Britons are being warned not to swim in the sea and keep their headlights on during tonight’s eclipse.

Tonight’s solar eclipse will see the moon pass in front of the sun, blocking out as much as 96 per cent of our solar system‘s star for watchers in the UK.

The first contact between the moon and sun in the sky will take place at around 6.08pm in parts of Scotland, before spreading southwards within minutes.

It will peak just under an hour later, at 7.05pm in Glasgow and Edinburgh, 7.10pm in Manchester and Liverpool, 7.11pm in Birmingham, 7.12pm in London, Bristol and Cardiff, and at 7.16pm in Cornwall.

The last total solar eclipse visible from the UK was in 1999 – although it was only visible in Devon and Cornwall, with the rest of the country experiencing only a partial eclipse. The next total eclipse in Britain will not take place until 2090. 

While a once-in-decades event for British eclipse chasers, the near totality of tonight’s event comes with its fair share of risks with scientists warning everyone should be aware of.

As well as the usual warnings of not looking directly at the sun – which can cause permanent eye damage – drivers and swimmers are also being told to exercise caution. 

The RNLI has warned against swimming in the sea during this evening’s eclipse, saying it is dangerous.

The Greenwich Observatory sold out completely it eclipse glasses ahead of the event tonight

Camila Calero aged 7 from Greenwich poses with solar glasses ahead of tonight’s eclipse

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A man in central London sells eclipse glasses and is surrounded by a mob hoping to get their hands on the elusive spectacles

The warning from the charity’s Jersey lifeboat station said it will not be safe to swim off the Channel Island during the eclipse due to strong tides. But this also applies to all of Britain’s coastline.

Solar eclipses always coincide with a new moon, meaning tides are at their strongest.

This is due to tides being affected by the moon’s gravitational pull on the Earth – tides are highest furthest from the moon as it circles the Earth, as the planet mass is denser than water, and therefore gets pulled slightly in the moon’s direction.

Tides are particularly dangerous during a new moon because the gravitational pull of both the moon and the sun align, meaning a stronger force known as a ‘spring tide’.

This is seen in higher tides as well as a greater difference between low and high tides than the rest of the month.

Higher tides make swimming in the ocean much more dangerous as they can cause stronger currents – although the strongest currents do not generally occur at high tide itself. 

Brighton and Hove Council warns on its website: ‘Check the tide times and have awareness of spring tides, this is when tides are the strongest with the highest high tides and the lowest low tides. 

‘The currents are extremely strong on spring tides which will make for a harder swim.’

People are also being urged to stay safe and watch the eclipse from land. In London, anyone planning to swim in Hampstead Heath’s ponds during the eclipse will be told to leave the water.

The City of London Corporation said: ‘If you want to observe the eclipse, leave the water and use certified eclipse glasses.’

Long queues formed at shops across the UK selling eclipse glasses on Wednesday morning, with many selling out completely.

Anyone driving during the eclipse is also being told to take extra precautions and be prepared to turn on their headlights.

The RAC said the action might be necessary for vehicles which do not have automatic lights, to boost their visibility to other road users.

People queue around the block from 6am to buy eclipse glasses after Howleys Toymaster shop collected 10,000 pairs from the Midlands

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘While total darkness is unlikely, those with vehicles that don’t have automatic headlights or daylight running lights may need to switch on their dipped beams to ensure they are easily visible to other road users.

‘The best advice to enjoy this rare event is to pull over somewhere safe and watch with specialist glasses.’

Mr Williams urged anyone driving in a westerly direction around the time of the eclipse to avoid being distracted.

He said: ‘Taking your eyes off the road even for a split second to try to catch a glimpse of the sun as it disappears behind the moon increases the risk of being involved in a collision, not to mention the potential for suffering long-term damage to your vision.’

The partial eclipse will likely result in light dimming and temperatures plunging temporarily.

Millions will pause to watch the natural phenomenon tonight but must ensure they are doing so safely.

Viewers should use special eclipse glasses bearing the ISO 12312-2 safety standard – and should be wary of purchasing them from non-reputable sources, as they could be fake.

Those unable to secure legitimate glasses can instead watch using a pinhole projector. These are easy to make at home and involve punching a small hole in a piece of cardboard and projecting the light through it onto another piece of card, or a surface such as the ground.

A colander can be used in the same way to view the eclipse.

