It’s difficult to imagine the landscape of British pop culture without Lily Allen, one of its most influential and, at times, divisive figures. She’s been making headlines since the release of her debut album Alright, Still in 2006, and now, 20 years later, she continues to exorcise her demons in public, for her latest record West End Girl.

West End Girl is a ferociously candid account of the ruptures and revelations leading to the collapse of a marriage. It is her big comeback, her renaissance, and it has been met with widespread acclaim — praised for its storytelling and Allen’s trademark candour. The Independent’s review called it a “brutal, tell-all masterpiece”.

Tonight, Allen performs it in full at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, the opening show of a tour of UK theatres and her first proper live gig in seven years. It feels like an unconventional venue for a pop star, but what lies ahead is more like a one-woman play. Allen turns out to be her own support act, in a way, as three cellists play instrumental versions of her biggest hits. This karaoke session is messy, awkward and delightful, a singalong pub affair chanting “f*** you very, very much”. It is the prologue before ACT I begins.

The setlist unfolds in the same order as the album itself. We begin with the title track, “West End Girl”; strobe lights flash as Allen appears in a staged apartment scene, complete with shag carpet. Each song unfolds in this intimate setting, with the music played on a backing track paired with Allen’s crystalline vocals. There is a certain coyness to the delivery of her paradoxically confronting lyrics, the pain and heartbreak almost Disneyfied – “my marriage has been open since my husband went astray” – as she modestly sways between lamp fixtures to the synth-pop of “Dallas Major”.

The theatre direction of this tour somewhat confines Allen when it comes to any sense of spontaneity, yet her superb storytelling and stage presence make for a captivating watch – the jaunty song arrangements and subtle humour soften the blow of each song’s dark truth. Phone torches illuminate the concert hall as she reaches her penultimate song, “Let You W/In”, the audience serving as spectators to Allen’s reclamation.

It is absolutely no surprise that Allen is currently in talks to modify West End Girl into a proper stage play. Her tour shows it’s almost there already, a blend of concert and play, in which Allen plays the starring role. It takes real skill to transform cataclysmic hurt and betrayal into something so dazzling.

If you’re a Great British Sewing Bee fan, you might remember my face. I’m Annie Phillips. I won the 2022 series of the show and now I sew for a living. I divide my time between running my own fashion house (Made by Annie) and leading upcycling workshops to breathe new life back into your wardrobe. I’ve even written a book on the subject called Upcycle: A Modern Maker’s Guide to Sewing and Mending a Preloved Wardrobe.

Some of the people who sign up for my classes have never used a sewing machine before, while others are more experienced, but most are coming for the same reason. They’ve fallen out of love with their wardrobe, but they can’t bring themselves to buy new clothes when their old ones still have so much wear.

If that sounds like you, then you should try your hand at upcycling. It’s just another word for the “make do and mend” ethos that has inspired generations of sewers. Here are my top tips for first-timers. You can see all the garments behind my advice in this short video:

Watson had appeared unsteady in the aftermath of the collision, failing in an initial attempt to stand from a kneeling position.

Jack Nowell replaced Watson as he was assessed for signs of concussion, but six minutes later, Watson jogged back on to the pitch and proceeded to play the remainder of the Lions’ 24-21 win.

Watson also played 72 minutes of the drawn series decider at Eden Park seven days later.

The recall element of the head injury assessment has since changed.

Instead of being asked to recall a set list of five words, with results compared to a baseline set when unimpaired at the start of the season, a random sequence is generated from a bank of 20 different words for each assessment.

Players are penalised for incorrect answers, meaning learning and repeating all 20 would result in a fail.

Watson’s fellow England wing Jonny May admitted in 2019 that, after a head knock in a game against Wales, he had tried, and failed, to pass the same part of the test by repeating words., external

Players are also tested on their balance and orientation, and have to pass all elements of the assessment to return to play.

Independent doctors also review video replays and data from smart mouthguards to review collisions. In rare cases they can overrule the results of an assessment if they still have concerns about a player’s performance in it or there was an error in administering it.

Whether players pass and return to action, or fail and are removed, they will continue to be assessed in the hours and days that follow.

The Good Food Easter Taste Awards has named the best Easter eggs on supermarket shelves this year

The finest Easter egg available in shops this year has been officially crowned by culinary specialists. With Easter rapidly drawing near, chocolate enthusiasts will be eager to discover which delectable treat has claimed this prestigious accolade.

According to expert panellists from the Good Food Easter Taste Awards, this specific milk chocolate offering emerged victorious following a blind tasting session featuring over 100 chocolate products. The highest-scoring egg wowed judges with its taste, consistency and seasonal charm.

How the assessment was carried out

To run their awards, Good Food invited nine supermarkets to submit their finest Easter products spanning 13 categories. Every item was sampled blind, with wrapping stripped away to guarantee fairness.

Panellists provided feedback and ratings out of 10 for each entry via anonymous digital forms, with the whole procedure was supervised by an independent moderator.

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What claimed top spot?

