His latest crimes were exposed by a bag of Walkers Sensations crisps

A high-level drug trafficker who boasted of “banana boat” smuggling routes and million-pound profits has been jailed for 13 years, the Liverpool Echo reports.

James Hitchmough, who operated under the EncroChat handle “Brutal Whale”, was brought to justice after detectives matched his fingerprints to an image he shared of himself holding a bag of Walkers Sensations crisps.

Hitchmough, of Kingsway in Huyton, had been a wanted man since 2020, fleeing to a bolthole in Dubai to avoid the fallout from the French police infiltration of the EncroChat network. However, the 35-year-old returned to the UK last October to “face the music”, telling the court through his lawyer that he “simply could not carry on any longer” as a fugitive.

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Liverpool Crown Court heard that Hitchmough ran a sophisticated criminal business that operated every single day across Merseyside.

Using the handles “Brutal Whale” and “Roll Play”, he orchestrated the supply of massive quantities of Class A and B drugs – including 64.5kg of cocaine, 37.5kg of heroin and 33kg of cannabis.

Prosecutors revealed that Hitchmough acted as a wholesaler, frequently purchasing 5kg blocks of cocaine for over £38,000 per kilogram. He was so established that he offered “deals of the day” to customers and invested over £2.4 million in dirty cash into properties abroad and luxury items.

The sentencing also brought to light Hitchmough’s history of extreme violence. In 2013, he was sentenced to nine years for a sickening assault on a 44-year-old dog walker in Bootle.

During that incident, Hitchmough and an accomplice waited in a white van before ambushing the victim and battering him with a hammer, rendering him unconscious. The victim, who suffered a fractured skull, was found bound and bleeding in the back of the vehicle.

Judge Garrett Byrne noted that this history showed a man “deeply entrenched” in a criminal lifestyle.

Despite his attempts to hide behind encrypted technology, Hitchmough left a digital trail that proved his undoing.

Merseyside Police identified him through several key errors which included other EncroChat users referring to him as “Jim” and “Jimmy” in messages and a series of images from a fishing trip Hitchmough had paid for which included a picture of his specific lakeside pitch.

The most definitive evidence, however, came from a photo he sent of himself holding a bag of crisps, which allowed forensic experts to map and match his fingerprints.

Hitchmough admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine, and cannabis, as well as transferring criminal property.

Jailing him for 13 years, Judge Byrne remarked: “On any view, this was an established, large scale, highly active and sophisticated operation… Those who engage in this sort of conduct must expect to receive lengthy periods of imprisonment.”

Merseyside Police have now confirmed they will pursue a Proceeds of Crime Act application to seize Hitchmough’s international assets and ill-gotten gains.

Lewis Rimmer was critically injured when a Range Rover struck him and pinned him against a steel pillar outside Sainsbury’s on Darwen Road on October 27 last year.

Having spent over 140 days in hospital, Lewis has undergone more than 40 hours of surgery, spent three weeks in a coma and nine weeks in intensive care.

He has since been transferred to Salford Royal Hospital as he begins the next stage of his rehabilitation.

Lewis Rimmer with close friends and best men Andy and Ben. // A devoted dad is fighting (Image: Rimmer Family / SWNS)

Family friend Andy Tonge said Lewis has started an “intense” physiotherapy programme to help maintain muscle strength and flexibility.

However, he will require further surgery to reset the right side of his pelvis, a major procedure doctors say cannot yet go ahead while his abdominal injuries continue to heal.

Despite the challenges, there has been some positive news for the family.

A recent biopsy on a fluid collection in his pelvis came back clear.

Lewis’s partner, Sarah, said his recovery remains slow and painful, with progress measured in small steps.

She posted: “There’s also been a lot of physio.

“At the moment it’s focused on basic things, like simply sitting on the edge of the bed.

“The injuries were so serious and caused a lot of damage, so recovery is happening in very small steps, and it’s very painful.

“But progress, even small, is so important to us right now.”

Lewis was transferred from Royal Preston Hospital to Salford Royal on February 22.

Lewis Rimmer, 41, with wife Sarah and their daughter. // A devoted dad is fighting for his life (Image: Rimmer Family / SWNS)

Paying tribute to the care he received, Sarah added: “We can’t thank the team at Preston Hospital enough.

