The Stroke Association explained the loss of independence can be especially difficult

Coronation Street’s Betsy Swain stroke storyline explores an “extremely upsetting” reality for many stroke survivors, a charity working closely with the ITV soap explained.

Betsy Swain was found collapsed on the kitchen floor of No.6 Coronation Street, before being rushed to the hospital, fighting for her life.

Doctors later confirmed that the teenager had suffered a stroke, something Lisa struggled to get her head around due to her daughter’s age. And things took a horror turn as, once her condition appeared to have stabilised, Betsy suffered a second stroke.

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It was after this that doctors confirmed it had been caused by a blood clot, which was the result of neck artery damage from a temporary loss of circulation. It left Betsy having to tell her mum that Dylan had strangled her during consensual sex, despite both believing the pressure applied was minimal.

Since then, Betsy has been told it is possible that she will make a “good recovery”, and she’s been trying to plead with her mum DS Lisa Swain to not press charges on Dylan.

The teen has since been released from the hospital and is continuing her recovery at home, with Corrie fans praising the show for giving insight into Betsy’s recovery, including speech therapy sessions.

Coronation Street has worked closely with charity The Stroke Association throughout this storyline. Taking to Instagram, the charity penned: “In recent episodes of the soap opera @coronationstreet, the character Betsy, played by @sydneymartin._ is still coming to terms with her stroke and the impact it’s having on her life.

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“Now at home, her mum, Lisa, has been fiercely protective, whilst family member Ryan agrees to ‘watch her.’ Her family are trying their best to support and care for her, but ultimately, she has lost her independence. The loss of independence can be extremely upsetting for stroke survivors, and for their family and friends it can be hard to know what’s best for the person they are caring for.

“If you’re caring for a loved one after they’ve had a stroke, here are a few tips to help them during their recovery: Ask therapists if you can be involved in rehabilitation. Encourage the person to take on family responsibilities right from the start. You may need to find new, manageable roles to help boost their confidence and maintain their relationships with other family members.

“Try not to be overprotective. It’s natural to be cautious, but with advice from therapy professionals and the right equipment, someone with a stroke can regain independence. Encourage them to do as much as they can, right from the start.“For further support about caring for a loved after a stroke, you can call our Stroke Support Helpline Team on 0303 3033 100 for practical and emotional support.”

The storyline comes as a recent study conducted by IFAS revealed that of over 4,100 young adults (aged 16-34), over 55% have either been strangled or strangled someone else during sex. The data highlights that non-fatal strangulation is a significant risk for young adults, with high prevalence reported among the 16-20 age group, demonstrating that the potential for hidden injury is widespread and frequently misunderstood.

Professor Cath White, Medical Director at the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS), commented: “We are grateful to Coronation Street for approaching this storyline with such care and a commitment to medical accuracy. Non-fatal strangulation can result in life-changing injuries, including stroke, even where there are no visible external signs. There is no safe way to strangle. We hope this storyline helps increase understanding of the risks, challenges common misconceptions and encourages anyone affected to seek advice and support.”

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The BBC show has been a TV staple for 20 years, with a number of familiar faces having hosted including our own Christine

For 20 years, The One Show has been welcoming some of Britain’s biggest names to its famous green sofa – and plenty of those presenters have gone on to have fascinating careers of their own.

Since the BBC programme first hit screens in 2006, viewers have seen a revolving door of familiar faces take on presenting duties. Some became long-standing favourites, while others spent just a short time on the show before moving on to new opportunities.

Now, as The One Show celebrates its 20th anniversary on Friday night with Alex Jones and Roman Kemp at the helm, some former presenters have returned to mark the special occasion.

But what have the stars who once hosted the show been doing since they left? Here’s where seven former One Show presenters are now.

Adrian Chiles

Adrian Chiles was one of the original presenters when The One Show launched in 2006. He initially hosted alongside Nadia Sawalha before becoming closely linked with Christine Lampard, with the pair eventually leaving the BBC for ITV in 2010.

Since his One Show days, Adrian has continued to work across broadcasting and journalism. He remains a familiar voice on radio and has also established himself as a successful newspaper columnist, regularly writing for The Guardian about subjects including football, everyday life and his own experiences.

