Ireland joins Spain and Slovenia, where broadcasters are also boycotting in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza

Ireland’s national broadcaster will show an episode of the comedy Father Ted in place of the final of the 2026 Eurovision song contest.

On Saturday night, RTE2 will air the iconic Irish sitcom ’s Eurovision-themed episode A Song For Europe, where priests Ted and Dougal perform My Lovely Horse, as it boycotts the contest over Israel’s participation.

Ireland joins Spain and Slovenia, where broadcasters are also boycotting the 70th iteration of the song competition in protest against Israel’s war in Gaza.

The Netherlands and Iceland are also not sending acts to compete in Eurovision but it will be aired.

Russia was banned from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but Israel has continued to compete.

The Hamas-run health ministry estimates that 72,300 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s war in Gaza following the Hamas attack on October 7 2023.

The boycott came about after members attended a European Broadcasting Union (EBU) general assembly in Geneva to vote on changes, which included new rules to deter countries from organising campaigns for their acts following concerns around the number of public votes Israel received in 2025.

Israeli singer Yuval Raphael received the largest number of votes from the public last May, ultimately finishing as runner-up after the jury votes were taken into account.

After the 2025 competition, RTE requested a breakdown in voting numbers from the EBU while Spain’s public broadcaster, Radio Television Espanola (RTVE), called for a “complete review” of the voting system to avoid “external interference”.

Alternative programming will also be shown on RTE2 during the semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday.

The Slovenian broadcaster will air a series of documentaries on the Middle East under the theme Voices of Palestine.

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Leeds, meanwhile, have propelled themselves away from danger with a strong run of form, and they are seven points clear of the bottom three before kick off, making them mathematically safe. Keep up to date with all the latest from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with our live blog below.

In a year when the Democratic base is inflamed over their party’s shutdown capitulation in the Senate, and sees its leaders’ resistance efforts as insufficient, there’s little appetite for bipartisanship in primaries for the make-or-break midterms.

With that in mind — and with control of the U.S. Senate on the line — Michigan’s Democratic primary has become an all-out brawl over dark money and Israel, one that is central to the debate over the Democratic Party’s identity, but still risks opening old wounds at an inopportune time.

That debate was dialed up to 11 this past week with the news that Rep. Haley Stevens, viewed as the favorite of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, had become the beneficiary of a $5 million surge in dark money ad spending from a group aiming to boost Stevens’ image as an opponent of the Trump administration and ICE.

The group is “strongly suspected to be linked to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC],” HuffPost reported. And it’s no secret that AIPAC, which also supports some of the most right-wing, pro-Trump members of the U.S. Congress — and has tarred Democrats who show support for Palestinians as antisemitic — is increasingly a pariah with large portions of the Democratic base.

Naturally, both of Stevens’ opponents in the primary leapt on the announcement with scorn: “No amount of dark money will paper over the fact that Haley Stevens voted to thank Trump’s ICE agents and proudly took thousands in corporate PAC money from the company that makes ICE’s TASERs,” said a spokesperson for state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.

“Michiganders will see through this clear attempt to buy this race for Congresswoman Stevens,” added Abdul El-Sayed’s spokesperson.

That news immediately followed a separate AIPAC-related bulletin: A fundraising page, launched by the controversial pro-Israel PAC, featured Stevens right next to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, an effort to rally support for “pro-Israel candidates [running] for U.S. Senate.”

“Right now, Democrats in Michigan and around the country are organizing to win this seat and flip the Senate. Meanwhile, my opponent Haley Stevens is fundraising with a Republican Senator who could block the Democratic Senate Majority,” wrote McMorrow on X, who went on to argue in a video message that it showed Stevens’ priorities were not with building a Democratic majority.

A source with knowledge of the arrangement told The Independent that the page featuring both Collins and Stevens was set up without the campaign’s knowledge and was taken down when the Stevens campaign requested it.

Polling shows Israel losing support among Democrats at a record pace in the wake of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s deadly onslaught against Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crises. Reports indicate the group is increasingly using tactics like this most recent announcement — funneling money through unrelated groups using messaging unrelated to Israel, all aimed at boosing pro-Israel candidates. Groups like TrackAIPAC have sought to identify candidates with financial backing from the PAC and its growing network of related organizations.

