Andy Burnham has vowed to “eradicate” small boats crossings in the English Channel – but refused to say it when it will be done.

The prime minister said the government “will keep going at this issue” until it is solved.

However, he stopped short of saying it will have stopped by the next election, which may not take place until 2029.

Burnham was speaking the day after a boat carrying 230 asylum seekers – the most ever on a single vessel – crossed the Channel from France.

He said the government would “change our tactics” to deal with the fact that more migrants could start arriving on larger boats.

“I know people will have been worried to see that image yesterday,” the PM told GB News.

“It shows that the gangs are changing their tactics but so will we – we will now change our tactics and we will be relentless in chasing them down.”

Burnham said the deal Keir Starmer struck with France when he was PM meant there was “more law enforcement on the other side of the Channel” this summer, which has led to a reduction in the number of boats making the journey.

“But that’s not good enough,” he said. “People will say to me, ‘we don’t want any crossings’. I understand that concern.

“There are further things that we are doing and we will keep going at this issue until we deliver that eradication that people are looking for.”

Asked whether he could promise “no more small boats crossings by the election”, Burnham replied: “It would be wrong, I think, for me to make a prediction now based on a timeline.”

The PM added: “I’d rather promise to people what I know I can do and what I know I can deliver, and that is a relentless focus on this issue to deal with the public concern.

“I heard it on doorstep, on doorstep after doorstep in Makerfield, and I said to the people there, and I say it to the country, ‘I hear what you say, I will be completely focused on the issue’.

“There are more measures that we’re bringing through but crossings are down, immigration is down – there is real progress to report.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

You can breathe a big sigh of relief: we’re half way through the summer holidays (unless you’re in Scotland, sorry Scotland!).

While you might have set strict no-screen rules at the beginning of the summer holidays, we’re sure you’re getting to the point of easing up.

And no one would blame you – it’s a long time to have the whole family under one roof.

All you have to do is get through the next few weeks – and if that means plonking them down to play games or talk to their friends as a distraction, so be it.

At the same time, though, there is plenty to think about when giving your child access to the internet. I don’t need to recount the potential horrors, because over 90% of parents on Mumsnet say current smartphones aren’t safe enough for children.

Plus, 77% of parents say keeping their child safe online feels like an impossible task, and that only gets harder in summer when they don’t have the school routine to keep them busy.

If you’re just about wondering when someone’s going to do something about this mess, enter: the OtherPhone.

Responding to readers’ concerns, the team at Mumsnet teamed up with two London-based tech companies – Nothing and SafetyMode – to create a phone catered to keeping kids safe online.

It might look like a regular phone, but it’s actually a cool phone – that is, the 3(a) phone from cult brand Nothing – that your kid will love (all you need to know is that Charli XCX is the ambassador).

The phone is super lightweight, coated in tempered glass, and is dust and water-resistant, so it can handle the muck and clutter of being a kid.

Loaded with all the regular functions of a smart phone, this particular phone also comes with SafetyMode, a software that uses AI to monitor, filter and block harmful content (like bullying, nudity, and explicit language) across every app your child uses.

While safety tools track a list of basic keywords, or block specific websites, SafetyMode has been trained to read content, which means it can distinguish between a normal conversation and a concerning one.

It can track their locations, and the filters are fully customisable, so you get to decide what you want your child accessing, based on their changing needs.

When troubling content is detected, SafetyMode will send an alert straight to your phone, so that you can rest assured you’ll know what your child is up to online, even when you’re not in the same room (or home!).

Even better, your child’s data won’t ever leave their phone, as all of the processing happens on the phone itself, for added privacy.

If you don’t want to buy a whole new phone, you don’t have to. SafetyMode is also available via the Google Play store to be compatible with any Android device.

The app itself is free, but if you want to manage permissions and filters without even having to pick up their phone, you can upgrade and pay £5.99 per month for SafetyMode Plus.

That means online safety for the rest of the summer, whether they’re at summer camp, the grandparents’, or simply curled up in their rooms.

Actors, writers, and directors often face creative changes completely out of their control – think of all the storylines actors flat-out refused to film, or that one time a powerful play about the Cuban revolution turned into Dirty Dancing 2.

Often, that means cast and crew are left with their names attached to a project they might not have felt in full control over.

For instance, Peter Sagal, the Cuban revolution playwright, is credited as a writer on the Dirty Dancing sequel, despite saying there’s “not a single line of dialogue in that movie” that he wrote.

