Firefighters were called to a record number of incidents over the last weekend

The fire service has said crews are working in ‘punishing conditions’ after a record number of incidents last weekend. Between Friday (July 24) and Monday (July 27), firefighters were called to more than 120 incidents – significantly higher than its three-year average of 94 incidents.

Assistant chief fire officer Stuart Smith said the hot weather is putting more pressure on the service. He said: “Our crews have been worked extremely hard by the conditions over the last few days. It is common to see an increase in fires during spells of hot weather, and we do plan for this. However, the temperatures we’ve experienced, for the length of time we have, make the conditions very tough.”

Peat fires have caused a significant issue for crews. Fires like the one at the Holme Fen Nature Reserve tend to burn over several days.

Stuart added: “Peat fires present significant challenges for us, as they are often unseen, being predominantly underground. It makes not only finding and containing the fire extremely difficult, but the heat on the floor makes it very dangerous for firefighters to tackle the fire.

“Not only this, but water supplies are also often an issue, meaning we have to commit several fire engines to ensure we have enough. Our crews have been maintaining regular presence at two separate peat fires, in Whittlesey and Holme Fen. These have been especially gruelling due to the amount of incidents crews are attending and the severe heat.”

Residents are being urged to stay fire safe. Stuart said: “We know during the school summer holidays, especially when the weather is hot like this, people want to make the most of it. We just want to highlight that everyone can do this safely just by thinking beforehand and following a few of our fire safety tips.

“Having a barbecue is a great way to get together with family and friends, but they can easily lead to a fire if people don’t follow some basic safety tips. Things like keeping the area supervised and lighting the barbecue away from fencing, buildings and garden furniture, keeping a bucket of water close by, and only disposing of the charcoal ashes once completely cooled.”

Leading celebrity publicist Neil Reading, described as ‘quietly magnificent’ and a ‘one-off’, has died aged 56.

The entertainment PR to the stars, who founded Neil Reading PR,died after a short illness.

During his career, he represented a whole host of high-profile clients including comedians Dawn French, John Cleese, the late Victoria Wood, as well as John Bishop, Sir Lenny Henry, Paul McKenna and Jason Manford.

In a heartfelt tribute, the French and Saunders star said: ‘Neil Reading was a one-off, such a kind, decent, intelligent man, a proper gentleman in the old-fashioned way, quietly magnificent.’

Sharing how they built ‘a very real and trusting friendship’, she added: ‘He has been my ally and fierce protector through so much and for so long. I don’t quite know how I’ll manage without him. Sleep tight darlin’ heart.’

Meanwhile, Manford praised him as a ‘trusted friend of almost 20 years, a confidant and one of the most loyal, noble, brilliant men I have ever known.’

Reading has built a well-respected reputation for himself across the TV industry since launching his agency in 1992. Neil Reading PR also launched a string of West End shows including High Society, Only Fools and Horses, and Fawlty Towers – The Play.

Bishop said: ‘Neil was a true gentleman. He was too humble to realise how much he meant to people and I know he will be greatly missed’ while McKenna called him ‘one of the finest people I’ve ever known’.

Another of his clients, Monty Python’s Cleese, called him ‘a very kind, protective, sensible and caring man, who looked after his clients with great skill’ and concluded he shall ‘miss him very much’.

Piers Morgan shared that it was ‘incredibly sad news’. He continued; ‘Neil was a a brilliant PR man, one of the very best in the business who really cared about his clients.

‘He was also fantastic fun, I had so many great times with him over the years. My deepest condolences to all his family.’

‘Saddened to hear that Neil Reading has died, shockingly young, much love to his wife and daughter – he was so much more than a “PR guru” he cared so much about his clients and was decent and honest, a gentleman and a friend,’ BBC contributor David Yelland echoed.

‘Neil Reading was honest, hard working, loyal and a true professional. He was also great fun. Most of all he was devoted to his family,’ Keir Simmons shared.

Fellow PR man Neil Wallis called him ‘a brilliant, true, loyal, brave & wonderful friend’, sharing it was ‘so so sad. I’m bereft, as will be anyone who had the joy of knowing him & being his friend.’

