He was rushed to hospital from the scene

A person has tragically died after being found unresponsive near Piccadilly station. Officers were called out to London Road, near to Piccadilly Station Approach, at 6.50am this morning (September 5).

Greater Manchester Police says a male was taken to hospital after being found unresponsive, but he sadly later died. His age has not been confirmed.

A large cordon was in place on London Road this morning between Aytoun Street and Store Street. Officers had erected a blue forensic tent on one part of the pavement.

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Forensics investigators attended the scene and were seen gathering photographic evidence. They appeared to focus on a blood-stained jacket and on the pavement at one point.

It has not yet known how this is connected to the person’s death. GMP says enquiries are at an early stage. The cordon has since been lifted.

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A GMP spokesperson said: “Officers were called to reports of a male unresponsive on London Road at 6:50am this morning (5 September). The male was taken to hospital where he has since sadly passed away. Enquires remain ongoing.”

A private jet believed to be carrying US President Donald Trump‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff has touched down in Moscow.

It comes after Trump said on Friday that the envoys were heading to Moscow and Kyiv in Washington’s latest bid to reach a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

US outlet Axios reported they would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, and then President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday. The Kremlin declined to comment.

Trump told reporters that the two negotiators would seek to gauge whether progress towards peace was possible.

It comes as Zelensky announced today that Russia carried out ‘deliberate’ strikes on Ukrainian airports overnight in Kyiv and Boryspil.

‘Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport,’ he wrote on X.

He added:  ‘We have taken note of this Russian move, and next week we will adjust our operation accordingly regarding Russian airspace, which has become dangerous because of our drones and missiles in the sky. 

‘Of course, there are and will be no threats to diplomacy from our side. Ukraine is interested in bringing peace closer. Russia will be held accountable for what it does.’

The Ukrainian president added that four people were killed and five others injured after a Russian strike in Kamianske, in the Dnipro region.

Peace efforts have stalled due to Washington’s war with Iran, while Moscow and Kyiv have intensified long-range attacks, driving up civilian casualties to levels not seen since the start of fighting.

‘I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They’ve done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we’ll do it,’ Trump said.

‘They’re bringing with them a proposal to end the war,’ he said.

The US president would not say whether the plan involved Ukraine ceding territory as he has previously suggested, but added: ‘We have an idea for peace.’

It will be the first time that Trump’s businessman friend Witkoff and son-in-law Kushner have visited war-torn Kyiv since Trump returned to office last year with a pledge to resolve the conflict.

Witkoff and Kushner, who have been involved in negotiations for ceasefires in Gaza and Iran, have travelled repeatedly to Moscow in previous attempts at diplomacy.

Zelensky today shared footage of a Russian strike, saying they had targeted airports in Ukraine 

A Russian drone yesterday struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in central Kyiv, with officials saying the attack directly targeted the office of its chief

The renewed push for peace comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to trade fire with long-range missile and drone attacks.

Just hours before Trump’s announcement, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in central Kyiv, according to Zelensky.

The strike, which Zelensky said was aimed at the office of the agency’s acting chief, was the first on its headquarters since the start of the invasion.

Despite the unprecedented nature of the strike, the Ukrainian president proposed observing a ceasefire with Russia for the duration of the US envoys’ trip.

‘There will be no airstrikes on our part, and Russia must reciprocally ensure a ceasefire – without its own airstrikes – for the duration needed to conduct these talks,’ he said in his evening address.

Russia did not immediately comment on the proposal.

Hours later, Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, said a Russian strike killed four people and wounded five in the southeastern city of Kamianske.

Zelensky had said on Wednesday that Russian airspace would be ‘completely unsafe’ and filled with Ukrainian drones as long as Moscow continued its war.

Witkoff and Kusher’s trip comes more than week after a rare visit to Moscow by CIA director John Ratcliffe, who warned Russia against any attack on NATO member states, according to US media.

Earlier this week, the United States welcomed the Russian finance minister at a G20 gathering in North Carolina.

On Wednesday, Putin smirked as he renewed his threats to target Britain – with the taunt that attacks UK factories were a ‘military secret’.