In this case, he seems OK with the credit. But what do directors do when they no longer want their names associated with a film?

Apparently, some turned to an alias: Allen Smithee, often “misspelled” as Alan Smithee.

Allen became a way of distancing directors from films they lost control over.

Don Siegel, the first person to use the name, said in his autobiography: “When I refused to take directing credit for the film [Death of a Gunfighter, in which he had limited say] as did Bob Totten, the Directors’ Guild made up a pseudonym for Totten and myself: ‘Allen Smithee’”.

Snopes said that for decades, directors had to apply to the Directors Guild of America to use it.

They had to prove “to the Guild’s satisfaction” that they really did have the creative reins yanked away from them, the 2001 book Directed By Allen Smithee added.

“Allen Smithee” has been used from 1969 onwards and has dozens of credits to his name.

He has even been nominated for awards, per his IMdB page, though one of the three nominations is for a “Razzie” award, which are designed to celebrate the worst of Hollywood’s movie outputs.

After the late ’90s, the Director’s Guild wanted to introduce a successor to Allen as they felt his name was getting too much attention. They made up “Thomas Lee” for this purpose.

But it didn’t seem to last, with unhappy auteurs attaching Allen’s name to films as late as 2025.

Ladies and vulva owners, I get it: the appeal of a matching lingerie set is simply too alluring.

But often, they’re not made from breathable materials. During the warmer months in particular, I find myself constantly pulling my pants out of my cooch (for lack of a better word) and looking like a maniac trying to get the right placement. Look, it’s not my fault no one can get sizing right.

Then, of course, there’s the smell. We all know by now (I hope) that it’s natural to have a smell down there, but you know better than anyone else when that’s off.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened during the summer more than ever – but honestly, they can get uncomfy and chafe during the winter, too.

This year, I’ve simply had enough. Get ready for some TMI, but a combination of recurrent UTIs and various other gynae conditions (don’t ask) means I am desperate to do anything that gives my vulva some reprieve.

More than that, I will do basically anything to make sure I don’t have to change my pants every time I leave my house during the heatwave. I mean, the amount of laundry I do every week is insurmountable.

Recently, I’ve been making a conscious effort to wear cotton undies, but unfortunately for my bank account the H&M multipack I’ve been wearing for years has started to give way.

So I decided it was time to test breathable undies.

The best breathable underwear at a glance:

In case you don’t already know, cotton and natural fibre are the ideal fabrics for your pants.

“Ideally you want to be looking for at least an 80% cotton or natural fabric mix” when buying pants, according to Priya Downes, founder and CEO of Nudea.

“These fabrics are much better for quick drying, and will help with things like chafing, which can be quite painful, or sweat accumulation and feeling uncomfortable.”

Tencel, hemp, and bamboo are also great options for underwear. On the other hand, man-made fabrics like polyester and elastane dry much more slowly than natural fabrics, which might be why you get recurrent thrush or BV, or generally feel not right down there.

“As well as sweat comes bacteria, which can also be really unhealthy,” Downes adds. “You do have a natural biome down there, so wearing natural fabrics is really important. Having quick-drying materials that can wick away moisture accumulation is healthier for your skin.”

As well as the fabric, shape is important to consider when buying underwear.

“You want to be comfortable, and not everybody loves thongs,” Downes notes.

“Sometimes in hot weather thongs can be particularly uncomfortable, so look for shapes that are comfortable, and that aren’t visible under your clothes.

“In hot weather, people are wearing more see-through and skimpier things, so you’ve got to be mindful about visible panty lines.”

For the last few years, I haven’t thought much about what kind of pants I wear, but while testing these pants I realised I’ve been missing out on a lot.

I decided to reach out to a range of brands that intentionally use natural fibres, from bamboo viscose, to tencel, and cotton.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this fortnight has been the comfiest I’ve been in years.

As someone who lives in a white skirt or dress of some description during summer, I need pants that are seamless and won’t show beneath a skirt.

But considering I also rarely wear a thong, it was a difficult standard to meet.

All of the products below passed the test.

When you’re spending a good chunk of money on some nice undies, you’re going to want to take good care of them.

Of course, natural staining is going to happen, but it’s all in how you care for them, according to Downes.

“The best way to to wash them is in the washing machine and on not too high a temperature, so 30 to 40 degrees is absolutely fine,” she says.

“Absolutely do not put them in the dryer because natural fabrics will degrade at high temperatures, so you should always, always line dry your your knickers.”

