He faced an uncertain future after being evicted from his home by the local council. 

But Caesar, the 4ft fibreglass gorilla, has found a new place to stay after becoming a viral sensation.

The primate has been adopted by long-haul travel specialists Flight Centre and is now taking pride of place at their store on South Molton Street in London.

It’s a long way from the house in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where he had been proudly displayed on a platform by owner Adele Teale for the last 12 months. 

The 59-year-old loves gorillas and Caesar had previously spent 15 years at her home in Leeds without causing any issues. 

But earlier this year Wakefield Council told her someone had complained and she had to remove him as she hadn’t got planning permission.

Caesar had never visited London before and took a scenic route to his new residence, posing at Big Ben, dropping in on Downing Street, and cruising through Piccadilly Circus.

Joe Beevis, general manager of Flight Centre, said: ‘We send nature lovers to see wildlife in Africa every year, so when we heard Caesar needed a new home, it felt like the natural fit. Caesar is a reminder that the best wildlife encounters are live ones. 

‘Booking with companies who take sustainable tourism seriously, such as our travel partner Intrepid Travel, means the animals, their habitats and local communities that make those moments possible can continue to thrive.’

‘We took Caesar’s welfare extremely seriously on the journey down from Wakefield, and, on arrival in London we felt it was only right to show him the sights of our great city.

‘He’s now installed at our South Molton Street store and is adjusting to Mayfair life very well. We’ve had no complaints, though he has developed strong opinions about the air conditioning.’

Adele, Caesar’s owner, added: ‘Caesar has been part of my life for more than 20 years and I wasn’t going to give up on him without a fight, but I’m really glad this is how it’s ended up. 

‘“’He’s not gone forever; he’s just heading to London for a bit, which feels very him.

‘I was glad to be there to hand him over in person and I know he’s going to be properly looked after by Flight Centre, who care as much about animal welfare as I do.’

Caesar’s fans can see him in person at Flight Centre’s store on South Molton Street, Mayfair. 

To celebrate Caesar’s arrival, Flight Centre is offering 10% off selected Africa Tours with Intrepid Travel for a limited time.

Visit the website for more details.

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Shaun Malone has revealed he had undergone brain surgery as he shared a photo from his hospital bed

Gogglebox star Shaun Malone has revealed he had undergone brain surgery as he shared a photo from his hospital bed.

The 31-year-old came to fame alongside his family, from Manchester, as they made their debut on the iconic Channel 4 show in 2014. He has been open about his health battles in that time, having been diagnosed with a brain condition in 2010 after initially getting sinusitis.

Now, Shaun has offered an update on his health, revealing that he went under the knife for another operation – and was struggling with his recovery due to the record-breaking temperatures sweeping across the country, reports the Mirror.

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“Heatwave is a terrible time to be stuck in hospital until Friday,” he penned beside a close-up photo of his post-surgery scar, which he shared to his Instagram Story. “Brain surgery is deffo not the highlight of my year [sic].”

Shaun joined Gogglebox in the fourth season, more than a decade ago, and delighted viewers with his TV quips beside his dad, Tom, mum Julie, and siblings Tom Jr and Vanessa

Shaun was in and out of the hospital when he was a teenager, after contracting a life-threatening infection while battling sinusitis. He previously spoke about his illness during an appearance on the Coaching From The Sofa podcast, explaining that doctors gave him less than 10% chance of surviving.

“In 2010 I got sinusitis and in some way, the infection found its way back to my brain. My brain started swelling and my skull started crushing it so my mum took me to A&E saying, ‘Look he’s poorly!’ and they said it was sinusitis,” he said at the time.

“And then I collapsed one day at home and I ended up going into a coma and they said to my mum and dad that I had a less than 10 per cent chance of living. I was in a coma for a few weeks – and they said to my mum and dad, ‘Shaun’s got brain damage, we don’t know what the brain damage is or how it’ll affect him or if it’s going to be really bad.

“And when I woke up my brain damage affected me in some ways, like my memory but mostly the way it affected me was with my left side. I essentially had a stroke, I couldn’t move my left arm, my left leg, even the left side of my face.”

Lumen Field is the stadium that really took my breath away – and my word, it is loud.

