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Inside Hayden Panettiere’s many heartbreaks: From doomed union with much-older Milo Ventimiglia to custody drama with Wladimir Klitschko

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Hayden Panettiere's death at just 36, after a life fraught by addiction and heartbreak, has shocked the world - pictured March 2023

Hayden Panettiere’s death at just 36, after a life fraught by addiction and numerous heartbreaks, has shocked the world.

Panettiere, who would have turned 37 on August 21, was found ‘unresponsive’ by officers and paramedics in an apartment block in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, and she was later pronounced dead at the scene following a suspected overdose.

Police and the local coroner’s office are probing the death, but said the ‘preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances’.

The star and her on-off, real estate agent boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who was previously jailed for abusing her, were said to have flown from Los Angeles to South Carolina, where he is from, one day before she died. 

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She is survived by one daughter, Kaya, 11, who she welcomed during her longest romantic relationship, with boxer Wladimir Klitschko, 50.

The pair sparked up a romance in 2009, and even became engaged, before going their separate ways in 2018 following the actress’ public mental health battles.

The actress, who never married, had previously had a high-profile age-gap romance with her former Heroes co-star Milo Ventimiglia when she was 18 and he was 30 – with the star later blaming her inability to say ‘I love you’ as a catalyst for the split.

Her final romance was with Hickerson, who previously admitted to abusing her and was sentenced to 45 days in county jail – and served 13 days the following month –  after pleading no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend back in April 2021.

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Hayden Panettiere’s death at just 36, after a life fraught by addiction and heartbreak, has shocked the world – pictured March 2023 

Hayden Panettiere's convicted felon ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson were said to have flown from Los Angeles to South Carolina, where he is from, one day before she died.; The two seen in 2018

Hayden Panettiere’s convicted felon ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson were said to have flown from Los Angeles to South Carolina, where he is from, one day before she died.; The two seen in 2018

STEPHEN COLLETTI – 2006-2007 

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Panettiere and the actor, now 40, hit it off as young stars on the rise in Hollywood, dating for almost two years from 2006-2007

Panettiere and the actor, now 40, hit it off as young stars on the rise in Hollywood, dating for almost two years from 2006-2007

Colletti is now married to Alex Weaver, and they share one child. He has gone on to star in the last season of The Traitors as a Faithful (pictured March 26 2026)

Colletti is now married to Alex Weaver, and they share one child. He has gone on to star in the last season of The Traitors as a Faithful (pictured March 26 2026)

Panettiere and the actor, now 40, hit it off as young stars on the rise in Hollywood, dating for almost two years from 2006-2007. 

At the time Panettiere was rising to fame in Heroes, while Colletti was starring in reality show Laguna Beach – before a starring role on One Tree Hill.

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The actress spoke to Us Weekly in April about Colletti, saying: ‘I’m so grateful that he was part of my life, especially when he was. Because when I was with him was when I started having to deal with paparazzi and tabloids and being the focal point of them.

‘He was able to help guide me through that experience and getting used to that.

‘He never appeared to be or came off as a bad guy. So I knew that there was a way to protect yourself and put up boundaries without being offensive or rude.’

The pair broke up at the end of 2007, with Panettiere saying: ‘We just ended up going our separate ways, there wasn’t really a story there.’

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‘We don’t keep in touch the way that I wish we did, because he’s such a great guy, but there was no drama.’

Colletti is now married to Alex Weaver, and they share one child. He has gone on to star in the last season of The Traitors as a Faithful.

MILO VENTIMIGLIA – 2007-2009

Hayden reflected on her short-lived romance with her Heroes castmate Milo Ventimiglia, which ended in 2009 after just 14 months (pictured in 2007)

Hayden reflected on her short-lived romance with her Heroes castmate Milo Ventimiglia, which ended in 2009 after just 14 months (pictured in 2007)

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Panettiere and Ventimiglia’s friendship-turned-romance in 2007 raised eyebrows with the actress just 18 and Ventimiglia aged 30 at the time.

The pair were cast as Claire Bennet and Peter Petrelli in the NBC superhero drama as far back as early 2006.

‘I saw him as my partner and that it was going to hopefully keep going and evolving and lead to marriage,’ the actress said in her Us Weekly cover story earlier this year. 

‘But it was a point of contention that I was unable to put the “I” in front of “love you” and at the time, I didn’t realize or understand why it made me feel so uncomfortable. I could only say “love you” in a casual way. 

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‘Being older, he was much more aware of what that meant. And that said a lot.’ 

‘Every relationship I’ve ever been in, I invested my whole self in. I saw him as my partner and that it was going to hopefully keep going and evolving and lead to marriage.

Looking back on her teenage romance with the actor earlier this year, Panettiere revealed motherhood had given her a new perspective on age-gap romances.

Ventimiglia is now marred to Jarah Mariano and the pair share two children

Ventimiglia is now marred to Jarah Mariano and the pair share two children 

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‘That’s hard. My daughter’s 11, so I’m trying to think of how I would feel. I’m sure she’s going to do exactly what Mommy did.

‘I’m ready and prepared for it, but I think it’s about the person. I was working with him all the time. My family knew him well. I was also … At 18, I lived so much life that he almost couldn’t count me as being 18. So Milo and I, even though he was 30, had a lot more in common than people might think.’

Ventimiglia, now 49, is now married to Jarah Mariano and the pair share two children.

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO – 2009-2018 

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Panettiere met Klitschko in 2009 and dated for two years before splitting in 2011 - they later rekindled their romance and welcomed a daughter - pictured 2013 shortly before getting engaged

Panettiere met Klitschko in 2009 and dated for two years before splitting in 2011 – they later rekindled their romance and welcomed a daughter – pictured 2013 shortly before getting engaged

In 2018, following her split from Klitschko, 50, Panettiere announced she had made the 'difficult decision' to sign full custody to her ex, meaning Kaya would move to his native Ukraine

In 2018, following her split from Klitschko, 50, Panettiere announced she had made the ‘difficult decision’ to sign full custody to her ex, meaning Kaya would move to his native Ukraine 

Discussing the prospect of bringing her daughter back, Hayden insisted that she would not want to take her away from her 'incredible' life in Ukraine. She said: 'By the time I finally got healthy, I felt like it would have been unfair of me to, and selfish of me to try to pull her out of this life that she had been creating'

Discussing the prospect of bringing her daughter back, Hayden insisted that she would not want to take her away from her ‘incredible’ life in Ukraine. She said: ‘By the time I finally got healthy, I felt like it would have been unfair of me to, and selfish of me to try to pull her out of this life that she had been creating’ 

Panettiere’s most enduring, and unlikely romance, began in 2008 when she met pro boxer Wladimir Klitschko at a party.