He is survived by his wife Claire and daughter Rosa.

The number of people who have died after a powerful earthquake hit southwestern Japan has risen to 34, authorities in Kumamoto prefecture said on Thursday.

Rescuers are still working to find survivors after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island on Tuesday, causing widespread damage to houses and power lines.

Several people died after part of a shopping centre collapsed and an explosion ripped through the mall about an hour later.

Thousands of displaced residents are now staying in evacuation centres – though the challenge is to keep them cool and hydrated as the region battles sweltering heat.

Temperatures could reach 39C in the prefecture in the coming days, according to forecasts, with officials urging survivors and rescuers to take precautions against heatstroke.

On Wednesday, Japan’s defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the delivery of 300 air conditioners to Kumamoto, with 150 of the units bound for evacuation centres.

Around 9,000 displaced residents have been put up in evacuation centres, and more than 30,000 households were out of power as of Wednesday.

Yukiya Sanoue, who works at one of the centres, told the BBC that heat stroke was the biggest concern at his facility, which hosts about 1,000 people. About 30% of the people at his evacuation centre are senior citizens.

He said their electricity and water supplies had stopped since the earthquake, and the centre had been without air conditioning until Wednesday afternoon when they received a generator.

Quite a few people are suffering from conditions similar to heatstroke, and several have been taken to hospital, he said.

More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial quake, and many have taken to sleeping in their cars for fear of further tremors.

The man who stabbed and partially ​blinded author Salman Rushdie at a speaking event in 2022 could spend the rest of his life behind bars after being found guilty of terrorism. 

Hadi Matar, 28, already serving a 25-year prison term on state charges of attempted murder for the knife assault, faces the maximum penalty when he is sentenced on his federal conviction on November 3. 

A US District Court jury in Buffalo, New York, deliberated for only two hours before finding Matar guilty on ​all counts on Wednesday — attempting to provide material support to Lebanon’s Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, a US-designated terrorist organisation; ⁠engaging in terrorism transcending national boundaries; and providing material support to terrorists. 

The verdict capped a trial that began last Tuesday and included prosecution testimony from ​Rushdie, 79, winner of the prestigious Booker Prize for his 1981 novel, ‘Midnight’s Children.’ 

Neither Matar nor anyone else was called to the ​witness stand by the defence. 

At the time of the attack, Rushdie had faced threats on his life since the 1988 publication of his fourth novel, ‘The Satanic Verses.’

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then Iran’s supreme leader, denounced the book as blasphemous, and in 1989 issued a religious edict, or fatwa, calling on Muslims to ​kill Rushdie and anyone else involved in the book’s publication.

Khomeini’s fatwa led to a multimillion-dollar bounty and several other acts of violence, ​including the 1991 murder of Rushdie’s Japanese translator, Hitoshi Igarashi.

Author Salman Rushdie, pictured in 2025, was left partially blind after Matar stabbed him more than a dozen times during a speaking event in New York in 2022

This still image from video shows Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, N.J., at left, being escorted from the stage as people tend to author Salman Rushdie, center right, at the Chautauqua Institution, in Chautauqua, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 12, 2022

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The Iranian government distanced itself from the fatwa in 1998. But the edict was endorsed ‌in 2006 by Hezbollah’s secretary general and reaffirmed in 2017 by Khomeini’s successor, Ali Khamenei, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

According to evidence presented at his trial, Matar spent more than a year researching the fatwa before attempting to fulfil the edict with an attack on Rushdie while the author was on stage speaking at the Chautauqua Institution, an arts and education centre, in Mayville, New York, on August 12, 2022. 

Rushdie, who ​spent the first decade of ​the fatwa in hiding, was stabbed more ⁠than a dozen times in the head, neck, torso and left hand. 

The Indian-born author lost sight in his right eye and suffered damage to his internal organs. A second man also was wounded in ​the attack.

Audience members rushed onto the stage to subdue the attacker.

US-born Matar, who also has ​Lebanese citizenship, lived ⁠in Fairview, New Jersey, and was found guilty of attempted murder in a New York state court in February 2025. 

