Looking elsewhere, this edition marks the first time since Sochi 2014 that ice hockey players from the National Hockey League (NHL) will compete on the Olympic stage. Among the favourites are Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland as their teams benefit from the return of the NHL’s talent pool.
Another star to keep an eye on is American snowboarder Chloe Kim who is going in search of a three-peat in the snowboard halfpipe. She rose to stardom in PyeongChang in 2018 when she became the youngest woman to win gold in her discipline, at just 17. She came out on top again four years later in Beijing, becoming the first woman to win two Olympic halfpipe golds. Having struggled with her mental health in the aftermath of the Games, she contemplated retiring. But rather than stepping back, she has rediscovered her motivation and passion and has set her sights on a third straight gold, something no woman has ever achieved in the event.
How to watch
The BBC does not have wall-to-wall coverage of the Games as it has done in previous years. There is TV coverage on BBC One and BBC Two of “all major events from 9am to 10pm each day”, as well as a second stream, Olympics Extra, which is available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sports website and app to show “additional” events from 8am to 11pm.
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Highlights go out across BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport social media channels as well, with BBC Sport also covering events with live text, day-by-day guides and the medal table.
TV coverage is being led by Claire Balding, Hazel Ervine and Jeannette Kwakye, while Katie Smith and Maz Farookhi deliver daily coverage and interviews on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The full Games is being broadcast on TNT Sport and Discovery+ in the UK for subscribers.
Are Russia and Belarus competing?
Neither Russia nor Belarus are competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, after being banned as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Athletes from both countries competed at the 2022 Games in Beijing, China, with Russian athletes competing under the Russian Olympic Committee after a state-sponsored doping scandal resulted in athletes being unable to compete under the Russian name, flag or anthem.
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Athletes from both countries will compete under the Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) banner, after a ruling by the International Skating Union in December 2024 which allowed them to participate in the Games under this condition. The delegation will not march in the parade of nations at the opening ceremony, and will not receive an official ranking in the medal tables, as occurred in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
What happened at the last Winter Olympics?
Norway came out on top overall in 2022, with the most gold medals (16) and the highest medal total (37). Thirty-four of their athletes finished on the podium and two of their biathlon athletes, Marte Olsbu Roeiseland and Johannes Thignes Boe, set a joint-record for winning five medals each at a single Games.
Rhododendron ponticum, bursting into bright colour at this time of year, has been spreading widely across the Smithills Estate for years, crowding out native species.
Rhododendron on Smithills trail (Image: NQ)
The Trailblazers, volunteers working in the area, say the plant’s thick growth is “choking” the woodland floor and leaving little room for other plant life to survive.
Work uncovers water feature on the estate after plants removed (Image: NQ)
Trailblazer Alan Cowardine said: “The problem with the rhododendron is it’s got a thick foliage. “No light gets to the ground, so nothing else can survive.
“So that could be creatures like earthworms, beetles, any flies, anything like that. We’ve actually seen nothing since we’ve been pulling out the rhododendrons.”
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The plant spreads aggressively and is difficult to control once established.
Work is underway to control the plethora of out-of-control rhododendron bushes and Trailblazers are hopeful the can limit its growth, even if hedges found all over the trail are made mostly out of the daunting yet manageable rhododendron.
Rhododendron can cause illness and vomiting when eaten, but while the risks to people and pets are considered low, volunteers say the plant should not be consumed.
Mr Cowardine added: “Each plant will produce a million seeds, then the roots form and it spreads as well, so it’s not a good thing to have and it’s a toxic plant as well.”
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“It is toxic, but you’d have to physically eat it, but it’s not good for the environment full stop.”
Smithills’ Woodland, which spans for acres and is a walking route for locals, is maintained every Monday by the Trailblazers.
Jean Turner (Image: NQ)
Each week, they come together to stay on top of plant life, create walkways for visitors and restore once neat areas, such as ponds.
They have had help from local organisations such as Bolton Council, Friends of Smithills hall, places of education, and Bolton Green Umbrella to name a few.
