The pop star performed the 41st and final show of her Eternal Sunshine at the O2 in London on Tuesday, having already announced she will take a step back from the spotlight

Ariana Grande broke down in tears as she thanked her fans for being “by her side” as she stepped back from public life by completing the last show of her world tour.

The American pop star performed the final night of a 10-night sold out residency at the O2 in London on Tuesday night (September 1). The show was the 41st and final show of her Eternal Sunshine tour which began in the US on June 6.

Grande waited until an hour-and-a-half into the two-hour show before speaking to the crowd, telling them: “This has been such an extraordinary experience. Thank you for 10 beautiful London shows and for 41 incredible Eternal Sunshine tour shows.

“This has been one of the most beautiful, extraordinary experiences of my life and I just want to express my gratitude. I’ll cherish this experience always – I have the best fans in the entire world and I always have. Thank you for being by my side.”

She later became emotional again as she thanked all the people who work on the show, including dancers, security, make-up and runners.

The 33-year-old wore her signature ponytail for much of the show but did not wear her usual high heels – opting instead for flat black, and later white, above-the-knee boots after suffering a “deep cut” to her foot. But the injury did not seem to affect her choreography which remained energetic as she danced across the stage, which covered half the length of the arena.

Grande announced last month, just days after the release of her new album Petal, that she would be taking a break from public life amid what her representative called “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.

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A music video for the new album’s title track had prompted renewed speculation about the singer’s health. She dropped out of the upcoming London revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday In The Park With George, in which she was due to appear opposite Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bailey announced he would also withdraw from the play, saying: “Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering.”

While performing her hit Thank You, Next at the O2, Grande changed a lyric about ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, a dancer and photographer – who she appeared to confirm a rekindled romance with on Instagram earlier this week. The lyric change from “wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh” to “wrote some songs about Ricky, I’m tryna make him my last” drew loud screams from fans.

Grande became emotional as she sang new track Nowhere, Nobody live for the first time – her voice breaking as she sang the opening lyric “I don’t believe in a perfect ending – but that’s alright.”

The singer appeared to be soaking in the atmosphere of the final show and was seen sharing smiles with her band and dancers and blowing kisses to her fans. She seemed unfazed when fans at the final show continued screaming and failed her viral “mute challenge” where she asks the entire crowd to go silent as the lights dim.

The concert ended poignantly as some fans sobbed and waved goodbye to the singer as she ascended to the sky on wires while singing the final song, Supernatural.

Despite withdrawing from public appearances Grande is still due to appear in a new film, Focker-In-Law, in November – also starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. The audience at the O2 was shown a trailer for the film just before the concert began.

Grande has won three Grammy awards during her successful music career, which took off in 2013 after the release of her debut album, Yours Truly. She was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Glinda in the big screen adaptation of Wicked.

The second season of the gripping psychological thriller has landed on Channel 5

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Robson Green has been called “terrifying” in his role of serial killer Patrick Harbottle.

The Grantchester icon will reprise the character opposite Jason Watkins in The Game when season two launches on Channel 5 on Tuesday, September 1.

The first season aired last year and proved hugely popular with audiences as it followed former detective Huw as he continued to chase down serial killer Patrick.

The cat-and-mouse thriller will pick up one year later in season two, with Patrick in prison for his crimes. Huw believes he has broken free of Patrick’s psychological control and is trying to move on from the events in the first season.

However, he soon realises that Patrick is not finished. From his prison cell, he initiates a fresh game, one that penetrates deep into Huw’s family, undermining the former detective’s moral foundation and pushing him towards an impossible decision, as ending Patrick’s reign for good may well demand a devastating personal sacrifice, reports The Mirror.

Speaking about working alongside Rob again, Jason, known for McDonald and Dodds, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, and The Crown, admitted the pair are very different actors, but that’s what makes their dynamic work.

Calling Robson “terrifying” in his role as Patrick, he said: “You are denied that meeting for the whole of the first episode. It’s very clever structuring. The audience got to know these characters through the whole of the first series so when they do finally meet again, wow, you’re in.