He was sentenced three months later to 25 years in prison.

Rushdie, who was born into a Muslim Kashmiri family in India and later obtained British and US ⁠citizenship, spent ​most of the 1990s in seclusion under the protection of the British police ​but adopted a higher profile more than two decades ago, moving to New York City.

Modern life exposes us to a wide range of substances. While most exposures occur at low levels, researchers like me are increasingly interested in the potential cumulative effects of certain chemicals. These include synthetic compounds, indoor air pollutants and microplastics, which can disrupt our hormone and developmental systems. Scientists are still investigating the combined effects of different chemicals and the cumulative health effects they can have over time.

Consequently, many experts recommend a precautionary approach where practical and achievable. So when a chemical ingredient presents a plausible risk of serious harm, protective measures may be justified even before definitive scientific proof of harm is established.

Pollution is often perceived as “out there”. Yet the indoor environment allows more opportunities to lower exposure to chemicals that are associated within an array of diseases and conditions. These include cancer, diabetes, obesity, neurodivergence and heart disease.

Many chemicals found in household products have been identified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and research continues to investigate their potential effects on reproductive health, development and early-onset menopause. So if you are trying to conceive, undergoing fertility treatment, pregnant, going through perimenopause or breastfeeding, these guidelines may be particularly relevant.

The term “detox” tends to be associated with restrictive diets, expensive supplements and wellness trends that promise to cleanse the body of toxic substances. But rather than focusing on dramatic detox interventions, it’s possible to reduce unnecessary exposure to environmental contaminants by following a few simple and proven steps. Reducing environmental exposures does not require major lifestyle changes. Small, everyday habits can help create a healthier home environment.

1. Open windows

Open your windows every day, unless they face a busy road. Good ventilation can help reduce the build-up of indoor air pollutants.

2. Wash fresh produce

Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly, especially conventionally grown produce. Rinse fresh produce with water or soak it briefly in a dilution of bicarbonate of soda to remove some pesticide residues on the surface.

3. Use mild cleaning products

Chemical cleaning products such as bleach or disinfectant were created for environments where sensitive procedures take place, such as hospitals – not our homes. Always wear gloves, open a window, and avoid breathing in the fumes directly as some cleaning products can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Where appropriate, consider using milder alternatives or water-based cleaning solutions such as vinegar on greasy surfaces.

4. Avoid synthetic fragrances

Many synthetic fragrances, including air fresheners, plug-ins, fabric softeners, and deodorising sprays, contain chemicals such as parabens and phthalates. Studies have raised concerns about the potential health effects of long-term exposure to certain fragrance ingredients, particularly in enclosed spaces such as cars.

5. Cut down on plastics

Microplastics are well researched as causing health damage. Reduce your exposure by replacing plastic chopping boards with oiled wooden ones where practical. Buying loose fresh produce without plastic packaging also helps reduce the risk of exposure to microplastics.

6. Dust with damp cloth

Household dust can contain a mixture of particles, allergens, and environmental contaminants, simply use a damp cloth to dust regularly. A 2025 study also found that participants who vacuumed regularly reduced the accumulation of dust and other indoor pollutants.

7. Streamline your beauty routine

Consider whether a complex, multi-step beauty routine is necessary. Personal care products can contain a wide range of synthetic and toxic ingredients, and some people may benefit from simplifying their routine, particularly if they experience skin irritation or sensitivity. Coconut oil can be used as an alternative to cleanser and moisturiser, for example.

8. Cook with care

When cooking, always switch on your cooker extractor fan, or open a window. Cooking can release particles and gases that may affect indoor air quality.

9. Store in jam jars

Avoid recycled plastics to store food as they are less regulated, especially black plastics which are commonly made from electrical waste, consequently containing chemicals that should not encounter our food, such as flame retardants. Use metal, ceramic or glass containers where possible.

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10. Help your body detox

Regular exercise and activities that promote sweating, such as sauna use, may also support some of the body’s natural processes for eliminating toxic chemicals.

