Dr Francesco Lo Monaco is a preventative cardiologist
A cardiologist has revealed the foods he avoids – and those he eats regularly to maintain optimal heart health. Dr Francesco Lo Monaco is a preventative cardiologist and founder of The National Heart Clinic on London’s Harley Street.
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He has also written Heart Saviour, a new book demonstrating how small, consistent lifestyle modifications can deliver life-changing improvements to health and longevity. Dr Lo Monaco said: “Heart disease is often preventable but too many people only start caring about it when something goes wrong.
“Every week I see patients who are surprised when I tell them the foods they eat daily are damaging their arteries.”
Processed meats and excessive quantities of red, ‘fatty’ meat
Bacon, sausages and deli meats contain high levels of salt, which increases blood pressure, and saturated fats, which elevate levels of low-density lipoprotein, or ‘bad’ cholesterol. Both factors are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, reports Plymouth Live.
Meanwhile, consuming excessive quantities of red meat, particularly fatty cuts, can also heighten the risk of coronary heart disease.
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Dr Lo Monaco said: “I tell patients that red meat should be occasional, not daily, and that the quality of the meat matters. Go for a lean cut and really try to limit any processed meat in your diet, as there’s strong evidence they do harm, and replace the protein with eggs, fish and nuts.”
Ready-made meals and processed snacks
Convenience foods are often packed with sodium, saturated fats and processed meats – all of which are detrimental to heart health. Dr Lo Monaco said: “Preparing healthy meals does take time and for people with busy lives this can be hard. That’s a fact, not an excuse.
“Despite this, I think most people can make meaningful dietary improvements that dramatically reduce cardiovascular risk by aiming to eat well most of the time. Look at the list of ingredients on any ready-made meals or snacks and if it’s long and there’s things on there you can’t pronounce, put it back.”
Sugary drinks
Excessive sugar consumption heightens the risk of cardiovascular disease, and Dr Lo Monaco warns that the sugar content in beverages is easily overlooked. He said: “We often look at calories in the foods we eat but forget about liquid calories. Sugar-sweetened beverages should be cut out entirely.”
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What to eat instead
Dr Lo Monaco said: “The Mediterranean diet is the one I was raised on in Sicily and this is what I always recommend to patients. It prioritises whole foods and healthy fats and doesn’t mean restriction, so it’s easy to stick to.
“Use vegetables such as tomatoes, leafy greens, onions and carrots as the foundation for all meals. The goal is to have multiple servings a day and with variety. Enjoy fresh fruits such as berries, citrus and stone fruits every day. Lentils, chickpeas and white beans are a great source of fibre and protein. Healthy fats are key, with extra virgin olive oil being the primary fat source in Mediterranean diets.
“A handful of nuts or seeds such as almonds or sunflower seeds should be consumed daily, despite the calorie content. Avocados and olives are also good for additional healthy fats. Great protein sources include Omega 3-rich fish especially salmon and sardines, and poultry over red meat. Eggs are great too, and not the cholesterol villain we once thought.
“To enhance flavour in your foods, use herbs and spices such as garlic, basil and oregano over salt, as they also provide antioxidant effects. The important thing to remember is you don’t have to change everything overnight. Start small and make gradual changes for a long-term approach to prioritising your heart health.”
Christopher Trybus, 43, from Swindon, Wiltshire, is accused of the manslaughter of his wife Tarryn Baird, 34, who took her own life, along with other charges including rape, which he also denies
A man accused of subjecting his wife to a ‘tsunami’ of domestic abuse before she took her own life has claimed that an audio recording of alleged abuse was ‘kinky bondage type sex’.
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Christopher Trybus, from Swindon, Wiltshire, is accused of the manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, who died of hanging in November 2017. The 43-year-old also faces charges at Winchester Crown Court of controlling and coercive behaviour and two charges of rape.
Trybus is accused of controlling Ms Baird by using and threatening violence towards her, sexually assaulting her, monitoring her whereabouts, limiting access to finance, threatening to reveal private information to her family and isolating her from her family. He denies the charges.