But the group’s influence threatens to roil the Democratic primary in Michigan in a way it did not in the Texas Senate primary, the first major Democratic contest of the year. Unlike in Texas, AIPAC has made clear which candidate it strongly prefers and has thus kicked off the first real opportunity for Democrats nationally, not just in Michigan, to hash out the debate over Israel’s influence and support within the party that voters and electeds have been having internally since November 2024.

Stevens, whose PAC-funded ad buy will put her on TV at a key moment while many voters are undecided, received 44% of her donations, minus PAC support and unitemized contributions, in the third quarter of 2025 through a network of pro-Israel groups including AIPAC, according to an analysis of her donor list and a list of AIPAC contributors reviewed by The Independent. That figure, not before reported, represents a major show of support from the group that essentially represents a lifeline for her campaign.

The Independent reached out to the Stevens campaign for comment.

Allies of the congresswoman contend that support for Israel and AIPAC’s track records are not issues of high importance to voters in the primary, though their opponents clearly disagree. Michigan, in 2024, was the birthplace of the “Uncommitted” movement which sought to pressure the Biden and later Harris campaigns into taking a stronger stance against the Israeli war effort and strategy as it related to the Gaza Strip.

Polls for months have shown that issues like inflation, high fuel prices and fears about America’s economic future still remain the most pressing issues for voters nationally, especially as the war in Iran has caused gas prices to surge past $4.50 a gallon on average.

Stevens has taken fire on the issue of AIPAC in particular from both of her opponents. McMorrow and El-Sayed, however, have also locked horns over McMorrow’s own past support from corporate PACs including one tied to a major Michigan energy company, DTE, in her previous campaign for state senate. The Detroit Metro Times reported on her past comments defending taking money from corporate PACs in March.

And El-Sayed’s supporters have pummeled the state senator’s campaign online over whether her repudiation of AIPAC is genuine, given that her husband previously interned for the group. The same newspaper reported that McMorrow also ”reached out to pro-Israel Democratic groups, attended a private pro-Israel leadership event, and traveled to Israel on a trip sponsored by a prominent pro-Israel organization”.

“One of our opponents is partnering with AIPAC to fundraise alongside a Republican, while the other has conveniently forgotten that she too met with them earlier in the cycle and reportedly submitted a position paper. Abdul has been consistent on this issue and believes that our tax dollars should be spent here at home, rather than dropping bombs abroad,” Roxie Richner, a spokesperson for El-Sayed’s campaign, told The Independent.

McMorrow and El-Sayed’s own separate duel is playing out for control of the race’s progressive lane, which El-Sayed leads as the Bernie Sanders-endorsed candidate but McMorrow retains a sizable chunk of support as well, having won support from Elizabeth Warren. She and El-Sayed refer to Israel’s war in Gaza as a genocide; Stevens does not.

With three months to go until the primary, a clear frontrunner has failed to emerge. El-Sayed’s campaign is exuding confidence amid a recent polling uptick, while supporters of his opponent believe (or hope) that his support is reaching a ceiling. McMorrow and El-Sayed both remain extremely active on the trail, while Stevens is taking the opposite approach — she is holding fewer public events including town halls than her opponents, and has been hit by political analysts for an awkward campaigning style that isn’t connecting with voters with the same fervor that El-Sayed or McMorrow can evoke.

“I’m not seeing any enthusiasm for her campaign,” Michigan-based Democratic strategist Chris De Witt told NOTUS last October as the outlet reported that Stevens’ D.C. allies were growing nervous about her bid. “That certainly can change, but it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of excitement about her effort.”

There’s good reason for Democrats to be nervous. Many in D.C. still blame the Uncommitted campaign for withholding support for Harris at a moment when her campaign needed Democratic unity. Plenty of other Democrats around the country see it the opposite way: They blame out-of-touch D.C. policymakers for wedding the party to a deeply unpopular war under an increasingly unpopular Democratic administration helmed by a man so old he was forced to drop out of the race after months of those same policymakers’ insistences to the contrary.

The August primary is still three months away.

Until then, Democrats will have to sit back and watch as those 2024 wounds are re-opened, re-examined and hashed out in a state where Democrats need to defend an open seat to have any chance of winning back a Senate majority many still see as out of reach until the next election cycle.

Best Ann Summers sex toys at a glance:

How we tested the best Ann Summers sex toys

If there’s one thing Ann Summers does really well, it’s rabbit vibrators. This thrusting one is their best selling rabbit for a reason, the G-spot shaft rotates at three speeds inside you, while that dangly clit vibrator buzzes against your clitoris at your choice of seven vibration speeds.

