Congratulations to Emily Robinson, historian and professor at the University of Sussex, who is our 2026 winner of The Conversation Prize for writers for her entry on Ravenser Odd, the sunken medieval island that continues to inspire and obsess.
Now in its second year, the prize invites academics to submit a 2,000-word article and book pitch. The competition is run in partnership with Faber and Curtis Brown, with the winner receiving mentorship from both organisations and £1,000.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered this year. The standard was very high and it was very difficult to pick just one winner and one runner up.
We are particularly grateful to our judges: Catherine Clarke, professor and director of the Centre for the History of People, Place and Community at the Institute of Historical Research; Tim Minshall, the inaugural Dr John C. Taylor professor of innovation at the University of Cambridge; and Steven Vass, senior editor for Science Insights at The Conversation. Also to Fiona Crosby, senior commissioning editor for non-fiction at Faber, and Elliot Prior, associate agent at Curtis Brown.
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The judges said: “After much deliberation, the judges have unanimously selected Emily’s article on Ravenser Odd as the winner of the competition. It tells the hugely intriguing story of a mysterious island in the Humber in the 13th century that then disappeared beneath the waves.
Her story does a lovely job of taking the reader on the writer’s journey to this remote corner of England, as well as exploring the fascination with the folklore of the island. The judges thought it would make a beautiful book with broad appeal that feels particularly timely in light of the threat of climate change.”
Emily said: “Entering the Conversation Prize helped me to really focus on why this story fascinates me. I’m now looking forward to working with the mentors and working out how to make it equally fascinating to other people.”
Emily is a historian of political ideas, identities and cultures in modern Britain, with a particular interest in the way that both time and feeling are conceived within different ideological traditions. Her current research focuses on popular understandings of history, and changing cultures of history-telling through the example of Ravenser Odd.
The judges said: “Alison’s entry focuses on a much overlooked part of Ireland’s story: all the marriages that straddled the religious divide and how they affected the lives of these people and their families.”
The judges “commended the quality of the writing in Alison’s story, and the case studies that told of everything from houses being burned to mothers sidelined in their children’s baptisms. This has the potential to become a fascinating and important book.”
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Alison said: “This is such a vital part of the Irish story, and it just doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It is a real privilege and joy to be able to share these histories. Through this project, I’ve talked to huge numbers of people, in Ireland and beyond, about mixed marriages and mixed families. I wanted to see whether there was a broader readership for this work and I’m absolutely delighted that taking that chance has brought this neglected intimate history to a wider audience.‘
The cast of the Celebrity Traitors have already discovered a non-faithful in their midst – the BBC show’s photoshop department.
Maya Jama, 32, and Rob Beckett, two of the 21 stars of the upcoming series, have been left outraged after the BBC released their official headshots for the show this week.
Comedian Rob, 40, took umbrage at his portrait, which features him with a bemused smile on his face.
Sharing the snap to Instagram, Rob declared: ‘I think there’s a traitor in the photoshop department…. what the f**k has happened to my face.’
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The post prompted his co-star Maya, who is perhaps more used to her glam Love Island photos, to reply with a string of laughing face emojis as she told him ‘they did us all dirty tbh’.
Rob’s wife, the writer Lou Beckett, saw the funny side, telling him: ‘Our wedding photos are about to get a glow up. I’m using AI to replace you in every photo in the house with this one.’
Maya Jama and the cast of the Celebrity Traitors have already discovered a non-faithful in their midst – the BBC show’s photoshop department
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Maya and Rob Beckett, who star on the upcoming series, have been left outraged after the BBC released their official headshots for the show this week
Rob’s close pal and fellow comedian Lloyd Griffith meanwhile decided: ‘you look like you’ve found God’.
The new series of Celebrity Traitors will begin on October 1, the BBC revealed last week.
Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha’la, Professor Hannah Fry, Richard E Grant, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft and Sharon Rooney complete the line up.
A new explosive trailer released last week showed the stars meeting each other for the first time at the iconic castle as host Claudia declared: ‘The game is on!’
A trailer hinted at the difficult tasks the group had to endure with an exploding pirate ship as the stars have to try and build up the £100,000 cash prize for a chosen charity.
The new trailer showed the players arriving to the castle in their swanky cars before heading to a church as they all take their seats for the first task.
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Maya then quipped to her fellow players: ‘If this is the last time we are all friends, then good luck!’
The teaser then cut to the first tense Round Table as Claudia told them: ‘I have chosen my Traitors. The game is on!’
Comedian Rob took umbrage at his portrait, which features him with a bemused-smile on his face, prompting Maya to comment about her photo
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Rob’s wife, the writer Lou Beckett saw the funny side, telling him: ‘Our wedding photos are about to get a glow up. I’m using AI to replace you in every photo in the house with this one’
The new series of Celebrity Traitors will begin on October 1, the BBC revealed last week
She added: ‘There are now killers among you. People are out there to deceive. Fame won’t save them.’
