Si King says “not a day goes by” where fellow Hairy Biker Dave Myers is not in his thoughts, marking the anniversary of his death on Saturday (February 28).
The TV chef, who hails from Kibblesworth, rose to fame with Myers after meeting on the set of the drama “The Gambling Man” in 1995 and bonding over their love of cooking.
Hairy Bikers Si King and Dave Myers. (Image: Steve Lake/BBC/PA)
The friends then went on to publish several cookbooks, as well as presenting several shows, such as The Hairy Bikers Ride Again, The Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour Of Britain, The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best, The Hairy Bikers’ Cook Off and Hairy Bikers’ Best Of British.
But tragically, Myers passed away from cancer on February 28, 2024, aged just 66.
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Marking the anniversary, King recorded and posted a short, emotional video which faded into a black and white photo of the friends.
“Well mate, it’s two years since you passed and I think about you every day,” he said.
King then went on to share a number of pictures of himself and his beloved co-star, inviting fans to do the same.
He wrote: “Sometimes words just don’t come easily. Two years today and not a day goes by when you aren’t in my thoughts.
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“Miss you mate… I’m going to be posting some of my favourite pictures throughout the day and I hope they make you smile.
Si King and Dave Myers. (Image: BBC)
“Please take a moment to remember Dave today and what he meant to you.
“I see so many lovely comments on here of all of the special moments that he shared with so many of you and just how much those moments meant for you.
“Thank you so much sharing them with me everyone.”
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Speaking to Radio Times in January 2025, Si opened up about the difficult loss of his “brother” Dave, who died after being diagnosed with cancer in 2024.
The 59-year-old told the publisher: “He doesn’t stop being your best mate just because he’s passed away. That’s never going to go. We were like brothers: we drove each other mad, because we were two very different people, but we absolutely adored each other.”
Si, who now runs popular foodie spot Propa in Sunderland, added that “nobody’s ever going to take Dave’s place”.
He explained: “I don’t want to look in the rear-view mirror of my motorcycle and see anyone else there. It’s Dave, you know? And the same when he was leading: I drove hundreds of miles looking at his ugly a**. That’s my memory, that’s what I want to keep. That’s what it was about.”
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Si recalled how he travelled around 650,000 miles with Dave on their motorbikes, which is “more than to the moon and back” and that the only way he can begin to move forward is by “cherishing the memories”.
Those watching described as an ‘awkward’ moment during the ceremony as it was broadcast live on ITV
Viewers watching the BRIT Awards 2026 unfold live from Manchester were left baffled by what they described as an ‘awkward’ moment during the ceremony as it was broadcast live on ITV.
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Saturday night’s (February 28) awards bash saw the prestigious music event move north for the first time, with a multitude of stars descending on the city as Co-Op Live hosted the ceremony.
But for those not able to make it inside the arena, the ceremony, hosted by comedian, presenter and actor Jack Whitehall, was broadcast on ITV and ITVX.
Harry Styles opened the show with a performance of his latest single Aperture. The former One Direction star, who is known for his flamboyant style, removed the jacket of his Chanel suit for the performance, and took to the stage in his suit trousers and tie.
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He was joined by a gospel choir for the performance, which opened with synchronised hand shaking and head movements and concluded in the same way.
The performance comes three years after his last performance on the Brits stage at the awards in 2023, which saw him take home four gongs following the release of his album Harry’s House.
Meanwhile, Olivia Dean later performed Man I Need against a pink backdrop in a black sparkling dress, and Raye sang her hit Where Is My Husband! Also, Rosalia brought out Icelandic pop star Bjork for her performance of Berghain, which also features Yves Tumor, who was played on the PA system.
But the big moments of the night were also the awards themselves, with Olivia, Rosalia , Wolf Alice and Lola Young among the winners. However, some of those watching the ceremony unfold from home were confused when a number of awards were seen being given out in a compilation section.
It left many flocking to social media questioning whether the show was live, with it confirmed by insiders at the event that the awards were for Best R&B Act, Best Pop Act, Best Alternative/Rock Act, Best Hip-hop/Rap/Grime Act and the Critics Choice Award -were given out during the ad breaks.
@userdemisexual said: “This is so awkward? why wouldn’t you show this live? #Brits2026.” @Christi17553827 commented: “Thought the #Brits2026 was live?! When were these other awards given out?!”
