As the tough-talking judge on BBC‘s MasterChef, John Torode wasn’t ever one to mince his words.

The Alpha-Aussie made a quivering souffle of the home cooks, amateur chefs and even celebrities who stood before him hoping for a crumb of praise.

So no wonder – after he was unceremoniously sacked after 20 years on the show – fans are both surprised and delighted to discover ‘another’ Torode.

Ever since launching a YouTube show with his wife, Lisa Faulkner, Torode, 61, is revelling in his much softer – almost cuddly – side.

From the comfort of their beautiful kitchen, at the heart of their terraced home in the enviable London enclave of Muswell Hill, Torode and Lisa, 54, laugh, tease and mock each other while whipping up mouthwatering dishes.

And viewers love it.

‘John and Lisa are basically the Richard and Judy of TV chefs and they are proving to be a huge success. Who needs the BBC now?’ says my well-placed source.

Just like Richard, Torode often looks clueless as quick-witted Lisa makes a cheeky comment.

Torode and Ms Faulkner with his MasterChef colleague Gregg Wallace, who was sacked from the show following allegations of misconduct

Ms Faulkner met Torode in 2010 while competing on Celebrity MasterChef, which she went on to win

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Swapping the clinical MasterChef kitchen for their more homely one has also been a hit, with viewers loving their wooden central island, customised ‘John & Lisa’ chopping board and pale green saucepans from their own J&L cookware range with high street chain ProChef.

Explaining their concept on the first video, Lisa cuddled their schnoodle dog as she enthused: ‘We’re cooking all our recipes from home in our kitchen which is great because we know where everything is, and we really hope you’re going to join us to see our family favourites.’

Since the soft launch of John and Lisa’s Kitchen & Home eight months ago, they have accumulated more than 1.2million views as fans have tuned in to watch them make ‘the perfect pavlova’ or Lisa’s ‘legendary’ roast potatoes (made legendary by crumbling a stock cube into the fat first). Such a figure could earn them thousands, which – along with advertising revenue, side hustles such as their cookware range and a forthcoming book – means Torode will be making more than he did from MasterChef. A source said: ‘There’s more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to earning cash as a telly chef.’

Those familiar with the project say it is the ‘ultimate sod you’ to the BBC. The broadcaster sacked Torode as host of MasterChef in July last year after an allegation was made that he had used the ‘N’ word at a filming wrap party in 2019 while singing along to Gold Digger by rap star Kanye West.

Torode’s dismissal came amid accusations of inappropriate behaviour against co-presenter Gregg Wallace. Last year the 61-year-old was sacked after a report, commissioned by MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK, found 45 out of 83 allegations were upheld.

Despite Torode saying he had ‘no recollection’ of what he was accused of and hoped to have been allowed a say, he was also shown the door. So it’s rather delicious that, after so much upset at losing the job that made him one of the most recognisable faces on British television, Torode is said to be ‘loving life’ back in front of the camera once again.

‘They are the Mr and Mrs of television cookery. They are smashing it,’ a source close to the pair told me. As one YouTube viewer commented on their chemistry: ‘Love it! Lisa’s cheeky innuendos that John never gets, but we get the camera wink eye from Lisa!’

‘The numbers they are pulling in are massive,’ says the source. ‘John doesn’t even recall saying what he was accused of and there was never any evidence of it. The die-hard MasterChef viewers have very much taken his side.’

Since the soft launch of John and Lisa’s Kitchen & Home eight months ago, they have accumulated more than 1.2million views

Torode and Wallace had presented MasterChef since 2005 but were both axed by the BBC

Indeed, the broadcaster’s new director general, Matt Brittin, may well be questioning whether predecessor Tim Davie didn’t slip up in sacking Torode. Just last week at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Brittin – who joined the corporation from Google this year – hinted he was looking at opening up the BBC to user-generated content.

Brittin suggested turning an ‘iPlayer 2.0’ into a YouTube-style site hosting appropriate influencer content. It would be built around an algorithm aimed at ‘educating, informing and entertaining the public here and ideally around the world’. 

‘It’s hilarious,’ says a friend of the couple.

‘Should Gregg have been sacked? Yes, absolutely. But with John, it feels like they found a way to get rid of him and start afresh on MasterChef.

‘What he has proved is that he and Lisa are extremely popular and surely the BBC will be jealous of their YouTube concept.’

Proof is in the pudding – or in this case, scone – as more than 102,000 fans have so far watched Torode and Lisa whip up a batch of the teatime treats.