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After her shock split from Ventimiglia, she sparked up a relationship with Klitschko in 2009 and dated for two years before splitting in 2011. 

They reconciled in 2013 and she announced her engagement several months later in October 2013.

They welcomed their daughter Kaya in December 2014.   

‘He is just so over the moon,’ Panettiere said of Klitschko. ‘I’m lucky if I can get my hands on the kid. He’s like, “No, no, I got her.” Which is exactly what I thought he would be like.’

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However, the couple’s relationship would hit turbulent waters after Panettiere’s mental health began to unravel after the birth of Kaya. 

Panettiere previously revealed that she had started abusing drugs and alcohol when she was just 15 years old – and that her addiction spiraled out of control while she was battling postpartum depression after Kaya’s birth – leading her to seek treatment when her baby was four months old.

She said at the time of her mental health battle: ‘It’s something a lot of women experience. When [you’re told] about postpartum depression you think it’s ‘I feel negative feelings towards my child, I want to injure or hurt my child.’

In 2018, following their split, Panettiere announced she had made the ‘difficult decision’ to sign full custody of her daughter to her ex. Kaya then moved to his native Ukraine. 

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In her final interview in May, she spoke to Dear Momé about her choice, saying: 'It wasn't a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make. I was going through a really challenging time in my life'

In her final interview in May, she spoke to Dear Momé about her choice, saying: ‘It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make. I was going through a really challenging time in my life’

In her final interview in May, she spoke to Dear Momé about her choice, saying: ‘It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make. I was going through a really challenging time in my life.’ 

She told Jay Shetty on his On Purpose podcast in May: ‘I have been the one who sought it out, who was saying, ‘I desperately need help. I know this is going to look terrible, but I am. I cannot live like this anymore…

The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking. It couldn’t be further from the truth…

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‘It became this horrible cycle for years of battling depression and anxiety and alcoholism and substance abuse, and just me trying to find my way back.’

‘I love my daughter, and I’m so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She’s like a mini-me.’

Discussing the prospect of bringing her daughter back, Panettiere insisted that she would not want to take her away from her ‘incredible’ life in Ukraine.

She said: ‘By the time I finally got healthy, I felt like it would have been unfair of me to, and selfish of me to try to pull her out of this life that she had been creating.

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SCOTTY MCKNIGHT – 2011-2012

Panettiere dated New York Jets wide receiver Scotty McKnight, now 38, for more than a year following her brief breakup with Klitschko in 2011 - pictured November 2012

Panettiere dated New York Jets wide receiver Scotty McKnight, now 38, for more than a year following her brief breakup with Klitschko in 2011 – pictured November 2012

McKnight is now in a relationship with partner Tayla Burke and the couple share three young children

McKnight is now in a relationship with partner Tayla Burke and the couple share three young children

Panettiere dated New York Jets wide receiver Scotty McKnight, now 38, for more than a year following her breakup with Klitschko in 2011. 

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She and McKnight ended their relationship in December 2012 and she was seen with Klitschko shortly afterwards.

McKnight is now in a relationship with partner Tayla Burke and the couple share three young children. 

BRIAN HICKERSON – 2018-2022 

Panettiere and Brian Hickerson had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2018 to 2022 that was marred by domestic violence incidents and arrests (pictured together in 2019)

Panettiere and Brian Hickerson had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2018 to 2022 that was marred by domestic violence incidents and arrests (pictured together in 2019)

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Panettiere and Brian Hickerson had an on-again, off-again relationship from 2018 to 2022 that was marred by domestic violence incidents and arrests.

The actress was in the midst of her substance abuse issues when she started dating Hickerson, 37, shortly after she wrapped the sixth and final season of Nashville. 

Their relationship soon turned ugly when Hickerson was arrested in May 2019 after an incident with Panettiere. He was charged with domestic violence, and she received a protective order before the charges were dropped.

In July of 2020, he was arrested again in connection with eight charges of domestic violence. He entered a no-contest plea to a pair of felony counts of injuring a partner in 2021, and the rest of the charges were dropped. 

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In July of 2020, he was arrested again in connection with eight charges of domestic violence. He entered a no-contest plea to a pair of felony counts of injuring a partner in 2021, and the rest of the charges were dropped

In July of 2020, he was arrested again in connection with eight charges of domestic violence. He entered a no-contest plea to a pair of felony counts of injuring a partner in 2021, and the rest of the charges were dropped 

Hickerson was in jail for 13 days, and Panettiere put out a statement following the arrest saying she hoped she could serve as an example for others in a similar situation.

‘I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me in the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,’ she said at the time. ‘I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again.’

Panettiere told People that she continues to ‘feel the same way’ about the statement she put out two years ago.

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‘None of it is OK,’ she said. ‘But I want to make sure that everybody knows that each person who goes through something like that, they’re on their own journey. No two things are exactly alike.’

Panettiere also spoke with the publication about an incident in which she and Hickerson got into a bar brawl with a group of revelers at a celebrity hotspot in Los Angeles in 2022. 

According to TMZ, Hickerson sparked the fight when he spat on a fellow patron at Sunset Marquis, which prompted the manager to throw everyone out of the establishment. 

However, a representative for Panettiere told People that Hickerson ‘made a comment to an individual about leaving the waitress a poor tip.’

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Panettiere later said she was ‘trying to live in a place of understanding’ in regards to her history with Hickerson and the multiple domestic violence incidents he was charged with during their relationship.

