Stephen Nolan has spoken out about the eye-opening experience as he spent two years filming with the PSNI for a new BBC docuseries, titled Peelers: The PSNI for Real

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A BBC radio and television presenter has revealed what he learnt after spending two years filming alongside police officers.

Northern Irish broadcaster Stephen Nolan aims to expose the reality behind one of the most challenging occupations, having dedicated two years to filming with a squad of seven Police Service of Northern Ireland officers while being granted extraordinary access.

He observed 999 emergency calls being received and officers rushing to crime scenes, including a tense confrontation involving an irate mob and a sex offender at his residence in east Belfast.

This was all captured for a new BBC documentary series, entitled Peelers: The PSNI for Real. The description promises: “Unfiltered and up close. The realities and challenges of 24/7 policing in Belfast. Stephen Nolan gets a powerful insight into law and order on the front line.”

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Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, April 28, Stephen discussed the challenges he encountered as he accompanied police during the revealing experience, reports the Mirror.

A preview displayed the fraught moments Stephen experienced with officers in a vehicle with its sirens blaring, speeding towards a crime scene.

“I’m terrified in the middle of this volatile environment, and yet these young officers are calm,” Stephen remarks in the documentary series.

Following the viewing of the footage, he contemplated on BBC Breakfast: “I didn’t realise they worked so hard, I knew they worked hard but my goodness, they’re out for long, long shifts.

“And of course, this is the backdrop in Northern Ireland, the police station has just been bombed over the weekend and they’re under threat.

“The work that these people do, I am impartial, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t say it’s incredible what they do.”

He continued: “What struck me was you’ve got relatively young officers making split second decisions every day of the week, and we know how big organisations work.

“Sometimes, executives take a month to make one decision and they’ve got a whole group of people around them, and these are officers everyday, and the accountability in Northern Ireland, the scrutiny in Northern Ireland is absolutely huge.

“I wanted to tell the real story of what they do, because I’m one of the guys in Northern Ireland who does give the police a hard time, I do ask questions a lot and I’ll continue to do that, but I think if we’re being fair we need to tell the whole story about them.”

Stephen highlighted the particular difficulties faced by the PSNI, set against the legacy of The Troubles in Northern Ireland and a deeply-rooted mistrust of policing in the region.

Nevertheless, alongside some of the more “intense” moments, Stephen also shed light on the touching camaraderie shared amongst the officers.

He explained: “One of the things I also learnt, when these guys are in really tricky situations, what gets them through it is the bond with each other, and when you see the banter they have, it’s the police family, and they talk about it a lot. They trust each other and they need to.”

He continued: “It’s just incredible the thinking but also the danger that they can be in at any stage.”

In a previous piece for the BBC, Stephen reflected on the eye-opening experience he encountered, drawing parallels to BBC drama Blue Lights.

He noted: “The police officers face split-second decisions that could mean the difference between de-escalation or things getting dangerously out of control.

“It’s the kind of dilemma that could come up on the award-winning cop drama Blue Lights.

“But this is real life, and my heart is pounding. I’ve been working for the BBC for more than 20 years, but it is nights like this that have had the most profound effect on me in all my years in journalism.”

BBC Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer. Peelers: The PSNI for Real is available to watch on iPlayer.

Police are appealing for information after the crash happened on Monday morning (April 27)

A 19-year-old man has died in a crash near the Cambridgeshire border. Lincolnshire Police were called to a single vehicle crash on the A151 Spalding Road in Twenty, near Bourne, just after 7am on Monday (April 27).

The crash involved a white BMW 218. A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A police spokesperson said: “The Force Control Room (FCR) received reports of a single vehicle collision involving a white BMW 218 on the A151 Spalding Road, Twenty just after 7am.

“Emergency services attended and a man was sadly found and pronounced deceased at the scene. His family are aware and are being supported by specially trained officers at this difficult time.”

Police are appealing for information. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or report it online and quote incident 64 of April 27.

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A group of four young women attached to the Evolve youth group at Street Level have been working on the ‘Photovoice’ project with Suzanne Gallacher-Graham, a lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of the West of Scotland.

Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke MP, Pamela Nash, has praised the work of members of a Carluke youth group in examining the important issues of sexual consent and sex education.

