Dust off those dancing shoes – it’s Strictly season! (Picture: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing fever is well underway ahead of the 2026 series, with several members of the cast already being revealed.
This year’s batch of competitors will no doubt be hoping to replicate the success of Lioness Karen Carney and professional partner Carlos Gu, who emerged as last year’s winners.
And the newcomers will be joining Strictly at an important time, with a number of enormous changes taking place on the BBC’s flagship dancing show.
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
Advertisement
As bosses look to usher Strictly into a new era – hopefully scandal-free from now on – let’s take a look at who has been confirmed and who is rumoured for the 2026 line-up.
Who is confirmed in the Strictly Come Dancing cast 2026?
Cach Mercer
In at number five is Love Island’s very own Cach Mercer (Picture: BBC)
Rolling in at number five is influencer Cach Mercer, who is already in good standing after winning reality show Love Island with his partner Toni Laites in 2025.
Off the back of his Casa Amor victory, he’s trading sunny days in Mallorca for the high-energy Strictly dance floor.
Although he may well feel right at home, given his social media fame comes from posts showing off his Afrobeat, hip-hop and street dance moves.
Advertisement
‘I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!’ he said in a statement.
Time will tell if his moves, which have won over 1.3 million TikTok followers and counting, will be enough for the general public.
Chris Appleton
Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton is joining the fray (Picture: BBC)
Born in Leicester, the 43-year-old creative has made it all the way to Hollywood as a hairstylist to the stars, including bestie Kim Kardashian and other A-listers like J-Lo, Sofia Vergara, and Ariana Grande.
In 2023, Kim K even officiated his wedding to screenstar Lukas Gage (the couple later divorced), and his career continues to ascend even higher.
Now, he’s cha-chaing his way onto the dance floor to show just what he’s soaked up from all the performers he’s hung out with over the years.
Advertisement
He said in a statement: ‘I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new.
‘I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story – and I can’t wait to get started.’
Delta Goodrem
Delta Goodrem was the third star announced (Picture: BBC)
The Australian singer-songwriter, Delta Goodrem, was just 15 years old when she signed her first record deal and her careers gone from strength to strength ever since.
Still, there’s a difference between singing and dancing, but that’s a challenge Deta is keen to take on.
Advertisement
‘I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career – from TV, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is, however, one stage I’ve never stepped onto, and that is the ballroom floor,’ she said in a statement.
‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started!’
With an attitude like that, is it any wonder Delta has reportedly been on the Strictly boss’s wishlist for years?
Lacey Turner
Lacey Turner is leading the charge for the confirmed Strictly 2026 cast (Picture: BBC)
As the 38-year-old soap actress takes a break from Albert Square to pursue new ventures, it seems her journey is taking her from the cobblestones straight onto the dance floor.
Advertisement
In the announcement, Lacey wrote: ‘I am so excited to be making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing.
‘I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!’
It wouldn’t be the first time an EastEnders icon has appeared on Strictly – who could forget Jake Wood (aka Max Branning) with his Mambo No. 5 salsa?
Dani Dyer
Will Dani Dyer return to finish what she started? (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)
Poor Dani Dyer had one of the briefest Strictly stints ever last year, as she was forced to withdraw shortly after the launch show due to an ankle fracture. But now – she’s back!
Dani was originally partnered with Nikita Kuzmin, who went on to reach the final with Amber Davies when she filled in at the last minute.
Advertisement
The reality TV star previously said on The Jonathan Ross Show that she would ‘love’ to do Strictly again, saying: ”If they rang me, I’d answer the phone. I was devastated. It was hell for me when I hurt my foot; I was so sad.’
Her dream has now become a reality, as she’s become the second celebrity to be confirmed for the 2026 line-up.
Don’t miss a TV review! Add us as a Preferred Source
As a loyal Metro TV reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. Our TV experts are here to bring you all the latest reviews, streaming updates, videos, and exclusive interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.
Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
‘I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!’ the 29-year-old said in a statement.
‘I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!’
Advertisement
Who is rumoured for the Strictly Come Dancing cast 2026?
