EastEnders newcomer Bea Pollard’s (Ronni Ancona) dark side resurfaces next week when she has a violent reaction after getting bad news from Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton). 

Fans had their first glimpse that everything was not quite as it seemed with apparently quirky and unassuming Bea last month, when it was revealed she had paid a group of teenagers to ransack the Mini Mart in a bid to get close to Honey. 

Honey, being as sweet as she is, has totally taken Bea’s friendship at face value, and recently made the massive mistake of asking recently-homeless Bea to housesit for her and husband Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick). 

While alone at No.18 , Bea has been getting her feet right under the table, restyling Honey and Billy’s home following some recent renovations and taking out a fraudulent credit card in Honey’s name. 

After Honey arrives home next week, things quickly unravel, leading to Honey having to ask Bea to move out. 

Actress Emma Barton, who plays Honey, explains: ‘She is initially really appreciative of Bea’s help in maintaining and redecorating their home exactly how Honey would like it. However, as she settles back in, she notices several times where Bea may have overridden Billy’s decisions. 

‘Although Bea’s actions come from a well‑intentioned place, they have annoyed Billy, who feels she is overstepping, which understandably takes a toll on him as he believes she’s trying to take over.’ 

When Honey later opens up to Billy about her concerns that she may be starting the menopause, the couple agree that Bea needs to pack her bags. 

‘As Honey begins to process the changes she’s experiencing, she knows that she must put her own well‑being first,’ Emma says. ‘Although she is kind and doesn’t want to upset anyone, Honey knows she’s going through emotional and physical changes that will require some privacy, something that’s difficult to have with a friend living with you.’

Needless to say, the news does not land well with a blindsided Bea, who heads back to her new job at McClunky’s and trashes the place when her emotions get the better of her. 

Later, Honey and Billy’s son Will Mitchell (Freddie Phillips), drops by the chicken shop and is shocked to see the state of it, prompting Bea to lie that she was attacked in an attempt to garner sympathy. 

She then continues to emotionally manipulate Honey so she will agree to let her stay, as her true intentions start to become clearer…

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Revealing Honey’s naivety to the situation, Emma says: ‘Bea has become the closest friend Honey has had in a long time, and she values the respect and ease within their relationship. Honey relates to Bea in a way she hasn’t experienced before. The dynamic with Bea feels balanced, equal, and entirely effortless.

‘Honey chooses to see the good in people and trusts Bea, although perhaps a little too much…’

EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 23rd March at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer. 

MORE: Billy fears the worst as Bea’s sinister obsession intensifies in EastEnders

MORE: From the scandalous to unbelievable – 17 soap romances that had us cringing

The Scottish Ambulance Service has confirmed that two people were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after the two-vehicle crash.

Two people have been injured after a lamppost crushed a car in a horror two-vehicle crash in Aberdeen.

Emergency crews were alerted were called to a major road traffic collision on Hutcheon Street in the city at around 12:55pm on Tuesday, March 17.

The Scottish Ambulance Service has now confirmed that two people were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Photos from the scene showed a Victorian-era lamp post seen on top of a blue Volvo. The heavy lamp post has crushed the top of the vehicle and debris from both cars can be seen scattered across the road.

While a number of people gathered around a white car. The front end of the motor was badly damaged and the windscreen shattered. The white car was wedged between a wall and the bottom of the lamppost.

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 12.58 to attend a road traffic collision on Hutcheon Street, Aberdeen. Two ambulances, two special operations response teams (SORT) and a critical care team were dispatched to the scene. Two patients were transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said earlier: “Around 12.55pm on Tuesday, 17 March, 2026 police received a report of a two vehicle crash in Hutcheon Street, Aberdeen. Emergency services are in attendance.

“There are road closures at Hutcheon Street at the junction of Berryden Road and Hutcheon Street at the junction of George Street.

“There is also no traffic access from Anne Street onto Hutcheon Street.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 12.57pm on Tuesday, 17 March, to reports of a traffic collision involving two cars on Hutcheon Street, Aberdeen.

“Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and a specialty vehicle to assist emergency service partners at the scene. Crews remain in attendance.”

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The Princess of Wales wished the officers and guardsmen of the Irish Guards a happy St Patrick’s Day as she presented them with traditional sprigs of shamrock.

Kate – who has served as the regiment’s colonel since 2022 – also greeted its mascot, an Irish wolf hound named Turlough Mor, affectionately known as Seamus, as she attended the annual parade.

The royal was at the event at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Tuesday, wearing a bottle green coat with an Irish Guards cap star pinned to it.

After the event concluded with three cheers for the princess, she presented good conduct and long-service medals to three soldiers.

While meeting families in the officers’ mess, she spoke to Lance Sergeant Mills, who led the drums and pipes during the parade, his wife Jessica, and their daughter Vienna.