“Saying they saved Lewis’s life still doesn’t feel like enough to express what they’ve done for us over the past 15 weeks.

“We truly owe them everything.

“Now it’s a new place with new faces, and we’re hopeful this means we’ll soon be having that long-awaited conversation about discharge.

“I never imagined in a million years that Lewis would be away from us at home for this long after being admitted on October 27.”

Lewis suffered devastating injuries in the crash, including multiple breaks to his pelvis, both femurs, and a compound fracture to his right shin.

He also sustained internal injuries including a ruptured bladder and two bowel ruptures, as well as three fractured ribs.

His left foot was so badly damaged it had to be amputated.

Since the incident, more than £110,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe page to support Lewis and his family as they adjust to the long road ahead.

Lewis, a dad of two young daughters, had been out celebrating one of their birthdays shortly before the incident and had gone into the supermarket when the collision happened at around 12.50pm.

Greater Manchester Police said a 56-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.

He is on bail pending further enquiries.

As King Charles continues to distance the monarchy from Andrew, his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are reportedly being sidelined.

Andrew and Sarah Ferguson may already be considered unwelcome at major royal events, but now it appears their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, could also be facing growing exclusion.

Even before Prince Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, King Charles had largely kept his younger brother out of the spotlight. Aside from attending a family funeral, Andrew had not appeared publicly with the rest of the Royal Family for some time.

Then last October, ahead of the release of his accuser Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, the King issued a strongly worded statement announcing that, “notwithstanding” Andrew’s denials of wrongdoing, he would formally strip him of his royal titles and styles. Since then, the controversy surrounding the monarchy has only intensified.

Although King Charles positioned himself as supportive of survivors and took decisive steps to distance the monarchy from Andrew, the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein by the US Department of Justice has reignited public scrutiny. Newly surfaced photographs appear to show Andrew in the company of young women whose identities have been redacted. Other images reportedly show Epstein with political figures including Peter Mandelson, once again drawing attention to Andrew’s past associations.

With Andrew effectively exiled to Sandringham, attention has now turned to his daughters. Initially, it seemed that Beatrice and Eugenie might escape the scandal that engulfed their parents. In fact, Beatrice was appointed deputy patron of Outward Bound and attended a reception marking the role alongside her uncle Prince Edward at St James’s Palace last November. But in just a few months, the situation appears to have shifted dramatically.

During the Christmas period, the York sisters appeared to carry on as usual. They attended the traditional royal family lunch in London and joined King Charles and senior members of the Royal Family for church on Christmas Day. Now, however, reports suggest they may be barred from several high-profile royal events as the controversy continues.

According to reports, neither Beatrice nor Eugenie will attend Royal Ascot this year, and the restrictions could extend further. They may also be excluded from the Royal Family’s Easter Sunday church service and upcoming royal garden parties. A royal source reportedly said that King Charles believes their presence at public royal occasions could harm the monarchy’s image while the situation remains so sensitive.

Speaking about Royal Ascot, an insider told The i Paper that the sisters might still attend the races privately but would not be permitted to take part in the traditional royal carriage procession.

Royal biographer Russell Myers added that although Prince William previously invited his cousins to help host a garden party at Buckingham Palace with Catherine, Princess of Wales, it is unlikely that such invitations will continue this year. “He can’t be seen to go against the King,” Myers said, noting there is no indication William intends to take a different approach.

While King Charles is said to care deeply about his nieces, the ongoing controversy has reportedly forced him to distance the monarchy from them for the sake of its reputation. One insider told the Daily Mail that Beatrice and Eugenie have become particularly vulnerable as renewed attention is placed on their family’s links to Epstein. Although neither sister has been accused of wrongdoing, their past association with the financier has raised uncomfortable questions.

The situation has reportedly been emotionally difficult for both women, though they are said to be coping in very different ways. According to sources, Beatrice has tried to approach the crisis pragmatically but has been deeply affected by the collapse of the world she once knew and by what she perceives as the Royal Family’s cold response. Eugenie, by contrast, is said to be taking a more avoidant approach, hoping the controversy will eventually fade.