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Volunteer at work (Image: NQ)
The plant’s impact goes beyond visibility, affecting the balance of the wider ecosystem.
Jean Turner, Chair of Edgworth and District Horticultural Society, said: “The problem we’ve got is rhododendron ponticum, a beautiful flower but deadly to the environment.
“Anything underneath a rhododendron bush will die because the rhododendrons have in themselves a chemical which kills or inhibits any growth.
“The rhododendron plant is poisonous to many animals, so sheep and cows won’t graze on it. I suppose the leaves don’t look very appetising, but you would take precautions.”
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Efforts to remove the plant are ongoing, with volunteers working to dig out roots and prevent regrowth.
They hope that over time clearing the rhododendron will allow native plants and wildlife to return to help the woodland flourish.
Jamie Lynn Spears’ life now from Netflix show to ‘frustrating’ Britney relationship – The Mirror
Need to know
Jamie Lynn Spears has rebuilt her career with Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias and reality TV appearances, but her relationship with sister Britney remains strained following years of public fallout over the conservatorship
Samantha Bartlett Assistant Editor, Social News
11:04, 03 Apr 2026Updated 11:09, 03 Apr 2026
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Jamie Lynn Spears is currently concentrating on a number of forthcoming professional ventures(Image: Emma McIntyre, Getty Images)
All you need to know about Jamie Lynn Spears’ life now
Jamie Lynn Spears is an American actress and singer who has enjoyed a career spanning two decades, best known for her breakthrough as a teenage star on Nickelodeon before successfully transitioning into country music and dramatic television.
She first stepped into the spotlight as a child performer, following in the footsteps of her famous older sister, Britney Spears. Jamie Lynn made her screen debut in the 2002 film Crossroads, portraying a younger version of her sister’s character. Shortly afterwards, she joined the sketch comedy series All That as a regular cast member for seasons 8 and 9.
In 2005, she secured the lead role of Zoey Brooks in the popular teen sitcom Zoey 101. The programme became one of Nickelodeon’s most-watched premieres and earned her numerous accolades, amongst them two Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.
Her blossoming acting career came to an abrupt standstill in late 2007 when she revealed she was pregnant at just 16 years old. Despite widespread belief that this led to Zoey 101 being axed, the final series had already completed filming and was broadcast in 2008. Following a five-year break to dedicate herself to motherhood, Spears moved to Nashville to chase her dreams of a country music career.
She launched her debut country single, “How Could I Want More,” in 2013, followed by the EP The Journey in 2014. Spears also made her mark as a songwriter, co-writing Jana Kramer’s platinum-certified 2015 single “I Got the Boy”. In recent years, Spears has rebuilt her presence across both scripted and unscripted television. She made her return to acting in 2020 as a series regular in the Netflix drama Sweet Magnolias, taking on the role of Noreen Fitzgibbons. She also reprised her beloved role as Zoey Brooks in the 2023 sequel film Zoey 102 on Paramount+, on which she additionally served as executive producer.
Throughout 2023, she featured on a string of reality competition programmes, including Dancing with the Stars, Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, and the popular British series I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!. Away from the screen, she released her autobiography, Things I Should Have Said, in 2022, offering a candid account of her life in the public eye and her family experiences.
As of early 2026, Jamie Lynn is concentrating on a number of forthcoming professional ventures while marking important family milestones. She resides in Louisiana with her husband, businessman Jamie Watson, to whom she has been married since 2014. The couple have two daughters: Maddie Briann (born in 2008), who is completing her final year of high school in 2026, and Ivey Joan (born in 2018). She regularly offers her followers a peek into her down-to-earth home life on social media, having recently marked her 12th wedding anniversary with a quiet dinner at home.
Jamie Lynn has spoken candidly about her battles with anxiety, depression, and OCD, which she manages through therapy. She is equally forthright about her Catholic faith, crediting it with helping her family navigate challenging periods, including her daughter Maddie’s ATV accident in 2017. She continues in her role as Noreen Fitzgibbons in the hit Netflix series Sweet Magnolias. Season 4 launched in early 2026, and she’s already hinted that Season 5 is anticipated in June 2026.