The three-year-old jumped up and down with excitement as Kate crouched down to speak to her.

The princess asked Vienna if she was excited, before telling her she had “beautiful hair” and applauding when the little girl twirled in her blue dress.

She then offered her hands to the child, who took them before swinging towards the floor.

LSgt Mills described meeting the princess as “such a great opportunity”, and one his daughter had been excited about “all week”.

He said: “I led the drums and pipes on today, so that was a big moment for me in my career.”

His wife, Jessica, said: “[Kate’s] just so easy to talk to, and really down to earth, I wasn’t actually expecting that. It’s my first time getting to come to the parade, so it was really lovely.”

St Patrick’s Day was celebrated by Irish communities across the globe.

In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended his first parade to mark Ireland’s national day.

In a video posted to X, he said that it was on Irish soil that the British developed their “colonial project” and hailed the country’s history of resistance.

He said: “For centuries, generation after generation waged a lonely effort for independence. Year after year, uprising after uprising, they were beaten back, and still they kept coming.”

In Washington DC, Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin had breakfast with Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance before meeting Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

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After celebrating the economic ties between Ireland and the US, Mr Vance said: “I actually think that understates the cultural friendship between the United States and Ireland. So many of the greatest Americans were people who came from Ireland or their families came from Ireland.”

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Today, President Zelensky has been in London to agree a new defence partnership with the UK, with Downing Street hoping to unite “Ukrainian expertise and the UK’s industrial base” to manufacture drones.

But while Starmer and Zelensky were meeting one side of the Atlantic, President Trump was changing his mind on whether he needs Nato support in the Strait of Hormuz again.

During a meeting with the Irish Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, President Trump hit out at Starmer again.

Adam and Chris discuss Zelensky’s visit and President Trump’s change of heart.

Plus, economics editor Faisal Islam joins Adam, fresh from looking at quantum computers with Rachel Reeves, to discuss the Chancellor’s annual Mais Lecture which covered AI, closer ties with Europe, and possible plans to devolve tax revenue spending.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

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Matthew Whale, 52, a car sales manager from Killay, Swansea, was found dead in the water off one of Wales’ most popular beaches after leaving notes to his relatives at home

A 52 year old man was discovered dead in the sea off one of Wales’ most frequented beaches, having left notes for his family.

Matthew Whale, a car sales manager from Killay, Swansea, was found deceased in the water with minor injuries by rescue teams on 7 March, a day after his family reported him missing, an inquest heard. On Tuesday, Swansea Coroners’ Court heard that Mr Whale had left several notes for his family at his home.

Upon discovering the notes, his family immediately alerted South Wales Police, triggering a multi-agency search involving Mountain Rescue and HM Coastguard.

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During the search, Mr Whale’s car was located in the Rhossili car park, and CCTV footage captured him walking towards Worms Head hours before volunteers found him in the sea.

The inquest heard that he was found with minor injuries and no immediately apparent significant signs of trauma. Mr Whale’s body was transported to hospital at 1.05pm on 7 March, and police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, reports Wales Online.

Coroner Aled Griffiths told the brief hearing that he had reason to suspect Mr Whale’s death was unnatural and adjourned for a full inquest to be held on 25 August. He extended his condolences to Mr Whale’s family.

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven says it is “the biggest nonsense” to suggest the club’s players do not care about the team’s current plight.

Spurs are a point above the Premier League relegation zone in 16th with eight matches of the season left to play after a difficult campaign.

It has led to questions over the whether Tottenham‘s squad are already thinking about their own futures beyond the current season.

But Van de Ven gave a passionate defence of their commitment to the Spurs cause on the eve of the second leg of Tottenham‘s Champions League last-16 tie at home to Atletico Madrid.

“It’s the biggest nonsense,” the Netherlands centre-back told a news conference.

“Trust me – those involved on the pitch, the staff and the players – they care so much about the situation we are in right now.

“We just want to turn things around and that’s the main focus for everyone. If reports say guys don’t care anymore it’s just frustrating for our guys.”

Spurs trail Atletico 5-2 from the first leg in Madrid following a club record sixth-straight loss before they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

Van de Ven said suggestions that Spurs players are not bothered by their predicament “brings so much more trouble” because supporters are “starting to believe” them.

“The other day when we read something about one guy that said to everyone that he’s probably going to leave and doesn’t care about the situation they’re in,” added the 24-year-old Dutchman.

“People are just making things up. The only thing I can say about it is it’s not true.”

Spurs will be without midfielder Joao Palhinha for the tie with Atletico as he continues to recover from concussion.

Captain Cristian Romero, who clashed heads with Palhinha in the first leg, will be available to play while left-back Destiny Udogie and midfielder Lucas Bergvall are fit enough for the bench after hamstring and ankle injuries respectively.