On the back of positive feedback, advertisers are flocking to promote their brands, with HSBC and Monzo banks running campaigns on John and Lisa’s pages. But it looks unlikely that their ITV show, John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen will return. ‘Never mind,’ says one pal. ‘They’ve got a second cookery book coming soon.’

Those who know Torode say that Lisa was his ‘rock’ when he was sacked from MasterChef, which was of course where the couple met when the former Spooks actress was a contestant in 2010.

When they met on the show, Lisa was with her husband Chris Coghill while Torode was with his wife Jessica.

After both relationships ended, they began dating and married in 2019 at the stunning Aynhoe Park in Northamptonshire.

Seven years on and Lisa has been every bit the supportive wife. So, who’s going to blame her for enjoying the odd swipe at the BBC? In one video, as John tells viewers how to whip up the perfect poached egg, a smiling Lisa quips: ‘The poached egg masterclass by the MasterChef!’

Ouch! But then revenge, as they say, is a dish best served cold.

PS: Wife Lisa might want to avoid the deep-fat fryer!

Ms Faulkner alongside Kevin McNally, left, and Shane Attwooll in Spooks

As MI5 agent Helen Flynn in Spooks, unsavoury extremists murdered her using the gadget. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Main draw play is underway at the U.S. Open, with 19th-seeded Jasmine Paolini among those playing in the opening set of matches at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday.

Third-ranked Jessica Pegula leads off at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Elena-Gabriela Ruse at noon, followed on the men’s side by Daniil Medvedev against Hugo Gaston.

Novak Djokovic begins his quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title on Sunday night against Mariano Navone. Djokovic at 39 is coming off losing his opening match at the hardcourt tuneup Cincinnati Open earlier this month.

Venus Williams faces fellow American wild card Sophia Kenin in the last match of the night at Ashe. She and sister Serena are scheduled to play doubles together.

___

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

A Muslim group planning to convert a Grade II-listed pub into an ‘Islamic-style’ mosque has claimed it ‘only had three regulars’.

The Norwich Muslim Centre submitted plans to transform the historic 1930s building in Norfolk into a place of worship.

The proposals have sparked concern from some locals who argue there is another mosque operating less than half a mile away on the same road.

But the Muslim association has now hit back at critics – arguing it has ‘come across only three people’ who regularly visited the pub.

Sirajul Islam, a trustee of the Norwich Muslim Centre, said: ‘Since we became involved with this historic building, I have personally knocked on doors throughout the neighbourhood to speak to local residents and understand their views.

‘So far, I have come across only three people who told me that they used to visit the pub on a regular basis when it was open and operating as a pub.

‘This did make me wonder where all those objections and concerns are coming from.

‘We really do appreciate the concerns being raised, and we are fully committed to working with the wider community.’

Plans have been submitted to turn the Grade II-listed Gatehouse in Norwich into a mosque. CGI of the proposed building is seen here

Proposals show a large copper-coloured extension decorated with screens and Arabic lettering which would be built onto the rear of the pub

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It comes as leaflets opposing the plan posted around Norwich asked: ‘Should this pub be converted into a mosque?’

A blank objection letter was also included, addressed to City Hall.

The letter did not give the option to support the application, which was submitted last month and it is unknown who the sender is.

The pub, a mixture of Arts and Crafts and Tudor styles, closed three years ago following the death of its landlord.

For generations, the 1930s-built red-brick Gatehouse has stood at the western gateway to Norwich in Norfolk.

Neighbours fear a re-development will swamp surrounding residential streets with cars, while campaigners have warned a piece of Britain’s traditional pub heritage could be lost.

Proposals show a large copper-coloured extension decorated with Islamic-style screens and Arabic lettering which would be built onto the rear of the pub.

The plans to transform the old pub were put to the council in two parts.

Richard Dixon (pictured), a member of the Norwich and District branch of CAMRA, said: ‘Norwich has lost many pubs over the years, to either be knocked down or redeveloped’

CGI mock-ups show glass-fronted prayer and function halls overlooking landscaped terraces, gardens and the nearby river

One objector said the change would bring more parked vehicles on to neighbouring roads, resulting in a ‘detrimental impact on the area’

The change of use and extension application, which is the only one referenced on the leaflet, has received more objections than the other bid to extend the pub.

So far, objections have reached 234, with 136 commenting in support.