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Overall, try to be mindful of what you breathe in, apply to your skin, and consume. To help consumers choose lower-toxicity products, apps such as Detox Me and Think Dirty can be useful resources. Less is more: use fewer products, simplify your routine and be mindful of what you bring into your home. Often reducing unnecessary products can help “cleanse” your wallet, the environment and your body.

Police investigating Robert Bush’s Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull found 35 bodies and bags of ashes among a back room of chaos

Shocking pictures show how a callous funeral director treated the deceased – and their ­grieving families – with utter contempt.

Some 35 bodies and the ashes of more than 100 people who Robert Bush was entrusted with sat among rubbish, scrap cars, motorbikes and wine boxes.

The public-facing areas of Hull’s Legacy Independent Funeral Directors featured a perfectly respectable waiting room and chapel. But behind the appearance of order and dignity lay a back room of horror and chaos. 17 of the bodies stored there had putrefied within a dirty cold storage area, reports the Mirror.

Bush, 48, has admitted 67 offences ­including fraud charges relating to giving families the ashes of strangers, and denying 30 people a decent and proper burial.

When police were called to the scene in March 2024 he boasted about his chapel, telling them: “It seats about 70 people, it’s got a lectern, the coffin sits at the front.” He also described how they had a vicar “the same as a crematorium” and a celebrant with a slide show on a screen.

But among the clutter in the back room, bodies were stored on shelves three racks high in an “undignified manner”. As Hull Crown Court heard from the prosecutor this week: “The vast majority were uncovered and in varying states of decomposition.

“There was a further naked body lying on a stretcher on the floor. In addition, there was one sealed wooden coffin and four sealed cardboard coffins. There was evidence of human putrefaction visible on the floor, and a mop and bucket in the corner of the room which contained further evidence of putrefaction.

“Many of the bodies had hospital ID bracelets on their wrists and/or ankles, some had biological hazard bracelets, while others had no identifying markers.”

The workshop, complete with slab and body gurney, also had a sink labelled “dirty area” full of waste and scissors. A Christmas tree was also among the rubbish.

A single comfy chair with a footrest sat in front of a screen in another room. Disturbingly, families have said they feared Bush was watching them as they visited their loved ones.

A book about a road trip to America was also found at the premises, along with motorbikes, four ­sets of motorbike leathers and helmets hanging neatly from the wall. They appeared to have been taken better care of than the bodies stored nearby or bags of ashes lined up on the floor.

Katie Woolston, 28, went to Legacy after her fourth miscarriage and now fears her child was dumped in a bin by Bush. She said: “People’s loved ones were in the building, so why on Earth was he storing motorbikes and cars in there?”

As well as conning around 200 families out of more than £550,000 through fraudulent pre-paid funeral plans, Bush – who spent £42,000 on holidays alone – also failed to pass on donations given by relatives and mourners to charity.

Bush’s sick deception – were uncovered by funeral directors who had been called in to collect a body for him while he was away in the US.

Gary Pickering and Steve Emmerson, of Evergreen Funeral Directors, took immediate action they were so disturbed. The prosecutor said: “Putting it simply, they were shocked by what they saw – but then saw a passing police car which they flagged down and they spoke to a PC.

“The officer described the witnesses as being shaken as they relayed the details to him.

“Three police officers then attended Mr Bush’s premises where they found a large number of human bodies within a cold storage area of the premises.”

The prosecutor added: “There was also evidence of personal possessions with some of the deceased and other personal effects on the floor and on shelving.”

Containers of ashes were found all over the premises, with most “stored in an undignified manner”, according to a report on the conditions in the premises.

Some were stacked chaotically on the floor where damp had caused mould to grow on the boxes. Ash was also found on desk surfaces, in empty and unidentified boxes and, in one room, strewn across the floor.

Many families had complained about a bad smell coming from the ­premises, with one man identifying mould on his gran’s coffin.

Photographs show one room full of wood cuttings after Bush started making his own coffins out of MDF, to save money.

He will be sentenced on Friday, after harrowing victim impact statements are read to the court.

One of Bush’s victims told the Mirror the funeral director went quickly from the “consummate professional” to “Frankenstein”.