“Robson is terrifying and very consistent as Patrick while Huw is a bit more of a butterfly. We dance around each other very well. We are different as actors and the characters are very different. It’s a very good fit. It’s great to have those scenes. Huw develops a bit of steel about him, which we haven’t seen before.”

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Robson also commented on the characters, revealing audiences will be left wondering who is one step ahead throughout the second series.

Teasing what’s to come, Robson, who is best known for playing detective inspector Geordie Keating in ITV’s longstanding hit Grantchester, said: “There is this wonderful dramatic curveball that hits the series which really gives it energy to push it forward to the end. It’s a very shocking, surprising turn of events. I gasped. You think you’ve worked it out, but you haven’t.”

The actor also reflected on his time working with Jason, admitting it was one of the reasons he returned for a second season of The Game.

He explained: “One of the reasons I was so happy to do series two was because I would be working alongside Jason again, who gives another masterclass in truth. Those scenes were filmed at the university in San Sebastian, which is partly deserted. The design team did a brilliant job of turning it into a prison. It’s fantastic.”

The Game season two returns to Channel 5 at 9pm on Tuesday, September 1.

JJ Blair and Sons, a fixture inside Darlington’s Indoor Market since the business was founded in 1875, will officially close its greengrocer stall on October 9.

Known simply as Blairs to many customers, the business has sold fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as plants and flowers, through five generations of the Blair family.

Some of its plants and flowers are grown at the family’s nursery on Barmpton Lane, which will remain open.

JJ Blair and Sons (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The closure comes just weeks after Robin Blair died aged 81, following a short illness in July.

Christine Hanlon, who has worked at the greengrocer for more than 30 years, confirmed the business will close because there is no one to take it on.

Mr Blair, the grandson of the firm’s founder, was Darlington’s longest-serving market trader and had worked at the stall for more than 70 years.

A Facebook post promoting a closing-down sale reads: “Sale on at JJ Blairs Indoor Market Darlington, when it’s gone it’s gone.”

For many in the town, the stall’s closure will mark the end of an era.

Robin began helping in the family business as a child before leaving school at 15 to become more involved. He later took over from his father, continuing the business founded by his grandfather, JJ Blair, just 12 years after Darlington Market opened in 1863.

JJ Blair and Sons (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The greengrocer survived two world wars, economic downturns and the Covid pandemic, becoming one of the market’s best-known traditional traders.

However, Robin had previously voiced concerns about the market’s future amid falling footfall and the departure of long-standing neighbouring businesses.

Speaking to The Northern Echo last year, he said the greengrocer was “hanging on” but he could not “see any turnaround” in trade.

He said the closure of David Jackson Butchers had been particularly damaging, as customers could no longer complete as much of their shopping under one roof.

Hundreds attend the funeral cortege of Robin Blair (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Following Robin’s death, hundreds of people gathered in the town centre to pay their respects as his funeral cortege arrived outside Darlington Market.

Former colleagues described him as the “backbone” of the market, while Darlington Borough Council deputy leader Chris McEwan said he had been “an institution for Darlington”.

While the market stall will shut, customers will still be able to visit the Blair family nursery on Barmpton Lane for plants and flowers.

An NHS trust which has spent around £1.25million of public money battling female nurses forced to share a changing room with a transgender woman put forward a ‘hopeless’ case, a court heard on Tuesday.

Seven female nurses have now been paid a total of almost £200,000 in compensation by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDNFT) after an employment tribunal ruled their NHS bosses ‘violated their dignity’ by making them change alongside Rose Henderson, a biological male.

The decision by their employers at Darlington Memorial Hospital created a ‘hostile, humiliating and degrading’ environment for the nurses, employment judge Seamus Sweeney ruled in January.

They are now seeking £400,000 in legal costs from the NHS trust, with their lawyers arguing at a hearing in Newcastle yesterday that a costly three-week tribunal held in Newcastle in October and November last year could have been avoided.

Niazi Fetto KC, for the nurses, claimed that following a Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 that ‘sex’ means ‘biological sex’, it was ‘overwhelmingly likely’ the tribunal would rule in the same way in relation to separate changing rooms for men and women.

