GLP-1 medications are now available in pill form rather than injections for people who are eligible

A doctor has explained why weight-loss pills might be better than injections for those who are eligible. Doctor Amir Khan discussed some of the differences between GLP-1 medications on a recent episode of his podcast.

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a naturally occurring gut hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and appetite. The use of GLP-1 inhibitors, or receptor agonists, has soared in popularity in recent years due to their demonstrated effectiveness in managing blood sugar levels in diabetic patients and aiding weight loss.

These medications, which were initially only available as injections, can be prescribed through the NHS or bought privately. The UK’s first GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet for weight loss and weight management received approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) last month.

This latest development means that patients now have the choice of taking a tablet instead of having an injection. But what does this actually mean for patients?

Speaking on his podcast, No Appointment Necessary, Dr Amir was asked by his co-host Cherry Healey: “Recently, they released a weight loss pill. How is that different to the injections, and do you think it’s a good thing?

“And will it mean that there’s more access to the drug to the people who really need it?” He replied, explaining that the pill is semaglutide, which is the same as the injectable drug.

The main difference is that the pill must be taken daily, while the injection is given once a week. Dr Amir said: “It’s that one GLP-1 hormone in there. It’s a daily pill you have to take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with a full glass of water [official guidelines state a 120ml of water] so it goes all the way down and you are not allowed to eat for about half an hour afterwards.

“So that’s the kind of the mechanics of it all. Works in very much the same way as the jabs.”

However, he admitted that the pill might be more accessible to certain people. He continued: “In terms of accessibility, it might make it more accessible to people who are needlephobic.

“It might make it more accessible to people who find it difficult to store the injections in the fridge – they have to be stored in the fridge at all times otherwise the drug breaks down in room temperature.

“And so perhaps if you’re going on holiday for two or three weeks you can take the pills instead of the jabs. So from that point of view it’s more accessible and acceptable, I think.”

Who could get the pill

Two groups of people could be eligible for the pill through the NHS. These include adults in the UK who are:

• Living with obesity with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above, or
• Overweight with a BMI between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related comorbidity

How to take the Wegovy pill

Guidance supplied by Superdrug says you must:

• Take the Wegovy pill first thing in the morning when you wake up on an empty stomach and before eating, drinking, or taking any other medication
• Swallow one Wegovy pill whole with 120ml of water. Do not take the pill with any other drink, such as tea, coffee, or juice. It must only be taken with plain water
• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other oral medication. You can wait longer, but 30 minutes is the minimum. If you do not wait 30 minutes, the active ingredients in the Wegovy pill may not reach your bloodstream and will not be effective

Side effects

On GOV.UK, the MHRA said: “Common gastrointestinal side-effects of GLP-1RAs treatment (including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation) can persist for several days and may affect more than one in 10 patients.

“This may result in dehydration, which if severe may lead to other serious health complications such as kidney damage resulting in hospitalisation. Throughout treatment stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids (such as water) to avoid dehydration, which can sometimes occur after experiencing gastrointestinal side-effects including vomiting and diarrhoea

“Other serious but less common side-effects of GLP-1RAs include acute gallstone disease, pancreatitis, and serious allergic reactions.” If side effects become severe, persist, or prevent you from eating and drinking normally, you should contact your doctor for advice.

The venue, one of the North East’s longest-running theatres, has built a reputation in recent years for pulling in big-name talent alongside its regular programme of touring musicals and local productions.

This year’s line-up spans comedy, music, and stage royalty, offering something for audiences of all ages right through to the new year.

Miriam Margolyes

Harry Potter and Blackadder star Miriam Margolyes will bring her live show, Miriam’s Full English LIVE, to the venue on Wednesday, November 18.

Known for her outspoken wit as much as her decades-long acting career, Margolyes has built a huge following through her recent travel documentaries and candid chat show appearances, making her one of the biggest individual draws on this year’s Hippodrome calendar.