Her relationship with her elder sister, Britney Spears, remains a significant focus of public attention. The siblings have endured a highly publicised and turbulent rift over recent years, primarily revolving around Britney’s 13-year conservatorship and Jamie Lynn’s 2022 memoir, Things I Should Have Said. While Britney has conveyed both affection and fierce frustration towards her sister through her own memoir and social media posts, the relationship is widely regarded as strained yet possibly repairable. Jamie Lynn insists she loves her sister but has frequently felt caught in her “shadow”.
Kyle Williams and Simon Farr ‘did not care about the pain they caused to vulnerable people’
10:53, 03 Apr 2026Updated 10:53, 03 Apr 2026
Two members of an organised crime gang profiteered from supplying cocaine in a south Wales valleys town, a court heard. Police said Kyle Williams, 38, and Simon Farr, 54, “did not care about the pain they caused to vulnerable people and their families”.
Cardiff Crown Court heard neighbourhood officers in Blaenau Gwent investigating the sale and supply of class A drugs carried out early-morning warrants at two addresses in Abertillery in March last year.
During these searches, officers recovered two mobile phones and, at the address of Williams seized cocaine with a street value of up to £9,720, and £8,860 cash.
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When analysing the phones seized, officers found evidence linking Williams and Farr to the sale and supply of cocaine. Both men, from Abertillery, were charged in December of last year.
Williams and Farr appeared for sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court Thursday, April 2, after previously admitting to supplying the class A controlled drug and possessing a controlled drug of class B – cannabis/cannabis resin.
Williams also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine. Don’t miss a court report by signing upto our crime newsletter here
Williams received a sentence of four years imprisonment, while Farr was sentenced to two-and-a-half years.
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PC Connor Jones from Gwent Police said: “I would like to thank all those who played a role in Operation Dansom, a lengthy and thorough investigation, during which meticulous work from our data analysts and digital forensics teams uncovered a wealth of evidence to bring these two men to justice.
“We were able to establish that Williams and Farr were profiting financially from the sale of class A drugs – they did not care about the pain they caused to vulnerable people and their families.
“These sentencing outcomes were made possible by the important role our communities play in these enquiries as the information given to us helps build our intelligence picture and gives us the chance to bring criminals, like Williams and Farr, before the courts.
“Our teams will continue to work tirelessly to tackle drug supply in Blaenau Gwent and protect vulnerable people from the devastation and misery that illegal drugs can cause.”
Pupils from Cairns and St Cadoc’s Primary Schools have been working with Nil b Mouth to see how sport can bring people from different walks of life together.
The Commonwealth Games visited Cambuslang as part of a project highlighting how sport can bring people from different walks of life together.
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Pupils from Cairns and St Cadoc’s Primary Schools have been working with equality campaigners Nil by Mouth on a six-week programme that sees P7 youngsters participate in a range of sporting activities and workshops highlighting the importance of community and teamwork.
The schools have been working with the charity, set up by Glasgow teenager Cara Henderson in response to the brutal sectarian murder of her school friend Mark Scott, for more than a decade winning a number of awards for their efforts to bring children together to better understand difference.
The final session of the programme saw a special visit by the Glasgow 2026 mascot Finnie who took part in a basketball challenge with the pupils and staff.
The Commonwealth Games takes place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, featuring a 10-sport programme and six fully integrated para sports hosted within four venues across the city.
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Last week it was announced that £2.2 million pounds of National Lottery funding would be made available to support community, art and sports activity inspired by the Games to communities across Scotland and it is hoped groups in Rutherglen and Cambuslang will benefit.
Nil By Mouth partnership manager Emma Alexander said: “Every athlete competing at Glasgow 2026 will once have been a young person who found the inspiration to compete and excel at sport and we hope that this is a real way of linking these schools with an international sporting competition happening right on their doorstep.
“One of the themes of the Games is bringing people together and in a part of the world where sport can often be seen as a dividing line these schools have a long and proud record of using sport to work together and help children understand and celebrate difference rather than viewing it as something to be feared.”