Aldi’s Moser Roth Millionaire Overload Egg, retailing at £8.49, has triumphed in the milk chocolate egg category. The culinary specialists noted: “This drama-filled half-egg is a super-indulgent Easter treat.

“There’s a lot going on inside to channel the flavours of millionaire’s shortbread: a generous layer of sweet caramel and plenty of crunchy, buttery shortbread pieces inside a super-thick milk chocolate shell – which is sprayed gold for a little extra Easter glitz.”

The cost might leave many reeling, given Aldi’s reputation for wallet-friendly pricing. Nevertheless, numerous Easter eggs appearing on supermarket shelves this year are becoming more expensive, according to The Guardian.

Assistant editor Samantha Bartlett from The Mirror recently visited a supermarket and was left stunned by Easter Egg pricing. She noted: “I had to do a double-take when I saw that the supermarket wanted an eye-watering £16 for its Maltesers Crunchy Milk Chocolate Easter Egg. Yes, you read that correctly.”

Samantha added: “I understand that different Easter eggs have a higher or lower price point, but I’ve never considered Maltesers and Mars (the company who make them) to be a luxury brand, so I was stunned to see it was so expensive.

“It wasn’t just the Maltesers Easter egg too that was costly, the Toblerone ‘Egdy Egg’ is also a whopping £15.50, as is the Cadbury Dairy Milk Chunky Ultimate Egg and the Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff Egg.”

Easter eggs are also experiencing a reduction in size owing to soaring cocoa prices, which are driving a “fresh wave of shrinkflation”.

This occurs when products become smaller. Toothpaste, coffee and even indigestion remedies are amongst the latest items to be affected.

Winners in the other categories

• Top dark chocolate egg: Tesco Finest Free From Seville Orange & Dark Chocolate Egg (£8.50)
• Best unique flavour egg: Waitrose No. 1 The Chocolate Almond Croissant (£15)
• Best novelty shape egg: Waitrose Lulu Guinness Milk Chocolate Lips (£15)
• Best chocolate bunny: Aldi Specially Selected Milk Chocolate Baby Bunny (99p)

So far, only Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee City Councils have approved the day off for staff.

Staff at Dundee City Council are set to receive an extra day off after councillors backed proposals to mark the World Cup bank holiday.

The City of Discovery has become the third Scottish council to approve the day off after Aberdeen and Glasgow but the majority of councils have so far rejected the idea.

Schools are also set to be closed for the day in the cities after councillors agreed to the holiday.

Last month, King Charles III formally proclaimed the bank holiday which will taken place on Monday, June 15 – a day after Scotland open their World Cup campaign against Haiti in Boston.

Last week, Aberdeenshire, East Lothian, Midlothian, Perth and Kinross, Shetland, Moray and East Renfrewshire Councils all officially rejected the holiday for their employees.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has also rejected the day off for its staff while Edinburgh, Fife, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire and Scottish Borders Council have all said they don’t plan to offer the holiday to employees. Council officers in Argyll and Bute are also recommending refusing the holiday.

Most councils who have refused to recognise the public holiday for their employees have cited the costs involved.

South Lanarkshire Council is set to decide on the proposals when it meets later this week.

First Minister John Swinney proposed the bank holiday to mark the national men’s football team’s return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Steve Clarke‘s men will take on Haiti, Morocco and Brazil at the competition which is being staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July.

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In both cases, the US sent thousands of ground troops into combat. Trump has limited the attack on Iran to air strikes, as he did last year in a separate strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He did not, however, rule out sending ground troops in the future “if they were necessary” in a brief telephone interview with the New York Post on Monday.

North Yorkshire Police are hunting for 36-year-old Robert Chinchen on recall to prison for breaching his Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order.

They added that they believe he is likely to be in the Scarborough area.

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“Extensive enquiries have been ongoing to locate Chinchen and we’re now appealing for your help to help find him,” said a spokesperson for the force.

He is described as white with a slim build.

If you see him, or have any information about his current whereabouts, please call North Yorkshire Police on 101 or if the sighting is immediate, please call 999.

Alternatively, you can pass on information anonymously through independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via their website.

Please quote reference number 12260036434 when providing any information.

Misty Roberts, 43, stands accused of having sex with a teenage boy at a pool party in 2024 while she was mayor of DeRidder, a city in Louisiana

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A former mayor is accused of having sex with a teenage boy at a pool party. And her children claim they witnessed the alleged offence.

Misty Roberts, 43, allegedly carried out the offence at a party in 2024 while serving as mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana. Her trial on a charge of third-degree rape began last week following numerous delays, according to local media. Roberts resigned from office in late July 2024, days before she was arrested and charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, reports The Mirror.

Last week, jurors were shown pictures of the party in question, including of children holding drinks by the pool. In interviews played to the court, Roberts’ son told investigators he saw his mother having sex with his friend through the crack of a window, while her daughter told investigators she saw her mother and the teenager “on top of each other”, KPLC reports.

