While I have avoided tasting menu meals, of course, there are exceptions

As my loved ones like to remind me, I’m a creature of simple tastes. While many of my ardent foodie friends dream of fancy tasting menus, my favourite meal is beans and little sausages on toast. The food of the gods.

The gastronomes I know and love speak reverently about “the journey” at these oft-acclaimed restaurants, whereas I dream of a large bowl of pasta with grated cheddar on top, just like the Italians do it. Ideally before 7pm.

I have an open mind about food, I really do, dear readers. But I have also endured enough snooty tasting menus, typically in expensive London gaffs, to know that somewhere around course eight, time loses all meaning, like a Vegas casino.

Days appear to pass between plates. Civilisations frankly rise and fall in less time. How long does a sliver of beetroot on foam and smoked hay take?!

After 117 courses you hand over enough money to fund a family holiday, despite ingesting the calorific equivalent of a cheese string, then find yourself standing outside half an hour later ordering a kebab.

I’m not against tasting menus. I’m simply searching for one that doesn’t last an entire lunar cycle and require consulting a financial adviser beforehand.

While I have largely avoided pricey tasting menu meals (my friends are obsessed with them), of course there are exceptions.

For me, one of them is The Jackdaw in Conwy, which fully exceeded my expectations. It proves that a tasting menu doesn’t have to be an endurance event. You don’t emerge blinking into daylight wondering what year it is, while absolutely ravenous, thank Thor.

Open since 2021, the Jackdaw is a cheeky nod to the local term for someone born within Conwy’s historic town walls.

My meticulous research (scrolling on Instagram) indicates that it’s an acclaimed, Michelin-recognised restaurant located on High Street. It won Restaurant of the Year – Wales at the AA Hospitality Awards in September 2023. The restaurant has also earned 3 AA Rosettes, promotion to “Exceptional” in The Good Food Guide, and a place among the UK’s top 100 restaurants.

The AA inspector said: “Service is attentive and seasonally evolving tasting menus focus on excellent ingredients.

Currently it costs £125pp for dinner, and you can also get a six-course lunch for £60pp, both typically rooted in Welsh culinary history and folklore.

OK, so not Tesco meal deal prices, but when chef’s table experiences regularly run £200 to £280+ per person, it seems like a reasonable amount for food-loving patrons with a healthy budget.

Visiting for the first time, I admittedly got lost as the entrance is about as obvious as platform 9¾ (I do love a Harry Potter reference pals).

Google Maps will direct you to the neighbouring pub (yay pre-gaming), but what you’re actually looking for is an unassuming doorway marked with a jackdaw motif. Head upstairs and you’ll find yourself on the first floor of what was once a bingo hall, now home to one of Wales’ most exciting restaurants.

Inside, it is all Scandi-cool whitewashed walls, exposed stone and sheepskin-draped chairs, with an atmosphere that feels modern yet medieval, which suits me, having long considered myself spiritually aligned with House Targaryen. Just hand me a goblet of wine already.

After settling in with the wine list, chatty staff inform me that Chef-owner Nick Rudge returned home to North Wales after rising through the ranks at Heston Blumenthal’s three Michelin-starred The Fat Duck, where he finished as Junior Sous Chef.

Nick speaks highly of working with Heston and previously told WalesOnline: “He is probably the closest I’ve ever come to meeting a genius.

“I’m not just saying that because it’s him and it’s his name. He just thinks about food and thinks about everything – life, I suppose as well – in a just totally different way. And he’s a lovely lovely man.”

While Heston is known for molecular gastronomy with ambitious (definitely not weird) creations like snail porridge, Nick has brought the technical precision with him but left any unnecessary fuss behind.

What you get instead is cooking that is technically brilliant yet unmistakably Welsh, rooted in the landscape, the seasons and the people who produce its ingredients.

Like many tasting menu restaurants, dishes rotate, so you never know what you might get, but you can expect dishes like Welsh beef sirloin, Barbecued Scallop & Seaweed, Butter Poached Turbot and Mefys Môn Iced Jasmine Tea.

The thoughtfully curated wine list has its own charming twist, with every bottle arranged according to how far it has travelled from Conwy, measured ‘as the jackdaw flies’. Finally, a wine list that answers the question nobody knew they had – how far has my Merlot travelled today?

There’s a range of international, European and Welsh wines on the list, including Gwinllan Conwy Solaris, Montgomery Vineyard, Sparkling Demi-Sec and Trimbach Riesling.

Beers, wines and spirits are also available for your imbibing pleasure, including several Welsh favourites like Aberfalls, Dà Mhìle and Penderyn.

While the drinks list is impressive, The Jackdaw’s tasting menu is the main reason to come. Each well-crafted course arrives in a decent amount of time rather than a runtime longer than Lord of the Rings.

Partnering with local fishmongers, butchers, wineries and more, the team has both seasonality and presentation nailed.

