Sophie Bow, who appeared on BBC’s Snog Marry Avoid as a teenager, has opened up about the real reason she missed out on major TV opportunities

A woman who featured on a popular BBC programme says she was left with little option but to reject several significant opportunities.

Sophie Bow underwent a dramatic ‘makeunder’ on BBC’s Snog Marry Avoid, which showcased the sassy robotic style guru POD (Personal Overhaul Device).

Instead of receiving a makeover, participants on the programme were given a ‘makeunder’ as they were convinced that less is more.

The programme proved enormously popular with audiences in the late 00s with singer Jenny Frost followed by comedian and Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Taylor presenting. The BBC Three series aired from 2008 until its sixth and concluding run in December 2013.

Sophie was merely 19 when she initially graced our television screens, encountering POD as a teenager who adored copious fake tan, thick makeup and attention-grabbing outfits adorned with sequins and glitter.

During that period, audiences warmed to the teenager and programme executives were eager to bring her back to our screens for additional projects.

Now 33, she has established herself as a prominent social media content creator but disclosed that she was compelled to decline numerous television opportunities due to her anxiety.

Reflecting on her journey since featuring on Snog Marry Avoid, she posted on TikTok and provided followers with an update on her current life.

She began by stating: “I would say appearing on telly back in the day definitely helped my career.

“Back then it was a very popular show but it disappeared off the face of the earth and no one knows why or where it went but it would be so good if they brought it back.”

She disclosed: “After being on that show, I did actually get casted for the first ever Love Island but I was in a relationship. I’ve always been in a relationship so I never went on the show.”

Yet her relationship wasn’t the sole factor preventing her, as she elaborated: “But there have been so many opportunities that I actually did miss out on – throughout my life because I do have anxiety – I suffer badly with anxiety.

“I don’t really know what triggered it but I do get quite back anxiety. Even to this day I get asked on brand trips or anything outside my comfort zone, if I’m not going with somebody I can’t.”

The content creator continued: “I really need to push myself to do more. I have a little boy and he is the best thing ever so I did take a little break from social media for a little while but then I did go back into social media.

“I did lose quite a lot of following from having the break then I started a TikTok account and here I am.”

Kathy O’Hara, 69, was cycling along Brucefield Park West towards Livingston on Wednesday, June 17, when she was aware of two cars behind her.

A West Lothian woman has told of the frightening moment a car overtaking her bike too closely nearly ‘knocked her flying’ on a country road.

Kathy O’Hara, 69, was cycling along Brucefield Park West towards Livingston on Wednesday, June 17, when she was aware of two cars behind her.

As a regular – almost daily – user of the route, she knows it usually gets little traffic and never has any issues.

However, as she rode onto a blind bend, she said the driver closest to her “went for it”.

The driver behind though, was the exact opposite, and flashed their hazards to thank her for letting them know they could pass her on a straight section.

She told Edinburgh Live: “I’m always looking behind checking for cars, and I only wear one earbud so I can hear them. Most drivers are very polite.

“If they come up behind me I move to the side of the road – which is sometimes perilous because the potholes are quite dodgy, so I’m dodging them to let people drive past.

“But I never expected this for a minute. I always give drivers signals letting them know it’s safe to pass.

“I was coming up to this corner, and knew there was two cars behind me, and I didn’t move over or signal because I knew it was a blind corner, but the driver just went for it.

“I got the fright of my life – they were so close I’m surprised their wing mirror never clipped my shoulder.

“They immediately went in front of me and I was so afraid my bike started to wobble, and I thought I was going to come off. At my age, I’m not going to bounce, am I?”

Although her ordeal left her shaken, with 60 years of cycling experience Kathy is insistent it will not put her off taking to the roads on her bike.

She is now more keen than ever to urge drivers to be responsible when sharing the space with cyclists.

She added: “Not only was it dangerous, it was illegal. And at my age I don’t want a broken hip. So I think I’ll be investing in a camera for my bike now.

“I want drivers just to think, imagine if that person on the bike was a member of your family – how much room would you give them then? You wouldn’t want anything happening to them.

“I understand there’s a lot of ignorant cyclists out there that hog the middle of the road, but don’t tar us all with the same brush.”

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, Head of Road Policing at Police Scotland, previously said as part of a national safety campaign: “Every driver has a responsibility to safely overtake cyclists.

“Cyclists are vulnerable on the road and drivers should be aware of how they can help reduce serious and fatal collisions.

“Police officers are out every day educating road users and carrying out enforcement, and we are part of a crucial partnership response to road safety.”