However the Trust maintained its stance that it was acting legitimately by allowing employees to use changing rooms according to their ‘gender identity’.

Mr Katto said: ‘That defence was hopeless.’

He said this should have been ‘plain and obvious’ following last year’s Supreme Court ruling, which was brought after campaign group For Women Scotland took on the Scottish government over sex-based protections.

The nurses complained about their transgender colleague Rose Henderson (pictured in November) using the female changing rooms at Darlington Memorial Hospital

It also emerged yesterday that a public governor at CDDNFT warned NHS bosses a year before the tribunal that if the Trust was seen to be suppressing discussion, it risked comparisons with the Lucy Letby scandal at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Stephen Twist, a barrister who was elected public governor on a three-year term in 2023 to represent patients, also advised leaders of the Trust to look closely at the Horizon Post Office Inquiry, which raised the importance of oversight of legal risk at a board level, newly released emails reveal.

The seven nurses are asking the NHS trust to pay 90 per cent of their £443,000 legal costs.

They are not asking for the full amount because Judge Sweeney ruled Henderson did not directly harass the women, as was alleged.

However he said his decision ‘in no way diminishes the very real and genuine perception of the claimants, all of whom were fearful of the risks at the very least, to their dignity, bodily integrity and privacy.’

The Trust is understood to have spent £600,000 on legal costs fighting its own case.

Mr Katto told the court: ‘This litigation would never have arisen had the Trust provided single-sex changing rooms and not made the nurses share with a transgender woman.

‘Had the respondents taken the approach of recognising the weaknesses of its defence on the core area of the case and made suitable concessions and engaged seriously, the trial would have been avoided.

The group of nurses left a press conference in January after employment tribunal ruled they suffered harassment

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‘The warning signs could not have been clearer.’

Simon Cheetham KC, for the trust, said it was right to fight the case, adding it was all about ‘perception’ and that ‘many of the allegations brought by the claimants were unsuccessful.’

Giving evidence at last year’s tribunal, nurse Karen Danson said that in September 2023 she encountered Henderson in the changing rooms wearing nursing scrubs on the upper half and tight boxer shorts with holes in them on the lower half. 

She said Henderson ‘had facial hair’ and there was ‘nothing to suggest [they] were anything other than a man.’

The nurses – Ms Danson; Bethany Hutchison; Lisa Lockey; Tracy Hooper; Annice Grundy; Carly Hoy and Jane Peveller – said they were labelled as bigots and troublemakers when they complained.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ms Hutchison said: ‘We did not want to spend years in legal proceedings against the NHS Trust for which we worked. 

‘We wanted our employer to listen to women, respect our dignity and provide lawful changing facilities in which we could prepare for our shifts in privacy.

‘We now return to the tribunal because we believe the Trust should be held responsible for the substantial legal costs that could and should have been avoided. 

‘This is public money, and NHS organisations must be accountable for decisions that expose staff and taxpayers to unnecessary litigation.’

The tribunal will return its decision at a later date.

The summer transfer window has closed with Manchester United experiencing a quiet deadline day.

The summer transfer window has shut with Manchester United ending with a quiet deadline day. Michael Carrick was hoping for some late signings but he has been left disappointed.

One area that United were looking to strengthen was left-back. However, after failing to move for Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, their options were limited on deadline day. Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas was on United’s radar but despite his move to Atletico Madrid falling through the Reds chose not to make a move.

Leicester’s Louis Page was a player that United were working to bring in, but that deal was not completed. A loan exit for Chido Obi could still be completed with clubs in the Netherlands and Denmark interested. Their windows shut on Wednesday, September 2.