Nothing is oversized or fussily overworked. Instead, there is a satisfying rhythm to the tasting menu, and I’m even enjoying the origin story behind the dishes (I am a few glasses of vino in at this point).

Instead of becoming bored, like I usually do, I’m rather enjoying the wine-filled progression of plates that leaves you wondering how the next course could top the last, only for it to do exactly that.

Typical beautifully presented small courses include Lady Llanover’s “Welsh Salt Duck”, pulled from a 19th-century Welsh cookery book, Henryd Courgette, and succulent Dyffryn Conwy Lamb, which is soft as clouds.

One of my other favourites, Hafod and Conwy Sauce Rarebit, takes the humble Welsh rarebit and elevates it to top-tier comfort food. Toasted sourdough is spread with a rich mixture of stout, mustard and Welsh cheeses before being grilled until gloriously golden.

Over the top comes the restaurant’s own Conwy Sauce, an intricate take on Worcestershire sauce that spends two weeks infusing malt vinegar with spices, aromatics, shallots and garlic. A final snowfall of finely grated rich Hafod cheese melts gently into the warmth. I could easily eat 8 more.

The Lamb Cawl is another love letter to Welsh tradition, reimagining our best-known culinary offering. Instead of a rustic steaming bowlful, the dish arrives as a cubist, deconstructed collection of individual elements: meltingly tender lamb neck, braised for 17 hours, carrot and caraway salt-crust swede.

These are united by a crystal-clear broth created from both lamb stock and lamb dashi, blended and clarified to produce remarkable depth and clarity. It is unmistakably cawl, just delivered through a fine-dining lens. Anything deconstructed normally has me heading for the door, but this works, largely because of the extraordinary flavours.

Dessert features a playful note with Gynwys, named after the wonderfully improbable local legend that Guinness was actually a Welsh invention, spirited away from a tavern in nearby Llanfairfechan by Arthur Guinness, who stole the recipe for his famous stout in the 1750s, the rascal.

Whether you believe the story is beside the point. After all, food has survived centuries of myths, legends and questionable family recipes. One more Welsh claim on Guinness is hardly the strangest thing on the menu.

The dessert itself is superb, layering roasted barley cremeux, yeast caramel, malt ice cream, stout gastrique, Citra hop crumble and puffed barley into a dish that manages to be rich, bitter, sweet and deeply satisfying.

My only complaint is that I would have loved a chocolate-based dessert too. Perhaps a deconstructed Mars bar served with salted caramel foam and a single cacao nib harvested at dawn by a monk.

By this point of the night, I had consumed wine from many, many miles, and it was time to bid the lovely staff team a good night and begin my fruitless search for an Uber in North Wales.

As I resigned myself to sleeping outside Conwy Castle, I reflected with my long-suffering husband that I might have crossed a dangerous line. Had I finally become what my Gen Z colleagues might call a “tasting menu girlie”?

Suddenly, chef’s tables and private dining experiences didn’t seem quite so ridiculous. Who was this person? Thankfully, a cab finally arrived, and my relieved husband bundled me safely back towards the hotel before I booked a 27-course experience online.

It might be the Welsh vino talking, but I really did have a splendid meal here, and I didn’t have to have a late-night cheeseburger after due to rampant starvation. Look at me, a tasting menu convert, finally. My bank balance will be thrilled.

President Donald Trump slammed Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed during a speech on Wednesday in Las Vegas after the Democrat notched a primary win in a closely watched race this week.

The president accused El-Sayed of being part of a wave of “communists” who would bring “squalor” and “death” to America.

“When I watch Abdul, he’s full of s***,” Trump told a crowd at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa.

El-Sayed is not a communist, but rather a progressive who is campaigning on issues including Medicare for all and removing corporate money from politics.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Trump accused El-Sayed, who has been critical of the U.S. for supporting Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza, of being hateful and antisemitic.

“Put him in office, you’re going to find out what he loves,” Trump said. “He doesn’t love Israel. He doesn’t love Jewish people. He hates them. He hates them with a passion that burns in his heart.”

The Independent has contacted the El-Sayed campaign for comment.

The Michigan primary race was a key target of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying group whose super PAC spent an estimated $32 million spreading the message that El-Sayed was pursuing a “radical anti-Israel agenda.”

El-Sayed, a former public health official, has argued U.S. money would be better spent on domestic priorities like healthcare than on supporting Israel’s military.

In a victory speech on Wednesday after his primary win over Rep. Haley Stevens, El-Sayed thanked Jewish supporters of his campaign and affirmed his commitment to representing people of all faiths in Michigan.

“To all of my sisters and brothers of the Jewish faith, or any faith at all, or no faith at all, I want you to know that my commitment to your safety, my commitment to Jewish safety, is the same commitment that I have to the safety of my own daughters,” he said.

He added that he had been “listening to sisters and brothers who said, ‘I want to join this movement because AIPAC doesn’t speak for me, because I understand that self-determination for one people does not require the quenching of self-determination for another people.”

