“These facilities belong to the whole community, and we all have a responsibility to look after them.”

Concerns have been raised regarding anti-social behaviour at a South Belfast playing field after goalposts were broken.

The goalposts at Cairnshill pitches in the Four Winds area have been broken at the crossbar following an incident over the weekend, with local councillor Jamie Harpur saying that it is the latest in a series of incidents at the playing field. He said last week a fire was lit at the changing rooms and a storage container was damaged.

The councillor said the damaged goalposts will have a direct impact on local club, Newtownbreda FC, and has encouraged anyone with any information regarding it to contact the police.

Castlereagh South Alliance councillor Jamie Harpur said: “Heartbreaking to see further anti-social behaviour at the Cairnshill pitches.

“More damage has been caused to the goalposts following a fire being lit at the changing rooms last week, along with damage to a storage container. “This sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable. It not only damages valuable community facilities, but also has a direct impact on Newtownbreda F.C, who do tremendous work with young people and the wider community in the area. “These facilities belong to the whole community, and we all have a responsibility to look after them. “If anyone has information about those responsible, I would encourage you to contact the PSNI and report it. “Let’s look after our local facilities and make sure they remain safe and welcoming spaces for everyone.”

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The married CEO of the San Francisco 49ers allegedly attempted to pay a woman $140 for sex in a trailer park in Ohio, according to court documents.

Jed York, who has two children with his wife, Danielle, and is worth $500 million, was arrested in East Palestine on suspicion of engaging in prostitution at 9:35am on Sunday. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

Court documents obtained by The Daily Mail reveal York, 46, ‘arranged to have sexual activity with the female in exchange for $140.’ He responded to an undercover ad placed on a known prostitution website by law enforcement.

When York arrived at the arranged location, believed to be the Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community in East Palestine, York was greeted by law enforcement.

He was taken into custody when an agent with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force discovered York had ‘in his possession his cellular device which was used to arrange a criminal act’, the court documents show.

Court records also show that York, who was born 20 miles away from East Palestine in Youngstown, Ohio, was initially charged with engaging in prostitution, but prosecutors amended that to disorderly conduct. He was also charged with possessing criminal tools.

York, 46, was arrested Sunday in East Palestine, Ohio, and booked into Columbiana County Jail

York is believed to have been arrested at Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community in East Palestine

York was sentenced to one day in jail for both offenses to be served concurrently and was credited with one day served when he pleaded no contest Monday morning. He was also fined $1,150.

Records also show that York had a cellphone returned to him and that $160 that was seized was to be given to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force as part of the plea agreement. He also completed an online course.

Court records also reveal that York filed an expungement request to have the incident removed from his record. 

The NFL said in a statement: ‘We are aware of the matter, which will be reviewed under the personal conduct policy.’

The 49ers said in a statement: ‘As this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to East Palestine Police and the Mahoning Valley human trafficking task force, as well as York’s attorney for comment.

York filed for divorce from Danielle in May and cited irreconcilable differences. The San Francisco Chronicle has reported the couple are waiting for a court date for their dissolution of marriage case. The couple, who got married in 2011, have two sons, Jaxon and Brixton. They have agreed to legal and physical joint custody.

In December 2018, his younger brother Anthony died at the age of 35.

York is the son of Denise DeBartolo York and John York. They took control of the 49ers when DeBartolo’s brother, Eddie, was convicted in a gambling fraud scandal.

Eddie, who owned the 49ers during their 1980s-1990s dynasty, pleaded guilty in 1998 to failing to report a felony when he paid $400,000 to former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards in exchange for a riverboat gambling license.

DeBartolo, whose 49ers won five Super Bowls under his leadership, stepped down as owner in 1997 after two Louisiana newspapers reported he would be indicted for gambling fraud. 

York has been married to Belluomini since 2011 and they have two sons together

He avoided prison, was fined $1 million and was suspended for a year by the NFL but the episode effectively ended his NFL career. President Donald Trump pardoned him in February 2020.

Jed began working for his father in the early 2000s and was eventually named the franchise’s CEO in 2008. He then became the principal owner in 2024 after acquiring enough of his mother’s stake.

During his tenure, the Niners have experienced great success, having won five NFC West titles, advanced to seven NFC Championship Games and three Super Bowls, although the team has not won the NFL’s biggest prize since 1994.

York also oversaw the building of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The team moved from San Francisco to the new stadium in 2014. The stadium has hosted two Super Bowls, a World Cup and a College Football Playoff title game.

