It’s a big day for fans of middle-aged men in stone-washed jeans because Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are returning to The Grand Tour.

The former Top Gear trio are reportedly set to make a surprise comeback two years after their final adventure.

While the exact details of Clarkson, Hammond, and May’s return aren’t known at the moment, it’s thought they’ll help introduce the viewers to the new Grand Tour crew.

Earlier this year, Amazon annouced that trainspotter Francis Bourgeois and motoring YouTubers Thomas Holland (no, not the historian or actor) and James Engelsman would be hosting a revived version of the popular show.

‘We’ve got three guys coming soon with a new Grand Tour, and we’ve got behind them,’ Andy Wilman, co-creator and executive producer of Clarkson’s Farm, told 3Bs radio at the Buckingham Literary Festival.

‘We’re really supporting them. Our guys are in the shows doing cameos, so we’re wishing them well because we do want to pass that baton on.’

Wilman also explained how The Grand Tour needs more than just silly hosts.

‘When those three (Clarkson and co) go away, you can’t parachute in three new, good presenters who are funny,’ he said.

‘That’s like describing the show over the phone to an alien — “you just need three funny blokes, and they muck about”. It’s not going to work.’

Clarkson has already given the new trio his seal of approval.

“’I’ve seen the guys being chosen in the early days, and I’ve seen some of the stuff they’ve been doing. And it’s very, very good,’ he told the Radio Times.

‘It’s different because they’re three completely different people to us. But they’re bl**dy funny. You shall see. You shall see.

‘But no, I’m pretty confident it will work. I mean, touch wood, from everybody’s point of view. We all want it to work, and I’d love the idea that the Grand Tour carries on.’

The new boys have admitted, meanwhile, they know they’ve got a lot to live up to taking over The Grand Tour in a press release.

‘The saying “big shoes to fill” springs to mind,’ said Bourgeois.

‘The Well, in this case it’ll be like Mo Farah running in Size 14 wellies — it’ll be a little awkward at first, perhaps blister-inducing but will overall be an interesting watch.’

Engelsman meanwhile joked that he’s worked with Holland for almost a decade making car films and never realised that ‘the one ingredient that was missing was a Francis Bourgeois’.

Thomas Holland added: ‘When I first heard they were rebooting The Grand Tour and replacing Clarkson, Hammond and May, I said, “only a moron would take that job.”’

Wilman issure, however, that the new presenters will do agreat job because ‘they are doing it right.’ ‘

‘Not only do they have passion and knowledge, but more importantly, they are in no way cardboard cutouts of the old three,’ he continued. ‘They have a delightful chemistry that’s all of their own making.’

The Grand Tour returns to Prime Video on 4 September

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Jennifer Aniston stepped off a private jet with her best pals Courteney Cox and Jason Bateman on Monday afternoon. 

The actress, 57, joined her Friends co-star Courteney, 62, and fellow Horrible Bosses actor Jason, 57, for a vacation in Spain before flying back to LA. 

She looked chic in a tight black vest and low-key jeans showcasing her svelte figure. 

Courteney went more basic in a loose-fitting shirt paired with wide-leg cream jeans and a wide-brimmed sun hat which she held in her hand. 

Jason was showing off longer locks in a trendy style change and paired his look with stylish glasses.  

The actress, 57, joined her Friends co-star Courteney, 62, and her fellow Horrible Bosses actor Jason, 57, for a vacation in Spain before flying back to LA

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She was assisted off the jet by an aide following the swanky break 

Following their fun-filled getaway, the group gave each other fond hugs with Jennifer cupping Jason’s face and then hugging Courteney closely. 

Also in tow for the holiday was Jennifer’s boyfriend Jim Curtis, Amy Schumer, male model Christian Hogue and stylist Jamie Mizrahi. 

The trip marks a bit of a full-circle moment for Jennifer and Jim, who were first linked while on vacation with friends in Majorca last year. They started dating in early 2025 and were  first spotted together in public in July, on vacation with friends.

They made their first official public appearance at the ELLE Women in Hollywood event in Beverly Hills on November 17, 2025.

The couple celebrated their one-year dating anniversary in May, with a source revealing exclusively to the Daily Mail what the couple did to mark the milestone.

The insider shared at the time that Aniston and Curtis planned to vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico after she finished filming season five of The Morning Show.