@Bex0111 complained: “@BRITs whose idea was it to not show a chunk of awards live?! Given us a montage. We enjoy the nominations & guessing who would win. Do better please #Brits2026.” @acotswoldvoice added: “Why have they turned this into the BAFTAs where the minor awards are presented in the breaks #BRITs2026.”
“Dubai Airports confirms that a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained,” the media office said on X.
A spokesman said: “Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and are managing the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities. Four staff sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention.
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“Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers. Further updates will be provided as they become available.”
It is not known if the incident is link to retaliatory Iranian strikes in the country.
Iran and Iraq’s airspaces were closed due to the escalating military action, which has seen blasts reported in multiple countries across the region, and Dubai International Airport, the biggest global aviation hub, suspended all flights on Saturday.
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On a typical day, around 250,000 passengers arrive and depart at Dubai. Qatar Airways has also suspended all flights to and from its base in Doha.
Explosions have been heard in Bahrain, the UAE, Jordan and Qatar after the Iranian regime warned it would retaliate to any strikes by the US and Israel – which were launched in the early hours of Saturday
Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu launched co-ordinated strikes across Iran in what they described as a “preventative attack”.
President Donald Trump confirmed a “major combat operation” in an eight-minute speech, stating Iran could never have a nuclear weapon and adding: “It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to take it any longer.”.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief condemned the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and called for an immediate return to negotiations “to pull the region, and our world, back from the brink.”
Secretary-General António Guterres told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Saturday that everything must be done to prevent further escalation. “The alternative,” he warned, “is a potential wider conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability.”
Guterres said the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes violated international law, including the U.N. Charter. He also condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, insisted the U.S. military action was lawful.
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“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he told the council. “That principle is not a matter of politics. It’s a matter of global security. And to that end, the United States is taking lawful actions.”
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon, speaking to reporters before the meeting, said it was “hypocrisy” to condemn the airstrikes. He said Iran is responsible for the actions of its proxies in the Middle East and for its nuclear and missile programs, and Israel and the U.S. acted “to prevent an irreversible and immediate threat.”
The attack on Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, The Associated Press has reported. The assassination of the second leader of the Islamic Republic, who had no designated successor, raised the prospects of a protracted conflict given Iranian threats of retaliation. President Donald Trump on social media called his passing “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”
Russia’s ambassador condemned the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, while China’s ambassador was more measured in his criticism.
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“We demand that the United States and Israel immediately cease their aggressive actions,” Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said. “We insist on the immediate resumption of political and diplomatic settlement efforts … based on international law, mutual respect and a balance of interests.”
China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong said China was very concerned by “the sudden escalation of regional tensions” and supported Russia’s call for a return to diplomatic negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a letter to the secretary-general, accused the United States and Israel of “flagrantly” violating Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the U.N. Charter. He said Iran was exercising its right to self-defense under the charter in response.
He urged the council members “to take the necessary and immediate measures to halt this unlawful use of force and to ensure accountability.” And he called for an unequivocal condemnation of “this act of aggression … as it undoubtedly poses an unprecedented threat to regional as well as global peace and security.”
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Five council members — Bahrain, which is the Arab representative on the council, France, Russia, China and Colombia — called for the emergency meeting.
In a joint statement, the leaders of Britain and France — both veto-wielding members of the council — along with Germany’s chancellor called for a resumption of U.S.-Iranian talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. The three countries, part of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, have led efforts to reach a negotiated solution. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2018.
The three European leaders strongly condemned Iranian airstrikes in the region — not the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes — and urged Iran’s leaders to seek a negotiated solution, saying: “Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”
The Security Council meeting is taking place on the last day of the United Kingdom’s presidency and a day before the United States takes over the rotating presidency for the month of March.
UK flights to the Middle East have been cancelled – and airports in Dubai and Doha have grounded all services – after the US began attacking Iran.
Multiple cities in Iran were hit by missiles, while counter strikes targeted US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait – as well as sites in Israel.
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) warned Britons in those countries to “immediately shelter in place” and to avoid travel to Israel and Palestine.
“Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities,” advised the FCDO.
It said it was “working around the clock” to support British nationals affected.
UK citizens are being urged to sign up to Register Your Presence and travel advice emails so the Foreign Office can send the latest information.
Thousands of Britons are potentially stuck due to the temporary closure of airspace and airports in countries such as the UAE and Qatar.