The series will begin with an extra-long opening episode and the launch night will also see a new bonus special airing.
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Traitor or Faithful? Claudia Decides will be available on October 1 from 9.15pm on BBC iPlayer. Viewers will find out how Claudia chooses her Traitors in the one-off special.
The regular series episodes will air two nights a week on Thursday and Friday evenings at 8pm.
Jerry Hall, 70, rose to fame in the Seventies and became one of the era’s most recognisable fashion icons
Richard E Grant
Richard E Grant, 69, celebrated for his roles in everything from cult classic Withnail & I to modern flicks such as Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
James Blunt
James Blunt, 52, shot to global fame with his debut album and the hit single ‘You’re Beautiful’
Ross Kemp
Ross Kemp, 62, who recently returned to EastEnders to reprise his role as hardman Grant Mitchell, is said to be wanting to ‘challenge himself’
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Michael Sheen
Michael Sheen, 57, is celebrated for his incredible performances across stage and screen, particularly his work in Good Omens and The Queen
Rob Beckett
Best friend of fellow Traitors star Romesh, comedian Rob Beckett, 40, is known for his high-energy and booming laugh
Sharon Rooney
Sharon Rooney, 37, is best known for her breakout role as Rae Earl in the acclaimed series My Mad Fat Diary
Joanne McNally
Joanne McNally, 43, is known for her brutally honest humour and hilarious takes on dating, chaos, and modern life
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Amol Rajan
Journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, 43, has carved out a successful career across major UK media, including radio and television
King Kenny
King Kenny, 29, is a content creator known for prank videos and street-style social experiments
Sebastian Croft
Sebastian Croft, 24, is best known for his breakout role as Ben Hope in the Netflix series Heartstopper
Maya Jama
Maya Jama, 32, is quickly becoming one of the UK’s most popular stars and famously fronts Love Island
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Miranda Hart
Miranda Hart, 53, broke through with her hit sitcom Miranda which became a resounding success and cemented her as a comedy legend
Romesh Ranganathan
Romesh Ranganathan, 48, has been taking British TV by storm in recent years is known for his deadpan delivery
James Acaster
Comedian James Acaster, 41, is good friends with Ed Gamble who hosts The Traitors: Uncloaked. The duo present the hit food podcast Off Menu
Bella Ramsey
Bella Ramsey, 22, rose to fame as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones and gained global acclaim for their leading role in The Last Of Us
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Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 34, is known as a member of the girl group Little Mix, who found fame on The X Factor in 2011
Joe Lycett
From TV stunts to clever public pranks, Joe Lycett, 38, has built a reputation as one of Britain’s most inventive comics
Hannah Fry
Mathematician and broadcaster Hannah Fry, 42, is known for turning complex data into content which is engaging to viewers
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Julie Hesmondhalgh, 56, is best known for her long-running role as Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street – the first transgender character in a British soap opera
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Myha’la
Myha’la, 30, is known for her striking portrayal of brutal fintech expert Harper Stern in the HBO drama Industry
Due to high demand from fans for tickets for Oasis Live 27, extra shows have been announced at Knebworth on September 25 and 26, Rome’s Olympic Stadium on July 26 and Munich’s Allianz Arena on July 6.
Alongside this, Oasis will now play Paris on July 20 and 23 because of railway engineering works near the Stade de France venue on July 24.
With the additional dates, Oasis Live 27 will see the band play 42 shows in Scotland, England, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Italy, the US and Ireland.
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There will be no further dates added to the tour.
Registration for fans wanting to purchase tickets is now closed.
Successful applicants who have already signed up will be sent a unique, non-transferable code to access an allocated on-sale window.
In the UK, ticket sales will take place on September 25, 26 and 27, with three selling windows each day.
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Fans will be informed directly which window they can access, and at what time.
The registration process is the only public way to buy tickets. There will be no general sale or other public presales.
Last week, Oasis Live 27 promoters announced a new approach to live music at Knebworth.
There will be additional transport and accommodation provisions at the Hertfordshire venue, including rail and coach options, as well as a purpose-built campsite village.
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Fans are advised not to drive to Knebworth and to instead consider the transport options provided.
The band played two concerts at the venue in August 1996, to an audience of more than 100,000 each night.
Noel Gallagher has ruled out making new music, despite the latest tour.
He told Talksport: “There won’t be any new music, no.”
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Asked again about new music, he replied “nah”, and then replied “I don’t know” when questioned whether the band would continue beyond the tour next summer.
Asked when the band decided to do another tour, Gallagher added: “It was after about the second Wembley show.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned French President Emmanuel Macron after he criticised Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank during his address to the UN General Assembly.