She looked laid-back and stylish in the ensemble 

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Jason and Courteney also shared a hug as they bid farewell 

Courteney kept things paired back as she hit the ground

Jennifer recently celebrated her one year anniversary with boyfriend Jim Curtis

Amy Schumer shared a sweet snap showing her on a boat with the two friends stars

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‘They want to have some fun in the sun and toast a year of bliss in her favorite place in the world, Cabo,’ the source revealed.

‘She is head over heels for this guy and wants him to be her forever person, so it’s fitting they take a romantic break to appreciate one another.’

The Daily Mail’s insider also provided insight on how Jim has fit into Jennifer’s A-list friend group, which includes Jason, Sandra Bullock, Adam Sandler and Sean Hayes.

‘Jim fits right in with the crowd, they think he is a cool guy, which is very relaxing for Jen. She doesn’t have to sell Jim, everyone is sold on him!

‘Dinner parties, movie nights, premieres, they are easy breezy for Jen when Jim is by her side because he is so likable.’

Jennifer is also reportedly so fond of her boyfriend because there is no competition between them – unlike exes Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, John Mayer and Justin Theroux.

Courteney was sure t

Jason and Jennifer have starred together in a number of films

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Courteney and Jason have bonded through their friendship with Jennifer 

‘It is all about her and how she feels and what she needs,’ said the source. ‘He never talks about his career or tries to network with her contacts, he has no interest in being an actor or being famous.

‘She has said with him she can exhale, she can let herself go and breathe because there is no pressure.’

Being that Jim is a life coach, he has reportedly been a healer for Aniston as well as her friend group. ‘Very often Jim gets people to take deep breaths, to focus on the here and now, to appreciate the good things in life, he is like a human peace sign.

‘He is the dude everyone gravitates toward at a party,’ the insider shared.

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.

Newsquest has contacted ITV for comment.

Coronation Street star set to leave after 3 years on ITV soap

While Emma Matthews is set to join the cast of Coronation Street, Claire Sweeney has left the show.

The actress plays Cassie Plummer, who decided to leave Weatherfield after having a confrontation with Ross Wilkes (played by Ian Burfield).

Claire recently revealed that she was “in total denial” about leaving the soap after “having such a wonderful time”.

Discussing he exit, she said: “It’s funny because my very last scene—the one where I’m driving away—was actually filmed two or three weeks before I finished.

“Because of that, it didn’t feel like a true ending.

“For me, the final scene in the Dobbs house felt like the real goodbye because that’s where I started with Alan, Jenny, and the kids.

“I missed Maureen Lipman so much; I would have loved for her to have been there for that.”

Claire is set to take on the role of Miss Hannigan in the UK tour of the musical Annie as her next project.

Are you curious to see who Emma Matthews will play on Coronation Street? Let us know in the comments.

After meeting on Tinder, Kathryn White’s abusive behaviour led to the death of her girlfriend, Claire Alex

A possessive and controlling woman subjected her girlfriend to a relentless campaign of abuse, driving the “vulnerable” mum to suicide just days after she finally found the strength to report her tormentor, a court has been told.

Victim Claire Alex told police she had “completely lost herself” and felt “broken” after 11 months of torment from her partner, Kathryn White. Four days later, she killed herself.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Gary Woodhall said White’s prolonged abuse of Ms Alex had significantly contributed to the mum’s decision to end her own life in July 2022.

The “cold, collected” abuser showed “absolutely no remorse, shame or empathy” for her actions, as the court heard how she terrorised Ms Alex physically and emotionally, cutting her off from her family and friends.

Click here to hear the latest from Manchester’s courts in our newsletter

White, 41, of Mayfield Mews in Crewe, Cheshire, denied controlling and coercive behaviour, but was found guilty following a trial. She appeared back in court on Friday July 31, for sentence, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Prosecutor Ember Jade Wong said White and Ms Alex had met on dating app Tinder in August 2021, and that “the relationship to begin with was a positive one.”

She said: “Claire Alex was in love. That remained a constant throughout the relationship and was one of the reasons Ms Alex remained in what emerged to be an abusive and controlling relationship, where she was reluctant to report to the police and was scared to leave. Even as that relationship became more volatile and abusive, and she became more isolated from those around her.

“She would control what she did, who she spoke to, and would monitor her in various different ways. Perhaps the most significant form of isolation in this case was from friends and family, including her own children.”

The troubled relationship finally came to an end in July 2022, when an argument resulted in White grabbing Ms Alex by the neck and pinning her to a wall. She threatened to kill herself, took the victim’s phone so she could not call for help, and threw her to the floor.

Judge Woodhall said: “I have no doubt that your behaviour on that day demonstrates the way you manipulated your partner to ensure your control, and more importantly, your complete inability to cope with any challenge by her to your authority in the home.

