.

Set amongst the grandeur of an English country estate, the series finds a gathering of celebrated artists ensnared alongside a serial killer.

The production stars Pierre Gervais as Rene Magritte, Inaki Mur as Salvador Dali, Florence Hall as Lee Miller, Frank Rourke as Man Ray and Mike Hoffman as Max Ernst, reports the Mirror.

The official synopsis for This Is Not A Murder Mystery, drawn from Magritte’s The Treachery of Images painting, states: “Crime drama set in the flamboyant 1930s, following a group of young Surrealist artists, including Dali and Magritte, who are trapped in a lavish mansion with a serial killer on the loose.”

Viewers were left gripped by the unique period drama, with one person writing: “This series is a delightful and stylish twist on the classic whodunit. Set in the opulent 1930s with a gathering of legendary surrealist artists, it plays masterfully with suspense and visual flair.” They added: “For anyone looking for an intelligent drama wrapped in atmosphere and intrigue, this series is a must-watch.”

Another person branded it “worth watching” while someone else called it “charming”. When the trailer dropped, fans rushed to share their excitement, with one writing: “This looks *rilly* good, as another said: “This looks fun!”

Someone else said: “I’m so glad Agatha Christie-ish stories has taken ahold of media for now. It’s such a fun genre.”

Another added: “I’ve been itching for another story like this ever since Knives Out came out years ago! And I’m also really excited to see a cast where I don’t recognize anyone I’m sick of Hollywood only casting the same “trendy” actors in roles they’re ill-suited for so this is a nice chance to see other talent shine!”

Producer Kristoffel Mertens and Elly Vervloet previously spoke to Variety about turning their surrealist idea into this drama, with Mertens saying: “It started as the typical cliché idea that goes around in production companies.

“Everyone is very enthusiastic about it, but at the same time we would never be able to make it. Yet for this one, it remained with us and we kept going back to it, so in the end, we thought we could try to at least get it into development. And it turns out that “This is Not a Murder Mystery’ became one of the biggest shows ever made in Flanders.”

It’s definitely the biggest series we have ever done”, Vervloet added.

“We usually commission Flemish series for our local audience, creating a mix of domestic series and high-end TV shows as well.

“But at that level, it becomes a matter of dreaming big, being bold, and daring to make this choice as a public broadcaster to bring this English-spoken series to our audience and beyond.”

This Is Not A Murder Mystery is available to watch on Channel 4

The driver of the car has been named as 73-year-old Tony Warner

A Newmarket man has been arrested after the driver of a car died in a crash on a busy A-road. Suffolk Police were called to the A14 westbound carriageway at Nacton, near Ipswich, at just after 9am on Monday, April 27, following reports of a crash involving two vehicles.

The vehicles involved in the collision were a lorry and a silver Ford S-Max. The East of England Ambulance Service and Suffolk Fire and Rescue crews attended the scene.

The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers in the car were taken to hospital for treatment but they did not sustain any serious injuries.

The driver has been named as Tony Warner, aged 73, of Ilketshall St Lawrence. A 50-year-old man from Newmarket has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving. He was taken to the Martlesham Police Investigation Centre. He was released on bail until Monday, July 13, pending further enquiries.

The A14 in the westbound direction between Junction 58 at Seven Hills and Junction 56 at Wherstead was closed until 2am the following morning. The eastbound carriageway was closed until 7pm that evening.

Officers are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward. If you witnessed the crash or have dashcam footage that could be helpful, you should contact the Joint Norfolk & Suffolk Serious Collision Investigation Unit, quoting reference 37/23817/26.

You can call 101 if you do not have access to the internet.

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A glance at recent front pages of many British newspapers leaves no doubt about the stridency of their views on net zero.

On January 13, for instance, the Express said the government must “Tell truth on ‘fantasy’ cost of net zero”, while the Mail’s headline on the same day used the same idea of “fantasy figures”. A few weeks later, a Telegraph headline claimed “Labour’s net zero extremism is ripping the heart out of Britain”.

But how representative are these headlines of wider coverage? To find out, colleagues and I analysed nearly 500 articles published over four months in 2023 across nine UK newspapers (both right- and left-leaning), looking at pieces where net zero appeared in the headline.