Dame Sarah Storey
It’s believed that Dame Sarah Storey will be the next name confirmed (Picture: Getty Images)
Paralympic athlete Dame Sarah Storey, 37, is said to have signed up to this series of Strictly, with an official announcement rumoured to be on the cards.
A source told The Sun: ‘Sarah is delighted to be taking part in Strictly and is really excited to be learning a new skill.
‘She is obviously very competitive and hopes to give the contest her all, while letting viewers get to know her personality.
‘She’s also keen to embrace the glamour of the show and is looking forward to getting dressed up.’
Cyclist Dame Sarah is Britain’s most successful Paralympian, having won 30 medals – including 19 Gold – over the course of her career.
Jeff Brazier is the former partner of late Big Brother star of Jade Goody (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
The Brazier name will be familiar to Strictly fans – in 2023, EastEnders actor and model Bobby Brazier danced his way to runner-up with professional partner Dianne Buswell.
According to The Sun, Bobby’s father, 47-year-old Jeff, is in talks to compete in the upcoming series of the show.
A source told the publication that he had become ‘tempted’ after being approached by the BBC.
The insider added: ‘Previously he said he wouldn’t do it because he didn’t want to step on Bobby’s toes. But three years have passed now and it’s a massive opportunity for Jeff.
Advertisement
‘He has discussed it with Bobby who thinks it would be amazing if his dad was to give it a go. Jeff has yet to sign his contract but everyone around him is urging him to do it.’
Josie Gibson
Josie Gibson is said to have been on the Strictly bosses’ wish list for a while (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
She rose to fame as a Big Brother winner and has since cemented herself as a British TV favourite.
Josie Gibson is now often seen presenting on This Morning, and, in 2023, she placed fourth in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
If reports are to be believed, though, she could be looking to at least earn herself a place on the podium by signing up to Strictly and wowing on the dance floor.
‘Josie has been on the BBC’s radar for a while, and they’ve not given up their pursuit,’ said a source.
Advertisement
They added to The Sun that the ball has already started: ‘They’re hoping this year is the year, and talks are progressing well.’
‘Bosses are convinced her down-to-earth charm will be the boost this year’s new-look show needs,’ the insider also claimed. ‘Warm and engaging, she’s just what they require right now and will be a sure-fire hit with fans.’
Josie, 41, certainly wouldn’t be the first ITV daytime star to tackle Strictly, with previous series signing up the likes of Alison Hammond, Ruth Langsford, Charlotte Hawkins, and, who could forget, Ed Balls.
Jake Quickenden
I’m A Celeb’s Jake Quickenden is no stranger to reality TV (Picture: Shutterstock)
Rising to fame on the X-Factor in 2012, Jake Quickenden has his roots in reality TV.
Subsequently appearing on I’m A Celeb and Dancing On Ice (which he won, back in 2018), Jake currently stars in the CBBC series Jamie Johnson FC.
Advertisement
Of those Strictly rumours, a source told The Sun: that he’d ‘caught the eye of the Strictly bookers.’
They added: ‘He’s fun, hunky and known as an all-round nice guy. He’s an actor and singer, so is a natural performer. And he won Dancing On Ice, so has clearly got the moves. And now he’s in the BBC stables, he’s part of the gang.’
The 37-year-old star said that he’d be keen to take part, revealing that he’d ‘love to do it’ should the opportunity arise.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC in September.
Advertisement
A version of this article was first published on May 31, 2026.
The Mexican government says it will file criminal complaints in the United States over the deaths of more than a dozen of its citizens in US custody.
Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco told journalists that the government would take “forceful legal action” to protect the human rights of Mexican citizens in the US.
He said that 14 Mexicans had died while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and another three during ICE “arrest operations”.
The incidents have not just caused outrage in Mexico. On Wednesday, more than a thousand people protested in Houston, where an ICE officer had shot dead Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado Araujo the day before.
Advertisement
Salgado, 52, had been working as a builder for three decades in the Houston area after coming to the US as an undocumented migrant, his son said.