“Look at what’s happening in the West Bank, where day in, day out, we are seeing violations. And in the name of what? Hamas was never very active in the West Bank,” Macron said in French, according to the UN’s interpreter.
Netanyahu called the remarks a “grotesque absurdity” and said members of the Palestinian armed group there “carry out attacks against Jews almost every day”.
There was no response from Macron’s office, but one French diplomatic source said there had been a “misinterpretation”.
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The source told the Jerusalem Post, external that the meaning of the French sentence spoken by the president, “Le Hamas n’a jamais sévi en Cisjordanie,” was, “Hamas has never governed the West Bank.”
Macron also rejected US President Donald Trump’s assertion that he had ended the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Violence there has continued despite last October’s ceasefire, including almost daily Israeli strikes, while humanitarian conditions remain dire
“Some boast of a supposed peace. But that peace has not reopened humanitarian access for a single second,” he said. “Are we simply to stand by and watch this spectacle that should shame us all?”
After the address, the Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement: “The grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron’s statement is staggering.”
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“On Sunday, the eve of [the Jewish holy day of] Yom Kippur, just two days ago, Netanel Shukrun – a French citizen and father of six – was murdered in his car by a Hamas terrorist in Judea and Samaria,” it added, using a biblical term for the West Bank.
“Hamas terrorists carry out attacks against Jews almost every day. They have murdered countless Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria.”
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, also denounced Macron’s remarks as “out of touch with reality”.
Shukrun, 36, was shot dead when a Palestinian opened fire on a group of Israelis at a spring near the West Bank settlement of Neve Tzuf, according to Israeli police. The suspect was arrested later at a hospital in the city of Ramallah, they said.
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Hamas praised the attack but did not say it was behind it.
The group – which is designated as a terrorist organisation by Israel, France and other countries – is a rival of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank that are not under Israeli control.
Israel has built about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem – land Palestinians want, along with Gaza, for a hoped-for future state – during the 1967 Middle East war. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians live alongside them.
The settlements are illegal under international law.
A former teacher accused of raping three women over a 20-year period is giving evidence at his trial for a second day.
Daniel Gravell is alleged to have raped a teenager at his home in 2001, to have raped a second teenager outside a rugby club in 2005, and to have raped a third woman in a hotel bedroom in 2021.
The 45-year-old defendant denies the allegations, and is on trial at Swansea Crown Court. Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter
It is the prosecution case that the 2001 allegation involves a woman who Gravell met on a night out in Carmarthen town centre in the summer of that year. It is said the pair went back to the defendant’s house in nearby Johnston where they engaged in consensual kissing before the woman said she was on her period. The prosecution said at that point Gravell “yanked out” the woman’s tampon and raped her.
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The second alleged rape is said to have happened in Carmarthen town centre in the summer of 2005 after Gravell met a teenager outside the Rose and Crown pub on Lammas Street. The court was told that he took her down an alley to the clubhouse of Carmarthen Athletic rugby club where he raped her.
The prosecution said the third alleged rape happened in 2021 and involved a woman the defendant had met on Facebook. It is alleged that when the pair met the defendant drove her to the Baltic Inn hotel in Ponyates, which Gravell was running at the time, and raped her in a bedroom.
Beginning his evidence on Tuesday, the defendant told the court that he grew up in Carmarthen where he attended the local Queen Elizabeth Maridunum School and played rugby for Carmarthen Athletic before going to Cardiff University in September 2001 and training to be a teacher. The defendant said he probably had a reputation around Carmarthen for “sleeping with a lot of girls”.
In response to questions from his barrister Julia Flanagan, Gravell denied the 2001 incident happened at all saying the woman making the allegation had never even been to his house. He denied giving the woman a sexually transmitted disease.
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Questioned about the 2005 allegation, Gravell said he met the complainant outside the Rose and Crown pub on Lammas Street in Carmarthen town centre and said they had chatted for around 10 minutes. He described their conversation as “flirty”. The defendant said the pair later had consensual sex.
Asked by his barrister if he was “surprised” to be having sex with someone he had met just 15-20 minutes before, he replied it was “unexpected but not unwelcome” adding it was “not uncommon” for him to have sex with women he had not known for long.
The defendant was also asked about the aftermath of a 2016 trial when he was found not guilty of rape. He told the court he had “naively” thought he would be able to get back to teaching and to a normal life, but he said things were “horrendous” with messages posted about him online, his car vandalised, death threats made, and “Dan G rapist” sprayed around Carmarthen.
The defendant will return to the witness box this morning to continue giving evidence.
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Daniel Clive Gravell, of Porth-y-Plas, Johnstown, Carmarthen, denies indecent assault and three counts of rape, and the trial continues.