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Martin Hughes, deputy head of Cairns Primary School said: “We really value our friendships with our neighbours at St Cadoc’s and our joint project is a real highlight of the school year. The kids have really enjoyed Finnie’s visit and you can see their excitement building about the Commonwealth Games and the chance to enjoy international level sport right here.”
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“I learned to play football in the streets, in the estates, on concrete. So, naturally it’s my DNA and I’ll never change that,” Cherki said in July, external after joining City from Ligue 1 side Lyon.
Cherki has stuck to his word since moving to England and remains a crowd pleaser. There is an intake of breath from the crowd every time he gets the ball at Etihad Stadium.
His catalogue of tricks and flicks in a City shirt this season would make for an impressive compilation on YouTube or TikTok.
Team-mates have spoken glowingly about Cherki, with France captain Kylian Mbappe saying he has a “gift” of playing football, City skipper Bernardo Silva calling him a “special talent” while Phil Foden said he is a “unique” player.
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Though Guardiola has said Cherki is one of the most talented players he has worked with, some of the silky skills from the 22-year-old have not always gone down well.
In December, Guardiola rebuked his player for a ‘rabona’ assist against Sunderland saying “I never saw Lionel Messi play a cross like he has done” and although it worked on this occasion, he would be in “trouble” if it didn’t.
Cherki seems to delight and infuriate in equal measure.
Brought in to replace club legend Kevin de Bruyne, Cherki had big boots to fill but the early signs suggest he can plug the hole left by the brilliant Belgian and his creativity.
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The midfielder has provided eight Premier League assists this season, all from open play, while he has created 15 big chances and managed 21 through balls – he trails only Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes in all these metrics.
Cherki featured in France’s friendly win over Colombia during the recent international break, but 1998 World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry provided a scathing assessment of the player and his work-rate.
“What is this player who can afford to stop when he loses the ball?” said, external the former Birmingham City striker. “What is this player who, every time he touches the ball, is in a performance? Stop talking about Cherki like that.
“He is a player who still needs consistency and to be much better over time. He needs to show, to prove, to demonstrate.
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“Oh, Cherki, he’s not [Zinedine] Zidane.”
Pye adds: “There is an expectation on him to make things happen when things are not going your way.
“There is a real bravery of taking the game by the scruff of the neck and showcase his raw ability no matter what the occasion is. He is definitely a breed of footballer that the Premier League has needed.
“Guardiola is aware that this is a player that can go all the way. It is up to Cherki himself though. How much does he want it? How far does he want to go?”
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On Saturday, Cherki comes up against a Liverpool side he might have joined in the summer, having reportedly, external met manager Arne Slot for talks.
But the Reds went all in to splash £116m on Germany international Florian Wirtz, opening the path for City to bring in Cherki for a mere £30m.
There has been one clear winner in those two transfers so far – Cherki will be aiming to serve another reminder on what Slot could have had.
Donald Trump has said the federal government should not pay for services like Medicaid, Medicare or day care as it need to prioritise “fighting wars”.
Speaking during a private Easter luncheon at the White House on Wednesday (1 April), the US president said it should be up to the states to “take care” of the provisions whilst the government focuses on Iran.
“We can’t take care of day care. You got to let a state take care of day care. And they should pay for it, too. They should pay. They’ll have to raise their taxes, but they should pay for it,” he said.
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He added that the federal government should also not pay for Medicaid or Medicare. “We have to take care of one thing: military protection. We have to guard the country.”
Chloe Watson Dransfield, 16, was attacked after a party in Leeds and died in hospital shortly after – another teenager has now been arrested in connection with her death
Zahra Khaliq News Reporter and Annette Belcher
09:15, 03 Apr 2026Updated 10:04, 03 Apr 2026
A further arrest has been made following the death of a schoolgirl in the middle of a quiet street. A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and another three teenagers have been charged after a 16-year-old was stabbed to death in Leeds.
Chloe Watson Dransfield, from Gomersal, was attacked after a party in Austhorpe, Leeds, at 5.55am on Saturday and died in hospital shortly after.