The Harry Potter star is coming to the North East (Image: James Manning / PA)

Chris Ramsey

North East comedian Chris Ramsey performs his Here Man! show over two nights on Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22.

Ramsey, who has strong regional ties and a loyal fanbase from Sunderland and across the North East, is one of the highest-profile home-grown names on the bill this year, having built his profile through his podcast ‘S*****d Married Annoyed’ with his wife Rosie.

Chris Ramsey is from South Shields (Image: Contributed)

Harry Enfield

Comedy legend Harry Enfield brings his stage show Harry Enfield and No Chums to Darlington on Wednesday, November 11.

The comedian, famous for decades of sketch characters including Kevin the Teenager and Tim Nice But Dim, is expected to draw audiences from across generations who grew up on his television work.

(Image: Southend Theatres)

Paul Potts

Britain’s Got Talent’s first-ever winner, Paul Potts, stars in Opera Boys on Friday, October 23.

Potts shot to fame in 2007 after his audition performance went viral worldwide, and he has toured internationally as an opera singer ever since.

Ore Oduba

Strictly Come Dancing champion Ore Oduba headlines The Vintage Boys on Saturday, October 24.

Oduba, who won Strictly in 2016, has built a career across TV presenting and musical theatre, and brings his singing talents to Darlington as part of this vintage-themed show.

Sir Derek Jacobi

Acting royalty also features on the bill, with veteran actor Sir Derek Jacobi appearing in conversation with Richard Clifford on Sunday, November 15.

Jacobi, celebrated for his stage work and screen roles including I, Claudius and Gladiator, offers Darlington audiences a rare chance to hear directly from one of British theatre’s most respected performers.

He will be in town in November time (Image: Clive Conway Productions)

Matt Baker

The celebrity additions come ahead of the Hippodrome’s biggest seasonal draw: North East favourite Matt Baker, who will lead the cast of this year’s pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, playing Jack from Friday, December 11, through to Sunday, January 3, 2027.

Baker, who grew up in County Durham and became a household name presenting The One Show and Countryfile, will be joined by returning Darlington panto favourites Josh Benson as Silly Billy and Jamie Jones as Mrs Potty.

Oh yes, he is in Darlo! (Image: Supplied)

Looking ahead

Just outside the current calendar year, Winterwatch presenter and Strictly winner Hamza Yassin is booked for January 12 next year.

This will give Darlington audiences even more reason to keep an eye on the Hippodrome’s expanding celebrity line-up.

By BRIDIE ADAMS

Published: 00:09 BST, 22 July 2026 | Updated: 06:05 BST, 22 July 2026

Manchester United have returned to preseason training as they continue to prepare for the upcoming Premier League season

Harry Maguire is “really impressed” with Andrey Santos after his strong debut for Manchester United.

The midfielder arrived at Old Trafford from Chelsea in July, signing a five-year deal for an initial £48million fee. Santos became the first acquisition of the Michael Carrick era and got down to business against Wrexham.

Maguire captained United in the first half and played alongside the 22-year-old. It was here and in training that the veteran defender was left impressed.

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Appearing on the Sky Sports Golf channel for The Open, Maguire admitted that the Brazil international had already caused a stir. He said: “Andrey played yesterday. He really impressed us in the first week and I think we’ve signed two great players there,” also referencing Youri Tielemans.

Carrick also praised Santos before his first United appearance, saying: “He’s settled in really well, he’s a fantastic character. He’s settled in so quickly and he’s buzzing to be here, you can see that.”

The 22-year-old watched on as United fell to a 1-0 defeat against Wrexham after being subbed off at half-time. Despite the loss, Carrick had plenty to say about Santos’ initial debut.

He said: “There’s loads of little positives to take from the game. I thought Andrey and Mason [Mount] did some really good things and connected really well. I could see some positives there.

“[At the] top end of the pitch, just because it is a week in, those sharp little movements and bright moments that you are looking for, they come as you progress through the weeks of training. That is what it is. There were good signs from Andrey on his first one, he’s getting in the rhythm and feel of it again, so it was good to see him in a red shirt.”