Elsewhere in his speech, President Trump sought to contrast El-Sayed’s left-leaning views with the Trump agenda, which has included a package of tax cuts largely benefitting the upper middle class and new deductions for tips and Social Security.

As for the other big economic factor looming over Americans ahead of midterm season, the Iran war, the president’s Vegas speech was relatively brief. He accused “fake polls” of distorting American economic sentiment and touted the U.S. war effort, which has sent gas prices spiking.

Trump claimed the U.S. had been set at some point to launch “the biggest attack since World War II” against the Iranians, but that Tehran sought to negotiate.

“We are talking,” Trump added of the Iran conflict, which continues to elude a quick resolution for the president. “Let’s see what happens.”

The president has revived a Red Scare-style public campaign against communism ahead of the midterms, as insurgent left-wing candidates such as El-Sayed and New York City’s democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani have risen to prominence in the party’s grassroots.

The president has frequently referred to Democratic rivals as communists, and the State Department last month accused Cuba of a “sustained campaign of subversion” supporting American activists and progressive officials, including the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani and Rep. Ilhan Omar, among others.

The Trump administration has also moved to classify various forms of left-wing political activism as a crime.

Last year, the administration labeled anti-fascist activists as members of a “domestic terrorist organization,” despite so-called antifa groups lacking any singular organization or unified agenda.

Meanwhile, a September national security memo on domestic terrorism enforcement lists “anti-Americanism” and criticisms of “law enforcement and border control” as key indicators that could merit an investigation.

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. has taken steps to protect artwork from “extensive vibrations” ahead of President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix later this month.

NASCAR and IndyCar racing legends will reach speeds of up to 185 mph during the race in the heart of the nation’s capital, in and around museums and government buildings, including the famed art gallery.

The National Gallery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits in the middle of the 1.7-mile-long racecourse, and the institution is not taking any chances when it comes to looking after the tens of thousands of valuable artworks it houses, The Washington Post reports.

“In preparation for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, the National Gallery conducted an extensive vibration study and based on the results we have implemented a set of measures to ensure the safety of our staff, visitors, collection, and facilities during the race,” gallery spokesman Chris Abanavas told the outlet.

The spokesman would not release any specifics to the newspaper but said it had conducted the study “out of a great abundance of caution.”

Some artworks have “been moved away from the side of the building facing the racetrack,” according to a report by The New Republic last week.

The race will see drivers race 147 laps around the track on August 22 and 23. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Air and Space Museum, in addition to the National Archives, also sit within the racetrack, a map of the course released by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office showed.

Freedom 250 said event organizers hold “tremendous respect for the history” and structures surrounding the racecourse and pointed out that IndyCar has been hosting races in downtown urban areas “for decades.”

“With this excellent track record and the thorough preparation we have done for this event working closely with all the appropriate local and federal agencies, we do not anticipate any impact on the structures surrounding the circuit,” a spokesperson said.

Still, some preservationists said they were concerned about how the vibrations could impact delicate artwork and called for a more comprehensive review.

Michelle Arcari Rose, a former associate general counsel at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, told the Post it was “a huge risk” to “unleash cars at 185 miles per hour in a place where we’ve never had cars really going more than 25 miles an hour.”

Sara Bronin, a Biden-era chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, warned of the potential impacts on some of the statues on the Grand Prix route. “You wouldn’t want to see some of these things topple over because of the rumblings and the vibrations,” Bronin told The New Republic.

“Excess vibrations and sound, as well as the construction of the racetrack itself, could very well cause damage,” added Mary Okin of the nonprofit Living New Deal.

Studies about the impact of racing events on museum collections vary. A 2023 report cited by the Post about the effects of vibrations featuring a NASCAR race on an art gallery in Chicago found that foot traffic from visitors caused greater vibrations in the gallery than the race itself.

The report noted that in addition to one-time events, other activities inside museum buildings, including crowd movements, elevators, heavy doors, the use of carts and lifts to move objects, and activities at loading docks, could also “have a detrimental impact on museum collections.”

The White House said “all appropriate protocols” were followed ahead of the event, the latest sporting spectacle Trump has hosted in Washington after throwing a UFC Freedom 250 fight.

The Trump-backed Freedom 250 was responsible for its Great American State Fair, fraught with low attendance and technical difficulties.

A father impersonated his 11-year-old daughter in order to bring her alleged rapist to his home to shoot him.

Malik Chandler, 31, posed as his child on TikTok to lure in a suspected sexual predator Diego Montoya Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, 20, arrived at the family home in Grove City, Ohio, where he was shot by Chandler twice.

The father had been shown evidence of Gonzalez sexually assaulting his daughter via a video on her phone, the New York Post reported.

Gonzalez was discovered by officers sitting in a chair at Chandler’s home with two gunshot wounds, for which he was taken to hospital to be treated.

Several clips were later found on his phone allegedly showing young children being sexually abused.

He was later charged on five counts of pandering sexually oriented material, two counts of rape and one count of obstruction of official business.

