Melanie Sykes has shared a new look with social media followers after previously revealing that her alopecia diagnosis had left her ‘two-thirds bald.’

Earlier this weekend, the former TV presenter, 55, posted a video to Instagram showing the sides of her head, where large patches of hair have disappeared as she continues to deal with ongoing health problems.

Lying on her back, Sykes slowly turned her head from side to side to reveal the areas affected by alopecia, simply captioning the clip: ‘#Liberty.’

The update came more than a year after the broadcaster first revealed she had been diagnosed with alopecia – as well as a heart condition and widespread inflammation, which she has linked to prolonged stress and PTSD.

In a follow-up to her social media, Sykes has revealed an all-new look, sharing a beaming selfie in which she is now completely bald.

She captioned the post simply ‘Loss + Gain = Life.’

Sykes’ post came accompanied with several hashtags, which included the words ‘wise,’ ’tistime,’ ‘sage,’ ‘yogi’ and ‘smile.’

Earlier this year, she told followers that only the hair on the crown of her head remained, explaining: ‘My crown is pretty much what’s left of my hair now and how healthy it is.

‘I do get cold however, hence my beanie and various headwear but I’m learning to live with “loss” and counting my blessings instead.

‘It’s not always easy to be grateful, but it is the key to happiness and takes daily, moment-to-moment practice. Practice love.’

Despite the challenges, Sykes has repeatedly spoken about focusing on her recovery and maintaining a positive outlook.

Speaking to fans towards the end of last year, she revealed she was experiencing what is known as ‘post-traumatic growth’ – the positive psychological changes that can follow periods of trauma.

‘Even the most difficult times do pass, they do,’ she said.

‘You can be suffering from PTSD but still at the same time be experiencing post-traumatic growth.

‘I’m in both camps because you can be both things at once… We can transcend all trauma, we can be changed, and I am living f******g proof of that.’

Sykes first revealed the extent of her hair loss in 2025, explaining she had lost around half of her hair as well as much of one eyebrow.

She later said the condition had progressed further, telling followers she had become ‘two-thirds bald’ while continuing to battle excessive inflammation throughout her body.

At the time, she also opened up about developing heart palpitations, which she believed were triggered by the stress surrounding allegations made against her former television colleague Gino D’Acampo, who has denied wrongdoing.

The former radio presenter, who previously revealed her experience with Gregg Wallace led her to quit TV, and has spoken out against the BBC and ITV in the past, presented ITV’s Let’s Do Lunch with Gino between 2011 and 2014.

‘I’m not well, as you know. I’ve been ill all year,’ she said in a video update earlier this year.

‘I’ve got an autoimmune condition, I am losing my hair, I keep having crazy inflammation all over and I am working on healing.’

Rather than dwelling on her diagnosis, Sykes said she has turned to meditation and spirituality as part of her recovery, even completing a meditation teacher training course.

She has also encouraged fans not to worry about her, insisting she has learned to prioritise her own wellbeing after stepping away from television.

Sykes, who rose to fame in the iconic Boddingtons Bitter adverts before fronting shows including The Big Breakfast, Today with Des and Mel and Let’s Do Lunch with Gino & Mel, left the entertainment industry after receiving an autism diagnosis in 2021.

‘My late diagnosis of autism has changed my life for the better,’ she previously said. ‘For once, I come first.’

MORE: Melanie Sykes reveals photo of extreme alopecia after going ‘two-thirds bald’

People are only now learning there’s a difference between Elmlea and real cream. It seems the topic is something that has caused confusion for many years among food lovers

Elmlea is a product that most people have had sitting in their fridge at one time or another; yet an unexpected number are unaware that it is not actually cream. You may well have been dolloping it over puddings and desserts for years under the assumption that it was, without ever stopping to consider what you were genuinely adding to your food.

The subject previously surfaced on Reddit when one user admitted they had never realised it isn’t cream, and the revelation left them utterly gobsmacked. The thread subsequently went viral, as people simply couldn’t believe they had been consuming it for years without knowing what it actually is, having always assumed it was simply cream.

