BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend will land in Sunderland from Friday, May 22, to Sunday, May 24, with around 100,000 fans expected to attend.

The festival will be held at Herrington Country Park, with an expected audience of 100,000 and a line-up including Ellie Goulding, Zara Larsson, and Olivia Dean.

The festival will be held at Herrington Country Park, with an expected audience of 100,000. (Image: Archive)

Saturday and Sunday tickets go on sale at 5pm tomorrow (Wednesday, March 11).

Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We can’t wait to welcome BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend to our city.

“It’s going to be an incredibly exciting three days, with everyone from the biggest names in music to new and emerging artists heading to Sunderland for what promises to be an unforgettable start to the festival season.”

Zara Larsson, Lola Young, Ellie Goulding and Louis Tomlinson will headline on Saturday, while Olivia Dean, CMAT, Dermot Kennedy, Niall Horan and Kehlani will headline on Sunday.

Friday’s Dance Party line-up, headlined by Fatboy Slim and Sonny Fodera, was announced last week.

The festival is expected to deliver a multi-million-pound boost to the local economy through visitor spending on hotels, restaurants, and entertainment.

Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said: “Fat Boy Slim, Zara Larson and Olivia Dean headlining is just outstanding.

“But for me, it’s all about the homegrown talent on BBC Introducing’s stage.

“This is why we’re investing in creative talents, in small venues, and music infrastructure.

“If you want a career in music, you don’t need to move to London.

“We’ll prove that.”

Thirty per cent of the 31,000 general admission tickets for each day are reserved for Sunderland residents, while 60 per cent are allocated to the wider North East region.

The remaining 10 per cent will be available nationwide.

General admission tickets for Friday are priced at £34.50, with VIP tickets at £86.

Saturday and Sunday tickets are £44.50 for general entry and £106 for VIP.

Tickets must be purchased through Ticketmaster, the festival’s only official ticketing agent.

Organisers recommend planning journeys in advance and using the official pre-booked shuttle buses to reach the venue.

The council’s cabinet member for highways and transport will this week consider tendering for a notice processing system for the management of penalty charge notices (PCNs).

The council currently enforces on street, off street and bus lane infringements with the intention to introduce moving traffic enforcement soon, such as box junction rules.

Its current notice processing system is due to expire in November with no further extension available.

The reports produced for the meeting include a document titled ‘other compelling reasons why the penalty charge notice should be cancelled’.

The document details when the council may accept representations from motorists falling foul of the rules along with a list of reasons when appeals and representations are likely to be rejected.

Here are the reasons which could be accepted by the council to overturn PCNs:

Where the motorist enters a yellow box junction and the evidence and/or contravention footage confirms

-The motorist stopped before making a right turn and was prevented from turning right due to oncoming vehicles.

-The box junction exit was clear when the vehicle entered the box junction, but the motorist was cut off by another vehicle resulting in them unexpectedly stopping in the box junction

Where the motorist claims that the restriction is not clearly signed or marked

– If signs and/or markings are missing or unclear.

– If signs and markings are inconsistent with each other and/or with the Traffic Regulation Order or other legislation.

Where the motorist claims that snow, foliage, fallen leaves, flooding or other obstruction covered the signs or markings

If it can be established that such conditions prevailed and it is likely that signs and markings were obscured as claimed and there was no alternative indication of the restriction.

Where the motorist claims that their vehicle was not used at the location at the time and on the date alleged on the PCN that was issued

– If photographic evidence is supplied which confirms the vehicle owned by the registered keeper is not the same vehicle recorded in the contravention.

– Evidence is supplied that the vehicle was elsewhere on the day/time the PCN was issued.

The incorrect vehicle registration mark has been entered onto the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)

If the ANPR camera records an incorrect registration

The vehicle number plate has been ‘cloned’

-If the registered keeper provides a valid police crime report reference number to show that the vehicle’s number plate had been cloned prior to the contravention.

• If the registered keeper supplies photographic evidence of the distinct differences between their own vehicle and the vehicle captured by the ANPR camera and the council are satisfied beyond doubt they are not the same.

There was a medical emergency

-If, after reviewing the contravention evidence, the evidence shows the motorist moved to allow an emergency service vehicle to pass.

