The cook and broadcaster, 66, will join The Great British Bake Off as a judge for the new series starting next month on Channel 4.

She will be taking over from Dame Prue Leith, 86, who stepped down earlier this year from the programme she had joined in 2017.

In a post shared on Instagram, Lawson said: “I’m a bit nervous, very excited, and extremely happy: Bake Off is back on our screens next month.

“I’ve loved every minute.

“It’s a real honour to be part of something so special.

“Thank you Paul Hollywood, Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding making me feel so instantly part of the family.

“You three plus cake: talk about the dream job.”

Her message was met with enthusiasm from fans and celebrities alike, including Alan Carr, who commented with fire emojis, and Queer Eye’s Tan France, who said he “cannot wait” to see her on the show.

Her comments come just a day after Channel 4 released a first-look image of Lawson on set, standing alongside presenters Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond, and fellow judge Paul Hollywood.

The broadcaster confirmed that filming for the new season is complete, with episodes set to air from next month.

Channel 4 said viewers can look forward to seeing Lawson bring her “trademark warmth, wit and passion for flavour to the tent.”

“I am excited, but I take it very seriously”

In January, during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning, Lawson shared: “I am excited, but I take it very seriously.

“The thing about Bake Off is that it’s about the programme – which is an institution of national treasure status – and it’s about the bakers, and I just want to be there and be a part of it.”

Lawson is one of the UK’s best-loved food personalities, having risen to fame in the late 1990s through her bestselling cookbooks and popular TV shows.

An Oxford graduate who began her career in journalism, she achieved literary success with her debut book How To Eat, followed by the award-winning How To Be A Domestic Goddess, which won her the British Book Award for author of the year in 2001.

Recommended reading:

She later fronted Channel 4’s Nigella Bites before moving on to programmes with ITV and the BBC.

Lawson has also appeared on MasterChef Australia and MasterChef US, and served as a judge on two seasons of the Australian show My Kitchen Rules.

Will you be watching the new series of The Great British Bake Off? Let us know in the comments.

The Monzo banking app is down, with thousands of users unable to access their accounts.

Users who logged into their bank account today were met with the message: “We’re experiencing issues. We’ll let you know when they’re resolved.”

Although the app still shows users bank balances, certain app features are not working.

In a warning message on the app Monzo tells users: “You can still use your card to make payments. Your balance and transactions might take longer to update in your feed, and some app features may be unavailable. We’re working to fix this as quickly as possible.”

Bank users have been advised they can still make payment, withdraw cash, see balances, see account details, freeze their card, transfer money and move money between accounts.

DownDetector shows there was a sharp rise in outage reports for Monzo from just after 12pm today, with thousands of people reporting issues.

Santander also received a spike in outage reports at about midday today, according to DownDetector.

This is a breaking story – more follows…

The latest figures are up from 6.8 million in 2018/19

UK drivers were hit by a 17% annual spike in the number of parking tickets issued by private companies last year, new figures show.

A record 16.9 million parking tickets were handed out by private businesses in the year to the end of March 2026, according to analysis of Government data by the Press Association (PA) and motoring research charity the RAC Foundation. That is up from 14.4 million a year earlier, and 6.8 million in 2018/19.

This report comes as the delay in the introduction of a legislation-backed code of conduct for the sector reaches seven years.

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The parking industry has attributed the rise in the number of tickets doled out to an increase in the number of car parks being managed. Each ticket can be up to £100, meaning the total cost to drivers may be more than £4.6 million per day at the current rate.

Private parking businesses have been accused of using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees. Many drivers have been sent tickets they claim are unfair because of the way some payment machines operate.

A Bill to enable the introduction of a code of practice for the industry received royal assent in March 2019.

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This code, due to come into force across Britain by the end of 2023, included halving the cap on tickets for most parking offences to £50, creating a fairer appeals system, and banning the use of aggressive language on tickets. However, it was withdrawn by the Conservative government in June 2022 after a legal challenge by parking companies.

A new consultation on the code by the current Labour Government closed in September 2025.