There are also multiple livestreams, such as the one provided by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, which will show some of the best views around the country.

Children’s favourite Peppa Pig has travelled into outer space to commemorate a major solar eclipse in the UK.

On Wednesday, the moon is set to obscure more than 90 per cent of the Sun between 6.17pm and 8.06pm.

To celebrate the celestial event, the character embarked on a high-altitude mission, rising beyond 100,000 feet to drift just above the Earth’s atmosphere.

Captured in full 4K resolution, footage of the flight was presented at the NEC Birmingham’s Lakeside Cinema, the location of the interactive, walk-through Peppa Pig Space Adventure experience.

Produced as a bespoke addition to the attraction, the animation depicts her trip into space, tracking her ascent to the upper reaches of the planet’s atmosphere after launch.

From her vantage point aloft, Peppa caught sight of the NEC, alongside well-known landmarks throughout Birmingham and the surrounding region.

After soaring through space, Peppa returned safely to Earth as families watched her mission come to fruition from the ground.

NEC deputy chief executive officer Sarah Harvey said: “We’re thrilled to have helped Peppa Pig complete her world-first journey into space to launch a summer of adventure at Peppa Pig Space Adventure at the NEC!

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“It’s important for us to continue to inspire curiosity and creativity in the younger generation and this was a fantastic way of proving to young explorers that no dream is too big to achieve.

“We can’t wait to welcome more families to experience Peppa Pig Space Adventure this summer.”

Peppa Pig Space Adventure is a hands-on walk-through experience at the NEC, which encourages children to use their imaginations to blast off into space and land on the surface of the moon.

A competition is also now being held where young artists are being asked to design a rocket for Peppa.

Entries can be submitted online via peppapigspaceadventure.co.uk/competition before Tuesday, 1 September.

First launching in 2004, Peppa Pig is an animated children’s series that follows the titular character, an anthropomorphic piglet, and her family and friends.

It has since aired more than 450 episodes and spawned films, books, video games and theme parks.

Expert explains date – and said it showed why it’s important to get a good look at today’s – as there’s a catch

The Met Office has confirmed the date of the next major solar eclipse – and added that part of the UK is likely to see 100 per cent coverage. Today’s eclipse (August 12, 2026) was observable throughout the entire UK with the SW seeing as much as 96 per cent coverage.

And Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern explained why today’s is so amazing – because the next best one’s not until 2081 – but if you’re still around by then it will be impressive – with one location especially good. There is an eclipse in 2027 – but the Uk will only see a maximum of 45 per cent of the sun covered.

He said: “The next best partial solar eclipse after this Wednesday, you have to wait until 2081 [Sept 3]. It goes very close to the far southwest of the UK. The Scilly Isles may just get a total solar eclipse, and then it moves through central Europe.

“So that’s 2081, if you can hang around for that. And if you want to know when the next total solar eclipse for the UK is, well, that’s September 2090, and you can see it happens actually quite late in the day for the UK, and it’s southern parts of England, South Wales, where there will be a total solar eclipse towards the end of the day. So, really good opportunity for seeing one of the best partial solar eclipses this century, and takes place this Wednesday evening. “

In today’s eclipse drivers have been told they may need to turn on their headlights during the solar eclipse. The RAC said the action might be necessary for vehicles which do not have automatic lights, to boost their visibility to other road users. More than 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on Wednesday.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “While total darkness is unlikely, those with vehicles that don’t have automatic headlights or daylight running lights may need to switch on their dipped beams to ensure they are easily visible to other road users.

“The best advice to enjoy this rare event is to pull over somewhere safe and watch with specialist glasses.”

Mr Williams urged anyone driving in a westerly direction around the time of the eclipse to avoid being distracted.

He said: “Taking your eyes off the road even for a split second to try to catch a glimpse of the sun as it disappears behind the moon increases the risk of being involved in a collision, not to mention the potential for suffering long-term damage to your vision.”