Tom Little KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Trybus carried out a “tsunami” of abuse against his wife, including “extensive and escalating controlling, coercive and manipulative behaviour including sexual violence of two rapes and other sexual assaults”. Katy Thorne KC, defending Trybus, told the jury that the defendant denies the allegations and said Ms Baird presented a “facade” to health professionals because of her own mental health issues. She said: “This without question is a tragic case, a young woman has died and she took her own life and nothing you decide in this courtroom can alter the grief and loss of those who loved her.” Ms Thorne continued: “The defence position is Christopher Trybus was never abusive to his wife, he didn’t beat her, he didn’t break her, he didn’t coerce her, control her and he didn’t cause her death. “On the contrary, he loved her and cherished her deeply and his case is that without anyone’s knowledge, Tarryn Baird was making demonstrably false allegations to health professionals. “There are injuries but the defence case is that on a number of occasions Tarryn Baird made allegations of violence which were demonstrably false, for example, by reporting injuries to health professionals when Christopher Trybus was not even in the country. “The defence case is that one obvious example of that on November 16, he says that he was out of the country, having left on 8th November and not returned until 23rd November. “And yet during that period, Tarryn Baird made more than one set of allegations of domestic violence and took photographs of injuries, each of which she said was caused by him.”
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Ms Thorne told the jury they should question the “reliability” of Ms Baird’s claims and said: “You will hear that Tarryn Baird had mental health problems which were longstanding and the defence case is that she was desperately seeking help and feeling she wasn’t receiving it and she may have become addicted to the attention that her allegations brought. “The defence case is that the reason why she never made the allegations to the police or went to a refuge was because the allegations weren’t true and she didn’t want that fact to be exposed.”
Ms Thorne said Trybus denied sexual assaults against Ms Baird and added: “Theirs was a healthy, consensual marital sex life enjoyed by both of them. “It included some practices which may not be familiar or comfortable to everyone, including bondage and rough sex. “What goes on in other people’s bedrooms can be surprising, the defence case is that it was consensual.”
She added that an injury presented by Ms Baird to her neck was caused by a “collar” worn during sex and an audio recording from her phone was of a “kinky bondage type sex” that was consensual. Ms Thorne continued: “The allegations of Terryn Baird being trapped and controlled, the defence says are untrue and the defence will suggest that they will turn out to be just false. “You will need to consider her claims that she was being financially controlled or kept away from family and friends bears scrutiny, his case is the absolute opposite is true.” She added: “Health professionals were being told a false story and her boredom and troubled mind was leading her to make allegations to seek care and attention.” Ms Thorne said that the jury would need to consider if Ms Baird’s suicide was a “cry for help that went tragically wrong”. She added that Trybus’s actions were not a cause of Ms Baird’s suicide and said: “The defence case is that there are other matters such as her mental health difficulties and withdrawal of services from her which led her to take her own life.” Trybus, who is a software consultant and developer, denies the charges.
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The trial continues.
*If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
FAI chief executive David Courell has spoken at length about the UEFA Nations League draw that paired Ireland with Israel, outlining security measures and charitable donation plans
Ireland is set to host Israel in Dublin on 4th October, with the aim of being as “sympathetic” as possible to the sentiments within Ireland regarding the conflict in Gaza. David Courell, CEO of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), confirmed that a portion of the ticket sales for the match would be donated to a charity aiding humanitarian efforts in Palestine.
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Courell faced extensive questioning about the UEFA Nations League draw that put Ireland and Israel in the same group. Nearly two weeks after the draw, he made his first comments on the issues raised by the pairing of the two nations, stating that away fans are not expected to travel to Dublin for the game at Aviva Stadium.
He highlighted the crucial role of the Gardaí in ensuring security around the fixture and addressed potential protests and any concerns FAI staff might have about the matches. Despite repeated requests for his personal stance on the situation, Courell refrained from sharing his views, asserting: “I am a football administrator, I am not a politician.”
He continued, “I am here in my capacity as CEO of the federation, and it’s incumbent on me to look at everything through the lens of football and what’s right for the interest of the Irish game, and as such I don’t think my opinion counts.”
He added, “I’m sure everybody has an opinion on this, but my personal views on this situation do not come into the decision-making process,” reports the Irish Mirror.
Security
“An Garda Síochána have been very clear that they are confident that they can deliver a safe and secure environment for this game to proceed,” Courell stated.
“And as such, we are working on the firm basis that the game will be hosted here in the Aviva Stadium.”
Protests.
Demonstrations are expected both within and around the Aviva Stadium on match day.
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Courell commented: “We fully understand the depth of sentiment on this topic. We’ve made the decision to fulfil these games.