New to the sex toy game? A bullet is the best place to start. They might be small and unassuming, but they’re plentiful in power. This silicone-coated one has a squishy tip so you can mix it up between soft and intense power, which makes it versatile enough to use during both solo and partnered sex. Bonus points go to the magnetic charging cable, so there are no excuses for going for a second, third, or even fourth round…

Okay, okay, if you’re playing with someone else, whacking out your six-inch rabbit vibrator could make your bedmate feel kind of redundant. To solve that issue, this cock ring makes their penis into the shaft of the rabbit. As well as the ring making their erection stronger and their orgasms more powerful, those ears will catapult you into another dimension as they buzz against your C-spot during penetration.

Cute sex toys are having a moment, and while there are a ton of appealing shapes out there, we’re peachy keen on this one from ROMP. It uses the same suction power as the viral Rose toy (IYKYK) and, when loaded up with plenty of water-based lube, comes dangerously close to mimicking sucking sensations during oral sex. Sweet.

Sometimes rabbit vibrators can feel a little intense – not least because they use two motors, but also because trying to get the internal and external portions into place can be a little intimidating and time-consuming. This flexy rabbit is able to get into just the right position thanks to having a curved shaft, which sits precisely against your G-spot. If keeping the shaft in one spot doesn’t do it for you, this toy also makes a great rocking and grinding toy, as the internal shaft can move and bend with your body.

Remember that episode of Sex and the City? There’s a reason Samantha Jones argues with that shop assistant: these bobbly-headed vibes deserve their dues for being the pleasure product. As well as being simply fabulous (look at that shiny gold handle), magic wands pack tons of power as they were originally designed to get knots out of your neck. Unlike the first Hitachi edition, though, this one is rechargeable, meaning you won’t have to worry about it running out mid-session. Its head is also coated in silicone so its 20 settings land more softly against your sensitive spots.

If you haven’t heard of the viral Rose toy, where have you been?! Should suction not be your thing, though, this one from Ann Summers uses thumping technology to tickle your C-spot, nipples, or any other external erogenous zone you can think of. As well as being, well, blooming pretty, it’s quite discreet as sex toys go, and it even has a gem on its base to remind you that you deserve to sparkle.

In case you needed a refresher, size doesn’t matter. But shape can make the world of difference, which is why I’m a huge fan of this lipstick-shaped bullet. It has a tapered tip, meaning you can opt for broad or pinpoint stimulation. To add a little spice to your self-care moment, the tip is also rippled for added texture.

Is that a vibe in your pants or are you just happy to see me? Ah. You guessed it, this is exactly what it says on the tin: a crotchless thong (for easily access) with a pocket that houses a removable bullet that sits precisely against your C-spot.

No, this is not a popsicle – it’s for another hole. This summery-sweet ombre G-spot vibe is just four inches, making it perfect for penetration beginners. Once slathered in water-based lube, the tip can be used externally to warm up, before venturing in.

There are so many rabbits on the market, it can be hard to find the right one if you’re a beginner. What you see is what you get with this Moregasm+ option. With three buttons at its base, you’ll have no problem choosing the perfect combo of internal and external vibrations. Best of all, the tip of the shaft is ultra squishy, meaning its rumbly power lands gently (but still intensely) on your G-spot.

Exhibitionists listen up… you didn’t hear this from us, but love eggs make the perfect companion for playing on the go. Sitting inside your vagina against your G-spot, these round toys have just the right girth to mimic the sensation of penetration. But, thanks to being powered by a remote control, you can hand over control of your inner vibes to your lover for some fun while you’re out and about. Or, if that’s not your thing, they also make a great side dish to eating out (if you catch my drift).

If you’re looking for the versatility of a magic wand without the numbing power, this silicone-coated option will solve a multitude of problems. Putting the ‘self’ in ‘self love’, this lilac lover has eight vibration patterns and three intensities to choose from, for completely customisable stimulation, but the layer of buttery smooth silicone on its head means it’s delivered to your clit slightly more gently than it would be otherwise.

As well as a comprehensive range of its own sex toys, Ann Summers also stocks a ton of exciting sex toy brands like the Oh Collective. This vibrator is one of my favourites, which I’m not ashamed to admit isn’t unaffected by the fact it comes with an iridescent storage case. But the toy itself is also unassumingly versatile: the smaller end is ideal for C-spot stimulation, while the wider end is delightful for internal play. Plus, it’s extremely bendy, which means it can be used as a C-shaped toy to carry you towards a blissful blended orgasm.