A group of four young women attached to the Evolve youth group at Street Level have been working on the ‘Photovoice’ project with Suzanne Gallacher-Graham, a lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of the West of Scotland.

Suzanne is also a PhD candidate at the University of Strathclyde and, as part of this, has been working with the group in Carluke to shape her research, as well as create and analyse data with them using photography and creative methods.

Their work culminated in an exhibition at Street Level at which Pamela Nash MP attended, alongside Councillor Lynsey Hamilton, Scottish Labour’s candidate for Clydesdale.

Nash said: “It’s crucial that our young people learn about sexual consent and are encouraged to speak openly about this and all matters relating to sex in a safe space to ensure they can make informed decisions.

“It was so refreshing to see exactly this at the Photovoice exhibition – the young women involved should be proud of themselves for making such a big contribution to Suzanne’s research.”

Councillor Hamilton said: “It was a pleasure to attend the exhibition and hear from the young women who have been taking part in the project with Suzanne.

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“The breakout sessions really allowed time for some discussion and reflection, and I’m sure everyone attending found it as interesting and informative as I did.”

Suzanne added: “It has been a genuine pleasure to work with this group of young women.

“We have produced some very interesting and important findings that we feel are relevant for people in roles which have an input on the future of sex education and the prevention of violence against women and girls.”

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READ MORE: Wishaw man uses marathon as ‘lap of honour’ after superb Larkhall to London run

Cathy MacGuinness, 40, suffered a cardiac arrest and died five weeks after giving birth with an undiagnosed heart condition

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A devastated family has issued a heartfelt warning after a mother-of-three lost her life to an undiagnosed heart condition just five weeks after welcoming her baby.

Cathy MacGuinness, 40, was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney on Easter Sunday following a cardiac arrest at her home. The young mum spent almost three weeks in an induced coma before tragically passing away on Saturday evening.

Ms MacGuinness leaves behind her partner, Sebastian, and their three children – seven-year-old Zoe, three-year-old Rosie and newborn Goldie.

Her heartbreaking death has led her loved ones to urge everyone, particularly busy mothers, to remain vigilant about their wellbeing and never dismiss seemingly minor symptoms, reports the Mirror.

Ms MacGuinness had unknowingly been living with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition which causes the heart to enlarge and struggle to pump blood efficiently. Her family firmly believe that had she received a diagnosis and appropriate medication, she would still be alive today.

“What’s so tragic is that Cathy’s death could have been avoided,” sister-in-law Gillian Binchy-MacGuinness told Daily Mail.

“As a mum myself, we often put our families ahead of ourselves and our health by not listening to our bodies. Our hope is that Cathy’s story has a silver living and saves lives.”

Symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy include fatigue, shortness of breath during activity or while lying flat, and swelling in the legs, ankles or abdomen, alongside palpitations, dizziness, chest pain and reduced exercise capacity.

Ms Binchy-MacGuinness said: “Cathy put her symptoms down to being a busy mum who was always on her feet Our message to everyone, especially women, is to not dismiss symptoms and look after yourself.”

The auntie revealed her brother-in-law has shown remarkable strength for his young daughters. The mum was described as “magic in human form”, brightening every room she walked into. Her final moments unfolded in a beautifully adorned hospital room, filled from top to bottom with artwork, photographs, messages and origami from all those who cared for her.

Close pal Joanna Allen wrote on GoFundMe: “She had this rare and extraordinary ability to really see you – to look at you and make you feel truly known, exactly as you are. She accomplished everything she sets her mind to, looked incredible doing it and still made everyone else feel a million bucks at the end.

“Seb and her girls were her entire world, her greatest love, her proudest achievement, her reason for everything,” her friend added.

“And beyond that, her love stretched wide and deep – to her mum and dad, her brothers and sister and all of their families. She didn’t just love them, she cherished every single moment with them. She felt like the luckiest woman alive to call them hers.”

The fundraising page established by Joanna has brought in over $150,000 (nearly £80,000) as the couple didn’t have life insurance. You can make a donation by clicking here.

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The UK’s millions of personal independence payment (Pip) claimants will soon be subject to new rules around health assessments under laws being laid by the government.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed on Monday that it is moving to set all award reviews at a minimum of three years for new claims, rising to five years at their next review if the claimant remains entitled.