So loud, in fact, that it has made the Guinness Book of World Records twice for its noise levels, thanks to its horseshoe shaped design, which keeps much of the sound inside the stadium – although I can personally attest that you can hear the roar from a 25-minute walk away too!

The north stand section is particularly striking: it juts up like the bow of a ship on a wave’s crest, and the open sky on both sides of the seating area yields a stunning view of the Seattle skyline.

Inside, the stadium concourses are cavernous – and yet, even when they are empty, they still manage to exude character and heritage, whether through the rows of jerseys that denote famous artists who have played Lumen Field (including Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran), or through the Seattle Seahawks Wall of Legends.

Netflix’s Dept Q Season 2 is officially in production, and the streamer has confirmed a major cast update for the Edinburgh-set crime drama

Dept. Q fans have been given some insight into what to expect from the new season.

Dept. Q shot up the Netflix charts when the gripping Scottish crime procedural first burst onto screens back in May 2025, and production has now officially kicked off on the eagerly awaited second season.

Having been formally renewed back in August, the series – based on the books by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen – was met with widespread critical acclaim, leaving fans clamouring for more.

The streaming giant has now confirmed that filming is underway on Season 2, teasing in the synopsis: “DCI Carl Morck heads up the maverick Dept. Q from the basement of an Edinburgh police station, charged with cases previously deemed unsolvable.

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“This darkly humorous, propulsive show delivers all the pleasures of a procedural but takes us into the complex mysteries not just of the cases but of the detectives themselves.”

Season 2 will once again be filmed and set in Edinburgh, following the roaring success of the location in the debut series, with Matthew Goode reprising his role as DCI Carl Morck.

Executive Producer Rob Bullock teased: “This season, Carl and his band of misfits tackle a terrible crime hidden in the highest echelons of Scottish society.

“It is a story for our times: rich and powerful people who believe they are above the law. Carl, of course, knows otherwise.

“It’s a joy to be working with master storyteller Scott Frank once again, along with the rest of Team Doolally. We applaud Netflix’s courage for letting them loose once again.”

His band of misfits will also be back including Alexej Manvelov as Akram Salim, Leah Byrne as DC Rose Dickson and Jamie Sives as DS James Hardy.

The series has also brought in several fresh faces including Aisling Franciosi as Kimmie, The Crown’s Greg Wise as Derek Powell, Nicholas Rowe as Thomas Fulton and Outlander: Blood of my Blood star Tony Curran as Winnie Calderwood.

Hamish Clark is also joining the line-up as Christopher Herron, alongside Alex Ferns as Phil Allenbeck, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms star Ross Anderson as Ricky Daddario, Rebecca Root as June Lovesay and The Queen’s Gambit’s Isla Johnston as Agnes.

Line of Duty’s Mark Bonnar will reprise his role as Stephen Burns, along with Game of Thrones actress Kate Dickie as Moira Jacobson, Aaron McVeigh as Jasper and Sanjeev Kohli as Martin Flemming.

Manda Levin said for Netflix: “Season one of Dept. Q made us laugh and cry; it shocked and intrigued us; we fell in love with the characters and with the incredibly vivid and iconic world that Scott Frank and his amazing team conjured up in one of our very favourite cities.

“That it was embraced so wholeheartedly by an audience in Scotland, in the rest of the UK, and across the world, was thrilling.

“The story of Season 2 is as darkly delicious as you’d expect, and Carl and his glorious gang will have their work cut out pinning down the perpetrators as we launch back in for more.”

Dept Q is available to watch on Netflix

Holland Brogan, 21, from Wishaw, who played for Scotland at the Women’s Six Nations, and has captained her club side Glasgow Warriors graduated from the University of Stirling with a Psychology of Sport degree.

A Scottish rugby star gained a different cap this week – having graduated from university this week.

Holland Brogan, 21, from Wishaw, who played for Scotland at the Women’s Six Nations, and has captained her club side Glasgow Warriors graduated from the University of Stirling with a Psychology of Sport degree.

She will now turn professional after signing a new contract with Glasgow Warriors.

Holland said: “My greatest achievements have been getting my first international cap for Scotland, and captaining Glasgow Warriors, while also balancing my studies alongside training and competition.

“These experiences helped me develop resilience, confidence and leadership skills, and I’m proud of what I achieved both individually, and as part of a competitive team environment.