‘I think [Brian] has done his time and was willing to get help. I think about the things I have done in my life that people forgave me for,’ she told People. ‘Making amends is a really important thing that you learn in treatment. And it gives you a lot of inner peace.’

It’s unclear when exactly they split, but Hickerson confirmed that they are ‘just friends’ and ‘absolutely not’ together anymore.

However, in recent years the pair appeared to have repaired their friendship and were spotted travelling together. 

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After Panettiere recounted their terrifying relationship in memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Hickerson in May unbelievably said he can still see a future with the star.

When asked by TMZ if he ever thinks about marrying the actress, he responded: ‘Yeah, of course… I hope so – she probably doesn’t think the same way.’

However, Hickerson acknowledged it was not healthy for the pair to resume a romantic relationship, adding: ‘I think that Hayden is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met in my life, and I would be an idiot not to walk away from her and let her flourish in her career. 

‘So, we probably wouldn’t be good together.’

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Hickerson said the pair’s relationship had now evolved into friendship after they were seen at the airport together in March, but whined: ‘I miss Hayden every day.’

The actress later offered her response to Hickerson’s comments about marriage while talking to TMZ as she arrived to LAX airport.

When asked to offer her reaction, she simply replied with a small laugh, ‘I don’t think that’s going to happen,’ before making her way into the crowded airport. 

Despite his public declaration of affection, Hickerson also revealed there was one particular violent incident he wanted Panettiere to leave out of the book, but she ended up keeping it in. 

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‘There’s a story where I was drunk, right? Hayden was standing across the room and I had a phone in my hand and I said, “Hayden I’ll give you 10 seconds to run as fast as you can before I throw it at you,”‘ he recalled.

‘Who wants to read something about themselves like that, right?’ he asked, before adding, ‘I did it. I did it.’

‘I went into such a dark place, man, drugs, alcohol,’ he recalled of their relationship. ‘Good God, almighty, she’s five foot two on paper, four foot 11 in real life. I mean, come on.’ 

‘Terrible thing I did to her,’ he added. 

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Hickerson said he’s had a ‘couple of opportunities to apologize’ to his ex, adding, ‘You never lay hands on a woman. Bottom line.’

He also spoke about an incident that took place in 2020 when he was arrested on Valentine’s Day for allegedly punching her. He entered a plea of not guilty at the time.

‘I had a lot to drink, and I got physical with her, and I got arrested, spent the night in jail. That’s just what happens when you lay hands on women,’ he said. 

Panettiere also previously dated retired NFL wide receiver Scotty McKnight, Welsh TV presenter Steve Jones, singer Jesse McCartney, The Hills alum Stephen Colletti and the late Pink Taco founder Harry Morton. 

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On Monday it was announced that Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died aged 36 with police saying there were ‘no signs of foul play’.

The star began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas then gaining wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans with Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.

Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before starring as country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on Nashville.

It was announced on Monday that the Heroes actress had passed away aged 36, in the wake of a number of public battles including her substance abuse issues and her rehabilitation for postpartum depression

It was announced on Monday that the Heroes actress had passed away aged 36, in the wake of a number of public battles including her substance abuse issues and her rehabilitation for postpartum depression

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She earned two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress on the show, while her singing produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All Or Nothing, comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.

On Monday, a spokesman for City of Greenville Police told the Daily Mail: ‘On August 16, 2026, at approximately 1.51pm, officers from the Greenville Police Department, accompanied by EMS personnel, responded to a report of an unresponsive female at Judson Mill Lofts, located at 701 Easley Bridge Road.

‘Upon arrival, medical assistance was administered; however, the individual, later identified as Hayden Panettiere, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

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‘The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.

‘The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms Panettiere placed the 911 call. At this time, no further details are available for release.’ 

Earlier, a representative for Panettiere confirmed the death, saying her family would remember her as an ‘incredible light’ who brought ‘immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her.’ 

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Liverpool agree transfer deal for PSG forward | Football

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Liverpool agree transfer deal for PSG forward | Football


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Deer put down after leaving elderly man with chest injuries in London park

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Deer put down after leaving elderly man with chest injuries in London park

A stag has been put down after a man in his 60s sustained injuries from a deer while having a picnic in a London park.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers received a call from the London Ambulance Service at 6.23pm on Saturday regarding a person hurt by a deer inside Richmond Park, in south-west London.

Police and paramedic teams located the man in his 60s, who had suffered chest injuries.

He was taken to hospital where his wounds were assessed as neither life-changing nor life-threatening, the force added.

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On Monday, a Royal Parks spokesperson said a man had been injured by a stag at the weekend after the animal approached his picnic group looking for food.

The spokesperson said: “We understand from the police that thankfully the injuries were not life-threatening.

“Sadly, the stag’s behaviour meant that it had to be put down as it was deemed to be a danger to visitors.

“We suspect that this particular stag may have learnt to associate visitors with food.

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“If visitors follow our advice and do not feed or interfere with the deer, it is highly unlikely that they will exhibit this type of behaviour.”

He was taken to hospital where his wounds were assessed as neither life-changing nor life-threatening
He was taken to hospital where his wounds were assessed as neither life-changing nor life-threatening (Reuters)

Royal Parks said they were “shocked and alarmed” to see videos and photographs circulating online of park visitors approaching deer in nearby Bushy Park, after issuing a warning of the danger of feeding and approaching the animals.

The spokesperson said: “This is highly dangerous behaviour.

“Deer in Bushy and Richmond Parks are wild animals and should never be fed, approached or touched.

“Repeated feeding can cause deer to lose their natural wariness of people and seek out food from visitors, creating risks for both people and wildlife.

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“Getting this close, and offering food, puts people at real risk of serious injury.”

They added: “Our advice is simple. Keep at least 50 metres away, never feed or touch the deer, and if one comes towards you, put all food and packaging out of sight and move away slowly and calmly.

“Do not try to move the deer away yourself.”

Royal Parks said that anyone who witnesses someone putting themselves, others or the deer at risk should not intervene but report it to police immediately.