He was required to pay a $20,000 (£14,868) recognisance bond as well as a $50,000 (£37,158) cash bond pending further trial.

If allowed to walk free, Gonzalez will be banned from contacting the victim and going online except for work purposes.

Chandler later told police he had initially intended to bring Gonzalez to his home to beat him up and then call police while holding him there, but shot him when he thought he saw the man was about to draw his gun.

He was given a $100,000 (£74,399) cash bond after being charged with a felony assault.

Metro has contacted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Sarah Clougher, from Thirsk, will run the Great North Run on September 13 wearing a blindfold to raise awareness for children with sight loss.

Her one-year-old daughter, Indiana, was diagnosed with a vision impairment just one day after birth.

Sarah Clougher and her daughter, Indiana. (Image: SARAH CLOUGHER)

Following Indiana’s diagnosis, Sarah turned to Guide Dogs for support, which inspired her to take part in the Great North Run to raise money for them in return.

Sarah will be guided by her friend, Lucy.

Ms Clougher said: “We’ve decided to do the Great North Run blindfolded with Lucy tethering me to raise as much awareness as possible for children with a vision impairment.

(Image: SARAH CLOUGHER)

“We are not runners, but we will give this our all.

“It’s going to be a huge challenge for me, especially being blindfolded, but I’m so excited to do it.

“All the money we raise will be given back to Guide Dogs for the support they give to children and young people with sight loss.

“Their work really is life changing and I can’t thank them enough.”

Indiana was born with bilateral congenital cataracts in 2024.

Ms Clougher said the news “turned their world upside down.”

She said: “We were sent straight to the eye clinic, where they told us Indiana had cataracts in both eyes that were blocking her vision.”

She has since undergone four surgeries.

Doctors later identified a rare gene mutation behind Indiana’s condition, which has also caused nystagmus and microphthalmia.

Ms Clougher said: “‘For her first 12 weeks, we were at the hospital three or four times a week.

“It was all so intense.

“We didn’t get a minute to digest it all.

“It was quite a depressing time, with so much to deal with.”

In search of support, Ms Clougher reached out to the charity Guide Dogs who encouraged her to attend the charity’s My Time to Play sessions, which she described as hugely beneficial.

Ms Clougher said: “When we first started going, Indiana was very shy.

“She used to be quite wary of different textures, and she was terrified of people.

“Indiana’s gotten so much exposure from the group, and now she’s into everything, and she’s so social.

“She loves her touchy-feely books and her food.

“She’s my little wild child now.”

• For those wishing to support her fundraising efforts, donations can be made via her Great North Run fundraising page.

Guide Dogs has also supported the family through sensory resources, light therapy, and ongoing advice.

Ms Clougher said: “Guide Dogs have provided myself and Indie with incredible support.

“She attends the My Time to Play sessions fortnightly, she’s received sensory bundles and light therapy from them and the support is ongoing.

“They really are Indie’s biggest supporters and will continue to provide support and advice for the foreseeable future.”

To date, Ms Clougher has raised more than £730 for Guide Dogs, surpassing her initial target of £500.

However, the TV star said nerves got the better of her during the process.

She is best known as a member of The Nolan Sisters, who found fame in the 1970s with hits like ‘I’m In The Mood For Dancing’, and as a long-standing panellist on Loose Women.

Ms Nolan has now revealed that her career may have been different, having once tried out for roles on both Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

Coleen Nolan reveals she auditioned for Emmerdale and Corrie

Speaking on her Nolans Uncensored podcast, she said: “I can’t audition.

“I’m just really bad at auditions, my nerves get the better of me.

“I’ve only done literally about two in my career because I walk in going, ‘I will do this rubbish,’ because that’s how nervous I am.

“I didn’t get them.

“[One was] Emmerdale, I auditioned.

“And I think Corrie was one of them.”

The 61-year-old, who was previously married to EastEnders actor Shane Richie, admitted that the thought of a full-time soap role was daunting.

She said: “It’s proper work.

“I don’t think I’ve got the mentality to do that.

“It’s a long, it’s really hard.

“I wanted to say to them that I couldn’t do this part [the audition] but give me the job, and I’ll be able to do it.”

Coronation Street star returning to ITV soap after nearly 10 years

In other soap news, Bolton-born actress Emma Matthews will be making a return to the cobbles, nearly a decade after her last appearance on the long-running programme.

Matthews previously played social worker Fiona Crowley, who featured in two episodes in 2017 and was responsible for taking Abi Webster’s twins into care following a relapse.

Prior to that, she appeared as a nurse at Weatherfield General Hospital in episodes aired between 2012 and 2015.

While details of her new role remain under wraps, Matthews is expected to appear on-screen later in the year, according to The Sun.

This return comes as she balances her acting career with academic pursuits, as she is studying a Master’s qualification in Theatre Directing.

She directed a production of Beautiful Thing as part of her final coursework.

In addition to her work on Coronation Street, Ms Matthews currently stars in the West End production of Billionaire Boy at the Garrick Theatre and has directed theatre in Manchester.

