Jonathan Newdick’s Puss & Mew was unveiled this week at a ceremony at York Distillery in front of the Sheriff of York and other guests. 

The two-foot-tall work is based on an 18th Century gin vending machine which flouted the strict licensing laws designed to stop people drinking so much.

We understand this is the  only ‘working’ Puss & Mew in the country since the 18th Century. An original wooden Puss & Mew is available to view at the Beefeater Gin Museum in London.

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When curious visitors deposit a coin in the slot in the cat’s mouth, a bell rings and a shot of gin flows from a pipe in the cat’s paw into a waiting glass below.

Stuart Jarman with the Puss N New at York Distillery (Image: Pic supplied)

The interactive artwork was unveiled at York Distillery – York Gin’s boutique distillery, tasting room and gin school in Middleton’s Hotel – on Tuesday  June 6. 

Visitors will be encouraged to use it to reimagine the experience of 18th Century gin drinkers.

Using the Puss N Mew at York Distillery (Image: Pic supplied)

The 1736 Gin Act restricted the sale of gin during the ‘Gin Craze’ – when there was a moral panic about the excessive consumption of the spirit. 

However, an inventive individual named Captain Dudley Bradstreet found a loophole in the law – by creating the ‘Puss & Mew’ what is thought to be the world’s first vending machine.

Bradstreet installed a cat-shaped wooden sign on the outside of his building. A gin drinker approached and asked: “Puss puss… (have you any gin)?” 

Then if in luck, they  would then hear a cat’s ‘Mew’ from inside –  meaning gin was available. 

Jonathan Newdick with the Puss N Mew at York Distillery (Image: Pic supplied)

The buyer would slip a coin in the cat’s mouth…and the thirsty patron then received a measure of gin that the seller poured through a pipe, hidden the cats paw –  into the buyer’s waiting cup.

Artists Impression of a Puss and Mew (Image: Pic supplied)

By serving the public anonymously Bradstreet avoided identification and the police did not have authority to enter the building. This “spirit of ingenuity and mischief” forms the conceptual backbone of the sculpture, says Mr Newdick.

“It’s been quite challenging because of its function. It’s the first time I’ve created

Artists Impression of a Puss and Mew (Image: Briony Godivala)

a sculpture which also has a mechanism. It makes a sound and delivers a

measure of gin – that took a bit of skill and a bit of luck. It’s also the first time I’ve

made something the public can physically interact with..”

He added that the piece is designed to evoke a sense of curiosity and unease, echoing the unpredictable nature of cats themselves.

“You get a bit of a feeling like when you approach any cat – slightly nervous, slightly intrigued. There’s a sense of mystery to it, and the mischievous look on its face is challenging you to have another nip!”

The sculpture has been created using cold-cure patinated bronze and Jesmonite. It is

Jonathan Newdick with the Puss N Mew at York Distillery (Image: Pic supplied)

mounted on a teak base designed for durability and engineered with longevity and public interaction in mind, combining traditional craftsmanship with the hidden mechanical elements.

York Gin said the project represents a unique collaboration between heritage storytelling, contemporary design, the city’s ongoing creative culture as well as York’s and gin’s love of cats – the York Gin logo has a cat called Rutterkin sitting on the city walls.

Emma Godivala from York Gin said: “I know that Jonathan doesn’t often take new commissions, so I was thrilled to capture his imagination with this slightly bonkers idea. We’ve wanted to recreate a real Georgian-era Puss & Mew for a few years now.

The Puss and Mew Sculpture (Image: Matthew Kitchen)

“Jonathan’s cat has moved stealthily from the 18th into the 21st century, into the

world of the modern gin lover, the cat lover, and something sinister in between. We

can’t wait for Puss to serve some of our Old Tom gin to visitors at York Distillery!”

The Puss and Mew Sculpture (Image: Matthew Kitchen)

The Puss & Mew continues Jonathan Newdick’s long-standing creation of the city’s “Mystery Cats” – a collection of feline sculptures he has carefully embedded in York’s streetscape and folklore for nearly 50 years. 

Around 50 cat statues adorn York’s buildings – documented in The Mystery Cats of York book. Thousands of visitors follow the cat trail each year – and the new sculpture will feature in the new edition of the book. 

This new work is expected to be included in the next edition of The Mystery Cats of York book, further cementing its place within the city’s public art heritage.

The sculpture will be accessible to the public at York Distillery when experiences and classes are not being held.