York is also a co-owner of Premier League club Leeds United and Scottish giants Rangers. 

It is the latest episode in what has been an offseason plagued with problems for the 49ers, who are expected to compete for a playoff spot again this season. They play their opening game against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne on September 10.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan was involved in an offseason car crash that left him unable to coach in training camp and with several serious injuries.

The July 14 incident has been shrouded in mystery after the police refused to release an accident report or bodycam footage from the scene and officers initially blamed the other driver, only for Shanahan to take responsibility. 

The 49ers play their play their first game against the LA Rams in Melbourne on September 19

He collided with a car driven by a 21-year-old woman in Palo Alto last month, saying it happened when he reached for his phone. 

The incident left Shanahan with a concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken hand and more than 40 stitches to close a cut over his eye. 

He also explained that he was driving at around 20mph with his Tesla in autopilot mode when the crash happened.

In autopilot mode, Tesla ‘matches the speed of your vehicle to that of the surrounding traffic’ and ‘assists in steering within a clearly marked lane, and uses traffic-aware cruise control.’

Shanahan was the only person who needed to be hospitalized and police didn’t issue him a ticket for the cellphone use. 

In what he called his first two budget tests, Mr Fagan had called for the Scottish Government to give communities the powers and funding needed to bring bus services back into public control, and to deliver a minimum £15-an-hour rate for social care workers with better terms and conditions.

Prince Harry has quit the board of a wildlife charity which last year admitted human rights abuses by its rangers.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, is no longer a trustee of African Parks as he and his family prepare to move back to the UK from the US in days.

Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.

His spokesman said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks.

Last May, the conservation organisation admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers in the Republic of the Congo, a country in Central Africa.

It followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations that guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park.

In a statement last May, African Parks said: “In mid-2023, African Parks was made aware of allegations of human rights abuses by eco-guards against the Baka community in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo.”

It added that following an investigation it “acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering caused to the victims”.

“There is no place for any form of abuse in the name of conservation,” African Parks added.

The spokesman for Harry said: “The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.

“His commitment to conservation in Africa continues, and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission.”

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In 2016, the prince helped move hundreds of African elephants in Malawi to a safer home as part of a project organised by African Parks, describing the experience as “amazing”.

The charity said in 2025 that it had improved its safeguarding processes, both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.

Last week, it was revealed the duke and six other household names will have to pay more than £9.5m to the Daily Mail’s publisher in the first round of legal costs after losing their High Court claims.

The high-profile figures, also including Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Elton John, sued Associated Newspapers Limited over allegations of unlawful information-gathering.

Harry, the Duchess of Sussex, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are preparing to set up home in the UK within days, six years after the couple stepped back as working royals and moved to California.

Their children have already been enrolled in British schools, but it has not been confirmed where the family will live.

The duke and duchess are planning an “extended stay” in the UK but it has not been confirmed how long this will last.

It is also not yet clear whether taxpayers will foot the bill for the Sussexes’ security.

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Former Suits star Meghan, 45, is said to be pursuing an acting role, with reports she is in talks about a role in Guy Ritchie’s Netflix hit The Gentlemen.

There have also been claims that a potential deal was off.

On Monday, it was confirmed that The Gentlemen has been officially renewed for a third season.

By LUKE AUGUSTUS, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR and JAMIE GARDNER, PA CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 18:58 BST, 24 August 2026 | Updated: 20:24 BST, 24 August 2026

Pressure is continuing to mount on under-fire FIFA president with high-profile current and former footballers now making formal statements for him to stand down.

Ex-Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre, who is part of FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel, took to X on Monday to demand change, writing: ‘Enough is enough!’

That statement was also shared by France 1998 World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit as well as Lionesses star Lucy Bronze.

Infantino is facing calls to quit from his UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin in the wake of a hugely controversial plan to sell stakes in a company to run the World Cup to private investors.

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And players have now begun to speak out against the 56-year-old, with Monday’s widely-shared statement evident of that who ‘share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world’.

It added: ‘Like them, we have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under FIFA’s current leadership.

Mikael Silvestre (left) is leading calls for Gianni Infantino to step down as FIFA president

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Silvestre’s statement, which was shared by several others, demanded that ‘enough is enough’

‘For too long we’ve seen major decisions taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport.

‘Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football.’

Silvestre’s interjection is significant given it effectively comes from within the FIFA fold, with the Players’ Voice Panel a 16-strong group formed by the global governing body to monitor and advise on initiatives to tackle racism.