She has also appeared in a wide range of television shows, including Emmerdale, Casualty, The Bay, Prisoners’ Wives, and Until I Kill You.

What is one actor you would love to see join the cast of Emmerdale or Coronation Street? Let us know in the comments.

Perez Hilton‘s family released a statement as they spoke out for the first time since the Internet personality was hospitalized following a TikTok livestream which saw him self-harming with a knife on Tuesday night.

The following day on Wednesday, his loved ones broke their silence saying that the celebrity blogger – real name Mario Lavandeira Jr, 48 – was still being treated in hospital in the wake of the alarming incident. 

‘We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support and prayers,’ the statement read. 

‘We can confirm that Perez is receiving medical care and our family’s focus right now is on his well-being.

‘If and when we are able to share any updates, we will do so with everyone as soon as we can.’ 

Just hours earlier harrowing surveillance video captured the moment scores of cops swarming the gossip icon’s Miami home when concerned fans alerted 911 to his alarming self-harming behavior on a TikTok livestream. 

The following day on Wednesday, his loved ones broke their silence saying that the celebrity blogger – real name Mario Lavandeira Jr, 48 – was still being treated in hospital in the wake of the alarming incident (the HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami is pictured)

Four squad cars were spotted pulling up to the celebrity blogger’s ranch-style house with sirens blaring just after 7pm Tuesday after officers received multiple emergency calls about his behavior. 

The video, captured by a neighbor’s Ring doorbell camera, reveals officers then trying to coax Hilton out of the home. 

‘Mario it’s the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, please step out of the house,’ a deputy calls out as more cops arrived. 

Clips taken from the disturbing livestream video, which the Daily Mail has decided not to republish, appeared to show a blood-soaked Hilton rambling incoherently after hacking himself with a knife. 

The Ring footage reveals officers were still there at 11:11pm begging the showbiz blogger not to hurt himself. 

After arriving on the scene on Tuesday evening, officers ultimately spoke with family members and confirmed Hilton was alone inside before making the decision to ‘tactically disengage’ while monitoring the situation, the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office told the Daily Mail.

Hilton was eventually taken to the hospital where he was surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, including his 42-year-old sister, Barbara Lavandeira. 

‘In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication,’ the sheriff’s office said.

Officers were dispatched to celebrity blogger Hilton’s Miami home on Tuesday after receiving reports that he was broadcasting alarming behavior on a TikTok livestream

Four squad cars were spotted pulling up to the celebrity blogger’s ranch-style house with sirens blaring just after 7pm Tuesday

A person believed to be Hilton was taken from his home and into an ambulance following the incident, in a video shared by BNO News

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Perez Hilton was believed to be at his mother’s home south of Miami  where he appears to have self harmed. He was taken to hospital in Miami overnight

 ‘Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilizing crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimize the risk of injury to the individual, deputies, and the public.’

Authorities later confirmed that Hilton had ‘been safely recovered and transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he is receiving medical attention.’

Meanwhile, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Unit and Licensed Mental Health Professionals remained at the scene ‘providing support and resources to the individual’s family.’ 

Hilton is a father to three children, who were born via surrogacy. His eldest son was born in 2013, followed by two daughters in 2015 and 2017.  

The celebrity reporter’s condition remains unclear. The Daily Mail has reached out to Hilton’s representatives for comment. 

The video has been taken down, and Hilton’s account has since been suspended by TikTok. 

Hilton’s representatives, Golden Artists Entertainment Co-CEOs Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan, told TMZ in a statement, ‘We are aware of the concerning content circulating online involving our client, Perez Hilton.

‘At this time, we have not been able to make direct contact with him, despite our ongoing efforts to reach him. Our primary concern is Perez’s health and well-being, as well as the well-being of his family. Until we have confirmed information, we will not speculate or comment further.

‘We appreciate everyone’s concern and ask that his privacy be respected during this time.’ 

The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office told the Daily Mail that deputies rushed to the residence following ‘multiple’ emergency calls regarding an individual engaging in alleged self-harm on the platform 

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In a vague post on social media in April, Hilton asked for prayers 

In the meantime, celebrity friends and fans of the blogger, born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr, have taken to social media to send him messages, begging for him to seek medical help. 

‘The Perez Hilton video is so upsetting,’ wrote Trisha Paytas. ‘I hope he’s OK. I hope his children are OK.

‘Crashing out on the internet, whether it’s fake or real – is a cry for help.’ 

Jessica Rosado, a singer and the host of Las Vegas Morning Blend, also posted a statement to her Instagram page.

‘As someone who knows Perez personally, I find myself at a loss for words,’ she wrote. ‘I know the move to Miami hasn’t been an easy one, but never could I ever have imagined something as dark and deeply disturbing as this. 

‘He is clearly in distress, and as someone who is also in media, I’m not rushing to discuss things I don’t have all the facts on,’ she continued. ‘I’m waiting to hear more from trusted sources.’

