ITV’s competition show The Voice has apologised after being called out for asking a bakery to provide food, unpaid.

Last week, Get Baked UK, run by Rich Myers, shared an email from a producer which he initially believed was a ‘wind up’ before realising the request was ‘totally real’.

They, alongside production company Lifted Entertainment, have since reached out to apologise for ‘any upset caused’.

In the original email, a producer had reached out and asked that Get Baked supply their ‘amazing products’ to be in the green rooms and talent dressing rooms at The Voice.

The catch was that they were ‘unable to offer anything monetary or otherwise’ as payment for the goods.

Instead, the producer highlighted the ‘exposure’ to presenters and coaches who are ‘highly influential’ as well as contestants.

Rich branded ITV and Lifted Entertainment a ‘total disgrace’, asking ‘how did we get here’ when he posted on social media.

He said in another post that a company making £350million in profit asking for free cake, should be made illegal.

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The baker replied to the producer, writing: ‘I must admit I’m trying really hard not to bite at this stuff as of late, but on this occasion I simply cannot resist.’

He insisted he wasn’t blaming the person who sent the email but asked them to tell their ‘boss, boss’s boss, and boss’s boss’s boss’ to ‘f off’.

Within hours, Rich’s post had gone viral with hundreds of comments from other prominent food businesses and disappointed viewers.

Haircare brand Silkie claimed to have received the same email, with Choc on Choc saying they ‘fell for’ the offer in 2020.

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In response, ITV emailed him again, which read: ‘We wanted to reach out to apologise for any upset caused by our email.

‘This was not in line with our usual way of working nor does it reflect the standards we expect of ourselves. We’re truly sorry to have caused offence.’

In a statement to Metro, Lifted Entertainment said: ‘We apologise for any upset this has caused and are reaching out to Rich Myers directly.  Immediate steps have been taken to ensure this type of request is never made again.’

Posting the email on Instagram, Rich wrote: ‘You know what, all jokes aside — if ITV stay true to their word here, and this whole thing actually results in the end of them asking for freebies from independents, then it’s a massive win. Time will tell.’

To his followers, he added: ‘If you own an independent business, and ITV do happen to come knocking, please be sure to let me know. I feel like I’m the new presenter for WatchDog or whatever it’s called.

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‘Maybe I’m on about Crime Watch? Either way, I’m here for you.’

Ultimately, Rich did accept the apology as he was ‘not one to hold a grudge’ but warned the company not to do it again.

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Trained in physical theatre at East 15 Acting School, Roan Armitt-Brewster, Lennie Longworth and Samuel Cunningham draw inspiration from another Rowan, Atkinson’s Mr Bean, as well as the black-and-white cinema of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.

There are shades too of Nick Park and Aardman Animation’s Wallace & Gromit comedies and Belgian surrealist René Magritte in the design for this hour-long “silent love story with a very loud heart”.

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Armitt-Brewster, who appeared on the Theatre Royal main stage in Around The World In 80 Days-ish and the 2024 pantomime Aladdin, has described A Brief Case Of Crazy as “the sweatiest, stinkiest show in the world”.

In 1940s’ vintage woollen tank top, cardigan and fitted suit respectively, and sometimes in coats and bowler hats too, in such hot conditions for performing, Armitt-Brewster, Longworth and Cunningham must have felt even sweatier, even stickier. Nevertheless, they put everything into such a physically demanding show, one that keeps them constantly on the move, regularly breaking into ever-faster dance routines.

They do not speak a word, but their facial mannerisms speak volumes, and all manner of sound effects and recorded songs and incidental music are the trigger for crisply choreographed movements of exquisite comic timing, especially in scenes on the London Underground.

Armitt-Bewster’s Thomas, in his specs and tank top that have not changed since childhood, is an introverted, nervy, nerdy office drone with a hidden crush on Longworth’s just-as-shy co-worker Daisy, in woolly hat, green cardigan and red skirt, who turns out to be equally secretly love struck (both of them keeping a photo of the other in a stashed-away folder).

Always standing in the way of love’s true path Cunningham’s office boss Simon, a preening poltroon with a large mirror in his briefcase, a snarling growl for Armitt-Brewster’s timid Thomas on every entrance and a red rose for Daisy, stolen each time from knock-kneed Thomas.

Can love prevail or will dastardly Simon spoil everything?  The office “romance” is played with mime and clowning, dance steps and slapstick set-pieces, sometimes involving the drawers of the office chest, where one opens as another is pushed shut. Always keep an eye out for the unexpected, such as the office sunflower suddenly growing taller in the pot when love is declared.