Santos admitted his desire to start strong and his excitement about working with his new teammates. He said: “I can learn a lot too from Bruno, so I’m so excited to play with my team-mates, with Bruno, with Matheus, with Kobbie [Mainoo], with Amad, with Diogo [Dalot], with Harry [Maguire], so with everyone.”

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American and Middle Eastern buyers are driving a London property boom after over £1billion of super-prime homes were snapped up in the first half of 2026.

Analysis of property market data shows £1.24bn of sales were recorded in the capital between January and June – a 79 per cent spike year-on-year driven by, experts say, one-time non-doms trying to shield their cash from the effects of the Iran war.

Around 25 per cent of buyers were from the Gulf, according to Beauchamp Estates, which analysed the data.

Middle Eastern buyers are hunting for new boltholes abroad should they have to retreat from scenes like those in February, when Tehran began raining down hell on American allies including Dubai.

And like the Americans who make up another 30 per cent of those snapping up prime London homes, they pay in cash – typically immediately remortgaging to free up liquid assets and so the home can be registered as a debt for tax purposes.

Rosy Khalastchy of Beauchamp Estates, which analysed the data, said concerns about personal safety among Gulf nationals had prompted a 15 per cent spike in enquiries. 

She said: ‘The buyers include Gulf nationals, Gulf based UK and European expats and also Indian, Pakistani, Lebanese and other nationals who are based in the Middle East. 

‘This has led to a significant rise in both sales and lettings deals in Central London to Gulf based families who have young children and want their families to have a safe base in the UK capital they can use when required.’

Mr Sajwani, pictured with US President Donald Trump, is among the Middle Eastern billionaires setting up London boltholes. Trump is also driving some Americans overseas

Estate agents expect the proportion of sales made to Middle Eastern billionaires to rise significantly in the second half of the year, as sales that began in the midst of the Iran conflict complete. 

Many of those selling up are ex-non-doms shifting their UK bases in order to move abroad after Rachel Reeves scrapped the status, which had allowed the super-rich to shield foreign earnings from HMRC. 

Others are British nationals downsizing, or leaving London for the Home Counties.

In all, 34 super-prime homes worth at least £15million changed hands in the first half of the year, at an average of £36.5million – almost twice the average selling price three years ago – with buyers favouring mansions over apartments.

Savvy Gulf buyers are also snapping up new-build apartments in bulk as an investment or to let, hedging their bets that they will appreciate in value.

But the market performance has been skewed by some seriously big deals, including what is thought to be Britain’s biggest ever residential property sale.

Providence House, in Chelsea, was sold by businessman Nick Candy to Labour donor Suneil Setiya for £275million earlier this year.

Other above-average transactions include the £195million sale of The Holme, an enormous mansion in Regents Park, to Dubai real estate developer Abbas Sajwani.

His father Hussain, a friend of Donald Trump nicknamed the ‘Donald of Dubai’, also sought to purchase a £55million Knightsbridge mansion this year but lost out to a British buyer. 

And a penthouse at the Park Modern complex overlooking Hyde Park was reportedly flogged for £57million to Elon Musk collaborator Igor Babuschkin – though he has since denied that he was behind the purchase.

Beauchamp Estates says many of the sales in the Mayfair area are also being driven by Americans who disagree with the policies of President Donald Trump, and are pooling their money into real estate and tech start-ups, particularly in AI.

Belgravia has also been a big winner, with nine transactions in the last six months compared to two in the same period of 2025. 

Both Gulf and US buyers tend to be in their mid-30s to mid-50s, with young children. Often, their new London bolthole operates as a fourth or fifth home. 