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The dress also comes with handy hidden pockets

A flattering stripy dress from Tesco’s F&F will provide you with a “timeless” piece for your summer clothing. Most people will soon be on their summer holidays which means it is time to get out the summer outfits.

F&F has you covered with lots of gorgeous outfits on offer. One great piece is the F&F striped bandeau midi dress in multi brown.

On the F&F website, the dress is described as a “timeless” piece. It adds: “Refresh your warm-weather edit with this striped dress, cut to a flattering midi length for a stylish finish. Complete with a pretty bandeau neckline and handy hidden pockets.”

The dress costs £25 and can be bought online or in-store. If you’re a fan of the striped pattern, then Boden offers some good choice dresses as well.

Boden offers the Saoirse smock back dress in navy with ivory stripes. On the Boden website it says: “At first glance this is a classic fit and flare dress with a boat neck and defined waistline.

“Spin around for a twist that elevates it to special occasion territory. The smock adds comfort and ease of movement.”

To complete the look, wear it with a pair of large gold metal hoops and strap knot sandals. If stripes isn’t your style, New Look offers some pretty midi dresses.

For something a bit less eye catching, New Look has the cream frill sleeve V-neck midi dress. This dress provides an “effortless” style for all that wear it.

On the New Look website, it adds: “Fitted and flowy in the right places for a flattering finish, it has short frill sleeves and a waisted fit.”

NEW YORK (AP) — “Toy Story” still has a friend in moviegoers.

The fifth installment in the Pixar series debuted with $160 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, easily setting a new franchise record and notching the biggest opening weekend of the year.

Launching 31 years after the original “Toy Story” first landed in theaters, “Toy Story 5” far surpassed the previous series-best debut: $120 million for “Toy Story 4” in 2019. Internationally, it was just as successful, with $152 million in opening-weekend sales, for a worldwide haul of $312 million.

The “Toy Story” franchise is one of the most profitable for The Walt Disney Co. Before “Toy Story 5” launched, the movies had collectively grossed more than $3 billion, while also pulling in billions from merchandising.

Though the series seemed to reach a conclusion with 2010’s “Toy Story 3,” the decision to revive the franchise almost a decade later — while controversial — has been extremely lucrative. “Toy Story 4” exceeded $1 billion in ticket sales, and “Toy Story 5” is all but certain to as well.

Among animated films, only 2018’s “Incredibles 2” had a bigger opening weekend ($182.7 million) than “Toy Story 5.”

These toys aren’t cheap

Keeping the “Toy Story” movies going has gotten more expensive, though. The fifth movie cost $250 million to make, not including marketing. It returns a voice cast led by Tom Hanks (as Woody), Tim Allen (as Buzz Lightyear) and Joan Cusack (as Jessie).

In the sequel, the toys are pushed aside when Bonnie gets a new tablet. It’s directed by Andrew Stanton, the Pixar veteran who helmed “Finding Nemo” (2003) and “WALL-E” (2008). “Toy Story 5” also features a new song by Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You.”

Reviews have been very good and audiences gave “Toy Story 5” an “A” CinemaScore, suggesting it should remain a force in theaters for weeks.

After its chart-topping debut, Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” slipped to second place with $17 million in its second weekend. That’s not the hold that Universal Pictures was hoping for. Dropping 61% from its first weekend suggests “Disclosure Day” might not find the legs Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller needs to break out this summer.

Still, the $115 million budgeted movie, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor and Colman Domingo, has grossed $160.4 million globally in two weeks. “Disclosure Day” stands a good chance of remaining the top adult-oriented option in theaters in the coming weeks.

“Toy Story 5” faced little competition from newcomers.

‘Robin Hood’ misses the bullseye

A24’s “The Death of Robin Hood,” a violent revisionist approach to the old legend, flopped with $2.6 million on 1,762 screens. The film, starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Michael Sarnoski, was modestly budgeted at $20 million. But after finding mixed reviews, audiences didn’t go for the movie, either. It earned a “C+” CinemaScore.

Neon’s “Leviticus” came out just ahead of “The Death of Robin Hood,” with $2.7 million from 1,076 theaters. Written and directed by Adrian Chiarella, the buzzy low-budget horror film is about two teen boys who meet at conversion therapy. It’s a fine start for an indie with a small budget of $3.5 million and good word-of-mouth. But “Leviticus” also faced unusually strong competition in the still-potent horror hits “Obsession” and “Backrooms.”

