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James McAvoy: ‘I need to make money – directing does not pay’

Published

6 hours ago

10 April 2026

James McAvoy: ‘I need to make money - directing does not pay’

James McAvoy has turned the story of two gutsy Scottish rappers into a movie (Picture: Getty)

We’ve all told the odd fib, or perhaps embellished the truth a little, but have you ever dived so deep into a falsehood that your entire life felt like a lie?

Back in the early 2000s, a couple of gutsy, talented Scottish rappers took a bus down to London to audition for a record company looking for the next Eminem. One of the executives dismissed them as the ‘rapping Proclaimers’, and they headed home, dejected and deflated.

But Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd (not to be confused with the Lord of the Rings actor) didn’t give up, deciding instead to reinvent themselves in the most audacious way possible. They renamed themselves Silibil N’ Brains, pretended they were an established duo from California and, before long, had a record deal, a big flat in Soho and all the excesses – and potential risks – that came with it.

Were they out purely for themselves or were they aiming to expose the hypocrisy of the business? Maybe a bit of both.

It’s a cracking true story, and X-Men and Atonement star James McAvoy has turned it into a movie called California Schemin’, with a script by Elaine Gracie and Archie Thomson.

Asked why he picked this tale for his directorial debut, the Scottish-born star, 46, told Metro: ‘It gave me the opportunity to tell a unique story about people from a working-class background. It’s entertaining and with a possibility of reaching a mainstream audience – quite rare in the film business – while being funny and underpinned by some real stakes.’

California Schemin’ is a cracking true story (Picture: PA)

Undated film still handout from California Schemin'. Pictured: James McAvoy as Anthony Reid See PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film California Schemin. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film California Schemin. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: Studiocanal All Rights Reserved. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film California Schemin — James plays a terrifying record company boss in the movie (Picture: Studiocanal)

In order to make their fake identities seem more believable, the boys agreed fully to inhabit their new characters, speaking with American accents and doing their best not to call each other by their real names. But, as is the case in many stories depicting a sharp, misguided trajectory to success, the two weren’t always on the same page, Gavin wrestling with his demons and ambition, and Billy trying to maintain a solid relationship with Mary, his girlfriend back home.

‘There was personal health, wellbeing and sanity at stake here, because the boys are faced with the opportunity to get ahead by sacrificing one of the most important things you have in this life, which is your personal identity, authenticity and integrity,’ says James, who plays a terrifying record company boss in the movie. ‘That’s also important to the art form, that they love each other so much.’

It’s not clear whether the two men’s friendship is still as tight in real life. Although they both continue to make music, Billy works on an oil rig and is devoted to his family. The film is based on Gavin’s book about the events, so he played a key part in the shape of California Schemin’. Billy got involved towards the end of the project (having previously been affiliated with another version of the story).

‘I think at times it’s difficult for them watching it, because we show them at their funniest and their best, and we also show them at their worst, making some bad choices and suffering because of it,’ says James.

‘I can’t imagine what that would be like to watch, and reliving certain events, one of which has a guy in mortal danger at one point.’

Samuel Bottomley (who played the lead in Liam Williams coming-of-age comedy drama Ladhood) takes on the role of Billy, while Séamus McLean Ross (young Colum MacKenzie in Outlander, and the son of Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh) plays the troubled Gavin.

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While Bradford-born Samuel plays a lad with a Fife accent pretending to be American, Séamus’s starting point is a Glaswegian accent. But the biggest change for them both was the rapping; they’re both big fans of the genre, but doing it on stage (albeit on a film set) is far from easy.

‘I grew up on Eminem and Dr Dre, and I love that stuff, man,’ says Samuel. ‘We both spent a lot of time listening to the songs and practicing them.’

‘Their flows are so fast and they love putting in as many complex words into each sentence as they can,’ adds Séamus. ‘It’s like they’re tripping each other up and making it as hard as they can to impress with their battle rapping.’

Both actors felt a responsibility to respect the intensity of Gavin and Billy’s friendship, especially when you get the sense that Billy would much rather be telling the truth and being his true self with Mary (played with charm and wit by Lucy Halliday).