Abbas Sajwani’s father Hussain (pictured) also sought to buy a Knightsbridge property this year but lost out to a British buyer who paid £55million 

Gulf residents are thought to be snapping up London properties in case they need to beat a hasty retreat should Iran strike again, as it did in February (pictured)

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The gargantuan sum spent on prime London property is skewed by some of the larger deals – including the £275million sale of Providence House by businessman Nick Candy

A penthouse flat at the Park Modern complex overlooking Hyde Park (pictured) was reportedly sold to AI businessman Igor Babuschkin – who later denied involvement

And there is growing demand for ‘turnkey’ properties – those that are ready to move in to immediately – suggesting that buyers want residences they can actually use, rather than buildings they can hold onto as investments.

Ms Khalastchy added: ‘Buyer demand is for freehold family houses, purchasers want to buy a slice of London property and keep it as a long-term investment and European city base. 

‘The US economy and booming AI/tech sector is generating significant wealth but unease over Trump has helped to generate a 10 per cent rise in American buyers transferring some of their money offshore into London property purchases.’

Elsewhere, London has a new billionaire’s row: Hamilton Terrace in St John’s Wood has seen almost £100million of house sales in the last 12 months alone, largely attracting buyers from India.

Estate agents Aston Chase, which conducted a wealth survey of the area, says buyers are drawn in by the street’s competitively priced homes: a relative snip for the burgeoning billionaire at £5million to £20million.

2WWTYCW Hollywood, California, USA 25th March 2024 (L-R) Actor Brian Tyree Henry, Actress Fala Chen, Actress Rebecca Hall, Actress Kaylee Hottle and Actor Dan Curtis attend Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Presents The World Premiere of Godzilla X Kong The New Empire at Tcl Chinese Theatre on March 25, 2024 in Hollywood, California, USA. Photo by Barry King/Alamy Live News

By CHARLOTTE DEAN, ASSOCIATE SHOWBIZ EDITOR

Published: 21:17 BST, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 04:02 BST, 22 July 2026

Jade Thirlwall has split from her Rizzle Kicks boyfriend Jordan Stephens after six years together, according to a new report.

The former couple lived together and split their time between properties in London and Margate in Kent, but are said to have separated earlier this year.

Jordan, 34, has since wiped all trace of Jade, 33, from his Instagram and she has also removed all images of the singer from her own page. 

According to The Sun, they remain close and friends are hoping for a reconciliation. They still follow each other on Instagram at the moment.

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Sharing details on the alleged split, an insider told the publication: ‘Jade and Jordan had a very serious and loving relationship but recently they have had some frank discussions about their future and have decided to separate.

‘It’s not been an easy time but they’ve both been throwing themselves into work.

‘Their friends adore them as a couple and are really hoping they get back together but it’s still very raw at the moment.’

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Jade Thirlwall has split from her Rizzle Kicks boyfriend Jordan Stephens after six years together, according to a new report (pictured May 2025)

The Daily Mail has approached Jade Thirlwall and Jordan Stephens for comment.

They notably failed to honour their sixth anniversary with a social media post, which they had previously done in the past.

Their last joint appearance was at the Brit Awards in February, but they have not been seen together since. 

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Hinting at potential heartbreak while discussing working on her new album, Jade told Fader in June: ‘I’m just writing stuff. Whatever I’m going through at the minute, like privately, I’m sort of putting pen to paper.

‘I think this is the exciting phase or the experimental phase, where you don’t know what it’s going to be yet.’

Jade, who attended bandmate Perrie Edwards’ wedding without Jordan this summer, shared photographs from a trip to Sri Lanka at the start of the year.

They met during lockdown through a series of Zoom dates.

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She previously claimed finding love with Jordan during the pandemic was a ‘strange’ experience.

Their last joint appearance was at the Brit Awards in February (seen together at the after party)

Jade, who attended bandmate Perrie Edwards’ wedding without Jordan this summer, shared photographs from a trip to Sri Lanka at the start of the year (pictured)

Jade said she hadn’t been ‘looking for anyone’ at the time as she was relishing her independence.

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Speaking in Metro’s Guilty Pleasures column at the time, she explained: ‘I ended up meeting someone in lockdown which is strange… I quite enjoyed doing it that way.