It is far from the first time such a discovery has caused a stir, either. Previously, one person claimed “life would never be the same” after finding out it is in fact a substitute.

The social media user said: “Today I discovered Elmlea isn’t actually cream. My whole life I’ve spent thinking the Elmlea single and double products sat in the fridge are cream.

“I was staring at the container this morning and read palm oil and ‘alternative to cream’. This sent me down a rabbit hole and I’m now questioning my entire culinary beliefs.

“Now I’m starting to question if I’ve ever actually eaten real cream. My whole life is crumbling. Have I ever eaten real butter? Who knows? I feel like a fraud.

“Was everyone else aware of this and am I just blissfully ignorant? Please tell me I’m not the only one.”

The post sparked considerable discussion, with people sharing a variety of reactions. It appears many of them were previously unaware of this culinary fact.

One responded: “I know a lot of people here are saying this is obvious, but I absolutely never knew this either.”

Another added: “Me neither, though I don’t buy it. It sits next to the cream and looks like cream, why would I think it was anything other than cream?”

A third wrote: “Many, many of my customers are absolutely ASTONISHED to learn that Elmlea isn’t real cream. ‘So why do you sell it with the cream?’ they ask. I’ve always known that this isn’t cream.”

Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “Haha, yep. Spent my entire life with the same false belief until my uncle gave me a light-hearted dressing down after I returned from the shops with Elmlea having been sent there for cream. I was 23 at the time.”

Another also remarked: “Whaaaaaaattttt?? These past few years have been a lie!”

While some acknowledged they were already aware, it transpired that many weren’t. However, you may now be wondering what Elmlea is actually made from.

What is the difference?

You may not realise that Elmlea isn’t actually cream. Elmlea is a well-known brand of cream alternatives produced from a combination of buttermilk and vegetable oils.

It’s particularly noted for its impressive shelf life, and this versatile fridge essential can be used for pouring, cooking and whipping in both sweet and savoury dishes. In contrast, cream is a dairy product composed of the high-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization.

The main ingredient is milkfat, and this determines the cream’s richness and texture. It also contains water, proteins (like casein), naturally occurring milk sugars (lactose) and vitamins.

Cream typically lasts for seven to 10 days once opened, but it can last up to three weeks unopened. Shelf life varies by the fat content and whether it is fresh or ultra-pasteurized, so it’s always important to check the label.

A product description for Elmlea Single on the website states: “Elmlea stays fresher for longer, over the double the shelf life of dairy cream (before and after opening). Pour over pudding, swirl into soup or add a splash to your scrambled eggs.”

Raj Tandoori, nestled in the historic Pudding Chare, Newcastle, has appeared on the market for £299,950.

The family-run establishment has been serving traditional Indian cuisine since 1994, making it one of the city’s longest-running Indian restaurants.

(Image: Christie Owen & Davies)

The eatery has gained a strong reputation for its traditional, no-frills approach and value-for-money dishes, drawing a loyal customer base.

It has been praised for its food quality and friendly service, boasting a 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor.

Recent reviews have highlighted the restaurant’s large servings, friendly staff, and good value for money.

(Image: Christie Owen & Davies)

One patron said: “The pickle trays are huge. Now my go-to Indian restaurant when I’m in ‘Toon’.”

Another Tripadvisor reviewer added: “Fantastic food, the dupiaza was the best I have ever tasted. Friendly and warm service, relaxed, no rush. I will be back very soon.”

(Image: Christie Owen & Davies)

The restaurant and its building are now being marketed by specialist agents as an “exceptional opportunity” for potential buyers.

The restaurant is close to the Bigg Market and has seating for 70 people.

It is being sold either as the trading restaurant or simply as the building.

Tourists have been cautioned to change a simple phone setting to avoid facing a “big problem” at airports.

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When travelling abroad, there’s a multitude of factors to think about, but one that probably doesn’t spring to mind is using your mobile safely while on the move. Yet it warrants serious consideration, as there are numerous vital precautions to take to remain secure.