We focused on the presence of statements which were factually inaccurate, or misleading (defined as the omission of a credible counter-argument).

Outright inaccuracies were relatively rare. We found 22 examples, partly because we used a narrow definition. But misleading claims were very common.

This was especially true in opinion and editorial pieces. In four right-wing outlets – the Telegraph, Mail, Express and Sun – more than 70% of such articles contained at least one misleading statement.

Because a single misleading statement may not be representative of an overall article – perhaps appearing in a quote – we then looked at those articles where there was a pattern, containing at least three misleading statements.

We found 50 such articles, of which 92% were published in the right-wing press, and the vast majority in editorials and opinion pieces. Of the editorials and opinion pieces we flagged at the Telegraph, Mail, Express and Sun, between 39% and 60% included at least three misleading statements.

Articles which contain at least three misleading statements:

The most common misleading statements concerned the potentially high cost of net zero, the various ways the policy was being implemented, and claims about the unfair distribution of costs. These claims were often presented without acknowledging opposing evidence or arguments – for example, that the costs of inaction were also high or possibly higher, or that experts dispute the figures presented in the article.

By contrast, left-wing publications were more likely to mention the high costs of inaction and the potential co-benefits of net zero such as improved health or better air quality.

In this context, remember that in July 2025 the UK government’s Office for Budget Responsibility found that the cost of bringing emissions down to net zero is significantly lower than the economic damages of failing to act. It also found those net zero costs will be much lower than previously expected.

Scrutiny – but fairer and better-informed

This isn’t a call for newspapers and journalists to avoid scrutinising net zero. It’s a policy that will be funded in part by British taxpayers, and may impose significant and uneven costs on different sectors of the population.

But coverage that focuses only on these costs in isolation, or that cherry picks data to support a single view, risks giving readers an incomplete picture. Fairer and better-informed coverage would mention on a regular basis the in-depth findings of a range of experts on the costs of inaction and the co-benefits of action.

The Times, for example, shows that it is possible to quote experts from two sides. In our 2023 sample we found several articles, including some in right-leaning newspapers, where the high cost of net zero is mentioned alongside the benefits of taking action, or that also added the qualification that many climate experts dispute the high costs.

A final thought: in its March 2026 report, the UK’s official advisory Climate Change Committee said that the “cost” of cutting UK emissions to net zero could be less than the cost of a single fossil-fuel price shock, while a net-zero economy would be almost completely protected from future spikes.

I looked in vain for a front-page headline in the Sun, Express or Mail screaming that reaching net zero would be cheaper for the UK than a fossil fuel crisis, such as the one triggered by the war on Iran.

Actor Ryan Prescott has revealed his role in a new Amazon Prime series in a move away from the ITV soap

Coronation Street star Ryan Prescott has excited fans as he revealed his role in a new Amazon Prime series in a move away from the long-running show.

The actor is best known for playing Ryan Connor in the ITV soap, having started in the role back in 2018. But viewers may also know that Ryan was actually first introduced to Weatherfield in 2006 and was played by Ben Thompson until 2010.

He was seen leaving the cobbles when Ryan accepted a university placement in Glasgow. Two years later, however, he was kicked out of his course and returned home, hooked on cocaine. Sol Heras then took on the role from 2012 to 2013, when Ryan went to Ibiza to work as a DJ.

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Five years later, there was another change as Ryan was recast in the role in 2018, when his character’s job in Ibiza fell through and he moved back in with his mum, Michelle, played by Kym Marsh. The rest, as they say, is history but while Ryan continues to appear on the cobbles, he’s also revealed another of his acting roles.

The soap star is now appearing in Siblings, a new comedy-drama on Amazon Prime. The synopsis reads: “Siblings reunite at their crumbling childhood home to scatter their mother’s ashes. Old wounds, secrets, and unexpected moments of grace turn a tense day into a darkly funny reckoning with family.”

Sharing the news on Instagram, Ryan wrote: “#SIBLINGS- out now on Amazon Prime! Huge thank you to the whole team, loved every minute of this shoot, which flew by in a flash. How lucky I am to get to tell stories with people like this! Available to rent on Amazon- LINK IN BIO.”