In 2026, Adrian returned to The One Show as part of its 20th-anniversary celebrations, giving viewers the chance to see one of the programme’s original faces back on the sofa.

Nadia Sawalha

Nadia Sawalha has a special place in The One Show’s history as one of the programme’s original presenters.

She joined Adrian Chiles when the show launched as a four-week trial in August 2006, with the pair fronting the programme as it tested out its mix of interviews, topical stories and features from around the UK. However, when The One Show returned for a full series the following year, Nadia was replaced by Myleene Klass, who was later replaced by Christine Lampard.

Nadia was already a familiar face to viewers, having played Annie Palmer in EastEnders before moving into presenting. But it was her work on Loose Women that would become one of the defining parts of her television career.

Christine Lampard

Christine Lampard, formerly Christine Bleakley, became a household name during her time on The One Show after joining in 2007.

She quickly became a popular part of the programme, particularly through her presenting partnership with Adrian Chiles. The pair later made the move to ITV together, where Christine went on to build a successful career in daytime television.

The Newtownards native is now best known as one of the regular presenters on Loose Women, having initially appeared as a guest anchor before becoming a permanent member of the presenting team.

Christine has also become a familiar face on Lorraine, regularly stepping in to host the ITV daytime programme.

Away from the cameras, she is married to former England football manager Frank Lampard. The couple married in 2015 and have two children together.

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Matt Baker

Matt Baker spent nine years on The One Show and became one of the programme’s most recognisable presenters during that time.

After leaving in 2020, Matt continued his television career, particularly through programmes centred around the countryside, farming and rural life. He has also remained a familiar face on Countryfile.

But his career has increasingly expanded beyond presenting.

Matt is Creative Director of Big Circus Media, the production company he co-founded, and is involved in developing, producing and directing programmes.

His work behind the scenes has given him the opportunity to take a more hands-on role in creating television, while he continues to work on projects that reflect his long-standing passion for the countryside and family-friendly programming.

Jason Manford

Jason Manford’s time on The One Show may have been brief, but his departure did little to slow down his career.

The comedian joined the programme in 2010 before leaving later that year to concentrate on his comedy work.

Since then, Jason has become one of Britain’s best-known stand-up comedians, while also building an impressive television and acting career. His credits include Ordinary Lies and presenting roles on entertainment programmes such as The Royal Variety Performance.

He also hosted the BBC game show Unbeatable in 2021, although the programme was not recommissioned.

Comedy remains his main focus, with his A Manford All Seasons tour continuing across the UK in 2026.

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Jermaine Jenas

Jermaine Jenas successfully swapped the football pitch for the television studio after retiring from professional football.

The former England and Tottenham midfielder built a career as a football pundit before joining The One Show, where he became a permanent presenter in 2021. He was also a regular contributor to Match of the Day and other BBC sports coverage.

However, his broadcasting career came to an abrupt end in August 2024 when the BBC terminated his contract following complaints concerning workplace behaviour and messages sent to female colleagues.

He subsequently lost his roles on both The One Show and Match of the Day. In June 2026, he appeared on Good Morning Britain for a major interview in which he discussed the impact the events had had on his career and personal life.

Ronan Keating

Ronan Keating is perhaps best known for his music career, but the Boyzone star also became a familiar face on The One Show.

He joined the programme as a regular presenter alongside Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas, bringing his experience as a performer to the BBC sofa.

Although his stint as a regular presenter ended in 2023, music has remained at the centre of his working life.

Ronan has continued performing as a solo artist and reunited with his Boyzone bandmates in 2026 for shows at London’s Emirates Stadium, which were billed as the group’s farewell performances.

For Ronan, then, life after The One Show has largely meant returning to where his career began – on stage and behind a microphone.

The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on BBC One

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Across Europe, running a home – whether you need to keep it cool in the summer or heat it during winter – usually means burning imported gas. That wastes energy and creates carbon emissions, contributing to climate change. The European Commission’s new electrification action plan aims to end that era, mapping out a drive to double electricity’s energy share from 23% to 46% by 2040.

“I have always looked forward to the day that our energy system is based on electrons, not molecules,” said Vangelis Tzimas, who heads an energy policy unit at the European Commission’s science service, in response to this news.