While it mightn’t be top of your list, it absolutely should be a priority on your travel agenda, as seemingly harmless mistakes can end up costing you dearly while you’re on your holidays. We all instinctively grab our phones at airports, but what many don’t appreciate is that certain usage habits can expose you to substantial danger.

This isn’t the first occasion such warnings have been issued to globetrotters either. In the past, additional hidden mobile hazards have been brought to light to assist those venturing abroad.

Complimentary airport Wi-Fi may appear a convenient perk while you’re killing time before departure. Nevertheless, William Thackray, an IT specialist at AGT Computer Services, cautions it’s among the riskiest things you can do on your handset, reports the Irish Mirror.

What you need to know

William explained: “The biggest threat isn’t the airport’s actual network. It’s the fake ones sitting right next to it.

“Criminals can set up a hotspot called something like ‘Heathrow Free Wi-Fi’ or ‘Gatwick Passenger Network’ that looks completely legitimate. The moment you connect, they can intercept your data including passwords, emails, anything you’re sending or receiving.”

A growing cyber threat known as an “evil twin” attack is becoming increasingly common in busy public spaces and airports, where thousands of unsuspecting travellers searching for a connection make for easy prey.

Many people are unaware that connecting to airport Wi-Fi can leave personal data exposed to cybercriminals within seconds. Fraudsters are able to set up counterfeit networks that are virtually impossible to distinguish from genuine ones.

Airport Wi-Fi is rarely considered completely safe. While it’s generally fine for browsing the news or checking your flight status, public networks leave you vulnerable to hackers, phishing attempts and bogus “evil twin” hotspots.

It’s advisable to avoid online banking or entering passwords without proper safeguards in place — which is precisely why this guidance is so vital.

Fortunately, one simple phone setting can keep you protected without costing you a penny, and it’s straightforward to set up once you know what to do.

How to avoid a problem

The fix is straightforward. Before heading to the airport, go to your phone’s Wi-Fi settings and turn off “Auto-Join” or “Auto-Connect” for public networks.

On iPhone, you can also go to Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle off “Ask to Join Networks”.

This stops your phone from automatically seeking out a signal without your knowledge. “Better still, use your mobile data if you have it,” added William.

“It costs a little more, but it’s your own private connection. If you do need to use airport Wi-Fi, avoid logging into anything sensitive like banking, work email, anything with a password – until you’re somewhere you trust.”

The overarching rule of thumb is straightforward: if you didn’t set up the network yourself, treat it with suspicion. This is advice well worth taking on board, as disregarding it could leave you facing some serious consequences.

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The Labour Party is united behind Andy Burnham as its next leader, two senior party figures have told the BBC.

The party set out a timeline for a leadership contest following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation earlier this week, but there is scant evidence of support for any contenders other than Burnham.

Former defence minister Al Carns has said a speech on Monday, in which Burnham will set out his economic policy, will decide whether he challenges him for the Labour leadership.

Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell and Housing Secretary Steve Reed, who had stayed loyal to Sir Keir, both said that Labour MPs were backing a coronation of Burnham, rather than a contest.

“I’m pleased that actually what it looks like is we’re probably going to have just the one candidate in Andy Burnham,” Powell told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

“How refreshing that would be – that the whole Labour Party is agreed on the new leader and we don’t have to go through a contest that could be damaging at this point in time.

“Now we’ve all got to get behind that leader and stop the kind of infighting and chitter chatter from the background.”

Reed agreed the party was “going to move very swiftly to uniting behind Andy Burnham” without “turning inwards”, which he described as absolutely essential.

While a general election is not necessary to replace a prime minister, calling one is seen as a test of a new prime minister’s support among the public.

Powell was among then-opposition figures to call for a general election when the Conservatives forced Liz Truss out of office as prime minister in 2022.

But she denied that it was hypocritical that she did not want one to test a new Labour leader.

“I think we were in very particular times after Liz Truss crashed the economy,” she said, adding: “People want us to get on with the job and deliver the change they want to see.”