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The 14-year-old boy was arrested today and remained in custody, police said. Confirming the arrest of the 14-year-old boy, a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “Members of the public are reminded that this is a live investigation and are asked to refrain from making comments or suggestions which may jeopardise court proceedings.”
Kayla Smith, 18, has been charged with Chloe’s murder, along with Archie Rycroft, 19, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot legally be named. The trio appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with murder, The Mirror reports.
They did not enter pleas and were remanded in custody ahead of an upcoming hearing on May 1. All three teenagers spoke only to confirm their names and dates of birth, and no applications for bail were made.
A further man, who is 18 and from Leeds, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. An 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy who were arrested on suspicion of murder have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
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Chloe was described by her family as “stunning, confident, loyal and honest” in a tribute released after her death. The message read: “My beautiful princess Chloe. I cannot put into words how I feel that you are not here with me. You are my life, my world, my best friend and I know that I am yours. I cannot live without you – I need you.
“You are stunning, confident, loyal, honest and my family-oriented princess. When you walk into any room it lights up with your bubbly personality. There is so much I could say. There’s a big hole in my heart that can never be filled.”
The family added: “Your two sisters and big brother will always love and miss you to infinity. You will always and forever be in our hearts. Love Mum, Connor, Courtney and Cienna.”
Chloe’s father and other family members said they were “utterly devastated” and that she would “never be forgotten”.
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“We miss every single thing about her. She was beautiful, full of joy, and had a wonderfully cheeky personality,” they said. “She embraced life with such happiness, and she had her whole future ahead of her. Chloe was loved by everyone who knew her, and the absence she leaves behind is immeasurable.”
OEUK energy policy director Enrique Cornejo said: ““As the second largest oil and gas producer in Europe, this should include the UK which must play its part in boosting the supply of energy – bringing forward the Oil and Gas Price Mechanism to increase investment, approving key projects such as Jackdaw and Rosebank, and continuing to expand offshore wind production.”
McDonald’s menu has changed a lot over the years (Picture: McDonald’s)
McDonald’s has been serving customers in the UK for 52 years, and during that time, the chain has changed substantially.
From its look, to its menu items, and even the way you order food – it’s come a long way.
The very first McDonald’s in the UK launched on November 13, 1974, in Woolwich, and back then, a Big Mac cost just 45p, and a cheeseburger was 21p.
Now the food is more expensive, but there are also so many more options available. The Egg McMuffin arrived on the menu in 1982, while Chicken McNuggets weren’t launched until 1984. Believe it or not, these replaced Onion Nuggets as customer tastes evolved.
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The Happy Meal followed in 1986, along with the UK’s very first drive-thru restaurant, but it was the 90s that saw something really interesting go on sale.
It’s a somewhat controversial product that many often think is fake or don’t believe really existed, as it wasn’t around for very long: McPizza.
What was the McPizza?
Yep, in the mid-1990s, McDonald’s trialled personal pizzas in the UK, which were an 8-inch pizza split into four slices. These came in three different flavours: Cheese, Cheese & Pepperoni, and the Deluxe (cheese, green pepper, onion, pepperoni, and more).
These were launched ahead of 1994, when the chain introduced the power/breakfast/working lunch, which allowed city workers to order food to their desks. Orders were placed by fax or telephone, and menu options included the personal pizzas.
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According to McDonald’s website, the pizzas were sold for a ‘limited period in some restaurants’ in the mid-1990s as part of a ‘sales and product test’.
But they might want to consider it, as the pizzas still have a big fan base. On Reddit, people hailed the McPizza, or Pimma as some also call it, ‘amazing’, ‘delicious’, and ‘one of the best tasting pizzas’ they’ve ever had.
Fries are the most popular item on the McDonald’s UK menu (Picture: McDonald’s)
Others shared fond childhood memories of going to order a pizza at their local Maccies, with u/LochNessMansterLives saying: ‘I used to beg my mum to take me to get McDonald’s pizza. The last McD that had it was 25 min away, and I would crave it!!!’