The Women’s Super League 2 side revealed earlier this week they could fold within 21 days unless new investment is found to plug a reported £1m shortfall.

Now, a Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, saying: “For the fans, players and staff of Durham Women FC, this is an extremely worrying situation.

“It is critical for the benefit of everyone involved that the club provides clarity over its immediate and long-term plan.”

The intervention comes after Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy wrote to a Government minister urging support to safeguard the club.

In her letter, Ms Foy warned that the loss of Durham Women would be “far more than the disappearance of a football club”, describing it as a “devastating blow” to the city, the wider North East and “hundreds upon hundreds of women and young girls” who see the club as a pathway into the sport.

Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy has written to the Culture Media and Sport department about the situation, which she says would be a ‘devastating blow’ to the region. (Image: UK PARLIAMENT)

She highlighted the club’s role in developing women’s football outside the traditional structures of the men’s professional game, adding that allowing it to collapse would “send an entirely contradictory message” at a time when the sport is growing rapidly.

Ms Foy said: “At a time when successive governments have championed the growth of women’s football and celebrated the achievements of England’s Lionesses, allowing a club such as Durham Women FC to disappear would undermine years of progress in promoting participation, equality, and opportunity.”

(Image: The Northern Echo)

The Labour MP also pointed to the wider impact on the local area, including the club’s contribution to the economy, job creation and its role in attracting visitors and inspiring young players.

She added: “The next 20 days may determine whether future generations of women and girls in Durham continue to have a local club to support, aspire to join, and be inspired by.”

Durham confirmed on Monday they are actively seeking either investment or a full takeover – just 16 months after securing investment from North East EuroMillions winners – after prolonged talks with potential backers broke down in recent weeks.

Against all odds, as a club, players and everyone who has been involved in our journey from the very beginning we have overcome so much together. We cannot allow this to be the end 💙 @DurhamWFC https://t.co/TPfIM5S51P

— Lauren Briggs (@laurenbriggsx) June 8, 2026

Players and staff have been told the club will cease operations at all levels if no deal is agreed within the deadline.

Founded in 2007, Durham have spent more than a decade in the second tier and built a reputation as one of the leading independent women’s clubs in the country, despite not being backed by a professional men’s side.

However, they have increasingly struggled to compete financially with clubs supported by Premier League and EFL organisations.

Adam Sandbeck and Mike Gravalin, frequent visitors to the wooded area near Park Rapids in Minneapolis, were left stunned when what they thought was a ‘dead body’ whispered for help

A missing woman who had not been seen for three days was rescued by two men who discovered her buried in a muddy ‘quicksand’ puddle a hundred miles from home.

Kathryn Woessner, 68, was last seen on June 3 before vanishing from Akeley, Minnesota, leaving her family and friends concerned. Three days later, friends Adam Sandbeck and Mike Gravalin ventured out on their all-terrain vehicles in Minneapolis – more than three hours from where she lives.

They found her in the puddle off the beaten path after taking that route at the spur of the moment. The explorers were surprised to see a van parked in the middle of nowhere, and questioned if the vehicle had the off-road capability to handle the challenging path they were on.

But moments later they discovered what they thought was a dead body, and all they could see at first was a female’s head with rest of her body submerged.

But on closer inspection, they found she was alive after she whispered to them – but had to act fast with Ms Woessner in ‘really bad shape’. They worked together to pull her out of the sand and called emergency services.

She was later taken to hospital and authorities are still investigating how the vulnerable woman got so far from her home and ended up on the remote trail.

The rescuers spoke KARE about their find and said: “We could see that there was a body in the puddle next to the van, and then that’s when it got real,” Mr Sandbeck said.

“When we walked up, we thought she was dead. We thought it was just a body, and then she whispered ‘help me’ – and it scared the c**p out of me! She said it was like quicksand, and she couldn’t get out, she said she had been stuck forever.

“My gut tells me if we didn’t drive through that trail, this would be a whole different outcome for Kathryn. There’s no doubt in my mind … this was the hand of God directing us to her, because there’s no reason why we would have ever gone down these little trails.

“We were supposed to be there. This was the last-ditch effort to save this woman’s life.

“If there are two positives I can take away from this and promote it would be… God is real…. and how important rural volunteers of the fire department and paramedics agencies are to local areas. The real heroes are those people,” he added.

He shared his story on social media, writing that the pals are now planning to take the original ride they had scheduled this weekend.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed that Ms Woessner was the woman the men found.

