As sure as night follows day, a brand new series of The Great British Bake Off will be released to mark the beginning of autumn.

And ahead of its return, Channel 4 has revealed the lineup of amateur bakers taking part in this year’s series, including a self-confessed ‘drag king’ who has not one but two partners.

The competition show, now in its 17th series, returns with 12 new contestants, alongside new host Nigella Lawson, 66, and her counterpart Paul Hollywood, 60.

Nigella was announced as Prue Leith’s replacement in January this year, following the restaurateur’s decision to step down after nine years in the famous white marquee.

The hosting changes also extend to its spin-off show, Extra Slice, which has been replaced by Second Helpings.

Presenters Jo Brand and Tom Allen have stepped aside, with Judi Love and Jon Richardson replacing them.

Meanwhile, Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding return as the hosts of the main show, when it launches on Tuesday, September 22 at 8pm on Channel 4.

Keep scrolling to learn about this year’s batch of hopefuls.

Clara

The marketing graduate, 24, loves creating chaotic and colourful designs and always believes ‘the first bite of a bake is always with the eye’.

Originally from Aveiro in Portugal, Clara moved to the UK when she was 18 and now lives in Hertfordshire.

She began baking cakes two years ago as a creative outlet, and then recreating Portuguese classics like Tarte de Nata for her British fiancé Kieran and his family.

Clara said: ‘I cannot explain the amazing chemistry we all had together, I think we were all bonded by the trauma of practising so many times and we were so eager to just connect and talk to someone who was going through this process as well.’

Originally from Aveiro in Portugal, Clara moved to the UK when she was 18 and now lives in Hertfordshire

Connie

NHS hospital discharge lead Connie, 63, has always used baking as a way to unwind after a busy day at work.

Known affectionately as the ‘cake lady’, Connie’s favourite thing to bake is hearty carrot cakes, with flavours including rum fruit, lemon and lavender.

She also runs a music centre in London with her husband of 23 years Myke.

Connie was initially told she hadn’t made the final 12 and was placed on the standby baker list.

She said: ‘As the deadline approached, I accepted that it probably wasn’t going to happen. I genuinely believed the chances of being called were incredibly slim, so I moved on and put it to the back of my mind. Then everything changed with one phone call.

‘When I was told that a place had become available and that I could take part, I was completely speechless. The news felt surreal, and for a while I couldn’t quite process what I was hearing. I kept checking that it was real because it seemed too good to be true.’

Known affectionately as the ‘cake lady’ Connie’s favourite thing to bake is hearty carrot cakes

Danni

Dorset native Danni, 25, loves foraging in the countryside for their ingredients. By day, they work as a HGV service centre administrator with their father.

Their bakes often combine foraged finds such as magnolia, chestnut and dandelion with far-flung flavours like ube and red bean paste.

As well as baking, Danni’s other hobbies include anime doodling and soldering broken traces on the motherboard of her Commodore 64.

Gushing over Nigella, Danni said: ‘It was so nice to get to see Nigella walk into the tent – she had such a sense of wonder about her when she took her place, and it felt so right for her to be there.

‘She took to it like a duck to water! She truly is wonderful, very genuine in her approach to baking and you can tell just how much she cares about taking on board what she’s tasting and helping you with improving it even more!’

By day Danni works as a HGV service centre administrator with their father

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Gabe

Self-described as the ‘daddy of Birmingham drag’, Gabe first discovered their joy for baking when they watched the very first episode of GBBO as a 13-year-old.

Now 32, Gabe describes their baking style as ‘gorgeous but very homemade’, with a preference for savoury, meat-filled bakes and an obsession with meringue.

They have two partners, Ellis and Tyler, and live in the West Midlands.

Gabe produces theatre shows for their day job, and performs as their drag persona, Blü Romantic.

They said: ‘I have met Alison before, she famously smacked my bum, live on Channel 4 while I was in drag on Late Night Lycett, so I was excited to take our relationship to the next level.

‘As a Mighty Boosh obsessed teen, who grew into a Mighty Boosh obsessed adult I was so hyped to meet Noel. I was so ready to cream pie myself and impersonate the moon with him!’

Self-described as the ‘daddy of Birmingham drag’, Gabe first discovered their joy for baking when they watched the very first episode of GBBO as a 13-year-old

Gary

Retired garment technologist Gary, 67, only bought his first cooking book five years ago and since then hasn’t looked back.

Gary describes his baking style as traditional, with a focus on impeccable presentation and bold flavours, particularly citrus.

He lives with his wife of over 30 years, Donna, at their countryside home in Nottinghamshire.

Gary said: ‘When I met Noel we were joking about the resemblance between me and Paul and how we could be connected at birth.

‘When I met Alison I was concentrating on baking and noticed her big friendly smile when she came towards me. I also did some Northern Soul dancing with Alison which was an experience. I was showing her how to do this as I love Northern Soul.’