‘Getting into Gavin’s psyche prior to and after the lie was very interesting because it really was like two different characters – Gavin and Brains,’ says Séamus. ‘The ways in which Gavin starts and how he ends up are so different; we had to map out where we see Gavin and where we see Brains.

‘Billy’s like a catalyst for Gavin. He allows him to expand and be confident. Without him his light diminishes. We see that in some bits of the film when Billy’s not around and Gavin’s by himself. It’s almost as if he’s thinking, “I don’t know what to do when my best friend’s not here.”’

EMBARGOED TO 1900 THURSDAY APRIL 2 EDITORIAL USE ONLY James McAvoy during filming for the Claudia Winkleman Show, at BBC Studioworks 6 Television Centre, Wood Lane, London, to be aired on BBC One on Friday April 3. Issue date: Thursday April 2, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA Media Assignments — James is keen to get stuck into more directing (Picture: Matt Crossick/PA Media Assignments)

‘I was really nervous to see how Gavin took it when he saw the movie for the first time,’ adds Sam. ‘We were in the same room, watching him, and he was really happy with it.’

‘Yeah, that felt like the biggest pay-off – getting the nod from Gavin,’ echoes Séamus. Lucy also got a heartwarming message from Mary, who she describes as ‘a fiercely intelligent person who knew what she wanted, and was key in helping the boys achieve this, but also key in creating the life that she and Billy have to this day’.

James is keen to do more directing, and is particularly interested in bringing to the big screen stories about relationships – ‘the connection between people’. But first, he’s got to get back to the day job.

‘I need to make some money and be an actor for a while,’ he smiles. ‘I’ve been directing for a year and three quarters and it does not pay. Not yet anyway. Maybe film number two.’

California Schemin’ is out in UK and Irish cinemas from April 10.

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MORE: James McAvoy reveals scraggly transformation for gritty Frankie Boyle TV series

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10 bars which changed London forever (and for the better)

Published

3 minutes ago

10 April 2026

NewsAdmin

10 bars which changed London forever (and for the better)

Pubs have their dominion, though you do not seek one out for a blade-cold martini any more than you lean on a bar counter hoping for a half of best drawn by hand. When London begins to abrade, a bar can still salvage the hour. Better light, better seating, better company. A drink made by someone who understands temperature, timing, and the difficult art of making a stranger feel briefly restored. Visiting these bars, I found in them not only relief, but proof that London still knows how to receive people properly. It is no accident that eight of the 10 are in hotels. London handles such bars better than most cities because it understands they are not annexes for overnight guests, but some of its finest public rooms.

What stays with me from these bars is not simply what was in the glass, but who stood across it. Thanos and Markus at The Savoy. Angelos Niakas at The Lanesborough. Michele at The Ritz. Simone at GŎNG. Monica at Tayēr + Elementary. Andrea at The Goring. James at Thirteen. Lucas at Dukes. Eder at Gambit. Angelos at Câto. This is not a list of interiors, but a route through London by way of the people who keep teaching it how to drink better, host better, and feel briefly improved. I went to every one. You should do the same.

Everything begins here. Opened in 1893, the American Bar gave London its first enduring grammar of mixed drinks, though it was Ada Coleman, running the room from 1903 to 1926, who turned bartending into authorship. The hanky panky was her calling card. Made for the actor Sir Charles Hawtrey, who asked for something with a bit more punch, it arrived with gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet-Branca, and left him exclaiming, “By Jove! That is the real hanky-panky.”

What matters is not only the anecdote, but what it shows: Coleman was not simply mixing drinks, she was writing character into the glass. When I visited, that sense of lineage still held. Thanos Tzanetopoulos ran the room with the ease of a man who makes difficulty vanish before it reaches the guest, while Markus Basset, guiding the wider drinks programme, kept the line between inheritance and living relevance taut. Sit at the slim run of stools and the American Bar still feels like the source, not a preserved artefact.