Ann Summers might be in the business of female empowerment, but they’ve also got something for people with penises, too! Powered by thrusting technology, this masturbator can move at up to 120 strokes per minute to imitate real sex, without the energy. You can also link it up with your favourite erotic content or have a long-distance partner take control via the app.

Before you run for the hills, give me a moment to tout my love of glass toys. It might sound like exactly the opposite of what you should be sticking in your vagina, glass sex toys like this five inch one are made from borosilicate, or lab-grade, glass, meaning they definitely won’t break. Promise. They’re also great for internal stimulation because, unlike silicone, glass heats up with your body temperature. It can also be cooled or heated according to your preferences by popping the toy in a bowl of iced or hot water for 10 minutes before you use. We love a sensory delight!

Whether you’re exploring pegging or lesbian sex for the first time, this strap on set has everything you could possibly need for fuss-free fun. It comes with a harness that can be adjusted to fit your waist size, while the three O-rings it comes with means you can move on to bigger and better dildos if you tire of the included 5.25 inch option.

Never tried a C-shaped toy before? Let me put you on to something life-changing. Designed to hug your G-spot and C-spot at the same time, the Chorus will quickly become your beloved companion for partnered sex. It can be worn during penetration (yes, really) and that haptic feedback remote means whoever takes the reins on your pleasure will be able to tell just how intense the setting they’ve chosen is, to make sure you’re fully in sync.

Here’s something they don’t teach you in school: you can’t just jump straight into full-on anal sex. In fact, it can take up to six weeks to prepare your backdoor muscle to be able to withstand penile penetration, so if you’re interested in exploring anal adventure then it’s time to get training! This butt plug is non-vibrating, so you can figure out whether you like this kind of stimulation, and it has a wide base, which will help you avoid any unwanted trips to A&E.

A shiny pink sex toy is nice and all, but sometimes you just want something that you know you’re going to be into. If, for you, that means a vein-covered silicone dildo, this is just the thingaling for you. As well as being five insertable inches (the average size of a penis in the UK, you might be interested to know), it’s got a realistic head and balls for extra stimulation as you pound, and the suction cup base means it can hang from any surface. Time to get creative!

Look, no straps! Once you’ve mastered the sensation of having an external appendage, more advanced strappers might want to graduate to a strapless strap. A fair warning: you’ll need to do your kegels, because the wearer slots the pony (that egg-shaped ending) into their vagina, while the end of the shaft vibrates against their C-spot. And, so your fingers don’t have to get in the way mid-thrust, you can control the vibration settings in the base, pony, tip of the shaft separately via the handy remote.

Ryanair will close its Thessaloniki base and reduce capacity at Athens Airport for the 2026 winter season.

This closure will result in:

• 12 routes being cut
• The loss of 700,000 seats
• A 45% reduction in passenger capacity
• Suspension of operations in Chania and Heraklion

Ryanair said these cuts are due to high airport costs and the refusal of Fraport Greece and Athens Airport to pass on government tax cuts.

Ryanair Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, said: “Ryanair regrets to announce the closure of our Thessaloniki base and reductions in Athens for Winter ‘26, resulting in the loss of 700,000 seats and 12 routes across Greece, as well as the suspension of operations at Chania and Heraklion during the off-peak months.

“These preventable traffic reductions are a direct result of the airports’ failure to pass through the ADF reduction, particularly in Thessaloniki where the Fraport Greece monopoly have hiked airport charges +66% since 2019.

“The removal of 3 based aircraft, 500,000 seats (-60% vs. Winter ‘25) and 10 routes from Thessaloniki for Winter ‘26 will be devastating for the city and region, as Ryanair provided 90% of international capacity to Thessaloniki last Winter.

“Unfortunately, there will now be less low-cost air fares for Thessaloniki’s citizens and visitors, and year-round tourism will be harmed as a result.

“These aircraft will be reallocated to Albania, regional Italy and Sweden, where airports have passed on their Govt’s aviation tax savings – resulting in more connectivity, tourism and jobs this Winter in those regions.

“There is an opportunity for Greece to secure significant year-round traffic growth however, this investment can only be realised once the German-run Fraport Greece monopoly fully passes through the Greek Govt.’s sensible tax cut from November’24 – allowing airlines such as Ryanair, to deliver the connectivity required to reduce Greece’s chronic seasonality.”