However, on Thursday, when both of Roberts’ children took the stand, her son told the court he was not certain what he saw that night. The prosecution presented a text message in which the son appears to tell Roberts: “He is seventeen.” The alleged victim of this case was identified as 16 years old at the time of the alleged offence, according to KPLC.

On Thursday, the defence and prosecution questioned two forensic interviewers who had spoken with children connected to the case. One interviewed three children, including the alleged victim, in July and August 2024. The second interviewed Roberts’ children in March 2025 at the request of the district attorney’s office.

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Roberts’ nephew told the court that he used his phone’s camera to see what was happening in the room that night. He testified that he was unsure if he had hit “record”, but said that if he had, the video was never sent to anyone and he has since deleted it from his Snapchat memories.

When the defence asked Roberts’ nephew why he cleared his Snapchat before handing the phone to investigators, he said that he did it because it contained photos of him and his friends drinking, and he was worried about getting in trouble. He said he did not intend to delete any evidence.

None of the three witnesses who testified on Thursday said they saw any “private parts” of Roberts or the alleged victim. One witness said the teenage boy was shirtless.

After the alleged incident, the mother of the alleged victim texted Roberts to make sure she was not pregnant. The court was shown a screenshot of the message in which Roberts replied that she was on birth control.

The court was shown that Roberts sent a screenshot of her conversation with the boy’s mother to a group chat with her friends, who responded by telling her to take Plan B. A DoorDash driver testified that he delivered an emergency contraceptive to Roberts’ house.

The defence suggested in court that a key part of the interview with Roberts’ son was not transcribed. Defence attorney Adam Johnson claimed the interviewer told the boy: “Just say it once, and we can move on.” He also said the transcription notes are unintelligible.

Roberts had appeared in court in early February to enter her plea of not guilty to two felony charges of indecent behaviour with a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

In her resignation letter in July 2024, Roberts said: “For nearly 15 years, my love and passion for DeRidder has been my foundation while serving as Mayor. I will forever be proud of what we have been able to accomplish – together. This role has rewarded me with many great relationships.

“I am humbled to have witnessed the hard work that took a community to come together and overcome through unprecedented times. However, I must adjust my focus and priorities. Please accept this letter as my formal resignation, effective today.

“To the residents of this city: Thank you for your trust, love and support in me to lead our city into our future of greatness. My love for DeRidder will never waiver.” Roberts was in the middle of a second term as the city’s mayor, to which she was re-elected in 2022 with sixty per cent of the vote.

DeRidder is a city in Louisiana with a population of just under 10,000 people.

A 22-year-old has been found guilty of killing a man outside student accommodation near Cambridge railway station

A 22-year-old man has been convicted of the murder of a Saudi Arabian student who was stabbed in the neck whilst studying English on a 10-week placement in Cambridge last year. The trial at Cambridge Crown Court heard that Mohammed Algasim, 20, was assaulted outside student accommodation near the city’s train station late on August 1, 2025.

Prosecutors said he was fatally stabbed by Chas Corrigan, who was a stranger to him, in an “unprovoked and senseless act of violence”.

Corrigan, of Holbrook Road, Cambridge, denied murdering Mr Algasim. However, he was found guilty by a jury after two hours and nine minutes of deliberation, a court officer said.

Corrigan, who confessed to carrying a knife, is scheduled to be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday (March 4), the court officer added.

Prosecutor Nicholas Hearn told jurors that Corrigan had been drinking in a pub and may have consumed drugs prior to stabbing Mr Algasim with a kitchen knife. He mentioned that the stabbing was “captured by a high-quality CCTV camera positioned outside the student accommodation”, and footage of this was shown to the jury.

It showed Mr Algasim sitting on a low wall surrounded by a group of people when Corrigan – wearing a hi-vis jacket – approached the group.

Mr Hearn stated that Abdullah Bin Shuail, a fellow student of Mr Algasim, “heard the defendant say something to Mr Algasim but he could not hear what was said and he could not hear whether Mr Algasim said anything in reply”.

He said Corrigan walked away from the group and towards the train station. Mr Hearn said that as the defendant walked away, Mr Bin Shuail heard Mr Algasim say something to the defendant but “could only make out one word”, which was “centre”.

“When Mr Algasim said this, the defendant turned and started to come back towards them,” Mr Hearn said. The prosecutor said the defendant said ‘What did you say, what did you say?’ and that this was “in a very angry and aggressive way”.

He said Mr Bin Shuail “saw the defendant punch Mr Algasim hard to the left side of his neck” and “then saw that the defendant was holding a large knife in his right hand”. Mr Algasim died from a single stab wound, which severed the carotid artery and jugular vein, “causing massive bleeding”, Mr Hearn said.

Mr Hearn added that Mr Algasim “posed no threat to anybody”. He said Mr Algasim “was a student who had come to Cambridge from Saudi Arabia”.

Corrigan maintained that he had the knife with him to frighten off any attacker and insisted he did not realise he had made contact with Mr Algasim. He has been remanded in custody until his sentencing.