He added: “Also, if you fancy leaving us a little review on Amazon, we would LOVE to hear your feedback, positive or negative…anything to get that algorithm cooking! Massive thanks and much love.”

And he was quickly flooded with support. Corrie co-star Cait Fitton said: “Proud broskiii @ryan_prescottactor.” @lucylou_ox replied: “Will definitely be watching.” @nicsohara commented: “Well done ryan, you should be so proud of yourself.” @swarlaxmahtab wrote: “Congratulations.” @nancyhovhanesian added: “Wonderful.”

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He will take up the post this summer

Translink has announced the appointment of former engineer Gerard Carlin as its new boss.

He will take up the post on July 1, succeeding Chris Conway who announced his decision last October to resign as CEO after over ten years in the role.

Chris Conway joined Translink as Group Chief Executive in September 2015, and announced his decision to leave the role in October last year.

READ MORE: Translink CEO Chris Conway resigns after ten years in roleREAD MORE: Trains between Belfast city centre and airport ‘every 20 minutes’ under new transport proposal

Translink is the public transport operator for Northern Ireland, delivering around 13,000 services each day and managing over £5 billion of public transport assets.

Mr Conway will stay in his role until the end of June 2026 to ensure a smooth and effective transition. He has been Group Chief Executive since 2015, having led the organisation through major transformation including most recently the opening of Belfast Grand Central Station, Ireland’s largest integrated transport hub.

Gerard Carlin is currently Director of Networks and Innovation for SONI, Northern Ireland’s electricity Transmission System Operator.

An engineer by background, he has 20 years of experience in infrastructure, including the Rail, Water and Oil & Gas Industries. He has held leadership roles at London Underground, Crossrail and Transport for London before joining Northern Ireland Water in 2021 where he worked as Head of Transformation.

In 2018, he was part of the leadership team brought in to recover the Crossrail project, and as Programme Transition Director was responsible for the handover of the Elizabeth Line.

Welcoming the appointment, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said: “Public transport is an essential way of travelling for many across our communities. The development of facilities and services has supported growth in demand and an increase in passenger numbers.

“Gerard brings a wealth of experience from his work in public transport previously and I congratulate him on his appointment as Chief Executive of Translink. We look forward to working with him closely in this role and I wish him every success as he takes up this important position.”

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Jess de Caso is walking for her mum, who was diagnosed with MS in 2012

A Manchester student has spoken out about her ‘strong and resilient’ mum who has battled multiple sclerosis (MS) for over a decade.

Jess de Caso, 21, who is in her final year studying Physiology at Manchester Metropolitan University, will join hundreds of people of Saturday, May 9, to walk 20km for the MS Society’s flagship fundraising event, MS Walk. She is taking part alongside her friend Claudia to raise money and awareness for the condition that has affected her family since she was a child.

Jess, originally from Stoke on Trent, is walking in support of her mum, Vicky, who was diagnosed with MS in 2012 when Jess was just seven years old.

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She said: “My friend Claudia and I are walking for my mum, who lived with MS. She’s one of the strongest, funniest and most quietly resilient people I know.

“Seeing the way she handles the day-to-day realities of MS has shaped so much for who I am. Taking part in MS Walk feels like a way to honour her; to show her how much I admire her and to stand alongside everyone affected effected by MS.

“It’s also my way of giving something back to the community that has supported families like mine for so long. There’s something really powerful about turning all the emotions you feel when connected with someone living with MS; love, frustration and hope, into something positive. This is my first ever MS Walk. It already feels really special. I’m feeling a mix of excitement, nerves and a lot of pride.”

Reflecting on growing up with her mum’s diagnosis, Jess said: “I remember I struggled a bit growing up. I would get annoyed when my mum read to me because she would slur her words. I just didn’t understand what was going on. On holidays she would be affected a lot by the heat so we’d have to take a lot of breaks.

“I remember just wanting to protect her as I got older. I never wanted to go to school as I wanted to stay home and look after her. I’m now writing my dissertation on diagnosing MS, it’s something that’s impacted my life and shaped what I want to do with my future.”