“I chose the University of Stirling because of its strong reputation for sport and its excellent sporting environment.

“And I liked that the University combines academic learning with opportunities to be involved in sport at a high level.”

Honorary graduates Kieron Achara and Dr Walter Humes join hundreds of students at Stirling’s summer graduation

Kieron – the youngest person ever to be capped for Scotland at basketball, at the age of 16 – was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his outstanding contribution to sport in Scotland, particularly basketball.

Also receiving an honorary degree today was education leader Dr Walter Humes, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of education.

A former Honorary Professor at the University of Stirling, Walter is renowned for his research and writing on educational policy, curriculum studies, the history of education, and teacher education.

He began his career as an English teacher before moving into higher education and has also held Professorships at the University of Aberdeen, University of Glasgow and University of the West of Scotland.

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “Summer graduation is always a highlight in the University calendar and we are proud to not only recognise the hard work and academic achievements of our students and staff, but to welcome two distinguished honorary graduates into the Stirling family.

“Kieron’s sporting journey, his accomplishments in the field of basketball, and his exceptional advocacy work, are an inspiration to our graduates.

“Walter’s contributions to educational policy and teacher education have been outstanding, and we are proud of his close association to the University. On behalf of the University, I send congratulations to them both.”

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Liberian oil tanker made its way out of the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday despite threats to shipping from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and using a new route close to Oman’s shore that has been promoted by a U.N. maritime agency.

The transit of the Stoic Warrior and the threats come as tensions rise between Iran and the United States over the terms of their interim accord aimed at permanently ending the Iran war. From getting ships through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf to the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the two nations are increasingly debating the terms of the deal signed last week.

Through the signing of the memorandum of understanding, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a 60-day period to iron out these and other details. Until that happens — during private talks — leaders from both countries will also continue to negotiate in public, raising the risks of derailing the shaky ceasefire in the region.

A major threat to the deal is the flareup of fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah. On Wednesday. Israel launched an airstrike that killed two people in southern Lebanon, the country’s state-run news agency said. It was Israel’s first airstrike on Lebanon since the latest ceasefire took effect on Saturday.

Tanker sails through Strait of Hormuz

The Stoic Warrior — signaling that it planned to transit the Strait of Hormuz — took off early Thursday morning on a trip that saw it hug the coast of the United Arab Emirates and then Oman.

The vessel then traveled around Oman’s Musandam Peninsula fairly close to the shore, part of a route that Oman laid out alongside the International Maritime Organization, an agency of the United Nations that oversees shipping at sea.

North of the route is the Traffic Separation Scheme, the route in the center of the strait that for decades ships moved through freely. The route is used for transport of about a fifth of all the world’s oil and natural gas.

However, there has been the report of at least one mine sighted in the water after the Guard said that it mined the passage during the war that started on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The threat of mines shut off the route.

The naval arm of the Revolutionary Guard, apparently reacting to Oman and the IMO’s route, gave an angry warning Thursday, carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

A former high-security prisoner has spoken out on what awaits ‘horrid monster’ Jamie Varley

A former prisoner who served his sentence in a high-security jail has shared what he believes child killer Jamie Varley is facing behind bars. Earlier this month, Varley was convicted of sexually abusing and murdering his adopted 13-month-old son, Preston Davey, receiving a whole life order, ensuring he will never be released.

He subjected Preston to horrific physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Varley, who maintained the baby had accidentally drowned in the bath, was convicted following an eight-week trial at Preston Crown Court.

Varley’s partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, received a 25-year sentence after being found guilty of child cruelty, sexual abuse and allowing the death of a child.

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Varley has reportedly stayed inside the infamous West Yorkshire jail, HMP Wakefield, often referred to as “Monster Mansion”, where he is said to have encountered a “traditional prisoners’ welcome” and reportedly spent his initial night “sobbing and quaking.”

Now, Ricky Killeen, who previously served time in the same facility as Soham murderer Ian Huntley, has revealed details about the torment he believes lies ahead for the “horrid monster”, reports Lancs Live.

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He disclosed on his Behind Bars TV channel on YouTube: “He will spend the rest of his sorry days, sh*****g himself, petrified, waiting for that fateful day when karma comes a-knocking and looking for him.”

Ricky claimed Varley would have been placed on an ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) – the process used to support prisoners considered at risk of suicide or self-harm.