Bishop Trains chief Luke Allan Holmes said there has been a spike in incidents of abuse and intimidation towards staff at Bishop Auckland Railway Station.

The chief executive of Holdham Group – the parent company of Bishop Trains – said he has personally witnessed a “significant deterioration” since taking over in October 2025 following former founder David Millon’s death. . 

Mr Holmes admitted that he has had to personally intervene in numerous incidents – one of which led to him being attacked after telling a customer they could not travel. 

“There is a small, but growing, number of people who believe it is acceptable to swear at, threaten, intimidate and abuse frontline staff. It isn’t”, Mr Holmes said. 

Bishop Auckland Railway Station (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“No member of staff should come to work expecting to be sworn at, threatened or intimidated simply for doing their job.

“Since becoming Chief Executive of Bishop Trains, I have personally intervened in countless incidents involving aggressive behaviour, fights and attempts to assault members of staff.

“I have stood between angry customers and my team. I have dealt with threatening behaviour. I have had to ask individuals to leave our premises because of their conduct.”

‘Our staff do not control the weather’

Mr Holmes added that nobody should be assaulted for protecting their staff and that no staff member “should have to endure harassment, intimidation or abuse in their workplace.”

He said that while passengers are understandably frustrated when disruption occurs, station staff are often not responsible for the issues that have caused them.

“Our staff do not control the weather”, he said.

“They do not control signalling failures. They do not control train faults. And they unfortunately can’t prevent fatalities. 

“More often than not, they are dealing with exactly the same information as the customer standing in front of them.”

“What they do every single day is turn up to help people. 

Luke Allan Holmes (Image: Holdham Rail Solutions Group)

“They help elderly passengers, support disabled customers, assist families travelling with children, provide travel advice and do their absolute best to keep people moving when disruption occurs.

“To then be met with abuse for circumstances entirely outside of their control is simply unacceptable.”

Thankfully, it is not all customers who are abusive – but he said that Bishop Trains will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach. 

“The overwhelming majority of our customers are fantastic”, he said 

“Every day, our staff are treated with kindness, patience and respect by the people we serve, and we are incredibly grateful for that.

“We will always support our employees. 

“Anyone who threatens, intimidates, harasses or assaults a member of our team can expect to be removed from our premises and reported to the British Transport Police, and/or other authorities where appropriate.

“Our message is very simple. Treat our staff with the same respect you would expect your own family members to receive in their workplace.

“Bishop Auckland is a proud railway town with a strong sense of community. 

“The vast majority of people who come through our doors are courteous and respectful, and we thank them for that. 

“We simply ask that everybody helps us ensure Bishop Auckland Railway Station remains a safe and welcoming environment for passengers and staff alike.”

Lewis Hamilton revealed he left the circuit ahead of his best-ever qualifying for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Saturday.

The 41-year-old, who has finished second on the podium in the last two rounds in Canada and Monaco, was within 0.064 seconds of pole position in Barcelona.

Mercedes’ George Russell, Hamilton’s former teammate, pipped the seven-time world champion to top spot with F1 world championship leader Kimi Antonelli in third place – the first time this season the Italian won’t start a grand prix on the front row.

Yet in his post-session interview, Hamilton divulged that he went back to his off-site motorhome in between final practice and qualifying, setting him up for a first-ever front row start in Ferrari red.

”It feels great to be up there with them [Mercedes drivers],” Hamilton said. “I left the track between P3 and qualifying, I went back to my motorhome, came back and was then first [in Q1].

“These guys did a great lap, congrats to George, but we’re in a good position to fight for tomorrow.

“All weekend we’ve been four-tenths off these guys – for us to be a tenth off, shows the hard work that’s been done. Big thank you to everyone back in Maranello, hopefully we can keep up with these guys tomorrow for once.”

While Hamilton was satisfied with his afternoon’s work, his teammate Charles Leclerc – quicker than the Brit in practice – crashed out at the start of Q3 in what seemed like a driver error.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris will start fourth on the grid with Max Verstappen in fifth.

For Russell, it was a much-needed pole position. The Brit trails his teammate by 68 points after a tough month or two.

“It’s been a great weekend so far, feel like my old self again,” he said. “The last few races haven’t been on our side, but clean slate this weekend, felt good and great to be on pole.

“It’s going to be an interesting race tomorrow, Lewis did an amazing job to get up there. We thought the fight was with us and McLaren. We’ll have a fight on our hands.”