Gary describes his baking style as traditional, with a focus on impeccable presentation and bold flavours, particularly citrus

Molly

Accessibility coordinator Molly, 31, was inspired to start baking by her grandmother when she was just a child.

The Londoner turned to baking in 2020 when she battled health issues, which took her skills to a whole new level. She likes bakes and classic flavours.

Apart from baking, Molly is also a huge Formula 1 fan, clearing her diary for every race, and is currently 25 per cent through a 350,000 cross-stitch landscape of Rivendell.

Speaking about walking inside the famous tent, Molly said: ‘It was almost reassuring that it was Nigella’s first time in the tent too. It’s a daunting experience, but knowing it was new to her as well felt like we were experiencing things together.’

Molly turned to baking in 2020 when she battled health issues, which took her skills to a whole new level. She likes bakes and classic flavours

Moyin

Moyin is a political economy student from Essex, who balances his studies with baking, a part-time job and athletics.

The 22-year-old started baking when he was five years old with his mother and had mastered the Macaronag by 14.

His flavours are inspired by his Nigerian heritage, including grains of paradise and groundnuts.

A competitive sprinter, Moyin was crowned U20 County Champion in the 100m, and his pre-race motivational playlist features Afrobeats, R&B and conscious rap. He lives with his mum, sister and grandmother, and regularly visits family in Nigeria, Canada and the US.

He said of his co-stars: ‘I was so worried about meeting them but I don’t think I could have a better bunch of people. We met in the hotel and I was the last person there because I was late. I remember walking in and being so overwhelmed because there were so many faces and I was just thinking what the actual heck is going on. I remember sitting on a table with Gabe and Nikki, from the first time I met those two we have been up to no good.’

Moyin is a political economy student from Essex, who balances his studies with baking, a part-time job and athletics

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Mo

Mo, a 21-year-old law student from the West Midlands, has ambitions of becoming a solicitor, though has surprised his wider family with his love of baking.

He started out by buying boxed vanilla cake mixes from the local corner shop but now bakes precise and professional-looking cakes, infusing Asian flavours with traditional British classics.

When he isn’t baking, Mo can be found at the gym lifting weights.

Speaking about new host Nigella, Mo said: ‘I was very excited to meet Nigella as I’d remember my mom loved watching her growing up and having her tv shows on in the background while playing.

‘It was interesting to see her find her place working with Paul and I loved the different perspectives and preferences they had as they didn’t always agree.’

Mo started out by buying boxed vanilla cake mixes from the local corner shop but now bakes precise and professional looking cakes

Nikki

Fifty-year-old advertising post-producer Nikki has always found baking to be a form of therapy for her and blasts R&B and classical music while making her creations.

Nikki, who has applied to be on the show multiple times, has been with her ‘soul mate’ Tom for 22 years, and they have a 16-year-old daughter, Ava.

She is a former podium dancer at Basingstoke’s Ziggy’s Nightclub and still hits the dance floor regularly with her cousins.

Nikki said: ‘One of my favourite moments was breaking the ice with Paul during the first episode. He took a bite of my Self Portrait Showstopper, paused, and just stared off into the distance with this thoughtful look on his face. I couldn’t resist and said, “Where’s it taking you, Paul?”

‘He snapped out of his daze and deadpanned, “It’s taking me to Weight Watchers!” I burst out laughing!’

Nikki has always found baking to be a form of therapy for her and blasts R&B and classical music while making her creations

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Shannon

Project planner Shannon is a nature-loving foodie and lives in the countryside with her fiancé Scott and their two dogs.

The 29-year-old has been baking for as long as she can remember, taught by her beloved Nan, and describes her style as whimsical, quirky and rustic.

She has revealed she once rode a horse through a drive thru.

Speaking about her baking superpower, Nikki said: ‘I think my secret superpower is the way my baking makes people feel at home. I love creating flavours that take people back to happy memories, those little moments of nostalgia that make you pause and smile.

‘My fiancé Scott always says that when I make fresh bread with proper salted butter, it tastes exactly like how his grandad used to make it. Hearing that brings me so much joy, because it’s like my baking gives him a moment with someone he loved. My superpower is bringing smiles out of nowhere, letting the good vibes flow, and helping people make new happy memories while revisiting old ones. That’s the magic of baking for me.’

Project planner Shannon is a nature-loving foodie and lives in the countryside with her fiancé Scott and their two dogs

Tom

Self-confessed Northern Diva Tom, 25, is a hairdresser by day in a busy salon in West Yorkshire, but loves nothing more than getting into the kitchen and baking.

While his older brother was off at football matches, six-year-old Tom would escape to his Nan’s to bake.

His colleagues are often taste-testers and he admits he can overshare about his personal life.

Outside of baking, Tom loves travelling and recently spent seven months exploring Southeast Asia with his boyfriend, Alex.

He said of joining the show: ‘I have dreamed about being on Bake Off for so long that I kind of knew one day I would get on. I never imagined it would be the first year I applied that I would get on. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call.