The attack came just two days after Vladimir Putin issued a fresh threat against Britain, refusing to rule out targeting UK military factories after London agreed to provide Ukraine with classified blueprints for long-range missiles

During an interview with Russian state media RT, the Kremlin dictator issued an ominous warning after the UK agreed to supply Ukraine with classified blueprints for long-range missiles last week.

When asked ‘Could British military industrial facilities located on British territory become military targets?’ Putin replied with a smirk: ‘That’s a secret, a military secret.’

He made clear any ‘British military facilities’ inside Ukraine were ‘absolutely’ a Russian target.

The Russian leader was speaking at a nighttime press conference in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, after attending the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) summit.

His taunt was the latest increasingly brazen threat from Moscow to target British military and defence companies after the UK increased its support for Ukraine.

Russian foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova warned last week that ‘any British military installations and equipment in Ukraine and beyond its borders’ could be attacked in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russia using British weapons.

Yesterday, Trump insisted Putin is ‘not looking to attack Nato territory’ despite a suspected Russian drone attack on a German airport that sparked outrage across Europe. 

When questioned in the Oval Office on Friday about the incident, the US President said: ‘I speak to him. I know him very well. Putin’s not looking to attack Nato territory.’ 

The discovery of drones packed with explosives, including one found alongside a Ukrainian jet and another at a Nato logistics hub, has raised alarm across Europe. 

European security officials believe the incidents form part of Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign against countries that have supported Ukraine since Putin launched his full-scale invasion in 2022. 

It is understood US intelligence believed Russian secret services were likely behind the attack in August, having reportedly matched DNA found on the drone with a suspected Russian sabotage attack at the same airport two years ago. 

Trump’s refusal to condemn the Kremlin on Friday is likely to fuel new concerns over the US’s commitment to Nato. 

The village only has one pub

There are many unique and historic towns and villages in Cambridgeshire that each have their own history. Many people will know most of the places that form Cambridgeshire today, including major cities such as Cambridge and Peterborough and smaller villages and towns like Great Shelford and Whittlesey.

However, some places that form part of our county today once belonged to our neighbours. Cambridgeshire borders several different counties including Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire.

The village of Heydon was one of these areas that wasn’t once part of Cambridgeshire, but part of Essex. Heydon is an ancient village, with remains from the Roman times and Iron Age discovered there.

The village’s name is believed to mean ‘hay’ or ‘high valley’, due to it being a notably dry valley. Heydon was part of Essex for many years until it came under the county of Cambridgeshire in 1894.

The Local Government Act 1894 required rural districts and civil parishes not to cross administrative county boundaries. As a result, in order to align local government and district boundaries, Heydon became part of Cambridgeshire.

The village is described as “charming” and set within “picturesque countryside”. Heydon only has one pub – the King William IV.

It has been a “cornerstone of the Heydon community for generations”, according to the pub website. It offers freshly cooked meals, from pizzas to Sunday roasts. Its drink range has also been “carefully curated” by the pub owners, offering a range of real ales and wines.

Houses in Heydon are on the pricey side, as the average three-bedded semi-detached home costs between £635,000 to £660,000.

If you wanted a four-bed house, the price hikes up to £1.25 million. For a five to six-bedroom home, they cost between £1 million and £1.3 million.

Everyone is supposed to take the daily pill as we head into autumn

A pharmacist has issued a warning that millions could be missing the benefits of their vitamin D supplements by taking them incorrectly. The NHS advises everyone to take vitamin D daily from the end of September.

The majority of our vitamin D intake is derived from the interaction between our skin and sunlight – a process which is significantly hampered during the autumn and winter months when sunshine is scarce and we’re more likely to stay indoors or bundle up against the cold.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health, bolstering the immune system, supporting muscle function, promoting a positive mood, reducing inflammation, and ensuring heart health. However, if you’re not taking your supplements correctly, you could be throwing your money down the drain and jeopardising your wellbeing.

Jana Abelovska, Superintendent Pharmacist at Click Pharmacy, said: “The best way to get vitamin D is through your diet, supported by supplements like tablets, capsules, gummies or sprays that you use directly into your mouth. Vitamin D is fat soluble, which means that it is absorbed into the body along with fat – this means taking your vitamin D supplement with food that contains some healthy fats, such as nuts or yoghurt, will help your body absorb it much better.

“The recommended daily amount of vitamin D for adults aged between 19 and 70 is 15 mcg which is 600 IU or International Units, a unit used to measure vitamins. It’s really common to take vitamin D supplements, especially as many of us will not get enough vitamin D from sunlight or food alone. Dietary sources of vitamin D include oily fish, mushrooms and eggs, as well as some fortified foods like breakfast cereals and milk or plant-based milk alternatives.”

“It’s not healthy to try and get more vitamin D from the sun by going without sun protection. Also, our bodies make vitamin D in response to UVB radiation from the sun, but most glass blocks UVB rays – meaning that even if you’re sitting indoors in a ray of sunlight, it won’t boost your levels of the vitamin. Don’t use a tanning bed to try and boost your vitamin D – it won’t work as they produce much more UVA radiation than UVB, and it will increase the risk of skin cancer.

“Don’t take too much vitamin D. Because it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, it can build up in your body more easily than other vitamins. Taking too much vitamin D long term can lead to hypercalcemia, an excess of calcium in the body, which can cause problems with your heart, kidneys and bones. 4,000 IU or 100 mcg is considered to be the upper limit of safe vitamin D supplementation.”

The new academic year is about to begin, meaning hundreds of thousands of students are headed to university for the first time, or returning after the summer break. 

Unless they are staying at home, they all need somewhere to live – and that presents a huge opportunity for private landlords. 

The constant churn of tenants and potential for wild parties mean renting to students isn’t for the faint-hearted. 

But landlords could be tempted by the fact student lets offer some of the best returns on the market, according to data from buy-to-let mortgage lender Paragon Bank.

Some are struggling to make the numbers stack up in the mainstream market amid higher mortgage rates, upkeep costs and service charges alongside more regulation and a less friendly tax regime.

While the average rental yields for typical buy-to-let rental investments are around 6 per cent, student rentals in some locations can yield over 9 per cent.

The yield is the percentage an investor can expect to make back on the purchase price of their property each year.

For example, a 5 per cent yield on a £200,000 property would amount to £10,000 per year in rental income, or £833.33 per month.

Where are student lets most lucrative? 

Paragon Bank has shared data with This is Money based on the properties it has provided mortgages on in popular student postcodes. 

It shows that Stoke-on-Trent offers landlords the strongest rental yields among the UK’s leading university locations.

The city, which serves the University of Staffordshire and nearby Keele University, recorded a student property yield of 9.42 per cent. This is based on average annual rental income of £14,222 and a typical property valuation of £150,982.

Plymouth ranked second, generating a typical yield of 9.27 per cent. Student properties in the city delivered average annual rental income of £35,224, against an average valuation of £379,881.

Cities with Russell Group universities also feature prominently in the top 15 rankings. 

Liverpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, York, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield, Durham, Exeter and Southampton all appear among the 15 highest-yielding locations. 

Student landlords in Liverpool, home to the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores, can typically expect to achieve a yield of 8.86 per cent, based on annual rental income of £26,399 and an average property valuation of £297,951.

Cardiff student lets produce average returns of 8.27 per cent while Edinburgh follows closely at 8.23 per cent. York and Leeds each generated yields above 8 per cent. 

But property experts say the decision to invest in student property should not be taken lightly. 

‘Student property is a specialist market,’ said Louisa Sedgwick, managing director of Mortgages at Paragon Bank. 

‘Landlords need to understand local demand, the type and quality of accommodation students require and the responsibilities associated with managing shared homes.’ 

Chris Sykes, a mortgage adviser at MSP Financial Solutions says:

‘Although the headline rents are higher, student lets will often go through more wear and tear than a professionally let house of multiple occupancy.

‘I remember my own university days. My house that housed eight of us was always a mess – no matter how many cleaning schedules I pinned to the fridge. 

‘Students will have parties, they may cause noise complaints with neighbours, smoke residue inside a property is a frequent one too – so I’d imagine the insurance side of things is more expensive also.’

Sykes also says student landlords are nervous about the implications of the Renters Rights Act. 

Under the new rules, all properties are now let on ‘periodic’ or rolling tenancies, which means landlords are not allowed to tie tenants in for a fixed term, such as one year. 

This means renters can end a tenancy whenever they like, as long as they give the landlord two months’ notice.

Like other renters, students have previously had to sign contracts for a whole year more – even though academic terms typically start in September or October and run until June.

Now, students could decide to exit a tenancy at the start of the summer, leaving landlords with an empty property for three months until the next year’s students arrive.

While the Act includes provisions to allow purpose-built student accommodation to be exempt from the switch to assured tenancies allowing them to stick with fixed contracts, landlords with ordinary flats or houses don’t have this advantage.

‘I know a number of my clients that have student let properties are nervous about the effects the renters rights act will have on the market,’ adds Sykes.

‘The rules are different for purpose-built student let properties and halls of residences but what investors will generally be looking at are houses, flats or houses in multiple occupation that can be let to students, but wouldn’t class as purpose built.’

Solid return: Student landlords in Liverpool, home to the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores, can typically expect to achieve a yield of 8.86%

Student standards are also much higher than they once were, according to Michael Zucker, chartered surveyor at north London estate agency Jeremy Leaf & Co.

‘Nowadays, students expect a high standard of accommodation including good Wifi, enough workspace in each room and a communal living and kitchen area with adequate facilities and storage for all occupants,’ says Zucker.

‘Basic student digs which were prevalent in the 20th century will no longer cut the mustard. Provision of en-suite shower rooms will enhance the rental value. 

‘Good accessibility to places of study is of course essential, while including bills for communal heating and hot water in the rent will avoid arguments.’

When it comes to mortgage lending, the situation is more complex as well, which typically means slightly higher rates and fees.

‘Due to the generally higher wear and tear, higher risk of damage, some lenders steer clear of any properties that would be let to students exclusively,’ says Sykes.

‘A mortgage for a student let isn’t much more complicated than a normal HMO mortgage, it’s just about choosing the right lender and making sure the property has the right licenses.’

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A group of chimpanzees that were once used for hepatitis B vaccine experiments in laboratories have received health checks at their new home in Liberia, in hopes of giving them a second chance at a normal life.

The West African chimpanzees received checks ranging from teeth cleaning to X-rays and pedicure at the Humane World for Animals’ Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in central Liberia, Liliana Pacheco Ricote, director of the sanctuary, told The Associated Press.

More than 400 of the chimpanzees had been used by American researchers in Liberia in the hepatitis B vaccine experiments from the 1970s until early 2000s, Ricote said, many of them captured in the wild as infants.

Liberia has the second-highest number of chimpanzees in West Africa, after Guinea. The West African chimpanzees are classified as critically endangered species because of their rapidly declining numbers.

“They were used in very invasive research … (and) went through a lot of experiments and pain,” Ricote said.

Humane World for Animals said that in 2015, it assumed permanent responsibility for 60 of the chimpanzees that were remaining at the end of the research program. The chimps now mostly live at the sanctuary on a series of mangrove forest-covered islands.

The checks carried out under anesthetic gave the chimpanzees head-to-toe exams to assess their long-term health, detect any early signs of disease and tailor care plans for individuals as they age, Humane World for Animals said in a statement to the AP.

The tests included dental examination, the heart, lungs and nervous system as well as blood. They get booster vaccinations and fingernail trims, it said, adding that plans are in place to carry out the checks on the remaining ones.

“The health checks are a vital part of caring for these chimpanzees who have been through so much,” said Belen Perez Hernando, the sanctuary’s veterinarian.

The extent of the impact of the experiments on the chimps, whose average age is 30 to 35, is unclear, as findings from the assessments are yet to be concluded. However, “for those who were under experiments, you could still feel the hurt and the pain that they went through,” Ricote said.

“Seeing how much they hurt about what we’ve done, it gives me a lot of pleasure … to give them this second chance to live with dignity the life that they deserve,” she added.

But Britain cannot simply “pick up a plan” of what others are doing as every country has its own “tennis ecosystem”, says Bourne.

Lloyd adds: “We’re competing in one of the most internationally elite sports out there and the landscape is vastly different to 40 or 50 years ago in terms of the number of countries which have representation at the top.

“We’re ambitious, we want to drive for more, but we honestly believe the indicators are positive. We’re moving in the right direction and stronger than where we have been historically.”

Encouraging more British children to pick up a racquet from an early age is crucial to developing the next generation of stars.

Draper, Raducanu and Fery – who entered the LTA system at a young age – provide the blueprint.

There are 4.3m juniors playing tennis annually with 1.9m playing every month, which Lloyd says are both all-time records.

But there is a concern that a lack of high-level coaching is stunting the development of many more promising talents.

Bourne admits the UK needs a “higher base” of coaches, adding that one of the LTA’s key strategies is “spending time and effort” on developing them.

Chris Marshall, a senior performance coach with over 25 years’ experience, fears many youngsters are being priced out of tennis because parents cannot afford quality coaching.

“To fund a 12-year-old at county level right now requires anywhere from £500 to £1,000 a month for coaching, travel, and tournament fees,” Marshall, who founded the Young Champs programme to provide free and discounted coaching for children, told BBC Sport.

“It is a massive, stressful financial barrier that makes the sport a non-starter for the vast majority of British families.

“We can’t sit around lamenting the lack of British interest in the second week when we are restricting the pipeline that feeds it.”

By KIRSTEN MURRAY, SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 10:36 BST, 5 September 2026 | Updated: 10:52 BST, 5 September 2026

It’s officially that time of year again as the BBC released their first trailer for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 on Saturday. 

With the countdown on until 15 new celebrities hit the dancefloor, they aren’t the only ones who will be nervous as new hosts Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe also take to the floor for the first time. 

Making their debut in the all singing all dancing trailer, the pair looked positively ‘Strictly-fied’ as they emerged out of a golden Strictly trailer alongside their fellow host Johannes Radebe. 

After Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down at the end of last year’s series – the BBC are now trialling a three host format for the first time. 

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After Johannes assured fans they would still get to see him dancing, the trailer sees him performing alongside his fellow professionals and much-loved judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke. 

As the professional dancers perform a high-energy routine on a studio backlot, Josh, Emma and Johannes are then unveiled in a burst of golden light as they emerge out a Strictly trailer. 

Performing a few moves themselves, it is all gold and glamour ahead of this year’s series which will launch on September 19. 

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Strictly Come Dancing first look: Hosts Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe get glammed up as they make their dancing debut alongside Johannes Radebe in new series trailer

It is all gold and glamour ahead of this year’s series which will launch on September 19 (pictured Anton Du Beke dancing with Katya Jones) 

However the couple pairings will work slightly differently this year. 

While in the past the celebrity has had their professional dancer unveiled to them in a pre-filmed clip, this year the stars will discover the identity of their partner in front of the Strictly studio audience via three specially-choreographed group dance routines.

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The full routine will open this year’s Strictly launch show – which will feature more dancing than ever before.

The launch show will also take viewers behind the scenes as the celebs begin their dance rehearsals.

Plus the return of last year’s champion Karen Carney, who will dance her iconic football jive with Carlos Gu.

The professionals returning this series are Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Carlos Gu, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, Aljaž Škorjanec, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington , Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Julian Caillon and Vito Coppola.

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It was revealed earlier this year that Nadiya Bychkova, 37, Karen Hauer , 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk , 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35, have all been given the boot.

Meanwhile the line-up itself has come under fire as many of the celebrities have been deemed unrecognisable to viewers.

Some of the best known of the line-up are Dani Dyer , Delta Goodrem , Jaime Winstone, Will Best and Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters.

Stars such as Kim Kardashian’s hair stylist Chris Appleton might not be a household name, but he does boast a huge social media following with four million fans on Instagram.

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John Nellis has an even bigger fanbase, with 15.7 million YouTube subscribers.

Indeed, while bosses may be keen to attract Gen Z (14 to 29 years old), the majority of Strictly viewers are currently Gen X (46 to 61 years old) and Baby Boomers (62 to 80 years old).

STRICTLY COME DANCING 2026: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

LACEY TURNER 

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AGE: 38

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Stacey Slater on BBC’s EastEnders 

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’m so excited and terrified at the same time but I’ve had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plunked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor.’

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DELTA GOODREM

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Played Nina Tucker in Neighbours and has released eight music albums

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career – from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor!’

CACH MERCER

AGE: 25

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Won Love Island 2025 and is a TikTok influencer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!’

DAME SARAH STOREY

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AGE: 48

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Britain’s most successful Paralympian 

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.’

BETHANY ANTONIA 

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AGE: 28

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill.’

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GRAEME ‘THE DOGFATHER’ HALL

AGE: 59

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Channel 5 series Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking!’

TABBY STOECKER 

AGE: 25

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Olympic champion skeleton racer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can’t wait to get stuck in!’

MELANIE WALTERS 

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AGE: 64

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Gwen West in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room.’

DANI DYER

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AGE: 30

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Winning Love Island and being the daughter of actor Danny Dyer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!’

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CHRIS APPLETON

AGE: 43

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hairdresser to the stars – including Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new.’

WILL BEST

AGE: 41

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Big Brother and previously TV

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait!’

JAIME WINSTONE

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AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Starring in films such as Kidulthood and Tomb Raider

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me.’

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS 

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AGE: 44

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Footballer who played for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!’

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LAWRENCE ROBB

AGE: 34

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Mackenzie Boyd on ITV’s Emmerdale

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I can’t quite believe that I am going to be getting my dancing shoes on this September on one of my favourite shows of all time!’

JOHN NELLIS 

AGE: 33

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Face of a popular football-focused YouTube channel

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I can’t wait to meet everyone, learn a new skill and, hopefully, be much better at family parties by the end of it!’

 

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They may not tilt in quite the same way, but the famously wonky, timber-fronted shops of this ancient street continue to attract visitors and residents alike – and have caused people to crane their necks for centuries.

Children turn Shambles into a playground in this early photograph of York’s famous medieval street, long before it became one of the city’s biggest attractions.

After the heat of July and August, York was an obvious staycation choice, with plenty to enjoy, whether food and drink or the city’s rich culture was the main attraction.

Undated

Locals will be all too familiar with the crowd-pulling appeal of Shambles, one of York’s great photo stops.

Recommended reads:

Why locals still smile at this York street name the Victorians cleaned up

Why it is called Whip‑Ma‑Whop‑Ma‑Gate in York city centre

How historic York street has changed since 1800s – 10 old photos

7 old photos – how many of these York bars and nightclubs do you remember?

The narrow, bustling lane is packed with quirky shopfronts, overhanging upper floors and queues of people in search of a little medieval magic – or perhaps something closer to Harry Potter’s Hogwarts.

Undated

The street is often linked with Diagon Alley, although J.K. Rowling has said she had not visited Shambles when creating the wizarding shopping street. That has done little to lessen the connection in visitors’ minds, or the appeal of the Harry Potter-themed shops.

Yet Shambles had a far more pungent past than its glossy, Instagram-ready present might suggest.

Shambles was recorded as early as 1086, when the area appeared in the Domesday Book as in macello – Latin for “at the market”. It developed into York’s butcher’s quarter, with meat sold from open-fronted premises and slaughtering often carried out behind the shops.

The shelves beneath several windows, still visible today, once displayed cuts of meat rather than wizarding treats, souvenirs and sweet jars.

The leaning buildings of Shambles are almost touching in this undated photo from The Press archive.

Leaning – by design

Those upper floors that appear to lean into the street were not simply the result of medieval builders having a bad day. They were deliberately built to project over the lower storeys, a technique known as jettying – also seen elsewhere in York, such as Goodramgate.

A scene from 1974.

Jettying gave householders extra room above without taking away valuable space at street level. On Shambles, where the timber-framed buildings stand so close together, the result is especially striking as it can feel as though the houses are conspiring to meet overhead.

Deliveries in bygone years when vans still made their way down cobbled Shambles to supply the shops lining the historic thoroughfare.

The overhangs also helped shelter stalls, shoppers and goods from rain and sunshine, particularly useful when this was a working meat market, long before refrigerated display cabinets.

What’s in a name?

The formal street name is Shambles although many refer to it as “the Shambles”. Its name comes from an old word for a bench or stall and later became closely linked with places where meat was sold.

These delivery drivers, pictured in 1986, are in a tight spot as they navigate the famously-narrow street.

It has had other names over the centuries, including Haymongergate and Nedlergate, before the “Great Flesh Shambles” appeared in the 15th century.

By 1830, 25 of York’s 88 butchers were based there.

The butchers have gone, the sights and smells have changed, and the street is now a global visitor favourite. Yet Shambles remains defiantly crooked and a medieval survivor still leaning into the future.

Katie Taylor will make her final ring walk to take on Flora Pili

Katie Taylor is set to make her final ring walk in what promises to be a highly emotional night at Croke Park.

The 40 year old boxing icon takes on Flora Pili as she bids to become an undisputed world champion for a third time. Taylor puts her WBA, WBO and IBF super-lightweight world titles on the line, while the vacant WBC belt and Pili’s IBO title are also up for grabs.

Taylor delivered an outstanding performance in her previous encounter with Amanda Serrano last July and enters the bout with a record of 25-1, her only defeat coming against Chantelle Cameron in May 2023 before securing revenge six months later.

As for Pili, she remains unbeaten, having secured victory in all 12 of her professional contests to date, with two coming by way of knockout. This marks only the third occasion she has competed outside her home nation of France.

A host of Irish fighters feature across the nine-bout card, alongside musical performances from Westlife and The Mary Wallopers. Here’s everything you need to know about the event:

Start time

The opening bout on the card is scheduled to begin at 4.10pm, featuring an all-Irish middleweight clash between Dublin’s Paul Ryan and Belfast’s Paddy Gallagher. The main card gets underway at 7pm.

Main event time

The ring walks for the headline bout are scheduled to take place after 9.45pm. This timing will be dependent on how the undercard progresses.

TV channel information

The eagerly anticipated bout will be broadcast live on both DAZN and RTE (only in the Republic of Ireland), with DAZN’s coverage kicking off at 7pm and RTE following an hour later at 8pm.

Full card

Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili – Undisputed Super Lightweight Championship for the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring Magazine Titles.

Dave Allen v Thomas Carty – heavyweight.

Paddy Donovan v Tyrone McKenna – welterweight.

Taylor Bevan vs Emmet Brennan – super-middleweight.

Molly McCann vs Sylwia Doligala – bantamweight.

Joe McGrail vs Matthew Boreland – super-bantamweight.

Adam Olaniyan vs Matej Hudak – heavyweight.

Bobbi Flood vs Jack Swallow – super welterweight.

Paul Ryan vs Paddy Gallagher – middleweight.

Quotes

Katie Taylor: “I have a very tough challenger in front of me but I’ve built a reputation of always taking the tough fights and why make my last fight any different.

“This is a very tough challenge, I have no doubt, but this is what I was born for, this is what I’m made for.

“God has put this gift in me since I was a kid, I have one last time to go in there and just display the gift that God has put in me.

“What a privilege!”.

Flora Pili: “I have nothing to lose and everything to win. I am the underdog for the fight.

“For that reason there’s less pressure on me, and for that reason I’m going to be giving 200% from round one right to the end.

“I’m going to give everything I can and hopefully take home all of these wonderful belts.”

Betting odds

Katie Taylor win: 1/25

Flora Pili win: 13/1

Draw: 33/1

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