The sisters were reportedly taken by surprise by the decision to exclude them from this year’s Royal Ascot. Some commentators have pointed to signs of tension within the Royal Family long before the current scandal. Photographs from the 2017 Ascot show Catherine, now Princess of Wales, speaking with Zara Tindall while Prince William chatted with Mike Tindall. When Beatrice joined the group, observers noted a noticeable shift in body language, with William appearing to subtly position himself between her and the others.

Body language expert Judi James previously suggested that Catherine’s interaction with Beatrice in those images appeared somewhat distant, hinting that tensions between the York sisters and other royals may have existed even before the Epstein scandal intensified.

There have also long been rumours of cool relations between Catherine and the York princesses. Some reports claim that the sisters, influenced by their father, believed William was “marrying beneath his status,” which allegedly made Catherine’s early years within royal circles uncomfortable.

More recently, relations are said to have cooled further. Reports suggest that Beatrice and Eugenie were left off William and Catherine’s Christmas gift list. According to one source, once Andrew’s links to Epstein appeared more serious than initially believed, Catherine chose to distance herself from the entire York branch of the family.

The fallout has also affected Eugenie’s charitable work. She recently stepped down as patron of Anti-Slavery International, a role she had held for many years, and her name was removed from the organisation’s website amid the controversy. Both sisters have made only a handful of public appearances since the latest developments emerged.

Friends say, however, that Beatrice and Eugenie still feel a strong sense of public duty. They reportedly believe they should not be treated as though they have done something wrong, particularly given that neither has been accused of any crime.

Royal historian Andrew Lownie has suggested that both sisters are eager to maintain good relations with the Royal Family, partly because their futures — including potential business opportunities — remain tied to their royal status. Remaining princesses, he argues, allows them to maintain influence and credibility, particularly in international circles.

However, some experts believe their long-term position within the monarchy may become increasingly uncertain. Royal commentator Richard Palmer has predicted that the sisters could eventually lose their titles as the monarchy continues to streamline its ranks. In his view, being princesses who are not working royals already creates confusion, as they retain status without official duties.

Privately, the strain is said to be taking a heavy toll on Beatrice. Reports suggest she has been struggling emotionally as she confronts the allegations surrounding her father and the damage done to her family’s reputation.

Meanwhile, additional scrutiny has emerged after reports that both sisters received payments from David Rowland, a controversial billionaire associate of Prince Andrew. Sources close to the princesses have said they have no recollection of the alleged payments. Rowland previously helped settle a £1.5 million loan owed by Andrew in 2017, and he later attended Eugenie’s wedding.

Such revelations have prompted some commentators to call for greater transparency from the York family. Others argue that remaining silent may be the wiser course. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward suggested that speaking publicly could worsen the situation and that the sisters have likely been advised to keep a low profile.

Questions also remain about how well Beatrice and Eugenie knew Jeffrey Epstein. Their names appear in documents connected to him, though this alone does not indicate wrongdoing. Most observers assume their initial contact with Epstein came through their parents’ social circle. However, even as adults, the sisters appear to have had at least some level of acquaintance with him, which continues to fuel public speculation.

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Nicholas Brendon, who was best known for playing Xander Harris in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer between 1997 and 2003, and Kevin Lynch in Criminal Minds, has died.

TV star Nicholas Brendon, famed for his sex year stint in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 54.

The actor passed away on Friday, March 20, in his sleep, his family has confirmed. They said in a poignant post on his Facebook page: “We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon. He passed in his sleep of natural causes.

“Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart.”

The actor, born in Los Angeles, California, was well-known for playing Xander Harris on the 90s hit show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He played Xander for six years and was in all but one of the shows 144 episodes, according to Australian news site news.com.

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Brendon also appeared in Criminal Minds as as Kevin Lynch between 2007 and 2014. His family, though, said that while most people know Nicholas for his acting work, he had found a love for painting and art in recent years, reports the Mirror.

Their statement continued: “In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was.

“While it’s no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing. Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.”

Before his role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Brendon was in other popular films and programmes, such as sitcoms Dave’s World and Married… With children on CBS and Fox respectively.

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This Morning presenter Alison Hammond has confessed to an ‘awful’ moment on Strictly Come Dancing.