“Your controlling behaviour appears to have been motivated by sexual jealousy, a sense of ownership and desire to isolate the victim for you to gain control.”

The incident “spilled out onto the street” and neighbours called the police, which led to Ms Alex making a statement.

The judge continued: “She described how she had completely lost herself, and that she was broken. I have no doubt that she took her own life, at least in part, because she felt her own life had been completely ruined by you, because you left her feeling like she had no choice.”

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Rosemary Proctor, defending White, said the former army officer had depression, anxiety and ADHD, and had suffered sexual trauma in the past.

Asking the judge to pass a suspended sentence, she said: “I ask your honour to take into account sexual trauma and the impact of imprisonment on her. While there are mental health services in prison and while treatment is available, people with mental health issues can find the overwhelming nature of a prison environment more oppressive than those without mental health disorders.

“During this trial the court saw the worst version of Kathryn White. That’s not the only version. It’s clear from the character references she can be compassionate, she can be generous, she can be a good friend, a good sister, a good daughter, even a good girlfriend. There are many who can say she had made a positive impact on their lives.”

Judge Woodhall said Ms Alex had been “besotted” by White, and was “very much in love”. In return, White “controlled her and was abusive towards her.”

He said: “You belittled her, controlled her access to social media, checked her calls and messages and interactions with others. This included putting distance between her and her family and ultimately isolating her from her family until she felt completely dependent on you and unable to tell her family what was happening.

“You were abusive and threatening to anyone you perceived showed a sexual interest in her. You sought to control who she had contact with, including at work.”

The isolation worsened when Ms Alex moved from Rhyl in Wales to live with White in Crewe, and she was scared to visit her daughter on her wedding day.

The judge said: “Your behaviour amounted to a prolonged and persistent campaign of psychological and physical abuse.”

When Ms Alex had tried to take her own life on a previous occasion, White showed “no real concern for her health” as she dropped her off at the hospital, telling her to “get the f*** out of the car”. She later told Ms Alex she had “not done a good enough job in trying to take her own life”.

On one occasion she threatened to stab Ms Alex. On another occasion, she slapped her outside her workplace after a colleague hugged her.

The judge concluded: “I have watched your behaviour throughout the trial. I’m satisfied, even allowing for your mental health difficulties, you demonstrated a cold, collected attitude with absolutely no remorse, shame or empathy.

“Your behaviour demonstrated attempts by you to control the way evidence was given. You made flippant and jokey remarks which could not have been more inappropriate, which shows a complete lack of understanding of the impact of your offending.”

He sentenced White to three years and six months in prison.

Part of the road may have collapsed, police say

A Cambridgeshire road is closed after a water main burst. Cambridgeshire Police has closed off Weasenham Lane in Wisbech this morning (Tuesday, August 4) due to a burst water main.

A video captured by resident Ryan Conway shows water sprawling out across the road. The road has been closed by police between Elm Low Road to Bolness Road.

A police spokesperson believes “some of the carriageway may have collapsed”. As a result of the burst main, people in the area may be experiencing an interruption to supply.

On the Anglian Water website, it said: “We’re sorry if you’ve got lower pressure than normal or even no water at all at the moment. We’re working hard to find out what’s going on.

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“Problems like this are usually a sign there’s a burst pipe somewhere in our network, but as it might not be visible yet, our teams are on the ground using the latest technology to try and find it.”

Anglian Water and Cambridgeshire Police have been contacted for further information.

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At least five people were killed and 10 more injured in a Ukrainian drone strike on a warehouse close to Moscow overnight on Tuesday, the region’s governor has said.

The official did not specify what had been targeted but Ukraine has been carrying out strikes on facilities operated by Wildberries in recent weeks, often dubbed the “Russian Amazon”.

Kyiv says the depots are used to supply the Russian military, which Moscow denies.

Local officials also said Wildberries warehouses were targeted in the St Petersburg and Tver regions overnight.

Russia also launched strikes against parts of Ukraine, killing at least four and injuring several people.

Russia’s defence ministry said it had intercepted and destroyed 320 drones overnight.

Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov said an industrial site in Novoselki, Chekhov – about 69km (43 miles) south of the Kremlin – was attacked, triggering a fire at a warehouse.

He wrote on Telegram that seven of the 10 people injured were in a moderate condition, with one in a serious condition.

Ukrainian media reported that the site of the Moscow strike was linked to Wildberries.