“With that said, we want to approach it in as sympathetic a manner as possible to make sure that, just like the Norwegian federation did quite well, I think it’s fair to say.
“They took what could have been a very challenging environment and created it into an opportunity for people to have their voices heard in a respectful and safe environment.
“That is absolutely our intent. How we execute that, how we manifest that, is something we’ll have to work through, not only with An Garda Síochána but also with UEFA.
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“But it is our intent to try and approach this in light of the depth of sentiment in the country.
“Our desire to fulfil the games doesn’t mean that we can’t still allow our stakeholders to have their voices heard.”
Away fans
The FAI has been informed that no supporters will be travelling from Israel for the Dublin fixture, though this doesn’t rule out the presence of away supporters at the Aviva Stadium. Courell referenced the September fixture in Oslo, which went ahead despite significant calls for a boycott and demonstrations both in the city and at the venue.
“There was no travelling fans in Norway. The indication from Israel is there will be no travelling fans coming to Ireland,” said Courell.
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“However, there were 600 to 1,000 Israeli supporters in the ground (in Oslo). They would have been made up of domestic supporters, be that from the different community groups locally.
“They were facilitated and were able to support their team, as they should, in a safe and secure environment.”
Charitable donation
Courell has committed to mirroring the Norwegian approach by pledging proceeds from the Israel home fixture to a Gaza-focused charity.
Norway welcomed Israel last September for a World Cup qualifying match and directed ticket revenue towards Doctors Without Borders.
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Courell characterised this as being part of efforts to “approach this in as sympathetic a manner as we can.”
He continued: “That’s 100 percent within our intent. The manner and mechanism of how we do that is yet to be established. Who the recipient, charitable foundation might be, etcetera, we’ve yet to establish.
“But it is absolutely something that we are working towards.”
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Renewed boycott pressure
The choice to proceed with the fixtures is likely to frustrate many in Irish football circles, especially given that 93 percent of the FAI’s General Assembly backed suspending Israel from international competition last November. Whilst Courell acknowledged that the Association’s leadership “heard our GA loud and clear,” he went on to say: “Whether or not we fulfil these fixtures is a decision for the board and the executive.”
He continued: “That is, within the constitution, our obligation, our role. And as such, that decision has been taken.”
He stated: “We are very happy to hear further from our General Assembly on their viewpoints. However, the decision has been taken.”
Staff welfare
SIPTU issued a statement soon after the draw expressing worries about the wellbeing of its members working for the FAI.
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According to Courell, though, nobody within the organisation had indicated any unwillingness or hesitation to carry out their responsibilities surrounding the match.
He said: “If there are individuals that have a different viewpoint, then of course we’ll engage with them and try and understand how we can accommodate any concerns they may have.”
Potential penalties
The FAI set out in correspondence to the General Assembly, dispatched on Tuesday evening, the “tangible” penalties that UEFA might impose on the FAI.
These encompass the loss of six points, demotion to League C, and damage to Ireland’s Euro 2028 seedings and overall FIFA standings.
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He warned that there was “every potential that there will be greater ramifications for Irish football – reputational, financial, operational.
“The reality is, we’re talking solely in the lane of the men’s national team here. But if we fail to qualify for Euro ’28, you know the financial benefit that can bring for the association and the benefit it will bring to the grassroots game and every aspect of what we do.
“So there is a big range of implications that extend beyond what we’ve included in that letter.
“But we don’t even need to go there. From a sporting perspective, it’s not within the interest of Irish football not to fulfil these games. We are fulfilling the games.”
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The FAI are operating under the assumption that the away match will be held on neutral ground, despite the Israeli FA’s wish to reintroduce international football to Tel Aviv.
“As things stand, and UEFA reconfirmed this, the position is very clear from UEFA that there is no ability for Israel to host home games at this moment in time,” he said.
“So until that position changes, I’m not really in a position to comment on whether or not the game is in Tel Aviv. Right now we’re working on the assumption it’s not.”
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The inquest has concluded into the death of a woman who was struck and killed by a bus on a guided busway in Cambridge. Kathleen Sharon Pitts, 52, died in October 2021.
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At an inquest held in Huntingdon on Wednesday (February 25), Coroner Elizabeth Grey for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough told the court that Ms. Pitt was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The court heard that her cause of death was due to multiple traumatic injuries. Kathleen was one of three deaths between November 2015 and November 2021 that The Health and Safety Executive prosecutedCambridgeshire County Council over.