While u/PassengerTop2805 said: ‘Haven’t had in 30 years, but I can still taste it. It was soooooo good.’
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u/DevoALMIGHTY shared: ‘This is one of my fondest food memories. My granddad took me to try it, and we went back every week til it was discontinued.’
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And u/brown_boognish_pants wrote: ‘Honestly, the pizza was pretty great for what it was. The crust was totally delicious and kind of special, honestly. That’s what I remember the most. The crust was actually great. It’s still fast food, but it was something everyone liked where I lived. I’d have to say it was dramatically underrated if people think it was a flop. Better than lots of pizza chains. It was surprisingly great.’
The pizza was also sold in the US, launching there slightly earlier in the 80s. It was discontinued in almost all of the chain’s American restaurants, with two locations continuing to sell pizza for years afterwards. It’s thought you can still order pizza today at the world’s second-largest McDonald’s in Orlando, Florida – but it’s not the same as the one from the 90s.
Since pizzas were discontinued, we’ve been inundated with various other new menu items in the UK, including the McFlurry, which launched in 2000. More than 1.7 billion of them have been sold here over the last 24 years.
But it’s actually the fries that are the most popular item on the menu, taking the top spot with £12.5 billion in sales over the last 50 years. The Big Mac comes in second, with £1.9 billion in sales, and the Cheeseburger is third with £1.8 billion.
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Mcdonald’s UK 50 year timeline:
1974. McDonald’s first UK restaurant opens on Woolwich High Street. It was the 3,000th McDonald’s to open in the world, and over 1,000 American guests flew in for the official opening.
1974. The price of a Big Mac was 45p, and a cheeseburger was 21p.
1976. The first TV advert is broadcast in the UK.
1978. First exclusively takeaway restaurant opens in Shepherd’s Bush, London.
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1982. The iconic Egg McMuffin arrives on the menu.
1984. McDonald’s launches Chicken Nuggets to replace its Onion Nuggets, as customer tastes evolve.
1984. McDonald’s becomes the first restaurant group in the UK to introduce nutritional information onto its menu throughout the country to help customers make an informed choice about what to eat and drink in its restaurants.
1986. First Drive-Thru opened in Fallowfield, Manchester, providing a new way to order.
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1986. Happy Meal launched: early toys included Penfriends, Play-Doh and Christmas baubles.
1986. First UK franchisee – John King – opens a restaurant in Hayes, Middlesex.
1989. Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) becomes registered in the UK. Since its launch, it has raised over £100m and supported over 95,000 families across the UK.
Mid-90s. McDonald’s trials personal pizzas; an 8-inch pizza split into four and available in three flavours: Cheese, Cheese & Pepperoni and the Deluxe.
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1994. McDonald’s launched the power breakfast/working lunch, which allowed city workers to order food to their desks. Orders were placed by fax or telephone, and menu options included the personal-sized pizza.
1998. McDonald’s starts cracking free-range eggs into its Breakfast Menu, sourcing from British and Irish farms, many of which are family-owned.
2000. McDonald’s opens its 1000th restaurant in the Millennium Dome, designed to maximise the use of recyclable and environmentally sound materials.
2000. The McFlurry launched.
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2003. The fruit bag was introduced to the menu.
2004. McDonald’s launches Wifi in restaurants.
2017. McDelivery launches – increasing ways for customers to order and enjoy their McDonald’s favourites.
2021. McDonald’s opens its first net-zero restaurant in Market Drayton, Shropshire.
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2021. Convenience of the Future rolls out – an investment of over £250 million over four years to support in redesigning McDonald’s restaurants to keep pace with customer expectations today and into the future.
2022. After three years of research and development, McDonald’s launches its first vegan plant-based burger option: the McPlant.
2022. McDonald’s launches the MyMcDonald’s App.
Today. McDonald’s now has 1,493 restaurants, serving almost 4 million customers a day, across the UK, with the support of 200 franchisees and 171,415 crew members.
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Today. Through its supply chain, it has added £2.13 billion indirect gross value added to the economy in the UK, helping support around 15,775 jobs in farming communities and further afield.