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Richmond Park traces its origins to 1625, when Charles I took his court to nearby Richmond Palace to escape the plague in London and turned it into a hunting park, according to the Royal Parks website.

It is popular with joggers and cyclists and is home to 600-strong herds of red and fallow deer.

The deer have roamed the park, which spans some 2,500 acres, since 1637.

Nearby Bushy Park, which is more than 1,000 acres in size, is also home to deer.

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Young men turn heartbreak into hope after losing friend to suicide

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Belfast Live

The Devlin Cup is an annual event held in memory of Jamie Devlin, who died in 2022

Two men have described how football helped them cope following the suicide of their best friend Jamie Devlin.

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Callum Craig and Sean Loughran lost their best friend Jamie Devlin in 2022 and found themselves in a difficult place as they struggled to come to terms with his loss. However there was one thing that was able to bring them together and help them through their grief, playing football.

The pair have even gone on to set up their own charity football tournament to raise funds for local suicide charities in Jamie’s memory, The Devlin Cup, and football club, GOAT FC, which stands for Get Out And Talk, with the name also being inspired by Jamie’s old Xbox gamertag, “The Goat Bandit”.

Callum Craig said: “The Devlin Cup exists because we lost Jamie. Sean and I were trying to deal with losing our best friend and football gave us a reason to get together again. It brought us back into the same space as other friends who loved Jamie and were going through the same thing.

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“What we realised quite quickly was that the important part wasn’t really the football. It was getting people together, talking, laughing, remembering Jamie and being there for each other.

“Grief is something every one of us will experience in different ways, but people can find it incredibly difficult to talk about. We want Get Out And Talk to show that you don’t always need to have some huge, serious conversation. Sometimes it is checking in with a mate, meeting for a coffee, playing football or simply asking somebody how they are.

“I’ve had my own struggles with anxiety, depression and loss and counselling helped me understand how important it is to actually practise what we are preaching. Talking does help.

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“To have now raised more than £10,000 through the Devlin Cup is something we’re incredibly proud of, but we want to raise as much as we possibly can for organisations doing vital work. If anyone enjoyed the event, has followed what we’re doing or simply believes in the message, we’d really appreciate them donating whatever they can.”

Callum’s own experience of counselling with PIPS became a catalyst for sharing more openly about mental health, anxiety, depression, loss and starting again as a single father. Since its first year in 2023, the Devlin cup has raised over £10,000 for charity with the most recent, which took place at Seaview Stadium on Saturday, August 15, raising more than £3,000 for PIPS and Lighthouse.

Alongside Sean, he also began speaking to people who had experienced bereavement and loss, initially focusing on friends who knew Jamie. Their online videos have reached thousands of people and reinforced the simple message behind the project: it is OK to talk, remember, be vulnerable and ask for support.

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People can continue to support the campaign and donate at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/get-out-and-talk

Supporters can also purchase Get Out And Talk FC merchandise from Bourke Sports at: https://bourkesports.com/collections/get-out-and-talk-fc

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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Phil Ellis: ‘I got a hair transplant after seeing myself on Taskmaster’

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Phil Ellis: ‘I got a hair transplant after seeing myself on Taskmaster’
The comedian has a new show at Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Picture: Avalon Productions)

‘No, thank you for talking to me,’ says a beaming Phil Ellis

It’s impossible not to match Phil’s bounce in our interview, with his contagious grins and chortles. This energy – not to mention his natural funny bones – is what’s sailed him through 20 years of being the ultimate comedian’s comedian. 

He’s won the awards, critical acclaim, and a stellar reputation as one of the nicest guys in comedy. It was only last year, backstage at a particularly laborious gig, that he got a call which changed his career forever. 

Phil, 44, was gigging at a festival, where the audience was just a 10th of a 2000-person space. Ouch. Backstage, a fellow comedian asked him why he’s never been on Taskmaster

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‘I said, “Well there’s so many comedians, it’s a big queue isn’t it? They’re not going to get me on, no one knows who I am,”’ he remembers. 

‘I went out to the tent, and there were 12 audience members. I was hosting it, so I was trying to get an atmosphere going. I asked the audience if they wanted to move forward, because they were all at the back. They went, “No, we’re alright,”’ Phil laughs. ‘There was a gap of like a mile.’ 

Phil Ellis (Picture: Avalon Productions)
Phil Ellis couldn’t tell anyone when he was first invited to compete on Taskmaster (Picture: Avalon Productions)

In his break from hosting, Phil pondered that after 20 years, he thought he might have moved past these experiences by now. Then his agent rang.

‘It was an invitation for Taskmaster,’ he says. ‘I couldn’t believe it, and you couldn’t tell anyone, so I just had to go back out and carry on. I couldn’t even tell the person who asked earlier why I wasn’t on it.’ 

Phil’s work and life changed in a few salient ways after his appearance in series 20 in September last year alongside SNL’s Ania Magliano, Maisie Adam, Reece Shearsmith, and Sanjeev Bhaskar

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‘Firstly, the gigs I get now, I’m not worried about what I’m turning up to. They are so well run and wonderful. It opened the door to those. But the main thing is I’ve always loved my shows, and been really proud of them, and I’ve just always wanted to show them to more people.’ 

Pre-Taskmaster, Phil would take a show to the Edinburgh Fringe, and successfully so: he’d always have bums on seats unless it was a bad show. (I’m told not to look into 2017). 

PHIL ELLIS'S Season 20 Interview | Taskmaster picture: Taskmaster METROGRAB
Phil tied in first place with Maisie Adam and Ania Magliano – but in the end Maisie clinched the top spot in the competition (Picture: Taskmaster/Channel 4)

But his shows’ lives would begin and end in Edinburgh. ‘I couldn’t tour it because I didn’t have an audience to tour it to,’ Phil says. 

Fast forward 12 years from when Phil’s Fun and Gamez won the Edinburgh Comedy Awards’ Panel Prize in 2014, his current show Bath Mat is the subject of his first full national stand-up tour. Many dates in his run are already sold out. 

