The former Top Gear and Grand Tour host has been at the forefront of motoring journalism for the best part of 40 years now.

He started out reviewing cars for local papers before landing a job on Top Gear in the 1980s.

With the initial show being axed, the presenter revived the famous BBC series with Andy Wilman in 2002.

Together with James May and Richard Hammond, the journalist and farmer grew Top Gear into one of the most successful shows worldwide.

He ended his TV motoring journalism career in 2024 on the Grand Tour, saying at the time he was not interested in reviewing electric cars that are now more widely available on the market.

JCB has announced it will attempt a new land speed record (Image: JCB)

But in his new column for the Sun, he summarised his views on hydrogen power after JCB achieved a new world land speed record with a run in its hydrogen-powered Hydromax.

Mr Clarkson write: “I keep being told that hydrogen will never be the fuel of the future.

“It’s too expensive to make, too difficult to transport and too impractical.

“But this week, I watched that JCB car spearing across the salt flats in America at 406mph, and I thought, ‘Yes. Hydrogen is difficult. But there’s a vehicle, powered by normal, internal combustion, and all that’s coming out of the exhaust is water.’

“As JF Kennedy once said: ‘We choose to go to the moon and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.’”

Set at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, the record saw the Hydromax achieve 406.320mph, measured as an average from two high-speed runs. It’s the fastest that a hydrogen internal combustion car has ever gone.

The first saw the Hydromax reach 400.623mph, while a later run saw the vehicle hit 412.135 mph, which, when averaged, reached that figure of 406.320mph.

With Andy Green OBE – the only person to break the sound barrier on land – behind the wheel, the 32-foot car beat the previous official hydrogen internal combustion speed record by some measure. Set in 2004, it saw a BMW H2R reach 185.5mph.

This latest record also means that the Hydromax has overtaken the 350.092mph set by the JCB Dieselmax in 2006.

The Hydromax is driven by two hydrogen-powered engines that JCB also uses in its commercial diggers. Combined, they produce 1,600bhp.

Lord Anthony Bamford, JCB chairman, said: “Twenty years ago we came to Bonneville with JCB Dieselmax and showed what British engineering could do with diesel power. Today we have done it again — this time with engines powered by hydrogen.

“This record was set by production-based engines, the same engines powering JCB diggers right now. That is the point of JCB Hydromax: it shows hydrogen works, and it works today at the highest level with zero emissions.”

Andy Green added: “Bonneville is the spiritual home of the world land speed record, and JCB Hydromax has just written itself into that history. The car was terrific — stable, strong and fast. Setting a world land speed record with hydrogen power, twenty years after Dieselmax, is a huge privilege. This record is a huge achievement by a world class team and superb technology.”

Emergency services were called to Park Road near to Constitution Street after the alarm was raised shortly before 6pm.

Emergency services are battling a large fire which has broken out in central Aberdeen. Emergency services were called to Park Road near to Constitution Street after the alarm was raised shortly before 6pm on Monday, August 17.

Crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene after the blaze started in the derelict building. As of 7pm, the control room said the situation was ongoing with four appliances and one height appliance on the scene.

Videos shared on social media show grey smoke billowing from the windows and roof of the property. Police and fire fighters are on scene in another video as crews begin to tackle the blaze.

Police Scotland warned residents to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid the area.

Road closures are in place in Park Road, Roslin Street, Roslin Place and Constitution Street.

There have been no reports of any injuries.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Road closures are in place on Park Road, Roslin Street, Roslin Place and Constitution Street, Aberdeen due to a fire, reported at around 6pm on Monday, August 17.

“Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed. Please avoid the area.”

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By MIKE KEEGAN, CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 20:43 BST, 17 August 2026 | Updated: 21:01 BST, 17 August 2026

Kevin Lamour, the FIFA chief operating officer who broke ranks and criticised president Gianni Infantino over his World Cup sell-off plan, has been sacked.

The French-Swiss executive had released an explosive statement declaring that staff had been ‘deceived’ by under-fire Infantino following his now-abandoned proposal, which would have seen stakes in the tournament sold to private investors.

He would now appear to have paid the price.

A FIFA spokesperson said: ‘FIFA can confirm that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer has ended on 17 August 2026.

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‘FIFA thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future.

‘No further comment will be made on the matter.’

