The pair have been the Friday morning hosts since 2021 and stepped in as a temporary hosting duo when Phillip Schofield was ousted, and Holly Willoughby stepped down in 2023.
The TV presenters have now admitted that the ITV show’s rocky patch some years ago was a ‘hard’ period.
This was exacerbated by the fact that the daytime show includes a daily deep dive into the headlines, which at the time routinely included the show itself.
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‘We were doing a show that, through no fault of our own, was on the cover of newspapers for 50 days on the trot,’ said O’Leary.
Speaking to the Radio Times, he went on to say that in terms of the day-to-day headlines that emerge, honing in on specific moments during the live broadcast, he doesn’t look at them.
The pair temporarily stepped up to weekly hosts after Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby left (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
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‘We’ll finish an item, I’ll look one way and Alison will look the other, and the papers will be like, “Bust-up on This Morning!” It’s all bulls**t,’ said the 53-year-old.
Meanwhile, Hammon added to the publication: ‘You’ve got to be free to say what you want, and give your opinions. If you start editing yourself, you’ll lose the live element that people love.’
However, the pair did admit that they have hosted the show when they have been ‘unhappy’ with one another, but only a handful of times.
Hammond has said she would be able to fake their chemistry on the show, even if they were not speaking, but O’Leary disagreed that they would be able to.
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‘In terms of day-to-day stories, I don’t even look at them,’ said O’Leary (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
From hitting the headlines over queue-gate to his bombshell confession: A timeline of events that led to Phillip Schofield’s ITV departure
September 2022WILLOUGHBY and schofield hit headlines over queue-gate
The duo found themselves in hot water when they were accused of skipping the queue to visit the late Queen Elizabeth III lying in state.
ITV issued a statement in their defence and the presenters insisted they didn’t break any rules or take anyone’s place, but the backlash and criticism continued.
15 may 2023the this morning hosts put on a united front
Ignoring the rumours, Willoughby and Schofield appeared on This Morning beaming and seemingly putting on a united front.
The duo continued downplaying the rumours during their four episodes of This Morning that week, signing off the week saying, ‘See you on Monday, bye!’
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20 may 2023schofield steps down from this morning after more than 20 years
Schofield confirmed his departure from This Morning, saying: ‘I have always been proud to cover fascinating stories on This Morning. But recently, This Morning itself has become the story.
‘Throughout my career in TV – including the very difficult last few days – I have always done my best to be honourable and kind.
‘I understand that ITV has decided the current situation can’t go on, and I want to do what I can to protect the show that I love.
‘So I have agreed to step down from This Morning with immediate effect, in the hope that the show can move forward to a bright future.’
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20 may 2023WILLOUGHBY releases statement and takes early break from this morning
Addressing Schofield’s departure, Willoughby said: ‘It’s been over 13 great years presenting This Morning with Schofield and I want to take this opportunity to thank him for all of his knowledge, his experience and his humour.
‘The sofa won’t feel the same without him.’
ITV confirmed she would go on to host This Morning with other members of the team, but took an early half-term break, and would not be returning to the sofa until June 5.
26 may 2023schofield admits affair with much younger this morning colleague and confesses he lied about it
He said the relationship occurred while he was still married to his wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe, the mother of his two daughters – Ruby and Molly – and before he came out as gay.
26 may 2023Schofield resigns from ITV with ‘immediate effect’
‘I am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me,’ Schofield said, after admitting he lied to the broadcaster and his colleagues.
26 may 2023itv release statement accepting schofield’s resignation
After an admission that he lied to colleagues and to ITV, the broadcaster confirmed that they accepted his resignation.
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The broadcaster also admitted to feeling ‘badly let down’ and ‘deeply disappointed’ after Schofield confessed to lying to bosses about his relationship.
27 may 2023Willoughby releases statement
Willoughby accused Schofield of lying to her about the affair, saying his admission is ‘very hurtful’.
27 may 2023itv issue new statement claiming ‘no evidence found’ from a 2020 investigation
ITV released a new statement confirming that an investigation into Schofield and an employee was conducted in 2020.