In the meantime, Rosado said her ‘love pours out to him and his entire family.’

‘Thank you to everyone who has reached out with kind words and concern,’ the television host said. ‘Whether you are close with someone or not, please remember to move with empathy and approach others with the utmost care.’ 

Former politician George Santos wrote on X: ‘Please pray for Perez Hilton folks. He needs the power of prayer and the strength of our Lord and Savior.’ 

Others hit out at TikTok for allowing the disturbing video to continue for about half an hour.

‘Genuinely think TikTok should be held liable in some way for allowing that Perez Hilton feed to last 30 minutes. Absolutely insane,’ one X user wrote.

Another noted that the platform ‘allowed for many people, including children to come across a live where a man was going through a mental health crisis.’

‘Check on the people you love and please,’ the netizen urged. 

Clips taken from the video, which the Daily Mail will not publish, appeared to show Hilton covered in blood while brandishing a knife

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Celebrity friends and fans of the blogger – born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr. – took to social media to send him messages, begging for him to seek medical help

In March, Hilton revealed that he had just emerged from a 21-day hospital stint as he battled sepsis, a result, he said, of taking flu medication on an empty stomach that triggered a cascade of health problems.

At the Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, Hilton underwent two surgeries as he was treated for a string of medical crises.

During his recovery the following month, Hilton wrote he felt ‘like I should be scared right now, but I’m not.

‘I definitely am worried, though. God show me the way!’ he wrote on April 8. 

‘Perez Hilton is GOING THROUGH IT right now,’ the columnist continued. ‘He asks for prayers and for Christ to intervene – sooner [rather] than later.’ 

Hilton later told the Daily Mail how he found God during his recovery.

‘It was God presenting Himself to me, and then doing something that I could only describe as a miracle to heal me… I was still unwell, and then God did something,’ the gossip columnist said.

He also said that his professed exchange with the Almighty allowed him to change his mindset about his rollercoaster 22-year career. 

It comes after Hilton revealed that he had spent 21 days in hospital earlier this year after contracting sepsis. Pictured: Hilton in a hospital bed back in March

Hilton said he got sepsis after taking flu medication on an empty stomach. Pictured: Hilton in hospital back in March

Hilton had come under fire over the years for his controversial behavior – including outing gay celebrities and giving certain A-listers inappropriate nicknames. 

He admitted that he had ‘made a lot of mistakes in the past which are very public. Which I own. Which I regret, which I have deep shame for, which I’ve apologized for repeatedly, publicly as well as privately.’

But, he said, ‘to have this experience with God and to know that God loves me, and God forgives me, it was very healing, because I then forgave myself.’ 

Hilton also noted he harbored guilt over ‘all of the mistakes – not even mistakes, they were awful decisions that I made’ in his ‘enfant terrible phase’ as a celebrity blogger, when he ‘knew what I was doing was wrong and I didn’t care.’

‘It’s like if you’re a drug addict, and you’re stealing from your parents’ money to buy drugs. You know what you’re doing is wrong, and you don’t care. You just want that hit,’ the father-of-three continued. ‘And that was truly what I was doing.’

For Hilton, the ‘most powerful drug’ was the ‘attention’ he garnered as an online gadfly, ‘and I didn’t care who I hurt in the process.’

Still, his ‘experience with God’ did not inspire a total career change. 

When people ask if he’d consider changing professions, Hilton told them: ‘No, because I’m not doing gossip. I do celebrity journalism.’

If you or someone you know needs help in the US, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988. If you are in the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123 for free. If you are in Australia, call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.

The west of the country will enjoy the deepest views, with the Isle of Barra expected to see around 93% of the Sun covered, while Glasgow will experience around 91.4%coverage and Edinburgh around 90.7%

Scotland is just days away from witnessing its most dramatic solar eclipse since 1999, and if you’re planning to watch the event, experts are urging people to buy eclipse glasses before they sell out.

Every major eclipse sees certified eclipse glasses disappear from shelves in the run-up to the event, while counterfeit products often appear on online marketplaces, raising concerns that unsafe glasses could damage people’s eyesight.

On Wednesday, August 12, the Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, creating a spectacular partial solar eclipse across Scotland. The west of the country will enjoy the deepest views, with the Isle of Barra expected to see around 93% of the Sun covered, while Glasgow will experience around 91.4% coverage and Edinburgh around 90.7%.

Where to buy eclipse glasses in Scotland

If you haven’t already bought eclipse glasses, now is the time, as demand is expected to increase sharply before August 12.

Independent opticians

Many independent opticians across Scotland stock certified eclipse glasses ahead of major astronomical events. Availability varies, so it’s worth calling your nearest practice before making a special journey.

National optical retailers

Selected branches of Specsavers, Boots Opticians and other major optical chains may also have certified eclipse viewers available. Stock levels differ by location and are likely to become increasingly limited in the days before the eclipse.