Karen Dry said she is praying the fiend is served justice for his crimes. The mum-of-two said she may never know if she actually has her parents’ ashes.

Bush is being sentenced at Hull Crown Court for more than 65 offences spread over 12 years, with hundreds of victims and their grieving families impacted.

READ MORE: Criminal Record: Body found in suitcase in Athens and Encrochat kingpin caged

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Ms Dry, of Cottingham, Hull, said: “He was charming. He was pleasant and very patient, he was a consummate professional. He had a certain pleasantness about him. He had a nice personality.

“But we realised he was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The truth is you can’t DNA-test ashes. This man has affected hundreds of families. A small village full. There’s probably more Frankenstein’s elsewhere – hiding in plain sight.”

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Some airports scrapped the 100ml rule for liquids, now allowing containers of up to two litres in hand luggage.

This change is due to new technology that allows passengers to keep liquids in their hand luggage.

However, this rule isn’t universal, with only seven UK airports implementing it so far.

Travellers are encouraged to check the latest rules and requirements for their destination, including luggage sizes and passport validity.

Can you pack more than 100ml containers of liquid in your hand luggage?

If you fly from the following airports, liquids are not limited to 100ml containers:

• Heathrow
• Gatwick
• Edinburgh
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• London Southend
• Bournemouth

In fact, these airports now allow passengers to pack liquids in multiple containers up to two litres.

There is no limit on the number of containers, as long as they don’t exceed two litres.

ETIAS: What Brits need to know before travelling to Europe

Metal bottles must be emptied at all airports, so it’s worth using alternative containers for liquids to save you the job.

Which? adds: “The only caveat is that liquids in vacuum flasks must be poured out, as the new scanners can’t penetrate the double layer of insulation.”

Check your passport is valid for travel

Compare the Market has warned Brits who are going abroad to check more than their expiry date when it comes to passports.

That is because some countries operate a strict rule where passports must have a certain amount of time left on them to be accepted into the country.

Recommended reading:

Using HM Passport Office data, the comparison site said that 705,904 British passports have less than three months remaining before they expire.

Countries in the EU’s Schengen Area require UK travellers to have a passport that is valid for at least three months after their planned departure from the Schengen Area.

These passports are still valid, as they have not passed their expiry dates.

Still, some destinations ask visitors to adhere to additional validity requirements, so it’s crucial you know the rules before going away.

Do you prefer the new liquid rules at UK airports? Tell us what you think in the comments.

By PETER HITCHENS, COLUMNIST AND COMMENTATOR

Published: 08:43 BST, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 08:47 BST, 30 July 2026

Wildfires raging across southern France have now forced George and Amal Clooney to flee their home.

The 65-year-old Oscar winner and the 48-year-old human rights lawyer live in Brignoles, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of France, which is threatened by fires spreading across France, Greece, Italy and Spain.

Clooney revealed that he and his wife had evacuated their home along with their nine-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, in a letter to the mayor of Brignoles, Didier Brémond, his representative confirmed to People on Wednesday.

In the short but stirring letter, the actor reportedly vowed to support the French town, which is home to just under 18,000 people, regardless of the impact of the encroaching fires.

The Daily Mail has reached out to George and Amal Clooney for comment but has not yet received a response. 

‘Dear Didier, At this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment,’ Clooney began.

Wildfires are affecting the southern part of Brignoles and threatening the village of Camps-la-Source, while the neighborhoods of Pelicon and Tombarel are subject to an evacuation order

The Clooneys moved to an estate near Brignoles, which is home to just under 18,000 people, in 2021; the town, which is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, is pictured that year

‘As we evacuate Brignoles we want to emphasise 2 things, first we hope you and the people of our city are safe and second that Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole,’ he wrote. 

‘We love Brignoles and our friends who live there.’ 

On Wednesday, Brémond shared a Facebook post with aerial photos snapped above Brignoles that showed the fires threatening the town. 

‘The fire is less dynamic and is progressing slowly, especially thanks to the wind that has fallen,’ he wrote, via a translation. 