‘I can actually go out and perform to like 500 people a night in some venues, which I’d never have dreamed of before, and they’re all for you, which I find insane,’ Phil says, having become used to rocking up in random towns to perform poorly paid gigs.  

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He continues: ‘It’s nice to be the comedians’ comedian. But you do also need to live.’ 

Being recognised is a lovely adjustment, too, which Phil keeps on forgetting is his reality. He’s had a few memorable moments with fans over the last few months. 

Phil Ellis (Picture: Avalon Productions)
The comic recounted the ‘moving’ experiences he’s had with fans (Picture: Avalon Productions)

One time, Phil was going to the toilet on a train when a young girl asked, “Are you Phil Ellis?” He said, “Yes, I am”. 

‘Then the lady came out of the toilet after me and just went, “He won’t flush that one,”’ the comedian says, laughing at the memory. 

But it’s not all just funny. Phil finds the newfound fan interactions touching, too. 

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‘Once you pay for your tickets and your travel, maybe babysitters and a meal, I just want to make sure [my audiences] have the best night possible,’ Phil says. ‘Then they want to spend an hour afterwards doing autographs and things. It’s just amazing. I never thought it’d be like this. It’s moving.’  

Another Taskmaster plus was that Phil was gifted a hair transplant in January after talking in a podcast about seeing a bird’s-eye-view of his not-so-luscious locks on the Channel 4 show.  

‘I’d never been that insecure about my hair, to be honest,’ Phil laughs. ‘It’s been thinning for so long, it was so gradual. I was quite lucky really, it suited me, a receding hairline. But it took 20 years, and then I went, “Right, I’m definitely going now mate.”’ 

Phil had to choose where he wanted his hairline to start. Naturally, he brought in a photo of Jude Law, and said he liked his hairline receding, akin to the Hollywood heartthrob. It became apparent that such a hairline might not have the same effect on Phil, so he compromised with the kindly doctor. 

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Phil Ellis (Picture: Avalon Productions)
Phil’s Edinburgh show is called Bath Mat… if the photo didn’t make that clear (Picture: Avalon Productions)

‘This is a very different man,’ Phil laughs. He gestures to his head. ‘It’s so weird because if I showed you a picture of my hair six months ago, this is insane, like so much thicker.’ 

While there’s still ‘a lot of work’ to do on Phil’s mop, the change has given him ‘a bit more confidence’. 

‘I’d made peace with it, but even now I look at it and go, “This is so much nicer,”’ he says. ‘I never want to encourage anyone to feel the need to do it, because I like people to feel comfortable how they are anyway. But equally, you should never be discouraged to do something that might make you feel better.’ 

He’s done Taskmaster. He’s had a hair transplant. What’s next for Phil Ellis? Will he strive for further TV appearances, or take a step back, as Phil puts it, like Homer Simpson into a bush? 

‘I only got into stand-up because I wanted to write a sitcom, so I’d like to do that,’ Phil says. 

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Fans will be glad to hear he shall not be backing into the bush any time soon. 

‘It’s nice to say you’re the guy on the edge of a comedy,’ he says. ‘But it’s also quite nice to be in the tent with everyone else, and not looking in going, “Hey, what’s it like in here, guys? You got free drinks?”’ 

Phil Ellis: Bath Mat is showing throughout August at the Edinburgh Fringe at the Monkey Barrel venue at 1.55pm, and in Pleasance Courtyard on selected dates at 9.30pm. Get tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/phil-ellis-bath-mat 

He is touring the show throughout the rest of 2026 into 2027. Get tickets here: https://www.philelliscomedy.com/ 

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Tupac’s alleged killer ‘admitted to role in shooting in secret interview’

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Tupac's alleged killer 'admitted to role in shooting in secret interview'

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The opening statements have begun in the trial of Duane Davis, who is accused of being instrumental in the murder of Tupac Shakur.

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The rapper was killed in a drive-by shooting in a now-infamous moment in rap history but no arrests were made until 2023.

On September 7, 1996, Tupac and Marion ‘Suge’ Knight were shot while waiting at a red light; driver Knight survived but Tupac died after a bullet entered his lung.

Davis, 63, is on trial in Las Vegas for murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. He has denied the allegations.

In the opening statements, prosecutor Binu Palal claimed the alleged former gang boss had been the ‘on-site commander’ and handed the gun to his nephew Orlando Anderson to shoot Tupac.

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Palal then claimed that in a secret interview with federal agents, Davis ‘admits to his role in the shooting’, after denying it to the FBI.

Tupac Shakur’s murder trial is underway after 30 years (Picture: Enterprise News and Pictures)
Duane Davis appears in court during opening arguments for his murder trial, related to the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, at Clark County District Court Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (Steve Marcus/Pool Photo via AP)
Duane Davis is accused of Tupac’s murder (Picture: Steve Marcus/Pool Photo via AP)

He explained that a federal taskforce had been set up to investigate the murder of Christopher Wallace, known as the Notorious B.I.G, six months after Tupac’s death.

According to the prosecution, Davis claimed to have no information on Biggie but said he could ‘tell you about Tupac’.

‘He tells a federal taskforce about his involvement which you’ve heard is orchestration of the murder of Tupac Shakur,’ Palal stated.

Jurors were shown diagrams of alleged gang links, CCTV footage of the MGM Grand fight — in which Tupac and his entourage attacked Davis’s nephew— and a sketch of the white Cadillac and its four occupants.

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The court heard how in 2017, Davis ‘went public’, showing a recording of an interview in which he claims the former gang boss admits to being in the white Cadillac and being part of the murder.

Davis published a book, Compton Street Legend, in 2019, in which the prosecution says he was ‘angry’ about the beating of his nephew.

Defence attorney Michael Sanft argued that police work on the case had been ‘biased, sloppy and incomplete’.

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Narcan ‘was found in apartment where Hayden Panettiere died of suspected overdose’, as neighbor describes hellish scene that unfolded

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Hayden Panettiere previously relied on crutches for help walking as she struggled with a painful back injury. Above, hobbling at LAX with ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson in March

Narcan was found in the apartment where Hayden Panettiere died, it was reported, after the Heroes actress suffered an apparent overdose at the age of just 36.

