I was thrilled when I heard that Diane Morgan was creating a new comedy series for the BBC.

I’m a big fan of the comedian and of the channel’s plethora of sitcoms that we’re lucky to have at our fingertips – so for me, this was a winning combination.

Mandy is an iconic character and the bitesize episodes have brought me so many laughs.

And Philomena Cunk is one of Britain’s best comedic characters who asks the most wonderfully absurd questions to extremely serious academics.

Ann Droid felt like a new endeavour for Morgan, who co-wrote the script with Sarah Kendall, but it wasn’t what I expected.

Certainly, there are still elements of absurdity and the highly stylised characterisation that defines Morgan’s work.

Her quick, dry wit also shines through in the series about a grieving widow called Sue, played by The Royle Family’s Sue Johnston, whose adult son, played by Motherland’s Paul Ready, buys her an Elder Care robot to help with her needs.

It’s a poignant comment on our ageing society and the increasing need for effective social care that comes with that. The answer? An AI robot called Linda.

Morgan stars as the droid who takes responsibility for Sue’s physical and mental health in the wake of her husband’s death and her son Michael’s decision to leave home and go back to his cheating ex-wife.

Her resemblance to a robot is utterly uncanny, and hugely impressive. The attention to detail in her every movement places her miles ahead of the other actors playing AI helpers in the show, and reminds viewers why the Bolton-born comedian is such a talent.

In fact, she is so good at it, that I found myself getting increasingly frustrated with her character.

While watching, I was feeling triggered by her robotic inability to grasp certain situations, reminding me of the countless times I have begged my Amazon Alexa for ‘volume down’, only for her to fail her to understand my perfectly clear instruction.

Shamefully, I’ll say that these interactions can lead to my own poor Alexa being called some nasty names – an admission I’m not proud of…

So when Linda inappropriately blasted out ‘upbeat music’ at the wrong time, or spoke with that unnervingly consistent pitch and tone, at times I found my blood irrationally boiling.

Perhaps that’s more of a reflection on myself, and indicates I might need to engage with a bit more of a mindful approach when it comes to technology… but I don’t want to be reminded of that while watching a comedy.

This wasn’t the only thing which left me annoyed with the show.

Personally, I think Ready is one of the stand-out performers in Motherland, and while his character in that show is awkward and slightly hopeless, his comedic potential is fully realised.

In Ann Droid, his character also possesses a similar energy, but there aren’t enough funny moments to save him from just being annoying.

Andrea Valls as his unfaithful wife, Renee, was a wonderful surprise in the series.

The actor-come-TikTok star, who does hilarious sketches of the changing seasons and embodies different types of milk (you had to be there) should become a permanent fixture in British comedies.

Her ability to encapsulate a certain kind of person, in this case a BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu)-obsessed-borderline-health-conspiracist who thinks ‘proximity to old forests can cure things like arthritis and cancer’.

Johnston is also predictably fantastic, but is let down by the series itself which lacked pacing and dragged at times.

Whether it was Linda’s purposefully monotone voice, or the predictable storyline, the whole thing felt slightly one note and didn’t reach a big enough climax.

When I understood that this was more than just a silly take on robots, I was expected to be moved to tears or sternly warned of the dangers of technology replacing humans.

Instead, it felt stuck between a comedy and a drama the whole time, and I felt unsettled as a viewer deciding which it was.

Ann Droid is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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By ED HOLT

Published: 21:07 BST, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 21:57 BST, 17 July 2026

The family of Virginia Giuffre say they have been told Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor cannot be investigated over the Epstein files because he is ‘refusing to co-operate’ with acting US attorney general Todd Blanche.

Mr Blanche met Ms Giuffre’s brother and sister-in-law – Sky and Amanda Roberts – as well as other survivors of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein after Republican senators threatened to scupper his confirmation as attorney general.

President Trump’s nominee for the top job spent an hour on Thursday evening at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington with the group of Epstein victims, who have blasted the White House‘s handling of its investigation into the sex offender.

