Stacey Solomon temporarily stepped in for head judge Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent

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Fans of Britain’s Got Talent said the same thing after Stacey Solomon took over judging duties this week.

Saturday’s auditions (March 21) in Birmingham featured a fresh addition to the panel. Television personality Stacey joined the programme, covering for head judge Simon Cowell. The 36-year-old, who became a household name on The X Factor in 2009, temporarily filled Simon’s seat after he fell ill during last October’s filming.

Stacey sat alongside KSI, Alesha Dixon and temporary head judge Amanda Holden as aspiring performers competed for the £250,000 prize and a prestigious spot at the Royal Variety Performance.

Shortly after the ITV programme began, audiences took to X (previously Twitter) to share their reactions to Stacey’s substitute appearance, with many voicing their enthusiasm.

“Big reception from the crowd for Stacey Solomon as she deputises for Simon,” one viewer posted, reports Belfast Live.

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READ MORE: BBC Strictly boss issues statement as longest-serving pro quitsREAD MORE: Britain’s Got Talent fans left in tears by 12-year-old boy’s audition

Another commented: “Go on Stacey!” whilst a third wrote: “Welcome to the #BGT judging Panel Stacey Solomon.”

A fourth supporter echoed this sentiment, posting: “Stacey Solomon joining the judging panel of #BritainsGotTalent!” accompanied by star emojis, with another remarking: “I’m loving Stacey as judge – she’s really settling in well.”

During the show, the panel met 12-year-old James from Rye, East Sussex, who delivered a stunning performance of Defying Gravity from Wicked.

Following the mind-blowing performance, Alesha remarked: “That was how you do it! Everybody loves that big moment at the end, I can’t tell you how many times my children have tried to attempt that last moment in the song. It is the magic moment, and you smashed it!”

Stacey commented: “You think your kids are talented and then you’re like, ‘No, maybe mine aren’t so talented,’ when you see people like you, James. Your parents must be buzzing.”

She continued: “That was absolutely phenomenal,” whilst Alesha described James as “a star in the making”.

Other acts on tonight’s programme impressed the judges, including a magician, an ice-skating performance and a salsa dancing troupe.

Discussing her BGT involvement on ITV’s This Morning earlier this week (Wednesday, March 18), Stacey told presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard: “I loved it!”

She continued: “Do you know what’s really funny [about] having that full circle moment? One, I felt like I really connected with people on stage, because it’s not easy to put yourself forward in those situations.”

Referring to her popular BBC series, Sort Your Life Out, Stacey added: “But two, I realised just what it’s like to present a show where you’re not digging through people’s houses and you get to dress up, wear a nice dress and sit in a chair all day. I was like, ‘Wow, this is a great show!’”

Britain’s Got Talent airs on ITV1 and ITVX

Britain’s Got Talent fans were left fuming during the latest episode of the ITV talent show

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Fans of Britain’s Got Talent were left unimpressed during the latest live show on ITV.

The popular talent contest has made its comeback to ITV for a 19th series, with countless aspiring performers taking to the audition stage, hoping to secure £250,000 and a coveted slot at the Royal Variety Performance.

Contestants will be attempting to win over judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI, who has taken over from Bruno Tonioli on the judging panel this series.

Saturday’s (March 21) instalment saw television personality Stacey Solomon step in for head judge Simon, following his illness during filming last October. When Simon re-joined the panel later in the programme, the judges encountered a mysterious magician named Aldo Nicolini.

Emerging from underneath a curtain, the 61-year-old Italian commenced his performance by wrapping a scarf around his neck, before his head seemingly detached from his body in a startling illusion, reports Belfast Live.

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READ MORE: Stacey Solomon replaces Britain’s Got Talent judge as fans say same thingREAD MORE: Britain’s Got Talent fans left in tears by 12-year-old boy’s audition

Youngsters in the audience immediately started shrieking, whilst the judges watched on in shock. Aldo proceeded to repeatedly “lose his head” using various props, including a box and a handkerchief that created the impression his head was drifting away from his body.

After the performance, Amanda said: “I’ve never seen anything like that before. It was charming, it’s a yes from me!”

However, KSI disagreed, stating: “I think I’m going to be a bit of a downer here, but I didn’t like it. I mean, he just kept doing the same thing over and over. It’s a no, man.”

Meanwhile, Alesha found the audition “entertaining”, with Simon chiming in: “I thought it was actually silly, funny and good,” before affirming Aldo’s progression to the next round.

The majority of viewers seemed to align with KSI’s perspective, with many voicing their grievances on X (formerly Twitter).

“What the f***, that is disgusting,” one individual posted, with another remarking: “What in the Beetlejuice is this? Halloween has come early.”

A third commented: “That’s just freaky,” with another fan echoing the sentiment: “No sorry but that was disgusting.” A fifth viewer similarly expressed: “What in the name of madness is this?!” with another adding: “Well, that’ll give kids nightmares tonight.”

Meanwhile, others lauded the unique performance, with one person stating: “I love stupid s*** like this man.”

Another added: “Yeah that was brilliant. Something different!” whilst a third said: “The head guy! Completely ridiculous, but entertaining nonetheless.”

Britain’s Got Talent airs on ITV1 and ITVX

The Morning Live presenter has been forced to quit the mission during which she and endurance athlete Mimi Anderson hoped to cycle 300 miles in three days.

BBC star Louise Minchin has been taken to hospital with frostbite having taken part in a gruelling Arctic challenge. The Morning Live presenter has been forced to quit her mission with endurance athlete Mimi Anderson.

The pair had hoped to cycle 300 miles in three days through Canada’s Northwestern Territories. With the aim of raising money for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Louise, 57, and Mimi got to about 87 miles when disaster struck.

After battling treacherous winds and temperatures that reached as low as -40C, they realised something was horribly wrong, and they needed immediate medical attention.

Speaking to her Instagram followers from her hospital bed on Friday, Louise explained: “We are out of the race, but we are safe, warm and being well looked after.”

After 14 hours, they had no choice but to leave the Inuvik Weekend Warrior Fat Bike Challenge, which sees participants cycle across the Arctic wilderness and frozen rivers. The Mirror reports that the challenge is described as taking cyclists “through some of the coldest, toughest and most beautiful terrain.”

Louise wrote: “We did around 140k in temperatures as low as -40 degrees. When we got to this point, both of us knew we were very dangerously cold. The combination of the temperature and wind meant despite having prepared as much as we could have it was a huge risk to go on.

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“Turns out we were right to stop. We both have frostbite and are being looked after incredibly well looked after. At the moment we remain in good spirits.”

The video Louise shared showed her and Mimi with their fingers bandaged up in blue dressings as they sat in hospital together. Frostbite can be caused in as little as 10 minutes when they wind chill is as cold as -36C, which were the conditions Mimi and Louise faced as they cycled through the Northwester Territories.

The condition can cause pain and numbness to begin with, but if left untreated and exposed it can lead to frozen skin, swelling, blood-filled blisters and a loss of sensation. In extreme cases, necrosis can begin, which is when the skin turns black as it starts to die.

Louise’s celebrity pals flooded the comments with well-wishes after their disappointment. Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid said: “Big hugs,” while Olympian Greg Rutherford posted: “Bloody hell Lou! Be safe.”

Fellow BBC presenter Helen Skelton shared: “What an achievement so far.” With endurance runner and writer Susie Chan added: “Bloody hell ladies. You are such a pair of baddies!!!! Stay warm!”

Author Adele Parks praised their journey, typing: “What a huge achievement doing 140k! So proud of you both. Especially proud for recognising when you need to get in doors!! So sorry to hear about the frostbite!!! Take excellent care of each other and please please please get fully better soon xxx”

Just the day before, Louise shared a photo of herself as she set off on her journey. She wrote: “Today I set off on what is likely to be the adventure of a lifetime, an epic bike race in the Arctic Circle, 300 miles in 3 days in temperatures as low as minus 30C. Why? You might ask, believe me, I have been asking myself the same question a lot recently.

“The simple answer is that when Mimi Anderson, legendary endurance runner and friend invited me to join her on the inaugural Weekend Warrior in Canada’s Northwest Territories it sounded fun. @marvellousmimi.”

She added that her aim of raising money for young people to join the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme would be the incentive to keep pushing when “the going gets tough”. Louise shared: “I went on my first expedition with DofE over forty years ago and that is where my passion for challenging myself started.”

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McDonald’s newest oversized burger is drawing attention across the country — not just for its size, but for how much its price can vary depending on where customers order it.

The fast-food giant recently introduced the Big Arch in the U.S., a limited-time menu item featuring two quarter-pound beef patties, white cheddar cheese, crispy and slivered onions, lettuce, pickles and a signature sauce on a sesame and poppy seed bun.

A survey by NeoMam Studios of more than 450 McDonald’s locations, reported by Time Out, reveals significant price differences across the country. The burger costs as little as $7.46 in Columbia, South Carolina, but climbs to $12.99 at a Lewiston, Maine location, a nearly 74 percent difference.

State-level averages show similar variation, with Alaska ranking as the most expensive overall at about $10.32, while Oklahoma averages $8.05, and Texas and Indiana are slightly higher at roughly $8.

Other high-cost states include Washington, Hawaii and Arizona, where the Big Arch typically approaches or exceeds $10. These differences can be attributed to regional factors such as higher transportation and operating costs, as well as McDonald’s franchise pricing flexibility.

Designed as a “heartier” menu option, the Big Arch burger was first tested internationally in early 2024 in countries including Canada, Germany, Portugal, France and Switzerland. It officially launched in the U.S. on March 3, following widespread attention when McDonald’s CEO and Chairman Chris Kempczinski posted a video of himself attempting to eat it — a clip that has since gone viral and been widely mocked.

In the video, Kempczinski awkwardly struggles to bite the oversized burger, curiously calling it a “product.” The clip quickly sparked a trend, with CEOs from rival chains, including Burger King, Wendy’s and KFC, filming themselves attempting their own menu items.

The Big Arch is McDonald’s largest burger in the U.S., containing 1,020 calories and 53 grams of protein. A full Big Arch Meal, which includes a medium Coke and medium fries, totals 1,610 calories, according to the company.

The State Pension age will soon start to rise, with the transition expected to be completed for everyone across the UK by 2028.

A significant change to the State Pension is set to start from April. The State Pension age will start to rise from 66 to 67, with the shift expected to be completed for everyone across the UK by 2028.

The proposed change to the official retirement age has been legislated since 2014, with a subsequent increase from 67 to 68 planned for roll-out during the mid-2040s. The Pensions Act 2014 fast-tracked the State Pension age increase from 66 to 67 by eight years.

The UK Government also adjusted how the State Pension age increase is introduced, meaning instead of reaching State Pension age on a specific date, individuals born between March 6, 1961 and April 5, 1977 will become eligible to claim the State Pension when turning 67.

It’s crucial to comprehend these upcoming changes now, especially if you’ve formulated a retirement plan. Everyone affected by alterations to their State Pension age will receive communication from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with plenty of notice.

As per the Pensions Act 2007, the State Pension age for both men and women will rise from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046, reports the Mirror. The Pensions Act 2014 requires a regular review of the State Pension age, at least once every five years.

The review will focus on the principle that individuals should spend a certain proportion of their adult life receiving a State Pension. The UK Government has recently set up a new Pension Commission to investigate ways of boosting pension savings, with its findings due to be revealed in 2027.

The commission will look into issues such as auto-enrolment saving rates, promoting savings among groups like the self-employed, and a reassessment of the State Pension age, according to the Daily Record.

State Pension Rates 2026/27

Full New State Pension

– Weekly: £241.30 (from £230.25)

– Four-weekly pay period: £965.20

– Annual amount: £12,547

Full Basic State Pension

– Weekly: £184.90 (from £176.45)

– Four-weekly pay period: £739.60

– Annual amount: £9,614

Other State Pension rates

– Category B (lower) Basic State Pension – spouse or civil Partner’s insurance: £110.75 (from £105.70)

– Category C or D – non-contributory: £110.75 (from £105.70)

The new payment rates will commence on April 6.

Dr Suzy Morrissey will offer insights on factors the UK Government should consider regarding the State Pension age, whilst the Government Actuary’s Department will prepare a report on the proportion of adult life spent in retirement.

The reassessment of the State Pension age will take into account life expectancy along with a range of other factors relevant to determining the State Pension age. Following the outcome of the review, the UK Government may choose to make changes to the State Pension age. However, any suggested changes would need to be approved by Parliament before they can become law.

The final Premier League weekend before the March international break continues on Merseyside as Everton host Chelsea, with both teams in contention for European spots for next season.Chelsea claimed the spoils when these sides met at Stamford Bridge back in December, winning 2-0 courtesy of goals from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto, and are looking to complete a first league double over Everton since 2016/17. Everton though have a strong recent record at home against Chelsea, losing just one of their last eight home league meetings with Chelsea.

Everton came close to taking a point from their trip to league leaders Arsenal last weekend but two late goals for Mikel Arteta’s men meant David Moyes’ side went back to Merseyside with nothing.

“We did not take away what we wanted which was points,” Moyes said. “The players played really well. Scoring goals is the thing, but Arsenal make it really difficult. Overall disappointed, but pleased with how we played.”

They come into this game in eighth, with the chance to move up a spot and within two points of their opponents with a win this evening.

“They [Chelsea] are a little bit wounded, so we have to be ready for them coming to our place,” Moyes added. “Undoubtedly a talented group of players.”

James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite missed the defeat at Arsenal but are set to return this afternoon. Jack Grealish remains out for the hosts.

Chelsea have lost their last three games in all competitions, including having their Champions League campaign brought to an end in midweek, losing 3-0 at home to PSG to be condemned to an 8-2 aggregate loss to the Parisians.

“When you lose games, there is always damage attached to it,” Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior said. “There is also me, I am learning about the team, myself, my staff and the club. I learnt a lot this week. There is a resilience and determination to put things right from the team and me. We will see in the coming weeks what happens, which I am very confident about. Different challenges, every manager goes through moments like this, difficult weeks. I have had challenging periods before. At Strasbourg, we lost games. But I have always found ways to come through that. We are at that point again. As a group, we need to find a way to fight and come through a difficult period.”

Chelsea have the chance to move into fourth with a win this evening. Rosenior has confirmed that Trevoh Chalobah could be out for six weeks with an ankle injury picked up in the defeat to PSG whilst captain Reece James will also miss the trip to Everton due to an hamstring injury. Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen will also miss this game.

Team news to follow shortly.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Saturday blocked an amendment that would ban transgender athletes from playing in women’s sports, rejecting one of President Donald Trump’s priorities as he pressures Congress to act on a broad voting bill.

Senators were holding a rare weekend session to debate the voting legislation, which would put in place strict new requirements for voter registration and require photo IDs at the polls in an effort to prevent people in the country illegally from casting ballots.

The House passed the bill earlier this year, but the Republican president has since said he wants additional priorities added to the legislation, including the sports ban for transgender athletes and a ban on all mail-in voting.

Democrats are expected to eventually block the broader legislation, arguing that it would make voting more difficult for large groups of people. Despite Trump’s pressure, Republican senators have said repeatedly that they do not have enough support to jettison the legislative filibuster, which triggers a 60-vote threshold in the 100-member Senate, or find another workaround to pass the bill. Republicans hold 53 seats.

Still, Republicans put the legislation — the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE America Act or the SAVE Act — on the Senate floor this week for a lengthy debate as Trump has said he will not sign other bills until they pass the voting measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D, said Saturday morning that Republicans “haven’t made any final decisions about how to conclude this.”

“What we are trying to do is ensure that we are having a fulsome debate,” Thune said, and put everyone on the record “one way or the other.”

Senate rejects Trump priorities

The amendment that was blocked by a 49-41 vote would penalize educational institutions that receive federal funding if they permitted individuals assigned male at birth to participate “in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.”

Trump also wants Congress to block sex reassignment surgeries on some minors as part of the debate on the voting bill. It is unclear whether the Senate will hold a vote on that.

In addition, Trump has said he wants the House-passed bill to include a ban on most mail-in balloting. Trump has criticized mail in ballots for years and used it as a centerpiece of his efforts to overturn his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. A ban on mail ballots would likely face strong pushback from lawmakers.

Republicans focus on voter ID

Thune said the Senate will soon vote on an amendment that would force all states to require photo identification at the polls. Democrats blocked a similar bill on the floor last week, but Republicans say they want to put them on the record on that issue with a roll call vote.

“There are no good excuses” not to require photo identification, said Republican Sen. John Husted, a former Secretary of State in Ohio. “This works. It’s being implemented all over the country.”

Illegal voting by noncitizens is rare. Still, a poll by the Pew Research Center in August 2025 found that about 8 in 10 US adults said they favor requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote.

Thirty-six states require some form of identification at the polls, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and 23 states require photo identification. The SAVE America Act would require photo identification and could override many forms of ID allowed in states across the country — including fishing and hunting licenses or college IDs. It would also require that people voting by mail include a photocopy of their ID with their ballot.

Democrats say they support some voter ID laws, but argue that the proposed ID requirements in the bill, along with strict new requirements for voter registration, would prevent many people from voting. The bill would also allow the Homeland Security Department to review state voter rolls, which Democrats say could lead to voters being purged.

The new rules would be “a bureaucratic nightmare,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

“They want to end vote by mail, end registering online, end registering on college campuses and in churches, and even end registering at the DMV, where of course you have to show ID,” Schumer said.

Timing ahead is unclear

Trump, backed by an enthusiastic online campaign of his supporters, has made the voting legislation his top congressional priority. He has said it is necessary for Republicans to win the midterm elections – even after Republicans won the White House and Congress without it in 2024.

“THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE U.S.A.,” Trump posted on social media on Friday.

He has pressured Thune to scrap the filibuster, but Thune has stood firm in saying that there isn’t enough Republican support to do that. He is expected to eventually end the floor debate and call for a vote to move forward on the legislation, and Democrats would then block the bill.

But it’s not clear when that will happen — or if Trump will be satisfied enough with days or weeks of debate to lift his promised blockade on other legislation.

Thune would only say on Saturday that “at some point that’s a that’s a possibility” that Republicans will start the process of ending the debate. The Senate is scheduled to leave town at the end of next week for a two-week spring recess.

Republican senators have largely backed Thune’s efforts. But they say the end point is uncertain, for now.

“I don’t know,” when it will end, Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said. “I don’t think anybody does.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday he will order federal immigration officers to take a role in airport security starting Monday unless Democrats agree on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

In a pair of social media posts, Trump first threatened and then said he had made plans to put officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in airports if the congressional standoff continues. He made the announcement as a partial shutdown contributes to long lines to pass through screening at some of the nation’s largest airports.

The Republican president suggested ICE agents would bring the administration’s immigration crackdown into the nation’s airports, promising to arrest “all Illegal Immigrants.”

“I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, “GET READY.” NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!” Trump wrote while spending the weekend in Florida.

The move appears to be a pointed effort to expand the type of immigration enforcement that has become a sticking point in Congress. Democrats pledged to oppose funding for DHS unless changes were made in the wake of a crackdown in Minnesota that led to the fatal shootings of two protesters. Democrats are asking for better identification for federal law enforcement officers, a new code of conduct for those agencies and more use of judicial warrants, among other measures.

The Minnesota operation was tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. On Saturday, Trump said ICE officers sent to airports would focus on arresting immigrants from Somalia who are in the United States illegally. Repeating his criticism on Somalis, he said they “totally destroyed” Minnesota.

“If the Democrats do not allow for Just and Proper Security at our Airports, and elsewhere throughout our Country, ICE will do the job far better than ever done before,” Trump said.

Trump’s posts did not offer additional detail on how ICE would take a role in airport security and what it meant for the Transportation Security Administration, which screens passengers and luggage for hazardous items.

The vast majority of TSA employees are considered essential and continue to work during the funding lapse, but they are doing so without pay. Call-out rates have started to increase at some airports, and DHS said at least 376 have quit since the partial shutdown began Feb. 14.

On Saturday, in a rare weekend session, the Senate rejected a motion by Democrats to take up legislation to reopen TSA and pay workers who are now going without paychecks. Republicans argue that they need to fund all parts of the DHS, not just certain ones. A bill to fund the Cabinet department failed to advance in the Senate on Friday.

There were signs of progress, though, with the restarting in recent days of stalled talks between Democrats and the White House. On Saturday, Republican and Democratic senators were set to meet for a third consecutive day with White House officials behind closed doors as Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York spoke of “productive conversations.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., urged the bipartisan group to act quickly. He has said repeatedly that Democrats and the White House need to find compromise as lines at airports have grown.

“If that group that’s meeting can’t come up with a solution really quickly, things are going to get worse and worse,” Thune said Saturday.

___

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.

The BBC released a statement, saying: “We would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to Karen Hauer for her incredible contribution to Strictly Come Dancing over the last 14 years.

“As the longest-serving female professional dancer in the history of the show, Karen has given so much of herself and her time to the programme, and we are extremely grateful for the passion, creativity and dedication she has brought to every single performance.”

Shaw’s speedy hat-trick beat the previous record set by ex-Arsenal striker Kelly Smith in 2014 when she scored three goals in 16 minutes against Bristol Academy.

Remarkably, it was Shaw’s fourth successive hat-trick against Tottenham in the WSL at Joie Stadium.

It took her tally to 18 goals in 18 WSL matches this season and 16 goal involvements (15 goals, one assist) against Tottenham during her five-year spell in England.

Her exploits are likely to take her to a third successive WSL Golden Boot at the end of the campaign and she will surely be in the running for Player of the Year.

“It was a good afternoon, I must say. Especially off the back of the [0-0 draw with Aston Villa] last week,” said Shaw. “I have amazing players around me and I just try to do the best I can at the top end of the pitch.”

While her goalscoring hits the headlines, it is Shaw’s work-rate off the ball that really caught Coffey’s attention.

“I feel like what you see, is what you get. She is so electric, she’s so good and she’s so dominant,” added Coffey.

“I loved her defensive efforts [against Tottenham]. When she is pressing, I think she is one of the best pressing number nines in the world.

“She’s been such a joy to play with. I’ve obviously respected her for years but now getting to know her and be her team-mate is a privilege.”

For any opponent, facing Shaw is one of the biggest challenges in football.

Tottenham boss Martin Ho conceded his side could do little to stop her, other than try to prevent the ball reaching her.

Does she incite fear in opposing players?

“I wouldn’t say it’s fear but it’s definitely doubt,” said Ho. “She is the best forward in the world by a mile.

“She scores with her feet, with her head, has good link-up play and good movement.

“There were times in the first half where we could have got closer or stopped crosses and when you don’t do that, you get punished.”