The 12 routes axed by Ryanair following the closure of its Thessaloniki base

The following routes from Thessaloniki will be scrapped this winter, as a result of the Ryanair announcement:

• Berlin (Germany)
• Chania (Greece)
• Frankfurt-H (Germany)
• Gothenburg (Sweden)
• Heraklion (Greece)
• Niederrhein (Germany)
• Poznan (Poland)
• Stockholm (Sweden)
• Venice-T (Italy)
• Zagreb (Croatia)

Routes from Athens to Milan-M and Chania to Paphos have also been cut.

All operations at Chania and Heraklion Airports will also be suspended over the upcoming winter.

Ryanair calls for the new EES to be suspended

Meanwhile, Ryanair has also called for the rollout of the EU’s new entry/exit system (EES) to be suspended.

The new EES, introduced in April, is an IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days).

Travellers in Europe now have to provide personal data, and have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken as part of the system.

The EES has received significant backlash since its introduction.

A total of 122 passengers were reportedly unable to board the flight from Milan Linate to Manchester last month due to delays caused by the EU’s new EES.

The flight was held for 59 minutes before departing, with the majority of seats empty.

Travellers flying in and out of Malta are also experiencing wait times of up to 40 minutes due to the new system, according to the Times of Malta.

As a result, David O’Brien, the CEO of Ryanair’s Malta subsidiary, Malta Air, has threatened to pull all flights from the holiday hotspot.

Now, Ryanair has renewed calls for the introduction of the EES to be suspended until September in another country, Spain.

These latest calls come after passengers travelling to/from Spain over the May Bank Holiday weekend were “made to suffer” through “avoidable” hour-long passport control queues, causing some to miss their flights.

Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon, said: “It makes no sense that countries, like Spain, are continuing to implement the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) when they are clearly not ready to do so.

“As a result of this half-baked system roll out, passengers are being forced to endure excessive passport control queues, and in some cases, missing flights.

“This May Bank Holiday weekend alone, passengers travelling to/from Spain were made suffer hour-long passport control queues.

“Ryanair’s average flight time is approximately 1hr 15mins – that means that some passengers are spending as much time waiting at passport control than they spent on the flight that got them there.

“It is completely unacceptable, especially when there is a quick and easy solution already provided for under EU law (EU Reg. 2025/1534) to stop these needless queue times – suspend EES until September when the peak summer travel season has subsided and allow passengers a smoother airport experience for their summer holidays.”

Jet2 has also called for the EU’s new EES to be suspended because of the major disruptions and delays it has caused for Brits travelling abroad.

Greece has delayed its introduction of the EES in an attempt to avoid any disruptions to tourism.

The Greek Embassy previously revealed that as of April 10, all British passport holders are “exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points”.

Does the closure of Ryanair’s Thessaloniki base affect your travel plans? Let us know what you think about it in the poll above or in the comments below.

The move has been billed as ‘critical’ for future transport plans in the north.

A small piece of HS2 in Greater Manchester is being resurrected – and it could unlock a wave of future transport improvements across the north.

When former Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that the northern leg of HS2 was all but dead in late 2023, it sparked huge backlash and frustration.

The move, announced during the Conservative Party conference being held in Manchester at the time, killed hopes of a faster train link from Greater Manchester to London.

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Mr Sunak told Tory conference in October 2023: “I say to those who backed the project in the first place, the facts have changed and the right thing to do when the facts change is to have the courage to change direction.

“I am ending this long-running saga. I am cancelling the rest of the HS2 project and in its place, we will reinvest every single penny – £36 billion – in hundreds of new transport projects in the North and the Midlands.”

But now one small section of HS2 in the north – which includes a link between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly station – is being brought back.

It forms part of the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill, relating to phase 2b of HS2, which is being ‘repurposed’ with a focus on improving rail connections across the north.

The move is expected to feature in the King’s speech on Wednesday, which sets out the new laws being planned by the government.

Creating the new link in Greater Manchester is a crucial part of wider transport plans across the north, insiders say, and would pave the way for a new Manchester to Liverpool line in phase two of the £45 billion Northern Powerhouse Rail programme.

One source described a new Manchester Airport to Piccadilly connection as the ‘key part’ of the future Manchester to Liverpool connection – a piece of the puzzle which is ‘non-negotiable’ and needs to happen to unlock the rest of the project.