The Barcelona-Catalunya GP starts at 2pm BST.

Criminal Record has brought together a round-up of today’s biggest crime stories.

Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

If you love to read about crime in Scotland – this is the place to be every day.

Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Saturday.

Armed men chase car

A group of “men with weapons” attacked a car in Glasgow before “deliberate” crashes in a car chase in the early hours of the morning. Police believe it was a “targeted attack” in Polmadie in the early hours of Saturday, June 13.

Two vehicles – a dark blue Renault Clio and a silver Nissan Micra – were involved in a “deliberate collision” on the off slip of the M74 at Junction 1A Polmadie at around 12.10am. Three men carrying weapons then got out the Clio and approached the Micra before causing damage to it.

The Micra made off before it was chased by the Clio down Polmadie Road and Aikenhead Road and further “deliberate” crashes occurred. No injuries have been reported.

Read more: Armed men target Nissan Micra before ‘multiple collisions’ in Glasgow car chase

Man charged after alleged stabbing

A man has been arrested and charged after a pensioner was allegedly stabbed in broad daylight inside a vehicle.

Armed police and a dog unit were called to on Auckland Wynd in the Dalmarnock area of Glasgow following the incident at around 12.10pm on Tuesday, April 28.

Paramedics also attended the scene and a 77-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Dog units were pictured scouring the scene near Riverbank Primary School in the east end of the city.

On Saturday, around two months later, Police Scotland confirmed a 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

Read more: Man charged after pensioner ‘stabbed in car’ on Glasgow housing estate

Jail term for holiday stabbing

A Scottish dad was left fighting for his life after being stabbed three times while on holiday at a popular caravan park.

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The 38-year-old man from the Scottish Borders had been enjoying a family holiday when was the victim of an unprovoked attack at Flamingo Land Resort in Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire in September 2025.

Joshua Donnelly, 22, pleaded guilty to the offence of Section 18 wounding with intent and was sentenced to four and half years in jail on Friday June 12 at York Crown Court.

Emergency services were called to the holiday park shortly after 1am on Thursday, September 18 after Donnelly stabbed the victim, who is not being named, with a four-inch black-handled knife he got from the caravan’s kitchen drawer.

Read more: Scots dad left fighting for life after stabbing attack on caravan holiday

Protest thug who terrorised women unmasked

A thug who terrorised women in their cars during a protest against immigration can be unmasked as a sword wielding domestic abuser.

Craig McNab, 43, was a key figure in protests in Falkirk in the wake of the knife horror in Belfast that sparked similar unrest across the UK.

The landscaper was pictured as part of a mob that blocked and surrounded a woman’s car, with some screaming and making obscene gestures.

Another woman reported that she was called a “rapist supporter” by the mob due to her failure to support the far-right organised demo.

Read more: Protest thug who terrorised women in cars unmasked as sword-wielding abuser

Victim’s mum in tears

The heartbroken mum of murdered dad Robert Fisher broke down in tears after learning his killer’s bid to overturn her conviction was rejected.

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Pamela Peacock said she was left “gobsmacked” after receiving a phone call from the Procurator Fiscal informing her that Stacey Balfour’s appeal against both her murder conviction and sentence had failed.

The decision brings an end to weeks of agonising uncertainty for Robert’s family, who feared they could be forced to relive the nightmare of his death all over again.

Balfour, 25, is serving life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years for her role in the killing of Robert, 26, following a murderous knife attack at flats in Maxwellton Street, Paisley, in July 2023.

Read more: Mum of murder victim in tears as “monster” killer’s freedom bid rejected

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The latest Birthday Honours List will see more worthy figures recognised by King Charles

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The next set of famous faces set to be honoured by the King have been announced, with the disclosure of the 2026 Birthday Honours list.

The latest list acknowledges 1,182 recipients from every part of the UK, including long-term volunteers, innovators, entrepreneurs, individuals displaying “moral courage”, those making a difference in their community or field of work or people improving life for others less able to help themselves.

Honours are given to people involved in a range of fields, including sport, health, science and technology, education, business, and the arts and media. Gallantry awards recognising bravery can also be given to members of the armed forces and the emergency services, as well as civilians.

They are awarded by the King following recommendations by the Prime Minister or senior government ministers.

Members of the public can also recommend people for an award, with the nominations typically making up about a quarter of all recommendations, reports the M.E.N..