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British Airways cancelled Saturday’s Dubai, Doha, Amman and Abu Dhabi services, as well as flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain up to 3 March.
A BA flight from London to Doha, Qatar‘s capital, was among dozens forced to turn around or divert mid-flight early on Saturday, according to flight tracking websites.
Image: Dubai International Airport has grounded flights. File pic: Reuters
London Heathrow said “a small number of flights” had been cancelled or delayed.
Its departures board on Saturday afternoon showed cancellations including an Emirates flight to Dubai, a Qatar Airways flight to Doha, and an Etihad service to Abu Dhabi.
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A Gatwick spokesperson said it was also “expecting disruption to our Qatar and Emirates flights”.
Manchester Airport departures showed a Saturday night Emirates flight to Dubai had been scrapped as it shared a post advising people to check with their airline.
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Wizz Air also confirmed flights between London Luton to Tel Aviv were suspended in both directions until 7 March but that “operational decisions will continue to be reviewed”.
Virgin Atlantic said journeys from destinations including India and the Maldives could take longer as the routes were being altered for safety reasons.
Many other large airlines have also paused flights to the Middle East, as well as some routes flying over the region, including Delta, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific and Turkish Airlines.
India’s airlines are also suffering serious disruption.
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Its aviation ministry said more than 400 flights by domestic carriers had been cancelled on Saturday and a similar number were expected on Sunday.
Dubai airports at standstill
The worst disruption is likely to be caused by the grounding of flights at Dubai’s main airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic.
People jetting out for a winter break – and the thousands who change aircraft there – are set to have their plans upended after the UAE closed its airspace.
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All flights at Dubai’s International, Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International have been suspended.
Image: Jets were avoiding Iran on Saturday, while UAE traffic also ground to a halt. Pic: Flightradar24
At least 90,000 people transfer every day in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi on just three airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, according to analytics firm Cirium.
People in Dubai were earlier filmed running for shelteras air raid sirens sounded and witnesses told Reuters at least three big blasts were heard over the city.
A fire broke out near the entrance of the five-star Fairmont The Palm hotel after debris reportedly fell from an Iranian missile.
Dubai five-star hotel on fire after ‘missile strike’
A Dubai airports statement called the closures an “exceptional precautionary measure”, while Emirates said safety was its “highest priority” as it halted flights.
“You have crews, planes and passengers stranded all over the world. It’s a massive logistical nightmare,” a Gulf airline source told Reuters.
Moment free-falling missile hits Doha
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Qatar’s international airport also suspended all services after the country’s airspace was locked down in case of more attacks from Iran.
People were earlier forced to run for cover as a missile – which was likely intercepted – tumbled out the sky and exploded in a residential area of Doha.
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America’s largest regional air base, al Udeid, is near the city and Iran has deemed all US bases in the region as fair game.
Four people have been injured after a missile hit Dubai International Airport.
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The Dubai media office said on Saturday the airport sustained damage due to an ‘incident’, as Iran continued to launch strikes on U.S. bases in the region.
They said: ‘Dubai Airports confirms that a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained.’
The country, along with the rest of the Middle East, has been bombarded with missile strikes as Iran retaliates against the US-Israel’s ‘Operation Epic Fury’.
The two countries launched ‘preemptive’ missile attacks in Tehran, reportedly killing the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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The Dubai media office said on Saturday the airport sustained damage due to an ‘incident’ (Picture: @WISEWISDOM_2022)
Rubble seen from inside the airport (Picture: @WISEWISDOM_2022)
Other buildings in Dubai have been struck, including the iconic Palm Jumeirah resort which was hit by falling debris.
Smoke and flames were seen billowing from near the beachside Fairmont The Palm Hotel, after several bangs were heard by holidaymakers across the Emirati city.
Footage of the incident showed the five-star £245 million ($330 million) hotel engulfed in flames as air defence systems intercepted several Iranian missiles bound for targets in the UAE.
Comedian Jack Whitehall returned to host the famous music awards in Manchester this year.
However, one of his jokes was bleeped out from the ITV coverage, and it was not the only line to be removed.
Lord Peter Mandelson and Palestine comments axed from BRITs coverage
During the coverage, presenter Jack Whitehall was in amongst the tables in Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.