The top horror choice remained “Obsession,” the microbudget phenomenon by 26-year-old Curry Barker. In its sixth weekend, it nearly equaled its $17 million opening weekend from mid-May. The Focus Features release, which cost less than $1 million to make, added $14.2 million to bring its domestic total to $215.8 million and its global haul to $333.3 million.

With “Toy Story 5” and “Obsession” driving sales, the summer box office is up 15% from the 2025 summer, according to Rentrak. More impressively, summer ticket sales are nearly equal to the 2019 summer at the same point, not accounting for inflation. The summer to date is just 1.9% down from that year.

Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak, expects that Hollywood is heading for its best summer since before the pandemic. And the success is coming from both expected and unexpected places.

“To me, this is a hybrid summer and this could be the new blueprint for how you build the perfect summer box-office beast,” says Dergarabedian. “You throw in a mix of very eclectic films and not just the usual suspects — the big franchise films, the known brands — but also films like ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’ and original films like ‘Disclosure Day.’”

Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak:

1. “Toy Story 5,” $160 million.

2. “Disclosure Day,” $17 million.

3. “Obsession,” $14.2 million.

4. “Backrooms,” $7.3 million.

5. “Scary Movie,” $6.7 million.

6. “Masters of the Universe,” $5.6 million.

7. “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” $3.9 million.

8. “Leviticus,” $2.7 million.

9. “The Death of Robin Hood,” $2.6 million.

10. “Michael,” $2.2 million.

The email to customers sparked outrage

Wowcher has apologised for “unacceptable” wording on an email which appeared to mock a crocodile attack on a three-year-old boy at a zoo.

The boy is in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge after Thursday’s incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst in Huntingdonshire.

It is understood he was attacked by at least one crocodile after he was allegedly thrown into a crocodile enclosure.

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On Saturday, customers of the Wowcher e-commerce site opened up an email urging them to check out their “special deals” on getaways and activities, which was headlined: “Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid.”

Outrage grew after screenshots of the email were shared across social media platforms and bulletin boards.

Norwich Norfolk UK Community Notice Board posted: “Why do wowcher think its ok to use this as a heading on their emails??”

One customer described themselves as “now unsubscribed” while another person condemned it as “disgusting”, adding “if that’s real someone needs to be fired”.

Another customer wrote: “Emailed them back but no answer. Won’t be using them again for sure, even if its a poor effort at a joke somehow.”

A spokesperson from Wowcher said: “We are extremely sorry for an email subject line sent by Wowcher yesterday.The wording was unacceptable. It should never have been written. It was never approved for use. The responsibility sits with us and we are urgently reviewing how our processes failed.

“We recognise the hurt and distress it has caused, particularly for the young child’s family at this unimaginably difficult time. We are reviewing all scheduled marketing content while we urgently strengthen our creative, approval and sign-off safeguards. There is no excuse for this. We apologise unreservedly and will take the necessary steps to make sure this does not happen again.”

A 30-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the boy ended up in the enclosure reportedly has learning difficulties and had been on a trip with a carer.

Cambridgeshire Police said the arrested man, from Norfolk, was “assessed as not being fit for interview”.

He has been released on bail until September 18. Police were called to the zoo at 1.24pm on Thursday by the ambulance service to reports that the boy, who was not known to the man, had suffered serious injuries.

Cambridgeshire Police said the boy “sustained serious injuries while in the enclosure” and “was pulled out by staff from the zoo”.

Tracey Johnson, the wife of the zoo owner, reportedly jumped into the enclosure to save the child. Police said the boy “received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital”.

Detective Inspector Verity McCann previously said: “Our inquiries are ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.

“Our thoughts remain with the boy and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.”

The Olympic champion was visibly upset at having to pull out in Birmingham

Keely Hodgkinson reportedly pulled out of the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships as a precaution ahead of what promises to be an important summer.

The 800m Olympic champion was visibly distraught after pulling out of the event on Sunday at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, having previously taken up her position in lane nine for the race.

Hodgkinson walked to the side of the track, and was clearly upset as officials gathered round, before walking away from the race.

She was keen on competing over a shorter distance in a bid to improve her first-lap speed, and challenge the 800m record later this summer.

The current 800m world record stands at 1:53.28, and was set by Czech Jarmila Kratochvilova 43 years ago.

The 24-year-old had already broken the indoor world record with a time of 1:54.87 in France earlier this year, and winning the 800m at the European Championships remains her main goal this summer.