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The statement continued: ‘Recent events have made silence impossible. Enough is enough.

‘We call on all stakeholders to step forward and help reshape the future of our sport.’

One of Silvestre’s former Manchester United team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo crossed paths with Infantino recently – with many on social media stating it was an encounter that the Portuguese didn’t enjoy.

Ronaldo was spotted at the Esports World Cup in Paris and was filmed greeting the Swiss chief.

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However, after the pleasantries, the Al-Nassr star seemed to grimace as he walked away.

After asking how is he, Infantino referenced the fact he is close to reaching the 1,000-career goals mark, saying: ‘Twenty-three [goals] more, right? Good luck. Come on, come on.’

🔴🔴🔴 Cristiano Ronaldo avec Gianni Infantino.

CR7 : « Comment ça va ? »

Infantino : « Il te reste 23 buts c’est ça ? (Pour les 1000). Bonne chance ! » pic.twitter.com/oJWHeBfsHq

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— Gio CR7 (@ArobaseGiovanny) August 23, 2026

🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Cristiano Ronaldo did not look best pleased to meet Gianni Infantino at the E-Sports World Cup. 😬pic.twitter.com/uMYrhtTyxq

— 𝐓𝐌 𝐅Ú𝐓𝐁𝐎𝐋 (@TMfutbal) August 23, 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo crossed paths with Infantino tat the Esports World Cup in Paris

The Portuguese star appeared to grimace as he left Infantino’s company after their exchange

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Whether or not Infantino will be in position to see if Ronaldo reaches that landmark remains unclear.

Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running against Infantino but said in an interview with The Rest Is Politics podcast that his adversary has two options.

‘One option is that he realises that he doesn’t have the support, and that’s not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches,’ the Slovenian said.

‘And the second option that he goes to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him. I don’t know yet who.’

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The current president of CONCACAF, Victor Montagliani, has been mentioned by some observers as a potential rival candidate. CONCACAF is the continental confederation representing countries from North and Central America plus the Caribbean. Montagliani is also a FIFA vice-president.

CONCACAF joined UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in rejecting Infantino’s private investor plan, with its presidents describing it as a ‘deception’ in an open letter published earlier this month.

Infantino was in the Caribbean at the weekend, attending a youth football tournament in the Dominican Republic.

Caroline Savage had been taking the weight-loss medication, but doctors treating her say it was not the only factor they considered when diagnosing her health problems

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Doctors who treated a much-loved grandmother did not fixate on her use of Mounjaro weight loss medication before her death, an inquest has heard.

The family of 73-year-old Caroline Savage, from Harleston, Norfolk, were concerned medics too readily attributed her symptoms to side effects of the drug before her death in 2024.

But Norfolk area coroner Yvonne Blake said medics had considered other possibilities too.

Jasmine Leng, who represented family members at Monday’s hearing in Norwich, raised concerns about “diagnostic overshadowing and Mounjaro”.

But the coroner said: “It’s not clear to me from the evidence that the doctors were fixated with Mounjaro.”

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She noted mother-of-three Mrs Savage “had an increasing dose (of Mounjaro) but hadn’t yet given herself the increasing dose”.

“I don’t think there was an overshadowing by doctors,” said Ms Blake.

Mounjaro was not mentioned in the coroner’s narrative conclusion, which found Mrs Savage died of faecal peritonitis due to perforated sigmoid diverticular disease.

This is where faecal matter leaks into the abdominal cavity due to a perforation of the intestines.

The issue of Mounjaro was raised later at the hearing by Ms Leng.

One of Mrs Savage’s daughters, Susannah Savage, told the hearing that Mounjaro “was mentioned on the discharge letter”.

The coroner said clinicians “clearly thought about pancreatitis, they thought about other things like an aortic aneurysm”.

“I don’t think the doctors were only concentrating on Mounjaro,” Ms Blake said.

In her narrative conclusion, she said Mrs Savage attended the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital by ambulance on October 18 2024 and “her main presenting complaint was severe pain”.

“She remained in the ambulance for the entirety of her time at the hospital,” said Ms Blake.

She said she was looked after by two paramedics, and two doctors and a nurse went out to see her while she was in the ambulance.

She said the paramedics “examined her and wrote in their notes that she had peritonism”, but neither doctor found that she had peritonism.

The coroner said Mrs Savage had an ultrasound and bloods were taken, with her blood tests coming back as “essentially normal”.

She said she had three doses of morphine, and intravenous paracetamol was also given.