Alison Hammond has revealed a mortifying Strictly Come Dancing confession, admitting to an embarrassing incident during her time on the programme.

The This Morning host shot to prominence on Big Brother in 2002, and has subsequently featured on shows including Strictly, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, and as presenter of The Great British Bake Off.

Alison graced the Strictly dance floor in 2014, paired with Aljaz Skorjanec, with the duo placing 10th overall. She has now owned up to “breaking wind” during the competition.

The 51-year-old recounted a particular incident from the show whilst appearing alongside Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Sarah Michelle Gellar, comedian Richard Ayoade and Ready or Not 2’s Kathryn Newton on The Jonathan Ross Show, broadcasting tonight (Saturday).

She recalled performing to Robin Williams’ Friend Like Me during week seven of the competition, hoisting Aljaz off the ground at one stage, before confessing: “Oh, it was awful. At the time he couldn’t lift me so we thought don’t worry I’ll lift you, I can do it,” reports Birmingham Live.

“There is a moment where he does a cartwheel and I had to kind of pick him up and then help him over. He goes into this cartwheel and I pick him up and I break wind. I look at him and I go, ‘Let’s never talk about this again.’

“I didn’t realise that he’s quite a heavy guy – it literally took the wind out of me.” Alison has previously spoken about her experience on Strictly, and her bond with her former dance partner, Aljaz.

Amid several scandals Strictly has faced in recent years, including Graziano Di Prima and Giovanni Pernice being dropped from the professional line-up, Alison said: “I had Aljaz Skorjanec and he was absolutely incredible and as you know going back into Strictly.

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“He was so amazing to me and gentle as well and kind. I’ve never experienced anything bad really.”

Elsewhere on The Jonathan Ross Show, Alison speaks about her new programme, Your Song.

She explains: “Your Song is exactly that. It’s your song that you feel emotionally attached to – it got you through a rough time at school or you know, it reminds you of someone who has passed on. A song that really means something to you.

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“People come from around the country and perform it on a stage. People go on stage who have never sung before and they sing a song to a random audience. It’s just one of the most beautiful shows ever.”

The Jonathan Ross Show airs tonight from 10pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

The Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla shared affectionate words at Windsor Castle

The royal family’s trademark grandeur and ceremony was on full display this week as the King and Queen played host to the president and first lady of Nigeria for the first state visit of 2026.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, were received at Windsor by Prince William and Princess Kate on Wednesday, before being accompanied to Windsor Castle for their introduction to Charles and Camilla.

William and Kate joined the King and Queen on the dais for the inspection of the guards, where the Princess of Wales shared a touching moment with Queen Camilla, reflecting the warmth between the two women.

As they greeted one another on the grounds of Windsor Castle, Kate and Camilla leaned in and exchanged kisses on the cheek, with a lip reader casting light on the heartfelt words they shared.

Speaking to the Daily Express, lip reader Nicola Hickling said she believes Kate opened the conversation with: “Good morning, how are you?”, before telling Camilla, “you look beautiful!”

Camilla cut an elegant figure in a pink wool crepe dress by Fiona Clare, complemented by a pink beret-shaped hat by Philip Treacy, reports the Mirror. She also wore the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Cartier flower clip pair of brooches, as crowds lined the streets of Windsor to witness the ceremonial welcome.

That evening, William and Kate departed from convention in the run-up to the state banquet. Prior to each state banquet last year, the Prince and Princess of Wales would share a portrait on Instagram before proceedings got under way, affording royal enthusiasts an early preview of their attire.

Yet on Wednesday evening, no such image was uploaded. Instead, the official Instagram account for the Prince and Princess of Wales released a video featuring highlights from the glittering occasion.

William and Kate eventually shared the portrait, waiting a full 24 hours after the event before posting the striking photograph. Numerous royal fans flocked to the comments section to express their delight, having been made to wait an entire day.

One person wrote: “Thank you so much! We were all expecting this portrait last night and we were sad to not see it since the ones last year were amazing. You both look absolutely gorgeous and elegant.”

Kate donned the Lover’s Knot Tiara alongside a flowing emerald gown with a high neckline by British-Nigerian designer Andrew Gn, a nod to the colours of the Nigerian flag.