6,200 in Greater Manchester living with MS

MS Walk has been taking place in the UK for more than a decade and brings together communities across the UK to raise awareness and funds for research and to support everyone that suffers from MS. In 2026, MS Walk events will take place in Manchester, Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff and London, with routes designed to be accessible for all ages and abilities.

More than 150,000 people in the UK are living with MS, with around 135 new diagnoses every week. In Greater Manchester alone, it is estimated that approximately 6,200 people are living with the condition. MS affects the brain and spinal cord, which impacts how people move, think and feel. MS is a lifelong condition with no cure, although treatments can help manage symptoms.

The MS Society is the UK’s leading charity for people affected by MS and they have been at the forefront of support, research and campaigning for 70 years to improve people affected by the condition. Across the country, the society’s local group help bring people together to reduce isolation, offer events and exercise classes. The society offers free emotional support and information to anyone affected by MS including benefits and legal advice.

Mark Haymes, Head of Community and Events Fundraising at MS Society, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Jess and everyone taking part in MS Walk this year. The event is all about community. There’s no better feeling than seeing friends and families come together to support people living with MS.”

To donate, or see more information about MS, their research support or campaigns, visit: www.mssociety.org.uk

Places are still available for the MS Walk Manchester, with participants able to sign up at the start line on the day. For more information visit: www.mssociety.org.uk/mswalk.

One person who is concerned about the fly-tipping described the area has having ‘hotspots’

Concerns have been raised about a “repeated” fly-tipping problem in Cambridge suburbs. Mattresses and other furniture items were dumped at the back of a bus stop in Buchan Street, Kings Hedges earlier this week.

The site has been described as a “hotspot” by Mahfuj Ahmed, who is a Conservative candidate running to be a councillor for Kings Hedge. Mahfuj goes out daily and finds fly-tips around Chesterton and Arbury, and he finds it “upsetting”.

He added: “I go out everyday and it’s terrible. I report it, it’s gone and then there’s more. It’s not only Buchan Street, there are other hotspots. It’s especially a problem for kids and parents. When you take the kids out and you see it’s not tidy, it’s concerning.

“You don’t want to take your kids out to a mess.” Mahfuj wants to see more done to tackle the problem.

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He added: “The problem is around that area [Buchan Street] there is a corner. So people might think they can just chuck it there. We want to make sure that it doesn’t happen and also find out the reason why people are doing it.”

Other residents have raised concerns about fly-tipping in the area. Bruno Von Janowski believes the response to fly-tipping incidents is “slow”. He added: “The council are notified, but they are often slow in removing articles left on the pavement.”

Alex Harris said Buchan Street side streets and also at Pulley Park is “pretty bad” for fly-tipping. He added: “But, to give the council their dues, they come to collect within two days of me reporting it.”

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Nathan Duell, who lives on Campkin Road, said: “There is so much fly tipping [around here]. It just gets left for weeks and it’s disgusting. I’m the only person who reports it and there’s no consequence for it. It just keeps getting worse.”

Cambridge City Council oversees removal of fly-tips in the area. On the fly-tipping in Buchan Street, a council spokesperson said: “The fly-tip pictured in the Buchan Street area was reported to us on April 19 and cleared on April 20.

“We had a subsequent fly-tip reported on April 23 which was cleared on April 24, and another was reported on April 26 at 5.45pm, which is being cleared this week.”

When a fly-tip is reported, the council will take enforcement action. The spokesperson added: “We investigate reports of fly-tipping, and seek to take enforcement action against offenders.

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“You can face a fixed penalty notice of £400 for fly-tipping, or the court can impose an unlimited fine. This is also the case if somebody else fly-tips waste on your behalf. Find out more about how to dispose of household waste correctly, what constitutes fly-tipping – and report suspected fly-tipping – on Cambridge City Council’s website.”

The other candidates running for the King’s Hedges ward alongside Mahfuj Ahmed are below:

• Zarina Anwar – Independent
• Eleanor Cooke – Independent
• David Michael Creek – Liberal Democrats
• John McKay – Reform UK
• Daniel Quinn – Green
• Martin Andrew Smart – Labour