Reed, too, said this time was very different as the Tories had repeatedly changed leader while in government.

He said he was backing Burnham, but insisted Labour owed a debt of gratitude to Sir Keir.

Demi Leigh Davies, 17, was a passenger in Leon Callaghan’s car when she was killed on the M65 motorway

The life of a Lancashire teenager described as beautiful, funny, caring and selfless, was cruelly cut short when the car she was a passenger in crashed on the M65.

Demi Leigh Davies, 17, was a passenger in the car Leon Callaghan was driving when she was killed. Callaghan, now 19, was driving at speeds of up to 113mph when he lost control of his Seat Ibiza near Junction 9 of the M65 in the early hours of October 2, 2024.

Lancashire Police said Callaghan was driving in a dedicated exit lane when he carried out a late manoeuvre to rejoin the main carriageway.

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The car hit a bullnose point and lost control, crossing all three lanes, hitting the central reservation, and rebounding back towards the hard shoulder. The car then struck the barrier and rolled several times before coming to rest on the embankment.

Tragically, Demi Leigh, from Darwen, suffered multiple injuries and was sadly pronounced dead at the hospital. Two other passengers, girls aged 17 and 19, also suffered serious injuries but have since recovered. Callaghan was also seriously injured.

Callaghan, of Harwood Street, Darwen, admitted causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing earlier this year. This week, he appeared before Preston Crown Court on Friday, June 26, where he was jailed for five years and three months.

When questioned later, Callaghan claimed he had blacked out at the start of his manoeuvre, did not remember driving at over 100mph and that his foot must have got stuck between the pedals, causing the excessive speed, said Lancashire Police.

‘Her future was taken from her’

Demi had just been offered her first job in a care home, a role her mum said she would be perfect for, given her caring nature.

In a victim personal statement read to the court on behalf of the family, Demi’s mum, Gemma, said continuing to live when Demi wasn’t there was the most difficult and heartbreaking struggle she had ever had to go through.

She added: “There are no words that can truly describe the pain of losing a child. Every day I wake up with the reality that my daughter is gone.

“Every day I am reminded that I will never hear her voice again, never hear her laugh again, never be able to hold her again or hear her call me mum.

“As a family, we will never see Demi become the woman she was meant to be. We will never see her progress in the career she had just begun. We will never see her achieve her dreams, fall in love, get married, or have children of her own.

“We will never know what her future would have looked like because it was taken from her before she had the chance to live it.

“Demi was only beginning her journey into adulthood. She had her whole future ahead of her. That future was stolen from her, and our family has been left to live with that loss every single day.

“Nothing can undo the pain and suffering that her death has caused. We have been given a life sentence of grief, and we will carry that burden for the rest of our lives.”

Detective Constable Olivia Maidment, of Lancashire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Demi Leigh was clearly a much loved young woman with her whole life ahead of her and my thoughts today are with all of her loved ones.

“Nothing can ever compensate for the loss of a life, but I hope at least that this sentence gives Demi Leigh’s family some sense that justice has been done.”

Callaghan will also be banned from driving for seven years after his release and have to take an extended test before he can get behind the wheel again.

The £1 billion scheme aims to improve journeys between Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire

A roundabout is set to open by next summer, after works began in 2023. National Highways continues its work on the Black Cat roundabout on the A1.

The £1 billion scheme is turning the roundabout into a three-tier junction, with a new A421 flyover above the roundabout and an underpass below it. It’s also extending a new 10-mile dual carriageway from the Black Cat roundabout to Caxton Gibbet.

National Highways has given an update on the works and the road opening, which will be carried out in phases.

A National Highways spokesperson said: “As construction moves towards completion, we’re pleased to share our plans for opening the new road and junction improvements that will help make journeys across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire quicker, safer and more reliable.

“In spring 2027, we’ll open the majority of the scheme, including the new 10-mile A421 dual carriageway between Black Cat junction in Bedfordshire and Caxton Gibbet in Cambridgeshire. The final phase of the scheme will open in mid-summer 2027, when the new A1 underpass at Black Cat junction comes into use.