Museums and observatories

Science museums, observatories and astronomy visitor centres are among the most reliable places to find genuine eclipse glasses. Museum gift shops sometimes stock certified solar viewers ahead of major celestial events.

Trusted online astronomy retailers

If you’re buying online, choose established astronomy retailers or reputable science suppliers rather than unfamiliar third-party marketplace sellers. Make sure to check delivery dates so your glasses arrive before eclipse day.

How to spot fake eclipse glasses

Experts warn that fake eclipse glasses regularly appear online before major eclipses.

Only eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers that meet the international ISO 12312-2:2015(E) safety standard should be used.

Before buying, check for:

• ISO 12312-2 certification.
• The manufacturer’s name and contact details.
• Instructions explaining safe use.
• Packaging that appears professionally printed and unopened.

Avoid products that are unusually cheap, have no manufacturer information or lack safety markings. Ordinary sunglasses, no matter how dark they are, do not provide enough protection to safely view the Sun.

Never look directly at the Sun

Even with more than 90% of the Sun covered across much of Scotland, it is never safe to look directly at a partial solar eclipse without certified eye protection.

Looking at the Sun without the correct filters can permanently damage the retina, often without causing any immediate pain or warning.

Anyone planning to use binoculars, telescopes or cameras should also make sure they have specialist solar filters fitted.

No eclipse glasses? You can still watch safely

If eclipse glasses have sold out, there are still safe ways to enjoy the event.

A simple pinhole projector made from a piece of card allows you to project an image of the eclipsed Sun onto another surface without looking directly at it. Many astronomy organisations are also expected to livestream the eclipse online.

What time is the solar eclipse in Scotland?

Timings vary slightly depending on where you are in Scotland.

On the Isle of Barra, the eclipse will begin at around 6.05pm, reach its maximum at around 7.03pm when approximately 93% of the Sun will be covered, before ending at around 7.58pm.

In both Glasgow and Edinburgh, the eclipse will start at around 6.08pm. Glasgow will reach its peak at around 7.06pm with around 91.4% coverage, while Edinburgh will see its maximum at around 7.05pm with approximately 90.7% of the Sun obscured.

In both cities, the eclipse is expected to end at around 8pm.

Best places to watch the eclipse in Scotland

The Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides is expected to offer Scotland’s best view of the eclipse.

Because it lies farthest west and closest to the path of totality, Barra is forecast to experience around 93% coverage, making it the country’s top location for skywatchers.

Elsewhere along the west coast, the Outer Hebrides, Isle of Skye and the Ayrshire coast are all expected to provide outstanding viewing conditions thanks to their uninterrupted views across the Atlantic and Firth of Clyde.

In Edinburgh, where around 90.7% of the Sun will be obscured, popular viewing locations include Arthur’s Seat, Calton Hill, where the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh is expected to host a public viewing event using solar telescopes, and Blackford Hill beside the Royal Observatory Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, Glasgow is forecast to enjoy around 91.4% eclipse coverage. Some of the city’s best vantage points include Cathkin Braes, the highest point in the Glasgow area, Loch Lomond Shores, which offers expansive views across the water, and the flagpole viewpoint in Queen’s Park.

Because the eclipse takes place shortly before sunset, the Sun will be very low above the western horizon. Experts recommend choosing an elevated location or somewhere with a clear, uninterrupted view towards the west or north-west to enjoy the best possible view.

The BBC has shared some big news ahead of the fourth series of TV hit Gladiators

Gladiators fans have said adding Joe Marler to the line-up is “perfect” casting.

The BBC has announced that the former England rugby international will be the show’s first celebrity Gladiator, and that he will take the name Mauler when he’s in the arena.

Joe, a contestant on Celebrity Traitors last year, will make his Gladiators debut when the BBC series returns next year, when “he’ll go head-to-head with some of the Contenders in special appearances packed with power, personality and plenty of surprises”.

Fans of the sports entertainment show, which is hosted by Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, have welcomed the news, with many posting messages on social media saying they “can’t wait”.

“This is epic, great signing,” one person said on Instagram, as another remarked: “Joe Marler swapping the rugby pitch for the arena. We’re here for it.” “Marler the Mauler,” quipped someone else, as another teased: “Chaos unfolding.”

Someone else wrote: “Congratulations on becoming a Gladiator. Looking forward to seeing what you can do and give the Contenders a total fright – go give them hell.”

“Perfect name,” commented another fan, while somebody else said it was the “best choice ever”.

“This is absolutely golden,” said another fan, while one said it was “perfect casting”.

Joe will line up alongside familiar Gladiator faces including Apollo, Comet and Diamond in the forthcoming series, with the show releasing a first-look image of his suit hanging alongside the outfits of his new teammates.

In a clip shared on Instagram, the star is seen walking into the Gladiators’ dressing room before turning to face the camera and saying: “Mauler will see you now.”

Behind him the names and outfits of some of the other Gladiators could be seen, such as those belonging to Steel and Legend. The name ‘Mauler’ was in between their names, with the newcomer’s red and blue vest hanging beneath it.