The nasal spray, which is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, was found on a mattress in a loft apartment Panettiere was staying in when she died Sunday, TMZ reported.

It is still unclear if that Narcan had been used to try and revive Panettiere, although 911 audio obtained earlier on Monday revealed that the actress had gone into cardiac arrest following a suspected overdose. 

On Monday, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said that Panettiere’s autopsy had been completed and that no signs of trauma were found on the star’s body. 

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Further investigations will now take place to establish her cause of death, with Chief Deputy Coroner Shelton England telling the Daily Mail that it was too early to discuss the drug overdose theory. 

Meanwhile, a neighbor has spoken of the chaos that unfolded at the scene Sunday after Panettiere was found unresponsive and efforts to revive her proved unsuccessful.  

Micah Lee, who lives in the Judson Mill Lofts complex where Panettiere died, claimed there was a ‘bunch of commotion in the hallway’ after the star allegedly ‘collapsed’ in a unit in the building.

‘The halls are pretty hollow, so noise echoes throughout. And I had just heard about someone collapsing,’ Lee told WYFF. ‘And then afterwards there was talk about cardiac arrest. I can’t confirm any of that. That’s just what I’ve heard.’ 

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In an audio of a 911 call made at 1.51pm Sunday, a female dispatcher described the actress as suffering a ‘cardiac arrest.’

A few moments later, a male dispatcher could be heard saying that Panettiere had suffered a suspected overdose at the home.

The actress – who was due to turn 37 this Friday – was pronounced dead at the scene at 2.32pm, just over 40 minutes after the first 911 call was made.

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office has completed the star’s autopsy, with the coroner telling the Daily Mail that ‘no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.’

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The cause and exact manner of her death remain under investigation. 

Hayden Panettiere previously relied on crutches for help walking as she struggled with a painful back injury. Above, hobbling at LAX with ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson in March

The actress was found dead at the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday

The actress was found dead at the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday

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Panettiere died at Judson Mill Lofts, an apartment block in Greenville, South Carolina

Panettiere died at Judson Mill Lofts, an apartment block in Greenville, South Carolina

Police and the medical examiner are investigating her death, but say the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances.

Panettiere was found ‘unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying,’ the coroner said in a statement.

Investigators will carry out additional studies as they continue to work the case, the coroner’s statement said.

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Micah Lee, who reportedly lives in the complex, claimed there was a 'bunch of commotion in the hallway' after the star allegedly 'collapsed' in a unit in the building

Micah Lee, who reportedly lives in the complex, claimed there was a ‘bunch of commotion in the hallway’ after the star allegedly ‘collapsed’ in a unit in the building

Panettiere and her on-off real estate agent boyfriend Brian Hickerson were said to have flown from Los Angeles to South Carolina one day before she died. 

Hickerson is originally from Greenville, public records show. It is unclear if the couple were in town to visit his family.

Panettiere’s Nashville co-star Charles Esten also performed at The Foundry, a music venue inside the complex, on Friday night as part of his Carolina Tour. 

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Judson Mill Lofts is a former textile mill dating back to 1912, which was recently converted into apartments. These include studios and three-bedroom homes that can be rented from $1,295 to $3,485 a month. 

Earlier, a representative for Panettiere confirmed her death, saying her family would remember her as an ‘incredible light’ who brought ‘immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her’.

A statement from her father, Skip, read: ‘It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.

‘She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen.’

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Her father also asked that her family be given privacy as they ‘take time to process this unimaginable loss’.

Panettiere with her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson in Los Angeles in 2018. The couple had reportedly travelled to Greenville, where Hickerson is from, together

Panettiere with her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson in Los Angeles in 2018. The couple had reportedly travelled to Greenville, where Hickerson is from, together

The actress had a history of suffering from drug addiction, beginning when she was just 15 years old. At the time, she claimed she started taking ‘happy pills’ in an effort to make her seem more ‘peppy’ during interviews.

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Her addiction worsened while she was battling postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter Kaya in 2014. 

But Panettiere has been sober in recent years, she said in a 2022 interview, noting that ‘it’s an everyday battle.’

‘It’s an everyday choice, and I’m checking in with myself all the time,’ Panettiere told People at the time. ‘But I’m just so grateful to be part of this world again, and I will never take it for granted again.’

Panettiere has also told how she nearly died during childbirth, and later gave full custody of Kaya to her former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

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Kaya, now 11, lives in Europe with her father. 

Speaking of the decision, Panettiere said she ‘desperately’ needed help at the time and insisted that Kaya does not feel ‘abandoned’ while appearing in a recent episode of the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast.

‘The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking. Couldn’t be further from the truth,’ the actress said.

‘I was struggling with mental health and anxiety and postpartum and having to act my way through it, and just feeling like I completely lost myself,’ she added. 

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Panettiere leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter with ex, Wladimir Klitschko

Panettiere leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter with ex, Wladimir Klitschko

Hayden Panettiere has tragically died at the age of 36. Her cause of death was not immediately clear. The Hollywood star is pictured here at the Emmy Awards in 2012

Hayden Panettiere has tragically died at the age of 36. Her cause of death was not immediately clear. The Hollywood star is pictured here at the Emmy Awards in 2012

The actress shared how she struggled with the decision to give Klitschko full custody.

‘It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make,’ she said.

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‘I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mum she needed me to be.’

After giving birth to her daughter in 2014, Panettiere recalled hemorrhaging before she underwent seven blood transfusions and surgery to repair vessels that had begun to fail.

She said, ‘I closed my eyes and just prayed for my daughter to be OK. I truly was ready to go if it was my time. Kaya being safe and healthy was all that mattered.’

However, days later, she recalled feeling ‘nothing’ when looking at her daughter and developed postnatal depression. The actress then turned to drinking.

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She said. ‘I turned to wine, which ultimately ended up leading to an alcohol dependency. It was how I would get through each day.’