But the public comments in support of the application, which are not mentioned on the leaflet, are much higher, with 154 objections and 175 in support.

Richard Dixon, a member of the Norwich and District branch of CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale), said: ‘Norwich has lost many pubs over the years, to either be knocked down or redeveloped.

‘There are now large areas of the city that have few or even no pubs.’

He added: ‘The changes to the outside would change the character of the listed building.

‘The interior, although it is said retaining existing features, would not be the style of a bar with handpumps and other pub related features – this would detract from the original use of the bar.’

‘No reasonable efforts were made to show the pub cannot be viable.

‘Whilst the changes would nominally make it a community facility, this will not be as a pub.

‘The Gatehouse was well liked and used by the community for socialising, drinking, music and pub games.

‘It should be retained for use as a public house.’

Norwich Muslim Centre said the site is intended for use by the wider community and not as an exclusive mosque.

As part of the scheme, an extension would be built at the back of the pub.

According to the plans, hall space could be used for celebrations and festivals, youth services, and school visits.

There would be space for more than 200 worshippers at the site.

A mission statement submitted with the plans says: ‘Our dream is to create a community hub that not only provides a space for worship but also empowers the next generation with strong Islamic identity, promotes interfaith engagement and tackles misconceptions about Muslims.’

Mr Islam added: ‘We believe our project is a community-focused and sustainable proposal that will give this historic building a positive future while respecting the local area.

‘We are a peace-loving community, and one of our fundamental obligations is to look after and respect our neighbours.

‘We want to approach this project in exactly that spirit and work constructively with everyone in the community.’

The Gatehouse closed in 2023 following the death of its long-serving landlord.

A community campaign had tried unsuccessfully to buy the building and turn it into Norwich’s first community-owned pub.

The Gatehouse was built for Norwich brewers Morgans in 1934, replacing a 19th-century pub which had previously stood on the same site.

The building was granted Grade II-listed status in 2015.

The application awaits a decision from Norwich City Council.

Monaghan born Thomasina Tobin and her husband Patrick died near Valencia on Tuesday

The Irishwoman and her husband found dead in the jacuzzi of their Spanish holiday villa died from cardiac arrest, it has emerged.

Reports say postmortems show Thomasina and Patrick Tobin suffered fatal heart stoppages when they became trapped in the jacuzzi at the villa near Valencia.

One theory is that both cardiac arrests were brought on by physical exhaustion in the struggle to save themselves – while another is that one of them was electrocuted and the other died when they fought to rescue them.

“Preliminary analyses indicate that the victims suffered cardiac arrest brought on by acute stress following physical exhaustion and the desperation of the moment,” the respected Valencia newspaper Las Provincias newspaper said on Sunday morning.

The couple, who were married with two teenage children and were living in London, died in the freak accident at their holiday villa at Cullera, near Valencia, last Tuesday.

Mrs Tobin, née McArdle, was a quantity surveyor who was originally from Castleblayney in Co Monaghan. She was 51. Her husband Patrick, 48, was from New Zealand.

They are believed to have spent up to two weeks at the villa in the upmarket residential estate called Cap Blanc in Cullera when the tragedy happened.

They were both found dead in the jacuzzi by their two teenage children, who then raised the alarm.

Homicide cops initially investigated their deaths as there were marks and scratches on both bodies – but foul play was quickly ruled out.

Instead, police are now investigating the theory that they died in a freak accident while they enjoyed the outdoor jacuzzi in their holiday rental.

It has now emerged that on Saturday, police examined the jacuzzi for the third time – but on this occasion they had an industrial expert on hot tubs with them.

The expert joined the Guardia Civil team at the request of an investigating magistrate – as judges lead such probes in Spain.

The expert was tasked with analysing the power of the suction fittings in the jacuzzi – to see if they trapped one or both of the victims in the hot tub.

Las Provincias said investigators are probing the theory that the tub’s hydro-massage system cause a strong suction effect that suddenly trapped Mr and Mrs Tobin in the water.

It says investigators believe the couple then fought desperately to save themselves.

The paper says: “According to the first investigations, the excessive suction force would have imprisoned the couple inside the bathtub, which triggered a situation of extreme anguish and desperate physical effort to free themselves from the hydraulic grip.

“The autopsy findings almost definitively reinforce the theory of accidental entrapment. “Preliminary analyses indicate that the victims suffered cardiac arrest brought on by acute stress following physical exhaustion and the desperation of the moment.”