FIFA confirmed chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, centre, has left, weeks after accusing president Gianni Infantino of having ‘deceived’ staff over plans to sell stakes in the World Cup 

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Lamour had declared the plans were a ‘project of one person’ as he criticisted Infantino, pictured, while acknowledging he was willing to lose his job by speaking out

FIFA’S LETTER TO STAFF 

Dear FIFA Vice Presidents, dear members of the FIFA Council,

I hope you are keeping well. I would like to provide you with an important update regarding a change within the FIFA Administration.

Following recent discussions, FIFA and our Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour have agreed to part ways. This decision was made after careful consideration and with great respect for Kevin, both personally and professionally. Kevin joined FIFA in November 2024 and in this time has overseen a period of significant change, including improved relationships with stakeholders and the delivery of several significant projects of joint interest, amongst many other key achievements.

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You will have seen Kevin present in each FIFA Council meeting since his appointment in 2024, and many of you will have had a regular working relationship with Kevin on projects of various kinds since his joining FIFA. I felt it was important that I personally provide you this update and I would like to express my gratitude to Kevin for these contributions and for his work and commitment on behalf of FIFA on a daily basis. I wish Kevin all the best for the future.

I look forward to seeing you again shortly and, of course, remain at your full disposal should you have any questions on this or any other matter.

All the very best,

Mattias Grafström

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FIFA Secretary General

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Staff were made aware of Lamour’s abrupt departure in an email sent by general secretary Mattias Grafstrom on Tuesday night. It has been claimed to Daily Mail Sport that Grafstrom – rather than Infantino – delivered the bullet to Lamour. FIFA have been contacted for comment on the claim.

In the wake of the sell-off plan being made public, Lamour told the Associated Press ‘It is the project of one person. Not only must this project not go ahead … but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions.’

Lamour also said that he was prepared to lose his job over speaking out publicly.

‘If that means I lose my job, then so be it,’ his statement to AP added. ‘I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.’

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Lamour follows Infantino’s senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro out of the door. He resigned in July citing his opposition to the controversial plans.

The Split star Annabel Scholey is taking on a new role, and the upcoming drama is perfect for Silent Witness fans.

A star from BBC legal drama The Split is taking on a new role, with a first-look image having just dropped.

Annabel Scholey starred alongside the likes of Nicola Walker in the beloved drama, which ran from 2018 until 2022, before a two-part special aired in 2024.

She’s now set to appear alongside Richard Armitage in an upcoming ITV police procedural, Winter.

The actress plays DI Lauren Bell, “a meticulous and driven detective”, who joins forces with Richard’s character, Dr Ethan Winter, “one of the most gifted pathologists of his generation”.

The six-part thriller follows Winter cracking complex murder cases with his rule-defying methods, razor-sharp intellect and “extraordinary analytical mind”.

The synopsis goes on to tease: “Each episode features its own compelling, self-contained crime story, with resulting guest casting.

“A personal story thread, the unsolved murder of someone close to Winter, runs beneath the six-part series, as it still haunts his every move and he is intent on unofficially investigating the case and bringing the murderer to justice.”

Based on French thriller Balthazar, the cast will also feature Jamie Kenna, Carlotta Banat, Josh Barrow, Adwoa Akoto, Jay Taylor, Rishi Rian, Deirdre Mullins, Ellis Elijah and Evie Coles, reports the Mirror.

After the series was announced, Annabel commented: “I am thrilled to be joining ITV and Eagle Eye Drama as part of the Winter team, and to be working alongside the brilliant Richard Armitage on these fantastic scripts.

“Our characters’ tempestuous relationship will be a total thrill to explore, and I am excited to step into the wonderfully dry shoes of DI Lauren Bell.”

Meanwhile, fans of The Split don’t have long to wait before spin-off, The Split Up, launches, focused on “the charged world of Manchester’s high-net-worth divorce circuit” and the Kishan Law family – “a powerhouse British-South Asian family firm, and the go-to for the city’s elite”.

Executive producer of The Split and The Split Up, Abi Morgan, previously told Metro it would be “a fitting evolution” of The Split, saying: “I suppose the best thing I can say is that the new show will be in a new city with a new group of writers running it.

“But it is also really exciting to have Ursula Rani Sarma at the helm, and it’s been really enjoyable to see her voice and the voice of the writers grow, and I’m just excited to see what comes next.