“It’s probably better to go with a darker colour because they are a little bit more immune to stains,” Downes suggests.

“Nudes are great because they they hide stains a bit better. White is very hard to get away from staining, and you will probably have to replace white knickers more often than any other colour.”

Switching to breathable underwear has increased my comfort levels by tenfold over the past couple of weeks.

Not only do I not sweat as much, which means less chafing between my thighs (thank god) but I’ve also noticed I smell less down there (thanks for asking) and actually have to do less laundry. Thank god!

If you’re after pants you can reach for every day, Nudea has a range of shapes and fabric mixes that feel lighter than air. However, Stripe and Stare is maybe just that bit softer, and comes in tons of fun candy box colours, if you like a pink pant like me.

Uniqlo and Boux Avenue are solid budget options, but you will forfeit that buttery feeling.

It’s now been almost a decade since we last saw Rosario Dawson in action in a Marvel project.

Rosario originated the role of Claire Temple in the Marvel TV series Daredevil in 2015, before reprising the role in Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and The Defenders.

The Sin City star recently took part in a Q&A session during an appearance at the GalaxyCon Raleigh fan event, where one attendee asked if there were any superheroes she’d like to cross paths with in the future.

“Well, I’m going to have to say – I could have said Spider-Man. I even shot a scene in the new Spider-Man movie, but I got cut out,” she explained.

“I know,” she continued, as the fans in attendance made their disappointment known. “I love it. I told my mom [the scene had been cut] and she was like, ‘That sucks. Now I can’t post the pictures’. And I was like, ‘Right, mum, me being cut out of the movie that has the largest viewership of a trailer ever, the issue is you can’t post your behind-the-scenes photos’.”

She went on to share that she has a personal connection to Spider-Man in particular, as her uncle is a comic book artist, who used the character to teach himself to draw.

Rosario noted: “So Spider-Man is really huge [in my family]. There’s a frame in one of the new comics that has a young Spider-Man talking to Daredevil, and they made it so that the young Spider-Man goes to PS19 in the Lower East Side, which is where I went to elementary school.

“So when I tell you – my post was already ready, with my BTS, with my grandson wearing all his Spider-Man stuff … Then I got the email that was like, ‘Yeah, nah’.”

Rosario last played Claire in the 2018 season of Luke Cage, insisting shortly afterwards that she was done playing the character – at least for the time being.

At the time, she noted that she’d contributed lines to her character’s dialogue that were inspired by “the instinct of knowing that after five different shows this was probably going to be – at least, for now – a kind of goodbye for Claire”.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in cinemas now.

A 2014 picture of Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian is going viral, with people citing it as an example – and even “proof” – of the so-called “invisible string theory”.

The decade-old photo shows Lewis and Nicole Scherzinger (who were together on and off for around eight years), pictured alongside Kim Kardashian and her ex-husband Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.

“This 2014 picture really hits different in 2026,” reads a post on Reddit’s r/poprant, alluding to the fact Kim is now in a romantic relationship with the Formula 1 driver.

“What do they call it? The invisible string theory?” added a commenter.

Meanwhile a social media post by entertainment site Page Six suggested the new couple are “proof” that the theory “really does exist”.

It’s a belief that people can be connected by an unseen force (the invisible string) which ultimately brings them together when the time is right.

This idea – that people come together through fate, and that the right people will find their way back to you – has been around for a very long time (in Chinese mythology, a red thread of fate was tied around those destined to be soulmates).

However, in recent years it was popularised by Taylor Swift’s song, Invisible String, as well as through a multitude of TikTok videos where people have shared their own “invisible string” stories.

“While the concept has roots in folklore and popular culture, many people relate to it because it captures the feeling that some relationships hold a unique significance in our lives,” marriage therapist and author of The Formula of Desire, Anna Elton, told Cosmopolitan.

We all love a love story – and in the case of Kim and Lewis, it began as friendship. The pair have known each other as far back as 2014 (probably even longer) when they were both in relationships with other people, and would often cross paths at various events, from fashion shows to Innovator awards.

Last October, Kim told Radio Andy that she wasn’t “open” to romance while she was studying for the bar and looking after her four children who “needed a little bit [of] extra attention”.

During an episode of The Kardashians a month later, she suggested she’s the “biggest hopeless romantic” and “when the right person comes along, I’ll be so ready”.