Today. McDonald’s now offers 20 different apprenticeships across 9 providers, including 4 universities and has supported 21,000 people in gaining an apprenticeship.
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Will pizza ever come back to McDonald’s UK?
The McDonald’s website says the chain doesn’t have plans to bring it back. But perhaps that’s for the best…
We previously discovered that bringing back an old classic doesn’t always go to plan, as fans spent almost a decade begging McDonald’s for the McRib, only to be disappointed when it made its comeback in October 2024.
Customers realised there had been a small change to the way the sandwich was made, with the barbecue sauce being squeezed onto the bun, instead of the pork patty being submerged in the smoky, sweet stuff. As such, people were quick to say Maccies had ‘ruined it’, and the new version was too ‘dry’ as a result.
And this isn’t the only change the chain has made that’s caused a stir with customers. Some noticed the ingredients in the popular sweet and sour sauce had been tweaked, with Apricot Puree being swapped for Apple Pulp, and soy sauce being removed.
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A McDonald’s spokesperson told Metro at the time that the recipe had a ‘very minor variation’, because they used a ‘contingency supplier’, who created dips for McDonald’s in Germany.
This article was first published on November 13, 2024.
Staff at Marks & Spencer staff are “worried about coming into work”, a senior boss at the high street giant said as the company urged the Government to do more to tackle retail crime.
The retailer claimed its customer-facing staff were being subjected to violence and abuse every day, and in the past week one had been taken to hospital after having ammonia thrown in their face.
M&S bosses have spoken out after unrest earlier this week involving one of its stores in Clapham, south London, which saw hundreds of youths swarm high street shops as part of an online trend.
In a message on its website, M&S retail director Thinus Keeve criticised the Government and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, writing: “Without a government seriously cracking down on crime and a Mayor that prioritises effective policing we are powerless.”
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He has written to Sir Sadiq and M&S chief executive Stuart Machin has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood calling for more to be done.
Adam Hawksbee, head of external affairs at M&S, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday: “Retail crime has always been a challenge, but it does feel in the past weeks and months that the problem is getting worse.”
Asked about the impact of shoplifting on staff, Mr Hawksbee added: “Our colleagues are really resilient and they will always manage these incidents in the best way they can, but it clearly has an impact.
“Sometimes when they’ve seen reports in the media that, you know, retail crime numbers are going down, and they say ‘it really doesn’t feel like that to us.’
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“And for them it means, you know, they’re worried about coming into work, they might be nervous about the journey home, and that’s not the position that we want our colleagues to be in.”
In a statement on the company’s website, Mr Keeve said retail crime was “becoming more brazen, more organised and more aggressive”.
He added: “In the past week alone we have had gangs forcing open locked cabinets and stripping shelves, two men brazenly emptying the shelves of steak and walking out, a large group of young people ransacking a store before assaulting a security guard, a colleague headbutted trying to defuse a situation and another hospitalised after having ammonia thrown in their face.
“It is worse in London, but it is happening across the country, and it is becoming routine, because it seems there are no consequences.
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“Our colleagues come to work to serve customers, build relationships and take pride in what they do. Instead, too many are dealing with theft, intimidation and verbal and physical abuse as part of their daily reality. That erodes confidence. It impacts wellbeing and it drives people out of the industry.”
Shoplifting offences increased in England and Wales in the year to September, but remained slightly below record levels seen in the 12 months to March 2025, the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures available show.
There were 519,381 shoplifting offences in the year to September 2025, up 5% from 492,660 the previous year.
A total of 530,439 offences were recorded in the year to March 2025.
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Responding to the ONS data in January, the British Retail Consortium had said the rise in organised retail crime was “particularly concerning”, adding theft is “one of the main triggers for violence and abuse against retail workers”.
The Crime and Policing Bill, once passed, will make assault of a retail worker an offence.
It is also set to bring low-value shoplifting of goods up to a value of £200 into general theft, with a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
The Bill has cleared both the Commons and Lords, but is going through a “tidying up process” between the two Houses of Parliament, which must agree on a final draft for the statute books.
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