“So I think it will be a very fitting evolution of The Split.”

The speed limit was introduced to reduce “accidental conflict between users of the shared use track”

A council has explained why there is a “mandatory” 15mph speed limit for cyclists was introduced on a track in Cambridge. The speed restriction was introduced on the maintenance track which runs alongside the guided busway and is used by cyclists and pedestrians.

Cambridgeshire County Council said it is an “important control measure to enable safe active travel for all users of the shared use pathway”. It is intended to reduce accidental conflict between users of the shared use track, the council said.

Motorcycles are also banned from the maintenance track and electric bikes that exceed 15mph are not permitted. These restrictions were implemented in partnership with the police.

In a statement, a Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “The Guided Busway is one of the most important transport routes in Cambridgeshire. It connects people to each other and to schools, jobs, and hospitals every single day. Keeping it safe is vital.

“The 15mph speed limit is mandatory for cyclists and other active travel users on all sections of the busway shared use path and is a permanent feature. The speed limit is an important control measure to enable safe active travel for all users of the shared use pathway.

“It also compliments the other Guided Busway Safety measures and is intended to reduce accidental conflict between users of the shared use track.”

The county council is monitoring the effectiveness of the speed limit and liaising with Cambridgeshire Police on enforcement action.

The spokesperson added: “We encourage members of the public to report any unsafe, anti-social and illegal behaviour on the busway to the county council or the police, as appropriate. Safety concerns can be reported via our web form or alternatively, you can scan the QR code on signs along the busway track to find the form when using the path.”

The county council was fined £6 million following the deaths of three people on a guided busway. In separate incidents that spanned across 11 years, health and safety breaches resulted in the deaths of Jennifer Taylor, 81, Kathleen Pitts, 52, and Steven Moir, 50.

Coronation Street aired a series of emotional scenes on Monday night as Sarah Platt finally reunited with Todd Grimshaw after she murdered his abusive partner earlier this year

Coronation Street aired a series of emotional scenes on Monday night as Sarah Platt finally reunited with Todd Grimshaw. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Sarah (Tina O’Brien) had killed her best friend’s abusive partner, Theo Silverton, and now she is behind bars, having been charged with the murder.

When Todd (Gareth Pierce) found out, he refused to have anything to do with Sarah and cut her out completely, especially after she initially let his daughter Summer go to prison instead. But, just days after Sarah split up with partner DC Kit Green for fear of what would happen to his career, she asked Todd to visit her, and he accepted.

Once there, Todd immediately noticed bruising on Sarah’s face, and she told him she had been attacked by an inmate. On the verge of tears, Sarah told Todd she couldn’t do anything to stop the attacks, and he said: “Well… I won’t sit back and let my mate be bullied.”

When she pointed out that he recently said they’d never be friends again, he said: I had a lot of time to think while I was away. I know how scared you must’ve been. I still don’t understand how you could let Summer be in here.

“You don’t need to explain or make excuses again, I don’t think I’ll ever get that bit of it I don’t think I’ll ever get that bit of it but I know you and you’re a good person. You’ve always been a brilliant mate. You messed up big time. But I love you,” and Sarah replied: “I love you too, Grimshaw.”

Sarah’s cellmate, Kacey, who protected her in the attack, then came with the news that her son hadn’t come to visit her because he had been arrested. She started pressuring Sarah to get Kit to pull some strings to help her out. Later on, Sarah spoke to Todd on the phone, and he begged her to tell Kit about the attacks. She refused to do so, and he said to her: “If you don’t, I will.”

Fans were quick to react to the emotional scenes, with one writing on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I love their friendship so so much im so glad Todd has given her another chance.”

Another said: “Touching prison scene with Todd & Sarah today. They really are the love of each other’s lives. Even if they can’t be together as a couple, they’ll always be there for each other. Hope Todd steps in to help care for Harry. That would be a good relationship to build up.”

A third said, “Todd & Sarah…loved that scene” Todd made his first appearance on Coronation Street in 2001 and was introduced as the son of Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) and the brother of Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas).

He and Sarah had a relationship as teenagers but it ended abruptly when Todd realised he was gay. During their time together, Sarah became pregnant with a son, whom they called Billy, but he was born three months prematurely and died the following day.

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X.

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Hayden Panettiere appeared to be optimistic about her future as she promoted her memoir earlier this year.