‘Throughout the whole application process whenever one step was completed, I just thought to myself right that will be the last one and they won’t be contacting me again but I couldn’t believe it when it kept on going. I think I just said omg omg omg omg omg over and over again, then I bought a bottle of prosecco on my way home to surprise my boyfriend with the news.’

Tom is a hairdresser by day in a busy salon in West Yorkshire, but loves nothing more than getting into the kitchen and baking

Yannis

Paediatric doctor Yannis, 28, wants to break the stigma that Bangladeshi men don’t belong in the kitchen.

Born in Vienna before moving to London aged 11, Yannis’s baking has been influenced by many food cultures. His first baking memory is making Bhapa Pitha with his grandmother.

Away from baking, he is also a Bhangra dancer, and his wedding shimmy has become legendary amongst his friends.

Yannis said if he was castaway on a desert island with only one cookbook, it would be Nigella’s: ‘Her books were part of what made me fall deeper in love with baking, so if I’m going to be stranded on an island, I at least want some comforting inspiration with me.’

Paediatric doctor Yannis wants to break the stigma that Bangladeshi men don’t belong in the kitchen

The Tuesday letters page wonders what secrets will be in toady’s Zelda themed Nintendo Direct, as one reader hopes for a Capcom Vs. Capcom game.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Day one
I’m really looking forward to the next two days of Nintendo Directs. I know Nintendo never does what we want or expect but usually it manages to pull something just as good out of the bag. That said, the summer Direct was probably their worst one ever, that I remember, so that does put a big question mark on things, at least as far as the Wednesday Direct goes.

But the Zelda one? Surely, we know what will be shown. It’s got to be the Ocarina Of Time remake, there’s no possibility that it couldn’t be there, right? And a trailer for the movie must be almost as definite. Just those two things have got me super excited, and I can’t wait to see what direction they take with both.

What also interests me is will they show anything else? It is the 40th anniversary Direct after all, it’s not called the Ocarina Of Time Direct. Probably it’ll just be the Zelda-themed Switch 2, and maybe some amiibo, but I think there’s got to be an outside chance of some kind of new spin-off too. I will watch with interest.
Onibee

The long wait
It’s about time Luigi’s Mansion 4 was announced. A very underappreciated series and I really hope we get to see a new one this week. I’m also happy to hear about Mario Kart World DLC and curious that Nintendo seems to be going all in on more Star Fox.

I did like the remake, so I’m not against the idea, but I can’t help thinking that if they wanted another killer franchise it would’ve been easier for them to make something new rather than trying to elevate what has always been a B-level series at best.

That’s the one thing I’d really like to see on Wednesday: a new IP. But I don’t think it’s likely. Hopefully Nintendo is working on something, but I doubt they’re going to unveil it in September, when the focus is always on things coming out for Christmas. But that means it’s going to be the best part of six months before we even get the chance of a new annoucement.
Caspian

Improving on perfection
I’m seeing a Super Metroid remake coming up again and again as a rumour for this week’s Nintendo Direct and I have to say I am not keen on the idea. I think most people that know it (and I know GC agree with this) would describe it as already perfect and its graphics absolutely still stand up. Not only that, if they tried to improve them what would they do? Make them 3D or use more animated style graphics? That would ruin the charm in my opinion.

And what would they do to the gameplay? Super Metroid isn’t hard by the standards of the time but stuff like the wall-jumping is tricky and not the sort of thing you’d expect modern gamers to be able to do. Especially given the tutorial for it is carefully watching the little aliens and getting the clue from them.

I can’t think of anything you could improve on for the game and yet I can think of a hundred things you could make worse. I just can’t see it working out and if Nintendo even try I’ll be kind of disappointed in them.
Tacle

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

No fear
So here’s a little gem I learned recently, GTA 5 on Xbox 360 launched the exact same day as Zelda: The Wind Waker HD on Wii U. The Wii U wasn’t even a year old at that point, so Nintendo probably still thought it had a chance, and yet apparently they didn’t care at all that it was coming out at the same time as GTA.

So the question is, will they care this time? It would be so funny to me if the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake came out the same day as GTA 6. I would respect Nintendo so much for not giving a fig about anything else and just picking whatever day suits them.

Overall, I doubt they’ll do it but I think it will be sometime in November. It’s obviously not this month, and it’s unlikely to be as late as December, so that already narrows down the choices. And I think Nintendo will just see all that empty space in the schedules and just take it. Everyone else will be scared of GTA 6 but not them.
Molach

Budget crisis
Reallly happy to see these lower budget AAA games doing well, because I wouldn’t have bet on any of the ones you listed as being successes. I loved 007 First Light and have just got started on Onimusha: Way Of The Sword and it seems great.

I am much more interested in these games than anything else at the moment and the idea of buying something as tired as Call Of Duty or EA Sports FC instead of them is crazy to me. If these really have been hits, then the hope now is that publishers realise it doesn’t have to be all or nothing and you can do perfectly well with more modest targets.