• Where the motorist is a member of the emergency services and was responding to an emergency.

Where the motorist claims to have become unwell while driving

If the motorist provides proof of a medical condition, temporary or permanent, that is consistent with the conditions described which would have required the vehicle to contravene the Moving Traffic Restriction

Where the motorist claims that their vehicle had broken down

If the motorist is able to provide evidence of a breakdown i.e. proof of vehicle recovery or a bill of sale for repair or parts.

Where the motorist claims that they were attending an emergency of another vehicle that had broken down

If the motorist is able to provide reasonable proof of the emergency i.e. a credible report of an accident, or that they were attending

to another vehicle that had broken down.

Where the registered keeper liable for payment of the PCN is said to have died

Where the circumstances can be confirmed by sensitive enquiry

Where the motorist received a Fixed Penalty Notice from a police officer for the same contravention

To prevent ‘double jeopardy’, if the police confirm that a fixed penalty notice has been issued or that criminal proceedings have been instituted in connection with the same incident.

The former Pravda nightclub, on the Quayside in Newcastle, has stood frozen in time since its closure, with the venue last being occupied in 2009. 

But now, the Emporium Leisure Group has announced that it has taken over the venue to create a “world-class esports and gaming experience”.

The bar, located directly opposite three hotels including a Travelodge, is one of three planned for the North East, the other two being in Alnwick and Morpeth,

Emporium Leisure Group is planning a full catering kitchen, event space, and on and off alcohol sales, as well as the latest in gaming technology. 

The catering operation will allow for local independent traders to set up, allowing for support of other nearby operators and “creating a more sustainable night-time economy”. 

While the planned venue will focus on esports, it will also be capable of hosting tech events, tech product launches, music events and more, for up to 500 people. 

The venue’s planned operating hours will start at 8am, offering a breakfast range to early morning commuters, with a strong daytime offer of food, drink and refreshments until 11pm, with later opening at weekends.

It will also team up with an associated UT support provider to offer onsite sales, support and service of computers and gaming tech.

Mark Convery of Sanderson Weatherall, who marketed the property on behalf of a private owner, said: “We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the former Pravda Bar, marking a major milestone for our client after the property stood vacant since 2009 despite multiple agencies previously being appointed. 

“Securing an occupier for this prominent riverside location highlights our team’s persistence, market reach, and strategic approach. We wish the new occupier every success in their venture and look forward to seeing this iconic site brought back to life.“

Ken Mosley of Emporium Leisure Group said: “This represents a massive investment in esports infrastructure across North-East England as we build an elite eSports community. 

“We acknowledge some operators are struggling in the current economic climate, but our agility and multi revenue approach will ensure our venues remain viable while providing world class systems and opportunities for high-end elite gaming.”

The ‘masterpiece’ Netflix series based on an iconic anime has made a triumphant return with season two after nearly three years

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Netflix’s ‘masterpiece’ drama, based on one of the most iconic animated shows ever, has at last made its return. Numerous fans have been eagerly awaiting for nearly three years since the first season was released to both critical and audience acclaim back in August 2023.

Now, after a lengthy break, the hit series has finally returned with a second season, which has debuted with a coveted 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The action-adventure series One Piece is based on the beloved anime series of the same name and stars Iñaki Godoy as young pirate Monkey D. Luffy, who embarks on a dangerous quest for legendary treasure with a motley crew of swashbucklers.

Season two, subtitled Into the Grand Line, follows Luffy along with Nami (played by Emily Rudd), Zoro (Mackenyu), Sanji (Taz Skylar), and Usopp (Jacob Romero) setting off on another epic journey, this time to a mythical stretch of sea filled with peculiar islands and perilous new foes, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE: Heartbreaking true crime documentary viewers brand ‘really hard watch’ soars streaming chartsREAD MORE: ‘Masterpiece’ novel adaptation coming to Netflix gets first trailer

The much-anticipated sequel will also introduce plenty of fan-favourite characters from the original Japanese phenomenon, including Tony Tony Chopper (Mikaela Hoover), Miss Wednesday (Charithra Chandran), Mr. 3 (David Dastmalchian), and Mr. 0 (Joe Manganiello).