The characters are caricatures with familiar tropes, but beneath the comedy lies pathos too, as bullying and grief suddenly rise to the surface in a brief, deeply moving puppetry scene that takes Thomas back to his childhood.

In the blink of an eye, amid the changing sounds of a hospital, the scene recalls how Thomas was picked on, how he injured himself in a fall, how his mother tended to his injuries, and how that handkerchief went from her hand to his after she dies all too young. When theatre is this economical but visually rich in its storytelling style, it is all the more impactful.

Indeed, the timing is so well judged throughout that only once – in a sequence of love-blossoming dance routines in quick-quick succession, where Armitt-Brewster plays Astaire to Longworth’s Rogers – could the editing be tighter. Maybe trim a song, but definitely keep in Armitt-Brewster tap-dancing finale.

All three performances are a delight, from Armitt-Brewster’s tragicomic office nerd to Longworth’s toothy, Chaplinesque Daisy – you could picture her playing Shakespeare’s Puck – topped off with Cunningham’s vainglorious Simon, the cadaverous cad of the piece.

From a trio of misbehaving briefcases to the cast’s ability to put both commotion and emotion into motion, A Brief Case Of Crazy is an utter joy in its celebration of the romance of the underdog, its empowerment of being different, its love and refinement of a time-honoured but increasingly neglected performance style. You’d be crazy to miss it.

Skedaddle Theatre & Shoddy Theatre present A Brief Case Of Crazy, York Theatre Royal Studio, today (July 18) 7pm. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk. Age guidance: Five upwards.

Olivia Attwood stripped down to her underwear in a racy Instagram video on Saturday morning as she shared a behind the scenes get ready with me from her event on Friday night. 

The TV personality, 37, left little to the imagination as she showcased her incredible figure in a pink lace bra and nude thong. 

With her dress at her ankles, Olivia’s stylist was seen crouched at her feet as she explained: ‘He is helping down below.’ 

And as he got near her crotch she joked: ‘You won’t like it down there, it’s not for you.’ 

Olivia celebrated the launch party for her new collection with Tatti Lashes on Friday and she set pulses racing in a lingerie-flashing pink sheer dress.

The outing marked the first time the star had been seen since her boyfriend Pete Wicks set the internet ablaze by making their romance Instagram official. 

With her dress at her ankles, Olivia’s stylist was seen crouched at her feet as she explained: ‘He is helping down below’

 After weeks of hints and speculation, the former TOWIE star, 37, hard-launched their relationship with a loved-up Instagram post on Thursday featuring snaps from their PDA-filled trip to Ibiza.

Olivia has joked that she and Pete were the ‘worst kept secret’ after they were caught kissing and cuddling on several occasions, following her split from her ‘husband’ Bradley Dack at the start of the year.

And just hours later, Pete posted loved-up pictures of them all over each other on a trip to Ibiza, marking the first time he has ever publicly shared a relationship online.

Smitten Pete’s declaration came following a nudge from Olivia, who had declared hours earlier that she ‘wouldn’t post first’, while she was working out what the relationship was as she was ‘protecting herself’ in the early stages of their romance.

Before the post earlier this month, Pete couldn’t keep his hands off Olivia when she was sporting a pair of tight Roberto Cavalli leather trousers as they put on a PDA-packed display during dinner at Cala Gracioneta in Ibiza.

Around the same time he also sent Olivia 100 red roses to her hotel room when she was battling a hangover after a boozy few days on the island with her friend.

All this culminated in Olivia’s recent statement on her podcast, Olivia’s House, where she heavily hinted that Pete should be the one to post her on his Instagram.

Olivia declared she wouldn’t be posting him first, and hours later Pete took the bold step, proudly sharing pictures of them together on his Instagram page on Thursday.

Olivia celebrated the launch party for her new collection with Tatti Lashes on Friday and she set pulses racing in a lingerie-flashing pink sheer dress

The outing marked the first time the star had been seen since her boyfriend Pete Wicks set the internet ablaze by making their romance Instagram official

After weeks of hints and speculation, the TOWIE star hard-launched their relationship with a loved-up Instagram post on Thursday featuring snaps from their PDA-filled trip to Ibiza

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It came just hours after Olivia declared she ‘has a person’ but wouldn’t be making the first move and posting them first on her social media page.

Olivia gushed over her new romance and said once she starts to talk about it publicly ‘she won’t be able to stop’. 

In the clip, she said: ‘The other day I got 100 red roses sent to my door and they were banging the door and it was housekeeping. I was going “not today”, they kept banging and Mark was in bed and I was telling him to get up and he told me to get up.