And while every day heroes are recognised, those in the world of acting, music and sport are also given nods. But some big names have declined the award for various reasons.

READ MORE: Ciara Mageean says she ‘probably won’t make 40th birthday’ in heartbreaking cancer update

READ MORE: Newry bakery faces ‘significant disruption’ after two vans ‘completely destroyed’ in arson attack

Some did so due to their personal beliefs, others because they didn’t feel that the award was deserved. Below are some of the people who have declined an honour from the Royal family :

David Bowie

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The Ziggy Stardust star was public about why he didn’t want to accept a knighthood. He said: “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. I seriously don’t know what it’s for. It’s not what I spent my life working for.”

On Sir Mick Jagger’s acceptance, Bowie maintained a diplomatic stance, saying: “It’s not my place to make a judgment on Jagger – it’s his decision. But it’s just not for me.”

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders

The comedy double act were offered OBEs “for services to comedy drama” back in 2001, but declined them.

Explaining why, Saunders later told Source magazine: “If I felt I deserved a damehood I’d accept it. At the time we felt that we were being paid very well to have a lot of fun. It didn’t seem right somehow.

“We didn’t deserve a pat on the back. It felt a bit fake to stand alongside people who devoted their lives to truly worthy causes.”

Nigella Lawson

The iconic TV chef shared a similar reason for declining her OBE in 2001. She said: “I’m not saving lives and I’m not doing anything other than something I absolutely love.”

Stephen Hawking

The famous astrophysicist revealed in 2008 that he had been offered a knighthood in the 1990s, a higher honour than the CBE he held, but turned it down.

While the exact reasons are not clear, it was suggested later that government funding cuts to science may have been a factor.

John Lennon

At first Lennon accepted an MBE, but decided to return it in 1969 as a stand against Britain’s foreign policy.

He wrote: “Your Majesty, I am returning this in protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam, and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. With Love, John Lennon of Bag.”

George Harrison

In 2000, the former Beatle declined an OBE, not long after his fellow Beatles alumnus Paul McCartney was given a knighthood. The reason is not exactly clear, but some have suggested it was connected to McCartney receiving a knighthood.

“Whoever it was who decided to offer him the OBE and not the knighthood was extraordinarily insensitive,” Harrison’s mate Roy Connolly dished to the Independent. “George would have felt insulted – and with very good reason.”

Benjamin Zephaniah

Iconic poet, who died in December 2023 at the age of 65, made clear his reasons for publicly rejecting an OBE in 2003. He said he would decline the award in protest against British government policies and the British Empire.

Writing in the Guardian, he said how the word ’empire’, which is included in the title, “reminds me of slavery, it reminds of thousands of years of brutality, it reminds me of how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised”.

Zephaniah described himself as “profoundly anti-empire”.

Michael Sheen

Star of screen and stage Michael Sheen was awarded an OBE in 2009. However in 2017 he made the decision to return the aware after researching the history between England and Wales.

In 2020, he told the Guardian’s Owen Jones: “By the time I had finished writing that lecture…I remember sitting there going: ‘Well, I have a choice – I either don’t give this lecture and hold on to my OBE or I give this lecture and I have to give my OBE back,’”

John Cleese

Monty Python star John Cleese was offered a CBE in 1996, but dismissed it as ‘silly’. In 1999 he was on the table for a peerage courtesy of Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown.

But Cleese was not keen as being a working peer would require him to overwinter in the UK. He described this as “too much of a price to pay”.

Paul Weller

The music legend politely declined a CBE in 2006. His representative noted in a statement: “Paul was surprised and flattered but it wasn’t really for him.”

Roald Dahl

The renowned children’s author, famous for enchanting tales such as ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and ‘James and the Giant Peach’, declined a knighthood offered in the 1986 New Year’s honours.

The revelation came through a Telegraph freedom of information request, but the justification for his refusal wasn’t disclosed.

Bernie Ecclestone

The ex-chief of Formula One Group refused an honour in the early 2000s. In a 2019 interview, he explained that while he was pleased to have done some good, his primary motivation in business wasn’t to earn accolades, so he didn’t believe he deserved the honour.

Jon Snow

The face that used to front Channel 4 News, not the Game of Thrones bloke. He gave a polite ‘no thanks’ to an OBE in 2000 and went full snoop two years later with a doc called Secrets of the Honours System.

Snow said: “I tried to find out why I’d been given it and was unable to get a clear answer or, indeed, to find out who had proposed me,”.