They said no evidence of a relationship was found ‘beyond hearsay and rumour’.
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june 2Schofield breaks silence
The Sun published an interview with Schofield in which he said he was sorry to Willoughby but owed his ‘greatest apology’ to his former lover. He reiterated that he did not ‘groom’ the man, and that although his wife was ‘very, very angry’ about the affair, his daughters had been ‘guarding’ him during the fallout.
Speaking to the BBC’s Amol Rajan, Schofield also said he had ‘lost everything’ and the affair had a ‘catastrophic effect’ on his mind. Speaking about the criticism he faced, he said he could see ‘nothing ahead’ except ‘blackness and sadness’ and spoke about his television career ‘in the past tense’.
june 5Willoughby returns to this morning
Willoughby made an emotional return to This Morning, saying she felt ‘shaken, troubled, let down and worried’ following the revelations about Schofield.
She began with: ‘Firstly, are you ok?’ adding: ‘It feels very strange indeed sitting here without Phil.’
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octoberitv confirms workplace changes
The company’s policy on work relationships was updated. Staff were reportedly required to disclose any kind of relationship, including a friendship, sexual or romantic connection, to ‘the company at the earliest opportunity’.
december 7ITV ‘unable to uncover’ Schofield affair evidence
It said it made ‘considerable efforts’ to find out the truth about the alleged affair but was ‘unable to uncover the relevant evidence’ until the presenter’s own admission in late May 2023.
The former presenter ‘reluctantly declined’ to take part because of ‘the risk to his health’.
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September 25Schofield’s TV return confirmed after months of rumours
Schofield announced Cast Away, saying: ‘I can say whatever I want about whatever I want. It’s my chance to tell my side of my story.’
He explained: ‘When she is unhappy with me – and it’s probably only happened maybe two or three times…’ to which Hammond joked it was ‘more like 700 times.’
O’Leary continued: ‘I don’t like the idea of making Ali unhappy. One, because she’s such a good friend and two, because she’s basically a Jamaican mother, and you don’t want to get on the wrong side of her.
‘But we have a great relationship. I think I’ve taught Alison to take life a bit more seriously, and she’s taught me to take it a bit less seriously.’
Rachel Lowe MBE, creator of the iconic Destination Board Game series, has created a special centenary edition of Destination Portsmouth to celebrate Portsmouth’s 100th anniversary since being granted city status in 1926. The project will support Cash for Kids South Coast, a charity dedicated to helping children living in poverty across our region.
Multiple ambulance vehicles were called to the scene
Two people have been taken to hospital after a crash in Cambridge. Emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash on Hawkins Road, Cambridge at around 9.20am on Monday (June 29).
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The East of England Ambulance Service transported two people to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. An ambulance spokesperson said: “We were called at 9:19 am on Monday, June 29, to a road traffic collision on Hawkins Road in Cambridge.
“Two ambulances, an ambulance officer vehicle, an East Anglian Air Ambulance response car, and a rapid response car attended the scene. Two patients were transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for further treatment.”
Cambridgeshire Police also attended. A police spokesperson added: “We were called at about 9.20am today (29 June) with reports of a collision between two vehicles on Hawkins Road, Cambridge.”
Andy Burnham’s long held ambition to be the UK’s prime minister will come with some daunting economic challenges.
Productivity growth is at a virtual standstill, real incomes have stagnated and the cost-of-living crisis has become a permanent fixture for many households. Meanwhile, the government spends around £110 billion a year paying the interest on nearly £3 trillion of debt.
Burnham says he is on a “10-year mission” to transform the country. So what might he do to try to fix the British economy?
One thing that voters can reasonably expect is a move towards greater devolution of power – especially spending power – to the English metro regions. As mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham often argued that too many economic decisions were made in London, and that this held the rest of the country back.
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Burnham believes that allowing other regions to implement their own locally led pro-growth policies could transform Britain’s economic prospects. It’s a view shared by one of his key economic advisers, Jim O’Neill, who has long argued that creating metro growth hubs could substantially boost the UK’s GDP.