So the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill featuring in the King’s speech on Wednesday could signal a major step forward for a raft of planned railway improvements in northern England.

Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We’re expecting there may be good news on Wednesday, this is critical because it will enable not just to be connected to Manchester city centre as part of the wider Manchester-Liverpool scheme, but also will in the end connect Yorkshire better to the airport.”

It’s understood that the government decided to repurpose the current High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill rather than creating a new one to save the time and money that has already been put into the plan.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander outlined the plan in Parliament in February.

She told MPs that the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill ‘has been refined’ with a new purpose, and that the Bill itself is the ‘mechanism by which planning consent for the eastern part of the new route between Liverpool and Manchester can be granted.’

She added: “The Bill will have the necessary powers to deliver the section of Northern Powerhouse Rail into Manchester via Manchester airport, including new stations at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester airport itself.

“We are now seeking to progress the Bill to make the best use of the significant progress it has already made.”

A new Manchester-Liverpool railway line has long been touted as essential to boosting connectivity across the north, as well as keeping the economy in good health.

The plan for a Manchester-Liverpool route could cut journey times between the north west’s two biggest cities to as little as 35 minutes, alongside increasing the number and frequency of trains – something Andy Burnham previously said could turn Piccadilly Station into the ‘King’s Cross of the North’.

Part of the wider project includes plans for an underground Piccadilly station. As Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said at the start of this year: “Finally, we have a government with an ambitious vision for the North, firm commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail and an openness to an underground station in Manchester city centre.

“Today marks a significant step forward for Greater Manchester. We’ll now work at pace to prove the case for an underground station and work up detailed designs for the route between Liverpool and Manchester.”

The transport secretary said of the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill in February that it is ‘important to crack on and get it done’ given the wider ambitions for the north of England.

This small section of HS2 in Greater Manchester set to be resurrected in the King’s speech on Wednesday could be the key to unlock it all.

An estimated 595 million people globally are living with osteoarthritis. This makes it one of the leading causes of pain and disability.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, in which tissues in the joint break down over time. The condition can affect any joint, but most commonly the knees, hips, hands and spine.

However, the impact of osteoarthritis often goes beyond the affected joint. The condition can have profound effects on daily life.

Research shows that people with osteoarthritis are less likely to remain in work and more likely to develop additional health problems, such as diabetes, obesity and poor mental health, than those without the disease.

One of the key approaches recommended for managing osteoarthritis is exercise, including aerobic exercise and muscle strengthening. It’s shown to be extremely beneficial for managing the condition and its associated symptoms.

But not everyone who has osteoarthritis is able to exercise due to pain and limited mobility. This is why electrical muscle stimulation, a novel technology that uses small electrical impulses to help muscles contract, is being investigated for managing osteoarthritis.

Exercise for osteoarthritis

Aerobic and muscle strengthening exercises are both proven to address key drivers of osteoarthritis symptoms.

Aerobic exercise can help manage body weight and improve pain by enhancing circulation and reducing inflammation.

Muscle strengthening exercise improves joint stability by supporting the surrounding musculature. This reduces stress on the joint and improves movement.

Together, these approaches can help to break the cycle of pain, inactivity, weight gain and physical decline that can happen in osteoarthritis.

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Joint pain or osteoarthritis? Why exercise should be your first line of treatment

But as beneficial as exercise is, many people with osteoarthritis are reluctant to try it or struggle to adhere to physical activity long term.

In fact, data suggests that people with musculoskeletal conditions (such as osteoarthritis) are around twice as likely to be physically inactive as their healthy counterparts.

Reported barriers to physical activity include pain, limited mobility, negative experiences of physical activity and a lack of motivation. But the less we move, the more muscle mass and strength we gradually lose.

A difficult cycle can then emerge, whereby pain, stiffness and fear of making symptoms worse all discourage movement. Then, without movement, stiffness and pain worsen.

An alternative approach

When exercise feels too painful or isn’t possible, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) may offer an alternative method for maintaining and improving strength.

This works by placing electrodes on the skin to deliver small electrical impulses, causing muscles to contract without the joint needing to move. The electrical impulse is similar to the signal we normally send from our nervous system when we want to perform a movement.

When performed instead of exercise over several weeks and sessions, EMS has been shown to increase muscle size and strength and improve function in people with hip and knee osteoarthritis. For example, in people with knee osteoarthritis, EMS performed on the quadriceps muscles three days per week for 4-8 weeks has led to benefits.

