The singer appeared on the Simon Cowell ITV talent series back in 2005

X Factor star Chico has been found guilty of drink-driving as he told a court his arrest came ‘hours after breaking his sobriety’.

Chico, whose real name is Yousseph Slimani, rose to fame on the Simon Cowell ITV talent series back in 2005. He finished in fifth place under the mentorship of Sharon Osbourne.

After his time on The X Factor, Slimani went on to score a number one single with his song It’s Chico Time. 2008 saw him come third on the ITV reality show CelebAir.

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But the former star was in court today (April 9) after he was caught drunk behind the wheel. Arriving in Willesden Magistrates’ Court, Slimani wore a maroon silk shirt and placed his cowboy hat on the table in front.

He told the hearing he drank Famous Grouse whisky for six hours after losing a third friend to cancer. He stated that he consumed the whisky between 1am and 7am and then Nyquil at 5.30pm – a cold and flu medicine similar to Night Nurse – before he was pulled over at about 6.30pm that evening on Chase Way, Southgate, on December 13.

“It was after a third bereavement of one of my dearest friends, which was just devastating,” he said before later telling the court he has not drunk alcohol since. “All young people in their 50s with terminal cancers that have passed on – non-smokers, non-drinkers, several cancers – and basically are not here, sadly.

“On that fateful day, I’m teetotal, I don’t drink, and it felt like I was going out of my mind, couldn’t take it, so I drank.”

Slimani claimed he had been taking Nyquil for ‘a flu which you may call long Covid’ that ‘kept coming and going’ and has been documented on his social media channels. He did not inform police when asked if he had consumed other drugs or medicines, and said this was ‘because when I got arrested, and they were taking me to the police station, my mind was literally going at 600,000mph’.

“And when I got to the police station all I could think of was the implications of me being arrested for something that goes completely against what I am and what I do,” he stated.

Saying that all his fears ‘sadly have all come true’, Slimani noted that these were of ‘the press, the loss of my reputation, the loss of work – everything has happened, it has been a catastrophe’.

Slimani brought a book with him for evidence, which he said he was writing at the time of the alleged offence, titled The Secret 19. Cancer Questions Worth Asking.

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Slimani’s solicitors told a toxicologist that he consumed 810ml of Famous Grouse whisky and 30ml of an unspecified Nyquil product that contained alcohol, the court heard. The toxicologist, Sarah Morley, calculated that the Nyquil would have contributed to 2mg per 100ml of alcohol on his breath.

Ms Morley also told the court: “I can’t verify if the information provided to me has been accurate or not.”

Arresting officer Pc Yuksel stated he was watching Slimani speak to a fellow officer about a separate matter when he noticed the defendant’s ‘quite vivid’ facial expressions that were ‘almost joyful’.

Giving evidence, he said he smelt alcohol on the former singer’s breath, noting: “He was very animated with his facial features, they were very vivid and his demeanour seemed a bit – I don’t know how best to describe it – but under the influence of alcohol.

“I asked him if he had consumed any alcohol, then his demeanour changed… He appeared quite shocked and his demeanour just changed to very defensive, from very happy and expressive to very defensive when asked that question.”

Slimani failed a breath test but was ‘calm and compliant’ when he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, he said. He was then taken to a police station and breathalysed again.

Slimani was convicted of driving a Vauxhall Astra with 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 35mg.

He was ordered to pay a £600 fine, £240 surcharge and £620 in costs by District Judge Mark Jabbitt. As a result of the conviction, Slimani was also disqualified from driving for 12 months. The court heard he has been heavily in debt and as a result faced county court proceedings.

Slimani was offered a drink drivers’ rehabilitation scheme that if completed will reduce his qualification by a quarter. The judge said: “It is inevitable that I will find the case proven.”

He added that he is ‘generally sympathetic’ to Slimani’s bereavements but not to excessive drinking or taking medication without checking the effect it has on driving.

North Tyneside Council’s planning committee unanimously granted permission for the installation of the two prefabricated sauna huts on the lower promenade opposite Brook Gardens.

Council officers recommended the plans for approval satisfied the proposals would not inhibit the public space or produce significant environmental or ecological problems. 

The plans have however generated some controversy with 30 objections raised on the council’s online planning portal. The concerns ranged from the potential emissions from the cabins to requests for it to be moved further along the beach. 