Here is exactly when to look and how much of the Sun will be covered across different parts of the UK on August 12

• South West England (Cornwall / Plymouth / Truro): This region gets some of the best views in mainland Britain. The eclipse begins at 6:18pm, hits a maximum coverage of 95% to 96% at 7:16pm, and ends at 8:10pm.
• Scotland (Edinburgh / Glasgow): The eclipse starts a little earlier here at 6:08pm. It reaches a peak coverage of 91% at 7:05pm and finishes up by 8:00pm.
• Wales (Cardiff / Swansea / Pembrokeshire): The eclipse starts at 6:16pm. It reaches peak coverage of 93% to 94% at 7:13pm and finishes around 8:07pm.
• Northern Ireland (Belfast): Skywatchers will see the eclipse begin at 6:10pm, reaching a deep peak coverage of 93% at 7:08pm, and wrapping up by 8:03pm.
• North West England & Midlands (Manchester / Liverpool / Birmingham): The partial eclipse begins at 6:13pm. It peaks with 91.5% coverage at 7:10pm (7:11pm for Birmingham) and ends around 8:04pm.
• London & South East England: The moon starts creeping over the Sun at 6:17pm. Maximum coverage will reach 91.4% at 7:13pm, with the event ending at 8:06pm.

The programme was a mystery thriller set in a town hit by a devastating flood, and starred the likes of Sophie Rundle, Lorraine Ashbourne and Philip Glenister.

The first season, which was released in 2024, followed a police investigation after a man was found dead in a lift in an underground car park.

While the police assume he became trapped as the waters rose, PC Joanna Marshall (Rundle) becomes obsessed with discovering what happened.

Darker secrets were inevitably found, the consequences of which carried over into the second season, which was released early in 2026.

After the conclusion of the second season, no news was shared by ITV regarding plans for a new season.

However, it has now been confirmed that it won’t be returning to our screens,

An ITV spokesperson shared: “We’re very proud of After The Flood and what the drama achieved across two series.

“Commissioning decisions involve many factors and while there are no plans for a third series, we’re very grateful to everyone who supported the drama.

“We’d like to extend our thanks to Mick Ford, Azhur Saleem, the actors and the team at Quay Street Productions for producing two brilliant series.”

The second series starred Nicholas Gleaves, Matthew McNulty and Roger Morlidge,

Series one was filmed in Greater Manchester and across the North West.

ITV confirms Name That Tune will return after 29 years

Although After The Flood will be coming to an end, ITV has shared that Name That Tune will be returning to our screens.

The show originated in the United States, with the British version first airing in 1976.

It was hosted by comedian Tom O’Connor until 1983, with Lionel Blair taking over until 1988.

The show last appeared on UK television in 1998, when it was briefly revived by Channel 5 and presented by Jools Holland.

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ITV’s new version will be hosted by Alison Hammond and will challenge contestants to identify famous songs in a series of high-energy rounds.

Name That Tune will air in the first quarter of 2027 and consist of nine episodes.

Are you sad to see After The Flood end? Let us know in the comments.

Tea with Judi Dench sees Dame Judi Dench welcome her great friend Sir Ian McKellen to her home for an hour-long conversation.

The pair will discuss their lives on and off stage and reflect on long careers that have led them from Shakespeare to the worldwide fame of the Lord of the Rings and James Bond movies.

Dame Judi Dench said last month: “I am absolutely delighted to be returning for a second film, and even more pleased to be sharing the experience with the wonderful Sir Ian McKellen.

“The response to the first film was deeply touching, and it’s a great privilege to continue these conversations and capture moments of great friendship.”

The premiere episode, which went on air last year, featured Sir Kenneth Branagh.

Dame Judi and Sir Ian are said to explore topics including fame, failure, and the importance of never taking either too seriously.

Phil Edgar-Jones OBE, executive director of unscripted originals at Sky, said: “Tea with Dame Judi is fast becoming one of our most treasured and delightful treats on Sky Arts.

“If you join Judi Dench as she reflects on life, art, culture, and all manner of topics with the peerless Sir Ian McKellen, you’re sure to be amused, moved and enlightened in equal measure.”

Nancy Strang, co-founder and creative director of producers Mindhouse, said: “I’m completely thrilled that Sky have commissioned us to make another Tea with Judi Dench.

“Judi has a unique combination of warmth, intelligence and mischievousness which appeals to audiences across generations.

“To be invited in to spend a day with her and the incomparable Ian McKellen at her home, sharing their memories of their lives, careers and lost loves is a complete privilege.

“I’m sure we’ll make another magical slice of television together.”

Tea with Judi Dench airs in August on Sky Arts, Freeview and streaming service NOW.