After her withdrawal from the weekend’s final, coach Jenny Meadows told the BBC Hodgkinson had “felt a little twinge in her last strides before the race”.

Hodgkinson was reportedly feeling anxious during the warm-up and on the start-line, amid fears that the injury could turn into something more serious, particularly after several hamstring issues last year.

Hodgkinson said: “I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent standing on the start-line, so I made the tough decision to step away and not race.

“I didn’t want to risk anything this summer.”

As for the race itself, Amber Anning recovered from a false start to retain her title, winning in a time of 50.16 seconds.

Shortly before Hodgkinson’s withdrawal, her friend and rival Georgia Hunter Bell retained her 800m title.

Bell led throughout to win by a distance in one minute 55.93 seconds.

That time was good enough to break the championship record set by Kelly Holmes in 1995.

Hodgkinson will now turn her attention to the Diamond League meeting, which will get under way in London on July 18.

Asked whether Alonso’s stature within the game will help Chelsea’s players buy into his methods, he replied: “Yeah, most definitely. He’s a manager like that, an ex-player as well, coming in and automatically you can just feel the presence, knowing what he is going to demand and we are all excited to work with him.”

Allan Finnegan has died aged 59, with his family paying an emotional tribue on Father’s Day

A Britain’s Got Talent semi‐finalist who balanced life as a Baptist minister with a successful stand‐up career has died aged 59.

Allan Finnegan, from Bootle, rose to national attention during the 2020 series of the ITV show, winning over millions with his gentle humour and warm stage presence. Praised by judges as a “breath of fresh air”, he continued to serve his congregation at Emmanuel Baptist Church while performing comedy across the country, reports Lancs Live.

Confirming the 59-year-old’s passing on Instagram on Father’s Day, Allan’s family stated: “It is with great sadness that our family share the devastating news that our amazing, caring, funny, Husband, Dad, Grandad, Son, Father-in-law, Church Minister, and Comedian, Allan, went home to be with his Lord and Saviour at 9:10pm on Friday 19th June 2026. He bravely fought so hard to battle cancer for almost 5 years.

“We have the most precious memories as a family and will love and miss him so much. Joyce, Rachael and Beckie were with him in his final moments, playing some of his favourite music and as his favourite song, Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ started playing, Allan opened his eyes and peacefully took his last breath.

“It was an incredibly heartbreaking moment, but also a very precious and beautiful one for our family. Joyce, Rachael, Beckie, Danny, Josh, Albie and Linda give thanks for Allan’s incredible life and faithful witness.

“We would like to to thank each and everyone of you for your support, love and amazing generosity during Allan’s battle. We are eternally grateful to you all, as this gave Allan precious extra time to spend with his family and new grandson, Albie. Be blessed.”

Allan’s passing follows a five-year struggle with cancer, during which his positive spirit consistently remained evident. In 2022, Allan experienced ‘flashes’ in his vision and was sent to St Paul’s Eye Hospital, where growths were found in both eyes.

Allan received a diagnosis of ocular melanoma, an exceptionally uncommon type of cancer. The malignancy was eliminated, but it later spread to his liver, and in December 2023, Allan learnt that it was incurable.

After his diagnosis, he was informed he had merely 12 months remaining, reports the Liverpool Echo, yet, through a GoFundMe appeal was able to obtain innovative treatments which enabled him to survive longer than medical professionals anticipated. Reflecting on his terminal diagnosis in 2025, Allan told the Liverpool Echo: “You can sit and wallow and don’t get me wrong, there have been days when I’ve done that kind of thing, but I’ve been trying to change that mindset so you don’t just go into a spiral. It’s not always easy, but I try to think that every day is a gift from now on.

“I’m on borrowed time, aren’t I? Or extra time, Fergie time was what they used to call it. We’re always going to do things in the future – you say, when I get to this stage in my life I’ll do this etc. I don’t think that way anymore.”

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“WE were never meant to be a band that had hits,” muses Andy McCluskey. “When Tony Wilson told us: ‘You’re the future of pop’, we said ‘Pardon?’ Nobody was more surprised than us when we were on Top of the Pops.”

Nearly 50 years after Andy and childhood pal Paul Humphreys started experimenting with old tape recorders and called themselves Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, the synth pop pioneers are on the road with their Summer of Hits tour.

Following last year’s success of the re-mastered Crush album, OMD are celebrating the crowd-pleasers, in captivating shows packed with hits.