The company has not commented publicly but confirmed its facility in St Petersburg was hit.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said an 89-year-old woman was killed and two girls, aged two and 12, were among seven injured in a Russian strike on the southern port city of Mykolaiv overnight.

A woman and two girls, aged five and 10, were killed in a strike on a residential area in Sumy, and another four people were injured, it said.

Russian strikes also injured two people in the city of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, while a food warehouse was set on fire in Dnipro, according to the State Emergency Service.

Auckland Castle’s Walled Garden, a Grade II-listed site in County Durham, is one of six projects in the running for the Stephen Lawrence Prize 2026, which celebrates emerging architectural talent.

The restored garden was brought back to life by MawsonKerr Architects in collaboration with landscape architect Pip Morrison.

The new space includes a Victorian-inspired glasshouse (Image: Oli Sturdy)

A citation from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) praised the transformation and its thoughtful approach.

It said: “The Walled Garden at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, has a rich and distinctive history.

“Its restoration by MawsonKerr Architects with landscape architect Pip Morrison strikes a compelling balance between sensitive repair and thoughtful reinvention.”

The glasshouse (Image: Dan Kerr)

Judges also commended the restored garden walls and the integration of new, functional elements.

The citation continued: “The Grade II-listed walls enclosing the garden have been meticulously restored and seem content to resume their role as a backdrop to a productive landscape after years of dereliction.

“MawsonKerr’s new-build interventions are small, precise, and beautifully executed.”

One of the key new additions is a maintenance block that blends into the bankside, designed with reclaimed and new brick and topped with a sedum roof.

The Walled Garden is central to the Castle’s transformation into a major visitor attraction (Image: Oli Sturdy)

According to the judges, this building “merge seamlessly with the surrounding landscape” and reflects the high level of care applied to the entire project.

The citation also highlighted the wider purpose of the site beyond its visual appeal.

It said: “These functional interventions ensure that the Walled Garden is more than a visitor attraction or productive plot.

“It now serves as a resource for education on seasonality and biodiversity, with produce grown on-site used in local restaurants and surplus donated to local charities.”

Staff wellbeing and volunteer engagement have visibly improved since the garden’s transformation, according to feedback from those working on the project.

The glasshouse was described as the “jewel in the crown.”

A distinctive ridge and furrow roof maximises morning and evening light (Image: Oli Sturdy)

Inspired by the “ridge and furrow” design of Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace, the new structure sits lightly on the footprint of the former pinery-vinery and supports the work of gardeners and volunteers.

The structure was developed in close collaboration with JC Consulting, and judges praised its lightness, both visually and structurally.

Budget constraints shaped the project, but the judges said its quality did not suffer as a result.

They concluded: “Through close collaboration with manufacturers, client, and contractor, they have created something genuinely special that could so easily have been ordinary.”

They also recognised The Auckland Project’s commitment to regeneration through culture, heritage, and high-quality design.

This is not the first time Bishop Auckland has been recognised for architectural excellence.

The glasshouse is now the third RIBA North East Award–winning project within a 100-metre radius.

Elsewhere on the Stephen Lawrence Prize shortlist are projects in London, Hertfordshire and Cornwall, including a new junior school, a converted department store, and an urban stables scheme.

The Auckland Castle Walled Garden is described as “a thriving hub for education and community wellbeing.”

Matthew Goldschmied, jury chair and managing trustee of The Marco Goldschmied Foundation, said: “Once again, the shortlist presented the jury with a diverse array of outstanding projects by early-career architects.

“Through excellence in community connection, regeneration of public spaces, education environments and ecological sensitivity, these projects collectively reassure us of the undoubted talent emerging into the profession.

“Those shortlisted have become part of the living memorial to Stephen Lawrence, and we are looking forward to visiting all projects and meeting the project architects and clients behind them.”

Chris Williamson, RIBA president, added: “This year’s shortlist is a powerful reminder of the talent, creativity and innovation emerging within our profession.

“From the sensitive restoration of historic buildings to the creation of new structures that support education, wellbeing and community, these projects demonstrate the enormous impact architecture can have when people and purpose are placed at its core.

“Not only are these emerging architects shaping the future of our built environment, but they are already delivering projects of exceptional quality and social value.”

The winner of the Stephen Lawrence Prize 2026 will be announced at the RIBA Stirling Prize ceremony on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Old Billingsgate in London.

Officers want to trace 37-year-old Luke Linley, from Leeds, who is wanted by the domestic abuse integrated offender management team from the city force for breaching the conditions of his licence.