Criticism has also come from Trump’s own party, with the outgoing senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis indicating he would not vote to advance Mr Blanche’s nomination until he met the survivors.

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During the meeting, Mr Roberts confronted the acting Attorney General about the investigation into Epstein’s co-conspirators.

Speaking to The Times, he said: ‘Well I said, “Let me give you an example: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.”

‘Virginia provided testimony and she provided evidence, is that not an investigative lead? He said, “Well, he won’t co-operate with me,” and he also said, “Virginia’s not here so I can’t use that testimony.” It just felt like he wasn’t willing to work with us.’

Ms Giuffre, who died last year, accused Andrew of having sex with her on three separate occasions while she was being sex trafficked by Epstein.

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Todd Blanche met Ms Giuffre’s brother and sister-in-law – Sky and Amanda Roberts – as well as other survivors of Jeffrey Epstein after Republican senators threatened to scupper his confirmation as Attorney General

Andrew with Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell. Ms Giuffre, who died last year, accused Andrew of having sex with her on three separate occasions while she was being sex trafficked by Epstein

Pictured: Ms Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts who claimed Mr Blanche told him Andrew was ‘refusing to co-operate’ 

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Andrew has denied wrongdoing related to Epstein and said he did not remember meeting Ms Giuffre and he has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

The former Duke of York is also being investigated by Thames Valley Police for alleged misconduct in public office during his time as trade envoy.

It came after documents released in the Epstein files suggested Andrew forwarded confidential government itineraries and commercial reports to Epstein.

The Daily Mail has approached Andrew for comment.  

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By DANIEL MATTHEWS, US SENIOR SPORTS WRITER

Published: 21:12 BST, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 21:47 BST, 17 July 2026

Bryson DeChambeau was embroiled in a furious exchange with rules officials during the second round of The Open in a clash over a two-shot penalty.

In astonishing scenes at Royal Birkdale on Friday, the American could be seen shouting animatedly at officials as they argued over whether he improved his lie on the fifth hole.

DeChambeau shot a second-round 66 to haul himself up to second in the leaderboard before he was carted back to the fifth to discuss the incident.

After a prolonged, emotional argument, the LIV Golf star was still chuntering as he was driven back toward the clubhouse. 

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It was still unclear at that point if he would be penalized for improving his lie by trampling down the rough near his ball to aid his backswing. 

But before long, DeChambeau’s score on the official leaderboard was changed to 68, confirming that he had been given a two-shot penalty.

Bryson DeChambeau is in a spirited discussion with the rules official at the 5th hole talking about his possible two-stroke penalty. 😳 pic.twitter.com/Cq2aCrTqIT

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) July 17, 2026

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Bryson DeChambeau was embroiled in a dramatic argument with rules officials at The Open

The LIV Golf star was taken back to the fifth hole to discuss whether he improved his lie

The ruling meant he carded a triple-bogey seven on the fifth hole and, at the end of the dramatic saga, he sat in a tie for fifth place – three shots off the leader Lucas Herbert.

‘I’m going to hit some balls,’ DeChambeau said as he emerged from the scoring hut and reporters attempted to ask him questions.

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This is the moment a Ukrainian oligarch and his family were blown up in a bomb attack outside a luxury apartment in Monaco.

New footage released by the Ukrainian prosecutor general today shows the assassination attempt of property tycoon Vadym Yermolaiev, his mistress Anna Nasobina and their 13-year-old son on June 29. 

The attacker, believed to be Ukrainian Anastasiia Berezovska, appears to be walking ahead of the family as they approach the Sun Palace apartment building.

A bomb packed with nuts and bolts was left inside a rucksack at the entrance hall to the building just seconds before the family were about to walk through the door. 

The suspect, who matches the description of Berezovska, then calmly walks off and appears to be on the phone as a huge blast takes place behind her. 

Ms Nasobina, 46, had her legs amputated following the explosion, while both her and Yermolaiev suffered severe shrapnel wounds and burns. Their son was also wounded.