Regarded as one of the greatest live-action adaptations of an anime or manga series in history, Netflix fans are delighted to see One Piece finally making a splash on the streaming platform once again.

One X user shared: “Binging the second season of the best live action adaptation ever, One Piece! I love Emily Rudd’s Nami to pieces. When Lera Abova’s Robin showed up in the opening, so stunning! This is going to be another masterpiece of a season!”

Another viewer described the series as “genuine fun n real television. couldn’t ask for a better adaptation actually. I have just watched the first episode of One Piece Live Action and I just know this will be a masterpiece,” another commented.

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A Rotten Tomatoes user enthused: “Inaki and the rest of this incredible team bring so much life and love to this live action adaptation! 100% rotten tomatoes!!! Let’s go!! Currently through the first 4 episodes have already surpassed all of my hopes and expectations!”

One life-long One Piece fan stated on IMDb: “This is bar none one of the best live-action adaptations to any animated source material I have ever seen. I will warn you the more “human” looking rendition of the characters takes some getting used to, but my gosh, it’s all there – the humor, the action, the heart, and barely a single editorial or filmographic choice is wasted.

“You’re not going to find a cut-by-cut (no pun intended, Zoro) rendition of the original story, but that actually works here and keeps things moving and working in a cohesive way.

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“For first time fans or devoted veterans like me, you could not ask for a better introduction to an anime series in this medium. Please give it a chance.”

And a final fan declared: “This show is an absolute treasure (just like the One Piece itself). It’s a thrilling adventure filled with memorable characters, epic battles, and a captivating storyline that keeps you hooked from the very first episode.

“The character development is outstanding, as you witness the growth and bonds formed among the Straw Hat crew. With its mix of action, humor, and heartfelt moments, ‘One Piece’ is a true masterpiece that will leave you craving for more.”

One Piece season 2 is available to stream on Netflix.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of Galatasaray vs Liverpool from the Uefa Champions League as the teams meet in Istanbul for the second time this season for the first leg of their last 16 tie.

The Turkish champions claimed a 1-0 victory over Arne Slot’s side in the league phase in September thanks to Victor Osimhen’s penalty after 16 minutes. The defeat came during a tough spell for the Premier League champions, in which they lost six times in seven games in all competitions.

However, they went on to triumph in five of their remaining six league phase fixtures in Europe, winning the final three by an aggregate scoreline of 10-0, earning them a third-placed finish in the standings and automatic qualification to the last 16.

Galatasaray, meanwhile, were forced to navigate the play-offs after finishing the league phase in 20th, and there was certainly no shortage of drama in their knockout tie against Juventus.

Okan Buruk’s side came from 2-1 down to establish a healthy 5-2 advantage following the first leg in Turkey, but were then beaten 3-0 after 90 minutes in Turin, taking the contest into extra-time. However, Galatasaray were finally able to capitalise on their man advantage following Lloyd Kelly’s second-half red, with goals from Osimhen and Baris Yilmaz clinching victory in the tie.

Galatasaray will hope for another fast start in their tie with Liverpool, with their home leg once again coming first. They will take confidence from Liverpool’s failure to win in each of their three visits in the Champions League, though the Merseyside club do have one particularly fond memory from their travels to Istanbul.

The winner of this tie will face either Chelsea or defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals, with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City also in their half of the draw.

Welsh actress Eve Myles is back with a new gritty ITV thriller called Gone but you can still watch one of her finest dramas now almost a decade old

She’s certainly one of the stars of the moment having appeared in a number of thrilling TV dramas in recent months from The Guest and Coldwater to The Hack.

Now Ystradgynlais star Eve Myles can be seen in another high-profile role as she plays Detective Annie Cassidy in ITV’s Gone. Also starring Sherwood’s David Morrissey, the six-part series follows Annie as she attempts to solve the mysterious case of a missing woman.

While it’s being screened on ITV1 Sundays and Mondays for the next three weeks, viewers can also stream all six episodes on ITVX. And if you’ve already finished off the drama in a couple of sittings then you may want to consider binge-watching another gritty series that starred Eve.

The 47-year-old played the title role in the Welsh noir thriller Keeping Faith that was shot in both Welsh and English and premiered on S4C in 2017 (Un Bore Mercher) before the English version was shown on BBC Wales.