You can follow today’s evidence on our live court blog below:
Victoria Beckham famously had a viral moment in husband David’s 2023 Netflix show when she claimed to have been raised a ‘working-class girl’ before he reminded her she was driven to school in a Rolls-Royce.
And now it looks like Coleen Rooney, 40, is about to have her own viral moment in her new Disney reality documentary, The Real Rooneys, which airs on Thursday.
In a hilarious new two-and-a-half minute clip, released on Wednesday, Coleen talked about how things are going after Wayne was sacked as football manager for Plymouth Argyle back in 2024.
This changed in lifestyle has freed Coleen to embrace the biggest opportunities of her career, including designing her own Primark range and appearing in I’m A Celebrity two years ago.
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‘It’s nice, just having time for me,’ she said in the new clip, as her son Cass, eight, screams, ‘MUM’ in a comically-timed moment.
He asked her what’s for dinner and Coleen shouted back: ‘Spaghetti bolognese’, before questioning why he didn’t think to ask his dad first and laughing.
Coleen Rooney’s son Cass shouted ‘what’s for dinner, mum?’ as he interrupted her when she was saying she ‘finally’ has time for herself in a hilarious new clip from her new Disney Show, The Real Rooneys, which airs on Thursday
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The mum-of-four shouted back at Cass: ‘Spaghetti bolognese’, before questioning why her youngest son didn’t think to ask his dad Wayne first
The clip proves Wayne is just like one of the kids as he chomped on a packet of Haribo sweets and said: ‘Does anyone like the eggs in these? I used to put the rings on when I was younger’
Wayne also encouraged his boys to destroy the lawn by doing doughnuts in buggies and telling them he will blame them when their mum finds out what has gone on
During the clip, Coleen, Wayne and their ‘wild’ four sons, Kai, 16, Klay, 13, Kit, 10, and Cass give a glimpse at their chaotic daily family life as they opened the doors to their ‘dream’ home in Cheshire.
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Coleen said: ‘Life’s been turned on its head,’ while talking about Wayne’s sacking.
His former team suffered a run of nine defeats in 15 games in 2024 during his seven-month tenure.
The upcoming 10-episode documentary series covers a pivotal year in the Rooney household, as Wayne steps away from football management, swapping the touchline for school runs.
The clip proves Wayne is just like one of the kids as he chomped on a packet of mixed Haribo sweets and said: ‘Does anyone like the eggs in these? I used to put the rings on when I was younger,’ as he placed one on his finger.
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He also encourages his boys to destroy the lawn by doing doughnuts in buggies and telling them he will blame them when their mum finds out what has gone on.
It’s clear that Coleen is the sensible one in the family.
Talking about their incredible Cheshire mansion, she said: ‘This house is everything I dreamed of as a little girl. You draw a house with a door in the middle and windows on both sides.’
Wayne then starts singing Blur song Country House as Coleen playfully rolls her eyes.
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Scooting across her lawn on her own scooter Coleen joked: ‘The only problem is, we’ve got to share it with our four boys.
Coleen has been embracing the biggest opportunities of her career, including designing her own Primark range and appearing on I’m A Celebrity, where she came second
It’s clear that she is the sensible one in the family and talking about their Cheshire mansion, she said: ‘This house is everything I dreamed of as a little girl’
Wayne was sacked as football manager for Plymouth Argyle after a run of nine defeats in 15 games in 2024 after a seven-month stint and Coleen said: ‘Life’s been turned on its head’
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Scooting across her lawn, Coleen said: ‘The only problem is, we’ve got to share [our dream home] with our four boys’
With unprecedented access, the series follows the family through the highs and lows of married life, raising four lively boys, and supporting eldest son Kai as he pursues his own footballing dream
Victoria Beckham famously had her own viral moment in husband David’s 2023 Netflix show when she claimed to have been raised a ‘working-class girl’ before he reminded her she was driven to school in a Rolls-Royce
She then added: ‘My priority has always been the kids, however, since the court case, [against Rebekah Vardy] and then the jungle, the boys have been proud of their dad for so long. It’s my turn now. It’s opened a lot of doors.’
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Then speaking about her Primark collaboration, Coleen said: ‘I’ve put my name to this range. The nerves are setting in,’ before the zip on her leather skirt breaks.
‘But I’m not the only one, whose life has been turned on its head,’ she said.
‘Was it always part of the plan?’ Wayne is asked.
‘Yeah, we spoke about her doing more work, but not about me getting sacked,’ he giggled.
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With unprecedented access, the series follows the family through the highs and lows of married life, raising four lively boys, and supporting eldest son Kai as he pursues his own footballing dream.
Along the way come surprising personal revelations, career-defining moments, lavish celebrations and unforgettable family holidays.