The Library Bar, The Lanesborough

Press handout

The Lanesborough has all the credentials one could ask of Hyde Park Corner — leather, chandeliers, stature, one of the capital’s grand addresses — though the Library Bar works as more than a handsome room. The martini trolley reduces luxury to first principles: temperature, dilution, garnish, each handled with absolute assurance, while the back bar extends to pre-phylloxera Cognacs and ancient Scotch. Still, what stays with me is Angelos Niakas, sometimes known as the Fallen Angel. He arrived from Greece in 2018, began polishing glasses, then rose to run the room. I met him after he had seen off a table of Texans at 4am, yet the welcome never faltered. His drinks arrive fully resolved, including his negroni charentaise, sharpened with brandy and served in a coupe. Then come the details which make you want to return: martini sundays, his corgi, Mayfair, and Lilibet, the cherished Siberian Forest cat who is part of the address itself. In lesser hands, this bar might have remained handsome but remote. Niakas makes it land.

Press handout

The Rivoli Bar, in its current form, has occupied its gilded corner since 2001, though the bigger story is that The Ritz has never been content to coast on pedigree alone. Investment continues, new wings are being added, and the hotel remains bent on preserving its top rank by strengthening it. When I visited, Michele Saladino held the room with technical authority and charm. Behind the scenes sits a formidable preparation lab producing distillates, tinctures and calibrated batches, allowing the team to serve up to 500 guests a day from the minute counter without losing rhythm. The Ritz 110 still delivered its gold-flecked flourish, now poured more than a thousand times each month, though beneath the glitter sat real method. Saladino’s newer drinks, referencing the biodynamic calendar, show the same reach: mars drawing saffron-redistilled gin through Campari, Antica Formula and aged sherry, moon building a Martini line from pear eau-de-vie, Manzanilla and white miso. It is a bar which preserves the aura of The Ritz while proving it has no wish to live on inheritance alone.

GŎNG, Shangri-La The Shard

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Bars with panoramic views often lean too heavily on the glass, as if altitude alone were enough. GŎNG, which opened in 2014 on the 52nd floor of The Shard, works because the drinks keep pace with the outlook. When I ascended, Simone Ghiozzi brought the assurance of someone who has spent much of his London career close to the river, the city’s lifeline. Buckwheat had a nutty lift. Flower bent the French 75 through chrysanthemum and tea with grace. Best of all, perhaps, was sugar cane, made with cane pressed each morning from Borough Market, which gave the drink a snap no bottle could fake. Then there is the improbable shard-side myth which suits the site so well: during construction, a fox made its way near the top of the building, surviving on scraps left by workers. Only London could produce a story so absurd, and a bar so suited to it — urban, vertiginous, ridiculous, yet wholly persuasive.

Tayēr + Elementary, Old Street

Tayer & Elementary

When Tayēr + Elementary opened in 2019, Monica Berg and Alex Kratena did more than unveil a new address beside a demonic roundabout. They reset the tempo of modern London drinking. I went to see both halves in action because the split is the point. Elementary, at the front, is bright, brisk, and immediate, built for draught cocktails, quick pleasure and the sort of appetite which arrives before overthinking does. This is where the one sip martini belongs — tiny, freezing, complete; its vodka, Fino sherry, Ambrato vermouth and Gorgonzola-stuffed olive making their point at once. Tayēr, behind, moves differently. Darker, tighter, more focused, it centres on a bespoke bar system and drinks of far greater intricacy. Together they form one of the clearest statements any London bar has made in years, and Monica’s exacting influence runs through both.

Nick Rochowski Photography

The Goring Bar, refreshed in 2019 and revisited in 2024, succeeds not through novelty but tone. When I took my comfy swivelling stool amid the plaster mermaids and mermen, with the garden softening the room beyond, it felt at once welcoming and properly formed. Andrea Ferrante has understood exactly what this bar should be. At the start of the menu sits a prompt, complete with mirror, asking guests to describe themselves and let the team build something around them. Even the pink flamingo (Chambord, Italicus, fig liqueur, jasmine and Champagne) reads like the first drink of a very good day, bright and scented and entirely unembarrassed by its own charm. It is one of the friendliest counters in London, and all the better for it.

Thirteen at Chateau Denmark

Press handout

Thirteen arrived with dial8 on Denmark Street in February 2023 and, on visiting, what struck me most was how fully it belonged to Soho rather than merely borrowing its old voltage. James Warren, formerly of the Groucho Club, is central to that. Upstairs, Thirteen runs on music, appetite and late-hour propulsion. Downstairs, dial8 takes the register darker and pushes further into the small hours. Beyond the bars, Chateau Denmark stretches across 16 buildings and 44 bedrooms, with in-room “maxi bars” which tell you a good deal about the house appetite. The whole site feels less like a single venue than a fresh district folded into Soho’s bloodstream. Warren gives it exactly the social intelligence it needs to stop the concept slipping into fancy dress.