Kathleen Pitts, Jennifer Taylor, and Steve Moir all died on the busway, while two young people suffered serious injuries between November 2015 and November 2021. The council pleaded guilty, and was fined £6 million in April 2025.
Jessie Zhu, a pedestrian who witnessed the fatal incident, presented a statement in court. Ms Zhu explained that the incident ‘happened suddenly’ and that the bus stopped immediately after the collision.
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The driver of the bus gave evidence in court, stating he had around 20 passengers on board. He said that he immediately stepped on the breaks and he “could not do anything to avoid the collision”, the coroner’s court heard.
The bus was travelling within the speed limit seconds prior to the incident, the court heard. The inquest also heard that Kathleen had a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and nine psychiatric admissions. Her most recent occurred in 2013.
The inquest heard that Kathleen called a mental health services provider and was said to have been in “a mental health crisis”. She had further calls with the provider where she had reported suicidal thoughts.
Doctor Meiser-Stedman, a psychiatrist, considered it likely that Kathleen had been ‘experiencing these feelings for months’. However she was not in immediate risk following an assessment. A review found that she was provided with good care overall.
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Coroner Grey concluded there was “no evidence” to support a deliberate act based on both physical and mental health – there was also “no evidence” she tripped or fell.
Beau Greaves became the first female player in PDC history to land a nine-darter on Wednesday afternoon in a stunning display at the Players Championship 6 in Leicester
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter
18:50, 25 Feb 2026
Beau Greaves rewrote the record books on Wednesday by becoming the first woman in PDC history to achieve a nine-darter. The 22 year old was in exceptional form against Mensur Suljovic at the Players Championship 6 in Leicester, producing a flawless leg in the third leg of their encounter.
Following a hard-fought 6-5 first-round victory over Chris Landman, ‘Beau n Arrow’ faced former major champion Suljovic. After consecutive 180s, Greaves sealed a 141 checkout via T20, T19 and D12 to secure her place in darting folklore.
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Despite achieving something no woman had previously accomplished, Beau remained measured in her celebrations – merely offering a slight grin as she stepped back from the oche to witness Suljovic bowing towards her as a mark of admiration. The PDC commentators, by contrast, were considerably more enthusiastic.
As the D12 found its target, one could be heard exclaiming: “Beau Greaves, it’s perfection. Absolutely incredible.
“Suljovic takes a bow, but it’s Beau Greaves that’s stealing the show. With a shake of the head, she can’t believe what’s just happened,” reports the Mirror.
Leading just 2-1 at that point in a first-to-six format, Greaves eventually prevailed 6-5 in a tightly contested match to progress to the last 32 of the tournament. There, she will meet David Sharp on Wednesday afternoon.
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This is not the first time Greaves has made history this year, however. The Doncaster-born talent grabbed headlines by becoming the first woman to reach the last 16 of a ProTour event at the Players Championship 1 earlier this month, alongside Lisa Ashton.
At that event, held in Hildesheim, she secured victories over Jimmy van Schie, Owen Bates and Cam Crabtree to advance to the fourth round.
Unfortunately, Greaves then suffered a 6-2 defeat to Nathan Aspinall, which ended her hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals.
A three-time WDF World Championship winner, Greaves will be hoping to secure her first major PDC title in 2026.
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Her appearance at the 2023 PDC World Championship was cut short in the first round following a 3-0 defeat to William O’Connor, whilst Luke Humphries knocked her out in the fourth round of last year’s UK Open 10-7.
Greaves has also yet to advance beyond the group stage of a Grand Slam of Darts throughout her blossoming career, and will be determined to change that this year.
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“Beautiful dress purchased for my honeymoon. Feminine, flattering and floaty”
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Spring is just weeks away and with it will come wedding season. As a result, prepared fashion shoppers will be on the hunt for a dress that not only looks stylish but is comfortable and flattering to wear, even on the wobbly bits you’d prefer to cover.
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The dress can can be paired with strappy heels or wedges for a polished look. Equally, it’s suitable for wearing with flats and sandals thanks to its cascading midi skirt.
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Paula Heister taught medicine at Downing College, University of Cambridge
A Cambridge man whose wife died of a brain tumour has described her as “a force of nature”. Chris Jones, 39, lost his wife Paula Heister to glioblastoma on April 26, 2025, when she was 40 – just eight weeks after going to hospital with headaches and numbness on her left side.