From their Cheshire home to the beaches of Barbados, Disneyland Paris and the snowy Alps, this is Britain’s most famous and private family as never seen before: warm, funny and authentic.
Viewers will be able to stream episodes 1-8 exclusively on Disney+ on September 24, with two special episodes available to stream on October 1.
If you’re looking to upgrade your mattress or replace your bedding ready for the colder months, we’ve found the latest Simba Sleep discount codes to help cut the cost of your next order.
Our deals experts verify and update our Simba Sleep offers daily, hand-testing each code and removing any expired promotions. This page is also refreshed regularly with the latest saving tips, to help you secure top deals.
Right now, Simba Sleep’s refurbished mattress section is the best place to look for savings. Prices for hybrid mattresses start at £219, offering an affordable way to try Simba’s premium sleep technology.
Each mattress is professionally cleaned, inspected and quality-checked before being resold. All the refurbished mattresses are covered by Simba’s one-year guarantee and offer a 30-night trial.
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If you want to buy new, students and keyworkers can get up to 26 per cent off Simba products, including bedding and mattresses. To unlock this saving, all you need to do is verify your eligibility through the Simba Sleep website.
Best Simba Sleep deals and ways to save
Using a Simba voucher code is an easy way to knock money off your total. However, these aren’t always available, so we’ve found all the ways you can save on your next Simba order.
Simba mattress sales
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Occasionally, Simba holds seasonal sales with up to 25 per cent off sleep essentials, including mattresses, pillows, duvets and bedding. You’ll usually see these limited-time promotions during key shopping periods such as Black Friday, January sales and bank holidays.
To make sure you never miss out on a sale, sign up to Simba’s newsletter or check this article for updates.
Simba Sleep refurbished mattresses
If saving money is more of a priority than free extras, consider Simba Sleep’s refurbished mattresses. These renewed mattresses are renovated with new materials and deep cleaned to hospital standards, according to Simba Sleep.
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This is one of the best ways to save if no Simba voucher code is available to you. Plus, for extra peace of mind, your refurbished mattress is guaranteed for one year, with a full replacement sent should anything go wrong and the fault meet the brand’s replacement criteria.
Simba Sleep student and keyworker discount
Simba Sleep offers a 26 per cent discount for keyworkers, students and charity workers. All you need to do is verify your eligibility, and you’ll receive exclusive promo codes to use on your next purchase.
Individuals who qualify for this discount include:
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NHS and healthcare workers
Social workers
Military staff
Teachers
Charity workers
Students
18- to 25-year-olds
Carers
Simba Sleep refer a friend scheme
You and a friend can benefit from Simba’s referral scheme, with two free AeroDown pillows for you and two for your friend when they make their first purchase with Simba. Simply register using your email address to get your referral link and start sharing.
Remember that your friend must make their purchase through your referral link for the saving to work. The offer also only applies to orders of more than £300.
Snap up free gifts with your order (Simba Sleep)
Free delivery on Simba Sleep orders
Simba offers free delivery to most UK postcodes. Depending on your order, this may be a one-person delivery to your door or a two-person delivery to a room of your choice. Delivery is usually available next day but may take between three to five days during sale periods.
If you’d rather choose your delivery slot or need your mattress on a specific date, named-day delivery is available for £10. You can also add the mattress setup and responsible packaging removal service for another £10.
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Best Simba mattresses tested by our IndyBest team
As part of our review of the best mattresses 2026, the IndyBest team has tested the Simba hybrid essential, hybrid pro and hybrid luxe mattresses. Based on our testing, we think the hybrid essential offers the best value for most sleepers, while the hybrid luxe is worth considering when heavily discounted during seasonal sales.
New Simba mattresses come with a 200-night trial and a 10-year guarantee, giving you plenty of time to test out your new mattress at home. Refurbished mattresses come with a 30-night trial and a one-year guarantee.
Consumer writer, Fran Watts, tested the Simba hybrid pro mattress (Fran Watts/The Independent)
Why choose a Simba Sleep mattress?
Simba Sleep 200-night trial and free returns
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Simba Sleep offers flexible delivery, long trial periods and generous guarantees, making it easier to buy with confidence.
Simba offers a generous 200-night and free returns, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide whether you’re happy with your new mattress and pillows.
Simba Sleep 10-year guarantee
Simba’s 10-year guarantee gives you peace of mind that if your product fails during that time, it will swap it for a brand-new one. Keep in mind this doesn’t cover ordinary wear and tear or soiled items. However, if it’s a fault such as cracked foam, a broken zip or significant dipping, you may be eligible for a swap.
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Try your mattress out for up to 200 nights (Simba Sleep)
Helpful FAQs
How do I redeem a Simba Sleep voucher code?