Objector and local Jillian Hall told the committee: “I do feel that a sauna is what people want, but let’s take it and make it eco or move it away from the houses and hotels and the park, where thousands of children play. 

Ms Hall continued: “There will be emissions, they may be low but there will be emissions and we have to think about our lungs.” 

The applicant Kenny Lyons responded: “Modern saunas are designed to avoid this by operating at very high temperatures and carefully controlling airflows. This ensures efficient combustion happens and retains heat where it is supposed to be in the sauna not wasted externally.

On the cabin’s stove, Mr Lyons said: “It creates very minimal ash and no visible smoke during hours of operation.” 

The applicant went on to state the stove that would be used for the cabins would produce half the legal limit for particulate emissions.  

The council’s own report also states: “Concerns about potential health impacts from wood‑burning appliances are understood; however, the scale of the proposed installations is small, the usage is intermittent, and Environmental Health raises no objection, recommending standard controls including: regulated hours of operation; controls on ash handling and disposal…”. 

The report continued: “Overall, the development would deliver modest economic, social and well-being benefits consistent with the aims for the Coastal Sub-Area…”

‘He was just a little groovy 21-year-old who loved movies and making films’

A Welsh musician has spoken of his agony after his son was stabbed to death in a London park. Finbar Sullivan was stabbed during an altercation in Primrose Hill in the early evening on Tuesday, April 7 and despite the efforts of paramedics was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 21-year-old was a filmmaking student. His dad Christopher Sullivan, a musician and the founder of 1980s band Blue Rondo a la Turk, has spoken of his devastation.

Mr Sullivan, originally from Merthyr Tydfil, told the Daily Mail his son wanted to become a cameraman like his grandfather Michael Seresin, who worked on Harry Potter and Rambo III.

On the day he was attacked he had gone to the park to use a new camera he had got for his birthday. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

Mr Sullivan, 65, said: “This is the worst tragedy I could ever imagine.

“He’s my only son… I had him when I was 45. He can never be replaced. He’d just bought a new camera, we all chipped in for his 21st birthday, and he took it up there to do a bit of filming.”

Mr Sullivan added: “I’m so broken-hearted, I can’t believe it. He was the most beautiful, lovely, outgoing, loving boy. He was just a really lovely person.

“And why he was targeted, we have no idea.”

Mr Sullivan said he rushed to Primrose Hill as soon as he was informed of the incident.

“I got the call at about six that he’d been stabbed, so I rushed up there,” Mr Sullivan told the Daily Mail.

“I wasn’t allowed in because it was a crime scene, and by that point he’d had 20 minutes of CPR. He’d obviously died. It’s Primrose Hill, for God’s sake… it’s like Hyde Park. It’s not somewhere you expect this.”

Finbar was a student at the London Screen Academy and produced music videos for drill rap artists under the name Sully Shot It.

Despite the drill rap scene’s association with gang violence, Mr Sullivan denied his son was involved in any of it.

“All I can tell you is he was the subject of an indiscriminate stabbing. He was not a gang member,” Mr Sullivan told the newspaper.

“He was just a little groovy 21-year-old who loved movies and making films. He didn’t drink, he didn’t smoke, he didn’t go out.

“He’d stay at home editing his films six nights a week. He wanted to follow in his (grandfather’s footsteps) and be a cameraman. He recently did a video for Joseph Corre, Vivienne Westwood’s son.

“We were just about to start a company together… he was going to do his showreel today with me. And now he’s dead.”

Mr Sullivan added: “His friend was stabbed in the back and hands trying to protect him. My son always tried to stand up for people, so maybe the attacker was bullying someone.”

Police confirmed that another man, believed to be in his 20s, was located nearby on Regent’s Park Road and was taken to hospital by paramedics with stab wounds. His injuries have since been confirmed as non-life-threatening and non-life-changing.

The Metropolitan Police have urged “anyone who has any information, including photos or videos” to get in touch.

Detective Inspector Andy Griffin, who is leading the investigation, said: “Finbar’s family have suffered a devastating loss and our thoughts are with them as they navigate this very challenging time.

“Our investigation is progressing at pace and we are following several lines of inquiry. This incident occurred in a busy, public park and there may be many witnesses who can help us piece together what happened.

“We are aware of footage circulating on social media around the time of the incident, and urge anyone who has any information, including photos or videos, which could support the investigation to urgently contact us.”