Electrons, not molecules. It sounds abstract, but for homes, it is the difference between a house that burns something and a house that doesn’t.

Buildings consume 40% of all the energy Europe uses, most of it for heating with gas boilers, so this is where this shift will succeed or fail. I measure energy performance as part of my work, through sensors in Irish social housing, and the data points to four reasons why electricity is superior to gas.

The most persuasive one is efficiency. A gas boiler burns fuel and gives you, at best, one unit of heat per unit of gas. A heat pump delivers three to four units of heat per unit of electricity.

A heat pump, essentially a fridge running in reverse, gathers warmth from the outside air and keeps working even in freezing weather. Run it the other way and it cools your home too, which matters more with every record summer.

So why doesn’t every house already have a heat pump? It’s expensive to buy one, and even to run it. Before government grants, installing a heat pump costs around £10,000 in the UK and close to €30,000 (£26,000) in Germany. In contrast, a new gas boiler will only set you back roughly £2,500.

This massive price gap isn’t about the technology. Steep labour costs, high VAT, and a shortage of installers mean the same machine costs twice as much across borders.

These upfront costs are being tackled through subsidies and low-interest loans. In the UK, the government introduced a clean heat market mechanism to try and increase competition and drive down prices of heat pumps by 2027. To fund the transition in the EU, the European Investment Bank is spending €75 billion on grids, storage and heat pump manufacturing.

Upfront bills form half a heat pump’s lifetime expense, but running costs are the real hurdle. Because EU electricity costs three times more than gas, a heat pump’s impressive efficiency is entirely cancelled out at the meter. In the UK, where electricity is 4.3 times more expensive, this greener technology actually costs more to run.

This difference between electricity and gas prices, called the “spark gap”, is partly because taxes are significantly higher for electricity than gas. The European Commission is finally imposing a legal obligation on EU governments to tackle this pricing accident. They are being asked to shrink the gap by 2030 to no more than 2.5 for households, by reducing the tax for electricity; allowing VAT cuts on heat pumps, electric cars and home batteries; and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies after 2030.

Britain has started to close the price gap too. The 2025 autumn budget shifted most green levies off electricity bills and into general taxation, which trimmed the ratio to around 4.3 from 4.7 in April 2026.

These strategies are the right way forward, because countries where the gap is smallest already sell around three times as many heat pumps as those where it is widest.

If the spark gap falls to 2.5, to match a 90% efficient gas boiler, a heat pump needs to generate 2.25kW of heat per kilowatt of power. UK data shows every unit tested beat that benchmark, meaning owners should save money in the long run. Once the spark gap is reduced, the heat pump will become a cheaper way to cool or warm a house.

The European Commission electrification plan puts emphasis on heat pump installations that allow heat-recovery ventilation. These can capture up to 90% of the warmth from outgoing stale air and transfer it to incoming fresh air — meaning heat you already paid for gets reused. The aim is to nearly double heat pump installations that allow heat recovery from 2.4 million a year in 2025 to 4 million by 2030.

The second reason why electricity wins is your home’s carbon footprint. Every time you burn gas, CO₂ exits the flue. An electric home burns nothing. Its emissions depend on how the electricity was made, which is improving every year: around 70% of Europe’s electricity already comes from home-grown clean sources.

That phrase “home-grown” is the third reason, and the one that finally motivated European politicians to commit to change. Molecules must come from somewhere, and for Europe that mostly means abroad; anyone who watched their bills after the 2022-23 gas crisis knows how much that dependence costs.

Electrons can be made at home, from our own wind, sun and water. The European Commission estimates that its plan could cut gas imports by more than 70% and shave up to €260 billion a year off Europe’s fossil fuel import bill by 2040. After which, the prices can be set by the EU’s own investment decisions, not by wars on the other side of the world.

Everything must work together

The final reason is the benefits from energy-efficient homes. It is now four years that I have been monitoring Irish social housing – a mix of new apartments and older dwellings that had a deep energy retrofit (a comprehensive, whole-building upgrade to radically improve energy efficiency).