The analysis of parking tickets was based on the number of records obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by companies chasing vehicle owners for alleged infringements in private car parks, such as at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service areas. They do not include council-run car parks.

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Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “In the period since parliament unequivocally recognised the need for reform of the private parking industry, some 76 million tickets have been issued in total – an average of well over two for every car in the country.

“Andy Burnham has plenty of big things to worry about,” Mr Gooding added: “But if his Government could get round to fixing this problem, millions of drivers would have one less thing on their minds.”

Some 204 parking management businesses requested vehicle owner records in 2025/26. ParkingEye was the most active, buying 2.5 million records.

Private companies are charged £2.50 per record by the DVLA. The agency says its fees recover the cost of providing the information and it does not make any money from the process.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was approached for a comment. Below are the numbers of parking tickets handed out by private companies since 2018/19:

• 2018/19: 6.8 million
• 2019/20: 8.4 million
• 2020/21: 4.4 million
• 2021/22: 8.6 million
• 2022/23: 11.1 million
• 2023/24: 12.8 million
• 2024/25: 14.4 million
• 2025/26: 16.9 million

It was described as a ‘difficult decision’

A popular bar in Cardiff city centre has announced it is to close its doors. Walkabout at St Mary Street will serve its final customers on Saturday, September 5.

The decision was described by the chain on Wednesday as a difficult one and comes after the bar was deemed “no longer commercially viable”.

In a statement on Wednesday it thanked the guests who had visited the bar through the years, together with its staff its “commitment and dedication.”

A spokesman for Walkabout said: “The hospitality sector continues to face significant challenges.

“After careful consideration, and despite our best efforts, the site is no longer commercially viable and we have taken the difficult decision to close Walkabout Cardiff.

“We would like to thank our hard-working team for their commitment and dedication.

“We would also like to thank our guests and the local community for their support over the years.”

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A defect in a railway track has been discovered where a train derailed last week near Lewes, East Sussex, investigators say.

Thirty people were injured, two seriously, when three carriages derailed and tipped over onto the embankment.

Police declared a major incident when some passengers were trapped inside the train in scorching temperatures, while others walked along the sides of the overturned train to escape.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) now says rear-facing CCTV images from trains on the day showed a “track geometry irregularity” on the “immediate approach to the point of derailment” on the line just outside Lewes railway station.

Investigators also say they have received reports from passengers on other trains of “rough riding” at that spot.

About 150 people had been on the train, which was travelling from Haywards Heath to Lewes on Thursday.

One survivor later described the experience as “completely terrifying”.

“There was a banging. Everything just went topsy-turvy,” said 56-year-old Yana Ludwig, from the United States.

Rob Bradley, who was on board with his young daughter, told how his carriage “jumped upwards” as passengers were thrown forwards.

“The train kind of skidded for quite a while before it stopped.

“Only then, when we turned around, did we see the whole back of the train was open and smoke and dust were pouring into the carriage.”

Thirty people were injured in the incident, according to the RAIB, 20 of whom needed hospital treatment, while “significant damage” was caused to the train and railway infrastructure.

The experts say they are analysing data from the “black box” from the front vehicle of train.

Preliminary analysis shows the driver applied the train’s brakes as it passed the point of derailment, and that the train, which had been going at around 65mph, had started to slow down. The maximum speed on that stretch of line is 70mph.

CCTV recordings, signalling data and radio communications data have also been obtained, the investigators say. The train, track and embankment have been surveyed using various methods including laser scanning and aerial photography.

The accident happened at the height of last week’s heatwave, when temperatures in the southeast reached the high 30s.

RAIB said its investigation will consider the weather, as well as the status of the track, embankment, condition of the train and the effectiveness of any measures taken to address potential issues caused by hot weather.

The railway line will remain closed for at least another week.

Network Rail and Southern Rail said the carriages that fell would need to be carefully lifted away by crane. The RAIB said its experts were working to ensure that evidence was preserved while doing this.