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Just hours after stepping onto the red carpet for the hotly anticipated return of Euphoria, actor Natasha Lyonne was reportedly removed from a flight departing Los Angeles following an onboard incident.

Lyonne, who is set to appear as a guest star in the show’s third season, had earlier attended the premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre, where a viral video showed her looking somewhat unsteady on her feet.

Later that night, she boarded a red-eye flight to New York.

According to an eyewitness account given to Page Six, the actor appeared unresponsive as the plane prepared for takeoff.

Seated in first class, she reportedly did not react when flight attendants asked her to close her laptop and fasten her seatbelt.

Crew members made repeated attempts to get her attention, but Lyonne seemed to drift in and out of awareness behind her sunglasses. At one point, she was said to have been startled awake, exclaiming, ‘Ah! You scared me!’

Eventually, her laptop was removed from her hands as the aircraft began taxiing. However, the situation supposedly escalated when the plane turned back to the gate before departure.

A Delta staff member then boarded and asked Lyonne if she required medical assistance, before informing her she would need to disembark. ‘Where are we?’ she was overheard asking, according to Page Six, to which she was told the plane had not yet left Los Angeles.

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Passengers were informed that the flight would not proceed until the situation was resolved.

Lyonne reportedly responded by shushing a gate agent, then calmly got up, briefly headed to the bathroom, and returned while eating a bag of pretzels.

She ultimately exited the aircraft without further resistance after her luggage had been removed.

Following the delay — which lasted over an hour — the pilot addressed passengers, explaining: ‘We had a passenger who for whatever reason wouldn’t follow some basic commands… [they] didn’t seem up to the task tonight.’

The flight later departed for New York without further incident.

The episode comes weeks after Lyonne shared an update on her sobriety journey.

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Earlier this year, she revealed she had experienced a relapse, before later telling fans she was ‘doing a whole lot better & back on her feet.’

Lyonne is an actress, writer, and director known for her distinctive raspy voice and sharp and several iconic roles.

She first rose to fame in the late 1990s with roles in films like American Pie before earning widespread acclaim as Nicky Nichols in Orange Is the New Black.

Across her career she’s also been nominated for five Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes.

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Lyonne later co-created and starred in the hit Netflix series Russian Doll.

Metro has contacted Natasha Lyonne’s representatives for comment.

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“I bought this cool little blender back in April and have been using it ever since at work. I’m really happy I did because not only is the blender easy and portable to use, I’ve been hitting my weight loss goals.”

Longer days and rising temperatures have people swapping hot breakfasts and warm drinks for refreshing smoothies, iced coffees and milkshakes. To make whipping one up both convenient and straightforward, least not for those looking to lose weight ahead of the summer months, office workers are gravitating towards the Nutribullet Go Portable Blender — a cordless blender boasting a compact design.

The gadget is so sought-after that it has completely sold out on the Nutribullet website; however, we’ve tracked it down at a reduced price at online retailer Yimbly, an e-commerce platform operated by MEN parent company Reach Plc. When shoppers enter the code SPRING10 at checkout, the device drops from £39.99 to £36.

We wouldn’t hang around in grabbing one, as the colours white, silver and red have already sold out owing to the Yimbly deal, with only black remaining. Once charged, the portable blender delivers up to 20 blending cycles without needing to be recharged, producing silky-smooth results with zero lumps.

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For complete convenience, the base comes with a blade protector so it can be popped in a bag while travelling. It also has a to-go lid, perfect for sipping wherever wanted, Cambridgeshire Live reports.

Nurtibullet’s Go Portable Blender comes with a 370ml cup, however, this wasn’t ideal for someone that wrote they ‘could do with the container being larger’. There are other portable blender options available, such as the KitchenAid Go.

It’s currently on sale at Amazon for £39 down from £179 – while it is more expensive it has a larger capacity of 473ml. For a cheaper alternative, Tefal’s Mix & Move Mini Blender is £20 off, reduced to £29.99 from £49.99.

From busy mums to office workers, the Nutribullet Go Portable Blender is being happily used by many. Since getting their hands on one, someone has used it daily, leaving a review that says: “I use my Nutribullet every day to make smoothies with spinach, banana, and mango. It blends quickly and smoothly – no lumps, just a nice creamy texture.”

They continued: “Super convenient to take to work or on trips. It’s compact, lightweight, and the battery lasts several days without needing a recharge. If you love healthy snacks and are always on the go, this is a great choice. Highly recommend!”