My sensors record their electricity consumption, indoor temperature, humidity and air quality around the clock. The data shows that homes are more energy-efficient when different measures complement each other: insulation and the fixing of drafty air leaks, correctly sized heat pumps that suit the space, ventilation that keeps air fresh without throwing warmth away.

But even the best kit only goes so far. How we set the thermostat, use appliances, and time our energy use during lower cost off-peak windows matters just as much as hardware efficiency. Occupant behaviour alone can cause heating energy use to vary threefold. This means that our daily choices can result in savings that almost match major technical upgrades (albeit delaying dinner and bath times isn’t a reality for families with young children).

Smart meters make those choices visible. Home energy monitoring apps make it easier for households to shift power-hungry chores to off-peak hours. Add rooftop solar into the mix, and buildings transform from passive energy consumers into localised mini power stations. According to European Commission scientists, rooftop solar on Europe’s 271 million buildings could meet 40% of the continent’s long-term electricity needs.

That is the quiet promise inside “electrons, not molecules”. It’s a system that’s immune to gas shocks that can continue cooling you through heatwaves. Europe has simply decided to make it everyone’s normal.

Passengers affected by the derailment can use a number of alternative rail, Tube and bus services while disruption continues.

Tickets are being accepted on the Circle line between Liverpool Street and Tower Hill, the Jubilee line between Stratford and West Ham, c2c services between Fenchurch Street, West Ham and Southend Central, and the Liberty line between Romford and Upminster.

A number of bus routes are also available, including Arriva services 1, 7, 8 and 9, as well as First Bus services 25, 300, X10 and X30, linking areas including Rayleigh, Southend, Wickford, Chelmsford and Basildon.

Newcastle United manager ​Matthias Jaissle is ‌refusing to dwell on the departure of key players that has left his club in turmoil going into the new season, as they step up their preparations against Everton at Murrayfield this evening.

Jaissle was recruited from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli after Eddie Howe left last month, with the German coach joining a club who have lost Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and captain Bruno Guimaraes in quick succession.

“It’s a challenge, a big challenge, always when there’s a transitional period. ‌But it’s ‌not time to ⁠complain, it doesn’t make sense to see the negative things,” Jaissle said.

“We want to see the chance in that situation and that’s our approach from day one. We are here to do our ⁠best job. We want to support the players, the current squad.

“There will be adjustments to see in the coming days, weeks. But for now it’s only focused on the daily work, the work we can influence. That’s all that ​matters now.”

The 38-year-old coach arrived in Newcastle ‌having won two Austrian Bundesliga titles with Red Bull Salzburg before leading Al-Ahli to back-to-back AFC Champions League crowns.

He remained tight-lipped about new signings.

“Obviously, in that transition phase, the players who left the club were ‌great ​players, great characters, experienced ⁠players. This is now a vacuum,” he said.

“Either we adjust something in the squad, by signing these players, these profiles, or other players ⁠need to step up and fill ​these positions, these leadership roles. I’m quite optimistic, we can work in both scenarios.”

Jaissle said he had a ​clear vision of how he wants his team to play.

“The phrase how Newcastle ‌should play like is front-footed, intense, ​aggressive and of course also successful. ​In the end, it’s all about what ⁠I can ⁠say and it’s also why I’m sitting here,” he said.

“The approach we have as a coaching team and the identity of Newcastle is famed for, it’s so linked so close together – which is a perfect fit in my eyes and ​that’s going to be exciting.”

Team news on the way shortly.

Daisy Lane Play Cafe, based at the Newton Aycliffe Youth and Community Centre on Burn Lane, will close for good on Wednesday, August 19.

Owner Emma announced the news in a social media post, saying the decision had been made with a “heavy heart”.

The café opened earlier this year, offering a place for children aged up to seven to play and take part in activities while parents and carers enjoyed coffee, food, and cakes.

It also ran stay and play sessions and birthday parties.

In a message to customers, Emma said: “I am writing this with a heavy heart.

“It’s not something I ever wanted to do, but Daisy Lane will be closing its doors for good next Wednesday, August 19.

“Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, it is not possible for us to continue trading.”

She thanked the families who had supported the business over its first few months, as well as relatives, friends, and staff who helped make the play café a reality.