Once you have found the offer you want to use, click the “see code” button to reveal the voucher code and copy it. You will then be redirected automatically to the Simba Sleep homepage, or you can head back to your shopping cart in another tab. When you continue to checkout, you will see a designated “discount code” box – paste your code here and click “apply”.
How can I save with Simba Sleep’s referral programme?
Right now, if you refer a friend to Simba Sleep, you’ll both receive two AeroDown pillows for free when they make a qualifying purchase.
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Does Simba offer free returns?
Yes, with Simba’s 200-night trial period, you can return the mattress for free if you decide it isn’t right for you.
Is there a Simba student discount?
Simba Sleep offers a sitewide discount of up to 26 per cent for students and young people aged 18-25. To get this offer, you just need to verify your student status or age through the Simba Sleep website.
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Can I combine Simba Sleep promo codes?
You can only apply one Simba Sleep promo code per order, but these can often be stacked with on-site sales. Remember to check the terms and conditions of the code to ensure sale items aren’t excluded.
Does Simba Sleep have sales?
Simba Sleep occasionally runs seasonal sales and promotions. In the past, we’ve seen discounts of up to 25 per cent on bestselling products, including the brand’s popular hybrid mattresses. Along with money-off deals, Simba has also been known to offer freebies such as pillows and mattress protectors with selected orders.
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Can I get an NHS discount for Simba Sleep?
Yes, Simba currently offers 26 per cent off everything for keyworkers, including NHS staff, social workers, military personnel, teachers and charity workers. All you need to do to unlock the discount is verify your eligibility on the Simba Sleep website.
How we source the best Simba deals
Deputy IndyBest editor Sabrina Sahota (along with The Independent’s team of deal-hunters) is dedicated to finding you the best savings. As Simba is an IndyBest tried-and-tested brand, we’re always on the hunt for ways to help you shop Simba Sleep products for less.
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Our team of deal-hunters search online and through Simba Sleep’s own promotions to bring together the latest discount codes, sales and bundle offers in one place. We review and update this page each week to ensure our readers are getting the latest offers. We also hand-test each discount code and promotion daily, making sure to remove any expired offers and add new ones as they become available.
Why you can trust us
Here at The Independent, we’re dedicated to helping you shop savvily. We only bring you deals from brands that we love and trust, with tried-and-tested reviews on as many products as possible. To sift through dud deals out there, our team of deal-hunters uses their expertise to find the best savings on the best-sellers, trending products and worthy investments.
*Offers are updated daily by our in-house deals team. Check the Simba Sleep website to full terms and conditions of promotions and discounts
The most sustainable smartphone is the one you currently own. An estimated 80% of your phone’s negative impact on the environment happens before the first minute of use – before it is even unboxed.
One smartphone contains more than 70 raw materials and more than 50 metals. Many of these need to be mined from the Earth. A standard 200g phone involves extracting resources from more than 200kg of raw materials. That’s equivalent to the weight of 200 standard bags of sugar, 100 bricks or one adult grizzly bear.
Many of your phone’s critical raw materials are only found in a handful of places. That means control over those materials matters both economically and politically, creating geopolitical tensions, fragile supply chains, and competition for access. This can fuel conflict.
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In short, behind the phone in your hand sits a story that involves environmental damage, pollution, human rights violation and dangerous geopolitics.
Experts explain the complexities of mining metals for electronic products such as smartphones.
A recent survey of 6,000 adults in six countries (the UK, US, France, Germany, Spain and Japan) found that more than half could not name a single raw material in their smartphone. The survey, commissioned by Back Market (a global tech refurbishment company), found that only one in four people feel confident they know what goes into their phone. Seven in ten have never thought to investigate the origins of the device they use every day.
Awareness of the consequences of mining can influence consumers’ decisions. Seven in ten people surveyed said child labour would make them less likely to buy a new phone, while nearly two-thirds are interested in seeing how materials are extracted and processed.
Mine My Phone is an online hub based on real data. Mine My Phone
To tackle this gap in awareness, Back Market collaborated with nine international experts, including me, to help build Mine My Phone. This open-access digital hub maps global extraction sites and connects them to the ten key metals inside smartphones: cobalt, lithium, tantalum, gallium, graphite, gold, tin, copper, indium and rare earth elements.
You can use this map to trace your phone’s materials back to their sources. Content can be filtered by type of impact (such as environmental, human or geopolitical), and there are also expert interviews and investigative reports into the conditions found at mining sites around the world.
The metallic element cobalt is an essential component of almost all mobile phone batteries, for example. Some of the cobalt in your phone could have been mined by children as young as six.
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Extracting cobalt relies on two very different methods: industrial open-pit mines, which use heavy machinery to break through the earth and pull up the minerals, and artisanal mines, where workers dig by hand with crude tools, with little protective equipment.