Ronaldo Salgado told journalists that his father “did not deserve to be reduced to a headline of ‘Mexican man shot and killed by ICE’”.
His family said Lorenzo Salgado had been on his way to work when he was shot by an ICE agent.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement published on X, that “ICE law enforcement attempted to conduct a vehicle stop as part of a targeted enforcement operation to arrest an illegal alien”.
“From information we are receiving, he rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, refused to follow multiple verbal commands, and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defence,” the statement reads.
Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has shared how the much-anticipated third instalment in the Dune franchise will differ from the previous two movies.
The third and final film in the sci-fi trilogy picks up almost two decades after Dune: Part Two, with Timotheé Chalamet’s Paul Atreides now a not-so-benevolent ruler of the known universe.
Speaking at a Q&A event on Wednesday, the Canadian director explained that he didn’t want to rest on his creative laurels after the success of the second Dune film, and as a result, Part Three is quite different.
“I said to myself, it’s a good idea to come back to this world, not by nostalgia but by urgency,” he explained. “And to go there with a critical eye and the idea not to be self-indulgent.”
Advertisement
The Oscar nominee – who is set to helm the next film in the James Bond franchise – continued: “I want us to bring the audience to new parts of Arrakis, and [offer] something that [feels] fresh and new.”
He also pointed that “people who know the book know that it’s a very different beast”, before laying out what audiences should expect from the new movie.
“It’s more of a thriller,” he teased. “It’s a more intense story. And it’s definitely more emotional as well.
“So, it will be the third and last Dune movie. It’s a Dune movie that is very different[ly] written and it’s much more intense, I must say.”
Advertisement
Timotheé Chalamet, who was also in attendance at the Q&A, agreed: “The approach was slightly different on this one. It wasn’t like, ‘OK, we found a formula and now we’re going to run it back’. This is a different movie.”
He added: “I think the first two are sort of siblings, and the third one is really its own energy, and I love that approach. I thought, ‘Wow, it’s familiar – this crew, this family – but there’s a new tone to this’.”
Denis and Timothée’s comments coincide with the release of an exciting new trailer for Dune: Part Three, also released on Wednesday, which promises to be the darkest instalment of the film series yet.
Audiences also get a glimpse at Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan and Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho, who has mysteriously – at least, to people who haven’t read the book – returned from the dead.
Dune: Chapter Three hits cinemas on Friday 18 December 2026. Watch the new trailer for yourself below:
Key Starmer ally Steve Reed was one of only four Cabinet members who did not nominate Mr Burnham on Thursday, along with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, both of whom have been spoken of as potential chancellors, and party chairwoman Anna Turley.
We don’t know all the details of what happened inside the venue (Madison Square Garden, smack-bang in the middle of New York); as the photos haven’t been released.
What we have learned is that Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Dior’s Haute Couture Collections, worked with Swift on the dress. Other hallmarks included a huge guest list, monogrammed napkins, an unlikely officiant, and a reported lack of bridesmaids.
So, which of these might filter down to us non-billionaires on our wedding days?
Speaking to Covers, Alison Hargreaves, wedding expert and founder of Guides for Brides, shared what she thinks will trend – and what will stay between the couple.
Advertisement
The Taylor and Travis wedding trend we’re about to see everywhere? Monograms, apparently
Taylor and Travis’ wedding reportedly included monogrammed napkins, which were embroidered with the musician’s own lyrics, “So it’s gonna be forever…”.
Hargreaves thinks this trend is going to take off, but not only because of the pair’s nuptials.
“Couples are already embracing personalised monograms, but AI and Canva, rather than celebrity weddings, are what will really drive this trend,” she said.
Advertisement
Still, the wedding expert seemed to like the addition, calling monogrammed items “discreet, elegant and timeless”.
The Taylor and Travis wedding trends that’ll probably stay in Madison Square Garden
1) Using friends and family as officiants
No, Adam Sandler – who reportedly officiated the couples’ wedding – is not primarily an officiant by trade. But somehow, Hargreaves isn’t convinced your favourite cousin will do as good a job as the star may have managed.