Emma said: “I want to say a massive thank you for all the support I have had over the last few months.

“I could never have done this alone.

“A particularly big thank you to my family, my parents who have helped me massively both behind the scenes and front of house, my husband Adam who has helped and supported me the whole way through, and all our girls who have given their time to help and were so excited for our café.”

She also thanked her staff and the customers who visited Daisy Lane during its time in Newton Aycliffe.

She said: “A huge thank you to every single customer who has stepped through our doors.

“We have such amazing loyal customers and I’m going to miss you all.

“We’ve made so many friends, both big and little, and I can’t thank you all enough for being a part of Daisy Lane.”

Daisy Lane Play Cafe will be open as normal from Monday to Wednesday next week, with families invited to visit before it closes.

A toy and equipment sale is also planned for Friday, August 21, with further details expected to be announced.

Emma added: “It was always a dream of mine to open a play café and to have that dream realised has been an amazing and beautiful experience.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world and I hope we managed to bring you all a little bit of joy in the past few months.”

Once drivers pass the incident in Cardiff, they may be faced with more evere traffic elsewhere on the roads network in the west of England.

Drivers face long delays on the M5 in Somerset as Friday getaway traffic gets underway.

Photos taken show queues forming northbound at Bridgwater, with further delays southbound from Bristol.

Google Maps shows patches of congestion along the motorway from Wellington to the Almondsbury Interchange.

The ban comes as the UK suffers from several wildfires following a handful of heatwaves, resulting in very dry grass and a bigger fire risk across the country.

The PM said the ban – which applies to Wales, Scotland and England, but not Northern Ireland – would be in place from today “until further notice”.

It’s not just people spending time outside picnicking and having BBQs that need to be careful, with Mr Burnham also issuing a message to all smokers.

Andy Burnham issues warning to all smokers across the UK amid disposable BBQ ban

Andy Burnham warned smokers against lighting up outdoors and urged them to dispose of cigarettes carefully.

It comes as West Midlands Fire Service shared a Facebook post earlier this month telling smokers to make sure they have completely stubbed out their cigarettes.

The post is accompanied by a poster that shows a cigarette butt that hasn’t been entirely stubbed out and is lying on some grass.

The fire service said: “It only takes one carelessly discarded cigarette to spark a grass fire.

“With hot, dry conditions increasing the risk of fires, please make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished before disposing of them.

“Never throw them from a vehicle or leave them on the ground.

“A small act of care can prevent a fire that spreads quickly, threatening people, wildlife and property.

“If you smoke, stub it out. Every time.”

🔥 Most wildfires are started by people, but drought conditions can make them much worse. Drier vegetation provides more fuel, helping fires grow larger and more severe.

Read our blog post to find out more: https://t.co/qvexqwfcAM pic.twitter.com/iPt3L6IJCM

— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) August 14, 2026

More wildfires have now struck England and Wales in 2026 so far than in the whole of 2025.

The latest spate of blazes in the West Midlands has led to people fleeing their homes to get out of the path of encroaching fires.

West Midlands Fire Service’s Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill said 19 houses have been fully destroyed and 18 damaged by the wildfire in Stourbridge this week.

Speaking as he visited houses in Stourbridge which had been destroyed by wildfire, the Prime Minister said: “The temporary ban on barbecues, disposable barbecues, comes in today.

“All retailers will be receiving notification of that ban, and we ask them to, obviously, implement it in full until further notice when we can remove it.”

He also told reporters: “I would also want to say to the public, you can see what’s happening: 37 significant fires across England and Wales.

“Please do not light an open fire, a bonfire of any kind.

🚨 BREAKING: Several homes in the West Midlands are on fire as the UK faces extreme heat pic.twitter.com/DFCRVXIFX2

— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) August 13, 2026

“If you’re disposing of a cigarette, take great care.

“This is obviously a really combustible situation, literally.

“We need to respect that fact and make sure that no one is taking any risk, because you’re taking risks with other people’s homes, with other people’s lives if you act recklessly in this moment.”

The Prime Minister added: “Britain is a tinderbox right now, and please just have that in your mind.”

Do you think the disposable BBQ ban is a good idea? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.