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Jack said: “I’m down here, guys, at the tables, I’m in and amongst it, the Brit Awards is absolutely swarming with celebrities tonight.
“I think I saw Calvin Harris over there, who else have we got?
“Oh my God, it’s Andy Burnham, yes, legend, the only party he’s allowed into these days.
“And Lisa Nandy, this must be the politicians’ table, I wonder who else is here.
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“I think that I saw Peter Mandelson on the guest list.”
American Rock Band Geese, who won the award for the International Group of the Year, made a comment about Palestine, which was also cut by ITV.
Cut lines were removed from coverage, with white noise playing over the muted audio for a few seconds.
Whitehall had another controversial line during the BRITs, also taking aim at the controversy over the BAFTA film awards and the fact that a racial slur was not edited out of the broadcast.
He warned that the ceremony could get a bit “raucous” but reassured viewers there was someone operating the bleep button.
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Whitehall joked: “It’s the guy who did the BAFTAs, he’s the best in the business.”
Winners of BRIT Awards this year included Wolf Alice for British Group, Lola Young for British Breakthrough Act and Sam Fender and Olivia Dean, who won Song of the Year with Rein Me In.
Who was your favourite performer at the 2026 BRIT Awards? Let us know in the comments.,
Erling Haaland was not selected as part of Pep Guardiola’s squad to take on Leeds United on Saturday evening owing to a minor injury, but shared his support as the Sky Blues ran out 1-0 winners over the Peacocks
Erling Haaland has reacted to Manchester City’s 1-0 win at Leeds United with a two‑post response. City came away with crucial three points in Yorkshire with Antoine Semenyo scoring the only goal of the encounter on the brink of half-time.
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Haaland’s absence from the win was due to an issue he picked up in training during the week. The problem isn’t believed to be serious, and there is optimism he could even recover in time for Wednesday’s visit of Nottingham Forest, though Pep Guardiola remained cautious about giving any firm timeline for the Norwegian’s return.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, the Blues boss said: “We don’t have spies in the training centre to deliver the info to our media. I think it is not a big issue. We will see.”
After the game, the 25‑year‑old took to Snapchat to share a picture of himself celebrating the win.
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He posted a selfie, clenching his fist, with the caption: “So important,” followed by prayer and blue heart emojis.
On Instagram, he shared City’s post that read: “A hard‑fought victory” and replied with a blue heart emoji.
In Haaland’s absence, Rayan Cherki stepped into the side and played a key part in the decisive moment.
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After the victory, Guardiola said: “A huge victory for us. Erling is a massively important player for us, but we behaved really well. My idea of the game is that they started well, but we expect it here.
“Leeds are so intense. After that we did what we are good at for the last decade, a thousand million passes, and make the vibe of the crowd a little bit calmer.
“We missed a little bit more intention up front with the movements, but when they got fatigued the last 15 or 20 minutes we had more intention and to pass the ball to try to score a goal – and we found it at the end of the first half.
“We dropped in second half normally, but that didn’t happen today: we were incredibly focused. We didn’t create much but we didn’t concede anything. It was long balls where we struggled with the second balls.
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“It was a little bit more uncomfortable, but we defended really well.”
The victory at Elland Road cuts City’s deficit to leaders Arsenal to two points ahead of the Gunners’ meeting with Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
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The MP for Makerfield in the North West has faced calls to resign from his ministerial post over claims that think tank Labour Together paid PR firm Apco Worldwide to look into the background of journalists in 2023, when Mr Simons was its director.
He confirmed he had resigned from the role in a statement this evening (February 28).
Labour MP Josh Simons resigns as a Cabinet Office minister
The Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards has cleared me of breaching the ministerial code.
But with regret, remaining in office has become a distraction, so I have resigned from government.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Simons said: “The Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards has cleared me of breaching the ministerial code.
“But with regret, remaining in office has become a distraction, so I have resigned from government.
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“I will continue serving the people I’m proud to represent in Makerfield and pushing for the radical change our politics and country needs.”
His resignation comes after an investigation into allegations that a prominent think tank he ran before entering government paid for a probe into journalists.
Mr Simons faced calls to resign after his think tank, Labour Together, was accused of paying PR firm Apco Worldwide £36,000 to investigate the background of journalists who had written stories about it.
In previous statements, Mr Simons said Apco had been hired to investigate an illegal hack.