Head coach Arne Slot says he “must have done a lot of things wrong” for Liverpool fans to be “frustrated” at their recent form.

Liverpool were booed off on Sunday after conceding a 90th-minute equaliser to Tottenham in a 1-1 draw.

Despite winning the Premier League less than 12 months ago, the Reds’ style of play and a string of disappointing results have led to discontent among the fanbase.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said it will be “really difficult” for Slot to win back the support of fans.

Liverpool are fifth in the league and face Turkish champions Galatasaray in the Champions League at Anfield on Wednesday (20:00 GMT), trailing 1-0 after the first-leg of their last-16 tie.

“It’s never nice they are frustrated because usually fans are not frustrated after you win,” the Dutchman said.

“So first of all, you’re frustrated yourself and disappointed about the fact that we haven’t won,” said Slot.

“People have told me when I came here that this club is different than other clubs, they will support the manager for such, such, such a long time.

“But if you are supposing something, then I must have done a lot of things wrong and that’s never a nice feeling to have, because being in the club that’s always so supportive for the manager, in good and bad times, then if they are not happy with me, then apparently I’ve done so many things wrong, and that’s never a nice feeling to have.”

He added: “But I also know how the football industry works. Winning can change a lot. That’s what we are trying to achieve tomorrow night. And we’re completely ready for that, I can tell you that.”

Carragher claimed that Liverpool are a team of individuals but Slot disagreed.

“I agree with a lot of things Jamie has said throughout this whole season. This particular one, I disagree with him,” said Slot, insisting that his players have never given up.

“A team that has given up, a team of individuals or a team that does not work together, does not show resilience after our 120th setback this season. That is a bit of an exaggeration but we have had many.”

And Slot called on his players to embrace the pressure as Liverpool look to reach their first Champions League quarter-final since 2022.

The Dutchman admitted that it would be a special moment for him too as he is yet to manage at that stage of the competition.

“It’s the most important (game). Because it is the next one. That is a bit too simple. It is always the next one that is the most important one, ” said Slot. “After Galatasaray, another big one is coming up against Brighton with two days rest again. We feel the importance of this game. We are able to reach the quarter final of the Champions League. That would be special for me as it would be my first. It would be special for all of us – we can never take a Champions League quarter-final for granted.”

​A “carrot and stick” pilot project in Scarborough has been approved by North Yorkshire Council’s executive committee and could see it use compulsory purchase orders to address the “blight of empty and increasingly derelict properties” on high streets.

​The scheme will see the introduction of new powers that allow local authorities to require landlords to rent out “persistently vacant commercial properties to new tenants such as local businesses or community groups”.

​Following its approval at a meeting on Tuesday, March 17, preparatory work will start immediately, and the high street rental auction process could start as early as May.

​Cllr Mark Crane, executive member for open to business, said: “We decided on Scarborough because of the number of empty properties,

​“We want to work with owners of vacant commercial properties to help drive footfall in the area.”

​He added: “We could compulsorily purchase the properties, but I’m not sure we want to do that. It’s a bit of a carrot and stick approach, and hopefully we can increase the number of shops for people living and visiting there.”

​Scarborough has the highest town centre vacancy rate in the county at 18.6 per cent, followed by Malton at 17.1 per cent, while Whitby has a vacancy rate of just 7.6 per cent, according to a council report.

​​The council said its previous strategies, including offering fully funded vinyl wraps for vacant properties, had failed.

​Properties that have been vacant for more than a year in the past two years would be eligible if they are deemed suitable for high street use, such as retail, offices, public services, hospitality, entertainment, or light industry.

​NYC stated that the properties would also need to be considered beneficial to the local economy, society, or environment if occupied.

​Cllr Liz Colling, chair of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee, said: “It’s a marvellous opportunity and there are plenty of places that are vacant.”

​Nic Harne, NYC’s corporate director for community development, said: “These are very new powers and just by bringing this in, we can bring landlords to the table.”

​​A report prepared for the executive committee meeting stated: “Increasingly, the condition of the town centre of Scarborough, in particular Huntriss Row, where there is a concentration of vacant premises, is being raised with the Council.

​​“Given the lack of impact of earlier initiatives, the limits of existing powers and the local imperative to tackle the issue, it is proposed the council pilots the use of the new high street rental auction (HSRA) powers to compel landlords to improve the vacant premises and secure new tenants.”

​​The HSRA process takes around 22 to 24 weeks to complete.

​Cllr Heather Phillips, executive member for corporate services, told colleagues: “The state of some of the buildings in Scarborough is horrendous and we have a history of landlords hanging on to their properties.

​“The prospect of them having their properties taken off their hands might encourage them to let their properties, and that’s encouraging.”