That said, I hope Onimusha does especially well because I can just sense that Dino Crisis remake (or reboot, I’m not fussy) getting closer and closer. What an amazing year they’ve had and all through the secret trick of – shock, horror – releasing good games.
Blanco

His name was Hugh
I am so glad that Onimusha: Way Of The Sword has done well for Capcom and I am very excited at the idea of them reviving more IP. It’s got to be Dino Crisis next, I feel, but I think Ghosts ‘N Goblins/Maximo must have a good chance too, and maybe a big budget 3D Mega Man, if the new 2D one is a hit. I’d also like to see a new Ace Attorney as well, if possible.

But I really feel it’s time for them to do a Capcom Vs. Capcom fighting game. It’s pointless waiting for Marvel, because they could easily take the licence back five minutes later, as has happened multiple times already. If you want to team up, team up with Sega or Namco or someone like that – they did it before, just not for a fighting game.

I was never interested in the Marvel side of Marvel Vs. Capcom so for me an all video game line-up would be an actual improvement. Plus, it’d be a great way to introduce new characters and promote new games via DLC. Got a Dino Crisis remake coming up? Make Regina a fighter. Got a new IP you want to push? Add whatever the Pragmata guy was called and bingo!

Make it happen Capcom, I believe in you!
Tabernacle

The day the Earth stood still
I hadn’t thought about when GTA 6 would actually be released, but I suppose it was always going to be late at night. That next day is going to be a global disaster. So many people are not going to turn up for work the next morning, which I’ve just looked up and is a Thursday. So a whole bunch are probably going to take the next day off too.

Now how many are going to take actual time off versus pretending to do a sickie I don’t but I’m going to guess that everyone is going to think they’ll be the only ones to do it and then suddenly you find out the whole world just took two days off to play a video game. I can’t wait.
Cambo Nightly

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Barrel of fun
Do a barrel roll straight into my figurative heart! The Star Fox 64 remake has been an absolute pleasure to revisit this past month and a half. Developer Velan Studios has carried out its mission to modernise this classic N64 game with conservative aplomb.

The new cut scenes are beautifully rendered, with the more rugged, realistic look of the anthropomorphic space pilots a charming and fitting choice for the series, that recalls the SNES game’s puppet/animatronic-like box art depictions.

The full orchestral soundtrack renders the music even more epic and accentuates the John Williams-esque cinematic grandeur of the laser blasting action.

For those of you that hadn’t played the original on the N64, whilst a single run could be completed in under two hours, and you could technically call it quits, there’s a whole heap of alternative and secret routes to discover, and a separate challenge mode with objectives that adds considerably to the replayability factor and general value of what would seem, at first glance, a pretty paltry package.

Although the inherent simplicity of its arcade game mechanics are more apparent today – an area I felt that 2016’s criminally under-appreciated Star Fox Zero had made great strides in – Star Fox 64 remake has still amply demonstrated to me that the formula has aged gracefully and, most importantly, is just as fun today as it was back in 1997.

The level design is still impressive by contemporary standards, with some memorable moments like withstanding and outmanoeuvring the plasma blasts, lava waves, and extreme temperatures of the luminous sphere of gas that is Solar; advancing on land looking for Slippy in the harsh and hostile desert biome of Titania; and the atmospheric underwater exploration in planet Aquas being some of my favourites.

The boss fights are also generally really good, and everything looks stunning in the new graphics engine. Star Fox is easily one of the best surprises of the year for me, that I dearly hope sells enough to convince Nintendo to fully resuscitate the franchise.

I’d love to see more N64 remakes of long dormant, languishing Nintendo IP created with the same ardour and visual splendour, like Pilotwings 64, F-Zero X, Excite Bike 64, and Wave Race 64!
GG
PS: Currently juggling Marvel Tōkon, Splitterhead, Splatoon Raiders, Lorelei And The Laser Eyes, Metal Gear Solid Delta, and Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Switch 2 Edition.

Inbox also-rans
I hope the customers win their lawsuit against Sony PlayStation because customers should have a say. Digital gaming sucks.
Bruce

Just beaten Star Wars Zero Company and that was great. Last act of the game was especially good, I would’ve been happy for that to go on a lot longer and it’s already not a short game!
Honeydew

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Games Inbox: When will GTA 6 be released on PC?

MORE: Games Inbox: Did Sony just put on the worst State of Play ever?

MORE: Games Inbox: Will there be a Trailer 3 for GTA 6?

Harlequin Brickwork, founded in 2011, operated across London and the South East on major residential schemes.

At its peak, it employed more than 500 site operatives and over 50 office staff and recorded a turnover of around £24 million.

Its collapse follows a winding-up petition filed by ACS Stainless Steel Fixings, which was due to be heard at the High Court in Leeds on Tuesday, September 8, Construction Enquirer reports.

Administrators Marco Piacquadio and Alan Coleman of FTS Recovery have been appointed.

Billy Sutcliffe, founder and director, remained as the only director after James McGrail stepped down as finance director last month.