Wales is set to experience its biggest solar eclipse in over 25 years on Wednesday evening with the moon covering between 90% and 96% of the sun

Excitement is building as people get ready to view a rare partial solar eclipse, which looks like it will be visible across the whole of Wales. It will be the most visible eclipse in three decades, with the moon set to obscure between 90% and 96% of the sun depending on your location.

The sky will become noticeably darker during the rare phenomenon. Another partial eclipse with this level of coverage won’t occur until 2050, so you won’t want to miss it. Follow our live updates here

With beautiful landscapes, Wales looks set to be one of the best places to view the eclipse from and we have a postcode checker which allows you to see the exact time the eclipse will be visible where you are.

The Met Office has also forecast clear skies, so weather will hopefully not be a problem. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter

In Wales, the partial solar eclipse can be observed from 6.13pm to 8.06pm. As the eclipse is happening late in the evening as the sun sets, ideal vantage point would be somewhere offering an unobstructed view of the west-northwest horizon.

The moon will start to obscure the sun as the eclipse reaches its peak between 7pm and 7.15pm.

Use our postcode search tool below to see the exact moment when the moon will start to move in front of the sun from the viewpoint of your back yard – and also the time when the eclipse will reach its peak where you are.

We have also complied a list of the best places to view the eclipse in Cardiff and Swansea, if you are looking for some recommendations for viewpoints. NEEDS CARDIFF LINK

How to view the eclipse safely:

The government is advising people , external to either use indirect viewing methods or wear genuine eclipse glasses with specially designed filters that meet international safety standards ISO 12312-2:2015(E). It is not safe to just view it through sunglasses.

Solar eclipse glasses have become completely unavailable across Wales. Nevertheless, those hoping to witness the first near-total solar eclipse in the UK since 1999 can still do so safely using several alternative methods.

One of the most straightforward alternatives requires nothing more than an ordinary kitchen colander. Rather than gazing directly towards the Sun, observers can use its perforations to cast images of the eclipse onto the ground or another flat surface.

Another option is to create a pinhole viewer at home. See more tips here.

The fan-favourite Terry’s White Chocolate Orange is back in stores from today, August 12, giving shoppers the chance to get their hands on the popular festive-style treat months before Christmas.

And there’s an added incentive for chocolate lovers who want to stock up.

Co-op has become the first retailer to stock the returning White Chocolate Orange, with the 145g treat launching at £2 as part of an introductory offer, down from its usual £2.50 price.

The chocolate orange is available across Co-op stores nationwide from today.

The return comes after years of demand from shoppers who have been calling for the white chocolate version to make a comeback.

Fans have been sharing their excitement online, with the relaunch announcement prompting a flurry of comments from shoppers eager to get their hands on one.

For anyone who can’t wait until the Christmas chocolate aisle appears, the return means the white chocolate and orange combination can now be enjoyed much earlier than usual.

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Jacob Calvert, Confectionery Buyer at Co-op, said: “We know shoppers have been eagerly waiting for the return of Terry’s White Chocolate Orange, so we’re excited to be the first shop this year to sell this fan favourite treat.

“If you’re after that white chocolate orange fix, and not up for waiting until Christmas, shoppers can pop to Co-op stores nationwide now and get their hands on it here first.”

The Terry’s White Chocolate Orange 145g costs £2 at Co-op, with the 50p saving available as part of the launch promotion.

Jonathan Ross’ son Harvey has made his first public appearance in years while on a family night out with his dad.

The Traitors star, 65, headed to Death Note The Musical on Tuesday night posing with his 32-year-old son, who sported a beard and long hair.

Harvey doesn’t have social media and was last pictured at a public event with his dad in 2015, sporting short platinum blonde hair.

The duo also appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox more recently in 2021, alongside Honey, 29, who is the TV star’s youngest daughter.

Also at the theatre event were Jonathan’s wife – and Harvey’s mum – Jane Goldman, 56, who first met the comedian in the late 80s.

The couple have been together for almost 40 years, having begun dating when she was 16 and Jonathan was 26. They also have another daughter, Betty, 35.

Harvey’s rare public outing comes a year after his younger sister excitedly revealed he had got engaged to his long term partner Muna Silver.

She also attended the show, matching her husband-to-be in an all black outfit while Jane opted for a blue floral dress and Jonathan went with white linen trousers.

Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, Jessie and Lennie Ware asked: ‘Did your son Harvey used to dress up in superhero costumes as a child?’

He replied: ‘Not really. We raised them all in a kind of somewhat gender non-specific environment, so whatever they wanted to do.

‘Harvey has got the longest hair in the family, and largely unwashed. He doesn’t wash it often because he’s part of that gang who think you shouldn’t use soaps!’

Unable to keep the good news in, Honey interjected: ‘He did just get engaged!’

To which Jonathan spilled even more and replied: ‘They’re thinking of starting a family next year.’

Muna was first pictured with Jonathan in 2018, suggesting she’s been seeing Harvey for quite some time.

She appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox with her now fiancé in the 2021 series, joking about the explicit drama Sex/Life in one episode.

‘This is going to be a fun thing to watch with your dad,’ she had quipped at the time.

Despite the high profile of their dad, Jonathan’s kids largely avoid the spotlight with Betty also struggling with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

In 2020, the talk show host also revealed that one of his daughters had been diagnosed with autism after being told she didn’t meet the criteria in the 90s.

On Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe’s Lockdown Parenting Hell podcast, he shared that she had been ‘very late to talk’ among other signs.

‘She fixed on certain things, and she was very strange about people,’ he explained. ‘We took her to be assessed, but not for that, and because this was early 90s – when that stuff wasn’t really talked about as much.

‘But now, we showed someone the medical report and they said, “yes, now she would absolutely be diagnosed as autistic”, but back then she wasn’t.’

Autism is a disorder affecting brain development and the way a person relates to their environment. A spectrum is used because not all those with autism have the same difficulties.

The Royal Greenwich Observatory warned the public that regular sunglasses are not a safe enough method to view the cosmic phenomenon. Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the observatory, previously told the Press Association: “It’s not a total eclipse, but over 90% is really exciting. We’re not going to get one this good for a really long time.

“So, it’s important not to miss it, and to be prepared. You can’t just go out and expect to have a look because it’s really dangerous for your eyes.

“So, you can use solar eclipse glasses, which are very, very different from sunglasses – they block out so much light that you can’t see anything through them except the sun, because that’s how much light they need to block for the damaging light of the sun to be safe to view.

“Ideally a solar telescope is an amazing way to witness it, and if you don’t have one of them then you can look into whether your local astronomy society is doing any events.

“And if all else fails, you can project the image of the eclipse using a household item like a colander which has lots of holes in – point the colander towards the Sun with your back facing it, and in the shadow of the colander you’ll be able to see the eclipse in the holes, which is really cool.”

A missed bin collection can cause problems for your household if it was already full when it was put outside.

If it was a mistake by the binmen, you can easily get it sorted by contacting your council.

However, there are a few things you should check before getting in touch with your local council to avoid confusion.

You should do a few checks before contacting your council about a missed bin collection. (Image: Getty)

What do I do if my bin wasn’t collected?

There are a few checks you need to make before confirming your bin had been missed, such as waiting 24 hours before reporting anything.

You should also check if the schedule for bin collections has been moved, as things like bank holidays and the New Year can cause them to be pushed back.

If your bin has a tag or sticker on it, it means your bin has been refused for contamination, being overweight, or if the lid was left open.

A missed bin counts as one that was left out at the correct time but was not collected by the binmen, or bagged waste left next to the bin that was not taken when the council said it would be.

It can also be recycling that was left in the correct container with no tag explaining why it was left.

If none of these things applies, your bin has been missed, and you can report it to your local council.

All you need to do is type in your postcode on the government website to find the correct council and fill out the form.

The council will aim to come back to empty your bin within two to three working days, with some local councils even promising to come back the next working day.

There is a cut-off point for when you can report a missed collection, and it is usually within 24 to 48 hours of the collection day, but it can vary between councils.

The process is the same for councils in Scotland where you can fill out a form to report the bin being missed.

The council will send someone out to collect it, unless it is food waste, which will just be emptied on the next collection day.

Waste and bins in Ireland are collected by private companies so what you need to do if your bin gets missed on collection day will depend on the company you are with.

What do I do if the council ignores my missed bin collection report?

If the council does not respond to your missed bin collection report, you should contact the council again with your original reference number.

If they still do not respond, you should file a complaint to the council, and if nothing is done, you can get in touch with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Have your bins ever been missed when they should have been collected? Let us know in the comments.