The Delany Drawing Room, Dukes

Press handout

Opened in December 2025, The Delany Drawing Room gave Dukes a second axis beyond the martini bar next door, and, after visiting, I came away thinking it may now be the finer room in the building. Elegant Lucas Paterson is a large part of the reason. Under his watch, whisky and darker spirits are handled with assurance and ease, through accessibly priced flights presented on oak staves, and a take on the negroni from a 10-litre cask in the room itself. The guiding figure is Mary Delany, the 18th-century artist and letter writer famed for her extraordinarily exact botanical collages, and that spirit of close observation runs through the entire proposition. Meanwhile, in the foyer, people still queue for martinis like puddings waiting to be spooned, seemingly unaware that the more interesting bar may be the one they have just wandered past.

Helen Cathcart

Gambit opened with The Newman in February 2026. Beneath the hotel, Eder Neto has made a vast, Art Deco-leaning room feel open rather than submerged, and that ease carries into the list. His background runs from Hakkasan to the opening team at The Standard London, with the added distinction of becoming Britain’s first certified sake sommelier. Most striking is the fact that each alcoholic cocktail has a non-alcoholic counterpart built as a drink in its own right rather than a dutiful substitute. Angels and demons appears in both forms, the original built on butter-infused tequila, the other on Lyre’s and blood orange, each with real length and shape. Chess nights and music give the copper-topped room life, while nods to Nancy Cunard and Aleister Crowley add just enough Fitzrovia colour. Neto makes the bar feel welcoming, broad-minded and unusually inclusive for people not drinking, which remains rarer in London than it should be.

Press handout

Câto, which opened in February 2026, earns its inclusion by providing such a sharp contrast to the smoother hotel-led addresses elsewhere. Created with Angelos Bafas, better known as Mr Ungarnished, it occupies a former gentlemen’s club and feels hand-built in the best sense. When I settled in, serendipitously beside Thanos of The Savoy, the drinks came stripped back until only their point remained. Pollens, cask-raised mead, ingredient-led construction, all handled without frippery. The oyster martini, served with oysters and mint-chilli mignonette, sounds like the sort of idea which might enjoy hearing itself talked about, until it arrives and proves entirely coherent. Bafas has built a room with tactility and nerve, and London needs bars like that as much as it needs gilt and chandeliers.

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Manchester United loanee receives huge boost after setback – ‘This league is crazy’

Published

10 minutes ago

10 April 2026

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Man Utd midfielder Toby Collyer signed for Championship club Hull City on loan in the January transfer window.

Manchester United loanee Toby Collyer was delighted to impress on his first start for Hull City after recovering from an injury. Collyer spent the first half of the season with West Brom, but he was recalled in the January transfer window and sent to Hull for the second half of the campaign.

Sources close to Collyer believed he would show his quality with Hull after suffering an injury at West Brom, but he picked up another minor injury. The midfielder returned to fitness in March and was handed his first start against the Championship leaders Coventry earlier this week.

Hull were the underdogs heading into the game, but they secured a point in a goalless draw. Collyer played 74 minutes, delivering an excellent performance against Frank Lampard’s side.

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Speaking to Hull Live, Collyer said: “I came here having full trust from the staff upstairs as well. It wasn’t the best start in terms of physicality. I had a little setback, but I’ve just tried to build myself up in training again and be patient.

“I’ve managed to do a great job, I think so, credit to the manager for, I’d say putting me in at the right time. Football’s all about timing as well. I feel like he’s put me in at the right time.

“I feel like, from what I’ve shown in training, I’ve deserved it. I just enjoyed being out there again, starting, and got on the ball quite a bit. It just felt good playing again. I’m definitely (ready to play the next game), a little bit of cramp towards the end, but that’s natural with the limited minutes I’ve had.”