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The series stars Eve as Faith Howells, a solicitor at a family-run law firm whose husband, Evan (played by her real-life husband Bradley Freegard), disappears while she is on maternity leave following the birth of their third child.

The show was extremely popular in Wales, with an average of 300,000 viewers per episode, making it the most popular show on BBC Wales for over 25 years and, with over 8.5 million downloads by May 2018, the most downloaded non-network show on BBC iPlayer.

Keeping Faith ‘s three series can still be seen on BBC iPlayer and it’s had fans rushing to comment on Rotten Tomatoes where one called it a “gem” saying: “A well acted gem. Real locations, even the kids in the series we believable and put in great performances. We are USA based and it beat almost anything locally made here.”

Another said: “Eve Myles was spectacular in this. Definitely one of the best series and thrillers I have seen. Everything from the story the acting screenplay and the shots was fantastic. Even the music was absolutely captivating. If you haven’t seen it I definitely advise you do.”

A third added: “Gripping without the glitz. Faith’s problems make everyone else’s problems seem insignificant. Closer to real life than Hollywood.”

One commented: “This is a slow-burner but keeps you gripped with beautiful cinematography, suspense, and Eve Myles’ award-worthy acting.”

However, there were some feeling disappointed with one claiming to be “very underwhelmed” and another said: “The first episode is so good that the rest of the season struggles to deliver on its promise.”

Keeping Faith is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and Gone is on ITV1 and ITVX

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

In Sunderland, 50.2 per cent of five to 18-year-olds now meet the recommended daily activity levels, just outpacing the UK average of 49.1 per cent, according to the report.

These findings, published in the latest Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, reveal steady improvement across the city, with the proportion of active children rising from 44.9 per cent in 2023 and 2024.

Councillor Beth Jones, cabinet member for communities, culture, and tourism, said: “These results are extremely encouraging and show the positive difference being made across Sunderland to help children and young people be more active.

“This progress is a credit to Active Sunderland and our leisure partners, Everyone Active and Leisure United, as well as our schools, community groups, partners, sports clubs, and families who are creating more and more opportunities for young people to move, play, and take part in a range of activities every day.”

The proportion of children classed as “less active” – those doing less than 30 minutes of physical activity per day – has also dropped, from 35.8 per cent in 2023/24 to 29.7 per cent in 2024/25.

Across Sunderland, children are benefitting from more opportunities to get active.

Hetton Lyons Junior Parkrun, launched in May 2025, has held 36 events with 423 finishers.

Mowbray Junior Parkrun, running since July 2023, has seen 120 events, 522 individual finishers, and 3,401 finishes overall.

Sunderland’s three ParkPlay sessions in Hendon, Houghton, and Pallion have also grown in popularity since April 2025.

ParkPlay offers free weekly games and activities for all ages, designed to help families and communities get moving in a safe and inclusive environment.

Sunderland City Council say they will continue working with partners across the city to expand access to sport, play and active travel, ensuring even more children can benefit from regular physical activity.

A jury unanimously found him guilty

A man has been found guilty of murdering his mother after stabbing her multiple times at their home. A jury unanimously found the man guilty after he denied his involvement and said intruders killed his mother.

Gregory Coulson, 31, stabbed Carmen Coulson, 67, to death at the property in Lingwood Park, Longthorpe, in Peterborough. Police responded to a call from Coulson, who claimed that intruders had broken in and killed his mother.

Police received the call from Coulson at 2.44am on Sunday, February 9, last year, however, it is believed he had killed Mrs Coulson the previous evening. A jury at Huntingdon Law Courts heard officers arrived moments later and found Mrs Coulson dead at the detached home.

A post-mortem found Mrs Coulson had a large number of wounds from a steak knife over her body, including a fatal stab wound to the heart.

Coulson denied murder, however this was rejected by the jury who today, March 10, unanimously found him guilty of murder.

Detective Inspector Mark Dollard said: “We may never know exactly why Coulson carried out this brutal attack on his own mother but there was evidence of repeated and heavy cocaine and alcohol consumption by him over the three months leading up to the murder.

“Carmen’s death is a tragedy for the rest of her family, who showed dignity throughout the trial, and my thoughts are with them at this incredibly difficult time.”