Another person called it a ‘brilliant little thing’, going on to add: “Takes no room up at all, easy to clean and works brilliant at making smoothies.” Those who love having smoothies and milkshakes but don’t want the hassle while in the office might be interested as it has received incredible feedback from consumers.

An office worker wrote: “I bought this cool little blender back in April and have been using it ever since to bring my meal replacement shakes to work. I’m really happy I did because not only is the blender easy and portable to use, I’ve been hitting my weight loss goals. I have no complaints about this mini blender really, it’s not very loud and it’s pretty easy to clean once you get the hang of it. All in all, a very good product and a great buy.”

A busy mum used it for iced coffee, sharing: “My kids love Milkshakes after dinner and the Nutribullet work Great! It easy to make milkshakes in each of there different flavours. It is very easy to clean up. I love for homemade ice coffees on the way to work.”

But, the Nutribullet Go has been likened to other blenders, with one person explaining: “Very handy useable small blender, best thing about it is how quick and easy it is to clean compared to my other blenders.”

Another customer used the blender to stay on track while away, describing the appliance as a ‘holiday health saver’. They said: “Perfect for my recent 10 day holiday to make my breakfast smoothly.”

Similar encampments have been set up in the same area over the years

Another encampment has been set up in Cardiff city centre less than a year after a similar one linked with litter and anti-social behaviour in the same location was forced to leave. Tents being set up between Taffs Mead Embankment and Wood Street has been a regular occurrence over the years despite Cardiff Council and South Wales Police ordering their removal.

There have also been concerns about public safety in relation to the encampments after a fire broke out in October 2024.

Now, a similar encampment has been erected in the same area. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here

By September 2025, the encampment got so out of hand that 28 people were living in tents under the bridge at the embankment. Locals reported feeling intimidated and scared to use the walkway.

After complaints about drug use, litter, disorder, assaults, alcohol use, and human waste, South Wales Police and Cardiff Council attempted to resolve the issue.

For a while, the area was tent-free and clean. But now, a similar encampment has returned. While it is small for now, residents have taken to Facebook to share their concerns about people there throwing their rubbish over the fence and onto the banks of the River Taff.

A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “The Council’s Outreach Team has had ongoing contact with the individual and continues to take all appropriate and reasonable steps to encourage engagement with support services, including accommodation options. Council officers are working in partnership with South Wales Police to address the issue.”

A statement from South Wales Police said: “We are aware of local concerns and we are working with the local authority and voluntary sector to resolve the matter.

“Officers continue to carry out daily visits to the site to help vulnerable people and to encourage them to engage with the many support agencies and outreach services available in the city.

“Any form of crime or anti-social behaviour won’t be tolerated and we will always take appropriate action wherever there is evidence of offending.”

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The missing woman, who uses a wheelchair, is believed to be travelling to Belfast

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Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the whereabouts of Sadiya Jamac.

In a statement posted on social media, officers said the missing woman is heavily pregnant and uses a wheelchair — heightening concerns for her safety.

Sadiya was last seen in the Portrush area and is believed to be travelling towards Belfast.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact Police on 101 quoting the reference number, 1118 of 8th of April 2026.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The incident caused bosses of Radcliffe Central Snooker Club to be hauled in front of a panel of councillors earlier this week to defend their alcohol licence.

The Abden Street venue had been serving drinks more than three hours past its licensed hours before the altercation left a man unconscious on the floor, a town hall meeting heard. 

The video, shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, shows a man in a black shirt drinking at the bar at around 3am on February 1.

He speaks to someone out of view before going in for what appears to be a handshake. But after taking his hand, the assailant then takes a hold of the man’s shoulder and delivers a punch to his face that causes the victim to lose consciousness and fall to the ground.

Other punters can be seen circulating the downed man in shock. 

Shortly after the video cuts off, an ambulance and police were called to the scene. Nobody has been charged. 

The man who was punched had to take several days off work, councillors heard. He has since recovered and reportedly returned to the club five days after the assault, according to the snooker club’s owner, David Morley. 

Mr Morley, who has managed the club for nine years, told the meeting that the attack had come ‘completely out of the blue’ and staff ‘didn’t see it coming’.

The owner said the incident happened after a late staff Christmas celebration in Manchester.