They said the location made the removal particularly difficult because the railway is close to a river, in a site of special scientific interest, and restricted road access was via a residential area.

Once the train has been removed, engineers will be able to assess the damage to the railway and “understand the scale of the repair work needed before services can resume safely”.

Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The Independent.

Everyone in the Premier League wants clarity and a speedy resolution in the case against Manchester City which features more than 100 alleged breaches of its financial rules, says Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick.

An independent commission is yet to publish a ruling, more than a year and a half after a disciplinary hearing concluded, and three and a half years since City were first charged.

City have always denied wrongdoing.

When asked if the length of time the process was taking was frustrating Arsenal, Garlick told BBC Sport: “It has gone on for a while.

“Everybody – the league and the teams – would want the clarity around what’s going to happen next.

“But it’s not something that I can control. It’s not something that I can speculate on.

“And I just hope that there is a solution very quickly.”

Garlick’s comments come on the eve of the new season and after Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “I do accept it’s taking longer than expected, and I understand that people want to find out as soon as possible what’s going on, but I simply can’t provide that.”

Describing the case as “hugely complex”, Masters added: “Our rules are very clear – we have to follow the process, and there’s only one real clear route through, which is to allow that process to reach its natural conclusion.”

Privately, officials at a host of other Premier League clubs BBC Sport has spoken to in the past 24 hours have also expressed their frustrations, while acknowledging that this is an independent process which is running on its own timetable.

One said the Premier League should be “actively seeking to put in place a better system” to ensure speedier resolutions.

Another made the point that given that the league spent £45m on legal bills during the 2023–24 season on disputes over its financial regulations, there are mounting concerns at the spiralling costs of such a long legal fight.

The winners will be announced in September.

The finalists for the upcoming Scottish Bar and Pubs Awards 2026 have been revealed with food and drink venues across the country bagging nominations. The country’s best boozers will go head-to-head next month to take home Scotland’s ultimate industry honours.

The organisers of the Scottish Bar and Pubs Awards have named this year’s nominees across more than 20 categories. Now in its thirty-first year, the awards are Scotland’s longest-running celebration of the country’s best pubs, bars, restaurants, and the people who make them great.

Five pubs and bars around Scotland have been nominated for the prestigious Sunday Mail Pub of the Year award. The Bush Bar in Dundee, The Tynecastle Arms in Edinburgh, The Lismore and The Maltman in Glasgow, and The Four Mary’s in Linlithgow are all in the running to take home the top prize.

READ MORE: Not Edinburgh or Glasgow – City bakery crowned ‘best in Scotland’ for fourth time

READ MORE: This historic Scottish spa town was just named the ‘prettiest to visit’

The finalists for the Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year title are MacGregor’s at The Whisky Vaults in Oban, The George Hotel in Inveraray, and The Islay Inn and The Piper Whisky Bar in Glasgow. Elsewhere, nominees for New Bar of the Year are Boston Bar Old Town and Nectar, both in Edinburgh, Radio and SiSi Rooftop in Glasgow, and Ruby’s in East Kilbride.

Scotland’s thriving cocktail scene is also well represented. Atlantic Bar and Brasserie in Glasgow, Bittersweet Leith in Edinburgh, Draffens in Dundee, Jimmy Badgers in Inverness, and The Wine Spa in Broughty Ferry are all up for Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder Cocktail Bar of the Year.

The Scottish Bar and Pubs Awards also recognise the country’s top restaurant with the Lightspeed Restaurant of the Year category. The five finalists for the award are Edinburgh eateries Barry Fish, The Dome, as well as Glasgow spots Five March, Margo, and The Stravaig in Ayr.

Another top prize at the awards is DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year, which honours the top boozer where pooches are welcome. The nominees are Black Ivy in Edinburgh, Church on the Hill in Glasgow, The Foxton Bar and Grill in Glenrothes, The George Hotel in Inveraray, and Star and Garter in Dundee.

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More than 600 of Scotland’s hospitality stars will gather for the final of the Scottish Bar and Pubs Awards 2026 on September 1 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central. This year’s ceremony will feature a Glam Rock theme, with “plenty of surprises” for guests on the night.