The therapy can be used in isolation, or it can be applied during exercise to activate even more muscle fibres in what is called a superimposed muscle contraction.

Electrical muscle stimulation also shows promise for those with severe, end-stage osteoarthritis who are preparing for surgery.

For example, one study compared the effects of performing EMS or exercise before surgery for knee osteoarthritis on postoperative outcomes. The study found that participants who used EMS for 20 minutes a day, five days a week in the six weeks before surgery saw greater improvements in postoperative muscle mass, strength and function, compared with patients who performed physical exercise.

Muscle weakness is common both before and after surgery, partly due to pain and reduced movement. While exercise programmes before and after surgery are widely recommended, research suggests they often only have modest effects on functional recovery from joint replacement surgery.

One explanation may be that people with severe osteoarthritis cannot tolerate the level of intensity needed while exercising to build muscle effectively. In addition, joint trauma and swelling from surgery can cause disruption to the signalling pathways that are required to activate muscles.

Because EMS can bypass some of these signalling issues, it may help to maintain or rebuild muscle where conventional exercise is not feasible immediately after surgery. It’s often used in sports settings for this reason, such as when athletes require anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

Not a replacement for exercise

That said, electrical muscle stimulation is not a magic solution and has its limitations. In many cases, it works best as a complement to, not a substitute for, active rehabilitation.

The body of evidence for its effectiveness in osteoarthritis is also still evolving. Some studies showed inconsistent results or were only conducted using a small sample.

Some people find the sensation of electrical stimulation uncomfortable. Some aren’t suitable for its use (for example, those with pacemakers) and devices can be expensive to buy.

Nonetheless, for those who cannot exercise due to pain, swelling or limited mobility, EMS offers a practical tool to maintain muscle strength. This can help them stay active and independent for longer, recover quicker from surgery, and maintain a better quality of life.

Pivovar has lodged a planning application to convert the vacant Guildhall Restaurant building into a venue dubbed Mittel River Terrace overlooking the River Ouse.

The firm, which runs Elvington Brewery and venues across York and the North, stated they would bring the vacant building into use while being sensitive to the surrounding Guildhall complex.

Pivovar’s planning application comes after the firm’s bid to licence the building was approved by York Council on Monday, April 13.

The two-storey building has stood empty since 2022 when it was built as part of a £20m regeneration of the wider Guildhall complex.

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New plans for the space propose seats for up to 300 patrons spread across two floors.

Brewing equipment would be installed at the centre of the ground floor which would also feature riverside garden, kitchen, toilets and back of house facilities.

More seating and service areas would be on the first floor, along with an outdoor terrace.

The venue would operate from 8am to midnight and serve drinks from 10am to 11.30pm daily.

Pivovar Director Jamie Hawksworth previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) a range of lagers would be made on-site with a bespoke brewhouse made in the Czech Republic.

He added it would serve food including oysters and rotisserie pork and chicken sourced from local suppliers.

Mr Hawksworth said they hoped to offer the best private views of the River Ouse in York.

The outside of the Guildhall Restaurant, off Lendal, in York (Image: LDRS)

The director added in February were hoping to open the venue in the summer, subject to the council approving the company’s plans.

Councillors heard in April around £250,000 was set to be spent kitchen facilities alone and it would focus on food though people would be able to come just for drinks.

But representatives of three businesses based in the Guildhall complex told the licensing hearing they were concerned about noise and disruption coming from the venue’s patrons.

A total of five objections were lodged against the company’s bid to licence the building.

York Archaeology Data Services’ Julian Richards said his firm was set to move into offices in the Guildhall in June but took a shorter one-year lease because of the plans.

He added their nightmare scenario was having stag and hen do groups leaning against their office window while staff try to work.

Mr Hawksworth told the meeting they were aiming to foster a continental-style atmosphere at the venue and not have patrons standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

Councillors also heard most customers were expected to come to the venue outside of working hours.

The planning application is awaiting a council decision.

On Sunday night, I attended the Bafta TV Awards as a guest for the very first time.

It was a real pinch-me moment. I’ve been a TV fanatic my entire life, and an entertainment journalist for five and a half years… and here I was, brushing shoulders with some of the most talented performers and creators in the industry.

One minute, I was walking the red carpet, sipping champagne, watching the awards ceremony and eating my dinner, having been invited by Prime Video. 