He said: “When Varley asks for help, and he starts talking to the screws out the door, then obviously they’ve got a duty because he’s on an ACCT to make sure he doesn’t do anything to himself.

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“So they have got to talk to him and mother the little wrongun and make sure he doesn’t do anything to himself. But he is going to be living in misery for the rest of his life. He will be feeling despair, anxiety, hopelessness.”

Ricky suggested that he’d be having “sleepless nights” and would be “watched round the clock”, while also receiving “abuse” from fellow inmates. He added: “So they will be tormenting and torturing him and giving him the utmost of grief.”

But Ricky said it isn’t just the threat of violence Varley would face. He added that there were “more ways to skin a cat” than being openly aggressive.

He added: “There’s ways where they can irritate him, banging little things outside his door and getting under his skin. He is going to live out the rest of his life in a sick, sorry world where he belongs.”

A source has also commented on the killer’s fate, previously telling The Daily Star: “There’s a bounty on his head, everyone wants to be the one to hurt him first, and he was made very aware of that as he entered the prison.

“The other prisoners knew he was coming and they waited for him. They want him scared and they want to make his time inside as awful as they can – and now he knows he has a lot of time inside to serve.

“He is never getting out, there is no way out of this hell for him.”

Callum Kerr, from Warrington, boarded the Jet2 flight from Larnaca in Cyprus with his girlfriend on June 21. He was restrained by fellow passengers after he reportedly became ‘disruptive’ during the flight, and later died in hospital.

A father and bareknuckle fighter has passed away after being rushed from an aircraft at Manchester Airport in a life-threatening state. Callum Kerr, from Warrington, had embarked on the Jet2 service from Larnaca in Cyprus alongside his girlfriend on June 21.

However, eyewitnesses reported the man, aged in his 30s, grew ‘disruptive’ mid-flight following what was described as substantial alcohol consumption prior to boarding. Authorities were summoned regarding an alleged assault aboard the aircraft after Callum had purportedly turned ‘aggressive’.

Police boarded the plane following its arrival at Manchester Airport in the early hours of June 22, discovering that fellow travellers had subdued Callum. Footage and images circulated online captured the moment officers entered the aircraft before discovering he had stopped breathing.

They promptly commenced CPR and requested a defibrillator, before Callum was transported to hospital having fallen ‘critically ill’. His death has now been confirmed by relatives to the Manchester Evening News, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Heartfelt tributes have flooded social media following Callum’s passing. “Can’t believe I’m writing this RIP Callum Kerr wtf,” one mourner wrote, while another posted: “God bless mate we’ll catch up again.

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“I thought I was dreaming when I seen someone write it last night.. goodnight godbless cal,” another person penned, with a fourth commenting: “Gunna miss that cheeky grin of his.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson previously stated: “An investigation is underway after a man became critically ill following reports that the same individual had been aggressive and disruptive towards a passenger and crew members on a flight heading into Manchester Airport”.

“At around 2.25am we were called to reports of an assault that had taken place on a flight from Larnaca, Cyprus. Officers attended and located a man who had been restrained. The man – in his 30s – was taken to hospital due to his condition. He remains in a hospital in a stable but critical condition. Enquiries are ongoing.”

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A Jet2 representative also commented: “We can confirm that flight LS966 from Larnaca to Manchester requested a priority landing on (Monday 22nd June), due to a disruptive passenger incident.

“We can confirm that a passenger has been taken to hospital. As an investigation is underway, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.”

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of drug offences.

The two were arrested on Bradford Park Drive, The Haulgh.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s North Neighbourhood Team executed a warrant under Section 8 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act at an address on the drive.

The warrant, carried out with support from the force’s Tactical Aid Unit, was in response to intelligence about suspected criminal activity.

(Image: GMP)

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said via social media: “Officers actively work on all intelligence that is received from members of the public, assisting in executing warrants such as this one today, and with your help we can deter and prevent criminal offences.”

Both men remain in police custody for questioning.

The raid is the latest on properties in Bolton.

Two were conducted in Halliwell only last week which resulted in arrests.

Ward councillor Rabiya Jiva told The Bolton News at the time that tackling drugs in Halliwell remains a priority, with residents bringing the issue up at meetings.

Residents with any innformation can do this via Crimestoppers anonymously