This approach is bound to be controversial. It could mean, for example, taking resources away from the £49 billion Heathrow airport expansion plan to help fund HS2 so it can reach the north.
More radically, it might require a revamp of the whole system of local government finance, starting with reforming the council tax system, which is still entirely based on property values set in 1991.
This would mean higher bills for areas where house prices are high, such as London and the south-east. But it could substantially cut payments for those living elsewhere – which could be popular in red wall constituencies where Labour has been losing support.
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Social care
Burnham has also spoken about reforming the UK’s social care system. Social care is not part of the NHS, which means those who need residential care in old age must either sell their house to fund it, or rely on cash-strapped local councils.
Finding a solution to social care has proved too challenging for successive governments. When Burnham was health secretary under Gordon Brown in 2010, he proposed putting a tax on the value of homes after the owner’s death – which critics labelled a “death tax”.
Nevertheless, he may try something similar as prime minister. Solving the social care conundrum would dramatically ease the financial strain on the NHS.
Nationalisation
Another cause that Burnham has recently embraced is tackling the poor performance of the companies that supply households with energy and water.
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First in line would be Thames Water, which is already facing bankruptcy and a temporary government takeover. A straight-out nationalisation of water would be expensive, with that company alone currently valued at £10 billion.
Water work. Yau Ming Low/Shutterstock
But better public utilities could also boost productivity. Housing development in East Anglia is now being held back by lack of water, for example, as no new reservoirs have been built in the UK since 1992. And a water company which didn’t have to pay out hundreds of millions of pounds to shareholders could mean lower household bills.
Bending, not breaking, the fiscal rules
Burnham has promised to stand by Labour’s commitments not to increase VAT, income tax or national insurance. He has also pledged to stick by Labour’s fiscal rules, including the key stipulation that day-to-day government spending must be covered by tax revenues within three years, so that borrowing can only be for long-term capital investment.
These rules have been structured in such a way that could still give a Burnham administration considerable leeway to boost spending on public infrastructure.
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Burnham could argue that increasing public investment this way would pay for itself by boosting UK productivity.
He may also want to look at other ways the Treasury could raise money without breaking Labour’s manifesto pledges. There are quite a few options, including higher wealth taxation, or changes to tax relief on pensions and savings.
Burnham is also taking advice from Carys Roberts, the former head of the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank, and a strong advocate of wealth taxes, which may indicate his direction of travel.
Burnham won the trust of voters in the constituency of Makerfield. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
All of these reforms will face fierce political opposition from the Conservatives and the right-wing press, which in the past have been enough to scupper them.
But if Burnham keeps his Labour party colleagues happy, he need not face an election for three years. And if he manages to improve public services, boost growth and lower the cost-of-living crisis, he may be able to turn round Labour’s prospects.
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The key is the government delivering the benefits of higher taxes to ordinary citizens, both by reducing the cost of living and providing improved services. If Burnham can square this circle, while avoiding the ire of financial markets, he will have pulled off a trick which his predecessor singularly failed to do.
People face penalties if they miss the annual deadline
14:01, 29 Jun 2026Updated 14:09, 29 Jun 2026
Specialists are cautioning taxpayers as a crucial HMRC deadline approaches, with one expert warning that “many get caught out”.
With just one month remaining, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging millions of Self Assessment taxpayers to gear up for the July 31 deadline for the second payments on account for the 2025 to 2026 tax year. Customers are able to arrange monthly or weekly payment plans, and any payments already made through these schemes will count towards their next Self Assessment tax bill.
Payments can be made via the HMRC app, with nearly two million Self Assessment taxpayers having done so since its launch in January 2022. The app makes it straightforward for people to contribute towards their tax bill, set payment reminders, and monitor their payment history.
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Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “We know managing a Self Assessment tax bill isn’t always straightforward and we are here to help. From paying instantly via the HMRC app to spreading the cost through a payment plan, there’s support available for every customer. Search ‘Pay your Self Assessment tax bill’ on GOV.UK to choose the payment option that works for you.”