They returned to the club at around 11.30pm for karaoke and mingled with regulars, friends and family, he added. Staff served alcohol beyond licensed hours after ‘losing track of time’, and had called last orders just before the incident, Mr Morley claimed. 

Radcliffe Central Snooker Club (Image: Google Maps)

“It’s a big wake-up call to me,” he said. “Clearly I’ve got to make sure this doesn’t happen again. But overall it’s a really well-run club. It’s a real hub for the community and I can’t remember the police ever being called out before.” 

PC Peter Eccleston, who referred the case to the town hall’s licensing panel, confirmed he had never known police to be called to an incident at the venue in his four years as the GMP’s licensing representative in Bury. 

PC Eccleston therefore recommended a change of licensing conditions but did not suggest withdrawing the club’s license to operate entirely. 

After a concise deliberation, councillors agreed the club can continue operating but must have a first-aid certified member of staff present during opening hours; have tighter limits on last entry; and will need to review its health and safety procedures and risk assessments.

The show, titled George Clarke’s Two Houses, One Home, is a four-part series produced by IWC that will feature two households who dream of living together under one roof.

Mr Clarke, a well-known architect, will guide participants through the emotional and practical challenges of merging homes, selling one property, and transforming the other into a shared dream space.

George Clarke, presenter and architect, said: “At its heart, any successful home allows us to be together with those who matter to us, giving the space to share our lives, from the special events to the everyday moments.

“Seeing people giving their all to move in together and make this kind of space for themselves promises to be a heartwarming experience.

“It will be a joy to accompany them on their journey.”

The show focuses on couples moving in together for the first time, blending families, or bringing elderly relatives closer, all with the shared goal of creating one home that fits their changing needs.

Gerard Costello, head of popular factual at IWC Media, said: “At IWC, we pride ourselves on our property programmes and seeing people work to make the perfect home for themselves is always a pleasure.

“This exciting new format shows that a house can never truly be home until it can accommodate all of those who want to be together under its roof.

“We’re excited to see the homes they make – and delighted George Clarke feels the same.

“There could be no better companion on their journey, as their two houses become one home.”

If you would like to take part, more information can be found here: https://www.channel4.com/4viewers/take-part/dream-home.

The restaurant will be found in a Grade II listed building that used to be a bank.

A popular Japanese food spot is opening a new branch of its award-winning restaurants in a Cambridgeshire town. Sushi and Salad already has restaurants in Ely, Stamford, and Saffron Walden, and will soon be opening in St Ives in the former Lloyds Bank.

Juliana Hunt, the founder of Sushi and Salad, said she had been looking for a new spot to open the fourth restaurant. She added: “We are from a village very close to St Ives and we go into town whenever we have the opportunity to.

“So we’ve had our eyes on that location for a while. It’s exciting to see how St Ives has been growing so we want to be a part of the community.”

The restaurant will offer a “complex menu” with both sushi options and hot meals that have been inspired by Okinawan cuisine. When asked about her favourite dishes at Sushi and Salad, Mrs Hunt said: “Of course, I’m a fan of sushi. I love Japanese food.

“At the moment, we have a new menu that just launched and there’s a dish called truffle udon. That’s served with a soy-cured egg that you can grate like parmesan and it’s so delicious. It’s one of my favourites. Every time I go, I’m just like ‘I’m going to have that’.

“Also the black cod as well on the menu is unbelievable. It’s marinated for 48 hours and then grilled. We have our signature dishes like the spicy crunch roll, which is one of the most popular options at the restaurant.”

If you are not a fan of fish, there are plenty of alternative options such as noodle dishes and katsu curries. Sushi and Salad also has a vegan menu, which Mrs Hunt describes as “very tasty”.

Many people have already expressed excitement for the opening. She said: “As soon as we applied for the planning and license, it kind of got out there and people started asking so it’s been great.

“I’ve seen some posts on Facebook and people are saying how excited they are for Sushi and Salad to be coming to St Ives. I love all the comments with people saying this is great and it’s good for St Ives. It’s been well received.”

The new Sushi and Salad will be found in the old Lloyds Bank building, which is Grade II listed. Mrs Hunt said “not much” will be done to the structure of the building. She described it as “a beauty”, with the interior design set to resemble the other sites that are “calm and inspired by Japanese tea houses”.

Sushi and Salad can be found at 1 The Pavement in St Ives and is set to open in mid-June.