“By opening the scheme in phases, road users will be able to benefit from the new road and junction improvements sooner, with safer, quicker and more reliable journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford, St Neots and Cambridge.”

The final part of the scheme – creating the A1 underpass – has been the “most complex” part of the project, National Highways said.

The spokesperson added: “During construction, we discovered a higher than expected number of unrecorded underground services, including water, gas and telecommunications services, which needed to be safely moved before work could continue.”

A further update on confirmed opening dates will be shared in early 2027.

The US Supreme Court will conclude its current term in the coming days, with a series of pivotal decisions still pending, including three cases that scrutinise Donald Trump’s expansive of presidential authority.

The court, which holds a 6-3 conservative majority, has seven disputes yet to be resolved and has scheduled Monday as its next day for issuing rulings. Supreme Court terms typically commence in October and conclude around the end of June, occasionally extending into early July.

The cases involving Donald Trump centre on actions taken last year: his attempts to dismiss a member of the US Federal Reserve Board of Governors and a member of the Federal Trade Commission, alongside an executive order seeking to limit birthright citizenship. These actions collectively test the established boundaries of presidential powers.

Beyond these, the court is also set to rule on two significant election-related cases and one concerning state-level bans on transgender athletes.

The Republican president has recently seen favourable outcomes from the court, securing victories in two immigration-related cases on Thursday. Furthermore, since his return to office last year, the court has backed him in multiple emergency rulings, allowing policies previously blocked by lower courts to proceed while legal challenges continued. However, the court delivered a notable setback in February when it rejected his sweeping tariffs, which were issued under legislation intended for national emergencies.

FIRING FEDERAL OFFICIALS

The justices signaled skepticism during arguments in January toward Trump’s bid to fire the Fed’s Lisa Cook, a move ⁠that threatened the central bank’s independence.

No other president has tried to fire a Fed official since its founding in 1913. In creating the Fed, Congress passed ​a law that included ⁠provisions meant to insulate it from political interference, requiring governors to ‌be removed by a president only “for cause.” The statute does not define the term nor establish procedures for removal.

Trump cited unsubstantiated mortgage fraud allegations — denied by Cook — to justify the firing. Cook, who has remained in the post while the case plays out, called the allegations a pretext to oust her over monetary policy differences. The conservative justices during ‌arguments in December signaled they would uphold Trump’s firing of Democratic Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter ‌over policy differences. Lower courts ruled Trump exceeded his authority.

U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, arguing for the administration, urged the justices to overturn a Supreme Court precedent in a 1935 case called Humphrey’s Executor v. United States that has constrained presidential power by protecting the heads of certain independent agencies from removal. The court in recent decades has narrowed the precedent’s reach but stopped short of overturning it.

The conservative justices appeared sympathetic to the administration’s arguments ⁠that tenure protections given by Congress to the heads of independent agencies encroach on presidential powers under the U.S. Constitution. The court last year let Trump remove Slaughter while the case proceeded.

ELECTION-RELATED CASES

Two election-related decisions are due as the November midterm elections loom, with Republicans seeking to retain control of Congress. The conservative justices signaled skepticism during arguments in March toward a Mississippi law challenged by Republicans that permits a five-day grace period for mail-in ballots received after Election Day to be counted. That case could lead to stricter voting rules around the country.

The administration argued in favor of the challenge. Mississippi’s law permits mail-in ballots sent by eligible voters to be counted if they were postmarked on or before Election Day but received up to five business days after a federal election. A lower court ruled against the law. Trump, who has made false claims about widespread fraud ‌in U.S. elections, issued an executive order in March to restrict mail-in ballots nationwide, but a federal judge in Boston on Thursday blocked its implementation. The court ​heard arguments in December in a Republican-led bid to strike down federal limits on spending by political parties in coordination with candidates in a case ‌involving Vice President JD Vance. Some of the conservative justices appeared sympathetic toward the ⁠challenge. The court’s liberal members seemed inclined to preserve the restrictions.