‘We had real dates and really got to know each other. I wouldn’t say I was looking for anyone at the time.

‘I was happy to be in lockdown because I am independent. I think you can still strive in your singleness in lockdown.’

Jade, who split from her ex Jed Elliott after three years together the July prior, said it was ‘really important’ to her to be with someone who supported her and felt she was a ‘good match’ with Jordan.

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Jordan is one half of pop act Rizzle Kicks, who first launched in 2008 until 2016, before breaking for a hiatus until 2024. 

Jordan also worked on Jade’s debut album That’s Showbiz Baby! which was released last year.

Jade said at the time: ‘I actually really didn’t want to date a musician. I’d done it previously; it never works out well. But it’s amazing now. We write together.

‘He’s on my album; I’m on his. Jordan’s on the backing vocals for Headache.’

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The latest findings from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) suggest more families than ever are struggling to pay for basics including food, heating, toiletries and suitable clothing, even as inflation begins to ease.

The charity said the number of households unable to afford essential items has risen from 7.1 million a year ago to 7.4 million, the highest level since it began tracking the cost-of-living crisis in 2021.

One of the biggest shifts is that financial pressure is now reaching groups who have traditionally been less likely to struggle.

More than half (53%) of lower-income households not receiving means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit said they had gone without at least one essential in the past six months, up from 47% two years ago.

The research also found hardship has increased fastest among mortgage-free homeowners, pensioners, households without children and families without disabilities or long-term health conditions.

Despite the record figures, the report points to some encouraging signs that targeted support is helping.

JRF chief economist Chris Belfield said government measures to reduce energy bills, alongside falling wholesale gas prices, mean around half a million fewer households are unable to heat their homes than two years ago.

He said: “Government policy can work. We need greater intervention to control rental prices, make energy affordable and improve the adequacy of Universal Credit so everyone can afford the essentials.”

The figures come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made tackling the cost of living his first priority in Downing Street.

His Government has announced that VAT will be removed from electricity bills from October, saving the average household around £45 a year, alongside wider plans to ease financial pressures and “give people breathing space”.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “Removing VAT from electricity bills is a positive statement of intent by the new administration.

“But it does not address the scale of what households are facing, with millions still left paying an unaffordable share of their income on energy and record levels of energy debt built up over successive winters of high bills.

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“The Prime Minister’s next move must be to go even further on bringing down the cost of energy and bringing in increased levels of targeted support for those who need it most: an enhanced Warm Home Discount, reformed Cold Weather Payments and an energy debt relief scheme.”

Although grocery price inflation has slowed, households are still spending around £156 more on food over a year than they were at the same time last year, underlining why many families continue to feel the squeeze despite signs that inflation is easing.

Have you seen the cost of your shopping and bills increase in the last year? Tell us in the comments below…

From classic roast potatoes to chips and mash, they can be used to create a tasty side for any meal.

Many people will have them stored away in a cupboard for a long time and when they go to use them, they might have turned green and started to sprout.

If you want to keep your potatoes fresher for longer, there are ways you can store them to avoid them rotting.

How can I keep potatoes fresher for longer?

Marandia Wright has shared a video on YouTube about an old-fashioned technique to store potatoes.

She said: “Those of you who have grown potatoes know that, when you dig your potatoes up out of the dirt, you can put them in a cardboard box and just put them in a dark room.

“You can go and get them whenever you want them and they’re good all the way through until the next growing season.”

She mentioned how store-bought potatoes often will not last for longer than a few weeks because they are stored in a plastic bag.

The bag sweats them and gets them wet, which causes them to start rotting that will spread.

She went on to say the solution can be used for any kind of potatoes and all you need is a box and some dirt.

When you get home, you simply take them out of the bag and leave them somewhere to dry out.

You then take your cardboard box and grab some soil from your garden to leave out to dry completely.

You just need enough soil to coat each potato.