Although deadline day proved to be uneventful, there was still plenty of business done over the course of the summer. Here’s a full list of the ins and outs at United:

United transfers (In):

Carlos Baleba (Brighton) – £65million (plus £5m in add-ons)

Andrey Santos (Chelsea) – £48million (plus £2million add-ons)

Karl Darlow – free transfer

Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) – £35million

Tynan Thompson (Tottenham Hotspur) – £4million (plus £4million add-ons)

Kit Margetson – free transfer (compensation owed to Swansea City)

Cristian Orozco (Fortaleza CEIF) – Undisclosed

United transfers (Out):

Andre Onana (Trabzonspor) – Loan

Rasmus Hojlund (Napoli) – £38million

Sekou Kone (Lausanne-Sport) – Loan

Tyler Fredricson (Lausanne-Sport) – Undisclosed

Elyh Harrison (Greenock Morton) – Loan

Altay Bayindir (Celta Vigo) – Loan

Jacob Devaney (Hibernian) – Loan

Jayce Fitzgerald (Rotherham) – Loan

Ethan Wheatley (Lincoln) – Loan

Solomon Honor (Southport) – Loan

Dan Gore (Luton ) – Loan

Radek Vitek (Middlesbrough) – £14million

Ethan Williams (Peterborough United) – Undisclosed

Ethan Ennis (Stockport County) – Undisclosed

James Scanlon (Arsenal) – Undisclosed

Toby Collyer (West Bromwich Albion) – £3million (plus £4.6m in potential add-ons)

Habeeb Ogunneye (Arsenal) – Undisclosed

Louis Jackson (St Mirren) – Undisclosed

Casemiro – End of contract

Tyrell Malacia – End of contract

Jadon Sancho – End of contract

Sonny Aljofree – End of contract

James Bailey – End of contract

Malachi Sharpe – End of contract

The defendant, wearing a grey suit and occasionally consulting with his lawyers, appeared in court in the city of Provo on Tuesday.

Kirk’s widow, Erika, the mother of their two children, and his parents, ⁠Robert and Kathryn, were also at the hearing.

Closing arguments followed a nearly week-long preliminary hearing in July, during which prosecutors outlined their evidence to show probable cause for trial.

That included DNA allegedly tying Robinson to the murder weapon and other items recovered at the scene; confessions Robinson allegedly made to loved ones; and a taped video statement from his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs.

“There is a mountain of evidence that proves that he is the shooter,” prosecutor Ryan McBride told the court on Tuesday, outlining video evidence that he said showed Robinson “dressed to kill” on campus on the day of the shooting.

“We know that the defendant is the shooter… first, because of the video evidence; second, because of the DNA; third, because of his admissions; and fourth, because of circumstantial evidence,” McBride said.

Prosecutors said Robinson was in a relationship with Twiggs and regarded Kirk’s conservative views, particularly on transgender issues, as “repugnant” – which they argued was the motive.

On Tuesday, prosecutors also outlined “aggravating” factors – accusing Robinson of “gambling with the lives of others” when he allegedly fired towards Kirk, who was surrounded by other people.

“He was playing, in effect, a game of ballistic roulette,” prosecutor Chad Grunander said.

“It’s been 356 days since Tyler Robinson assassinated Charlie Kirk,” prosecutor Chat Grunander said. “It’s time for him, the defendant, to be bound over for trial and arraigned. Today.”

Defense attorneys, meanwhile, attempted to sew doubt about the prosecution’s evidence. During the July hearing, they raised questions about procedure, expert protocol and credentials. Robinson’s lawyers have repeatedly objected to cameras livestreaming courtroom proceedings.

Graf again listened to arguments on the issue during a sealed hearing Tuesday morning before closing arguments commenced – but ruled in favour of transparency in a case that has sparked countless conspiracy theories.

On Tuesday, the defence sought to downplay the aggravating factors outlined by prosecutors – arguing that only Kirk was shot, and no other bullets hit the crowd.

The court heard and saw during July’s protracted hearing how Robinson allegedly cased the campus repeatedly on the day Kirk was shot – interacting with TPUSA members and eating Chick-fil-A before returning in different clothes.

The new outfit included “long pants to obscure the rifle he had concealed down his pants,” McBride said on Tuesday.

According to prosecutors’ evidence presented during the July hearing, Robinson’s DNA was found on his grandfather’s rifle stashed in a wooden area near campus after the shooting, as well as on a towel it was wrapped in and a screwdriver recovered at the scene.

McBride on Tuesday also reminded the court that engravings found on casings from the shooting allegedly matched a Dremel tool recovered at the residence Robinson shared with Twiggs.

