Richard E Grant has revealed that he “edited” friends out of his life after they avoided him following the death of his wife, Joan Washington.

Washington — a renowned dialect coach — died in 2021, aged 74, eight months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. She and Grant, 69, had been married for 35 years and shared one daughter, Olivia, 37.

In the past, Grant has described how friends would avoid him following Washington’s death to avoid an awkward conversation.

In a new interview with The Times of London, Grant said he would never forgive those who kept their distance during that time.

“I’m very unequivocal, black and white, all or nothing,” he said.

“I’ve tried to go for the grey areas but it’s not succeeded for very long. There are people that have been edited out of my life and I will never see them again. If I had done that to them, I wouldn’t be able to look them in the face.”

“No, portcullis down,” he added. “Goodbye.”

Grant went on to share that he still writes to Washington every night before bed and that the idea of finding companionship again was incomprehensible. “I know it happens but I’ve not had any twinkles of that yet,” he said.

It’s not the first time that Grant has been ruthless about cutting friends out of his life.

Earlier this year, the Withnail and I actor revealed he cut off a friend of 29 years after he was accidentally CC’d on an email filled with “brutal” comments about him.

During a February episode of the Mad, Sad, & Bad podcast, Grant described the person as someone who he “thought was one of the five best friends in my life.”

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“She sent an email from Africa to a mutual friend in Australia who’d asked for my email address, and, because my name was in the body of the email, I got inadvertently sent this email.”

Grant explained that the message “arrived on a day when I had heard for a third time that a film that I’d written and was about to direct, the finances had collapsed. And I was doing the final episode of Frasier,” which aired in May 2004.

He said that the email contained “such toxicity” that he immediately decided to cut off the friendship.

“And I thought, ‘That’s not a real friend anymore.’ And I was absolutely devastated,” Grant said. “So I copied and pasted that and then sent it back. And I said, ‘29 years of friendship?’”

Asked what the offensive comments were about, Grant replied: “It was of my script that I had written, which was entirely autobiographical.” Grant’s 2005 comedy Wah-Wah was loosely based on his own life. “And she had read this script.”

He said that years later, his daughter, now 37, had questioned whether the friendship was really genuine in the first place.

“Our daughter was very smart, because she was 16, so exactly 20 years ago. She said to me, ‘In your heart of hearts, haven’t you always known this about that person?’”

Grant added that the turn of events was “just brutal.”

“Because that person knows you in the most formative part of your life, when you’re still dreaming of getting regular work out there as an actor,” Grant said. “Nevermind the other things that have happened to me since. So when you’re betrayed like that, there’s no going back for me.”

It comes after ‘almost all’ services were cancelled on Sunday including popular routes linking Glasgow and Edinburgh to various cities across England.

CrossCountry said it will run a “full service” on Monday after a power cut resulted in major cancellations across its network. The train operator said a “very limited” number of trains would run from around 6pm on Sunday, with a return to normal service expected on Monday.

A power outage in Birmingham, which started on Saturday, affected the company’s control centre, resulting in many of the systems used to manage the railway being unavailable, the operator said. “Almost all” services were cancelled on Sunday – including popular routes linking Glasgow to Edinburgh, Manchester to Birmingham, Cheltenham to Cardiff and Newcastle to Edinburgh.

A near-normal service was running between Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport “due to the impact of planned engineering work”, the company said. A rail replacement bus service remained in place as planned between Leicester and Peterborough.

Two women have been arrested after a three-year-old boy was left fighting for his life in hospital following an incident in Rochdale on Sunday

Two women have been arrested after a three-year-old boy who reportedly fell from a window in Rochdale was left fighting for his life.

The women, aged 19 and 20, were arrested at a property in Blackburn earlier today (Sunday) on suspicion of causing serious injury to a child.

Emergency services were called to Spotland Tops, in the Cutgate area of Rochdale, shortly after 4.15pm on Saturday. Police and paramedics attended the residential estate, and an air ambulance was also seen landing nearby.

The Manchester Evening News, one of our sister titles, understands that the boy fell from a window on the first floor of a property. Greater Manchester Police said on Saturday that the child was taken to hospital and that he was in a critical condition.

In an update on Sunday evening, the force said the child remains in a critical condition and added that “enquiries into the full circumstances around this incident are ongoing”.

On a day when Tyneside and Merseyside united to celebrate Keegan’s contribution to both clubs, Yoane Wissa turned in his best performance yet for Newcastle as £130million man Alexander Isak, the man he was in part bought to replace, suffered a miserable return to St James’ in front of a hostile crowd of 52,630.

Police were called to Dundonald Main Street in Dundonald at around 4.05am on Sunday.

An “unresponsive” man found with injuries on an Ayrshire street in the early hours of this morning has died in hospital. Police were called to Dundonald Main Street at around 4.05am on Sunday August 23.

The 57-year-old injured man was taken to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock where he died a short time later. Police said the man’s family has been informed, and a 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with assault.

The area is still taped off while a probe into the incident is carried out. Members of the public have been asked to avoid the area.

Pictures of officers in white forensic suits in the street circulated online. A number of emergency service vehicles have also been pictured at the scene.