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But in a letter to the Prime Minister, ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus said the former minister now accepted the terms he agreed with Apco were “wider than he had understood” and he had acted “too hastily in confirming their appointment”.
While Sir Laurie said Mr Simons had acted “in good faith”, he said the MP acknowledged the “perceived gap between his public statements and what he now accepts appears to be a more extensive scope has been damaging”.
Sir Laurie added: “I see no basis for advising you of any breach of the Ministerial Code by Mr Simons but you will wish to consider, in the light of this distraction and potential reputational damage, whether he continues to hold your confidence as a member of your Government.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he has accepted “with sadness” the resignation of Josh Simons from his role as a Cabinet Office minister.
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“I want to express my thanks for the commitment, focus, and energy you have brought to ministerial office,” he said in his reply to Mr Simons’ letter of resignation.
Sir Keir added: “In accepting your resignation, I also want to place on record that the Independent Adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, found no breach of the Ministerial Code. I am grateful for your full and proactive cooperation throughout his work.
“I understand that, to avoid any ongoing distraction from delivering the Government’s mission, you have taken the difficult decision to step aside.
“I respect that decision, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in driving forward the Government’s priorities.”
Jack Whitehall returned to host the BRIT Awards 2026 ceremony on Saturday night with viewers divided over his performance
Joe Crutchley Screen Time reporter
22:03, 28 Feb 2026
BRIT Awards viewers found themselves expressing identical sentiments mere moments after the programme commenced.
The British music industry’s most prestigious annual event returned to ITV on Saturday evening (February 28) as numerous global pop stars competed for the coveted trophies.
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Jack Whitehall returned to present the ceremony, which welcomed several notable personalities in attendance, including Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Shaun Ryder, Bez and Mark Ronson, who received this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Music award.
Topping the nominations this year are Olivia Dean and Lola Young, each securing five nods, with both artists competing for British Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Act.
International representation came from HUNTR/X, the vocal talents behind the KPop Demon Hunters group, New York performer Sombre and genre-defying Spanish artist Rosalía.
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Nevertheless, criticism flooded in within moments regarding Jack Whitehall’s hosting duties. On X, one viewer stated: “Why do they insist on bringing back Jack Whitehall year after year we are tired.”, reports the Daily Star.
Another contributed: “Jack Whitehall is unfunny idiot pls get him off my TV. The first 20 seconds was more than enough.”
A third wrote: “Jack you ain’t funny.” A fourth stated: “Jack Whitehall getting more and more unfunnier with these jabs at Manchester.”
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Conversely, other audience members praised Jack’s performance, with one individual commenting: “Jack Whitehall is the best host.” Another person wrote: “Love Jack lol.” A third commented: “Jack and Harry are so iconic, so glad they’re back.”
Earlier this week, Jack was a guest on Capital Breakfast with Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby to discuss the upcoming BRIT Awards. During the chat, Jack gave a glimpse into the extensive preparation that goes into his jokes for the evening.
**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**
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“There’s a few roasts and jokes that are planned at the moment, to be fair none of the script has gone off to the ITV lawyers, I imagine by Saturday 50% of that will get cut. In fact they’ve already started to pre-edit me,” he revealed.
Jack continued: “I got an email forwarded over to me that was from the ITV lawyer that was just all about how litigious Donald Trump is. Just a sort of, which is red rag to a bull for me.”
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Twenty-one years on from the murder of Lisa Dorrian and her family say the investigation has not wavered and that commitment has carried them through the darkest times.
The search for her body and for answers as to why she was murdered and disappeared in February 2005 have now entered their 21st year and her loved ones say they will never give up.
Today we recount Lisa’s movement’s before her death and the timeline of events that police are dealing with in the current investigation, from the early assumption that she was a missing person to confirming she had been murdered, and the Dorrian family’s turmoil across two decades.
The Victim
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Lisa Dorrian, 25, was a shop assistant from Bangor, who went missing on February 28, 2005. She left behind her mother and father, Pat and John, and three younger sisters, Joanne, Michelle and Ciara.
The fateful evening
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Lisa spent the evening before she vanished partying in the Newtownards house before she travelled to a party in Ballyhalbert Caravan Park, out of season and all but abandoned by holiday makers.
The last man to see Lisa alive, was Mark Lovett, a then 17-year-old groundsman and labourer at the park, who was also at the party.