She said “it was decided Mrs Savage could be discharged home”.

“Roughly six hours later when she was at home, her husband had to help her get to bed,” said Ms Blake.

“She then fell onto the floor at home and went into a cardiac arrest.”

Mrs Savage died on October 19 2024.

Ms Blake said she would write to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and the East of England Ambulance Service with concerns about record keeping and communication between paramedics and staff.

“The record keeping was sparse and neither of the doctors could recall or remember Mrs Savage at all so they were entirely reliant on their notes and their notes didn’t contain very much detail,” she said.

But she said she did not find “any evidence of a systemic defect operating in the emergency department”.

“I find evidence of record keeping that could be better, in fact could be very much better,” she said.

She said Mrs Savage had been “sent home undiagnosed” and added: “That’s often the case in A&E.”

An earlier statement released by the family’s solicitor said the inquest “did not establish a link” between Mrs Savage’s medical cause of death “and Mounjaro use”.

Susannah Savage said after the hearing that Mounjaro use “was one of the first things the hospital recorded”.

“It was on the discharge note as the only potential diagnosis that they came up with,” she said.

She continued: “They also inquired into pancreatitis which is a known side effect of Mounjaro.

“I should say they did an ultrasound regarding an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is not linked to Mounjaro.

“But I think there’s a clear problem here that lots of people are on these weight loss drugs and it really needs to be avoided that that fact you’re on a weight loss drug means you go to hospital and when doctors have failed to come up with a diagnosis that explains the cause of pain – which does often happen – that they can too readily grab at weight loss drugs as an explanation.”

READ MORE: Sewing group call for Crumlin Road Gaol to be taken into public control after Christmas dinner complaint ends up in court

READ MORE: Belfast City Hall will be lit green for safe abortion

She said it was “not clear” if doctors were aware that Mrs Savage “had just been administered intravenous morphine when they observed her”.

She said her mother had been “very excited about the future” having been prescribed Mounjaro.

She said she had been diagnosed with lipedema, which she described as a “painful build-up of fat cells in the limbs and it doesn’t respond to diet or exercise”.

“She had just been able to see a specialist and they had referred her to the doctor who prescribed the weight loss drugs as something that can help lipedema patients,” she said.

“She had lost some weight and was feeling really positive about her future.”

Emily Ansell, also a daughter of Mrs Savage, said: “Our mum was full of life and energy and love.”

She said she was the “centre of our family, had lots of friends, she was very sociable”.

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An expectant mother is in line for compensation after her colleague told her that ‘nobody wants to see a pregnant woman’ at work. 

A tribunal ruled that Jessica Morgan was the victim of discrimination over the cruel comment which she received after suggesting she could give a presentation to a client. 

She previously had a ‘close working relationship’ with her colleague Frederick Geraint Hawkes, who was in charge of procurement at Panelex Wood Agency, a wood supplier based in Swansea which Ms Morgan joined in April 2020. 

She originally earned £40,000 a year at the small business where she was in regular contact with Mr Hawkes.

But this changed when she announced that she was pregnant. 

Ms Morgan noticed a ‘shift’ in her colleague’s behaviour said that she was not allowed to visit customers and to ‘focus on being a mum’, and also claimed that her boss said he ‘wouldn’t make the mistake of hiring a woman again’ when discussing taking temporary cover. 

Ms Morgan was also pressured into giving her company car back early.

After she left the role, an employment tribunal ruled that she had been the victim of pregnancy discrimination. 

But she didn’t win her case because she brought the claim too late. 

Ms Morgan is still in line for compensation as she was found to have been victimised by her former employer.

In November 2023, prior to going on maternity leave, Ms Morgan offered to assist Mr Hawkes in preparing for a presentation for a client.

In response, he said: ‘Nobody wants to see a pregnant woman Jess.’

She further claimed that when the two discussed hiring temporary cover he said he ‘wouldn’t be making the mistake of hiring a woman again’. 

Mr Hawkes denied making the comment. 

Ms Morgan messaged a friend saying: ‘I’d walk out and start today if it was affordable!  Had some REALLT [sic] sexist comments thrown at me recently and making out I can’t do my job!

‘Not allowed to visit customers anymore ‘no one wants to see a pregnant woman’ was what he said to me last week… I was upset!!’

A tribunal ruled that Jessica Morgan was the victim of discrimination after she received the cruel comment after suggesting she could give a presentation to a client

She felt she was unable to challenge the comments at the time. 

Around the same time Mr Hawkes made comments about Ms Morgan being forgetful – but the tribunal found that this was not connected to her pregnancy. 