In most cases, this will reduce the frequency of award reviews for Pip claimants, with the uncertainty around reassessments often cited as a key issue of the system.

The DWP notes that around 60 per cent of reviews currently result in no change of award, and still encourages claimants whose needs change to notify the department.

Currently claimed by 3.9 million people, Pip is designed to help with extra costs incurred by living with an illness or disability.

The health benefit is currently under review by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms, who aims to make it “fair and fit for the future”. The review aims to report in the autumn of this year.

The payment was at the heart of Labour’s plans to axe welfare spending last year, when proposals to tweak its assessment criteria to effectively make it harder to claim were met with fierce opposition from campaign groups and politicians.

Ministers backed down on the plans in late June after over 100 Labour MPs threatened to vote against the government on the measures. The concession – and review – was announced by Sir Stephen in the middle of the debate on the legislation.

Commenting on the new changes, Sir Stephen told The Independent: “Reforming the welfare system so that it better meets the needs of disabled people is a priority for the government.

“A major part of this is ensuring that Pip is fit and fair for the future – and we are taking an important step to improve the system through new legislation, which will reduce the frequency of reviews for many existing Pip customers.

“This will make the system more efficient by freeing up the capacity of health professionals to tackle our inherited assessment backlog, while removing unnecessary pressure from disabled claimants whose conditions rarely change at each review.

“We are also increasing face-to-face assessments for Pip from 6 per cent in 2024 to 30 per cent of all assessments. Additionally, my review is looking into how we can bolster Pip for the future, and we have opened a call for evidence for people to share their views on how Pip should be reformed.”

The plans have been welcomed by disability charities and campaigners, which have previously criticised the uncertainty that irregular reviews can cause.

Fazilet Hadi, Disability Rights UK’s head of policy, said: “Reducing the frequency of Pip reviews makes sense, both for disabled people and DWP. So often our needs remain the same, and reviews just cause anxiety.

“It is of concern that face-to-face reviews will increase, as these can be physically and emotionally challenging,” they added.

Harriet Edwards, Director of Influencing at the national disability charity Sense, added: “The process of applying for disability benefits is long, complicated, and emotionally distressing, and so we welcome these plans.”

“Sense research found over half of disabled PIP claimants with complex needs felt humiliated during their assessment; clearly this process needs to urgently change.”

“It’s vital that the Timms Review continues to work with disabled people to make the application process for PIP fairer and less distressing.

Kieran Aldred, policy manager at disability equality charity Scope, said that the announcement was “extremely welcome”, adding that the “government must go further by making assessments fairer, less punitive and more person-centred.”

The Timms Review’s call for evidence remains open until May 28, giving all people an opportunity to share their views with its steering group.

Helena Bonham Carter has shut down reports suggesting that an on-set “clash” with a fellow White Lotus cast member was responsible for her stepping away from the show.

A week into production, however, it was confirmed that Helena was leaving the show, after it was decided that her character would be retooled.

“With filming just underway on Season 4 of The White Lotus, it had become apparent that the character which Mike White created for Helena Bonham Carter did not align once on set,” a representative for the US broadcaster HBO said.

“The role has subsequently been rethought, is being rewritten and will be recast in the coming weeks. HBO, the producers and Mike White are saddened that they won’t get to work with her, but remain ardent fans and very much hope to work with the legendary actress on another project soon.”

Helena’s team initially declined to comment when contacted by HuffPost UK, after which the Daily Mail published an article citing an undisclosed “source” who alleged she “left because of a clash with Sandra Bernhard”.

The Oscar nominee’s team was quick to dispel this claim, though, pointing out that the two actors had not even met yet, let alone had time to have clashed.

It was previously announced that the fourth season of The White Lotus will explore different themes around fame and celebrity, and will be set at the Cannes Film Festival.

Deep in the Zwijnenburg Shipyard in Rotterdam, a large faceless steel structure stands before me – and it takes a lot of imagination to believe that in just over a year this will be the first of Celebrity Cruises’ river cruise ships.

Even before launching, Celebrity River Cruises has already been making waves in the river cruise market, having sold out its first year of sailings within five hours without a ship even touching the water.