‘And I opened the door and then felt bad because there was this huge bouquet of red roses and I turned round and went “look what I got”, and the first thing Mark said was “what makes you think they’re for you!”.

‘I do have a person. It’s the worst kept secret. But also I’m keeping it very close to my chest at the moment while I know what it is. Just in the way that I don’t send the first good morning text. I’m not f***ing hard launching anyone first.

‘So I’ll just be sitting here. I’ve got roses coming, I’ve got people grabbing my arse on beaches, but I don’t know, make what you want of it.

‘I understand the interest, Olivia’s House will be the place where I talk about things, when I feel like I know how to put them into words. I’m trying to protect myself a little bit, I’m in a better place. I was in a better place a few days ago when I was in Ibiza.

‘Once I’m talking about it I won’t be able to stop, so just enjoy the peace and quiet.’

Someone in the background quips: ‘Let’s hope he stays relevant’, referencing the name of Pete’s podcast with his pal Sam Thompson.

Appreciating the play on words, Olivia said: ‘Ha! Nice!’

Proving he is taking their relationship seriously after Olivia’s heavy handed hint, Pete went Instagram official with their romance.

Seemingly confirming their official boyfriend-girlfriend status, the former TOWIE star shared an array of loved-up snaps from their holiday.

Sending fans wild, Pete confirmed the hard launch as he captioned the post: ‘I guess someone has to go first…IBIZA’.

Pete’s best friend Sam Thompson was quick to comment as he replied: ‘Never thought I’d see the day YOU hard launch!! couldn’t be happier for you brother’.

Olivia and Pete began dating back in February after she split from her husband and last week they were seen cosying up together during their Ibiza holiday.

Rumours of Olivia and Pete’s romance began last summer after intimate pictures of the pair on a boat that were captured. 

The pair went on a trip with KISS and were seen putting on a flirty and cosy display on a yacht. 

It caused uproar at the time as Olivia was still married to Bradley – who she split from months later, in January this year.

Addressing the snaps on Olivia’s House, a Platform Media original show, Olivia said: ‘Okay, let’s talk to my listeners about the yacht pictures with Pete.

‘Because there is a funny story here. Just as a subtext, okay I was obviously leaning back on [Pete] on the yacht, but nothing happened.’

Pete spoke about their romance for the first time the week before, after the couple enjoyed a holiday together in St Tropez.

The couple were spotted sharing steamy kisses by the pool at the celeb-favourite haunt Nikki Beach club this month.

A dip in the sea can provide welcome relief after long stretches of hot weather – especially when the water is an inviting 20°C or more, as it has been recently across southern parts of the UK. But such sea temperatures are unusually warm, with UK waters being hit by the third major marine heatwave in four years.

Aside from obvious negative consequences for people, such as more drownings in open water, marine heatwaves can affect sea life of all sizes, from microscopic plankton to huge whales.

Around the world, such instances of unusually warm sea temperatures for five days or more have caused die-back of key species such as kelp, seagrass and corals.

Marine heatwaves have also caused death or changes to the life cycles of marine mammals and shellfish, as well as other species that depend on them, such as seabirds. They have caused species to migrate or shift their geographic range. These changes all disrupt ecosystems, with disastrous ramifications for oceanic food webs.

The UK’s first major marine heatwave, in June 2023, has been followed by another in May 2025 and the current heatwave in July 2026. Evidence of the impacts of these marine heatwaves is still quite limited, because some consequences can be subtle or take years to detect.

Extreme heat has been linked to harmful algal blooms around the UK. A surge in growth of microscopic algae develops when nutrients, warm temperatures, abundant sunlight and calm water combine to create ideal growing conditions.

Algal blooms can produce harmful toxins that accumulate in filter-feeding shellfish, causing severe illness or death in people who eat them. For that reason, the UK government works with food safety authorities to actively monitor marine biotoxins.

Warmer waters may have caused the influxes of octopus to the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall. Their predation on crab and lobster from pots has altered local fishery dynamics, with some fisheries now focusing on catching octopus.

A surge in jellyfish sightings has been suggested as another possible consequence of the latest marine heatwave. But early evidence suggests this may be due to more people at the beach reporting their observations.

Anecdotally, fishers have reported cold-water species such as cod shifting northward. Aside from affecting catch, such shifts may also affect seabird breeding and survival.

Seagrass beds and kelp forests have their own microclimates which can provide sanctuary from extreme heat. But they are also under threat from marine heatwaves, as warmer waters hinder their ability to provide refuge for marine species.