Ms Morgan began her maternity leave in January 2024 and she became anxious about her position – making jokes about ‘having her back’.

However, Mr Hawkes told her to ‘focus on being a mum’.

In October 2024, they met up for a meeting in Costa Coffee to discuss her return to work where she was informed that her position no longer existed and they ‘did not know where to put her’.

During the meeting Mr Hawkes said to her ‘surely he [her partner] earns enough for you to stay at home’.

She left the meeting with the understanding that her employment would be brought to an end but that she could keep her company car until Christmas and would be paid any outstanding money.

However, Mr Hawkes later asked for the car back at the end of October.

Ms Morgan brought claims of unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, pregnancy discrimination, sex discrimination and victimisation to an employment tribunal in Swansea.

A hearing to determine her compensation will be made at a later date. 

Employment Judge Alys Williams said: ‘In many ways therefore this is a sad case and it is unfortunate that the relationship has broken down to such a degree.

‘We find that her failure to challenge the comments does not undermine her account.

‘She refers in numerous messages to her partner that we have been taken to, to the futility of arguing with Mr Hawkes, something she expressed again in her oral evidence.

‘She also only refers to ‘fighting back’ on one occasion, later in November 2023.

‘We find [Ms Morgan] did not frequently challenge Mr Hawkes and in light of the nature of their relationship, the dependency, anxiety and desire to please we describe above we are satisfied that her failure to challenge does not undermine her account.

‘We are satisfied the comment does amount to unfavourable treatment. It suggests that the way a pregnant woman looks will make her off-putting to clients to the extent that she should not be seen.

‘We find that the request for [Ms Morgan] to return the company car amounts to a detriment.

‘[Ms Morgan] agreed to the termination of her employment on terms, including that she could keep the company car until Christmas.

‘[Panelex] reneged on that agreement very soon thereafter and as soon as [Ms Morgan] sought payment of the sums to which she was entitled.

‘The request to return the company car was as a direct response (couched in terms of a ‘compromise’) to [Ms Morgan’s] request for the wages legally owed to her.

‘The car was used as a bargaining chip for [Ms Morgan] to receive that money which she had made clear from the outset she desperately needed.’

The incident occurred at around 6.20pm on Saturday (August 22) in Scarcroft Hill, shortly after the end of the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse.

North Yorkshire Police said: “During an incident in which officers were assisting with the arrest of another individual, a police officer was pushed, causing them to stumble and fall to the ground.”

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A force spokesperson added: “We believe the man shown in the image may have information that could assist our investigation and are asking him, or anyone who recognises him, to get in touch.

“Please email Aimee.Turnbull@northyorkshire.police.uk if you can help.

“Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.

“Please quote reference number 12260164304 when providing any information.”

EastEnders fans have been left heartbroken after Denise Fox’s condition took a heartbreaking turn, after discovering that chemotherapy treatment isn’t improving her condition

EastEnders’ Denise Fox has faced a truly heartbreaking turn in her cancer battle. The businesswoman is currently in the hospital receiving treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive type of blood cancer, which was diagnosed just a matter of weeks ago.

Her first round of chemotherapy didn’t prove to be effective, and last week, she was told her second round isn’t fighting the cruel disease as doctors had initially hoped. With Denise’s condition rapidly deteriorating, Walford residents are on a mission to find a suitable stem cell donor, after it emerged that her immediate family are not matches.

In Monday’s episode of the BBC soap, Denise was told by her consultant that she was “very unwell” and had developed a chest infection, which later turned into sepsis. Sepsis happens when the body has an extreme response to an infection and is life-threatening.

After being informed of her latest medical issue, Denise was told she was being transferred to the intensive care unit as a matter of urgency and would recieve assistance to breathe. “At this point, Denise, we need to breathe for you,” the consultant said, before confirming that Denise would be placed on a ventilator and placed into a medically induced coma.

But while she was told there was a “small” chance she wouldn’t wake up, the consultant was confident that Denise’s condition would dramatically improve with ventilation support, allowing her body to fight her infection.

Denise’s heartbroken partner, Jack, was left distraught as he asked for time with Denise away from the doctors. “You don’t have to be pressured into this,” he warned, citing Martha’s Law, which gives families, patients and carers access to a rapid clinical review if the patient’s condition is deteriorating and they want another opinion.

“I’m not ready,” an emotional Denise said before she was left coughing and struggling to breathe. Denise’s sister, Kim, was informed of the news over the phone, and despite suffering from a cold, she was adamant she would be going to see her sister before she was placed in a coma.