Ken Loach

Director Ken Loach, who is famous for his gritty films on difficult subjects such as poverty, bid goodbye to an OBE in 1977. In 2001 he explained why to the Radio Times.

“It’s all the things I think are despicable: patronage, deferring to the monarchy, and the name of the British Empire, which is a monument of exploitation and conquest,” he said.

“I turned down the OBE because it’s not a club you want to join when you look at the villains who’ve got it.”

Danny Boyle

Fellow director Danny Boyle had a different reason for turning down his award, which he was offered for his role in the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

Explaining why, Boyle said he felt it “was wrong” for him to take credit for a collective effort, saying that “it’s not just me” and the ceremony was the result of the hard work and contributions of thousands of people.

“You can make these speeches about: ‘This is everybody’s work, blah blah blah’.

“And you’ve got to mean it, and I did mean it, and it is true, and it’s the only way you can carry on something like that: through the efforts of all the people. I don’t know whether I’ll ever get invited back to the palace.”

LS Lowry

The renowned painter is said to have rejected more honours than anyone else, including a knighthood, a CBE, and an OBE.

His friend Harold Riley disclosed that Lowry was a private man who didn’t want the attention or to change his name, which played a part in his decision to turn down the honours.

Huw T Edwards

The Welsh trade unionist and Welsh Labour politician was uncomfortable with honours and refused a knighthood on at least two occasions in subsequent years. He had previously accepted an MBE before later renouncing it.

Rudyard Kipling

The writer and poet declined a knighthood in 1899 and again in 1903. His wife said that Kipling felt he could “do his work better without it”.

Kipling also declined the Order of Merit in 1921 and again in 1924. Kipling expressed his own view on the importance of titles and poetry in his poem The Last Rhyme of True Thomas.

Honor Blackman

Before her death in 2020 the Bond actress was a vocal supporter of Republic, the campaign for an elected head of state in the UK – so it’s hardly surprising that she turned down a CBE in 2002.

Jim Broadbent

The national treasure snubbed an OBE in 2002, explaining that he couldn’t reconcile with actors receiving Royal accolades. “I think [honours] ought to go to those who really help others,” he mentioned in a chat with the Telegraph.

“Besides I like the idea of actors not being part of the Establishment. We’re vagabonds and rogues.”

Broadbent also expressed his unease with the honours’ undercurrents, revealing: “I don’t think the British Empire is something that I particularly want to celebrate.”

Albert Finney

He shunned both a CBE in 1980 and a knighthood two decades later. The Bourne actor lambasted the honours system, terming knighthoods as a symptom of sickness that “perpetuates snobbery”.

Andrew Davies

The Welsh scriptwriter famed for House of Cards and his version of Pride and Prejudice, reportedly refused an honour, though his motives remain undisclosed.

Alan Rickman

The cherished actor is believed to have declined a CBE during his lifetime.

He never disclosed why, and after his death, there has been a movement seeking to award him a knighthood posthumously, but no progress on this has emerged.

John Lydon

Otherwise known and Jonnie Rotten, the former Sex Pistols front man was offered an MBE. Given the band’s repertoire, including ‘God Save the Queen’, it’s no surprise he said no.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Momentum for a deal to end the Iran war appeared to grow Saturday as key mediator Pakistan said an agreement was closer than “ever before” and U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to discuss demining the Strait of Hormuz during next week’s Group of Seven summit.

Separately, Iran’s state-run television said funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in the war’s opening attack, will take place in July.

A senior U.S. official, who briefed journalists on condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said Trump planned to meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit that starts Monday with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and United Arab Emirates to discuss efforts to wind down the war.

Britain and France, both G7 members, have expressed interest in assisting with demining the waterway once the conflict is paused. The official said both have military vessels at sea that could participate.

It was not immediately clear how many mines are in the strait that Iran has effectively controlled since shortly after the war began, virtually shutting down oil and natural gas shipments from the Persian Gulf. The U.S. has blockaded Iranian ports in response. A tenuous ceasefire has been in place since April 7.

Pakistan says a deal to end the war is imminent

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a deal aimed at ending the war was expected to be finalized within 24 hours. Pakistan was preparing for the electronic signing of the agreement, to be followed by technical-level talks next week.

Sharif also told his Qatari counterpart “a peace deal was ready for signatures by the relevant parties very shortly,” a separate statement said.