Advertisement
“While he may not be a professional celebrant, he is a professional actor, and many of the skills overlap. Delivering a ceremony requires warmth, confidence, timing, presence and the ability to connect emotionally with both the couple and their guests,” she said.
“Whether he wrote the ceremony himself or simply delivered it, there’s no doubt those performance skills would have contributed significantly to the experience. Rather than encouraging couples to use friends, I think it is more likely to increase conversations around celebrant-led ceremonies and the value that an experienced celebrant brings.”
2) Getting your favourite restaurant to cater
Rumour has it that beloved NYC eateries Sartiano’s and Mama’s Too served food at the pop star’s wedding. Swift seems to be a pretty big fan of these.
Advertisement
But Hargreaves doesn’t think newlyweds would typically benefit from the move.
“Incorporating dishes from your favourite restaurant sounds wonderful in theory, but it’s far more difficult in practice than many couples realise,” she shared.
“Most wedding venues operate with exclusive catering contracts or recommended caterers, and even where they don’t, coordinating multiple restaurants to provide different courses presents significant logistical challenges. There are also important considerations around timing, food quality and allergy management.”
One way to work around this, she added, is to incorporate your favourite flavours into cocktails, desserts or evening food stations, where caterers can work without disrupting the event’s flow.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A South Florida airport officially changed its name on Thursday to the President Donald J. Trump International Airport.
Signs for the Palm Beach International Airport have been removed, while new signage goes up.
“Because an entire airport transformation doesn’t happen overnight, you’ll notice a combination of both our classic look and our new brand elements coexisting while traveling through the terminal over the next several weeks,” airport officials said in a Facebook post.
“Trump Force One,” a Boeing 757 owned by The Trump Organization, was the first plane to arrive at the airport under its new name, shortly after 5 a.m. The president’s son, Eric Trump, was one of the passengers. The Trump family regularly uses the West Palm Beach airport when they visit President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in nearby Palm Beach. A stretch of road from the airport to Trump’s estate was renamed Donald J. Trump Boulevard earlier this year.
Advertisement
“There is no person who has done more for Florida and our country, and no one more deserving of this incredible honor,” Eric Trump posted on X. “As a son, and someone who flies out of this airport nearly every day, I will forever be proud to see the initials ‘DJT’ on my boarding pass.”
While the name change took effect Thursday, the three-letter airport code will change from PBI to DJT on Aug. 18.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation earlier this year that made the name change possible. Changing the airport’s name is expected to cost as much as $5.5 million for new signs, branding and other updates.
Keegan Collett, who was departing the airport Thursday morning on his way to Cincinnati, said he was surprised to see the new name. He said he doesn’t think Trump deserves to have an airport named after him but isn’t necessarily bothered by it.
Advertisement
“At the end of the day, it’s just the name of an airport,” Collett said. “There’s bigger things. I feel like it’s just more of a distraction. Why even worry about it?”
In Dandridge, Tennessee, on Thursday morning, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty and Representative Tim Burchett attended a ceremony to rename the I-40 Bridge in East Tennessee to the Donald J. Trump Bridge.
Bessent said ahead of the ceremony that “no one is more deserving” of the honor of a bridge renaming than Trump.
Trump received 82% of the vote in Jefferson County, where Dandridge is located, in the 2024 general election.
Text messages between Tyler Robinson and his trans lover Lance Twiggs shown in court today revealed chilling new timeline details from the day Charlie Kirk was killed.
Robinson said he had still planned to go to work in the hours following Kirk’s assassination as he attempted to lay low.
The alleged assassin also told his lover that he had wanted to see if the ‘road closer’ to the Utah Valley University campus was open so he could ‘drive past and check s*** out.’
Robinson appeared to panic and sweat as a part of recorded testimony from Twiggs was played.
Advertisement
Twiggs, wearing a suit with long hair, appeared deadpan as he rattled off details about the morning of Charlie Kirk’s murder in a recorded interview with officials.
The Turning Point USA founder’s family previously filed a request demanding that recorded testimony from Robinson’s lover be played in full after judge Tony F. Graf Jr. ruled a portion of it could be redacted.