It also said the post mortems showed the scratches on their bodies were not as a result of third party violence – but stemmed from them trying to save each other.

The paper also said that another possibility is that one victim may have suffered the cardiac arrest due to electrocution from a suspected fault in the tub and the other died trying to save them.

Mrs Tobin was a member of the highly respected McArdle family from Castleblayney, but had been living and working in London for around 20 years.

Her father is Tommy McArdle, who is a well-known playwright, actor and producer – and who spent many years directing RTÉ’s drama Glenroe.

He is famous for working with his brother John, who is also a writer and actor.

Both brothers also played football for Monaghan.

Mrs Tobin was a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and worked as a Chartered Surveyor.

Major projects she worked on in the UK included the Ritz and Shard building, both in London.

The Department of Foreign Affairs previously confirmed to the Irish Mirror it was aware of the incident and confirmed it was providing consular assistance in the case of one Irish citizen.

Initial reports said both Mr and Mrs Tobin were Irish, but it was later established that he was from New Zealand.

A spokeswoman told the Irish Mirror : “The Department is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance in the case of the Irish citizen concerned.

“As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”

The couple’s two young children reportedly alerted the homeowner after finding their bodies at their rented villa near Valencia at around 5pm local time on Tuesday.

Relatives from Monaghan flew out to be with the couple’s devastated children on Wednesday morning.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The 17-year-old man was rushed to hospital after the incident but no information is available on his injuries.

A teenager has been rushed to hospital after reportedly being stabbed on a Glasgow street.

Officers were called to Kerr Street in the Bridgeton area of the city at around 10.25pm on Saturday, August 29.

A 17-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment but no more information is available on his injuries.

A source told Glasgow Live that “two men were chased down London Road by five men” before fleeing into a car park where the teen was stabbed.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10.25pm on Saturday, 29 August, 2026, we were called to a report of a male injured in Kerr Street, Glasgow. The 17-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish more details and trace those involved. Anyone with information should contact 101, quoting incident number 3739 of August 29.”

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By HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER and MICHAEL PAVITT, SPORTS REPORTER

Updated: 16:45 BST, 30 August 2026

Emergency services were called to Balmer Hill in Gainford at 8.10pm on Saturday (August 29) after a car had driven there and gunshots fired at the home.

A 46-year-old man is in hospital in a ‘critical, but stable’ condition with birdshot injuries to his abdomen.

A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and both remain in custody.

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The boy has also been arrested on suspicion of theft, failing to stop and driving without a licence, police said.

Pictures from the scene show holes the door where shots were fired, with the front window smashed through and shards of glass strewn across the ground on the driveway.

Neighbours described the street as ‘quiet’, with one saying: “Nothing ever happens here.

“A couple of weeks ago some milk was pinched from a doorstep and there was hell on, but it’s a quiet place.

“I feel safer now with the police here.”

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Police officers were seen at the cordon surrounding the house on Sunday (August 30) and CSI teams in white overalls were working inside and outside the home, filling large brown evidence bags.

A spokesperson for Durham Police said: “An investigation has been launched after a man was shot in Gainford last night.

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“Emergency services were called to an address in Balmer Hill just after 8.10pm following reports that suspects had driven to a house and fired at it from their car before making off.

“A 46-year-old man suffered birdshot injuries to his abdomen and was taken to hospital. His condition has been described as critical but stable.

“No one else at the address was injured and officers remain at the scene today.

“A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

“The boy has also been arrested on suspicion of theft, failing to stop and driving without a licence. They both remain in custody.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We were called to an incident at a private address in Gainford, Darlington at 8.10pm on Saturday, August 29.

“We dispatched one ambulance crew, one duty officer, one clinical team leader and were supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

“One person was taken to hospital by road.”

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident reference 479 of August 29.

HOHENFELS, Germany (AP) — On a moonless and rainy night, a group of soldiers emerged from a ramshackle building meant to resemble a church. The alpine terrain loomed over them as they quietly set off for the tree line of the German countryside a short distance away.

The soldiers are members of the Polish special forces and are taking part in an exercise designed only months ago that simulates moving through enemy lines, traversing miles of enemy territory and launching a drone strike on a key enemy location.

Initially designed by the Army’s Green Berets for U.S. special forces, the exercise that began Friday is informed by and simulates many of the challenges that Ukrainian troops have experienced in their conflict with Russia. It is the first time a NATO ally like Poland has undertaken the training, and it comes at a time when tensions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and NATO countries have escalated.