The dispute centers on whether these limits violate the Constitution’s First Amendment protection against government abridgment ⁠of freedom of speech. A lower court upheld the restrictions.

TRANSGENDER ATHLETES

The court heard arguments in January over the legality of laws in Idaho and West Virginia banning transgender athletes from female sports teams at public schools including ‌universities. The conservative justices appeared ready to uphold the ​laws. The states said the measures preserve fair competition for women and girls. Critics see them ‌as part of wider efforts to restrict the rights of transgender Americans.

‘GEOFENCE’ ​WARRANTS

The court heard arguments in April in a case from Virginia involving whether law enforcement’s use of a “geofence” warrant to identify potential suspects based on data from cellphones near crime scenes violates the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment bar on unreasonable searches.

Marcus Rashford’s girlfriend, Lucia Loi, uploaded an emotional social media post at World Cup 2026

Marcus Rashford’s girlfriend, Lucia Loi, has shared details of her struggle with endometriosis in a heartfelt social media message. The 28-year-old was present as Rashford featured in England’s 2-0 World Cup 2026 victory against Panama.

The Three Lions have advanced to the knockout rounds in North America and Manchester United’s Rashford, who netted in the first group fixture against Croatia, shone on the left wing in the third match.

Supporting him from the stands in New Jersey was his childhood partner Loi, who began her relationship with Rashford when she was approximately 15 years old.

Earlier this week, Loi posted a photograph to Instagram showing herself in bed crying and in the accompanying text, she revealed her experiences with endometriosis while offering solidarity to others living with the condition.

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Loi wrote in her post: “This was me last night. I had my heels on, my makeup done, and I was ready to go and celebrate my friend’s birthday. Endometriosis had other ideas.

“I’ve been meaning to post about this for so long, but I never really found the courage. Last night, though, I felt so much anger at the fact that so many women go through this while there are so few effective treatment options and the condition remains so under-researched.

“Over time, I have found some things that have helped to an extent and intend to share more of that. I’m sending so much love to anyone living with a women’s health condition.”

The NHS describes endometriosis as a chronic condition where tissue resembling the womb lining develops outside of it, typically on organs within the pelvis. Throughout a menstrual cycle, this displaced tissue thickens, deteriorates, and bleeds in the same way as normal uterine lining.

Yet, because it remains trapped outside the womb with no means of leaving the body, it triggers serious internal inflammation, agonising pelvic pain, excruciating periods, the development of scar tissue and possible fertility complications. There is presently no definitive cure and it is thought to affect one in ten women across the UK.

Loi’s post received an outpouring of supportive comments, including from numerous fellow wives and girlfriends. Megan Pickford, partner of England goalkeeper Jordan, wrote: “Oh my darling, such an important message.” Jack Grealish’s partner, Sasha Attwood, commented: “Love you special girl.”

The 28-year-old met Rashford when they both attended Ashton-on-Mersey School in Greater Manchester and while she supported him throughout his United and England rise to prominence, they separated in 2021, maintaining a close friendship.

Their romance reignited in 2022 and Rashford subsequently proposed, but the wedding plans were abandoned and they parted ways again in 2023. Nevertheless, following Rashford’s loan transfer to Barcelona, the pair resumed their relationship once more and Loi is accompanying him in North America as the Three Lions strive to bring football home.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code DEAL.

Police were called to the scene at Cowbury Reservoir at around 6.30pm on Saturday, June 27, following reports of a teenager struggling in the water.

Emergency services including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) responded, and specialist teams later recovered a body from the water.

Chief Inspector Helen Baxter said:

“Yesterday’s events are nothing short of devastating and my thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the young boy who sadly lost his life in such awful circumstances.

“We are confident that there are no suspicious circumstances and that this is such a sad reminder of the dangers of entering open water.

“We remind the public to please avoid being tempted to cool off in reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds.

“We all want to enjoy the warm weather; please make sure you do so in a safe way.”

Formal identification has taken place and the boy’s family have been informed.

Detectives from Tameside CID believe there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.