Although she underwent treatment, Panettiere felt the ‘root cause’ of her drinking, the depression, was not addressed.

‘I wish more people had known what it was at the time. Maybe I wouldn’t have waited so long to get help,’ she said. 

Panettiere is remembered for her role as Claire Bennet on the hit NBC series Heroes

Panettiere is remembered for her role as Claire Bennet on the hit NBC series Heroes

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She played Juliette Barnes on the ABC show Nashville, releasing a number of her own songs

She played Juliette Barnes on the ABC show Nashville, releasing a number of her own songs

Six years on from giving up custody, Panettiere spoke about her current relationship with her daughter. 

She said: ‘I love my daughter, and I’m so proud of the young woman she is becoming. I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She’s like a mini-me.’

The actress went on to say she had ‘been able to put her first no matter how I’ve felt or what I’ve experienced’ and that she hoped that one day Kaya would ‘understand my story and why I wasn’t able to be with her all the time’.

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She then called herself ‘resilient’ and a ‘work in progress’, but that she was ‘doing the work…and doing my best’.

In May, Panettiere released her memoir titled This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she also detailed being separated from her only child.

‘Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion – including sadness, resentment, and anger – I’ve felt because of it,’ she wrote.

‘I grieve that I’m not the mother I thought I’d be and definitely not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime), and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom.

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‘She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her father and me.’

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The enduring mystery of Scotland’s medieval cannibals

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The enduring mystery of Scotland’s medieval cannibals

Cannibalism is one of the biggest taboos throughout history. The idea of eating one of your own species tends to fill people with disgust and horror.

Yet, cannibalism has happened for many reasons, including warfare and religious rituals. Reports of cannibalism are particularly prevalent in times of scarcity, such as Jamestown in Virginia in the 17th century, where remains of at least one person who may have been butchered have been identified.

Looking at stories about cannibalism during famines can tell us about how people retell stories over the centuries and what people thought their fellow man was capable of.

The most famous Scottish cannibal was Sawney Bean, purportedly a 16th-century man who, with his wife and children, killed travellers and ate them on the Ayrshire coast. It was only after one traveller escaped and raised the alarm that the king sent an army to arrest and execute them.

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The only problem with this story is that Sawney Bean is first mentioned in English stories from the 18th century. Despite the purported thousands who were eaten over many decades, no source mentions an epidemic of missing persons. The word “Sawney” was a derogatory term for a Scot at that time and the whole tale may have been an invention.

The tale of Christie Cleek

Centuries earlier, Scottish chroniclers speak of another cannibal from Scotland – Christie Cleek from Perth. In 1339, Cleek was said to have set up traps to capture women and children, whom he subsequently killed and ate.

We know very little about Cleek. No reference to him survives from the years he was supposedly active. The name “Cleek” comes from an old Scots word for a metal hook which some stories suggest he used to drag his victims off of their horses.

The first reference we have to Cleek is decades later by the early 15th-century chronicler Andrew of Wyntoun. In this tale, Cleek was a low-born rustic who captured “children and women” and “ate them up”. We know of at least one chronicle that existed around the time of Cleek’s actions which is now lost and may well have recorded the original tale.

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As time went on, further details were added to the legend. A few decades later, another chronicler, Walter Bower, spoke about how Cleek was joined in his actions by his “fierce woman”, though there is no hint if they were married. It was also said that Cleek and his partner were eventually arrested, given over to the local justices and “put to an ignominious death”.

A medieval butcher from the Nuremberg Twelve chronicles (1425).
Nuremberg City Library

Over the centuries, more details were added to the legend. Cleek gained an occupation: he was apparently a butcher rather than a low-level rustic. There is some logic to this since he may have had the relevant knives to carve up his victims. Yet, the earliest sources make no mention of an occupation, so any reference to him as a butcher is an educated guess. His elevation up the social scale is seen in a 19th-century tale which said he was a married and prosperous merchant from Dumfries and that for a century merely mentioning his name “was sufficient to silence noisy children”.

In the 19th century, Cleek’s story was sanitised. Wilson’s Book of Border Tales speaks about how Cleek had become the leader of a group of hunters who, during a famine, had either killed all of the nearby animals or had caused them to flee. They resorted to cannibalism after being driven to eat one woman who starved to death, and then another woman after drawing lots. After that they started to hunt humans. This led to their eventual arrest when a government force was sent to arrest them, which is reminiscent of the arrest of the legendary figure Sawney Bean. The tale is one of people driven to desperation.

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Cleek’s tale has been embellished and changed over the centuries. This is pretty normal since stories are always tweaked or reinterpreted by new generations. But did he actually exist? In truth, it is impossible to say – there is very little evidence of the man or his actions that can be verified.

An interesting point about the story is that Cleek apparently started this during a time of famine in the later 1330s. The medieval chroniclers say that many Scots were driven to eating unnatural things like dogs and grass. Such tales, including those of cannibalism, were common across medieval Europe, though with all of them it is difficult to assess whether or not they were true. Times were no doubt hard and the possibility of people being driven to cannibalism is possible.

Tales of cannibalism have always grabbed people’s attention. The famine conditions in Scotland in the later 1330s no doubt trigger survival instincts that drove people to eat things they would normally find repulsive.

We can never know if Cleek was real or not. What we do know is that people believed hunger and famine could drive people to committing one of the ultimate taboos.

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Palestinian American returns to defend his home in occupied West Bank siege

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Palestinian American returns to defend his home in occupied West Bank siege

QUSRA, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian American whose home in the occupied West Bank has been besieged by Israeli settlers for over a week traveled to his property on Monday to join other family members who have been defending it.

The standoff, in the village of Qusra, has seen groups of settlers surround several Palestinian houses and prevent residents from leaving. The United States has condemned the siege and the Israeli military has deployed troops it says are there to maintain order.

The siege of Palestinian homes by Israeli settlers comes as violence in the West Bank has soared in recent months. The settlers, emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government, have ramped up attacks on Palestinian towns and villages, harassing residents and setting homes, mosques and fields ablaze.