Gladiators was a big hit in the 90s, when it was hosted by Ulrika Jonsson, and it was brought back in 2024 with Bradley and Barney taking the reins.

So far three series have aired, and a fourth run has been confirmed for next year.

Gladiators returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2027.

A heroic police officer took down a drugs suspect who aimed a crowbar at his head amid the Met’s week-long crackdown. 

Two plainclothes officers had stopped the 28-year-old man as he rode a stolen moped in Brixton.

Tied to the moped was a carrier bag containing MDMA, cocaine and pink cocaine, a popular cocktail of ketamine, MDMA and caffeine mixed with pink food dye. 

Cannabis and £1,500 in cash were also found. As the man ran away, officers chased and cornered him in a car park. 

He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and grievous bodily harm after he hit an officer in the face with a crowbar. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries.

This arrest occurred within the same week as Operation Gallium, a week-long pursuit to tackle gun crime and serious violence, which saw nearly 300 arrests and 38 dangerous weapons seized.

It was led by the boroughs with support from specialist crime. 

The crackdown across Lambeth and Southwark saw officers execute warrants, conduct stop and searches to remove dangerous drugs and weapons from the streets and apprehend known gang members who had contributed to rising serious youth violence in the area. 

He was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and grievous bodily harm after he hit an officer in the face with a crowbar

Over the past 18 months, the number of the most serious violent offences has fallen by almost 20 per cent

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The Metropolitan Police carried out a major, week-long intelligence-led crackdown on gang violence across the South London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, following a rise in gang tensions and high-profile violent incidents

Action was taken in Lambeth and Southwark due to a rise in gang-related tensions and a number of serious, high-profile incidents in recent months. 

The operation resulted in a total of 297 arrests, culminating in 238 charges for offences including possession of dangerous weapons, possession and supply of Class A drugs and attempted murder.

Two hundred and thirty-three stop and searches were carried out, which led to 40 arrests. 

Thirteen weapons sweeps took place, contributing to the seizure of 38 dangerous weapons, including knives and firearms. 

Ten homicides were recorded in Lambeth and Southwark between January 1 and June 3, almost 20 per cent of the 55 people killed in London this year, reports The Times.

Knife crime in both boroughs fell 18 per cent in the year to June 30, but gun crime is up 5 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. 

There have been several violent incidents in recent weeks.

Abdulkadir Mahamed, 22, was fatally stabbed on Tremadoc Road, Clapham, on July 25. Javed Khan, 22, from Wandsworth, has been charged with murder and violent disorder.

Both plainclothes officers and firearms patrol units deployed throughout the week to track down and arrest offenders known for carrying the weapons and dealing the drugs that are fuelling organised crime in the area

 297 arrests were made, resulting in 238 charges (including weapons possession, Class A drug supply, and attempted murder)

On the same day, a masked motorist pointed a gun at a man outside a Cost Cutter in Thessaly Road, Vauxhall. The firearm is believed to have jammed before the suspect fled.

Three men aged between 21 and 23 have been charged with the murder of Kamahl Cameron-Williams, 31, on Westow Hill in Crystal Palace on June 21.

Keanu Taylor, 25, was attending a barbecue on Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, when he was wounded in a drive-by shooting on May 2. He died two days later. 

Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, who led the week-long operation, said: ‘This activity is part of an ongoing campaign to drive down violence and make our neighbourhoods safer. 

‘That sustained approach is already delivering results, with knife crime down by 18 per cent across Lambeth and Southwark.

‘But we know that despite this success, gangs continue to do harm to London’s communities. In recent weeks and months, more families have had to endure the unimaginable pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence.

‘We do not want to see another life lost, which is why we’re so determined to keep taking robust action.

‘Those driving serious violence across London should be under no illusion. We are targeting them relentlessly, and we will use every power available to take weapons, drugs and dangerous offenders off our streets.’

13 weapons sweeps, which contributed to the seizure of 38 dangerous weapons, including knives and firearms

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Action was taken in Lambeth and Southwark due to a rise in gang-related tensions and a number of serious, high-profile incidents in recent months

Led by Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, the operation is part of an ongoing campaign that has helped reduce knife crime by 18% in Lambeth and Southwark

Detective Sergeant Phil Morrison, who works on the proactive disruptions unit, said: ‘If you want to stop a young person joining a gang, you need to get them before they turn 13. The staple age is from 14 to 17. You don’t see them on the streets from 18 or 19… because they’re in prison, possibly dead or have found another way of life,’ he said.

Police described a 15-year-old boy who had eight impending cases, as delays in the justice system have affected how teenage boys are thwarted from gangs. Morrison said: ‘How can we intervene post-offence when they are being convicted three years later?’

Over the past 18 months, the number of the most serious violent offences has fallen by almost 20 per cent, while lethal gunshot victims have reduced by 27 per cent.

Homicides remain at their lowest per capita rate (1.1 per 100,000) on record, at significantly lower levels than other comparable cities.