And ready she was. In February this year, there were rumours abound that the Skims founder and F1 legend had spent a romantic weekend together in the Cotswolds, before jetting off to Paris.

The pair were later spotted at the Super Bowl together in what would be their first public appearance.

Fast forward to June, and Kim hard-launched their relationship by featuring the British racing driver in an Instagram post, alongside snaps of her family.

A week after that, Kim was spotted at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, where Lewis told ESPN: “It’s amazing to have her come this weekend and have the support … It’s amazing to have good people around you and good people supporting you and she does that for me every day.”

Whether you believe in it or not, experts note the theory can provide comfort during periods of loss or heartbreak – for example, it can help you believe you’ll eventually find your person as “everything happens for a reason”.

Licensed relationship therapist Jaime Bronstein told People it can also help people looking for love to “relax and extinguish ‘desperation mode’”.

“They can eliminate the fear that they aren’t going to find their soulmate because they can trust they will,” she said. “This doesn’t mean that people should sit at home and assume their ‘person’ will come knocking on their door. However, it helps as singles are starting to show up more authentically on their dates with less anxiety.”

But, there are downsides too. Cosmopolitan has noted: “Believing someone is ‘meant’ for you can make it easier to excuse unhealthy behaviour, ignore incompatibilities, or stay emotionally invested in someone who has made it clear they don’t want the relationship.”

So, don’t let it keep you stuck: either in a relationship that’s toxic, or waiting for someone who’s not showing up.

We’re approaching that time of the year when all of our favourite reality shows start coming back for their new seasons – RuPaul’s Drag Race UK being just one of them.

On Tuesday afternoon, Drag Race UK unveiled the eclectic mix of queens who’ll be put through their paces by returning judges RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton when the Bafta-nominated show returns for its eighth season in the autumn.

An official press release teases “a fresh batch of 12 sassy, snatched and seriously talented queens ready to race for glory”, and judging from the line-up, we’re inclined to believe it.

Here’s a quick guide to the new cast…

She says: “Brighton girlies have not had the best track record on Drag Race UK, but I’m here to smash that curse.

“I am infamous in Brighton, regularly performing in Brighton’s biggest gay club, and you know what, I am an icon.”

She says: “I deserve to be UK’s next Drag Race superstar because I am bringing something completely different that you all ain’t ever seen before.

“It’s all about being cool, calm, collected but having some poise, and having a good demeanour about you.”

She says: “If I had to describe my genre of drag, I would say I’m mer-mazing! My drag is very much inspired by my love of the sea and my background in marine biology.

“Growing up, I was obsessed by the ocean, sea creatures and mermaids. I always knew I wanted to be a mermaid or a creature from the deep one day.”

She says: “I represent a rare type of character-led drag. I have one signature distinct look. I love power dressing, shoulder pads, tailored suits and I always sashay into the boardroom with my signature bob!

“I am so excited to be here representing the undisputed financial capital of the UK, Darlington. Let’s get down to business!”

She says: “I want to remind people that drag is creative and powerful, but it’s more than dressing up. We can create positive change, and we can do so whilst looking amazing.”

She says: “I am the full package. I want to win this competition as a win for the older, more mature divas, and showcase the cabaret scene. I’m going to slide into this competition and make you want a little bit more KY.”

She says: “My aesthetic is culture, heritage, history, It’s very much East meets West. I’m very glamorous and playful, but beware, Lucky is shady but kind.”

She says: “I deserve my place in this fabulous competition, I’ve worked so hard to be here, and I want to prove to the nation that I can be the ultimate winner on this massive platform. Look at her, she’s an icon!

“But if I have to play dirty, to win the competition, I’ll play dirty, that said I’m a true professional, and I’m a very experienced lady!”

She says: “I’m Soho perfection blended with East London grit. Mocha is a good time girl who’s a little bit kooky. My drag is all about looking cartoonish, and I also love musical theatre – Barbra Streisand is my icon.

“I lean towards the vintage and the showgirl. I’m both fashionable and funny. I’m so blessed to be both because it means I’m sickening.”

She says: “If you come to a Naya Thorn show, you’re going to get a theatre performance that is going to make you feel every emotion. Are you going to feel happy or are you going to feel sad? That depends on the song, but I will always choose a song that means something to me. I just really enjoy connecting with an audience.”

She says: “Nobody else in the UK can do what I do, I can perform 60 numbers back-to-back, as long as I’ve got my wind machine, and my wig doesn’t come off, I’ll just keep going.