Twiggs’ videotaped interview with prosecutors was played in July during the hearing. Robinson’s roommate testified that the alleged shooter confessed to the crime, cried and said he wished he hadn’t done it.

Robinson, in the company of his family and a neighbour, turned himself in the day after the murder.

Krisstoffer Henshall, 38, died following a collision on the M56 in Cheshire in the early hours of Monday 31 August, according to Cheshire Police

The relatives of a 38 year old man who lost his life following a crash on the M56 in Cheshire have shared their tribute to him.

Krisstoffer Henshall passed away in the early hours of Monday 31 August after he was struck while on foot on the M56 eastbound carriageway between junctions 14 (Hapsford) and 12 (Runcorn), Cheshire Live reports.

In the wake of his death, Kriss’ family said: “Our family is heartbroken by the sudden loss of Kriss, and we are struggling to understand and process this devastating news. He will be missed beyond words. We respectfully ask for privacy as we mourn his loss and support one another through this difficult time.”

Investigations into the incident remain active and anyone holding information or dashcam footage that could assist the enquiry is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101 or visit www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us quoting IML-2407733.

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Great British Sewing Bee contestant Rebecca was left in tears as she opened up about her hidden disability.

A contestant on The Great British Sewing Bee has opened up about their invisible disability, as they left the show. Sewer Rebecca became the latest star to leave the competition, missing out on a place in the semi-final.

At the end of Literary Icons week, the five remaining sewers stood in front of judges Patrick Grant and Esme Young and host Sophie Willan, to discover who would make it through. Sophie stated: “Now for the difficult bit, one of you does have to go home today,” reports the Mirror.

She continued: “You’ve all been amazing, it’s getting very serious now, it’s up here, so it’s very difficult for the judges. But unfortunately, the person going home today is Rebecca.”

As she burst into tears over her exit, Rebecca revealed how proud she was to have made it so far in the competition. She also spoke about her hidden disability, admitting she’d been in pain “the whole time”.

Rebecca received support from her fellow contestants as she became emotional about her departure, though she expressed immense pride in her achievement. She remarked: “I’m feeling incredibly proud of myself, I never thought I’d make it to the quarter-finals, so it’s been a privilege, every step of the way.”

Esme commented: “I’ll really miss Rebecca. She was such fun, and making a dress and jacket was a lot of work. But she made so many mistakes.”

Rebecca went on: “Doing all of what I’ve achieved, being in pain the whole time, it’s just, I’m so proud of myself, and I hope that anyone who is living with an invisible disability or any disability, knows they can do incredible things.”

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The contestant had previously opened up about her health condition, after suffering through years of pain. In an earlier episode, when tasked with making adaptive clothing, Rebecca shared: “Almost everything I make for myself is adaptive. I have chronic stomach pain, so for me, adaptive fashion is making sure there is nothing tight around my stomach.”

The chartered actuary from London was crowned winner of the first challenge that day, and celebrated: “I’m so thrilled to have specifically won the adaptive fashion challenge as an invisibly-disabled person.”

The BBC had teased the challenges for the quarter-final episode, airing on Tuesday, September 1. The synopsis read: “It’s week 8, and the five remaining sewers must channel their inner bookworm in a series of challenges celebrating literary icons. For the Pattern Challenge, the judges ask the sewers to create literature’s most iconic piece of headwear, the deerstalker worn by Arthur Conan Doyle’s character Sherlock Holmes. It’s a challenge that at this stage of the competition is far from elementary.

“In the Transformation Challenge, they must imagine what the iconic children’s character Matilda would be like as a grown-up and create an outfit for her from second-hand school uniform. Finally, in the Made-to-Measure, everyone must travel back to the turn of the 19th century and the Regency period by creating outfits inspired by the works of Jane Austen.”

Rebecca had earlier shared her excitement as being announced to be in this year’s line-up for The Great British Sewing Bee. She shared a post on social media, saying: “ I’m going to be on the Great British Sewing Bee!” The 27-year-old added: “It’s been an absolutely crazy year trying to keep this all under wraps. But the secret’s finally out and I couldn’t be more excited!”

The Great British Sewing Bee is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.