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A year on from his wife’s death, Chris is taking on the London Marathon to raise money for Brain Tumour Research in her honour. Chris, an academic, said: “Last July, we emigrated from Cambridge to Vienna. We had six months in which we were making our home there, but about two weeks after the final touches to our new flat, Paula’s first physical symptoms presented.
“I watched Paula become weaker and less mobile every day. After her diagnosis, she went from being able to walk outside to the patients’ garden at the hospital to being virtually paralysed, all within the space of a few weeks. Despite Paula’s incredible bravery, the speed of it all was profoundly difficult. A year later, running the London Marathon gives me a positive focus on the anniversary of her death.”
In February 2025, Paula was suffering with strong headaches and experienced numbness in her left hand and through her arm. Blood tests didn’t detect anything, but the numbness began spreading.
Chris said: “When the numb sensation spread to her leg, we rushed back to the hospital. An MRI scan revealed four tumours in the right hemisphere of Paula’s brain. The largest was nearly three centimetres in diameter and was pressing against a region of the brain responsible for motor function.
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“The tumours were growing at an alarming rate, and there was no option of either surgery or radiotherapy. Paula spent the next five weeks in hospital, and the final three weeks of her life back at home, cared for by friends and family.
He continued: “Paula was a force of nature. She was incredibly vibrant, analytic, creative, phenomenally generous, and passionate about all that she did. She was teaching at Cambridge, but waiting to resume work as a clinician, in Austria.
“Paula was also a professional illustrator, and was producing her first works for young readers. Just a few weeks before her diagnosis, she had been awarded a visiting fellowship at Harvard University.
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“Being told that neither surgery nor radiotherapy were possible was hard to take. Paula was given the chance to have a type of chemotherapy, known as Temozolomide (TMZ), but in many cases this is not effective. Paula celebrated her first chemotherapy pill with a big smile and a sense of triumph, even though she knew this drug was unlikely to make a difference.“
Paula died at home in Vienna on April 26, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Brain tumours kill more women under 35 than breast cancer, yet just one percent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since 2002.
Paula had a glioblastoma, an aggressive and fast-growing tumour that is challenging to treat. It’s the most common type of primary high-grade brain tumour in adults, with around 3,200 people diagnosed with it each year in the UK. Glioblastoma patients will almost always see their tumour recur, and when it does, treatment options are limited.
Chris is now in training for the London Marathon. He said: “When I saw the marathon was taking place on the one-year anniversary of Paula’s death and learnt that Brain Tumour Research offered the opportunity to run, I knew I had to go for it. Running suspends my mind from wandering, and it’s helping me deal with the physical effects of grief.
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“Running has helped me to keep going, and raising money through the marathon gives me a positive target for that day. Brain Tumour Research supports vital research into brain cancer, and the work of young researchers who dedicate themselves to finding new treatments – Paula would approve.”
The Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London, a university where Paula was once a researcher, is working on developing personalised treatments for glioblastomas in adults. The are discovering gentler, more specific, and effective therapies for childhood brain tumours too including medulloblastoma, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), and ependymoma.
Carol Robertson, national events manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Chris’s determination to take on the London Marathon after everything he has been through is truly inspiring. Brain tumours are indiscriminate and devastating, and stories like Paula’s highlight why greater investment in research is so urgently needed.
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“We are incredibly grateful to Chris for turning his experience into action and helping us raise vital funds and awareness as we work towards finding a cure.”
Claptone is the latest addition to be confirmed for Love to be… Festival 2026 alongside Leeds-born dance music authority Paul Woolford.
The festival, which is one of the North’s most popular house music gatherings, will take place at The Stray in Harrogate on Saturday, September 5.
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Set across 200 acres of open green space, The Stray will be transformed into a full-scale festival site for one day, complete with large-scale production, food village, fairground attractions and immersive audio-visual staging.
Love to be …Festival in Harrogate. Photo: Charlie Mitchell
Claptone and Paul Woolford join a lineup featuring Sam Divine, Julie McKnight live, David Penn, Mousse T, Todd Terry, Grant Nelson, Gok Wan, K Klass live and more across three stages.
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Claptone will be bringing his unmistakable masked presence and melodic house sound to North Yorkshire, fresh from global touring, Ibiza residencies and headline slots on stages around the world.