The mayor added that evacuation orders remained in place for affected neighborhoods 

The Clooneys announced their evacuation on the same day that the EU’s emergency response chief warned that wildfires could potentially engulf ‘all of Europe’ within days.

Greece, Italy and Central Europe are now expected to face the highest wildfire risk in the coming weeks, raising fears of fresh disasters even as firefighters continue battling major blazes across southern Europe.

Maria Zuber, head of the EU’s Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre, said the next few days would be ‘very difficult’ and warned the wildfire threat was shifting eastward after devastating parts of France and the Iberian Peninsula.

‘The next risk, it’s already moving to Greece and also Central Europe,’ Zuber told reporters. 

‘Greece for the moment was spared, and now we see that it will go to Greece. 

In a letter to Brignoles mayor Didier Brémond, Clooney shared that his family was evacuating but vowed to support the town as it recovered from the fires

‘As we evacuate Brignoles we want to emphasise 2 things, first we hope you and the people of our city are safe and second that Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole,’ Clooney continued. ‘We love Brignoles and our friends who live there’

Helicopters have been deployed in an attempt to stem the fires by dropping water from above

Members of the Recherche des Causes et Circonstances d’Incendie – RCCI of the Var department (Fire Causes and Circumstances Investigation) unit are pictured at the site of a suspected reignition point of a wildfire in Ponteves

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On Wednesday, Brémond shared a Facebook post with aerial photos snapped above Brignoles that showed the fires threatening the town. ‘The fire is less dynamic and is progressing slowly, especially thanks to the wind that has fallen,’ he wrote, via a translation; the town is seen in 2021

‘Italy will face risk at the beginning of August, and we will need to see what will happen with the Iberian Peninsula, because if [it is] there as well, we will have all Europe on fire,’ she added. 

The forecast reflects weather conditions that help fires ignite and spread rapidly, such as high temperatures, dry air, wind and a lack of rain.

Europe suffered its worst wildfire season on record last year, with more than two million acres of land burned. Zuber said Europe’s fire situation this year has so far been similar.

‘We have the potential that this is another record,’ she said. 

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that the wildfires in southern France have now swelled to four times the size of Paris. 

More than 2,200 firefighters are battling the French fires, with 20 aircraft providing support to tamp down the flames. 

Amid efforts to fight the international blazes, three firefighters were killed in Greece.

According to the CBC, more than 330,000 people have been forced to evacuate across France and Spain as of Tuesday.

George and Amal Clooney began eyeing Brignoles as a possible spot to settle down back in 2021, and they purchased their estate for around $9 million later that year.

The American screen star and the British–Lebanese lawyer went on to gain French citizenship for themselves and their children in 2025, even though Clooney had admitted that he was still ‘bad’ at speaking French. 

The couple’s home in Brignoles is just one of their multiple European estates.

More than 20 years ago, Clooney purchased a mansion on Italy’s Lake Como, and he and Amal also have a manor in Berkshire in the United Kingdom.

The birth of their children in June 2017 was announced by Clooney on French TV, and he has frequently stated that he admires the country’s privacy laws. 

The Clooneys announced their evacuation on the same day that the EU’s emergency response chief warned that wildfires could potentially engulf ‘all of Europe’ within days; firefighters battle the blaze near Mirabel-et-Blacons in southeastern France on Tuesday

More than 2,200 firefighters are battling the French fires, with 20 aircraft providing support to tamp down the flames; a plane dropping fire retardant is pictured on Wednesday near Gironde

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The birth of his children in June 2017 was announced by George on French TV, and he has frequency stated that he admires the country’s privacy laws (Brignoles village pictured)  

He told French radio in December 2024: ‘I love the French culture, your language, even if I’m still bad at it after 400 days of courses. 

‘Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us.’ 

The couple downgraded their 25-bedroom Italian house with a tennis court on Lake Como to a ‘holiday home’ after purchasing the wine estate, Domaine du Canadel, near the village of Brignoles, in the South of France.

It comes with 425 acres, including an olive grove, vineyard, tennis court and boules pitch. And it seems the peace and privacy that comes with all that space has made it their favorite place in the world. 