President Tinubu’s visit to the UK marked the first incoming state visit in nearly 100 years by a Muslim leader during the holy month of Ramadan, during which many Muslims fast and abstain from food and drink between dawn and sunset.

As a result, there was no traditional lunch on Wednesday with the King in the castle for the president during the day. Instead, it is believed the Nigerian president privately broke his fast before joining the royal family in St George’s Hall for the banquet.

BEIRUT (AP) — A 19-year-old star wrestler and two other young men were hanged in Iran this week, raising alarm among rights groups that a wave of executions may be underway as authorities facing relentless attacks from the U.S. and Israel seek to squelch public dissent.

The three men are the first to be executed from among the tens of thousands who were arrested during a January crackdown on nationwide protests. Rights groups say more than 100 others could face death sentences.

The wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi, was hanged early Thursday morning — along with Mehdi Qasemi and Saeed Davoudi — in Qom, just south of the capital, Tehran, according to state media. They had been sentenced on charges of “moharabeh,” or “waging war against God,” for allegedly killing two police officers during protests in the city.

Amnesty International said the convictions of the three, and of others arrested during the protests, came in “grossly unfair trials” that used confessions extracted by torture.

The executions were “intended to instill fear in society and deter new protests” amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, an Oslo-based group that has documented detentions.

Amiry-Moghaddam said he worries many more “executions of protesters and political prisoners may be imminent.”

At least 27 arrested during protests face death sentences

Amiry-Moghaddam said his group has documented at least 27 death sentences that have been issued against people arrested during the protests. Another 100 face charges that carry the death penalty, and Iranian state media have aired hundreds of forced confessions to crimes punishable by death, he said.

Nationwide protests that began in late December peaked in the first week of January, prompting the deadliest crackdown by Iranian security forces since the Islamic Republic took power in 1979.

A complete death toll has been hard to gauge because of internet restrictions by authorities. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists New Agency, which relies on a network of contacts inside Iran, said it confirmed that more than 7,000 were killed and that it was investigating thousands more. It said over 50,000 were arrested in just over six weeks. The government acknowledged more than 3,000 were killed.

At the height of the protests, Iranian authorities signaled that fast trials and executions lay ahead.

At the time, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested military action might be an option to stop the deadly crackdown. But he soon announced that he learned that plans for executions were halted, signaling that a military operation was no longer on the table.

Just a month later, Israel and the U.S. launched an intense airstrike campaign against Iran, pounding military installations and targeting the top political and security leadership of Iran. The security agencies believed to be responsible for the deadly crackdown on protesters are also being targeted.

War has not stopped Iran’s crackdown on dissent

Despite the war, Iranian authorities have kept up the crackdown on dissent. Authorities say scores have been detained since the war began on Feb. 28, including some who took part in the January protests.

Because of Iran’s internet blackout, there have been scant details about the three men executed Thursday. Amiry-Moghaddam said Davoudi was born on March 20, 2004, meaning he was executed a day before his 22nd birthday. Qasemi’s age was not known, he said.

Mohammadi appeared to be a standout in wrestling, a sport that is wildly popular in Iran. In 2024, he won a bronze medal at an international youth freestyle wrestling tournament in the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk.

On his Instagram account, Mohammadi posted photos and videos of his matches and his workouts, along with inspirational “no-pain-no-gain” messages. In his last post in late December, he posted a video of himself in the gym and wrote: “We endured beyond our imagination. Back again #bodybuilding #training #wrestling.”

“He was full of energy,” said Shiva Amelirad, an Iranian teacher living in Toronto who spoke with Mohammadi in 2022 while he was still in high school.

Amelirad said Mohammadi had participated in anti-government protests that erupted earlier that year when Mahsa Amini died in police custody after being detained for not wearing her headscarf properly. Those demonstrations were also met with a heavy crackdown by authorities.

She said Mohammadi told her that workouts and eating ice cream were his only ways “to forget all this catastrophe that we are facing.”

“He always tried to show that he was happy,” said Amelirad.

Rights groups say theocracy has forced confessions from protesters

Mohammadi, Qasemi and Davoudi were arrested in Qom on Jan. 15, according to multiple human rights groups. The circumstances of their arrests are not known, and it is not clear if they knew each other beforehand.