The company’s portfolio included high-profile projects such as Berkeley Homes’ One Tower Bridge, valued at £3.5 million, and schemes at Bracknell town centre, Colindale Gardens, Kew Bridge, Brentford Football Stadium, and sites in Staines and Wandsworth.

Turnover fell from £18.5 million in 2022 to £10.5 million in 2023, with pre-tax profit reported at £151,000.

The company specialised in brickwork, masonry, and scaffolding for large-scale residential developments.

Discussing its work, Harlequin Brickwork said: “With years of industry experience and a proven track record of successful project delivery, we are dedicated to providing our clients with superior workmanship and exceptional service.

“Our proactive approach, combined with a highly trained and skilled workforce, enables us to meet demanding timelines without compromising quality, integrity, or the highest standards of health and safety.”

Harlequin Brickwork has been contacted by Newsquest for comment.

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026

It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.

UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.

Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:

Recommended reading:

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out after being acquired by InPost.

It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Meanwhile, brands including Evans and Bodycare have returned to the UK high street this year after previously closing all their stores.

Which business/store closure in 2026 has impacted you the most? Let us know in the comments below.

Escrick Park Estate has shared fresh plans for the new community, Heronby, on land west of Escrick, between Selby and York.

It comes after an early masterplan for Heronby was drawn up as part of the former Selby Local Plan process in 2021, under Selby District Council. North Yorkshire Council later halted work on a fresh Local Plan for Selby after it came to power and the targets for new houses trebled in the county.

Heronby had been earmarked as a key development to deliver long-term housing growth needs for the area up to 2040. 

But North Yorkshire Council’s executive members were told in February 2024 that due to concerns raised about the highways impact of the new settlement, the proposals should be removed from the plan and further consultation undertaken.

It meant the process for the Heronby site stalled, but the Escrick Park Estate said the plans remained on the table.

The estate has now revealed that steps are being taken to prepare for a new planning application for Heronby.

Plans for the Heronby development, located between York and Selby (Image: Supplied)

If successful, homes would be ready by 2031 with the total 3,500 properties built over 30 years, along with two primary schools and one secondary school, according to the Heronby website.

There would also be 47 hectares of country park, a 30 per cent biodiversity net gain and the development would generate £1 billion of construction value for the local economy, the plans said.

Beilby Forbes-Adam, from Escrick Park Estate, said it remains “committed to creating a new community for the county”, in response to North Yorkshire’s housing shortage.

Beilby Forbes-Adam, from Escrick Park Estate (Image: Supplied)

He said that two years after the plans stalled, “we are moving closer to being ready to submit an outline application”.

But Mr Forbes-Adam said the estate wants to hear what “potential future residents of Heronby would like to see” before the planning application is submitted to the council.

“We welcome the views of people of all ages, but we do particularly want to encourage younger people to join the conversation about what Heronby should be, about what it could mean to them,” he said.

Recommended reading:

“The housing crisis means too many young people can’t find a home of their own and are struggling to get on and lead their own lives – we want to hear from ‘Generation Limbo’.”

In the meantime, he said an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scoping request has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council as part of the planning process.

This is a formal step asking the council’s officers to consider what should be included in an environment statement which would be submitted as part of a planning application.

While an EIA scoping request sits on the council’s planning portal in the same way as a planning application, it is not an application in itself.

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By OLIVIA DAY, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA

Published: 19:33 BST, 7 September 2026 | Updated: 00:43 BST, 8 September 2026

A seal in a kelp forest and a juvenile whale shark surrounded by divers feature among winners and runners-up in the Underwater Awards Australasia 2026.

The results of the photographic competition were announced on Saturday, with nine category winners chosen from hundreds of photo and video entries.

Underwater photographers from around the world submitted entries captured in the region, along with those from international waters.

Highlights of the contest included incredible close-up views of a Bryde’s whale in Mexico‘s Magdalena Bay, a sea turtle in Florida and a leopard seal in Antarctica.

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Another impressive photo shows two bottlenose dolphins working together to herd a tightly packed school of parrotfish, while the effects of wildlife tourism are documented as a juvenile whale shark is surrounded by divers off Koh Tao, Thailand.

Contest organisers said: ‘The competition called for passionate underwater shooters from around the world to submit their most captivating and compelling images and videos from the Australasian region.

‘Shooters were invited to immerse themselves in the challenge of capturing the essence of this extraordinary realm, where every frame tells a story of the delicate balance and breathtaking beauty that characterises our oceans.’