Despite extensive enquiries, police said they have been unable to locate Linley and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

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A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “We are renewing an appeal for information to help trace a man from Leeds who is wanted on recall to prison.”

Anyone who has information regarding this person is asked to call police on 101, or report online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat.

Information can also be passed to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Please cite reference number 13260197766.

Five other people have already been named by police

A teenage boy is the sixth person to be charged after a man was shot in a Cambridgeshire town. Cambridgeshire Police was called to Leverington Common in Gorefield, near Wisbech, at around 1.55am on May 31.

A man in his 20s had been shot and suffered serious injuries. Five people were charged in connection with attempted murder and later appeared in court. Police have charged a sixth person.

A police spokesperson said: “A 15-year-old boy from Basildon, Essex, has been charged with conspiracy to murder, actual bodily harm (ABH) and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. He has been released on police bail to return to Milton Police Station on September 9.”

The other five people charged in connection with the incident were:

• Jesse Hughes, 31, of St Thomas’ Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm, and perverting the course of justice;
• Billy Cameron, 21, of Grosvenor Road, Basildon, Essex, has been charged with conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice;
• Brandon Walsh, 29, of Long Riding, Basildon, Essex, has been charged with conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice;
• Eleanor Warren, 30, of Willingham Gardens, Flitton, Bedfordshire, has been charged with perverting the course of justice;
• Leah Foley, 34, of Byrd Court, Basildon, with assisting an offender.

All five appeared at Luton Magistrates Court on July 22. All five will appear at Cambridge Crown Court on August 19.

A number of ‘traditional’ names are no longer being chosen by parents

A number of baby names are quickly falling out of favour, with barely any new parents choosing them. Data spanning 120 years from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed a number of traditional names that face the very real prospect of becoming extinct.

Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at mynametags.com – which carried out the analysis – said: “We’ve been supporting parents in the UK for over 20 years, and have observed first-hand that baby name trends tend to be cyclical in nature. In recent years, we’ve seen the resurgence of many vintage names, such as Florence and Arthur. This got us thinking about the historic names that haven’t experienced a comeback, which set us on our path to discovering the beautiful, traditional names that risk becoming lost in time.”

He further noted that the company hopes certain names, including Freda, can be “saved”.

According to the ONS, the most recently available figures show a number of more unusual names breaking into the top 100 registered in England and Wales – with both Athena and Yahya featuring on the list for the very first time. At the other end of the spectrum, the name Cecil was once a staple among British boys in the early-to-mid 20th Century, but became officially extinct in 2024.

Baby names that could become extinct

Leigh

Leigh is a unique spelling of the more common ‘Lee’, and means ‘meadow’ or ‘delicate’. The name was only registered three times in 2024, despite fitting with the current trend for short-and-sweet boys’ names.

Maurice

A traditional Roman family name, Maurice was a staple of the top 100 most popular names from 1904 to 1954, but was registered just eight times in 2024.

Percy

Percy, meaning ‘pierce the valley’, offers plenty of vintage charm, yet has been left to almost extinction, accounting for just 0.02% of babies registered.

Claude

Claude, with roots to historical nobleness, has fallen out of favour with parents since the 1920s. A short and chic-sounding name, it’s now almost entirely extinct in the UK, with only 0.001% of babies born in 2024 given the name.

Winifred

Appearing consistently in the top 100 names from 1904 to 1934, Winifred means ‘blessed peacemaker’. Often shortened to ‘Winnie’, the adorable name has become surprisingly scarce in recent years.

Millicent

A retro alternative to the popular ‘Amelia’, Millicent, meaning ‘gentle strength’, offers a variety of charming shortenings, including Millie, Minnie, and Mila. However, just 42 Millicents were registered in the UK in 2024, compared with 2,448 Amelias.

Freda

Freda, meaning ‘peaceful ruler’, was one of the most popular names in the early 20 th Century, appearing in the top baby 100 names consistently from 1904 to 1934. However, the name is now virtually extinct with only seven babies registered with the name in 2024, according to ONS’s most recent data.

Rosina

Meaning ‘little rose’, the name Rosina was particularly popular before the First World War. Now, only 0.002% of babies born in the UK have the name, making it a perfect option for expectant parents looking for a unique, classical twist on current favourites ‘Rose’ and ‘Rosie’.

Bessie

Bessie, used on its own or as a shortening of Elizabeth or Beatrice, is a beautiful alternative to another vintage name, ‘Betty’, which has risen in popularity in recent years. Yet, it was only registered 17 times in 2024, meaning the name could die out entirely this generation.