The senior U.S. official noted Sharif’s upbeat comments. The U.S. believes what’s on the table for Iran is a “very strong deal,” the official said, but declined to speculate on when it could be signed.

Iran signaled optimism but indicated more time was needed.

“Although it will not happen tomorrow, the possibility that it could take place in the coming days cannot be ruled out,” foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in a statement carried by state TV. He later said “the likelihood of finalizing the memorandum of understanding in the coming days is high.”

Iran’s nuclear program and highly enriched uranium have long been at the center of tensions with the U.S. and Israel and an international source of concern.

Three regional officials said Friday, on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations, they expected a signing ceremony in the coming days after officials in Washington and Tehran approve the agreement.

The apparent breakthrough came after Iran exchanged fire with the U.S. and Israel earlier in the week, threatening to rupture the ceasefire and push the Middle East back into full-scale war.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X on Friday that an agreement “has never been closer.” Trump, who has asserted multiple times in recent weeks the countries were on the cusp of a deal, shared Araghchi’s post on social media.

Trump on Thursday claimed significant progress in negotiations, hours after he threatened to seize Iran’s oil industry.

Khamenei to be buried at the holiest of Shiite shrines

The funeral, burial and farewell events for Khamenei will take place between July 4 and 9 during Muharram, a traditional period of mourning in the Shiite Muslim calendar.

Khamenei is succeeded by his son, Mojtaba, who is considered less compromising and has not been seen publicly since the war began.

The funeral ceremonies are expected to begin in Tehran. The procession will move to Qom, a stronghold of many senior Shiite clerics, and then to Mashhad, Khamenei’s birthplace. He’ll be buried there at the Imam Reza Shrine, considered the holiest place among Shiite devotees.

Khamenei remolded the Islamic Republic after taking the reins following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. Khomeini was the fiery, charismatic ideologue who led the overthrow of the shah and installed rule by Shiite Muslim clerics.

Khamenei ruled far longer than Khomeini. He greatly expanded the Shiite clerical class and built the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard into the most important body underpinning his rule. The Guard became a military and business behemoth, the country’s most elite force and head of its ballistic missile arsenal.

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Magdy reported from Cairo and Madhani from Washington. Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed.

The transfer window is always a stressful time for managers and owners, but Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has suffered a huge disappointment

Sir Jim Ratcliffe suffered a thoroughly disappointing Friday after witnessing two potential deals fall through in rapid succession.

The Manchester United co-owner also holds a majority stake in French side Nice, an arrangement he had been keen to conclude as takeover talks intensified. It is understood that an American consortium had been engaged in advanced discussions over acquiring the club, who narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of the campaign.

Ratcliffe and INEOS had set a strict deadline of June 15 to complete a sale, but Nice Matin, via Get Football News France, report that the deal has now fallen apart completely.

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The potential purchasers had reached the stage of visiting Nice’s training facility. However, at the final moment they were unable to furnish the required financial guarantees and sporting stability commitments.

Ratcliffe purchased the club through INEOS in 2019 but has become progressively more distant since finalising his investment into Manchester United at the close of 2023.

The petrochemicals magnate has gone as far as to publicly acknowledge he derives little enjoyment from watching the Ligue 1 outfit, a view that has left supporters increasingly dismayed with the club’s direction, reports the Express.

Last year, Ratcliffe conceded: “I don’t particularly enjoy going to watch Nice because there are some good players, but the level of football is not high enough for me to get excited.”

Having already lowered his asking price in an attempt to secure a sale, it now appears increasingly probable that Nice will remain under INEOS ownership when the 2026/27 season kicks off. Off the pitch, considerable changes are needed following a disastrous campaign that came close to ending in relegation from Ligue 1.

Former Leicester and Southampton boss Claude Puel stepped in on a temporary basis last season, but looks unlikely to be handed the role permanently. L’Equipe report that Nice had approached Liam Rosenior, hoping to entice him back to French football following his turbulent spell at Chelsea.

Rosenior had built his reputation in the country while managing Strasbourg, before making the move to Chelsea at the start of 2026. However, he lasted just four months at Stamford Bridge and is now seeking a complete break from football.

On a more positive note for Ratcliffe, United’s summer transfer window strategy is moving forward smoothly after reaching an agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta. The club are willing to invest further, with competition heating up for Mateus Fernandes.

United have identified the West Ham star as a primary target, and the path to securing his signature has cleared following Arsenal’s refusal to meet his £80m valuation.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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