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A seal in a kelp forest features among winners and runners-up in the Underwater Awards Australasia 2026. Nine category winners were chosen from hundreds of entries

A turtle surfaces at sunrise in waters around Florida

A leopard seal is seen showing its teeth in Antarctica

This photo titled ‘Teeth of the Reef’ was captured in Kurnell in Sydney

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A juvenile whale shark and scuba divers are seen off Koh Tao, Thailand

Two bottlenose dolphins herd a tightly packed school of fish in Western Australia

The common Sydney octopus is pictured in Port Kembla, in NSW, Australia

Bryde’s whale pictured with a mouthful in Magdalena Bay off the west coast of Mexico

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Two seahorses are seen canoodling in this photo captured in Rye Pier, Victoria, Australia

A clownfish is seen in defensive mode in Romblon in the Philippines

A female blanket octopus is seen migrating in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines

A lionfish is seen on Ribbon Reef on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland

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A humphead wrasse, a coral reef fish that grows up to six feet long, on the Great Barrier Reef

A diver is pictured inspecting a long-running coral restoration initiative in Bali

Archaeopteryx is an icon of evolution and is often called the first bird. Scientists have long debated just how it took off from the ground but a recent study published by my colleagues and I has brought new insights to the mystery.

Our study compared Archaeopteryx with the anatomy of modern birds, and our findings suggest it generated the force needed to take off by taking several jumps forwards.

Archaeopteryx, a fossil uncovered from the Jurassic rocks of Germany, dates back 150 million years. It was covered in feathers and it had wings. But it retained a number of distinctly dinosaur features such as a long bony tail, claws on separate fingers and teeth in a beakless jaw.

Charles Darwin predicted, in the first edition of On the Origin of Species published in 1859, that fossils would later be found linking major groups of animals. A year after publication a feather, and within two years, an entire skeleton of Archaeopteryx had been discovered, showing clear links between birds and the dinosaurs. Archaeopteryx is one of those transitional forms that links one group to another.

The “first bird” was not perfectly developed, as birds have evolved to be today. We would not expect them to be. It had relatively weak flight muscles, with no keeled sternum for strong muscle attachment, and could not have raised its wings above the horizontal.

Rather than call it the first bird, it is better to describe it as the earliest branching species, yet known, on the lineage of birds after the whole bird group split from non-avian dinosaurs some time more than 150 million years ago.

In 2016 my friend Colin Palmer asked a colleague, Markus Heller (professor of biomechanics) and me to join him in exploring a tricky problem: how did early birds slip the bonds of Earth and take to the sky?

Palmer had been working on the flying cousins of dinosaurs, the pterosaurs for over a decade, and also a peculiar (although now one among several known) four-winged, feathered and flying dinosaur called Microraptor. However, pterosaurs are not dinosaurs and Microraptor is a dinosaur closer to Velociraptor (small meat-eating dinosaurs) than to birds.

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There have been a number of suggested mechanisms for the evolution of flight and takeoff, quite literally from the ground up, or the trees down, to flapping while running to climb a slope. The problem is that these are difficult to test experimentally. So we turned instead to the best example of takeoff there is: birds themselves.

Palmer had already filmed a number of birds, out of curiosity. As some other scientists had observed, but had never followed up, Palmer saw that they all showed the same sort of pre-takeoff behaviour. Two leg jumping. The wings appeared to do little in getting the bird off the ground, and this opened up some possibilities for research into the earliest of birds.

The ancestors of birds, the theropod dinosaurs, had powerful legs. They could definitely jump, and jumping could provide an important evolutionary advantage. Being able to get out of the way of a hunter, and maybe adding in a flap of your feathered arms to extend your leap, might just save your life.

The first bit of this research, which we carried out with then undergraduate student Erik Meilak, was developing a means to see how much force the hindlimbs of birds generate in getting off the ground. We used a force plate (a modified kitchen scale) and a Raspberry Pi computer controlling some high-speed photography, along with CT scanning of the skeleton to see exactly how bones were articulated. We worked out how magpies got off the ground. They used their legs as the primary generator.

This undergraduate summer project became a fully-fledged PhD project, with Meilak looking at several birds such as starlings and crows. We worked with evolutionary biologist Pauline Provini in Paris who had done work with doves and finches, demonstrating how all of these birds used their legs in takeoff.

And with detailed kinematics, all of the forces and moments generated by the muscles around the hindlimb joints, we fitted the model to Archaeopteryx and looked to see if the first bird could get into the air in a similar way to modern birds.

Archaeopteryx is by definition 150 million years behind the “leaps” of modern birds, and couldn’t take off as we had observed modern birds do when startled, explosively, with a single jump and then add flapping into the sky. Archaeopteryx couldn’t do that, and as I said couldn’t rely on its wings for powerful flaps. So we had asked what its legs could do. And like birds today, when taking off more leisurely, we demonstrated that Archaeopteryx could have got into the air with two leg leaps. Archaeopteryx could have used three jumps increasing in velocity, and once airborne its flapping wings could have maintained a flight speed of 7 metres per second.

However, if Archaeopteryx had added in a flap, it would have got to that speed – jump-flap-jump – with just two leaps. And all this without the highly evolved and flight-adapted anatomy of pigeons, crows, hawks and even chickens.

In the future we may find a fossil that is still a bird rather than a non-avian dinosaur, but is less, well, “birdy” than Archaeopteryx, and then that would become the earliest branching taxon. But we haven’t yet. So Archaeopteryx still sits on its perch as the first bird that we know of.