‘I have a lot more life to live,’ the actress shared in a soul-baring interview just three months before her death at the age of 36. 

On Monday, it was reported that Narcan was found in the apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, where she passed away on Sunday afternoon. The nasal spray, which is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, was found on a mattress in a loft apartment she was staying in, TMZ reported.

But in May, Panettiere was anticipating all the ‘exciting possibilities’ that awaited her during an interview with Jay Shetty. 

Panettiere, who was promoting her tell-all This Is Me: A Reckoning, was asked what she would call her latest chapter, prompting her to describe her optimistic next era. 

‘I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,’ she said on Shetty’s On Purpose podcast. 

‘That means that I’ve closed one door and another door is opened and I can feel it opened and I can feel all the… possibilities, all the exciting possibilities. I feel like I have a lot more life to live.’

The former child star, who was known for her roles on the hit NBC series Heroes and musical drama Nashville, leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter.

Representatives for Panettiere announced on Sunday: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

‘She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen.’

Detectives confirmed to the Daily Mail that they responded to the apartment block in Greenville yesterday afternoon after they received a 911 call from an ‘acquaintance’ of Panettiere, describing her as ‘unresponsive’.

In the dispatch audio of the call made at 1.51pm, a female dispatcher described Panettiere as suffering a ‘cardiac arrest.’ A few moments later, a male dispatcher could be heard saying that Panettiere had suffered a suspected overdose at the home in Greenville.

Officers and paramedics carried out chest compressions while trying to save Panettiere’s life.

The actress – who was due to turn 37 this Friday – was pronounced dead at the scene just over 40 minutes later at 2.32pm.

‘I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this darkness and this negativity,’ she admitted to Shetty

Hayden said she can feel ‘all the exciting possibilities’ that await her 

Police and the local coroner’s office are probing the death, but said the ‘preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.’ 

Panettiere had daughter Kaya following a life-threatening birth, but later gave full custody to her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

The star first appeared in soap operas, then gained wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans with Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.

Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.

She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress on the show, while her singing produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All Or Nothing, the comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.

The former child star was found dead in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon

Hayden was known for her roles on the hit NBC series Heroes and musical drama Nashville

On Monday, a spokesman for the City of Greenville Police told the Daily Mail: ‘On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1.51pm, officers from the Greenville Police Department, accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female at Judson Mill Lofts, located at 701 Easley Bridge Road.

‘Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

‘The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.

‘The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms Panettiere placed the 911 call. At this time, no further details are available for release.’

Judson Mill Lofts is a former textile mill dating back to 1912, which was recently converted into apartments. These include studios and three-bedroom homes that can be rented from $1,295 to $3,485 a month.

No cause of death has been announced.

A stag has been shot dead in London’s Richmond Park after it injured a man who was having a picnic.

The victim, in his 60s, was taken to hospital with chest injuries after the animal approached a group looking for food on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services were called at around 6pm to take the man to hospital, where his injuries were assessed as ‘not life-threatening ‘.

 A Royal Parks spokesperson said: ‘We understand from the police that thankfully the injuries were not life-threatening.

‘Sadly, the stag’s behaviour meant that it had to be put down as it was deemed to be a danger to visitors.

‘We suspect that this particular stag may have learnt to associate visitors with food.

‘If visitors follow our advice and do not feed or interfere with the deer, it is highly unlikely that they will exhibit this type of behaviour.’

The stag was shot by a Royal Parks wildlife officer, the charity said.

It is thougbt the stag went close to the picnic after it learnt to ‘associate visitors with food’. 

It is understood the picnic was held metres away from the popular Roehampton Gate Cafe, a hotspot for visitors.  

Royal Parks has also said they were ‘shocked and alarmed’ to see videos online of people approaching visitors in nearby Bushy Park.

The spokesperson said: ‘This is highly dangerous behaviour.

‘Deer in Bushy and Richmond Parks are wild animals and should never be fed, approached or touched.

‘Repeated feeding can cause deer to lose their natural wariness of people and seek out food from visitors, creating risks for both people and wildlife.

‘Getting this close, and offering food, puts people at real risk of serious injury.’

They added: ‘Our advice is simple. Keep at least 50 metres away, never feed or touch the deer, and if one comes towards you, put all food and packaging out of sight and move away slowly and calmly.