Kirk’s widow, Erika, and his parents, Robert and Kathryn, have been in the courtroom every day for the evidence hearing.
A dramatic weeklong evidence hearing has been underway for Robinson, 23, who faces the death penalty if he is convicted of murdering Kirk in front of thousands of people at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
Advertisement
Robinson has not entered a plea in the case. His attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence.
Follow the Daily Mail for the latest updates…
Court shown text message between Robinson and Twiggs
A text message between Tyler Robinson and Lance Twiggs was shown in court.
The message allegedly shows Robinson telling Twiggs to ‘drop what you’re doing, look under my keyboard.;
Advertisement
Twiggs replied, ‘What? You’re joking right?’
Twiggs then said, ‘You weren’t the one who did it right?’
To which Robinson allegedly replied, ‘I am, I’m sorry.’
Robinson’s message continued, ‘I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. It’s quiet, almost enough to get but, there’s one vehicle lingering.’
Advertisement
Twiggs appeared to ask Robinson how long he had been playing the alleged assassination.
Robinson allegedly replied, ‘A bit over a week I believe.’
Court audio is muted during Discord chat discussion
Audio from the courtroom appears to have been muted with they discuss the alleged Discord chat logs between Robinson and Twiggs.
Twiggs says Robinson never mentioned Charlie Kirk before shooting
Lance Twiggs testified that he never heard Lance Twiggs talk about Charlie Kirk before.
He said Robinson spoke more about politics than he did, and that he does not recall Robinson talking much about LGBTQ rights.
Twiggs says he can’t ‘100 percent’ identified Robinson in FBI images
Lance Twiggs tentatively identified his roommate and lover, Tyler Robinson, in FBI images of the Charlie Kirk shooting suspect.
‘I wouldn’t say it with 100 percent certainty just because of camera quality, but that looks like him in terms of the shoes he’s wearing, the sunglasses,’ Twiggs said.
Advertisement
Robinson told lover he wished he hadn’t killed Charlie Kirk, Twiggs claims
Lance Twiggs testified that Tyler Robinson expressed regret over allegedly shooting Charlie Kirk.
Twiggs claimed Robinson left a note under a keyboard and he took a pictured of it. The next day, Twiggs said he asked Robinson about the note.
‘I asked him in person if what he said he had done the night before was true. He said it was,’ Twiggs said.
Robinson said, ‘He wishes he hadn’t done it,’ according to Twiggs.
Twiggs said that Robinson was going around the apartment, doing things to keep himself busy or distracted.
Advertisement
Robinson told Twiggs he was going on a hunting trip and wanted to engrave bullets, lover testifies
Lance Twiggs testified that Tyler Robinson told him he was going on a family hunting trip and he wanted to engrave bullets.
Twiggs said Robinson had talked about the hunting trip in general for months, then about a month before the shooting started talking about engraving bullets.
Investigators have claimed to have found bullet casings engraved with political messages in the gun.
One read: ‘Hey fascist! Catch!’
Twiggs appears deadpan as he describes meeting Robinson
Lance Twiggs testified that he meet Tyler Robinson for the first time in 2023 when he moved into their house.
He said that they started dating two to three months after Robinson moved in, but they lived in separate rooms.
Advertisement
Twiggs stared ahead as he described how he and Robinson had a shared friend group and liked playing games.
He said that Robinson stayed in the apartment on the night of September 9, then he told Twiggs he had a long drive to work the next day.
Twiggs said he did not hear from Robinson until 11pm on September 10, aside from a message in a group chat.
The video appeared to skip a redacted portion of the interview.
Advertisement
Lance Twiggs interview played in court
Tyler Robinson’s transgender lover and roommate, Lance Twiggs, wore his hair long and a suit as he delivered a prerecorded testimony.
Judge allows text messages, note and Discord chat to be shown in court
Judge Tony Graf ruled that text messages between Tyler Robinson and Lance Twiggs can be shown in court.
A note that Robinson allegedly wrote to Twiggs has also been admitted, and Graf is allowing Discord chat messages to be shown, with phone numbers and addresses redacted.