They were charged in the killing of a police officer on Jan. 8 and convicted in early February, according to Amnesty and Iran Human Rights.

During his detention, Mohammadi was beaten and one of his hands broken, Amnesty said in a Feb. 19 open letter to Iran’s judiciary criticizing the prosecution of dozens of arrested protesters. Amnesty said Mohammadi denied the charges and retracted his confessions in court, saying they were extracted under torture.

“Authorities have systematically subjected those arrested in connection to the protests to enforced disappearance, incommunicado detention, torture to extract forced ‘confessions,’” Amnesty said in the letter.

Mizan, the Iranian judiciary’s official news agency, announced the execution of the three on Thursday, showing video of them sitting in prison uniforms in court. It said they had confessed to killing two police officers with “knives and swords,” and showed video of them allegedly reenacting the killings for judicial officials.

Amiry-Moghaddam, of Iran Human Rights, said the Islamic Republic is struggling for its survival “and is well aware that the main threat to its existence comes not from external actors, but from the Iranian people demanding fundamental change.”

______

Keath reported from Cairo. Frankel from Jerusalem.

Mike Tindall has reacted strongly after some of his 2003 World Cup colleagues paid a visit to the England camp during the Six Nations

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Mike Tindall laid into some of his fellow World Cup-winning heroes with an X-rated rant as he defended the current England squad.

England finished fifth in the table following a 48-46 defeat by France in Paris last weekend, with their victory over Wales in round one the only win from a tournament that began amid high expectations but ended in huge disappointment. It has left head coach Steve Borthwick fighting to save his job, with the RFU launching an investigation into the wretched campaign.

Tindall, along with ex-England forward Joe Marler, has been dissecting England’s woeful performance on their The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast. Host Alex Payne brought up the visit by a group of 2003 heroes to the squad following the defeats to Scotland and Ireland.

The likes of Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Will Greenwood, Ben Kay, Phil Vickery and Jason Leonard spent time with the squad, going out for a curry. The Times has subsequently reported that some of the ex-players felt it was a “bad environment” and were concerned about the squad’s reserved nature, lack of critical thinking and limited knowledge of their opponents.

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Members of the group were also said to be alarmed at the current players’ reaction when a World Cup winner challenged the squad to devote their lives to the sport over the next 18 months ahead of the World Cup in Australia. It was suggested that the players had not been spoken to like that before.

Tindall didn’t take kindly to those claims, blasting: “Outside of one person, not one of them has ever f****** coached, so what the f*** do they know?

“Like, they’re all my best friends, but not one of them has coached. Ben Kay, you could say he’s like a coach because he’s watching so many f****** games [as an RFU non-executive director].

“But Johnno’s [Johnson, who coached England to the Six Nations title in 2011] the only one who’s been in Steve’s position right now. A good figurehead; has had a coaching [career].

“Will Greenwood, [coach at] Maidenhead, well done! But does watch a lot of games as well. Lol [Dallaglio], never coached, never looked like coaching.”

Marler then weighed in, arguing that players must be treated differently now compared to 10 or 20 years ago. He said: “It’s a different kettle of fish now. The youngsters, the generation coming through, you have to treat them differently, you have to talk to them differently.”

Borthwick’s future as England coach will hinge on the RFU’s annual Six Nations review. The process is expected to last several weeks, with players, Borthwick and his backroom staff asked for their views on the reasons behind the defeats to Scotland and Ireland and the late collapse against Italy.

While England were edged in the climax to the tournament at the Stade de France, it was a stirring performance full of intent and attacking endeavour that may have bought the 46-year-old some time.

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Saturday Night Live is one of America’s most successful comedy formats, having launched countless huge stars in the US – Tina Fey! Eddie Murphy! Adam Sandler! – and at last, a UK edition is coming to our screens on 21 March, with British performers on this side of the pond hoping to emulate that same trajectory.

The UK version will retain everything viewers know and love about the Stateside original, with celebrity hosts and musical guests stopping by for late-night laughs in the all-new London studio.

On air since 1975, the US series is the unofficial training ground for Hollywood’s funniest comedians and actors, and SNL is responsible for catapulting plenty of much-loved stars into the spotlight. Murphy was a cast member in the early Eighties, before landing his breakout film role in Beverly Hills Cop, while Sandler and Will Ferrell got their starts on SNL in the nineties.