He is known for records such as ‘No Eyes’ and a string of crossover collaborations, and his addition marks one of the festival’s most high-profile bookings to date.
Joining him, Paul Woolford is a respected and versatile UK electronic artists. From early underground anthems to chart-topping crossover records, he has shaped multiple eras of British club culture.
Whether delivering piano-driven house, tougher club cuts or selections from his wider catalogue, his sets carry the authority of a DJ who understands both heritage and future-facing sounds.
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They will join a stacked lineup across three stages at The Stray. Previously announced names include Sam Divine, Julie McKnight performing live, David Penn, Mousse T, Trimtone, DJ Cash Only, Janika Tenn and Keexx on the Stray Stage.
The VIP funkyLove takeover adds Jetboot Jack, NRK featuring Nikki Belle live, Love to be founder Tony Walker and a host of selectors and performers.
Tickets are on sale now from £51.50 plus booking and payment plans are available too via Skiddle, with General Entry and VIP options available.
A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation said: “This was a scheduled townhall with employees, which Bill does twice a year. In the conversation, Bill answered questions submitted by foundation staff on a range of issues, including the release of the Epstein files, the foundation’s work in AI, and the future of global health. In the townhall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions.”
Martin Short is considered one of Hollywood’s most prolific comedians, but unbeknownst to many of his audiences, his decades in the spotlight have been touched by enormous loss and tragedy.
The death of Short’s 42-year-old daughter, Katherine Elizabeth Harley Short, was confirmed Tuesday with the family saying in a statement, “It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short. The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time.”
Katherine, the eldest of Short’s three children with his late wife Nancy Dolman, was found dead by suicide Monday inside her California home. Short, 75, has not spoken out about his daughter’s passing, but he postponed his comedy tour dates.
Her death marks the most recent loss for Short, who has endured a number of tragedies over the years, including the deaths of his wife, his brother, his parents and multiple friends.
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Short’s wife, Nancy, died aged 58 in August 2010 after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The former couple had been married for 36 years and had three children together. Two years after her death, Martin remembered Dolman as “the right person” for him in an interview with The Guardian.
Martin Short, pictured here in 2015, has overcome the losses of several family members and friends throughout the years (Getty Images)
Martin Short’s daughter, Katherine Short, died Tuesday at age 42 (Getty)
“It’s been a tough two years for my children. This is the thing of life that we live in denial about, that it will ever happen to us or our loved ones, and when it does you gain a little and you suffer a little. There’s no big surprise,” he told the outlet at the time.
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The Saturday Night Live alum often mentioned his late wife in the years after her death and said he was committed to keeping her memory alive. He told AARP in 2019, “Our marriage was a triumph. So it’s tough. She died in 2010, but I still communicate with her all the time. It’s ‘Hey, Nan,’ you know? How would she react to this decision or that, especially regarding our three kids.”
Martin Short’s wife Nancy Dolman died aged 58 from cancer in 2010 (Getty Images)
Martin Short shared three children with his late wife Nancy Dolman (Getty)
During his adolescence, the Canadian actor faced the deaths of several immediate family members.
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When he was 12, Short’s older brother David died in a car accident. He said later in his life that he used humor as a coping mechanism to deal with such loss at a young age.
“I think the reason all that didn’t throw me sideways was because I had such a solid foundation,” Short told The Guardian. “Those kinds of situations are horrible but I think that you are either empowered by them or you become a victim of them.”
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Short went on to lose both of his parents before he turned 20. His mother, Olive Hayter, died of cancer when he was 17. His father, Charles Patrick Short, died from a stroke just two years later.
In the past year alone, Short has also been affected by the sudden deaths of his close friends and colleagues.
“Catherine O’Hara, I met when she was 18 years of age, and all these years later, she has been the greatest, most brilliant, kindest, sweetest angel that any of us worked with,” Short said during his comedy show with Steve Martin. “So God bless Catherine,” he toasted.
Martin told the Hollywood Reporter in August 2024: “At 20, I knew things about life and death and tragedy and loss that none of my friends knew about. I don’t know why this didn’t screw me up. The only thing I can think of is that these kind of life stresses either empower you or defeat you.