A police spokesman said: “Around 4.05am on Sunday, 23 August, 2026, we were called to a report of an unresponsive man with injuries on Main Steet in Dundonald. Emergency services attended and the 57-year-old man was taken to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock where he died a short time later. His family is aware.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained. A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with assault and enquiries are ongoing.

“Officers remain in the area and anyone with any information or concerns can approach them. A road closure is in place on Main Street. Please avoid the area if possible.”

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Fans say they couldn’t put down the bestselling novel

If you’re looking for your next summertime obsession, fans of Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel This Summer Will Be Different may already have it lined up for you – and Netflix is about to bring it to screens.

A blurb for the novel teases: “Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother.

“Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night.” Readers have been praising New York Times Bestseller since it landed on shelves back in 2024.

One Goodreads reviewer wrote: “This was even better than I thought it would be. It was one of those books I couldn’t put down but wanted to last forever. I’ve loved all of Carley Fortune’s books so far and I think this is her best one.”

Another admitted: “I DEVOURED THIS BOOK. I read it in 2 days and just simply could not put it down.”

A third reviewer summed it up simply: “This was the perfect, steamy romance book for summer. But one of the things that I loved the most, was the friendship between Bridget and Lucy. More than a romance, this was a story about finding your alternative family.”

Now, Netflix is transforming that much-loved story into a 10-part series. Fortune’s name may already ring a bell because she also penned Every Summer After, which Prime Video recently brought to screens.

An early synopsis reveals the upcoming drama “is a simmering, sun-soaked romance set across multiple summers. It follows a young woman navigating her 20s and her first real love – with her best friend’s brother, the one person she was never supposed to fall for”.

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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.

Netflix has confirmed production on the new series commenced earlier this month, giving audiences ample opportunity to read the source material before the programme arrives on the platform.

Lead character Lucy will be played by Heated Rivalry’s Sophie Nélisse, who portrayed Shane Hollander’s (Hudson Williams) girlfriend and best friend in the HBO series. Meanwhile, Stranger Things’ Francesca Reale has been cast as Lucy’s best friend, Bridget.

The central romantic figure, Felix, will be portrayed by Roby Attal from The Haunting of Bly Manor. Additional cast members of note include Jordan Rodrigues (Lady Bird), Jude Wilson (Fellow Travelers), Natalie Brown (The Strain), and James Tupper (Big Little Lies), reports the Mirror.

Netflix has yet to confirm a release date for This Summer Will Be Different

Pc Tom Clough, 38, died alongside Pc Matthew Blades, 37, when a Volkswagen Passat drove against traffic on the A66 in Teesside and struck their armed response vehicle

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The family of one of two officers killed when a wrong-way vehicle on the A66 dual carriageway collided with their police car have described him as “our hero” who was “always on public duty”.

Pc Tom Clough, 38, lost his life alongside Pc Matthew Blades, 37, when a Volkswagen Passat — which had been in a police pursuit — struck the marked armed response vehicle in Teesside in the early hours of Saturday.

Five males, aged between 17 and 23, travelling in the Volkswagen also perished in the collision.

In a statement released through Cleveland Police, Pc Clough’s family said: “He was our hero with a fantastic of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason.

“Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.”

The fatal incident was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which confirmed on Sunday that neither Pc Blades nor Pc Clough had been involved in the original pursuit, but had instead been deployed to the area to assist in locating the Passat.

Cleveland Police had received intelligence connecting the Passat to “numerous incidents“, according to the watchdog’s account of events.

The vehicle, believed to have been fitted with cloned number plates and carrying five occupants, was subsequently spotted after the plates triggered an ANPR camera, the IOPC added. An armed response unit initiated a chase lasting just shy of seven minutes before the Passat entered the A66 in South Bank, travelling against oncoming traffic.

Officers halted the pursuit and maintained their course on the proper side of the road.

Approximately 10 seconds following the cessation of the chase, the Passat collided with the vehicle occupied by Pc Blades and Pc Clough.

IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell expressed his sympathies to those impacted, stating: “We recognise the devastating impact the incident has had on those in the force, and the wider policing community, and offer our condolences.

“We have obtained initial accounts of officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log and in-car footage of the incident.

“Work is ongoing to obtain additional material.”

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The investigation is ongoing

A police cordon was spotted having been put in place after reports of an assault in Cambridge. Police were called to Barnwell Road in Cambridge on Sunday (August 23).

This was due to a man having been allegedly assaulted. Cambridgeshire Constabulary has confirmed the injuries are consistent with grievous bodily harm (GBH) and the investigation remains ongoing.

A spokesperson for the force confirmed “there is no information to suggest that these individuals pose a risk to the wider public”. No arrests have been made so far and the cordon has since been removed.

A statement issued by a force spokesperson said: “The police cordon was in place due to reports of a male having been assaulted at the location. The injuries are consistent with GBH and the investigation is ongoing.

“No arrests have currently been made. There is no information to suggest that these individuals pose a risk to the wider public, but if there are any witnesses to the incident please call 101 and quote the incident number. The scene/cordon has been removed.”