Kirk family attorney calls for all evidence to be shown
The Kirk family attorney said they are again calling for everything to be shown.
‘This has not been easy as you can imagine,’ he said. ‘The family deserves to see the evidence that’s been gathered in this investigation.
‘They deserve to know what happened to Charlie.’
He continued, ‘The Kirk family has waited ten months for this hearing. They have a right to see and feel what’s going on in this courtroom.
Advertisement
‘To be here and not to see the evidence – what’s the point of being here?’
Tyler Robinson wipes his brow
Tyler Robinson wiped his brow as the court heard arguments over his transgender lover’s testimony on Thursday.
Judge Tony Graf ruled a redacted video of Lance Twiggs’ testimony can be shown in court, as well as text messages, a note and Discord chat longs.
Robinson’s lawyers argued publishing the evidence could impact his ability to have a fair trial.
Prosecutors, along with the Kirk family representative and the media, pushed for the evidence to be made public.
Advertisement
Judge doubles down on redactions
Judge Tony Graf doubled down on his decision to redact portions of Lance Twiggs’ testimony.
‘The court’s ruling is not whether it is relevant or not; it’s whether it should be published or not,’ he said.
‘Again, as previously stated, the entirety of Exhibit 16 the court is receiving without any redactions or edits; the court is considering it as it weighs probable cause.’
Graf continued, ‘However, for publication, the court finds that the requested section from roughly after 32:55 starting with “ok” ending at 33:27…
‘The court finds independently that this portion shall not be transmitted in the courtroom because of certain statements made in there that do not serve the interest of justice for publication.’
Advertisement
Share or comment on this article:
Read Tyler Robinson’s text messages to trans lover Lance Twiggs on day of Charlie Kirk murder: Live updates
The display on a bonfire in Co Tyrone is being treated as a hate crime, the police have confirmed.
An effigy of an Islamic State terrorist brandishing a knife inside a mosque has been placed on top of the bonfire in Moygashel.
Advertisement
The Moygashel bonfire has drawn controversy in recent years after a police car was placed on top of it in 2024, and last year, it featured a dinghy full of mannequins symbolising asylum seekers who enter the UK via small boats.
Earlier today, police confirmed that they were aware of the image and that a 56-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of contravening Article 9 of the Public Order (NI) Order 1987. He remains in custody.
In an update on Thursday evening, police said the display is being treated as a hate crime. A PSNI spokesperson said: “The display on the Moygashel bonfire is being treated as a hate-motivated criminal offence and we continue to assess the situation.
“A 56-year-old man arrested earlier today remains in police custody.
Advertisement
“Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal to anyone with information which might assist us to contact 101. You can also submit a report or information online using the non-emergency reporting form via https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.”
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, described the effigy as “incitement to hatred” and called for the police to “identify and hold to account those responsible”.
Advertisement
Sinn Féin Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Colm Gildernew said the images on Moygashel bonfire are “deplorable”, and Alliance Councillor Eddie Roofe described it as hateful and deeply offensive.
Meanwhile, People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll described it as “a naked act of Islamophobic intimidation aimed at terrorising our Muslim and migrant neighbours” and called for it to be taken down immediately.
It comes as a new research report shows a substantial majority of people in Northern Ireland feel worried about violence breaking out over the upcoming marching season.
The new report shows that 70% of people expressed concern following the racist violence in early June.
Advertisement
The new research was commissioned by Act Now, Northern Ireland’s people-powered campaigning organisation, and 38 Degrees. It was carried out by Survation between June 12 and 22 2026 with 1,003 adults living in Northern Ireland.
Of those, 29% said they were very worried and 41% quite worried. Around a quarter (27%) were not worried, and 4% did not know.
If you’re searching for an event in your area this should help
The countdown to the Twelfth of July is well underway with preparations for Eleventh Night bonfires now in their final hours.
Advertisement
Community groups across Northern Ireland have been getting ready for the annual celebration with family, friends and neighbours for months, with music, parties, bands and family fun all planned.