“I will definitely leave my mark, my impact, and Drag Race UK will forever be changed because of Paris Baby. Period.”

She says: “Tequila is a ray of sunshine, who cannot be suppressed. Obviously, with a name like Tequila, I’m the self-confessed queen of limes. I love juicy greens, hot pinks and bright citrus colours.

“I am a Vietnamese North Londoner, and my identity subtly informs my drag. I’m here on this platform to shine bright, like a tequila glass.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK returns to BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the autumn. See more from the new batch of queens below:

There are a plethora of benefits associated with walking, so it’s no wonder the NHS previously called the activity “overlooked” as a form of exercise.

As little as 2,337 steps a day can lower your risk of dying from heart-related health conditions. The activity can also help to manage blood pressure and cholesterol, and has been linked to stronger bones, better sleep quality and even a reduction in dementia risk.

But while we know it’s important for our health, less is said about how it can benefit our relationships, too.

In fact, a new study suggests that couples who exercise together – mostly, through walking – report better communication, stronger conflict resolution and lower levels of marital stress than couples who don’t.

For the study, published in Family Relations, researchers from Brigham Young University (BYU) looked at survey data from nearly 1,700 newly-married couples.

The team compared the effects of individual workouts and physical activity performed together as a couple on three outcomes: communication, conflict resolution and marital stress.

Walking was the most commonly reported form of shared exercise among couples in the study.

Both individual workouts and couple workouts were associated with healthier marriages, but exercising together consistently showed stronger associations with positive relationship outcomes than exercising solo.

“About 60% of husbands and wives in the sample said they exercised, but only about a third exercised together,” said BYU professor Jeremy Yorgason.

“That means about half the people who exercise are not exercising with their spouse. While the impact is not necessarily large, it is very consistent, which gives me confidence that it is influencing relationships in some meaningful way.”

Researchers said exercising together creates opportunities for positive interactions and conversation, which can strengthen relationships over time.

“Out of all three outcomes, exercise had the biggest impact on communication,” said study co-author Ashlyn Hiatt Mildenhall, who began the project as an undergraduate researcher.

“That’s why it was interesting that walking was the number one reported exercise. It naturally provides opportunities to communicate.”

Walking can give you the space to have deep and meaningful chats, free from distraction.

The research also found that couples who exercised together reported better listening and greater feelings of being heard and supported by their spouse.

Prof Yorgason said these interactions may help explain why shared exercise was associated with healthier communication and conflict resolution.

The authors did warn that shared exercise isn’t a cure for relationship challenges, but it can create regular opportunities for connection amid the demands of school, life and parenting.

In the last couple of years, Tina Fey’s heartwarming comedy The Four Seasons has become one of Netflix’s most popular new original series.

The show recently premiered its second run of episodes, once again centring on a year in the lives of a tight-knit group of devoted friends.

Netflix has already confirmed that the series – which stars Tina alongside the likes of Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver and Oscar nominee Colman Domingo – has already been renewed for a third season, in which new addition David Tennant is expected to be boosted to the main cast.

Fans are in for a bit of a wait until then, though, with seasons one and two debuting in May 2025 and May 2026, respectively.

However, there’s been an addition to Netflix this week that could well help tide viewers over.

What you might not realise is that The Four Seasons is actually a reworking of a popular film from the early 1980s, directed and written by Alan Alda, who also stars as its lead.

Earlier this week, the film The Four Seasons began streaming on Netflix UK, offering many viewers the chance to check out the source material that inspired Tina’s Emmy-nominated series.

Co-creator Lang Fisher previously told Netflix that when she and Tina first began collaborating, the 30 Rock star “kept saying, ‘I want it to be like The Four Seasons’”.

“Finally we were like, ’Should we just watch The Four Seasons?’ We did, and then we were like, ‘Oh, we should just do that movie’,” she recalled.

In fact, Alan even had a small cameo in season one, sharing the screen with Tina and Colman.

Tina enthused at the time: “He’s fantastic. His timing is as incredible as it ever was. He looks so handsome.”

“Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to be able to tell Alan Alda in person how much I love the movie, and also [his Four Seasons co-star] Carol Burnett,” she added. “They both were kind of like, ‘That’s weird because you were 10. This movie wasn’t really intended for you.’

“Alan Alda was very generous in giving us his blessing early on to develop this. I think he was excited that it was coming back to life. It was obviously a project that was near and dear to him.”