The video was recorded on a surveillance camera close to the crime scene and was released today by Ukrainian prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko. 

He said the ‘perpetrators’ had tried to delete the footage but specialist investigators had been able to restore it.  

The suspect, believed to be Ukrainian Anastasiia Berezovska, was captured fleeing the scene on CCTV

Vadym Yermolaiev, who was targeted in a bombing in Monaco, has accused Kyiv ’s military intelligence agency of being responsible for the attack

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A huge blast is captured on the footage before it cuts out 

He said: ‘Urgent investigative and procedural actions are actively ongoing to obtain new evidence in the case of an attempted murder in the Principality of Monaco.

‘Thanks to the professional work of the specialists of the Security Service of Ukraine, one of the key pieces of evidence, which the suspects tried to destroy, was successfully restored.

‘This involves a video recording from the surveillance camera, which the perpetrators had previously installed near the crime scene to obtain confirmation of the order.

‘Despite the fact that this evidence was deleted, the specialists of the SBU were able to restore it.’

Ukrainian citizen Berezovska, was identified as the prime suspect for the parcel bomb by Interpol, who called the 39-year-old ‘armed and dangerous’.

Footage from nearby surveillance cameras showed her wearing a black bucket hat and fleeing on foot across the border to France, where there are no checkpoints.

She headed into the town of Beausoleil, and then made her way to Italy, investigators believe. 

Berezovska was found dead near Kyiv on July 6. Investigators said she had been shot.

He did not provide evidence for the allegation, however.

The suspect calmly walks off before footage captured on a surveillance camera cuts out due to a huge blast

Interpol accused Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old woman from Ukraine, of detonating the bomb

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Three Ukrainian nationals including an oligarch fleeing the war against Russia were seriously wounded when a bomb exploded in the centre of Monaco (Pictured: Sun’s Palace on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, where the bomb detonated)

Vladyslav Reut, a current officer with Hur, was charged with her murder and appeared in court last week alongside Vitalii Zhykovych, his co-defendant.

Zhykovych worked until recently for Kyiv’s SBU security service.

Both men have denied guilt.

While Reut initially admitted to killing Berezovska, he later retracted his confession and blamed Zhykovych, whose lawyer denied the allegation.

Yermolaiev today accused Kyiv’s military intelligence agency of being responsible for the attack. 

‘Based on the investigative evidence available to us, we have no doubt that serving officers of the main intelligence directorate of the ministry of defence of Ukraine, commonly known as Hur, were directly involved in this attempted assassination,’ Yermolaiev said in a statement released by his lawyers.

Now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will likely face questions from Western allies over the alleged involvement of a serving Hur officer in the killing of the prime suspect in the Monaco bombing.

Yermolaiev, a property developer named by Forbes magazine in 2020 as the 39th richest Ukrainian, has a fortune of USD 230million (GBP 172million).

Anna Nasobina, his mistress, is understood to have lost both legs in the explosion

Vladyslav Reut appeared in a Kyiv court last week over the murder of Anastasiia Berezovska

Kyiv has sanctioned him since 2023 over interests in wine and alcohol in Russia-occupied Crimea.

He described how Nasobina had suffered ‘catastrophic and irreversible injuries’ while their son sustained burns, fractures and other serious injuries.

‘I remain in intensive care and am only now beginning the long process of recovery,’ he added.

‘This was not a warning. It was an attempt to kill not only me, but my family as well.’

The explosion was so powerful that it tore through steel railings and destroyed stone steps outside their property, he said.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Hur, denied Yermolaiev’s allegations, which he said were ‘subjective political statements’ that he said would damage the investigation into the bombing.

Positive figures have emerged through the council’s empty property relief budget, which provides rate relief to owners of unoccupied non-domestic properties such as shops, offices and industrial units.

The number of empty shops and commercial properties across South Lanarkshire is falling – in an encouraging sign for the region’s local economy.

A report presented to South Lanarkshire Council’s recent finance and corporate resources committee confirmed that fewer commercial premises are sitting vacant across the region than in previous years, with the trend expected to continue.

Positive figures have emerged through the council’s empty property relief budget, which provides rate relief to owners of unoccupied non-domestic properties such as shops, offices and industrial units.

With fewer properties requiring support, council finance chiefs are forecasting a £1 million saving on the scheme in 2026/27 — slightly higher than the £803,000 underspend recorded on the same budget last year.

Lorraine O’Hagan, the council’s head of finance, told the committee: “We have an expectation of a recurring underspend in the current year — slightly higher than what we had in the previous financial year — and again it’s due to demand and the anticipated reduction in the number of empty properties that we’re having to support as a council.”

The £1 million has been set aside in a separate budget while the council decides how best to use it, with a final decision expected later in the year. The annual saving is also expected to become a permanent feature of the council’s finances.

She said: “That recurring underspend is liable to continue from 2027/28 onwards, so we’ve also noted that as a benefit to the council’s revenue budget strategy from 2027/28.”

The committee noted that £590,000 of new investment funding has been allocated as part of the 2026/27 budget, covering galas and festivals (£200,000), third sector support (£300,000), Citizens Advice funding (£40,000) and the Community Engagement Team (£50,000). * Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!

As mayor of Greater Manchester, one of Andy Burnham’s most eye-catching policies was his agenda for public transport. This centred on the creation of a more integrated and inclusive “London-style” system, and the aim was that everybody should be able to access reliable, safe and affordable public transport across the region.

The idea behind his flagship “Bee Network” is the joining up of buses, trams, rail, cycling and walking under one brand, with simple fares and better coordination.

Burnham and his team at local government body Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) fought to turn back Margaret Thatcher’s bus deregulation policies, which opened the market up to private providers. They then brought buses back under local control through franchising.

In practice, this means that rather than letting commercial operators take charge, TfGM makes the decisions on routes, frequency, fares and integration. Services around the city centre are free.

The northern English city of Manchester has played a critical role in the development of Andy Burnham’s political and social outlook. This series considers what some have dubbed Manchesterism and what it might mean for the future of the UK.

Outside London, Greater Manchester is the first area to achieve this considerable shift towards an integrated public transport network. Other metropolitan authorities plan to follow its lead, and most people in the region credit Burnham’s leadership for this success.

In a departure from the England-wide policy of a £3 cap on bus fares introduced in January 2023, the Bee Network has retained its £2 cap on fares. The Bee Network also allows “hopper-style” ticketing, which lets passengers change buses within a time window without paying again. There have also been fare freezes for 2026 and expanded concessionary travel for older and disabled passengers.

Problems outside the centre

But there are still significant challenges. A key question is whether the quality and reliability can improve enough to generate sustained growth in passenger journeys. Greater Manchester’s official bus strategy targets a 30% increase in bus use by 2030, equivalent to nearly 50 million additional journeys each year.

It is also unclear whether funding for fare subsidies will remain stable given wider policy pressures, such as the need to provide affordable social housing and support for businesses.

But arguably, the most important of these challenges is the ongoing problem of transport-related social exclusion. I have serious doubts around whether orbital and cross-borough journeys in Manchester’s urban periphery will improve enough for the Bee Network to benefit communities beyond the city centre. This is particularly the case for deprived boroughs such as Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan.

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Research I was involved in looked at low-income and transport-poor communities in these peripheral areas. It found that limited public transport, especially bus services, continues to make it harder for people to get jobs, study or access healthcare and social activities.

While the Bee Network is working well in the centre of Manchester, it largely serves those who already enjoy a high standard of bus services. It remains to be seen whether the same high standards can be achieved in Greater Manchester’s district centres, and it’s likely to prove even more challenging in its semi-rural areas.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

Two major incidents have been declared at Dovestone, in Greenfield in Oldham, and at Tintwistle Moor near Glossop

Fire chiefs have revealed they are still struggling to contain two moorland blazes as their operation is poised to enter an eighth day.

Two major incidents have been declared at Dovestone, in Greenfield in Oldham, and at Tintwistle Moor near Glossop. Dozens of firefighters remain at both scenes. In Tintwistle, above Woodhead Road in Glossop, a blaze first broke out nearly three weeks ago. It has it spread over the moorland and burned an area the size of at least 350 football pitches.

As police confirmed two more arrests over an alleged arson, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service incident commander Paul Fernhead paid tribute to the firefighters and officers working on the scene to battle the fires, saying he is ‘really, really proud’ of those who have been ‘working tirelessly’ over the past week.

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In an update this afternoon (July 17), Mr Fernhead said: “We are dealing with two fires, we have been working in the Dovestones area for around seven days, and in the Swineshaw area for around three days.

“The fire at Dovestones is still progressing slowly but we are containing the fire currently, and working with partners to resolve this incident and slow its spread.

“Our staff have been amazing, the commitment they have shown. They are working tirelessly hard to ensure that we slow the spread and stop the progress. I am really really proud of the work they have put in. They are great characters keeping positive and turning up to resolve this.”

It comes as police have made two more arrests in relation to the Dovestone moorland fire that has raged for almost a week. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that officers arrested a 19-year-old woman on suspicion of arson yesterday (July 16). She has been bailed pending further police enquiries.

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And today they arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of arson. He remains in custody for questioning.

Shania Care-Slede, of Market Street, Hyde, aged 20, has already been charged with arson and appeared in court on Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Andrew Day of Oldham division said: “This investigation has been progressing at pace, we are nearly a week on and the fire at Dovestones is still ongoing, and it has had devastating effects it has had on the Reservoir.

“I mentioned in my last update that we are aware of the social media posts circulating regarding this incident, it is a live police investigation, and I would like to stress the point again, to stop sharing and speculating regarding this and if you do have information, please report it to ourselves.

“As this incident continues, officers would like to thank all emergency service partners for their support and dedication. In particular, our colleagues at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, whose firefighters have spent countless hours tackling the fire in demanding conditions.

Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, is appealing a jury’s $140,000 award to handyman Tony Saxon, who accused him of underpaying him for renovation work at his Malibu mansion.

Ye maintains Saxon only performed demolition work and was paid $240,000.

Saxon’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, claimed the pair had a 2021 agreement for $20,000 per week but that he received only one payment and an additional $100,000 for construction costs. Judge Brock Hammond upheld the March 11 verdict.

On Monday, Ye’s lawyers filed his notice of appeal for a three-justice panel. Ye also sued on January 8, targeting Saxon, his attorney and the firm.

The lawsuit dates back to Saxon’s involvement in renovating Ye’s $57 million Malibu beachfront mansion. Saxon sued Ye, alleging wrongful termination, unpaid wages and a personal injury he says occurred while working on the project.

The singer alleges they wrongfully filed a $1.8 million lien on his Malibu property, falsely claiming work beyond demolition. He is asking that the lien be declared void and he is also seeking $2.27 million in damages.

“The recorded lien was a fabrication and the defendants who prepared it verified it and stood behind it knew as much,” Ye’s suit states.

Meanwhile, Saxon’s lawyers previously filed court papers with Hammond in advance of a scheduled Oct. 7 hearing asking that the plaintiff be granted $1.23 million in attorneys’ fees, citing the work of three attorneys and a paralegal.

The law involved in Saxon’s case included a “complex and interwoven mix of rights” under the Federal Employment and Housing Act and the Labor Code, according to Saxon’s attorneys’ pleadings.

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In his lawsuit filed in September 2023, Saxon maintained he was forced to sleep on the mansion floor while acting as a security guard and fired in November 2021 for not complying with Ye’s “dangerous requests” that could cause the plaintiff to be injured.

Saxon said he often complained to Ye about various dangers during the remodeling.