In a police statement Mark Lovett told officers that he and Lisa had been together in the caravan when they saw flashing lights outside, accompanied by loud noises at about 4.45am. He said the pair were frightened and left the caravan, running into the darkness initially together, but they lost each other.
Mark Lovett confirmed that he dialled Lisa’s mobile phone but said it went unanswered.
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Lisa was never seen again.
Arrests
Police have made numerous arrests over the years, but to date no one has been charged with either the murder or disappearance of Lisa Dorrian. The PSNI are still actively working Lisa’s case and earlier this week, ahead of the 21st anniversary, a 40-year-old woman and 42-year-old man were arrested by detectives on suspicion of murder, assisting offenders, withholding information and preventing a lawful and decent burial. They have both been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Lisa’s last moments alive
Detectives believe that Lisa was strangled in the Ballyhalbert caravan and her body was secretly buried a short distance away.
The caravan in which she was last seen and which had been held by police for forensic testing for years, has finally been destroyed.
But multiple and repeated tests had failed to locate any trace of Lisa’s blood or any indication of her killer.
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Fight For Answers and Justice
Lisa’s family has spent two decades waiting for her return, knowing that she is dead and wanting a Christian burial for her.
A campaign for justice led by Lisa’s sister Joanne with the full backing from her sisters Michelle and Ciara and their father John, continues and the Dorrian family remain resolute in their determination to see justice done.
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Not only are they working towards their own answers and conclusions, they have fiercely backed the proposed Charlotte’s Law which would keep convicted killers behind bars until they reveal the location of their victim’s body.
Separate rewards of £5,000, £10,000 and £50,000, endless appeals, anniversary interviews and documentaries have still not triggered the truth about the whereabouts of Lisa’s body.
But the family say there will be an answer, there will be a burial and there will be justice.
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Murder Timeline
Sunday, February 27 into Monday, February 28, 2005 Lisa Dorrian, 25, a shop assistant from Bangor, Co Down, attends a house party in Ballyhalbert with a new group of friends following the break up of her relationship.
Lisa travels the short distance to a static caravan at a park in Ballyhalbert, on the Ards peninsula. Amongst other people there is the last man to see her alive, then aged 17, Mark Lovett.
The pair are left alone in the caravan. Mark Lovett reports them being spooked by flashing lights in the darkness and loud noises coming from outside. He reports how he leaves the caravan with Lisa who runs into the night never to be seen again. He tells police Lisa was last seen around 5am.
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March 1 – 5, 2005 Joanne Dorrian has not heard from her sister and starts to become concerned when her phone rings out.
Joanne calls a number of Lisa’s friends and appeals for information about where she had last been seen over the weekend.
She contacts police with her fears that something terrible has happened to Lisa and drives endless roads around the coast and countryside in an attempt to find her, fearing she would succumb to the bitter cold if she had had an accident.
March 6, 2005 The police are now treating Lisa as a missing person. Her parents, John and Pat, make a public appeal for information and her whereabouts in the previous six days.
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John says: “If she is out there and sees all this involvement with the police and the media, it doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about it, come back.” Police say they cannot rule out that a crime has taken place.
March 7, 2005 Searches are stepped up as police involvement intensifies prompting extensive air, land and sea searches along the Ards Peninsula.
Police carry out a reconstruction at 5am GMT, timed to the exact hour Lisa was initially assumed to have gone missing.
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Drivers on the coast roads around Ballyhalbert are stopped and prompted for information. A former boyfriend of Lisa said she had been spending more time in the Ballyhalbert area.
March 13, 2005 PSNI escalate their missing persons case to a murder investigation.
Fears are raised that loyalist paramilitary interests are preventing people coming forward with information.
Graffiti appears in Ballyhalbert linking the murder to the paramilitary Loyalist Volunteer Force.
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April 28, 2005 A £10,000 reward is offered for information leading to the recovery of Lisa’s body.
The Dorrian family offer the money hoping to bring their horror to a conclusion and to give their daughter a resting place.
Dad John Dorrian, said: “This has ripped the family apart and we cannot move on until we can give Lisa a Christian burial.”
May 17, 2005 A BBC Spotlight investigation claims loyalist paramilitary groups are carrying out a parallel investigation into the death of Lisa Dorrian.
The programme reports that members of the UFV and Red Hand Commando had interrogated two teenagers over her disappearance, and believed the LVF are behind the crime.