Because of changes to fisheries and ocean health, marine heatwaves have huge social and economic consequences.

In Western Australia, the consistently warm seas led to the coining of the term “marine heatwave” in 2011. This caused decimation of seagrass meadows, along with die-back of kelp, corals, fish, abalone, prawns and crabs. Some parts of that marine ecosystem took years to recover; other parts have never bounced back.

Forty questions

Now, the race is on to understand the knock-on effects of marine heatwaves and which marine species are most threatened.

Management interventions, such as harvest strategies or catch quotas, can protect breeding populations and young fish, helping to maintain healthy fish and shellfish numbers. The earlier these interventions are implemented, the better.

There is still so much that marine scientists need to understand about the effects of marine heatwaves. A diverse range of experts recently identified the 40 priority questions to advance understanding of the risks and opportunities of UK marine heatwaves. These questions centre on heatwaves’ effects on marine ecosystems, the services they underpin, the blue economy and society.

The UK’s 2023 and 2025 marine heatwaves did not occur during the month of August, when UK waters are at their seasonal warmest and added heat could tip conditions past critical thresholds.

Should the current marine heatwave continue into August, the consequences could be dire, giving these priority questions new urgency.

Burnham is unusual in politics because even colleagues who are furious that he ousted Sir Keir Starmer say he is an affable and decent person.

But does he have the experience and skills to pick Labour’s morale up off the floor, and tackle the deep problems the country has?

One old friend wonders: “He is a lovely bloke, but I just don’t know if he is up to it – that is the honest question.”

Being Mr Nice Guy isn’t enough to be an effective prime minister in a confusing and brutal political era.

But you can be ruthless with a smile, and Andy Burnham is willing to follow advice from one of the most effective leaders of recent decades – not one of the prime ministers, but Sir Alex Ferguson.

I’m told the former Manchester United boss bumped into Burnham and wanted to chat politics.

He wanted to know why there had been so much bad blood and briefing between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, saying if he’d been Blair, he would have “got him in a room, and said, you’re either with me, or you can sod off”. The actual phrasing he used was far ruder than that – but you get the drift.

A close ally of Burnham told me: “We might need the Ferguson hairdryer – this is our moment and we might have to tell people, if you’re not with me, well bye, and thanks for your time.”

“Officers, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended, however, sadly the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene”

A young man has died following a two-vehicle collision on Friday, the PSNI has confirmed.

The PSNI said it was alerted to a crash between a blue Yamaha motorcycle and a blue Skoda Enyaq in the Ballymena Road area of Doagh at the junction of Deer Park Road at around 1.40pm on Friday.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also attended but the motorcyclist, 26-year-old Jamie Fleming, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Fleming was from the Ballyclare area.

Detective Inspector Stewart, from the Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our inquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have any information which could assist with our investigation, including dashcam or other footage, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 827 of 17/07/26.”

Members of the public can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form at psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.

A funeral notice for Jamie read: “July 17th 2026 as the result of a tragic road accident, aged 26. Late of Doagh, Ballyclare.

“Deeply loved son of Cathy and Alan, much loved brother of Dan and partner Leah, Lauren and partner Adam, devoted Uncle Jamie of Joseph and Hollie, and dear grandson of Brian and the late Ray. Family and friends are welcome to call at his home from Sunday afternoon onwards.

“A Service will be held in Antrim & Newtownabbey Crematorium on Wednesday 22nd July at 11.00 a.m. Donations in Jamie’s memory, may be made to Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary online via flemingandcuthbert.co.uk or by telephone (028 9334 4242 Mon – Fri 9.00am – 5.00pm).

“The stories will be told, the laughs will be shared. You’ll never be forgotten.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Residents feel the trees are ‘sad-looking’ and have a lot of overgrowth around them

Residents feel nearly 200 trees planted as part of a major road project have been left “neglected”. The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) recently redeveloped Milton Road, aiming to improve public transport, cycle, and walking infrastructure.

As part of the project, the GCP planted 199 new trees. Since the project’s completion, some residents feel the trees have been “abandoned”, and say they have been left in an unappealing state.

Naina Cowell, who’s lived on Milton Road for 47 years, said the trees look “neglected”. She said: “I miss the cherry blossoms. I like the road improvements, but it would have been nice if they planted proper things. I think greater thought could have gone into making the road prettier. Trees are important, but they are neglected.”