DRC possesses 50% of the world’s cobalt reserves, and most of what is mined gets shipped to China. There, more than 75% of the global supply of cobalt is refined into pure cobalt, to be used in mobile phones or electric vehicle batteries.
Mine My Phone aims to empower consumers so they can lobby governments all over the world to regulate the technology industry – so that smartphones are built to be upgradable, repairable, re-usable and recyclable.
The smartphone industry needs to change. While some companies are already building new profit models, such as Dutch company Fairphone’s modular designs, the industry’s big players are yet to engage.
Cars last between 12 and 28 years. Smartphones should last for at least ten years.
To avoid unnecessary waste, phones need to be upgradable. In terms of technology, we should be able to put in faster processors or better cameras. When it comes to software, we need guaranteed support for phones for at least ten years.
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Phones need to be repairable so that cracked screens, broken electronics and failing batteries can all be replaced easily. More phones could be made to be reusable, just like used cars.
By designing smartphones that are easier to recycle, all their valuable raw materials can be extracted and re-used, rather than typically ending up in landfill in a developing country. Every gram of metal recovered is one less kilogram of rock that has to be dug up.
Keely Hodgkinson will be banned from wearing her all-black Nike catsuit at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 due to Team GB‘s sponsorship rules.
The reigning 800-metre Olympic champion donned the ensemble, which pulled over her head and covered her in the sleek material from palms to ankles – except for her almost entirely bare back – for the first time at Athlos in London last week.
She crossed the finish line in one minute 56.40 seconds to mark Athlos’ debut on the international stage with a commanding win.
The one-of-a-kind super suit, which seemingly takes inspiration from Cathy Freeman’s iconic Sydney 2000 number, was engineered by Nike specifically for Hodgkinson.
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When asked if she and all her competitors will be wearing the style in LA in two years’ time, Hodgkinson gave an answer that suggested it could be a possibility.
‘We might know some things that people don’t,’ the track star said. ‘It was a test out there. This is not something we haven’t seen before.’
Keely Hodgkinson will not be allowed to wear her all-black Nike catsuit at the Olympics in 2028
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Hodgkinson wore the suit for the first time at Athlos in London last week and won the 800m
However, unless Nike’s biggest rival, Adidas, knocks up a bespoke version for Hodgkinson ahead of the Games in the United States, then the 24-year-old will not be able to wear such a suit to defend her title.
This is due to Team GB’s longstanding partnership with the German sportswear manufacturer, which spans back to the last Olympics that was held in LA, 42 years ago.
British athletes are required to wear the team racing kit, which is designed by Adidas, when competing for the nation at the Games. ‘Technical’ kit, such as running spikes, are an exception to the rule.
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If Nike does roll out the full-body ‘Zero-Distraction Speed Suit’ to its other athletes, and World Athletics ratifies it for use at the Olympics, then Hodgkinson may indeed watch her competitors take to the track in the eye-catching black catsuit she brought back to life. But she wouldn’t be able to race them in it.
Team GB and Adidas are expected to continue their partnership at the famous multi-sport event in 2028.
A Team GB spokesperson said: ‘Supported by our partners and in tandem with our sports, we have always worked to provide athlete-centred and innovative kit that supports our teams to perform at their best at both the Summer and Winter Games.
Hodgkinson will once again have to wear Team GB’s Adidas kit at the Games in two years
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‘We’re confident and excited about what’s ahead and the developments we’re working towards for future Games, including Los Angeles 2028.’
Hodgkinson admitted she was a ‘little nervous’ to walk out in the speedsuit, which was completed by iridescent spikes, but felt the all-female Athlos meet – where she secured £50,000 in prize money for her win – was the ideal place to debut the ensemble.
Following her win, she said: ‘Cathy Freeman and some other athletes from a while ago did something like this, and this is the updated new version, with the new technology.
‘(Freeman) was before I was born, but I have seen the race and photos. It was really cool to draw inspiration from the past and make it your own as well. The style was a big thing for me.
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‘I wanted to be comfortable but I wanted to feel a little bit sexy, the back’s open and that makes it feel really cool. It feels like I’m wearing nothing to be honest. I trained in it in South Africa in 37-degree heat and it was OK.’
Disney’s Alex Scott-fronted Match of the Day-style show enrages fans as they chase woke viewers with a dog on set, rotating sofa, cucumber snack bar and influencer pundits
A new Match of the Day-style football show on Disney fronted by Alex Scott has left fans raging after a bizarre debut show on Tuesday evening.
The streaming platform launched ‘The Hangout’, with former Football Focus presenter Scott leading a punditry team of former footballer Lianne Sanderson and influencers Tyra Mills and Alex Bailess.
The aim of the programme was to bring analysis and reaction to the new season of the Women’s Champions League, but it came under fire for a chaotic launch show.
A move to appeal to Gen Z viewers seems to have been made, with discussions about pasta and cucumbers front and centre of its debut episode.