“We’re using lessons learned from Ukraine,” an Army Green Beret officer assigned to the training complex said Thursday. “All of those effects that we’re seeing either Russia or Ukraine having to overcome — we’re doing our best to replicate.”

The Associated Press received rare access to both the training ground and the troops conducting the exercise, which has only been conducted twice before, both times this year, by two different Green Beret teams.

The drill highlights the focus that some parts of the U.S. military have on learning the latest techniques in drone warfare, pioneered by Ukraine during its 4 1/2-year effort to repel Russian forces. It also shows how the U.S., its NATO allies and Ukraine are working together to counter the threat of possible further Russian action in coming years even as the Trump administration has warned of troop drawdowns in Europe.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe went to Moscow this week to warn Russia not to attack NATO countries, The Wall Street Journal reported. Russia has the appetite to conduct sabotage and cyberattacks against NATO countries, but Putin wants to avoid a direct confrontation, according to three Western officials, who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

How special forces are learning to sneak behind enemy lines to deploy drones

During the exercise in Germany, a senior enlisted soldier familiar with the training scenario at Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels — about an hour’s drive southeast from Nuremberg — said the plan is to run it several times a year. The officer said he expects most, if not all, of the 32 NATO nations to express interest in sending their troops to try the exercise.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity in line with the U.S. military’s longstanding policy of not publicly identifying individual members of special forces units.

President Donald Trump stirred confusion among NATO allies by going back and forth on drawing down U.S. troop levels in Europe, and the administration has launched a force review on next steps. And last week, the Army’s top officer shuttered a unit that specialized in drone warfare.

But overall, there is growing interest in tapping Ukraine for its expertise on modern warfare and, specifically, drones.

In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country was helping five countries in the Middle East and Gulf region counter Iranian drone attacks launched during the war with the United States, while the U.S. and European countries were among those requesting support.

Meanwhile, the number of mysterious drone incursions in Europe have grown, including as recently as this month, when a pair of drones were spotted over a German military base and a drone carrying explosives was found at a key cargo airport in Germany.

___

Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed to this report.

By LIZ HULL, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT

Published: 16:17 BST, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 16:25 BST, 30 August 2026

A man arrested on suspicion of the murder of a seven-year-old girl and her aunt who died in a house fire has been released without charge.

Cleveland Police said the 31-year-old would face no further action but stressed that detectives were continuing to question a second man in connection with the alleged attack, which led to the deaths of Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece, Valentina Foster.

On Saturday he was named as Jaden Wright, 23, during an appearance in court in relation to separate offences of grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation.

Magistrates in Teesside were told Wright, of Middlesbrough, was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the house fire, in the Grangetown area, on Wednesday.

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He was subsequently charged with the GBH and strangulation offences which relate to another alleged incident in Grange Farm Road the day before, on August 25, the court heard.

Prosecutors said the unnamed complainant in the separate case was living in a tent when she was allegedly attacked by the defendant.

She was taken to hospital where it was found she had injuries including a fractured eye socket.

Magistrates agreed to an application for Wright, of King George’s Terrace, to be remanded into police custody.

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Valentina Foster, seven, and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, died in the fire on Wednesday

Police officers at the scene of the Grangetown house fire last Wednesday

Dressed in a grey T-shirt, Wright sat in the glass-fronted dock for the 30-minute hearing next to a single security officer.

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He did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name and personal details.

Wright is due to appear again at the same court on Wednesday, September 2.

Four other people were injured in the house blaze, including a 48-year-old woman who remains in a ‘critical but stable’ condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and a 27-year-old man, who is undergoing treatment at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Two teenage girls were also treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and were subsequently discharged.

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On Friday, police said the property remained unstable and work will be carried out on the building over the coming days to make the site safe, which will also allow emergency services access inside.

They also confirmed the fire was not being linked to a fatal collision on the A66, which killed seven people, including two serving police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough. 

Officers initially said they could not rule out a link with wider gang violence that broke out in Teesside after the smash, which also killed five young men in a VW Passat who had been driving the wrong way up the carriageway.

Pedro Neto 7: 12 of this, half a dozen of the other. Going forward, he was superb, using his natural attacking instinct to be a danger with his delivery and getting at Kadioglu, while his goalscoring knack was on show as he ghosted in to double the home side’s advantage. He was skinned for the visitors’ goal, however, showing that he still has plenty to learn if he is to master this new role.