As Loui Ridi, an Ohio-based owner of one of the houses, landed in Israel, settlers were still roaming near Qusra, according to video footage taken by his brother. It showed them driving ATVs and speaking to soldiers.

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“I’m terrified for my brother and his son and their safety,” Ridi told reporters at Israel’s main international airport. “And now I’m going to have to fear for my own safety.”

Ridi arrived in Qusra late Monday night.

As he waited for Israel’s military to escort him to his home on the village’s outskirts, Ridi said little had changed since early last week, when the siege began. His brother’s footage still showed the soldiers interacting amicably with settlers in Qusra rather than arresting them.

When Ridi finally reached his home, he was greeted by his brother and teenage nephew, who have stayed inside to protect the property from the settlers. He exited his car carrying an American flag while settlers were still visible from the home’s security cameras.

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The village is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of Nablus. Israel declared the neighborhood where Ridi’s home is located a closed military zone last week.

According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed 87 Palestinians so far this year. Palestinians have killed three Israelis, including two who were killed in the West Bank village of Tell last month.

__ Metz reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Continuous glucose monitors have transformed diabetes care

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Continuous glucose monitors have transformed diabetes care

Continuous glucose monitors have transformed life for many people with type 1 diabetes. Instead of relying on finger-prick blood tests throughout the day, users can track their blood sugar levels almost continuously. This allows them to receive alerts via a smartphone when levels become too high or too low and spot patterns that help them better manage their condition.

But the latest research from my colleagues and I has uncovered a little-known blind spot. During the most extreme high and low blood sugar episodes, these devices cannot tell users exactly how severe those events are. While this limitation doesn’t affect the standard measures doctors use to assess diabetes management, it does mean that some important information is lost when blood sugar moves beyond the monitor’s measurement range.

Continuous glucose monitors are small sensors, usually worn on the upper arm, that measure glucose levels every few minutes and send the results to a smartphone app. They have revolutionised diabetes care over the past decade by giving people a much clearer picture of how their blood sugar responds to meals, exercise, sleep and insulin.

Like every scientific instrument, however, they have limits. They can only measure blood sugar within a fixed range. If blood sugar rises or falls beyond that range, the sensor can tell you that levels are extremely high or extremely low, but it can no longer say exactly how high or how low they are.

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A useful comparison is a kitchen thermometer that only measures up to 100°C. Once the temperature exceeds that point, the thermometer can tell you it is at least 100°C, but not whether it is 120°C or 180°C. Continuous glucose monitors work in much the same way when glucose moves beyond their measurement range.

What we found

To find out how often this actually happens, we analysed nearly 47 million publicly available continuous glucose monitor readings from 948 people with type 1 diabetes across four large international clinical trials.

Between 93.5% and 100% of participants across the four studies experienced at least one reading that reached the upper or lower measurement limit. In other words, this is something that affects almost everyone with type 1 diabetes who uses these devices over a period of time.

The pattern was particularly striking for high glucose levels. In three of the four studies, more than one-third of these episodes remained at the upper measurement limit for at least an hour. The longest episode for a typical participant lasted between two and three hours. Throughout these periods, the monitor could confirm that blood sugar was extremely high, but it couldn’t distinguish between levels just above its limit and those that were substantially higher.

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Continuous glucose monitors.

The pattern wasn’t evenly distributed either. Younger people experienced upper-limit readings more frequently than older adults. This reflects what we already know about the challenges of managing blood sugar during adolescence.

We also found that people with higher HbA1c levels (a blood test that reflects average blood sugar over the previous two to three months) were much more likely to reach the monitor’s measurement limits. In simple terms, those who already struggle most to manage their diabetes are also the people most likely to encounter this hidden limitation.




À lire aussi :
How mouth health affects diabetes – and vice versa

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Reassuringly, this limitation doesn’t appear to undermine the figures that doctors rely on in everyday diabetes care. We compared continuous glucose monitor readings with simultaneous finger-prick blood glucose measurements.

We found that even when sensors regularly reached their measurement limits, the standard summary measures used in clinical practice remained remarkably robust. Metrics such as average glucose levels, glucose variability and time in range (the proportion of the day spent within the target glucose range) were largely unaffected.

That is probably because, even among participants with relatively frequent glucose readings that meet or exceed measurement limits, most readings still fell comfortably within the sensor’s measurable range. So, the main consequence is not inaccurate summary statistics, but a loss of detail during the most extreme glucose events. We know glucose is very high or very low, but we cannot tell exactly how high or how low.

What should change?

Current smartphone apps and web-based software summarise glucose data in many different ways. But they never explicitly state that a sensor has reached its measurement limits, how often this happened or how long it lasted.

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Adding that information would need only a relatively small change to existing software. But that could help doctors and researchers identify the people for whom this blind spot is most relevant and interpret glucose data with greater confidence.

Continuous glucose monitors remain one of the most important advances in diabetes care. Our findings shouldn’t discourage anyone from using them. Every scientific instrument has a measurement range. Understanding those limits helps us make better use of the information it provides. Recognising when a glucose sensor has reached the edge of what it can reliably measure is another step towards making an already transformative technology even more useful.

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18 images as crowds descend on Lanchester Show 2026

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18 images as crowds descend on Lanchester Show 2026

Lanchester Show was last held in 2019 before being cancelled during the pandemic and remaining on hiatus.

Organisers Durham Promotion NE, who took over the event, said the day “went very well.”

Ken Besford, owner and founder of Durham Promotion, said: “We basically put the show back together in 12 weeks, so we’ve had a very short period of time to work on things.

“We’re really looking forward to doing it next year, especially now we have a full calendar year to plan the event.

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“A lot of people were really positive and encouraging.

“We had a lot of good feedback from sellers as well.”

Check out the pictures below:

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Lanchester Show takes place on the outskirts of the village. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

(Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Line dancing at the Lanchester show. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Features of the show included cattle, sheep, horse trials, fur and feather, a food hall and farmers’ market.

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There was also vintage cars, tractors and motorbikes and live music.

The 2026 edition took place on Saturday and Sunday (August 15 and 16), at the Lanchester Show Ground.

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