Matthew Knight, chief freelance officer at Freelancing.Support, said many people did not know the deadline.
He added: “While everyone knows the January 31 deadline, many who are new to freelancing often get caught out by payment-on-account deadlines, which asks you to pay your taxes ahead of your income. Getting into the habit of doing your accounts monthly or quarterly helps you keep on top of the admin, rather than waiting for HMRC to remind you. This is where Making Tax Digital could actually help small businesses, ensuring they’re on top of their taxes.”
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Ross Lacey, director and Independent Financial Adviser at Rayleigh-based Fairview Financial Management, said it was important to keep your books up to date.
He added: “It’s good practice to get on top of this as early as possible. That way, you can ensure the payments on account remain appropriate for the level of income you’ve actually earned.
“It also helps with any changes you may want to make to your business in the current tax year, using the information on how much profit, or not, was generated in the previous tax year. Far too many people are almost a year behind in knowing how their business is really doing. Keeping the book up to date throughout the year makes this less of a mammoth task.”
Samuel Mather-Holgate, managing director and IFA at Swindon-based Mather and Murray Financial, said “silence is usually the most expensive option”.
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He added: “The Self Assessment system is creaking because it asks millions of ordinary people to behave like unpaid tax administrators. Staying up to date matters. If you miss the July 31 payment on account you can quickly face interest, penalties and nasty cash-flow shocks.
“But HMRC cannot keep relying on last-minute nudges and an app to fix a system many people find confusing. There should be far clearer prompts, plainer language and earlier warnings, especially for the self-employed and side-hustlers.
“The practical advice is simple – check your online account now, do not assume payments on account are optional, put money aside weekly, and speak to HMRC before the deadline if you cannot pay. Silence is usually the most expensive option.”
Nouran Moustafa, practice principal and IFA at Roxton Wealth, said taxpayers needed to act before the deadline.
She added: “Self Assessment needs year-round organisation. The July 31 payment catches people off guard because it lands months after the January rush, just when many self-employed people, landlords and business owners are focused on keeping cash moving through the summer.
“Being up to date matters because this is not a bill you can wish away. Missing it can mean interest, stress and a much bigger problem by January, when the balancing payment and next payment on account can arrive together. There is publicity, but not enough explanation. Too many people still misunderstand what a payment on account is, or assume income received is fully theirs to spend.
“My advice is simple: make tax part of managing money all year round. Put aside a percentage of every payment, check your HMRC account now, and only reduce a payment on account where there is a genuine, evidenced reason your income will be lower. If cash flow is tight, act before the deadline, not after it. A payment plan is a tool, not a failure.”
A Love Island USA star has spoken out after being removed from the reality series following resurfaced footage and social media posts.
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Alannah Keyser, who left the villa mid-episode last Thursday, issued an apology video for using a racial slur in a video.
Taking to TikTok, the 21-year-old addressed a clip circulating online of her using the n-word while singing along to Roddy Ricch’s 2019 song The Box.
In addition, an alleged screenshot of her using a racist slur on social media was widely shared.
She captioned her post by saying: ‘Remember that reality tv is HEAVILY edited & my chats/kisses with the other boys were unfortunately not aired.’
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In the video, which has over 81,000 likes, she speaks to camera by saying: ‘Hi everyone, I’m coming on here to address some things that have been circulating online.
Love Island USA contestant Alannah Keyser has taken to TikTok after being removed from the villa (Picture: TikTok/@alannahkeyser)
‘I do want to begin by addressing the video of me singing along to a Roddy Ricch song that contains a racial slur.
‘I’m sorry to whoever’s seen that video and has been offended by it, that was never my intention. The video is from six years ago and that word is just not in my vocabulary anymore.’
She continued by saying: ‘I’d also like to address the screenshots that have been going around online that have been falsified. What has been shared does not reflect the truth and it’s never been in my character to discriminate against anybody’s skin colour.