Publisher Susan Young commented: “It is fantastic to see such a strong showing from hospitality businesses and individuals right across Scotland this year. What I love about these nominations is the sheer variety. We have emerging entrepreneurs, family businesses, brilliant bar teams, cocktail destinations, late-night venues, community pubs and dog-friendly pubs.

“It really demonstrates just how diverse and vibrant Scotland’s hospitality scene is. The people working in hospitality are the real stars of these awards, and it is wonderful to see so many from across Scotland getting the recognition they deserve.”

See below for the full list of finalists at the Scottish Bar and Pubs Awards 2026.

Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year

• MacGregor’s at The Whisky Vaults – Oban
• The George Hotel – Inveraray
• The Islay Inn – Glasgow
• The Piper Whisky Bar – Glasgow

Black Ivy and Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year

• Struan Barclay, Ruby’s – East Kilbride
• Thomas Justice, Star & Garter/The Bush Bar – Dundee
• Connie and James Taberner, Fintry Bay – Millport, Isle of Cumbrae

Best Bar Team

• Arrowz Sports Lounge – Broxburn
• The Gunners Bar – Broughty Ferry
• Johnny Foxes – Inverness
• MacSorley’s – Glasgow
• The Parkville – Blantyre

Best Late Night Venue

• Bloc+ – Glasgow
• Charlie’s Loft – Milngavie
• Slouch – Glasgow
• Rewind – Dundee

Community Pub of the Year

• The Bowlers Rest – Leith
• Commercial Inn – Fauldhouse
• Newton Arms – Newton, Cambuslang
• The Pawn Lounge – Alexandria
• Waverley Bar – Dumbarton

Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award

• Chris Anton – MacGregor’s at The Whisky Vaults, Oban
• Cullen Hutchison – The Mother Superior, Edinburgh
• Dagmara Jaszcz – Machair Bar, Glasgow
• Sally Law – The Pot Still, Glasgow
• Chris Sloan – The Black Bull, Edinburgh

DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year

• Black Ivy – Edinburgh
• Church on the Hill – Shawlands, Glasgow
• The Foxton Bar and Grill – Glenrothes
• The George Hotel – Inveraray
• Star & Garter – Dundee

Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder Cocktail Bar of the Year

• Atlantic Bar & Brasserie – Glasgow
• Bittersweet Leith – Leith, Edinburgh
• Draffens – Dundee
• Jimmy Badgers – Inverness
• The Wine Spa – Broughty Ferry

Hospitality Health Employer of the Year

• Lisini Pub Company – Uddingston
• The Pot Still – Glasgow
• Turas Hotels – Inverness
• West Coast Hospitality – Ayr

HOSPO Manager of the Year

• Daniel Cutting – Brewhemia, Edinburgh
• Kenny Grant – The Gallery Bar, Glasgow
• Mirin McLintock – Why Not, Edinburgh
• Danny Stewart – Angels Hotel, Uddingston

Inverarity Morton Family Business of the Year

• Cawley Hotel Group – Alexandria
• Ra Ha’s – Glasgow
• The Fort Hotel & The Royal Arch – Broughty Ferry
• The Original Rosslyn Inn – Roslin

Hotel Scotland Independent Multiple Operator of the Year

• Encore Bars
• M&R Bars
• Rocks Leisure Group
• The Stravaig, The Smoking Goat, Gracie O’Malley’s, The Bistro Ayr

Jamesons Best Irish Bar 2026

• Boston Bar New Town – Edinburgh
• Jinty McGuinty’s – Glasgow
• Molly Malones – Aberdeen
• Radio – Glasgow
• Seamus’s Pub – Edinburgh

Jump Ship Brewing Best Lo and No Destination

• Bonnie & Wild – Edinburgh
• SOBR – Aberdeen
• Teuchters Landing – Leith, Edinburgh
• Vega – Glasgow