As Denise’s condition worsened, Walford rallied around her, holding a stem cell donor search at the community centre to urgently find somebody suitable to donate stem cells. But while Jack urged their family to visit Denise before she was placed in a coma, she didn’t want her young son, Raymond, to see her in this way.

However, at home, Denise meets a relative, Darnell L J, who is a 25 per cent DNA match and is identified as a half-sibling. However, when Kim and Howie went to message Darnell on the ancestry website, his account had been deactivated. But Patrick came up with an idea: to look through a family memory box to find Denise’s biological father and work out who Darnell is.

Fans have taken to social media to praise actress Diane Parish, who plays Denise. “EastEnders was a hard a and upsetting watch today but very beautifully acted,” said one.

A second added: “I had tears today very hard watch well done to everyone with the acting.” “I was in flood of tears I hope they do not kill her off,” commented a third. A fourth penned: “I shed a tear was heartbreaking.”

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Nicholas Hoult has backed out of his role as Gilderoy Lockhart in the upcoming Harry Potter series amid mounting backlash over JK Rowling‘s involvement.

It has been revealed that the part will now be played by Kit Harington, who has stepped in at the last minute after Nicholas blamed ‘scheduling conflicts’.

Nicholas’s role in the series prompted fury from his fans earlier this month, when it was announced he had been cast in the fantasy series.

But just days after the news was announced, it has now been revealed that he is no longer attached to the project.

He was set to play the conniving but charming Professor Lockhart in the upcoming series, but many fans were dismayed by the actor’s decision.

Some fans objected to him taking a role in a production that Rowling is executive-producing, given her well-publicised opposition to aspects of contemporary transgender-rights activism. 

The role was originated by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 blockbuster film, which earned over $883 million at the worldwide box office

Critics argue participating in the HBO series helps financially support a franchise in which Rowling remains involved, rather than treating the series as completely separate from her political views. 

The Golden Globe nominee told Variety previously that giving his voice to the character was easy.

He said: ‘It was a really simple yes, because I love the character.

‘As far as cameos in a series go, you don’t get much more entertaining and fun to do as an actor than Gilderoy Lockhart. It was a no-brainer.’

Filming for the second season of Harry Potter is expected to start this fall, while the first season will come out on HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day.

The role was originated by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 blockbuster film, which earned over $883million at the worldwide box office.

Season two of Harry Potter the series was given the green light back in May and is reportedly set to begin filming in the fall – months before season one’s Christmas premiere. 

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Lockhart is a Hogwarts professor who serves as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

As per the book series, the character notably takes the credit for other wizards’ ‘heroic deeds’ after wiping their memories. 

Hoult is no stranger to playing a villain, having previously portrayed Lex Luthor in the 2025 Superman film starring David Corenswet as the titular superhero.

The actor has gained mainstream Hollywood recognition after famously enjoying TV success in the UK young adult series Skins as well as the Hulu comedy The Great, for which he earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. 

The HBO reboot of Harry Potter will see 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin play Harry after the role was famously portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, 37. 

Alastair Stout will star as Ron Weasley, previously played by Rupert Grint, 38, and Arabella Stanton will complete the trio as Hermione Granger, who was played by Emma Watson, 36, in the iconic early 2000s films.

Speaking recently about landing the titular role in the series, McLaughlin told the BBC: ‘I was always a huge Harry Potter fan when I was younger. And it was like the dream role, of course.’

He also called it a ‘bit surreal’, adding: ‘I’m thrilled to be able to be doing it.’

The HBO reboot of Harry Potter will see 11-year-old Dominic McLaughlin play Harry after the role was famously portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, 37

Alastair Stout will star as Ron Weasley, previously played by Rupert Grint, 37, and Arabella Stanton will complete the trio as Hermione Granger, who was played by Emma Watson, 36, in the iconic early 2000s films; seen in March

Nick Frost is playing the role of Rubeus Hagrid in the TV series, with John Lithgow taking on the role of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Janet McTeer playing Professor McGonagall.

According to Deadline, Jon Brown, a writer on the not-yet-released first season, has been promoted to co-showrunner alongside Francesca Gardiner for season two of the Harry Potter series.

News of Hoult’s casting comes after author Rowling, who is executive producing the HBO series, said in a post on X in June that she had read the first two episodes of the TV adaptation.

The famed author called the episodes, ‘SO, SO, SO GOOD’.