The court heard that on his arrest and while waiting to be booked into custody, Coulson asked officers, “how many years do you get for murder these days?” When interviewed by detectives, he was asked if he was responsible for the murder and he said “yes”.

He said on the night in question he’d been in his room listening to music, painting, and drinking vodka. He told officers: “I feel like I’ve just had enough with it because I just got these feelings that I’ve had enough, and I have to do something about it. If I’m honest this is totally out of my character, I’ve not been happy for a while.”

Coulson said he got a steak knife from the kitchen and stabbed his mother to death at about 10pm. He then went to bed as he didn’t know what to do, before getting up to make the call to police. Coulson will be sentenced on April 17 at a court to be confirmed.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves provided an update about state pension changes

State pensioners could suddenly find themselves liable for a new tax bill. An MP has voiced concerns that some claimants may have “no idea” they will soon be required to complete an HMRC form to pay a tax bill.

The update follows Dr Luke Evans, MP for Bosworth, asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves about the issue of increasing numbers of state pensioners becoming income tax payers. After the Chancellor delivered her Spring Statement, Mr Evans asked: “I want to raise the issue of the freezing of thresholds and the effect on the state pension.

“When the Chancellor did it in her Budget, she told Martin Lewis that some people would be pulled into paying tax and won’t have to pay small amounts of tax and won’t have to do a tax return. The updated [OBR] forecast now says this year 600,000 pensioners will be drawn into paying tax, and going up to a one million by the end of this Parliament.

“Could she set out what the definition is of small amounts of tax and what the mechanism is she will use to make sure they don’t have to do a tax return?”

This question pertains to a new policy announced in the Autumn Budget 2025. The Government has announced plans to implement reforms to ensure individuals “whose sole income is the basic or new state pension without any increments…do not have to pay small amounts of tax via simple assessment from 2027-28 if the new or basic state pension exceeds the personal allowance from that point”.

From April 2027, the full new state pension will consume the entire £12,570 personal allowance and tip over the threshold that triggers a tax liability. The allowance allows you to earn up to £12,570 annually tax-free, with the full new state pension currently paying £230.25 weekly, equivalent to £11,973 per year.

With state pension payments rising by 4.8 per cent this April due to the triple lock, an increasing number of people with additional income streams such as a private pension will breach the income tax threshold, reports the Mirror.

Those on the full new state pension alone also face paying income tax from April 2027. Ms Reeves responded to Dr Evans’ enquiry: “As I said after the Budget last year, if you just get the basic state pension you will not be paying tax. We will be setting out more details of that in the coming months.”

Dr Evans has now issued a renewed appeal for the Government to set out how these tax changes will work. The Conservative MP warned: “Many pensioners simply do not realise they could soon be paying tax on their state pension. For some, being dragged into filling out tax returns will come as a huge and unwelcome shock. The Chancellor needs to urgently explain how she plans to prevent this.”

He said he has spoken with people in his Leicestershire constituency about the issue. The MP stated: “I’ve spoken to pensioners in my constituency who understand the impact of freezing the threshold, but I fear many others, including some of the most vulnerable, have no idea this is coming. Worst still, with all the policy kite flying before the Budget, many took out their pension as a lump sum to avoid a tax which never materialised.

“Rachel Reeves herself has said she does not want pensioners who rely solely on the state pension paying ‘tiny amounts of tax’ and that the Government is ‘working on a solution’. Yet that was in November – it is now March, and the Government’s own analysis shows 600,000 pensioners are on the hook. It’s time the Treasury set out exactly what that solution is, urgently.”

Senior officials from HMRC were questioned by the Treasury Committee in January 2026 regarding how the proposed tax changes will work. Cerys McDonald, director of Individuals Policy at HMRC, said there are between 800,000 and a million pensioners whose sole income is the state pension.

She informed the committee that new legislation would need to be introduced to effect the change. Ms McDonald stated: “We would expect this to go through the next finance bill in the Autumn but we have mobilised a project team already in anticipation of having to make this change.

“The mitigation that we would normally use to recover this tax is simple assessment, normally we wouldn’t be processing that for 2027/2028 until after the 2028 tax year, so we’ve got a decent run in here.”