Kopparberg Best Outdoor Area

• The Birds and Bees – Stirling
• Black Ivy – Edinburgh
• The Pear Tree – Edinburgh
• The Tavern Bar – Millport, Isle of Cumbrae

Lightspeed Restaurant of the Year

• Barry Fish – Leith, Edinburgh
• Five March – Glasgow
• Margo – Glasgow
• The Dome – Edinburgh
• The Stravaig – Ayr

New Bar of the Year

• Boston Bar Old Town – Edinburgh
• Nectar – Edinburgh
• Radio – Glasgow
• Ruby’s – East Kilbride
• SiSi Rooftop – Glasgow

Schweppes Mixologist of the Year

• Johnny Morrison – Vega, Glasgow
• Elliot Monteith – Trumans, Glasgow
• Cairo McKeown – Badger & Co, Edinburgh
• Michael Maclean – The Dome, Edinburgh
• Scott Stevenson – The Finnieston, Glasgow

Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year

• Arrowz Sports Lounge – Broxburn
• The Ball Room Sports Bar Dunfermline – Dunfermline
• Houston’s Sports Bar – Johnstone
• The Tap Yard – Glasgow

The Drum Social Media Champion

• Buck’s Bar – Glasgow
• Dockyard Social – Glasgow
• Malocchio – Glasgow
• Six by Nico – Glasgow
• Tempura – Ayr

Sunday Mail Pub of the Year

• The Bush Bar – Dundee
• The Four Mary’s – Linlithgow
• The Lismore – Partick, Glasgow
• The Maltman – Glasgow
• The Tynecastle Arms – Edinburgh

James Jordan has spoken out on his split from partner of 26 years Ola. 

Appearing on This Morning on Wednesday, James, 48, admitted he spends his evenings ‘sitting alone in a one-bed flat watching TV’ following a ‘tough few years’.

Strictly’s longest-standing couple, who started dating in 1999 and married in 2003, announced their split with a joint statement earlier this month.

Ola, 43, and James who share daughter Ella, six, decided to end their relationship for good after a trial separation ‘some time ago’, with James moving out of their Kent family home and removing his wedding band.

James appeared on the show to promote his new podcast Manopause with Brendan Cole and was asked about his marriage breakdown. 

‘It’s been a tough few years. I moved out a few months ago,’ James told hosts Angela Scanlon and Craig Doyle. 

‘I find it hard to talk about and I’m not going to speak about it too much because I don’t think it’s fair when she’s not here as well.’

Strictly’s longest-standing couple, who started dating in 1999 and married in 2003, announced their split with a joint statement earlier this month and James said it’s been a ‘tough few years’

Brendan said he has been ‘checking in’ with his close friend every day, which James said has been a lifeline in recent months.

‘Knowing that people are out there you can talk to… otherwise I’m sitting in a one bedroom apartment on my own at night watching TV going “what is going on?”.

James also referenced reports that he told his wife he needed space and was moving out of their five bedroom family home, explaining: ‘I just feel I need that time to find myself again. People can say “it’s really selfish of you”‘.

The professional dancer added that his new venture, the podcast which focuses on men’s mental health, has been a great tool to help him talk and hopefully inspire others.

‘Women can watch and listen and hear what struggles men are going through and they might relate to that with their husband or their other half,’ he explained. 

In the shared statement released last weekend, James explained how his ‘mental health hasn’t been in a good place for quite some time’.

The joint statement began: ‘After 26 years together, this is something we never imagined we would be sharing. Following recent reports in the press about our relationship and after receiving messages asking if everything is okay, we feel it’s important to speak directly rather than let speculation or hearsay tell our story.’

‘We have always tried to be open and honest with the people who have supported us over the years and we feel it’s only right that this update comes from us.’

Appearing on Wednesday’s episode of This Morning to promote his new podcast with Brendan Cole, James, who wasn’t wearing his wedding ring, was asked about his marriage breakdown

‘At the moment we’re taking some time apart as we work through very difficult personal challenges. (James) moved out of the family home some time ago. This has been an incredibly painful and emotional journey for us both and it certainly wasn’t an easy decision.’