The next, I was casually passing Danny Dyer, Alex Hassell, Matt Smith, Aimee Lou Wood and Adjoa Andoh as they chatted to their friends, colleagues and families, letting their hair down as they celebrated one of the biggest nights in British TV.

The whole night was a blast, aside from my agonising pain from wearing heels for eight hours before changing into flats for the dancefloor. But there were several surreal moments that are going to stick in my mind for a very long time to come.

Anyone missing a Bafta?

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I went to fetch my bag and coat during the early hours after the Bafta TV Awards. There it was, in all its glory – one of the iconic bronze mask trophies, casually propped up on a shelf of the cloakroom.

The afterparty at London’s Royal Festival Hall had been popping. Champagne flowing, the dancefloor overspilling with partygoers dancing their butts off, and several winners from the night proudly carrying their trophies everywhere they want. 

While I trusted the safety of the cloakroom, there’s no way I’d leave my prize in there if I were a lucky winner. When I congratulated Simon Schama over his Bafta win in the cloakroom queue, he was holding his award with an iron-tight grip. I’d do the same.

The Adolescence team knows how to party

We’ve all heard throughout awards season how the Adolescence family loves to get down – and on Sunday night, I witnessed their celebrations firsthand… and they were as glorious as you’d hope. 

Off the back of their many deserving wins – including Best Limited Drama, Best Actor for Stephen Graham and Best Supporting Actor for Owen Cooper – the team took over a corner of the bar area during the afterparty, hugging, taking photos, chilling on sofas and singing while everyone else watched on. 

At one point when I looked over, Hannah Walters was dancing with an epic scrunched expression on her face, a testament to the banging, nostalgic playlist being cranked up by the DJs behind the deck. If she’d been on the actual dancefloor, there’s no doubt she would have been in the centre of it.

Dancing with A-listers made me miss the tube – it was worth it

The Bafta TV Awards afterparty was genuinely one of the best nights out I’ve had in a while. At first, I wasn’t sure if it would pop off. The dancefloor was empty, people milling around everywhere having mellow drinks… but then everything changed.

Once the DJ started playing the Sugababes, that was the final push (the button) the crowd needed to move to the dancefloor, packing every inch of it. Tunes followed the Scissor Sisters, Whitney Houston, and Natasha Bedingfield, and it just kept getting better and better.

At one point, I found myself dancing with the fabulous Angellica Bell, who declared me her dance partner when the people we were with ventured off to get drinks. I’ll be living off that title for the next week.

As I Wanna Dance With Somebody started playing, Anita Rani was living her best life, singing every word in unison with everyone in the room. The vibes were immaculate, and were the reason I ended up staying until the early hours.

Poor Seth Rogen being chased around the room

The Bafta TV Awards are obviously a major event in global entertainment, and yet for some reason, a part of me still finds it strange when American Hollywood stars cross over the pond to attend. I know it makes no sense – the Baftas are a huge deal – but I can’t help it.

Sunday night saw Seth Rogen attend to represent The Studio in the International category, for which they won, while Severance star Adam Scott and former Bafta Rising star nominee Awkwafina also appeared on stage to present awards.

While at dinner at the Royal Festival Hall, I heard whispers about a gaggle of people surrounding Seth in the smoking area, asking for photos. From the sounds of it, he very politely obliged – despite more people apparently trailing him around the venue in the hopes of coveted selfies.

I was over the moon to have a photo with the legendary Celia Imrie, who made light of Seth’s on-stage quip about only knowing her from her Celebrity Traitors fart. You’ll be glad to hear – and unsurprised, I’m sure –that she was utterly lovely. 

I can’t believe my faux pas with comedy royalty

Two years ago, I covered the Bafta TV Awards, interviewing stars on the red carpet and in the winner’s press conference. This year marked my first time attending as a guest, and so there were some moments when my adrenaline was racing, and I was in a bit of a fluster.

Following the ceremony, I made my way down five flights of stairs to the dining area, spotted my table on the seating chart and headed over. I shuffled around my table trying to spot my name place, but there was a man inadvertently standing in the way.

I politely said excuse me, to which the man apologised and moved to allow me some space – and as I looked up, David Mitchell was staring back at me. 

Rather than say anything remotely smooth to introduce myself to the Last One Laughing UK season two winner, I just stared back awkwardly and then sat down in my seat. Next time I’ll be cooler… hopefully.

The 2026 Bafta TV Awards are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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