Rybakina, 27, dropped only four points in a near flawless performance on serve against four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who said after the match she was struggling with pain in her leg.

She faced the 28-year-old full of confidence, having not dropped a set in her opening three matches at the tournament, and took control of the contest in a dominant first set.

Reigning Australian Open champion Rybakina opened up a double break over Osaka, before sealing the set in just 21 minutes.

Osaka showed greater resistance early in the second set but, after failing to convert her only break point of the match, Rybakina soon seized control again.

She broke to go 4-3 up, before safely seeing out the rest of the match, with Osaka unable to contend with her opponent’s deep groundstrokes.

Rybakina sealed the match inside 66 minutes with her seventh ace of a match where she hit a total of 29 winners to Osaka’s nine.

Asked about the gap of almost six years since her last major win, at the 2021 Australian Open, Osaka said: “I thought about it, and if I win another Grand Slam, it’s not going to change my life.

“That’s kind of crazy that I can say that, because I remember the first Slam that I won, it was, like, a huge whirlwind.”

Ten concrete pillars at Newcastle’s six-storey Times Square multi-storey have been reinforced.

MGM Construction carried out the project for the Centre for Life, which believes it is the first of its kind in Europe and could guide other ageing car parks.

Large batteries can make electric vehicles much heavier than equivalent petrol or diesel models, raising concerns about the strain on decades-old structures.

Times Square car park

Phil Burridge, managing director of MGM Construction, said: “While electric vehicles are greener, their huge batteries mean they can weigh up to 600kg more than petrol and diesel cars.

“As more people drive electric vehicles, all that extra weight risks putting undue stress on a car park’s existing concrete pillars.

“When car parks were built decades ago, such heavy vehicles didn’t exist, and the logic was always that cars would get lighter – not heavier.”

Times Square Car Park is widely used by commuters as well as football and music fans because of its proximity to Newcastle city centre, the Utilita Arena and St James’ Park.

Mr Burridge said closing the car park during the work was not realistic because so many people rely on it.

Engineers initially thought three columns needed strengthening, but investigations showed all ten required reinforcement.

Mr Burridge added: “Nothing like this has ever been attempted before, so it took a lot of our team’s expertise and vast skill set to ensure we could do so with minimal disruption whilst, most importantly, keeping the public safe at all times.”

Workers wrapped the pillars in steel collars before pouring high-strength concrete around them during tightly controlled 45-minute windows.

The collars left little room for access, while the concrete took about three days to reach its initial set.

MGM said post-work tests showed the car park was ready to handle future demands.

Mr Burridge said: “Thankfully, our comprehensive testing shows that having future-proofed this car park for electric vehicles, the site is now in phenomenal shape to meet any future demands.

“However, car park operators across the UK will need to ensure that their sites are ‘EV-proof’ and can withstand potentially hundreds of tonnes of extra weight in the coming years.

“We hope that our work can act as a blueprint for other sites going forward.”

Claire Adams, chief operating officer at Life, said the investment would prepare the Newcastle site for changing travel habits and extend the building’s life.

She said: “This investment supports Life’s strategic direction by helping to future-proof an important city-centre asset responsibly and sustainably.

“By strengthening the existing structure, we are preparing Times Square Car Park for changing travel habits, including the growth of electric vehicles, while extending the life of the building.”

It said that rates are highest in the most deprived areas, and Northern Ireland now has the highest infant mortality rate in the UK

Northern Ireland now has the highest infant mortality rate in the UK, paediatricians have said.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said its Northern Ireland-focused briefing, following a recently launched UK State of Child Health 2026 report, should be a “wake-up call” for everyone in the region.

The report provides an overview across the UK, analysing progress against 12 child health indicators, such as infant mortality, mental health, obesity, immunisation, and asthma.

The analysis of Northern Ireland data carried out by the RCPCH said that infant mortality in Northern Ireland has increased from 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 4.5 per 1,000 in 2024.

It said that rates are highest in the most deprived areas, and Northern Ireland now has the highest infant mortality rate in the UK.

Their figures also said that MMR vaccination uptake has fallen steadily since 2020.

The RCPCH said that by age five, just 86% of children had received both doses of the MMR vaccine.

It also said that Northern Ireland has the lowest uptake of the 6-in-1 childhood vaccine in the UK and that more than a third of 11- to 12-year-olds (34.7%) were classified as overweight or obese in 2023/24.

The Royal College also said that mental health indicators in the region are worsening.

It said an estimated 45.2% of 16-year-olds have a probable mental illness, while wellbeing among 11-year-olds is at its lowest recorded level since 2010.

The RCPCH said: “Since the first State of Child Health report in 2017, Northern Ireland has experienced several years without a functioning Executive.

“This turbulent political context, combined with an increase in the demands on paediatrics services, has contributed to lengthening waiting lists, expanding inequalities and a system under immense pressure.

“Without urgent action, paediatricians are clear that we are potentially raising one of the unhealthiest generations of children in decades.

“Failure to improve child health today risks lifelong health problems, poorer educational outcomes and entrenched inequalities.”