Cambridgeshire Police has urged any witnesses to the incident to call 101 and quote reference CC-22082026-0464.

‘This creates a poor impression of Cardiff as the capital city of Wales’

A Cardiff sightseeing bus service has become the subject of controversy with one passenger describing the experience as a “rip off” following the replacement of its usual open-top double-decker bus with a single-decker. The Skycar service, operated by Cardiff Bus, is currently using a single-decker vehicle because of road works forcing the route to divert under a low bridge.

A spokesman for Cardiff Bus said thepreparations for a tram extension to Cardiff Bay have closed access to Bute Street, meaning the Skycar route has been diverted under Herbert Street bridge. They added that online information about the service, as well as information across other channels, has now been updated to reflect the situation.

However, one customer, who wished to remain anonymous, criticised Cardiff Bus for continuing to charge £8 for a ticket despite the change in service. The customer described it as “poor value for money” and said it creates “a poor impression of Cardiff as the capital city of Wales”.

They said: “Cardiff Bus has been advertising one of its city sightseeing open-top routes as a premium service and charging passengers significantly higher fares than those charged on ordinary bus services.

“However, for several weeks the advertised open-top vehicle has not been operating, and passengers have instead been transported on a standard single-deck bus while continuing to be charged the same premium price.

“What is particularly concerning is that Cardiff Bus appears unwilling to introduce a suitable diversion route or alternative operational arrangement that would allow the open-top bus to continue running.

“As a result, the advertised product is not being delivered, yet customers are still expected to pay the full premium fare.”

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The customer further added: “Beyond the issue of value for money, this also creates a poor impression of Cardiff as the capital city of Wales. Visitors and tourists who choose the service specifically for the open-top sightseeing experience may feel misled when a standard bus arrives instead.

Other passengers have given a more mixed response to the change, with some saying while they would prefer the open-top bus, they still considering the service worthwhile.

Sarah Frost, 27, was visiting Cardiff from London when she took the Skycar on a Sunday morning. She paid £8 for her ticket and said she was “happy enough” with the tour despite the replacement vehicle.

“I would have preferred a double-decker bus,” she said. “I don’t mind that a normal bus has replaced it although the one thing I am sad to miss out on is the history, the voice that’s guiding me through the tour itself.

“I would be happier if that was on this tour, to make up for the fact that this wasn’t a double-decker bus. But other than that I am happy enough so far.”

Sarah said she particularly noticed the difference because of the warm weather. “I would have preferred a double-decker bus, especially today – as you can see I’m sweating a fair amount” she said.

“I definitely would prefer an open top, it’s more fun, it feels more like an experience – like you’re paying for something.”

Sarah said she had expected some form of commentary about the city’s history.

“I didn’t bring my headphones because I thought it would be a guided tour of some kind,” she said. “Now I am wishing I had because then I guess the nearest alternative would be me looking up the history myself to try and find out about the things we’re passing and coming across.”

She said information she had seen online had led her to believe the Skycar would be a similar alternative to the open-top sightseeing bus.

“When I was looking online for the information on the bus tour, there wasn’t anything that explicitly said that there’s no open-top bus tour without a guided tour,” she said. “I did assume that it was the same, just a different company but a pretty similar alternative.”

Another passenger, who did not wish to be named, said the open-top bus was particularly popular with their grandchildren. “It’s something a bit different, the grandchildren love it because they don’t see double-decker buses very often so yeah, it is a nice thing,” they said. “And I think people do look out for it, and tourists do. It’s just one of those things this time, they’re doing building work and that’s that.”

David Taylor, 68, also said his grandchildren were missing the open-top bus experience. “I pay for my children on there,” he said. “It’s nice to have a little ride on an open-top bus and see the Bay and see the museums – see the young children looking at the museums.”

In light of the reaction, a spokesman for Cardiff Bus said: “Our Skycar provides a “summer special” service between Cardiff City Centre and Cardiff Bay.

“There are restrictions to the route due to the preparation works for the introduction of the tram extension to Cardiff Bay closing access to Bute Street. As a result, the service is diverting via Lloyd George Avenue. In advance of this closure, we engaged in discussions with Cardiff Council as the highways authority to facilitate the diversion of the Skycar route under the Herbert Street bridge.

“Unfortunately, the works required to allow the Skycar to operate beneath the bridge have not yet been completed, despite receiving assurances that this would be completed before Bute Street was closed. Having given formal notification of the change to the authorities, we are obliged to operate this route, and adhere to the height restriction whilst it remains.

“Since this issue has arisen, we have engaged daily to seek an update and swift resolution. We are keen to return our open-top vehicle to service as soon as possible so that customers can continue to enjoy the full Skycar experience throughout the summer.

“We have updated information online [and] on our app, as well as across other channels, to make clear that a closed-top bus will be in use temporarily. Customers who have purchased a ticket but have not yet activated it can choose to use it later in the season when the open-top service returns, and for those who have let us know they are unable to do so we have tried to make amends.

“Whilst these circumstances are outside our control, we remain committed to restoring the open-top experience as soon as possible, and thank our customers for their patience and understanding.”