Andy McCluskey

Having seen them devote an entire concert to Architecture and Morality, I ask if set lists can be a tricky balance of album tracks, new material and pop bangers. Last year’s release of the re-mastered Crush album was a US success, and in 2023 OMD released a new album, the acclaimed Bauhaus Staircase, “which would’ve been Number 1 if it wasn’t for Taylor Swift,” smiles Andy.

“Every year is a 40th anniversary of something – this year’s it’s The Pacific Age (OMD’s seventh album).” he says. “People love the albums but we have to perform the hits too. This tour is about the hits.”

And what gems they are! Since debut single Electricity in 1979, OMD have led the way in British electronic music, selling 25 million singles and 15 million albums worldwide.

Their hits, including Enola Gay, Souvenir, Messages, Joan Of Arc, Locomotion, She’s Leaving and Tesla Girls, are a dreamy blend of haunting melancholy and upbeat synth pop. Seminal 1981 album Architecture and Morality established them as one of the UK’s most influential electro-pop acts, inspiring the likes of Depeche Mode, The Killers and Moby.

Back in the day, they were on Top of The Pops a whopping 29 times. “Our last appearance was the same day the Spice Girls’ first,” says Andy. “I finally got my 30th Top of the Pops in 2000 – thanks to Atomic Kitten.”

OMD

Creating a girl group might not seem the most likely career move for a musician who started out emulating Kraftwerk, but when Andy founded Atomic Kitten in 1998 it was a vehicle for his pop songwriting. He wrote their biggest hit, Whole Again, in 2001, earning him an Ivor Novello Award nomination. “I love a good pop band and I had a blast with Atomic Kitten,” says Andy. “I’m still in touch with Kerry (Katona), I spoke to her the other week. She’s great fun.”

By the mid-90s, OMD had called it a day. “I was banging my head on the wall,” says Andy. “It was the age of Britpop and grunge, nothing was as unfashionable as an Eighties synth band. In 1996 we released Walking on the Milky Way and Radio 1 wouldn’t play it. Fifty per cent of British single sales were from Woolworths, but they only sold records on radio playlists. We had no chance.”

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A decade later, in 2006, Andy and Paul reunited, initially to appear on a German TV show. Thanks to the Eighties nostalgia vibe of the last two decades, they’ve enjoyed a resurgence as a hugely popular live act, while continuing to release new material and push boundaries.“Cultural fashion has a timeline,” says Andy. “In the 80s synths were the future. In the 90s it was Oasis, and I was thinking ‘How come the Beatles are the future again?’ I’ve been around long enough now to know that all pop culture eventually eats its own history.”

Andy and Paul were school pals, growing up on the Wirral in the 1970s, when they started carrying out weird musical experiments with old radio sets and tape recorders. It all started when Andy went to see Kraftwerk, in 1975: “I sat in seat Q36, that concert changed my life. I built a stereo from two record players and started raiding obscure German back catalogues.

OMD

“Paul’s widowed mother worked six days a week so we had the house to ourselves. We used to pump everything – war noises off the TV, experimental soundwaves – through tape recorders. Even our mates said: ‘That’s not music’. We gave ourselves this preposterous name and only intended to do one gig. I was going to Leeds to do fine art and Paul was off to London to do an electronics degree.”

But their catchy electro-pop melodies fused with intelligent lyrics caught the ear of Factory Records supremo Tony Wilson, who released Electricity. “We were just trying to blag our way onto Granada Reports. We never planned it to become pop stars,” says Andy.

Late 70s Liverpool had a fertile music scene and young bands cut their teeth at Eric’s – where OMD first played, in October 1978. “Every other person around us was in a band,” says Andy. “Open mic Tuesdays at Eric’s were full of people who went on to be in bands like Teardrop Explodes, Echo and The Bunnymen, China Crisis, Siouxsie and the Banshees. They were all in this mad punk supergroup, Big in Japan.”

For fans like me (OMD was the first band I ever saw live), their beautifully catchy songs – about things pop acts don’t normally sing about, like oil refineries, religious martyrs, technology and the atomic bomb – take us back to wistful hours in bedrooms playing records.

“Songs that were part of your journey remain with you. They’re the pegs on which hang so many memories,” says Andy, who is so delightful I could talk to him all day. “When Paul and I got back together in 2006 we had people from a certain generation coming to see us, but also a new broader demographic: kids discovering us on a deep dive through Spotify.

“When we first started having hits we had imposter syndrome – 48 years later we’re still here, and still doing what we want to do.”

* OMD’s Summer of Hits tour is at York Museum Gardens on Thursday, July 9. Visit yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk