“Ultimately we need to know that patient safety will not be compromised.”

A Lisburn Ulster Unionist has put down his party’s red line amid calls for the UUP Health Minister to face scrutiny over £50m hospital savings.

Newly installed Health Minister Robbie Butler (UUP) is now being beckoned a short distance from his city office for council scrutiny at Lagan Valley Island civic centre.

The South Eastern Trust is also being called to the special meeting over concerns a Department of Health cost cutting measure could put patient safety at risk.

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Bringing forward a motion, Castlereagh East DUP councillor Samantha Burns said: “I have grave concerns that the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust has been instructed to deliver significant savings of £50.7 million during 2026/27.

“The cost savings of this scale we have to ask what the exact consequences will be for patients, staff and the services our constituents rely upon particularly at Lagan Valley Hospital and Ulster Hospital.”

The Department of Health has pledged £800m in savings after revealing it is currently overspending by £2m a day.

The ‘reset and recovery’ plan will require a 4% saving to be made by NI health trusts every year for the next three years.

Trusts are being encouraged to reduce temporary staffing, standardise care pathways, shorten hospital stays and reorganise services to deliver savings.

Councillor Burns added: “I am further concerned that the Trust has determined that these measures do not require formal public consultation despite their scale and potential impact upon patients, staff and local communities.

“People deserve to know what is being proposed and deserve to have an opportunity for their concerns to be heard,

“Ultimately we need to know that patient safety will not be compromised.”

The motion received cross party support in the chamber with Minister Butler and the South Eastern Trust to attend the council chamber to outline the proposed savings in full to elected members.

In chambers, Lisburn North UUP councillor Nicholas Trimble said: “I understand Councillor Burns’ concerns and I share them..£50.7m is a huge level of savings for the South Eastern Trust to find especially when we are already half way through the year.

“It is entirely reasonable for us to ask what that is going to mean for our patients and staff.

“The Department of Health has over half the entire Executive budget and the health trusts spend the lion’s share of that and it is prudent for any public body to find savings and efficiencies. “

He added: “But, the UUP has a very clear red line throughout all of this, patient safety must come first no matter how dire the wider state of Executive finance, no health trust should ever do anything that risks either patient or staff safety and wellbeing.

“We do need to keep in our minds that the questions don’t stop with the South Eastern Trust, the Department of Health, the Minister, we must also direct them at the Executive and its wider shortcoming that has put us in this position.”

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This Sunday’s World Championships road race in Montreal promises to be one of the most open in years, with two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar not on the start line. His absence, and a course suited to a wider range of riders than some in recent years, means any number could claim the coveted world champion’s rainbow jersey.

Among their number is Britain’s Tom Pidcock, co-leader of a strong squad alongside veteran Adam Yates. Pidcock is no stranger to rainbow stripes, having won world titles in cyclo-cross and on the mountain bike – including winning a second mountain bike cross-country crown just last month. But a world title on the road would trump every other victory in his career, and make him the first man ever to be world champion in all three disciplines.

Speaking from a training base outside Boulder, Colorado, Pidcock tells The Independent and other outlets: “Regardless of everything else, I think becoming road world champion would be truly amazing. It’s going to be so hard to win, [but] I think this is my best opportunity so far in my career, that’s for sure. It definitely suits me, a hard course, the length of climb.

“I think the depth [in the peloton] is so deep, I might not even stand on the podium, so I think it’s quite an open race. Even having said that it’s my best shot so far.”

Part of Pidcock’s build-up to the World Championships involved the two Canadian Grands Prix, one-day races in Quebec and Montreal. The results were positive – a fourth place in Quebec and sixth two days later on the tougher, more hilly Montreal course. It was the ideal dress rehearsal: the GP de Montreal features 16 laps of the same Mont Royal circuit which features 12 times in the 273.2km Worlds road race.

“I felt like it was very attritional,” Pidcock says. “The race in Montreal felt like it also took forever.” There was a headwind on the main climb, the Cote Camillien-Houde, which – if replicated on Sunday – could play a decisive role in how the race pans out. “I don’t know if that’s the prevailing wind or not, but it made it hard, but also hard to make a difference. I think it’s a course that favours saving for one big move.”

The 27-year-old can often be a harsh self-critic but he sounded upbeat about his shape, following strong showings in Canada, a win in a one-day race in Italy, and most significantly, that mountain bike world title in Val di Sole. “I’ve felt really good these last few weeks, actually, even training at altitude. I did some VO2 efforts at 25,000 metres for the first time ever, and I actually managed to do them, so that must be quite a good thing,” he smiles. “I feel really, really good, to be honest, but yeah, one-day races, you can get it wrong, even if you feel good leading into it.”

We can’t discuss this World Championships without talking about the enormous void left by Pogacar, ruled out of a three-peat, and the rest of his season, with a collarbone fracture and other injuries sustained in a crash at the Vuelta a Espana.

Pidcock was third at last year’s Vuelta, his first-ever podium at a Grand Tour, but opted to skip it this season. Given how the race panned out without Pogacar, did he have any regrets about missing it?

His mind was made up long before, he says: “When I was sick before the Tour [de France] I thought, yeah, I don’t want to go back to the Vuelta now, the Tour’s gonna be rubbish. The Tour was all right,” – something of an understatement: Pidcock finished ninth overall, his best-ever result at the sport’s biggest race – “but, no, I wanted to go to the mountain bike Worlds. I missed that last year, so, you can’t do everything all the time, but I’m quite content with it, really.”

He doesn’t even wait for the end of a question on the Slovenian’s absence at Worlds before saying it “100%” changes the contours of the race. He says drily: “I wouldn’t know who to bet on now; if Tadej is racing, I want to bet on him.”

The two contenders that stand out to Pidcock in Pogacar’s absence are the Slovenian’s trade-team protege, 22-year-old Mexican Isaac del Toro – who won the GP de Montreal – and French teenager Paul Seixas.

Interestingly Pidcock rates Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, another favourite for the title and the 2022 champion, less highly: “Remco will for sure be good, and he’s always a guy that – in Montreal he got dropped on the climb and then he comes back because he’s so good – but I think Del Toro and Seixas are the guys who can make the difference on the climb more than the rest of us.”

Pidcock will co-lead alongside Yates, a former winner in Montreal and another of Pogacar’s trade teammates. After the Canadian double-header Pidcock opted to head to Colorado for a change of scene and to avoid the “endless wait” in the team hotel before the racing actually begins, meaning he has yet to actually meet up with Yates or his other teammates, but he says the 34-year-old is a big boost to the squad. “He’s got a lot of experience. He’s also been part of the winning team for the past five years [UAE Team Emirates-XRG].”

Since a falling-out with then-team Ineos Grenadiers in late 2024 and his surprise move to lower-tier outfit Pinarello Q36.5 Pidcock has enjoyed a role as undisputed team leader, which has also given him more confidence in calling the shots in the national squad. “It’s definitely something that I’ve grown into,” he says.

“Before in Ineos, even when I was leader, I struggled to ask for what I wanted because there were so many big names and experienced riders. I guess now coming to this team I felt almost more responsibility that I had to lead and ask for some things because I understood that people were there to support me, so I’m much better at that role.”

Only two British men have ever won the world title, Tom Simpson in 1965 and Mark Cavendish in 2011. The opportunity to make history and join those legendary names is something Pidcock is “very aware” of: “I think that’s why when Cav won it, it was so special. Also the Tour de France success that we’ve had, it’s not normal, shall we say, so I think it’s not to be taken for granted. That’s why it’s the world championship, that’s why it’s one of the most important races of the year.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones shared a passionate kiss with her husband Michael Douglas in a post to mark his his 82nd birthday on Friday.

The actress, who has the same birthday and just turned 57, posted a sweet snap of herself and her film star husband having a romantic moment in the ocean.

Alongside the post she gushed: ‘Happy Birthday darling! A birthday kiss to my husband Michael, sharing this special day with you, is as special as the day itself. Love you.’

Michael also shared a sweet birthday tribute, posting a picture with his wife and writing: ‘I had never fallen in love on a movie screen before. Until I saw Catherine. 

‘She was magic, in a way that went beyond beauty. And I was certain, as much as I had ever been about anything, that she was the one. 

‘It’s the kind of moment that only comes around once in your life, if you’re lucky.’ 

Michael also shared a sweet birthday tribute, posting a picture with his wife and writing: ‘I had never fallen in love on a movie screen before. Until I saw Catherine’

The post was an excerpt from Michael’s memoir, One Helluva Ride!, which is set for release next month

Michael continued: ‘The one time that you know, without any doubt in your mind, that you’re meant to be with someone. Happy Birthday Catherine! I love you always and forever! ♥️ @catherinezetajones.’ 

The post was an excerpt from Michael’s memoir, One Helluva Ride!, which is set for release next month. 

In response, Catherine commented: ‘Thank you darling. Thank you. Happy Birthday to you too my love. ♥️’

The couple, who married in 2000, share son Dylan, 26, and daughter Carys, 23.

The post comes just the day after Catherine turned up the glamour in a caped silver sequin gown for the premiere for her new thriller series Kill Jackie in London.

The actress plays Jackie Price in the new eight-part Prime Video show – a former international drug smuggler who has spent 20 years living an anonymous life as an art dealer.

Things change dramatically however when an elite team of assassins is hired to kill her, forcing her back into a life of danger.

At the premiere held at the Curzon Bloomsbury, Catherine looked the epitome of old Hollywood glamour in the glitzy number which featured a strapless corset-style top and a matching cape.

She boosted her height with strappy silver heels from Sole Bliss and wore her brunette tresses in loose waves while opting for a bronzed makeup look.

The series is based on the 2018 novel The Price You Pay by Aidan Truhen – the pseudonym of Nick Harkaway, whose father is legendary spy writer David Cornwell, aka John le Carré.

In the series, Jackie has been living a luxurious existence for the last 20 years – travelling the world, selling fine art and, above all, trying to stay anonymous after escaping a dangerous past as an international drug smuggler.

But just as life starts to feel a little boring, it takes a sudden lethal turn when she discovers that The Seven Demons, a squad of the world’s most terrifying hitmen, have been hired to kill her.

Assuming someone from her past is behind it, Jackie unleashes her old instincts and embarks on a wild, dangerous game plan – to take down The Demons one by one before they kill her.

However, she soon realises her own demons are much more terrifying than the ruthless killers on her trail and her buried secrets lead her closer to home, with surprising consequences.

The post comes just the day after the actress turned up the glamour in a caped silver sequin gown for premiere for her new thriller series Kill Jackie in London

The actress plays Jackie Price in the new eight-part Prime Video show – a former international drug smuggler who has spent 20 years living an anonymous life as an art dealer

Appearing alongside Catherine are Daniel Ings, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Óscar Jaenada, Hattie Hook, Darci Shaw, Raff Law, Enzo Cilenti, Christine Adams, Julian Rhind-Tutt and Karlis Arnolds Avots.

The premiere comes just after Catherine insisted her children with Michael have had no more advantage than any other actor as they follow their parents and grandparents into the industry.

Her husband Michael is a double Academy Award winner and the son of Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas, who died in 2020.

Speaking to Nuala McGovern on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Catherine was asked about her recent claim that the nepo-baby label often attributed to her children is ‘horrific’.

Doubling down on her stance, the Welsh star insisted that ‘if it was any other industry whether it be finance or business, or if you’re a lawyer, or I know all my grown-up surgeon doctor friends have kids going into that industry, and they don’t get labelled.’

‘I think, more importantly, I’m married to the ultimate nepo baby. My husband was the son of Kirk Douglas, the son of Spartacus, you know? And he’s done pretty good on his own,’ Catherine continued.

‘And so I think it’s unfortunate that with the intense scrutiny young people have, not just my kids or celebrity kids, just generally, they get slaughtered by AI images of perfection, or this and that. They don’t need another tag, I think it’s very unfortunate.’

When McGovern pointed out that many people think the children of celebrities have access to advantages that other actors don’t have, Catherine was adamant, exclaiming: ‘No, no, no quite opposite. First of all, they have so much to prove.

‘That “oh! It’s in your genes, it’s in your blood”. It’s like “No, actually I have a true passion and love of the craft”.’

The actress’s children are the next branch on a Hollywood family tree that also includes Michael’s mother, the actor Diana Dill. His eldest son, Cameron, who he shares with his ex-wife Diandra Luker, is also an actor.

Michael has also hit back at the nepo-baby label, insisting in a 2024 interview: ‘I don’t know a father in whatever business, be it a plumber or a contractor or a carpenter, who doesn’t try to help his son join him.’

The 31-year-old man, who has worked for the force for less than two years, was taken into custody in the early hours of this morning (September 25). 

Durham Police confirmed he was arrested on suspicion of both sexual communication with a child and misconduct in a public office.  

The officer has been immediately suspended while a criminal investigation is carried out. 

The Northern Echo understands that he was arrested while off duty and taken into police custody in a different force area. 

Brittin took over as BBC director general in May after a decade as president of Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Asked by Kuenssberg if he would allow a programme to be made and presented by AI, Brittin replied: “I would do, within guardrails.”

He added: “We want to experiment with this technology and understand what it can and can’t do, but I’m here because I believe in human creativity.

“I don’t think anything we do should be replaced by AI. I think there are lots of places where AI can help us make the licence fee go further, but also help us in our decision-making and creativity. But it’s not a substitute for humans.”

He also warned of the danger of a handful of tech companies having too much control over information in the future.

“We’re also in this moment where AI is in takeoff. So I think there’s a danger that six companies will control access to information in future and the creation of information and misinformation,” he said.

“Six companies, none of them European, let alone British. In that world, here’s the BBC. It’s the most trusted organisation by over half a billion people.”

Asked if he trusted big tech companies he replied: “There’s a lot of platforms out there, so I wouldn’t trust any platform innately.

“And I think what you do is you keep under review how those things work and whether your content can show up in the right place and fulfil its mission.

“I think the BBC and our apps and services should be the antidote to the algorithm. Everywhere else you go is driven by some commercial interest.”

The full interview will be broadcast BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, on 27 September, at 09:00 BST.

A fan of Jason Derulo was called up on stage at his The Last Dance World Tour, and what happened next left people’s jaws hitting the floor in complete disbelief

A Jason Derulo fan was lucky enough to get up on stage alongside the man himself to dance, and what happened next left the audience completely floored.

Derulo, known for huge music hits such as ‘Whatcha Say’ and ‘Swalla,’ is currently performing in his The Last Dance World Tour. He was performing in Perth, Australia, where audience member Jess O’Meara was chosen to get up on stage with the 37-year-old star. It’s not uncommon for a fan to be chosen to get on stage to dance with singers, and it just depends on luck as to whether you’re picked to do it.

But Jason Derulo likely didn’t regret getting Jess on stage thanks to what happened. At first, she seemed a little shy, but she certainly knew the dance to Mi Chico.

However, as the dance went on, it was clear that Jess was a superstar in her own right, and she took the audience’s breath away.

Jess, who normally dedicates her social media pages to fitness content, kept time with the professional dancers, putting a whole lot of passion and energy into proving herself to be an incredible performer.

The other dancers were looking at her with admiration as she nailed every single move, but what happened next left them gobsmacked.

Jess did a backflip, then landed into the splits, kicked her leg into the air while she was still on the floor, and then got back up on her feet and continued dancing as if she hadn’t just done something incredible.

Over the top of the video, which amassed more than a million likes from people who were amazed by what she could do, Jess wrote: “There’s no way this happened (that’s me),” as she was still struggling to process that she’d had the opportunity to do something so cool.

What did people online say?

“Why do I feel so proud of a random stranger on the internet!! You grabbed your moment with both hands, and I LOVE THIS,” someone gushed.

Another claimed that she “outdanced the paid dancers” because she was so passionate and knew every step.

However, Jess responded: “Trust me, they were absolutely killing it the entire show!! My 2 minutes are nothing compared to their performance over 2 hours, but thank you!!”

Others wondered whether this was her “audition” to be part of the dancers full-time, and some were wondering how she managed to do such incredible things “in jeans”.

A fan penned: “I’ve watched this way too many times! You were phenomenal”.

Someone else said that she deserves “so many beautiful opportunities” because she “killed it” with the performance she gave randomly.

It’s safe to say that Jess did an absolutely amazing job, and proved that she has some serious talent!

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 10:44 BST, 25 September 2026 | Updated: 12:36 BST, 25 September 2026

Andy Burnham is gearing up for a pivotal Labour conference with speculation swirling about a snap election.

The PM is due to give interviews today to local media ahead of the start of the annual gathering in Liverpool on Sunday – the first since he ousted Keir Starmer.

Mr Burnham has insisted he will ‘develop the themes’ of his vague ‘Manchesterism’ platform and set out a ‘clear new path’ for the country in his keynote speech.

However, the desperate struggle to balance the books in the looming Budget is set to dominate much of the debate around the conference.

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And there are concerns that the fevered rumours about an early election – furiously denied by No10 – could prove another unwanted distraction.

Labour has seen a poll bounce since Mr Burnham took over, and the frenzy was fuelled yesterday by two megapolls suggesting Reform is no longer on track for a Commons majority. 

Andy Burnham is gearing up for a pivotal Labour conference with speculation swirling about a snap election

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Advocates of going to the country early argue that it could be the best chance of clinging on to power, with another inflation shockwave from the Middle East crisis about to hit. 

Labour insiders have warned that the persistent rumours could create a situation similar to that under Gordon Brown in 2007. 

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The then-premier was badly damaged when he quashed rampant speculation about a snap election at Labour conference, having allowed it to build for months. He went on to lose the election in 2010.

In contrast, Downing Street has been frantically trying to kill the idea that Mr Burnham will trigger an early poll.  

But one senior party source told the Daily Mail that the stage was ‘definitely set for a rollercoaster of loose remarks and desperate rowing back’ about an election. 

Another Labour veteran suggested the polls were still not good enough for Mr Burnham to act.

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‘Two things can be true. Things can’t get any better. And they still aren’t good enough,’ they said.

In an interview with the New Statesman earlier this week, Mr Burnham said he would use conference to flesh out his vision of public control and devolution. 

‘People might say you get into government and you dial down. I don’t feel like that. I won’t be dialling it down, put it that way,’ he said.

Labour insiders have warned that the persistent rumours could create a situation similar to that under Gordon Brown in 2007

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Mr Burnham – who grew up in Liverpool and is a keen Everton fan – said returning to the city as PM would be a ‘big thing’.

‘It’s a moment to weave all of these threads together and to lay out the path, I think, and say, ”Look, Britain’s here, we can be there” – a much better place – but we’re going to have to be honest with ourselves about what it takes to get from where we are right now to where we should be.’ 

He added that ‘people won’t be in any doubt what I want to do with the job’.

‘This has to be a point where the country says, ”Right, we can’t carry on like this, we need to set a new, clear direction, a new clear path.”’ 

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An 11-year-old schoolboy who was hit and killed by a train as he walked to class was distracted by his new smartphone, an inquest has concluded. 

Jaiden Shehata, a Year 7 student at Riddlesdown Collegiate in South Croydon, died while crossing the ‘high risk’ level crossing near Kenley, south London, on January 23 last year.

He would usually have been accompanied by his 18-year-old brother, Reece, but had set off for school 20 minutes earlier than normal that day. 

Jaiden was walking to the school he had joined just four months prior to the accident. 

But that morning he walked into the path of an oncoming London-bound train at the Bourneview crossing despite the driver sounding the horn while approaching the crossing. 

Jaiden, a promising young footballer and Chelsea fan, was not wearing headphones at the time.

At the inquest into Jaiden’s death, Sarah Ormond-Walshe, senior coroner at South London Coroners’ Court, said Jaiden was ‘doing something which was very much normal behaviour by all of us’, adding that ‘everybody’ gets distracted by their phones. 

The schoolboy was struck by the train at 8.03am. He was found by a police officer at 8.18am before paramedics arrived a few minutes later. He was pronounced dead at 8.52am.

Jaiden, a promising young footballer and Chelsea fan, was not wearing headphones at the time 

A jury concluded on Thursday afternoon that the cause of his death was that he ‘did not perceive the danger of the train approaching, probably because he was distracted by his mobile phone’, and added that a lack of warning at the crossing also contributed to the accidental death. 

His medical cause of death was recorded as ‘severe neck injuries’. 

Ms Ormond-Walshe told Jaiden’s family: ‘Everybody, everybody, looks at their phone. So please, let that go because every single person in this room does that, and he was only 11 years old. Thank you so much for your dignity. It must have been so difficult.’ 

She said that she would write a report on the prevention of future deaths in an effort to prevent something similar from happening again. 

Summing up the evidence heard at the jury inquest, Ms Ormond-Walshe said: ‘Jaiden had been using this route to school since September 2024, four months. He normally walked to school with his older brother, but that day, he was by himself.’

CCTV showed Jaiden holding a ‘glowing object in his hands’ right before he was struck by the train, Paul Tickner, a Rail Accident Investigation Branch investigator said.  

The inquest previously heard that Jaiden was watching an eight-second video his friend sent him on WhatsApp when he was struck. 

Ms Ormond-Walshe said: ‘Mr Tickner said it was important to have a change of environment, something distinct when a pedestrian was going across the level [crossing].

The youngster was walking to Riddlesdown Collegiate in south Croydon – where he had been a Year 7 pupil since the previous September – and had used the crossing most days

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The crossing been ranked by Network Rail as C4 – described at the hearing as meaning ‘high’ risk

‘He agreed with me that the use of mobile phones was increasing. Jaiden was doing something which was very much normal behaviour by all of us.’ 

The jury found that Jaiden died an accidental death. 

The foreperson told the court: ‘Firstly, Jaiden did not perceive the danger of the train approaching the crossing, probably because he was distracted by his mobile phone.

‘The second probable cause of the accident was that Bourneview was a passive crossing, which was not fitted with active warning systems giving a visual and auditory warning of the train’s approach.

‘A possible further cause was that the design and construction of the crossing could have made it more obvious to pedestrians that they were entering a hazardous area.’

The jury had previously heard that it took seven months for Network Rail to close the level crossing, which was scheduled for safety improvements at the time of the tragedy.

It had been ranked by Network Rail as C4 – described at the hearing as meaning ‘high’ risk. 

But the firm’s head of level crossing and safety, Daniel Fisk, told the jury the Bourneview crossing was ‘compliant’ with its standards at the time of the tragedy.

He said Network Rail didn’t have the legal authority to close the crossing and had to obtain permission from Croydon Council, as it was a public right of way.

And he conceded its eventual closure was driven more by a petition from the family than ‘Network Rail’s view’.

A risk assessment carried out by Network Rail on the crossing in 2023 identified possible changes that could have made it safer.

These included better signage and the installation of ‘miniature stop lights’ with red and green indicators.

By December 2024 – a month before Jaiden’s death – designs were being drawn up for the crossing, which has been ranked the 13th most dangerous footpath on Network Rail’s Sussex route out of 111.

The coroner said there had been ‘approximately one near miss per year at Bourneview’. 

That work was completed earlier this year, but the crossing remains closed as Network Rail wants to complete ‘more engagement with local schools’ about rail safety before reopening it.

Ms Ormond-Walshe said: ‘Jaiden died in January 2025. The most recent risk assessment conducted on the Bourneview level crossing was completed a year and eight months before his death.

‘The work was planned for March 2026 – two years, nine months from the time of the risk assessment – and this was found by the RAIB to be an acceptable amount of time to put in recommended changes.’

Anna Murphy has revealed how she plans to spend her 22k prize money, the the life-changing plans she has for the future

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The latest winner of Traitors Ireland has shared a sweet tribute to her experience on the show after making it out the other side.

With all odds against her, Anna Murphy and fellow player Diego Caixeta managed to vote out the final Traitors, Carla and Pauric O, although viewers were convinced Anna would be wrongly voted out due to suspicions created by the Traitors, reports RSVP.

Since finally being able to talk about her win, Anna spoke about how she’s hoping to spend her 22k prize money: “So for myself and my partner, a lot of it will be put away for when we’re ready for IVF, and we’re hoping to go ring shopping soon.

“That’s on the cards for hopefully the next few months to a year, and then we’re also trying to get our own house. So once that’s all sorted and settled, then we’re looking to have kids.”

She has since shared a few words reflecting on the whirlwind experience: “What a crazy few weeks, and to think I nearly didn’t send my Traitors application in…

“A year ago, although I was the same woman, I tended to hold myself back from saying yes to opportunities. Submitting my Traitors application and getting a chance to play the game is genuinely the best thing I have ever done for myself.

“I am still in shock that I won the game, but that is not my biggest triumph from this experience. I came out of the castle as the same Anna but with a newfound confidence in myself, my voice, and my gut (most of the time).

“I had the best time playing the game, and getting to do so many unreal missions – I will never forget flying in a helicopter and zooming around in a speedboat with my fellow finalists!

“I am beyond grateful to have met a group of amazing people who I have learned a lot from and have grown close to since being in the castle.

“Diego, I am so honoured to have won with you by my side. It’s so mad to think we began our castle journey together in the car, and ended it together by the fire pit. It has been so lovely to celebrate with you these past few days, and I can’t wait to see where the next few weeks and months take us.

“I would like to thank RTÉ for broadcasting such an amazing show, I’ve been a Traitors fan for many years and can’t wait for season 3 already!

“And I would like to also extend a huge thank you to the team at Kite Entertainment for believing in me and taking such great care of me throughout this journey. I will be so grateful to you all forever.

“A big thank you to my gorgeous friend and long time nail tech @nailsbysopph and my amazing barber and hair stylist @amik.hair for keeping me glam in the castle and at the finale viewing party.

“And lastly, thank you to my beautiful girlfriend Fiona, my friends and family, and everyone else who showed me immense love throughout this journey.

“The fantastic support I have from the people in my life validated that submitting my application, the one I almost didn’t send in, was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself.”

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Anna’s girlfriend Fiona shared the sweetest few words in the comment section: “I am so proud of you, it’s truly the best thing you have done for yourself. I love every single thing about the person you are and it’s been amazing to see your inner confidence soar since you came out of the castle.

“You have flourished so much, it’s been so wholesome as your girlfriend to see so much support from our friends, families, your fellow players, and many more. You’ve got so much love in your corner Anna, and I hope you hang onto everything the castle taught you. I love you sooo much.”

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