Beacons supported by Belfast City Council will be lit over the coming days in commemoration of the pyres set across the hills of Antrim and Down to help King William’s warships to find their way into Belfast Lough.
If you would like to join the celebrations, we’ve put together this handy guide to official Eleventh Night bonfire beacons that will be lit across Belfast.
The Beacon Programme has been in place for over 15 years to support constituted community and voluntary organisations in replacing traditional bonfires with beacons. Beacons can be requested by eligible groups, and their allocation is subject to agreement by elected members.
Advertisement
The council initially approved the provision of 18 beacons for 2026 – six in east Belfast, two in south Belfast, four in north Belfast and three in west Belfast.
15 beacons have now been provided to groups following site risk assessments. They are located at:
The Parcel Pending by Quadient lockers will be introduced nationwide following the success of the locker partnership at Morrisons Daily Stores introduced in spring last year.
Designed to make life easier for shoppers, the lockers allow customers to drop off or collect parcels while doing their grocery shopping.
John Parry, Head of Popular & Useful Services at Morrisons, said: “At Morrisons, we’re committed to providing services that make life easier for our customers and strengthen the role our stores play within local communities.
Advertisement
“Following the success of our Morrisons Daily partnership, expanding Quadient lockers into our supermarket estate is a natural next step.
“This partnership will enable us to offer customers greater flexibility and convenience while enhancing the range of useful services available through our stores.”
Installation of the lockers began last month and is initially being introduced across 125 locations.
The scheme will eventually cover Morrisons’ network of approximately 500 supermarkets over the next few months.
Advertisement
Once fully implemented, the network will offer customers self-service and secure parcel collection and return points for multiple carriers.
Katia Bourgeais-Crémel, EVP Parcel Locker Solutions Europe at Quadient, said: “The expansion of our partnership with Morrisons, one of the UK’s largest and trusted supermarket brands, reflects a shared vision of making everyday services more accessible for consumers.
“By extending our open locker network across Morrisons supermarkets, we’re helping consumers return and collect parcels as part of their normal routines, while providing retailers and carriers with a scale efficient delivery infrastructure.
“Together, we are making out-of-home delivery more convenient and accessible across communities.”
Advertisement
The partnership supports the supermarket’s commitment to providing their customers with safe and accessible services.
This is in a bid to help reduce missed deliveries, improve convenience for customers and support more efficient last-mile delivery operations.
England will come up against Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami on Saturday with a place in the World Cup semi-finals on the line, and the Manchester City striker is happy for his country to be underdogs
He said when asked if Norway were underdogs: “Yeah, definitely. I think everyone should stay humble, but they have a right to be confident about progressing.”
Haaland also claimed Norway’s chances of going the distance at the tournament – something which he rated at 25 per cent pre-tournament – were slim despite a series of eye-catching scalps, not least the elimination of Brazil. He explained: “Really low still [chances of winning the World Cup].
“There are some clear favourites out there, and England is one of them. All of you should put every single bit of pressure on the English lads. It’s a special game, definitely.
“For me, it’s super special because I play in England and was born in England. Facing team-mates makes it a funny game, but it’s going to be nice.”
The 25-year-old has rattled in a whopping seven goals thus far and he’s hoping to add to that tally in Florida. However, for Haaland, making Norwegians proud is a far bigger motive than hitting the back of the net.
He continued: “I enjoy so many things. Playing against Brazil was crazy for us Norwegians. To win that match and then play England in a World Cup quarter-final in the USA is quite special.
How can England stop Erling Haaland? Have your say in the comments section.
Advertisement
“If you look at the scenes back home, this is not normal for Norway. It’s super special. Just being able to play in the World Cup is a huge honour and a massive career goal for me. Being here, playing on the biggest stage with my Norwegian friends against the best teams in the world, is really special.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Content cannot be displayed without consent
![CORRECTION / Gold medallist Britain's Sarah Storey celebrates on the podium after winning the women's cycling road individual C5 time trial during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the Fuji International Speedway in Oyama on August 31, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [August 31] instead of [August 30]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PRI_197179719-abc4.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login