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An influencer dog named Barley was also introduced, with the animal asked to pick the winner of the Champions League through food.
The show featured a ‘watch party’ with Dutch twins Sanne and Merel van Dongen, with Sanne a former basketball player and Merel a footballer.
Disney’s new Women’s Champions League show came under fire for its debut episode
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Fans criticised the chaotic approach to the show, which featured influencers including a dog
One particular clip saw Scott throw the coverage to the duo, and they asked: ‘Do you want some cucumber?’
Scott replied ‘no, a drink,’ and was told that she might ‘get a Coca-Cola’ if she ‘continued doing her work’.
She was then told the water they had could have been vodka, with Barley also present for the watch party.
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Fans were left in disbelief at what was unfolding on social media, with one writing: ‘Disney said they were a brand and ran with it. They thought a revolving sofa and dog would keep the attention of the girls whilst watching the football and stuck an ad mid game because no one’s really watching. You get comments about how empty the stadiums are but how are we growing the game if it’s still being dressed up with a pink bow on the top?
‘Then bored men with no club football will s**g it off because some football account is making fun of it.
‘If we like women’s football, we like it for the game, for the players, for their skill, our clubs. JUST like you would for a men’s game. Disney, the fans of women’s football do not need cute, we’d love impartial analysis, post-match interviews with the team that’s played and less dog.’
Another added: ‘Sorry the dog in the Disney studio for the UWCL coverage is finishing me like am I watching the coverage for the football or Crufts?’
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There was no explanation for why Barley was on the show, though his 137,000 Instagram followers were mentioned.
Barley the dog has 177,000 followers on Instagram but was left scared while on the show
Dutch twins Sanne and Merel van Dongen spoke about cucumber and alcohol on the show
The dog seemed scared by the rotating floor, which was used to move the punditry team from their spot for half-time analysis to the watch party. Barley ran off but was offered pretzels to return.
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The platform also came under fire for showing adverts during the action. One fan on social media posted: ‘Disney + just showing an advert mid champions league game is diabolical.’
Viewers were able to choose what game they wanted to watch, and a three-minute round of adverts was shown during the second-half of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over HB Koge.
Daily Mail Sport understands the adverts shown during the action was not an intended interruption and instead was a technical difficulty and that there are no plans at present to make wholesale changes to the show.
Disney have had the rights to the competition for two years now, with The Hangout new for this year. Live from 5.30pm to 10.30pm, Scott will rotate presenting duties with Shebahn Aherne.
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, shared an adorable moment with a little girl who stopped to curtsy at her, and she’d clearly been practising the move for ages at home
Danielle Kate Wroe Senior Social News Reporter
11:15, 23 Sep 2026
Kate Middleton shared an adorably tender moment with a fan – and people have been fawning over how cute it was. Many royal watchers also appreciated how graceful the Princess of Wales is as she gave time to the young girl.
Looking absolutely breathtaking in a deep plum, plunge-neckline, floor-length gown, Princess Kate can be seen rounding the corner towards some children who wanted to meet her. She’s beaming from ear to ear when she saw them both, as she made her way closer to them. The princess looked genuinely excited to meet her fans, and Prince William was also standing beaming by her side.
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However, it was clearly the beautiful princess the little girls wanted to meet, as the first child she came to thrust her hand out excitedly to give something to her.
The little girl, who was dressed in a very sweet, formal dress, gave Princess Kate the gift, and then proceeded to curtsy in front of her – and it was clearly something she’d been practising in her bedroom for a very long time.
The royals had a chat with the little girl, and although the video didn’t quite capture what they were discussing, it was clear the youngster was awestruck.
People noticed that Princess Kate always gives people the time of day, no matter how young, because she just oozes kindness.
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Next to her, was another little girl, patiently waiting for her turn to speak to the princess, and more importantly, to give her the flowers that she had brought for her.
Sharing the video on X, a woman wrote: “I cannot stop watching this beautiful moment. The little girl’s sweet curtsy, the flowers, and Catherine’s delighted reaction – it was absolutely precious.
“This is the magic of meeting a real-life princess. Catherine never rushes children – she makes them feel as though they are the most important person in the room. Absolutely beautiful.”
In the comments, people said how “cute” the little girls were. One wrote: “That little girl’s curtsy is absolutely adorable. I bet she practised that hundreds of times.”
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Another said: “Immense joy watching these two little cutie pies! Such sweetness and what a fabulous curtsey! Their rehearsals were so lovely to watch, too! Look how happy these THREE Princesses are greeting each other. Their parents must be beaming with pride, cherishing these moments.”
Somebody else even pointed out that “purple is her colour” as she looked beautiful in the gown, and they shared more pictures of Princess Kate wearing this amazing shade in the past.
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