David Ervine, then leader of the Progressive Unionist Party which is closely linked to the UVF, said he “had no doubt” that Lisa was killed by the LVF.
He appealed to those involved but no information was forthcoming to Mr Ervine.
Lisa’s mother, Pat, said their family is willing to speak to loyalist paramilitaries about finding Lisa but did not “want any retaliation and comeback”. The police later confirmed there was no paramilitary involvement in Lisa’s murder or disappearance and rumours created a smoke screen to protect the real culprit.
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May 19, 2005 A memorial service is held for Lisa and a park bench is put in place in the grounds of council offices in Bangor.
May 27, 2005 Conflicting accounts over phone calls made around the time Lisa disappeared, emerge.
Two men questioned over the murder gave different accounts of a phone call said to be made moments after she disappeared.
He told police that he called Lisa’s mobile phone and spoke to a man known to Lisa who, he claimed, told him he was in Bangor, Co Down, with a female.
This male is reported to have told police he was in the company of a male and a female in a flat in Ballywalter, and that Lisa’s phone had been left in the flat.
Two separate allegations are made regarding Lisa’s death during two meetings at Belfast City Hall – the first was that she was being harassed by two men over money for drugs in the weeks leading up to her death and the second was that she was minding £20,000 at her Bangor flat for a male. The details of these unsubstantiated allegations were given to David Ervine who passed them to police.
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May 31, 2005 The Dorrian family meet with David Ervine who stressed his involvement was a bid to help the family with no political agenda. Mr Ervine described the circumstances around the murder as a ‘cesspit’ and added: “If you leave cesspits alone, they multiply.”
June 12, 2005 Lisa’s family release 26 balloons over Bangor’s seafront to mark her 26th birthday.
June 28, 2005 Lisa’s sisters Michelle and Joanne and their father John are joined by Linfield manager David Jeffrey and Glentoran counterpart Paul Millar, with players from both teams to show their support for the family before the Setanta cup game at the Oval in Belfast.
July 1, 2005 Fundraising to keep the Lisa Dorrian appeal in the public eye steps up. Blue ribbons are given out to support attempts to locate Lisa’s body. Four people questioned by police about the murder have been released without charge.
September 16, 2005 Police say they believe Lisa’s body may have been submerged in water and appeal to boat owners in the Ards Peninsula to check their vessels for signs they had been tampered with or broken into.
August 23, 2006 Rock band Snow Patrol pledges its support to the efforts to find Lisa’s body and wear blue ribbons during their performance at a gig in Belfast to highlight the family’s plight.
December 11, 2007 Lisa’s family mark 1,017 days since her disappearance as they prepare for another Christmas without her. Dad John, says the family still feel “just like it happened yesterday” and appeals for information. He said: “We would appeal to them in humanity, please any small bit of information, give it in confidence. It is gnawing in our stomach, we know she’s out there somewhere. It would give us great relief if we could just know where she was.”
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October 16, 2012 Police investigate an area of farmland near Comber, Co Down, as part of a search for a vehicle possibly used in Lisa’s disappearance. No evidence is found and the search is called off.
February 23, 2015 Shortly before the tenth anniversary of Lisa’s disappearance, her family once again appeal for information. Crimestoppers offers a new reward of up to £5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
June 28, 2015 Convicted killer Jimmy Seales tells a newspaper that he knows where the body of Lisa Dorrian is buried, claiming she was dumped in a sealed container on an illegal landfill site near Ballygowan, Co Down. No human remains are found.
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December 28, 2016
Lisa’s mum Pat dies aged 59. Her daughters later say she died from a broken heart over the death and disappearance of Lisa.
Family friend Lady Sylvia Hermon said: “News of Pat’s death has come as a dreadful shock, and I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact I won’t see her again or hear her distinctive voice or share another pot of tea with her.
“The pain of losing Lisa, her eldest daughter, in such awful circumstances and of never having had the chance to give her a proper Christian burial undoubtedly took a terrible toll on Pat’s health.
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“Her heart ached every day of every year without Lisa. Every day she longed for the discovery and return of Lisa’s remains, but that just wasn’t to be. It’s so very sad and so cruel that Pat hasn’t lived long enough for that to happen.”
January 5, 2017 The funeral of Pat Dorrian, Lisa’s mother, takes place followed by a burial at Clandeboye Cemetery, Bangor.