The College said it has set out a “clear and achievable roadmap for the next Executive to advance child health”.

It added: “The manifesto focuses on building a sustainable workforce, creating a data-informed system, ensuring equitable investment in child health services and tackling the root causes of poor health and inequality.

“Together, they offer an opportunity to create a healthier future where every child has the best possible start in life.”

RCPCH officer for Ireland, Dr Thomas Bourke, said: “The findings in this briefing should be a wake-up call for everyone in Northern Ireland.

“Across a range of key indicators, from infant mortality and obesity to mental health and vaccination uptake, we are seeing evidence that too many children are being let down.

“Children are paying the price for years of political instability, underinvestment and a failure to prioritise their health and wellbeing.

“As paediatricians, we see the consequences of this shocking decline every day in our clinics, hospitals and communities.”

“Ahead of the next Northern Ireland election, we are calling on all political parties to make child health a priority.

“Meaningful change is possible, but it requires leadership, long-term commitment and investment in the services children and families rely on.

“Every child deserves the healthiest possible start in life, and we must act now to create a better future for children across Northern Ireland.”

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As the Moon and Jupiter connect in forthcoming Leo, conversations and interractions will have a warm quality. Enjoy how easy the day ahead is.

Pisces, Aquarius and Capricorn, your relationship realm will be particularly fulfilling today. Allow bonds to grow and change.

Take this chance to communicate an idea or get to know someone better. Sometimes, the most unexpected connections yeild the most fruitful outcomes.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Tuesday September 8, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

The Moon and Jupiter forge a lovely connection in the warm and generous Leo. This can create a feelgood factor and also make you more inclined to spend time with friends or support a good cause. However, this uplifting planetary energy can also be linked to a larger theme developing, and a new friendship or group may be poised to become more important.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

There has been a very social dimension to your chart of late, which has given you plenty of opportunities for playful interaction, or to showcase your unique talents. If you have played host through this, this may have proven particularly enjoyable. However, today, getting together with those you are really close to, including family members, may be a bigger draw.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

The Sun and Mercury have recently emphasised your personal, family and home strands, or a business you run from your abode. Today brings a welcome shift of energy. Your word power is boosted in two lovely ways and gives you a greater desire to enjoy linking up with a friend or contact. Whilst enjoying their company, you could also have a powerful conversation.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

If you’ve been trying to be careful with your diet, you may find yourself tempted today. It could be with a calorific goodie, one you may have resisted for some while. Will you give yourself a treat? If you are determined to stick to the plan, you may decide to enjoy yourself in another way, with a slice of retail therapy, but here your resistance can be lower, Cancer!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

There is little doubt that, astrologically, you have been blessed with a unique platform over the last six weeks to show what a one-off you are. And whatever type of Leo you perceive yourself to be, burnish this brightly. Today gives you another chance to dazzle people with your charisma, but equally your generosity can see you offer warm support or a kind gift.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

You have been the zodiac’s busiest of signs of late, initiating new beginnings, injecting more vibrancy into ongoing strands, and showcasing your plans in a single-minded way. However, with the Moon and Jupiter linking in a gentle, reflective area today, you may appreciate a little more you time, kicking back and taking stock of all, you have started or achieved.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

You might have been more cautious around the company you have kept recently – understandably with the Sun and Mercury sitting in a secluded but cautious part of your horoscope. Today, however, is the perfect time to meet up with a longtime or trusted friend for a catch-up. You may both enjoy it so much you agree to meet again before too long.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Your contacts and connections have likely proved helpful recently. Then again, you may have given someone in your circle some valuable support. Today, whether in a work or worldly scenario or within your family, people may look to you for leadership. If so, it’s because they believe that you will encourage them to shine, not look to draw attention to yourself, Scorpio.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

The Moon and your ruler Jupiter encourage you to think bigger, especially when it comes to travel, learning, or experiences that broaden horizons. You may also find yourself more generous with your time, knowledge or encouragement. Venus’s lovely, developing link with the North Node suggests that a conversation could be more significant than it first seems.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

You may be ready to invest in something that brings greater comfort or security. However, this doesn’t have to be a financial strand, although it could be, as much as a situation with deeper meaning. This may be a friendship, new relationship or even a pastime you find compelling. Freshness and greater resonance are a very attractive mix for you just now.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

As the Moon and Jupiter link arms, they can bring a wonderfully warm quality to your relationships. Someone may be particularly generous, or you may be the one helping people out. This can be even more so if there is a bigger meaning to all this. Be it a community meet-up, support group, or an online forum, these kinds of connections can be appealing.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

You have recently had a fine chance to enjoy the company of a special friend or partner. With the Moon and Jupiter linking in a practical zone today, you and your companion can enjoy one another’s company by going to the gym, playing sport, or car sharing to get the groceries. Either way, you can support each other but make also have fun as well as being productive.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Head here for this week’s tarot horoscope reading, and see what the cards have in store for you!

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of September here.

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