​However, at the meeting, councillors also criticised the combined authority’s elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire for what they described as an absence from the development of the scheme.

​Cllr Richard Foster, executive member for managing the environment, said: “The mayor is supposed to be the man of economic development – it’s a Labour policy and I thought the Labour mayor would have been all over this, but he hasn’t shown his face at all.

​“After all, he’s the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and that includes Scarborough.”

​Cllr Crane said: “I completely agree with you about David Skaith.”

Ministers were told not to pursue an immediate ban as there wasn’t ‘robust’ evidence, it has emerged

Senedd members have backed a ban on greyhound racing – but it has emerged Welsh Government ministers were told they shouldn’t pursue an immediate ban as there wasn’t enough evidence to justify one. Opponents of the law have pursued a judicial review of it which could scupper the Welsh Government’s plans for a ban.

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s (GBGB) case is that appropriate consultation was not undertaken prior to the decision to ban, and that the decision and introduction of the bill was therefore unlawful.

The High Court hearings have taken place, with hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. Judgement was reserved, and will be handed down potentially as soon as next week.

The ban was agreed as part of a deal with sole Liberal Democrat Senedd member Jane Dodds so the Labour government could pass its budget for 2025-26. Ms Dodds, a greyhound owner, has been a vocal advocate of a ban.

It has now emerged that before the deal was announced, government officials sent a document of “ministerial advice” to deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies in February 2025, which did not recommend an immediate ban.

GBGB argue that Mr Irranca-Davies has said there was evidence on which to base a ban, telling, for example, a Senedd committee member that: “Actually, we have very, very robust evidence of why there’s a need for this legislation”.

The 23-page ministerial advice document gives a 100 word summary, and recommendations including four options.

Option 1 : An immediate ban on greyhound racing (no phased approach).

Option 2: A phased ban on greyhound racing.

Option 3: Develop proposals for the licensing of owners, trainers and keepers of racing dogs.

Option 4 :Do nothing (continue to work with industry).

Officials recommended the third option and to “develop proposals for the licensing of owners, trainers and keepers of racing dogs, including greyhounds, and greyhound racing establishments”.

It says: “The call for evidence in the consultation did not provide enough robust evidence on which to justify or negate a phased ban on welfare grounds and did not include questions on an immediate ban.”

The document lists the risks of pursuing an immediate ban. “Assessing the impact of a ban is required to ensure animal welfare, social and economic impacts are understood.”

Among the seven concerns were the fate of those animals racing, or being bred to race, as well as closing down the Valley stadium, the only active track in Wales.

It says the rescue sector could be impacted negatively, as well loss of social cohesion and economic impacts.

It also says that a phased or immediate ban would bring “reputational risks” to the Welsh Government, “with regards to overreach by the Welsh Government and in driving through policy without relevant consultation”.

There are a number of paragraphs of the advice document that are redacted.

When the budget deal was agreed there was anger with the inclusion of the ban being called “dirty” and “dodgy”.

When the Senedd’s culture committee looked at the proposed ban, the committee also raised concerns about whether a “robust evidence base” was used.

“The committee is concerned that the Welsh Government has relied heavily on the headline figures from the 2023 consultation to suggest that there is a strong level of public support in Wales for prohibiting greyhound racing.

“We note that the consultation was not primarily focused on this specific proposal, and that it relied on a self-selecting methodology, which is inherently vulnerable to bias and does not provide a representative measure of public opinion.

“This approach, combined with the volume of duplicate responses, undermines the robustness of the evidence base for legislative decisions.

“In our view, further meaningful and targeted consultation should have taken place alongside the development of a robust evidence base before a decision was taken to legislate.”

A spokesperson for the Greyhound Board of Great Britain said: “The Welsh Government has shown the same attitude to rushing this through as they have from the very start of this process.

“It is a wonder that – given the legal proceedings underway – they’ve chosen to push this Bill forward at all costs, even while judges consider whether it is unlawful.

“We are pleased to have set out our case against this flawed legislation. The Welsh Government always had the option to pursue regulation as a highly effective way to ensure the welfare of racing greyhounds.

“Instead, as the documents presented at the hearings show, they chose to pursue this misguided dodgy Bill even while being told by officials that there was insufficient consultation or evidence to support it. The lessons laid out raise serious alarm bells not just about the treatment of this Bill and our sport but for the wider legislative process. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here

“We hope the Court comes to the right conclusion when a judgment is handed down but, in any case, the hearings have exposed the failures in evidence gathering and due diligence that we have been challenging throughout.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “As this is ongoing litigation and we are awaiting the Court’s judgment, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”

Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said: “Wales is a progressive nation, committed to ethical standards and forward-thinking legislation. This Bill strengthens our reputation as a leader on animal welfare and delivers the standards that the people of Wales rightly expect.”