Mourners are told that the death of her daughter “took an unbearable toll” on Pat and that while her wish to see Lisa buried would not be fulfilled for her, “it is one that can still be fulfilled for her family”.
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February 15, 2017 Police search land outside Comber for Lisa’s body. The search ends a week later with no human remains being found.
February 28, 2017 Lisa’s dad and sisters recorded a video message appealing for help on the twelfth anniversary of her death.
They address the person who was with Lisa at the moment she died, and say: “It’s never too late to tell us. A place is all we need. Please help yourself by easing your conscience. Tell us where Lisa is.”
June 29, 2018
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Following an appeal on BBC’s Crimewatch three fresh search sites are identified and work by specialist police officers gets underway, including wooded areas in Craigantlet Co Down and Carrickfergus, co Antrim with specially-trained police dogs. Joanne says: “We have endured 13 years of torture. We lost my mum about two and a half years ago and she just couldn’t cope with not having Lisa.” No evidence is found.
April 1, 2019
More than 40 police and specialist search personnel move into Ballyhalbert at dawn as police announce fresh searches of the caravan park in Ballyhalbert, Co Down where Lisa was last seen alive.
Searches started at a disused RAF airfield in the seaside village and include a vast area of underground bunkers and ponds. Ground penetrating equipment is deployed in the search. No human remains are found.
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April 5, 2019
A man and a woman are arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of Lisa. A PSNI spokesperson said: “A 49-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were arrested today in the Newtownards and Ballyhalbert areas on suspicion of murder. They have been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.” The pair were released without charge.
April 20, 2022 A multi-millionaire TV reality star and dad-of-six donates £50,000 to boost a reward fund for information about the location of Lisa’s body. The donation was made by businessman Barrie Drewitt-Barlow.
September 10, 2023 Lisa’s family release the image of the last place she was before she went missing, a caravan on the Ballyhalbert site that was transported to PSNI property for full forensic examination and has since been destroyed.
October 4, 2023 Netflix broadcasts a new crime series examining the unsolved murders of four women in Northern Ireland aged from 15 to 25 including Lisa. The lives and deaths of Lisa Dorrian, Inga Maria Hauser, Arlene Arkinson and Marian Beattie will be revealed in detail as their families continue their search for answers and justice.
February 12, 2024 Work starts on the gravestone which marks Pat Dorrian’s burial place in Clandeboye Cemetery, Bangor. Lisa’s name is included with the words LISA: 12th June 1979- MISSING SINCE 28th FEB – 2005.
February 25, 2024 The Dorrian family visit the family grave at Clandeboye Cemetery and see Lisa’s name on the headstone for the first time. Joanne said: “Those words were very carefully chosen. Just two dates and nothing else at this stage because we’re not finished. There will be more added to the gravestone when we have Lisa returned to us.
“For now we are content we’ve done the right thing as a family. Then Lisa will be buried with mum and her life and our love for her will be memorialised on the headstone, just as we have with mum.”
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May 31, 2024
A two week billboard campaign ran over what would have been Lisa’s 45th birthday in areas of Northern Ireland frequented by her killer, those who helped him and others who have yet to reveal their secrets. The billboards featured an image of the caravan where Lisa spent her last moments before she was murdered.
February 27, 2025
On the 20th anniversary of her disappearance, detectives, for the first time, released CCTV footage, which is the ‘last known footage’ of Lisa in the days before her disappearance.
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Detective Chief Inspector Kerrie Foreman, from the Police Service’s Major Investigation Team, said: “We’re releasing CCTV footage, along with still images. This is the last known footage of Lisa in the run-up to her disappearance. My hope is to jog memories, and to encourage anyone with information to speak up.”
December 8, 2025
A 68-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of Lisa’s murder, assisting offenders, withholding information and preventing a lawful and decent burial. He was then released following questioning.
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February 25, 2026
A man and a woman arrested by detectives investigating the disappearance and presumed murder of Lisa Dorrian were released. A 40-year-old woman was arrested in Bangor on Wednesday, and later a 42-year-old man was arrested in Scotland.
They were both arrested on suspicion of murder, assisting offenders, withholding information and preventing a lawful and decent burial. On Thursday evening, the Police Service of Ireland said both had been released on bail pending further inquiries.
In a statement, the PSNI said detectives “remain determined to provide justice for Lisa’s family”.