“But I think that by surviving all that and continuing on, I developed muscles to handle the disappointments in life,” he said. “And I do think, in a weird way, it did make me braver as a performer, braver onstage. I’d try something, and if some people didn’t like it, I didn’t care because I didn’t know them. I was never doing this for the admiration of strangers. I was doing this to make my siblings and my friends laugh.”
At 5am, social media fills with proof that the early risers have already won the day. Cold plunges. Journals. Sunrise runs. Productivity gurus insist this is the routine that separates high performers from everyone else, reinforced by high-profile early risers such as Apple CEO Tim Cook, entrepreneur Richard Branson and Hollywood actor Jennifer Aniston.
The message is simple: wake earlier, perform better. But the science tells a more complicated story. For many people, a 5am routine clashes with their biology and can undermine both health and productivity. Much depends on your individual biological rhythm, or “chronotype”.
Chronotypes reflect when people naturally feel alert or sleepy, and genetics play a major role in shaping them. Research shows that sleep timing is partly rooted in our genes, and chronotype is heritable. Chronotype also shifts across the lifespan, with adolescents tending toward later sleep pattern and older adults often shifting earlier. Most people are not extreme larks or owls, but fall somewhere in between.
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Morning types, often called larks, wake early and feel alert soon after. They tend to rise early even at weekends without needing an alarm. Evening types, or owls, feel more energetic later in the day and may perform best at night. Many people fall somewhere in between as intermediate types.
Evening types, on average, show higher rates of burnout and are more likely to report poorer mental and physical health. One explanation is chronic misalignment. Evening types are more likely to live out of sync with work and school schedules, leading to repeated sleep restriction, fatigue and accumulated stress.
Chronotype also appears to relate to broader behavioural tendencies, including differences in political attitudes, conscientiousness, procrastination and adherence to schedules. These patterns reinforce how chronotype shapes daily behaviour, not just sleep.
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A common belief is that adopting an early routine will deliver the same benefits seen in natural morning types. However, chronotypes are not easily changed. They are shaped by genetics and circadian biology. For many evening or intermediate types, waking earlier than their natural rhythm can lead to sleep debt, reduced concentration and poorer mood over time.
This is the key point: early rising itself does not create success. People tend to perform best when their daily schedules align with their biological rhythms. Morning-oriented people often thrive in systems structured around early starts, while evening types may struggle not because they are less capable, but because their peak alertness occurs later.
Kris Jenner starts her day at 4.30am.
Early-rising experiments can feel effective at first. The initial boost often reflects motivation and attention rather than lasting biological change, similar to what happens after life changes such as starting a new job. As routines stabilise, the mismatch between biology and schedule can become harder to sustain.
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Biological clocks versus social clocks
The gap between a person’s natural rhythm and their social schedule is known as social jetlag. It reflects how far daily life pushes people away from their biological clock.
Social jetlag has been associated with poorer academic performance and wellbeing. Living out of sync with natural sleep patterns has also been linked to higher rates of diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Forcing early rising may increase this mismatch for some people, particularly evening types.
Some studies suggest that morning types have an advantage in their careers. These findings are often interpreted as evidence that morning routines drive achievement. A more likely explanation is structural. Modern societies are organised around early schedules. When biological rhythms align with work and school timing, performance is easier to sustain. This creates an environment where morning types appear to have an advantage.
Rather than forcing early routines, the more useful question is how to identify your own rhythm and work with it. Chronotype is only one factor shaping performance, alongside environment, opportunity and personal circumstances, but understanding it can help people make more realistic decisions about daily routines.
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Owl or lark?
Understanding your chronotype starts with observing your natural sleep patterns.
Keep a sleep log noting bedtimes and wake times across workdays, weekends and holidays. Free days often reveal your natural rhythm. Track mood and energy levels to see when you feel most alert.
Notice how long it takes to fall asleep. Less than 30 minutes suggests your bedtime suits you. More than an hour may indicate a later chronotype.
Observe how you respond to daylight saving time changes in spring. If early mornings still feel natural after the shift, you may lean toward a morning type.
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Changing chronotype is difficult, but small adjustments may help. Instead of waking earlier straight away, try going to bed slightly earlier, including at weekends. If sleep comes easily, you may gradually shift toward an earlier rhythm.
Morning daylight exposure and limiting screens in the evening can also support earlier sleep timing. Even so, biology sets limits. The real productivity advantage lies not in waking earlier, but in designing routines that match how the brain and body actually function.