Pals Fey and Amy Poehler also enjoyed overlapping stints on the show in the early 2000s – with Fey becoming the programme’s first female head writer. The pair would go on to create 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, respectively. We also have SNL to thank for introducing us to Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg.

SNL UK’s initial six-week run will see 11 new players bringing the laughs in topical sketches, and a British version of the popular satirical news segment Weekend Update.

Meet them below…

Hammed Animashaun

Londoner Hammed Animashaun will be familiar to fans of Black Ops, thanks to his star turn as undercover policeman Kay in the BBC comedy.

Hinting at what we can expect from him on SNL UK, Animashaun said: “I think of myself as an actor first and foremost. I’ve done a lot of theatre. That’s my first love so I feel very much at home on the stage and performing live.

“Transferring that experience over to live comedy is something I’m really excited for.”

Ayoade Bamgboye

British and Nigerian comedian Ayoade Bamgboye is just four years into her comedy career, and pivoted to the entertainment industry by quitting her advertising job to give stand-up a go.

She’s already made her mark on stage and last year won the prestigious Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, following her festival debut with Swings and Roundabouts.

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Declaring that there’s “no better training ground” than SNL UK, Bamgboye said: “It just feels like the perfect place to accelerate my learning. Having a steep learning curve like this gives me so much bandwidth to try many different things in a short space of time.”

Larry Dean

Glasgow-based comedian has popped on TV before, with appearances on Live at the Apollo and The Royal Variety Performance 2024, as well as ITV’s 2019 series The Stand Up Sketch Show.

“There have been so many people who have appeared on Saturday Night Live, either as hosts or part of the cast, that are my comedy heroes like Jim Carrey, Richard Pryor, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey,” he said. “It’s always been my dream to do acting and stand-up, so this is exactly what I want to be doing.”

Celeste Dring

Hailing from Wolverhampton, Celeste Dring is one of the SNL UK cast members with the most TV experience, thanks to roles in This Country, the BBC’s 2018 series Wanderlust and Channel 4’s The Windsors sitcom, in which she played Princess Eugenie.

She also performs as part of the double act Lazy Susan with fellow comedian Freya Parker, and the pair landed their own BBC pilot back in 2019.

When asked why she wanted to be part of the SNL UK cast, Dring said: “It was a no-brainer really. I just love the idea of being creative with a group of brilliantly talented and funny people and the chance to do something new.”

George Fouracres

Also from Wolverhampton, George Fouracres describes SNL as his “dream job”. “My favourite thing is playing lots of very intense, insane characters, and I love the glamour of late night live TV,” he said. “Seeing clips of SNL in the US I always thought ‘I wish we had that. Why don’t we have something like that?’ So the fact that we do now, and I get to be part of it, blows my tiny mind.”

Fouracres’ background is mainly in theatre. He’s an associate artist at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, and performed in his seventh show at the historic venue last year.

“I started in the industry acting and writing in a sketch group called Daphne with my friends Jason Forbes and Phil Wang,” he added. Fouracres masterminded his first and only stand-up show in 2019 and more recently, performed in comedy duo Flo & Joan’s award-winning show One Man Musical in the UK and Australia.

Ania Magliano

One of SNL UK’s best-known stars, Buckinghamshire-born Ania Magliano has brought the laughs on Live at the Apollo and series 20 of Taskmaster UK, going up against Maisie Adams, Phil Ellis, Reece Shearsmith, and Sanjeev Bhaskar.

“I did my first gig when I was 18, so it’s pretty surreal that it’s been nearly 10 years now,” she said. “Since then, I’ve performed sold-out tours, filmed a stand-up special, and taken shows to Edinburgh. It’s through stand-up that I really found my voice.”

Annabel Marlow

Musician and comedian Annabel Marlow has been a devoted SNL stan for years and even used to run an online fan account dedicated to “being obsessed” with the show. “SNL combines everything I love,” she explained. “I’m excited to create characters and hopefully write some music as well.”

“I wrote and performed a one-woman show at Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 called Is This Okay??, that was an hour of comedy songs and pop songs, with bits of stand-up,” she said.