They went on to say their ‘absolute priority’ is their six-year-old daughter Ella.

They said: ‘Our absolute priority, now and always, is our beautiful daughter Ella. She’s at the centre of everything we do. We are committed to co-parenting her with all the love, care and stability she deserves.

‘Speaking personally (James) my mental health hasn’t been in a good place for quite some time. I’ve been struggling more than I’ve let people see and I’m taking the time I need to focus on getting myself into a healthier place, both for myself and for Ella.

‘Neither of us is in a good place right now. We’re both doing our best to navigate one of the hardest chapters of our lives and we ask that people remember there are real people and real emotions behind every headline, every comment and every post.’

‘We don’t know exactly what the future holds. For now, we’re taking things one day at a time, doing what we both believe is best for ourselves, our family and most importantly….. Ella.’

‘We’re incredibly grateful for the love, kindness and concern so many of you have shown us over the years.’

James has previously spoken about how he battled with crippling anxiety following the death of his beloved father Allan in 2021.

He said at the time how his grief made him feel extremely weak, he woke up panicked thinking someone had broken into his house and he experienced severe anxiety.

Citing his daughter as a Godsend, James said his family, specifically his wife and dance partner Ola, had pulled him out of the emotional and dark time.

Fans wrote in the comments: ‘Take care & look after yourself & I hope you both can find each other again’ and ‘Sending love’.

‘I moved out a few months ago,’ James told hosts Angela Scanlon and Craig Doyle

James and Polish-born beauty Ola first met at a dance competition in Blackpool in 1999 and married four years later.

They were initially dance partners before their professional relationship developed into romance, James proposed two years later and the couple tied the knot in October 2003.

They welcomed their daughter Ella in February 2020 via IVF following a three-year fertility battle.

The pair shot to fame as professionals on BBC One celebrity competition Strictly Come Dancing, which they both joined in series four back in 2006.

James bowed out of the show after season 11 in 2013, while Ola left at the end of series 13 in 2015.

If you are struggling, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org.

By AMELIA WYNNE, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 10:38 BST, 19 August 2026 | Updated: 13:09 BST, 19 August 2026

She is never shy showing off her enviable physique. 

And Amanda Holden looked incredible as she posed in a white bikini while swimming on a business trip to Crete this week.

The presenter, 55, made sure to work her best angles for the camera for the stunning Instagram shots as she lounged in and by the pool in the Montenegro two piece from Melissa Odabash.

She penned in the caption of her post: ‘In Crete on business. The business appears to be mainly conducted in a bikini☀️.’

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The blonde beauty accessorised with a pair of stylish shades and gold necklaces during the trip away.

Her fans were quick to share their awe in the comments as they penned: ‘Oh, the poses are everything,’ ‘Such a beautiful woman’.

Amanda Holden looked incredible as she posed in a white bikini in swimming on a business trip to Crete this week

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The presenter, 55, made sure to work her best angles for the camera for the stunning Instagram shots as she lounged in and by the pool

Back in July, Amanda playfully warned her followers that she is set to begin posting her ‘annual onslaught’ of swimwear snaps.

The TV personality said she was spending some quiet downtime with her family in Corfu before her friends fly out to join them to start the party.

Sharing snaps from the first part of the trip, Amanda posed up a storm in a red and white bikini, which she styled with a straw beach hat and aviator shades.

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The photos were taken on a boat while out at sea, with Amanda posing on the edge looking out on the water and at the wheel of the vessel.

Also included in the post was a clip of Amanda jumping off the boat into the crystal clear water below. 

Alongside the post, she wrote: ‘And so begins the annual onslaught of bikini shots. You have been warned!

‘Enjoying a little downtime with my family before the friends arrive and the partying begins.’

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She was supported by her friend Elizabeth Hurley who told her that she looked ‘fabulous’, while Piers Morgan was clearly amused and left laughing face emojis.

Alan Carr, who is likely set to join best pal Amanda on the trip, wrote: ‘Awww Corfu!’ 