Another lady, who wished to remain anonymous, agreed and said the trees were “sad looking”. She added: “They vary in size, like some look fairly bushy, but then some are so small. It makes the road look bad, considering it’s quite a big road into Cambridge. There’s a lot a lot of overgrowth around then that could be better cared for. It doesn’t make the road look very appealing.”

Ashwin Patel, who has lived along the road for over 50 years, said the state of the trees “doesn’t look good”. “It’s not a view I want from my office,” he said. He added: “We don’t have complaints about the trees, as long as someone tidies up. But it’s annoying as they need to be tidied up.”

Andrea, who asked to use only her first name, said the trees look “worse” further down the road. She said: “The project was to make the road better, but I don’t think they thought a lot about the trees and greenery.”

The GCP planted the trees as part of the Milton Road project, but Cambridge City Council now oversees the maintenance of them. A spokesperson for the GCP said it was “sad” to hear about some of the trees along Milton Road.

They added: “When we delivered the Milton Road project in 2024, we planted 199 trees. Last year, we replaced some trees and this year, Cambridge City Council took on the maintenance of the trees. We understand the trees have been added to the City Council’s tree regime and are being managed in accordance with their policies.”

A Cambridge City Council spokesperson said: “Cambridgeshire County Council owns the trees planted through the GCP’s Milton Road improvement scheme, while Cambridge City Council maintains them under existing highway tree arrangements. Scheme funding covered an initial two years of watering and replacement planting, during which survival rates were generally good. After this the trees entered the city council’s routine maintenance programme.”

The spokesperson went on to say that tree establishment and survival is based on a range of factors, including weather, species, planting stock, and site conditions. They added: “The city council monitors trees within its maintenance programme and considers appropriate management interventions according to their condition and individual circumstances.

“An unusually dry winter and spring, followed by prolonged hot weather, have caused stress to trees across Cambridge, including those on Milton Road. River birch trees appear particularly affected, as larger specimens can be harder to establish despite becoming more drought tolerant over time.”

The council said it will continue to work with the GCP to monitor the trees, including through live monitoring by contractors to when they are watered. They added: “[The council] will consider appropriate measures to support those that remain capable of successful establishment, and assess any failures for replacement, subject to available funding and wider planting priorities.”

The majority of United’s representatives in North America will not feature in the first pre-season fixture of the summer, explaining the absences of Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Matheus Cunha, Noussair Mazraoui, Altay Bayindir, Amad, Senne Lammens, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, and of course, World Cup 2026 finalist Lisandro Martinez.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Horrifying footage from the scene of the attack in Uttar Pradesh, India, captured the moment 12-year-old Sunil was thrashed around by a killer crocodile

A 12-year-old boy was snatched and hurled around by a crocodile in a deadly attack in front of his uncle as the two knelt down to wash their hands in a river.

Distressing footage captured the moment the reptile thrashed about with the child clamped between its jaws after rising out of the water in Baundi, in India’s Uttar Pradesh, on July 16. The boy, named Sunil, had been helping his uncle plant rice seedlings that afternoon when he and his guardian stopped at the Ghaghara River on the way to their home in Tikuri to wash their hands and feet.

As the two bathed, the youngster’s leg was snatched by the crocodile, which suddenly emerged from the river and dragged him in, leaving bystanders watching on in horror as he was pulled to his doom.

The 6pm attack took place after Sunil had worked for several hours with his uncle, Vijay Raj Singh, and the two had stopped to wash off dirt they had accumulated during the day. Mr Singh raised the alarm when the boy was dragged under water, and tried desperately to free him from the croc’s grip.

Locals, one of whom started filming the shock scenes, quickly tried to intervene but to no avail as bricks, stones and sticks failed to stop the predator’s rampage.

Sunil was repeatedly thrashed for some time before the crocodile made a bid to escape, dragging the boy into deeper water before eventually disappearing from sight. Locals quickly mounted a desperate search for the young boy using bamboo poles to try and locate his body in the water.

After several hours of searching, the group was able to recover Sunil’s remains from the water, with his body removed at around 10pm that day.

Local authorities said his right leg and abdomen had been partially eaten when they found him later in the day, adding that his right leg and lower waist were severely mutilated. TN Maurya, a station house officer from the nearby Baundi police station, confirmed that footage circulating in the aftermath of the attack was real.

Schoolboy Sunil was an orphan who had lost both of his parents some years earlier and was being looked after by his uncle. He is survived by a brother and two sisters

According to local reports, state authorities are set to compensate his remaining family with a payment of 400,000 INR (£3,091) following his death. Forest officials have said they are monitoring the area after the attack, although residents have long used the Ghanghara River waterway for their daily activities despite the continued presence of crocodiles.