Marlow also has some impressive theatre roles on her CV, having originated the role of Katherine Howard in Six the Musical, and appeared in productions of The Wizard of Oz and Muriel’s Wedding.

Al Nash

You won’t recognise Al Nash from TV but you may well know him from social media. The Buckinghamshire-born comedian has built up huge fanbases on TikTok and Instagram thanks to his sketches and satirical send-ups of popular trends.

“As someone who is sketch comedy obsessed, I’m just so happy to be a part of the [SNL UK] cast,” he said. “I think it’s a really exciting opportunity for the UK comedy industry in general.”

Jack Shep

Jack Shep has just a few TV credits to his name – but they’re all pretty impressive shows. As well as popping up in Jack Rooke’s Channel 4 series Big Boys, Shep appeared in Netflix’s One Day adaptation and Alan Carr’s semi-autobiographical Changing Ends.

“I’d describe myself as a comic rather than a stand-up comedian,” the Bedfordshire-born star said. “I do a bit of acting and writing too but basically, I’m always doing stupid s*** which I think makes me primed for SNL.”

Emma Sidi

Emma Sidi has already crossed paths with at least one of her new SNL UK co-stars, thanks to a brief appearance in the BBC’s Black Ops.

You might also recognise her from Starstruck, thanks to her star turn as Kate, the highly strung flatmate and best pal of Rose Matafeo’s Jessie (the pair also lived together in real life). Or perhaps you spotted Sidi in season two of Stath Lets Flats, or in the first episode of Industry.

“I love comedy and character comedy especially, and I think there isn’t that much character comedy on TV in the UK right now,” she said. “My favourite comedies to watch growing up were French & Saunders, The Fast Show, Reeves and Mortimer, all those pioneering shows from the alt-comedy scene.

“Saturday Night Live is a huge opportunity to get that kind of comedy back on TV and online.”

Paddy Young

Scarborough-born Paddy Young has already worked with a number of British comedy greats, popping up in Channel 4’s Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping and the 2023 series Everyone Else Burns, starring The Inbetweeners’ Simon Bird.

“I was very lucky because Scarborough had an amazing theatre – the Stephen Joseph Theatre – which I practically grew up in,” he said. “I was completely obsessed with comedy but had no idea how to do it. By the time I went to drama school in Manchester I found myself constantly sneaking away to watch stand-up, though it took me a long time to actually do it.”

Saturday Night Live UK comes to Sky and streaming service NOW on 21 March.

This walk features some lovely spots for views

As the seasons start to change, and the sun is coming out, the flowers have started to bloom and the temperature will begin to get warmer. Spring is a great time to put on your walking boots and enjoy the countryside that sits amongst us in our beautiful county.

Luckily, there are many lovely green spaces, award-winning parks, and delightful trails around Cambridgeshire just waiting to be explored. No matter what area of the county you are from, you are never too far away from a scenic walk in the fresh air.

One particular route, planned by AllTrails, features panoramic views from one of the highest points in our notoriously flat county.

The Magog Down and Wandlebury Circular walk route by AllTrails is 5.3 kilometres (3.29 miles) long and takes between an hour and a half to two hours to complete. This circular trail offers a route featuring some beautiful spots including within Magog Down and Little Trees Hills.

The route begins and ends at the Magog Down car park, just south of Cambridge, and it follows a circular route around some pretty extraordinary spots. Within Magog Down, a country park, trekkers can walk by the meadows filled with a pop of yellow from the cowslips in spring.

During the walk, when you head up Little Trees Hills, visitors can gaze at some of the most expansive panoramic views in the county. From one point you can even see Ely Cathedral – the Ship of the Fens – sailing across the flat horizon.

The walk also includes a summit of around 243 feet. It is one of the highest points of the Gog Magog Hills, a ridge of low chalk hills extending for several miles. The city of Cambridge is laid out before you, with Addenbrooke’s Hospital large close by and the colleges a distance beyond.

This route has been raved by previous trekkers and highlighted for its “beautiful views”. One walker wrote: “Lovely walk on a hot day. Lots of benches and areas of woodland for shade, beautiful views and LOADS of blackberries.”

If you are looking for a walk to admire panoramic views of the county, then this may be a good option for you.