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‘I do want to say directly that I do not support racism or discrimination of any kind, and I never have.
‘When I first found out that these things were going around online it really broke my heart and I couldn’t do anything about it. But this has definitely been a learning lesson for me and it sucks that I didn’t really get a chance to really show off my personality and who I am.’
Ariana Madix is the host of Love Island USA season eight (Picture: Peacock)
The video then cut to a black screen with white text which read: ‘The video cut, but its always been in my nature to spread positivity and help others, and I will continue to do so.’
Keyser is the second contestant on Love Island USA season eight to get removed from the villa for saying the n-word.
In late May, Vasana Montgomery was fired in the days leading up to the season eight premiere after two videos of her using the slur went viral.
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In last year’s Season seven, two contestants, Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega, were also caught using racial slurs and had to exit the Villa.
Peacock, which is the network who airs Love Island, told Deadline that it was not aware of Keyser’s social media posts prior to casting her as they had not been shared publicly until after her appearance on the show.
The streamer said that it vets each contestant, but sources say these posts would not be accessible during that vetting process.
Love Island USA season 8 is available to watch on Peacock.
Novak Djokovic will open his Wimbledon campaign against Wu Yibing today as he bids for an eighth title at the All England Club.
His most recent title on the SW19 lawns came in 2022, but he was beaten in straight sets by Carlos Alcaraz in 2024’s finale.
However, with the Spaniard, 23, ruled out from a wrist injury, Djokovic has one less obstacle on the way to a 25th grand slam.
Novak Djokovic is chasing his eighth Wimbledon title
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PA
Djokovic insists he is at peak fitness ahead of his return to Wimbledon, telling reporters: “In terms of overall physical state, I think I am better preared here than I was for Roland Garros. I have a very good score here, and history in Wimbledon, so that gives me a higher dose of confidence coming into the tournament.”
The reigning champion Jannik Sinner may lie in Djokovic’s future, but he first must overcome No99-ranked Yibing, who has never progressed past the first round at Wimbledon.
Yibing vs Djokovic start time
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Yibing vs Djokovic is the third match on Centre Court today, and is expected on court at around 5pm BST after Sinner faces Miomir Kecmanovic and Sabalenka meets Teodora Kostovic.
How to watch Yibing vs Djokovic
TV channel: In the UK, live free-to-air coverage of the action at Wimbledon will be broadcast across BBC One and BBC Two.
Coverage on BBC Two begins at 10.30am BST, and further coverage on BBC One begins at 2pm.
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Live stream: TV license holders can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer.
Live blog: You can follow all the action LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!
Speaking to the media on Monday, Gavin Robinson said: “As a party we were not aware of allegations that have subsequently come to light.
“I may only have been leader of this party for a short period of time, but I am convinced that that is the case for a longer period of time.”
He added: “It is clear there are a number of individuals, either former members of the Democratic Unionist Party, or current who did indicate publicly on Friday that they had information that they did not share, information that was not reported through our appropriate channels and therefore information about which we could do nothing formally.
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“Whilst I say that with confidence, I am also clear it is not okay for that to continue to be the case.
“I cannot countenance a circumstance or situation where I allow that to be the case.
“That is why I and my deputy leader and senior party colleagues agreed on Friday to institute a review; a review that will be independent of our party, a review that will be conducted by an individual with impeccable credentials in child safeguarding, sexual exploitation.
“I want them to establish if members of my party had information which they did not share.
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“I also want them to establish if there are people within my party who continue to hold information which they haven’t yet felt about to share.”
Mr Robinson said he wanted the review to examine the party’s safeguarding policies.
But he added: “If somebody doesn’t come forward and whistleblow, you can’t use the safeguarding policies.
“It is my job to set our standards and what we have heard over the last number of days falls well below the standards that I hold and my colleagues hold for our party.
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“It is our job to make sure we are not turning a blind eye and that we deal with the issues that we are in charge of.”
Mr Robinson said he had not yet spoken to Mr Poots about the issues raised in the Spotlight programme.