The premium brand will launch its first foray into river cruises along the Rhine in June 2027 and I visited Amsterdam for a behind the scenes tour of its first river cruise ship – Celebrity Compass – in which I would learn what guests can expect on board and during excursions.

It may be just a steel structure for now but I could feel the excitement as I stood in one of four blocks that will eventually house 86 cabins as part of a ship that aims to do river cruising in what the brand calls the “Celebrity way”.

Celebrity River Cruises is taking inspiration from its Edge class ships, such as the recently launched Celebrity Xcel, in its bright decor and cabin design and it will be one of the few river cruise lines with king-size beds facing the water. That means guests won’t have to get up to enjoy river views from the comfort of their bed.

Read more: Inside Celebrity’s luxury river cruise ships

There will be five different types of cabin to choose from, including 27 Balcony Suites and Vista Balcony Suites with private verandahs for two and 31 Infinite Balcony rooms that feature wall to wall windows that lower at the touch of a button, a feature that is popular on Celebrity Cruises’ Edge class ships.

There will also be four Skylight Infinite Balcony suites with a retractable ceiling window and butler service, as well as lower deck River View suites with just a window. Cabins will include snacks inspired by the destination where the ship is sailing, such as stroopwafels in Amsterdam.

Around the ship, guests will have six choices of dining for breakfast lunch and dinner, plus open-air bars and lounges. These include familiar favourites including Cafe al Bacio, the Martini Bar and Sunset Bar.

I saw some of these features while at the shipyard during a virtual reality tour of Celebrity Compass – the first of 20 ships being constructed – and it is like being on a slightly smaller but equally impressive version of Xcel.

An open-air deck offers 360 degree views from relaxing chairs, sunbeams and retractable umbrellas in case of low bridges. There are hints of the orange, silver and blue that you see on Edge class ships. There will even be magic pods that extend out to the side of the ship for dining, typically while sailing, inspired by the Magic Carpet platform that hangs over the side of Celebrity’s more recent cruise ships.

Guests enter through the immaculately decorated Martini Lounge, next to Cafe al Bacio. This is a different approach to other cruise lines that welcome passengers through a hotel-style lobby entrance. It means passengers will enter straight into the action, with flair bartenders mixing drinks in the Martini Bar as they do on Celebrity’s ocean-going ships.

The cruise line has been working hard to create a different product on the river. Michael Scheiner, chief marketing officer for Celebrity Cruises, says the cruise line even sent its staff on sailings with rivals, and had them test local tours to see what would work for the brand.

Other features include all-day dining, with no set seating times, and room service available 24 hours. Scheiner says guests will get more than just cookies when they return from excursions.

Read more: First look as Legend of the Seas cruise ship starts sea trials

Scheiner is also looking to cook up something different when it comes to entertainment, which is still being developed. River cruise lines often have less entertainment than an ocean-going ship, mainly because guests are typically tired from a day of exploring in-port. Rather than the traditional pianist or disco, Scheiner says entertainment will be inspired by the Bazaar concept on Celebrity Xcel where local talent is brought on board. There are also opportunities for onshore evening entertainment and events

Celebrity Cruises is also thinking local when it comes to excursions. Guests will get the choice of its Storyteller Series, which are tours that are included in the price and led by local residents uncovering hidden stories of the destinations.

We experienced one in Amsterdam where an enthusiastic local artist named Robert gave a guided tour around the Van Gogh Museum, highlighting paintings that had inspired him and ensuring we saw the famous Sunflowers. We then returned to his workshop to paint our own less-inspiring but fun masterpiece. It definitely felt more interactive than other river cruise excursions I have done, plus groups will be limited to 15 people.

Additionally, there will be a Skillmaster Series where guests cook, craft, and create alongside locals, and a Keys to the City Series, which gives guests an audio or digital guide to support them as they explore a destination at their own pace.

Some features that you find on other river cruise ships will deliberately be missing from Celebrity River Cruises. Scheiner says the brand has chosen not to have an onboard gym and spa to maximise space, but the cruise line plans to partner with local hotels if guests want these experiences, and a masseuse can also be brought on board.

The ship may just be a steel skeleton for now, but if the sold-out sailings for 2027 and demand for 2028 bookings are anything to go by, there is going to be plenty of life on board.