Clooney is friendly with the local mayor, Didier Brémond, and last year recorded a New Year message for the people of Brignoles which began: ‘Bonjour, Didier!’ 

It continued: ‘First of all, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday season. We want to thank all of you, because we love spending time in the Var and in Brignoles. And we are very grateful for your hospitality and for the friendship that Didier shows us.’

The couple’s vast property empire also includes homes in Kentucky and New York City. 

The first trailer for Michael Owen‘s fly-on-the-wall Prime Video series has been released, and it offers a glimpse at the former England player’s life as a busy father-of-four.

Since retiring from football, Michael has thrown himself into the world of horse racing, and the venture will take centre stage in their series, titled Meet The Owens.

The six-part docuseries follows a year in the life of Michael, his wife Louise, and their four children Gemma, James, Emily and Jessica, as they juggle a horse racing business while contending with a chaotic home life.

At home, he and wife Louise are preparing for life as empty nesters: youngest Jessica dreams of becoming a showjumping Olympic champion, while Emily, 18, is trying to become the first Owen to go to university, and James, 20, who has a degenerative eye condition, wants to join the family business. 

Meanwhile, eldest daughter Gemma, a presenter and equestrian with millions of social media followers, is balancing her media career with an ambitious new challenge. 

Training at her dad’s stables, the series sees her sights set on racing at Glorious Goodwood.

Michael’s son James also makes a rare appearance, having previously spoken about being considered clinically blind by age 13 after being diagnosed with a rare eye condition

In the trailer, Michael pokes fun at assumptions he is a ‘boring p****k’ while his wife Louise shares how they first met in primary school before going on to date and marry in 2005.

The sportsman’s daughters Gemma and Emily confess their dad can be ’embarrassing’ at times, as it shows his eldest rolling her eyes at her dad’s cheeky behaviour.

Gemma also begins her training to be a jockey ahead of her Goodwood debut, admitting her dad ‘wants’ her to try out the sport.

Michael’s son James also makes a rare appearance in the series, having previously spoken about being considered clinically blind by age 13 after being diagnosed with a rare eye condition called Stargardt disease.

The condition meant James was unable to follow in his dad’s footsteps to pursue a football career, with Gemma previously sharing how she is ‘very protective’ of her younger brother. 

Gemma, who is an international dressage champion, is set to compete in the Markel Magnolia Cup on Ladies Day at Goodwood – a ladies-only charity race on Thursday. 

‘I’m really looking forward to taking part in the Markel Magnolia Cup this year,’ Gemma said. 

‘Believe it or not, I had never sat on a racehorse until a couple of months ago and the training so far has been humbling to say the least.’

The six-part docuseries follows a year in the life of Michael, his wife Louise, and their four children as they juggle a horse racing business while contending with a chaotic home life

Gemma, a presenter and equestrian with millions of social media followers, is balancing her media career with an ambitious new challenge – racing at Glorious Goodwood

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The sportsman’s daughters Gemma and Emily confess their dad can be ’embarrassing’ at times, as the trailer shows his eldest rolling her eyes at her dad’s cheeky behaviour

All six episodes of Meet the Owens will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video from 28th August 2026

‘Spending more time at Manor House Stables, seeing how a racing yard runs like clockwork and getting out onto the gallops, has been an incredible experience.’

‘It is an even bigger challenge than I initially expected but I’m excited to take part in such a prestigious fundraising event which raises so much money for charities supporting women and children.’

Michael, who played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City, set up Manor House Stables in 2006.

He converted an old arable farm into a state-of-the-art thoroughbred racing yard. 

Meanwhile, Gemma unveiled her romance with Red Morgan last year, as she shared a photo of the pair joined by her father and her mother Louise Bonsall.

A source told The Sun at the time that Gemma and Red had known each other for a while after meeting through their shared passion of equestrian.

Per the 2024 Sunday Times Rich List, Red’s father Steve – who is the founder and chairman of housebuilder Redrow – has a net worth estimated at £915million.

All six episodes of Meet the Owens will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video from August 28, 2026.