The Prince of Wales has revealed some of the moments he shared with his late grandmother that he “will always hold dear” in a video memorial project
Prince William shares his fondest memories of Queen Elizabeth II
Prince William has recalled some of his fondest memories of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth in a video memorial for the late monarch. Filmed from inside Windsor Castle, the Prince of Wales spoke fondly of the late Queen, saying he will “always hold dear” some of their quiet moments spent together away from the public eye.
The video was filmed for a digital memorial for Queen Elizabeth, which is also open to the public to share some of their fond memories of the late monarch, marking what would’ve been her centenary year. Others who have shared their memories of the Queen include athlete Tom Daley, former Lord Bishop of London Lord Richard Chartres, and royal photographer Arthur Edwards.
In the video, William said: “It’s a privilege to know the late Queen better than most. Some of my fondest memories of my grandmother are from here in Windsor.
“I remember many a quiet afternoon, having tea with her and my grandfather at the castle, chatting, sharing stories, and seeing how completely at ease she was here, surrounded by family and her much-loved dogs and horses. To this day, she’s given me a love of teatime that I never knew I needed.”
In the short clip, recorded for the Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial website, the future King went on to talk about how riding around the Windsor Estate showed a rare “off-duty and relaxed” side to the former monarch.
He said: “Watching her ride her horses in the Great Park, even well into her later years, showed a side of Granny the world didn’t often see, off-duty, relaxed, and utterly at home. These moments with my grandmother are ones I’ll always hold dear.”
William has previously spoken about spending time with his late grandparents in Windsor Castle when he was at secondary school at nearby Eton, where his eldest son Prince George will be attending later this year.
Speaking with Eugene Levy during his appearance on AppleTV’s The Reluctant Traveller series last year, William said: “I do miss my grandmother, and my grandfather.” William told the actor and TV host that the Queen, with whom he was especially close, was always in his thoughts when he was at Windsor Castle.
“It’s been quite a bit of change, so you do sort of, you think about them not being here any more, and particularly being in Windsor, for me Windsor is her. She loved it here, she spent most of her time here.”
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The digital memorial site, led by the Cabinet Office, also features archive material, photography and video from key events of the late Queen’s historic 70-year reign.
The site started to commemorate what would’ve been Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday, which was marked on April 21 this year.
Dubai’s plan to operate the world’s largest airport is one step closer to reality as the emirate says it will open to passengers by 2032.
Al Maktoum International airport will become the world’s largest aviation hub with an annual capacity of 260 million passengers.
Plans show the airport having five runways, two terminals and more than 430 plane stands, as well as shuttle service around the site connecting passengers to gates and transport links.
The Dubai Government said earlier this month that work on the first phase of the new airport is proceeding in line with timelines for the project, remaining on course to start running flights in 2032.
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Work started over a year ago on the airport’s runway infrastructure and the initial structural foundations for passenger terminals and gates.
The project has been allocated a budget of AED16 billion (over £3bn).
The next phase of work will focus on building the Western Passenger Terminal, a fourth aircraft concourse building, an automated shuttle and the baggage handling system.
Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said that Al Maktoum International airport will allow Dubai to serve more travellers as the country anticipates growth in passenger and cargo traffic over the coming decade.
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“Al Maktoum International airport is far more than an expansion of aviation infrastructure; it is a fully integrated global platform that will redefine the future of travel and logistics,” he explained.
“The airport is being designed to deliver a seamless, intelligent, and customer-centric experience powered by advanced technologies, integrated automation, operational intelligence, and seamless connectivity across airport systems and transport networks.”
Dubai’s current main airport, Dubai International (DXB) is a key travel hub for people travelling to the emirate and for stopovers between Europe and Asia.
It held the status of the second busiest airport in the world in 2025, with 95.2 million passengers passing through.
After the UAE lifted restrictions on airspace, Dubai Airports said it has entered a recovery phase by increasing daily flights and enabling airlines to restore schedules as much as neighbouring airspaces allow.
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