Read more: The best European river cruises

The FTSE 100 firm revealed its preferred profit measure – underlying replacement cost profit – surged by over 130% to a better-than-expected 3.2 billion US dollars (£2.4 billion) in the first quarter, up from 1.38 billion US dollars (£1.02 billion) a year earlier and 1.54 billion US dollars (£1.13 billion) in the previous three months.

Beer could come with a “surprising health benefit”, according to a new report from the BBC. This must be pleasing news for beer drinkers everywhere. But what did the new study the BBC report was based on actually say? And does it stand up to scrutiny?

The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, set out to assess the vitamin B6 content of alcohol-free and full-strength beers. Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient with important roles in the body, but there are problems with how these findings are framed.

The numbers are technically true but misleading in context. Saying that a beer provides 15% of your daily vitamin B6 sounds impressive, but it ignores the wider dietary picture.

Most people in the UK are not deficient in vitamin B6. And the same amount, or more, can easily be obtained from a standard healthy diet. A number of foods, such as potatoes, chickpeas, fortified cereals, grains, meat and vegetables, provide vitamin B6 without the need for alcohol.

The paper also links vitamin B6 to important neurological functions, but does not provide evidence that beer consumption meaningfully improves brain health. It correctly states that vitamin B6 is involved in making the brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine, and confirms that beer contains measurable amounts of B6. However, the interpretation that beer is therefore “brain boosting” is problematic.

The study does not measure brain health outcomes of any kind (not cognition, mood or neurological effects), so such conclusions are not supported by the data. The B6 intake from beer is modest, and this narrative overlooks the well established harms associated with alcohol consumption.

The serving size framing is also concerning. The study refers to “a serving” and, in some cases, volumes of up to a litre. Drinking at those levels on a regular basis would clearly conflict with NHS guidance on alcohol consumption. A typical half-litre serving was reported to provide around 13–16% of daily vitamin B6 requirements. A beer would need to provide about one whole day’s worth of vitamin B6 in a standard pint to qualify for a health claim. None of the beers in the study came close to that.

The study also does not adequately emphasise alcohol’s downsides, including risks to the liver, brain and increased cancer incidence. In recognition of these harms, the World Health Organization states that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. Although this is acknowledged in the paper, highlighting a small vitamin content without properly weighing it against these risks is misleading.

When drinks brands latch on to studies like this to make their products seem good for you, they’re putting marketing ahead of public health. At worst, they’re nudging people to drink more.

A familiar story: the red wine myth

This is not the first time narratives about the health benefits of alcohol have found their way into the media. The idea that a glass of red wine a day is good for your heart is one of the most enduring examples. While this claim has some scientific roots, it is now heavily debated.

The belief largely traces back to the so-called “French paradox”, coined following observations that people in France appeared to have relatively low rates of heart disease despite diets rich in saturated fat and regular alcohol consumption. Red wine, in particular, has been suggested to offer some health benefits because it contains natural compounds called polyphenols – especially one called resveratrol – which can act as antioxidants and help protect the body’s cells.

Later studies, however, have raised serious concerns about these claims. Researchers pointed out that other factors – like people’s diet, how active they are and their access to healthcare – may have influenced the results. There has also been a wider rethink of alcohol’s effects, with growing evidence that it can increase the risk of harm, especially from certain types of cancer.

Taken together, these issues help explain a pattern known as the “healthy user effect”. At first glance, observational data suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may be protective. Some studies report lower rates of heart disease among moderate drinkers compared with non-drinkers. But observational data can only show correlations, not cause and effect.

In reality, moderate wine drinkers often differ from non-drinkers in important ways. They are, on average, more likely to eat healthier diets, be more physically active, be wealthier, have more friends, and see their doctor more often.

Each of these factors independently reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. When they are not fully accounted for, alcohol itself can mistakenly appear to be the protective factor.

When the wider body of evidence is considered, particularly research linking alcohol to cancer, liver disease and mental health problems, most reviews conclude that any potential benefits are small and probably outweighed by the risks. The nutritional contributions of beer and wine do exist, but they are minor and unlikely to translate into meaningful health improvements.

Polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals can all be obtained more safely and reliably from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, olive oil and other whole foods, without the risks associated with alcohol.