She penned in the caption of her post: ‘In Crete on business. The business appears to be mainly conducted in a bikini☀️’

The blonde beauty accessorised with a pair of stylish shades and gold necklaces during the trip away

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The sizzling snaps came shortly after Amanda revealed how she maintains her incredible bikini body. 

Amanda is never afraid to strip off for a sizzling snap and now she’s revealed the work that goes into ensuring she’s always camera ready. 

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Amanda explained that she follows Elizabeth Hurley‘s diet advice of one good meal a day, indulging in an egg white omelette with spinach, feta and avocado with a green juice for breakfast and then won’t eat again until the evening. 

‘I’m a vegetarian, so I think I’m probably accidentally pretty healthy,’ she mused. ‘But I do love my food and I love my alcohol, especially an Aperol Spritz in this weather!’

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Insisting she allows herself the odd indulgence, she continued: ‘I applaud whatever works for anybody else, but I can’t be one of those people that cuts stuff out.

‘I just think life is tricky as it is, so just let yourself have what you want within good reason. A little bit of everything is good.’

By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 11:10 BST, 19 August 2026 | Updated: 13:01 BST, 19 August 2026

A ‌helicopter carrying guests from an ultra-luxury safari retreat in Kenya has crashed, reportedly leaving no survivors. 

The helicopter was heading from the Loisaba wildlife reserve to ‌the ⁠Ewaso Nyiro river that flows through the Samburu National ​Reserve when the crash happened at Ololokwe Mountain at 9.13am local time on Wednesday. 

In a video, black smoke can be seen billowing into the sky at the foot of the mountain. 

An aviation source said that there were no survivors of the crash, which happened around 217 miles north of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. 

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The Star, a local paper, reported there were seven tourists onboard the helicopter, with police telling the paper their nationalities are not yet known. 

AndBeyond, a travel company that works across Africa, told the Daily Mail that guests at its Suyian Lodge were onboard the helicopter when it crashed this morning. 

A spokesperson added: ‘Out of respect for our guests and those involved in the incident, further information will be communicated in due course. Our deepest sympathies are with all those affected. 

‘The cause of the crash has not yet been determined and is under investigation by the relevant local authorities. We will share further information when it is available.’

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Prices for suites for two at the ultra-luxury lodge can be as much as £1,844 per person per night. 

Activities at the retreat include horseback riding safaris, guided nature walks and luxury helicopter flights over the country. 

The company offers guests the change to ‘Soar over the dramatic cliffs of Suguta Valley… and glide past the sacred peak of Ololokwe [Mountain].’

The helicopter involved in the crash, a Eurocopter EC130B4, had a registration number of 5Y-GYM. 

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The Kenyan Red Cross this morning said that it was responding to the crash

The Kenya Red Cross sent a crew to assist with the crash 

Authorities said ​the helicopter was heading from the Loisaba wildlife reserve to ‌the ⁠Ewaso Nyiro river (pictured) 

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Data from FlightRadar24 showed that the helicopter’s last known position was at Mount Ololokwe

Data from FlightRadar24 showed that the helicopter’s last known position was at Mount Ololokwe.

At 9.11am local time, the vehicle was at an altitude of 5,600ft and had a ground speed of 85kts (97mph). 

The KCAA said that it is ‘coordinating with the relevant agencies and stakeholders in response to the accident. 

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‘The Ministry of Roads and Transport, Air Accident Investigation Department is leading investigations on circumstances surrounding the accident. 

‘The authority extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims following this tragedy incident.’ 

The Kenyan Red Cross this morning said that it was responding to the crash, adding: ‘Kenya Red Cross emergency response teams are participating in a multi-agency response effort as rescue teams work to access the crash site.’

Mount Ololokwe, a sacred mountain for the Samburu people whose summit rises to 6,560 feet above sea level, is a popular hiking destination. Companies offer helicopter flyovers.  

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In March, a helicopter crash in western Kenya killed six people, including a member of parliament.