Marandia says you should keep each potato apart when putting them in the box by using a sheet of newspaper to separate each layer.

If you don’t have enough newspaper, you can use a layer of soil to keep the potatoes apart.

By keeping the potatoes surrounded by soil, they will stay fresh for months.

Should I store potatoes in the fridge or in a cupboard?

Many people struggle with deciding which foods are best kept in the fridge and which can be stored in a dry cupboard.

Kate Merker, the Chief Food Director for Good Housekeeping, says you should not put potatoes in the fridge.

Potatoes like cool, dry, and dark places but colder spots will make them deteriorate quicker.

She said: “In my experience, if potatoes are left in the fridge for an extended period of time, they can be come soft, mealy, and lose their flavour and discolour faster when cooking.”

Kate suggests you can also store them in a mesh bag or in a wire basket to allow for proper circulation and avoid moisture building up.

There are also certain cupboards you should avoid storing the potatoes in such as under the sink.

You should also keep them away from cupboards next to your oven or any other appliance that produces a lot of heat.

If you want to store them in a cupboard with other foods, keep them away from garlic and onions, as these vegetables retain a lot of moisture.

Will you be storing your potatoes in this way from now on? Let us know in the comments.

Imagine a perfect summer weekend day: a cloudless blue sky with a gentle breeze. Solar panels are at full capacity, wind turbines are turning offshore – and many people are out and about, in gardens or parks. Electricity supply is high, but demand is low.

Electricity systems must balance supply and demand in real time. In the above scenario, when renewables are producing lots of electricity but there isn’t much demand, energy companies may need to curtail output – disconnecting their turbines or panels from the grid, and essentially wasting clean energy that could have been generated. Hours later, when demand rises, that energy is no longer available.

In the UK, wind farms are already being paid to switch off on days when supply outstrips demand. Similar curtailment of renewable generation already happens regularly in places with lots of solar power such as California, Spain or Australia. As renewable energy continues to grow – and in the UK’s case, as cheap plug-in solar panels become available – this could happen a lot more often.

For example, April 22 2026 was a sunny day in the UK, with moderate wind. Solar generation reduced the demand for gas-generated electricity to almost zero. Had the wind speed been any higher, there could have been more electricity generation than demand.

The limits of supply and storage

One option would be to control the supply to try and match demand. When electricity mostly came from fossil fuels, this was easy enough – power plants would just burn less coal or gas. But you can’t control the weather, and you certainly can’t keep sunlight in a pile of fuel to use later. The electricity it generates is either used, stored or lost.

Another option would be to simply store that excess electricity until it’s needed. There are lots of approaches available, ranging from huge battery banks to pumped-storage hydro schemes that store energy by pumping water uphill before generating electricity when needed. Millions of electric car batteries could even become part of the grid.

But all these technologies remain expensive and limited in capacity. Not all surplus power can be saved for later.

Without other solutions, this mismatch can increase reliance on fossil fuels at times of high demand. The UK’s National Energy System Operator (Neso) recently warned it will need to use “more tools, more often” to keep the grid stable.

A simpler solution

A third option is to shift when people use electricity.

The use of renewable energy has made balancing the grid depend not just on supply – weather conditions – but on user behaviour. If people consume electricity when renewable energy is available, there would be less need for other sources of energy or for big investments in energy storage. That’s why shifting electricity demand is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to balance the grid.

Smart meters are already able to vary electricity prices throughout the day. In our summer weekend scenario, when electricity is cheap and plentiful but demand is minimal, a smart meter might advise you that prices have gone right down – or even turned negative – creating an incentive to heat water, wash clothes or charge electric cars. In effect, households would be paid to absorb excess renewable energy.

This would encourage people to install smart meters and change when they use electricity. It should be particularly useful for low-income households. And at the national level such payments can be cheaper overall than investments in energy storage or curtailing wind or solar farms and unleashing them later.

Paying people to use electricity may sound odd, but it represents the cost of keeping the system balanced.