‘Do not try to move the deer away yourself.’

Richmond Park is a popular spot for joggers and cyclists and is home to 600-strong herds of red and fallow deer.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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By GETHIN HICKS, REPORTER

Published: 19:44 BST, 17 August 2026 | Updated: 20:22 BST, 17 August 2026

Welsh actor Michael Sheen, 55, is a performer well known for disappearing into a number of his roles across genres in film and TV. 

He’s gone from playing real-life figures – such as Tony Blair in The Queen and David Frost in Frost/Nixon – to bigger-than-life fantasy figures in Good Omens and Twilight, to even playing himself in the mockumentary Staged. 

Sheen is also a very impassioned activist across, and his latest project sees him investigating an issue close to home in Buriedon on the BBC, as he uncovers claims of a conspiracy concerning toxic ‘forever chemical’ contamination in the waters of South Wales. 

It is a chance for fans of Sheen to see a different side to the actor on screen, as he talks to many of his fellow Welsh citizens about the effect that the contamination has had on their lives. He will also soon be seen in series 2 of Celebrity Traitors.

It has also led to more fans asking about Sheen’s family life away from the screen, with the future House of Games host starring with his partner in Staged, which also featured his showbiz bestie, David Tennant.

Who is Michael Sheen’s partner? 

Sheen, 57, is in a relationship with Swedish actress Anna Lundberg, 31, and the couple have been together since 2019. 

They have two daughters together, Lyra, 6, and Mabli, 4 and live in Port Talbot, Wales.

Lundberg is known for her stage work, appearing in productions of the likes of Othello and Spring Awakening with the NY Academy Company, as well as voicing Marion in the Netflix series The Sandman, and has appeared with  Sheen in the aforementioned Staged and Celebrity Gogglebox.

With 25 years between them, Sheen has faced questions about their age gap before, perhaps none more memorably than in an episode of The Assembly, the show where a panel of autistic, neurodivergent or learning-disabled interviewers can ask their guest any question they want. 

The Damned United star was posed a question about his relationship very early on, being asked: ‘How does it feel to be dating someone who is only five years older than your daughter?’

Sheen has a 27-year-old daughter, Lily, from a previous relationship.

The BAFTA-nominated actor then proceeded to open up on the realities of his and Anna’s partnership, stating: ‘Because of the age difference, I think both of us were quite surprised when we got together.

‘I don’t think either of us were looking for that. It’s not like I’ve dated lots of people who are much younger than me, but you meet who you meet. We were very aware of what differences that would make and also how people might respond to that.’

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He continued: ‘It’s not like it was the easiest thing to do. We were both aware it would be difficult and challenging. Ultimately, we felt it was worth it because of how we felt about each other. 

‘Now we have two beautiful children together.’

He also opened up about the difficulties of being an older father

‘Because of the age difference, I’m aware that I’m a much older father. It does worry me, it makes me concerned. It makes me sad thinking about the time I won’t have with them,’ he revealed.

‘But ultimately, I think if you find someone who brings you happiness and you make them happy, you’ve got to go for that.

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‘So that’s what we decided to do and I’m so happy we did as we have this wonderful family now.’

Who else has Michael Sheen dated?

Sheen’s shares his eldest daughter, Lily, with English actress and Underworld star Katte Bekcinsale, 53, whom he was with from 1995 until 2003. 

The couple split not long after moving to Los Angeles together to pursue more opportunities for their career, with Sheen describing the experience as ‘messy and always complicated.’ 

‘Going through that experience of a relationship breaking down and having a young child, and then because of my daughter and her mum living in another country, having to make a life in a new place whilst going through that whole experience, which is difficult enough, that was really tough’ he said on Abi MacManus’ podcast back in 2020.  

However, Beckinsale and Sheen have remained close over the years, co-parenting Lily and often appearing together on social media. 

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‘It’s so normal for us. We split up ages ago. We have not been together for far longer than we were ever together,’ Beckinsale told E Magazine back in 2016.

‘But I really love him and like him and we make each other roar with laughter.’

Shene has had other high-profile relationships across the years, including English ballet dancer Lorrain Stewart from 2004 to 2010, The Notebook star Rachel McAdam’s, 47, from 2010 to 2013 and the American comedian and actress Sarah Silverman, 55, from 2014 to 2018.

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