Over a dozen Championship clubs enquired about Collyer’s availability last summer. West Brom beat Hull to his signature, but Collyer’s first half of the campaign at the Hawthorns did not go as planned.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

“We know what sort of league the Championship is; it’s hectic. I think a lot can change in the last few weeks, so it’s a big point for the boys,” he added after drawing against Coventry.

“This league is crazy, I’ve never experienced anything like it. If feels like anyone can beat anyone. You can prepare for games, and then rock up and it’s completely different.

“We know what we’re aiming for, and we want to aim for as many points as possible. Whether we can push for automatics or get in the play-offs, we take it game by game.

“We’ve definitely got the quality to do it, and as I said previously, anything can change in these last few weeks. We’ve just got to do what we can do and let the rest take care of itself.”

Collyer’s contract at United runs until the summer of 2027, with the option of another year.

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Sir Keir Starmer says he is ‘fed up of UK bills going up because of Putin or Trump’

Published

18 minutes ago

10 April 2026

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Sir Keir Starmer has hit out at Donald Trump

Press Association and Benjamin Blosse

10:15, 10 Apr 2026Updated 10:16, 10 Apr 2026

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Donald Trump about the need for a “practical plan” to get shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of the Middle East ceasefire.

The call between the leaders came shortly after the Prime Minister criticised the US president over the knock-on effects of the Iran conflict, saying he was “fed up” with bills going up in the UK “because of the actions of Putin or Trump”.

Sir Keir is visiting allies in the Gulf for talks on how to support the pause in fighting and secure a permanent reopening of the key shipping strait. He is set to head back to the UK on Friday after visiting Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

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On Thursday, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump from Qatar this evening.

“The Prime Minister set out his discussions with Gulf leaders and military planners in the region on the need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the UK’s efforts to convene partners to agree a viable plan.

“They agreed that now there is a ceasefire in place and agreement to open the strait, we are at the next stage of finding a resolution. The leaders discussed the need for a practical plan to get shipping moving again as quickly as possible.”

Sir Keir earlier appeared to blame Mr Trump for rising bills alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling ITV’s Talking Politics Podcast: “I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses’ bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump.”

He added the ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must have “toll-free navigation” as part of the ceasefire amid reports Iran wants to charge for passage.

Asked whether he viewed the critical strait as now being open, he said: “There are a lot of things being said – they need to be tested” and that the UK’s position is that “open” means “open for safe navigation”.

“That means toll-free navigation and vessels can get through,” he told Talking Politics.

Speaking in London, the Foreign Secretary also called for toll-free travel through the Strait, warning that trading routes from Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman were “all hijacked by Iran so that they can hold the global economy hostage”.

Yvette Cooper said: “The fundamental freedoms of the seas must not be unilaterally withdrawn or sold off to individual bidders and nor can there be any place for tolls on an international waterway.”

The US president later posted on his Truth Social platform: “There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

He added in a separate post: “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!”

Mr Trump agreed a two-week truce earlier this week with the reopening of the strait a key condition.

But the agreement soon came under strain as Israel’s bombardment of Beirut prompted Iran to close the shipping lane again amid disagreement over whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he had authorised direct talks with Lebanon “as soon as possible” aimed at disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the neighbours.

Sir Keir said Israeli strikes on Lebanon are “wrong” and that it should be included in the ceasefire.

His call with Mr Trump also came hours after he was asked about the US president’s language in his posts about Iran and said they were “not words I would use”.

“Let me be really clear and blunt about this – they’re not words I would use or would ever use because I come at this with our British values and principles foremost and uppermost in my mind,” he said.

The US leader has repeatedly lashed out publicly at Sir Keir in recent weeks over his failure to initially allow Washington to use UK bases.

He reiterated on Thursday that the US is only authorised to use UK bases for “collective self-defence” and said the UK is “monitoring” to make sure that is the case.

Elsewhere, Sir Keir wrote in The Guardian newspaper that “Iran must now become a line in the sand”. He said: “How we emerge from this crisis will define all of us for a generation.

“And, instead of hoping to return to the world of 2008, we will forge a new path for Britain – one that strengthens our energy, our defence and our economic security in a new age.”

A Downing Street spokesperson said that during his Middle East tour, Sir Keir discussed “the need to push to restore the free flow of goods to support global supply chains” with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Prime Minister also “expressed solidarity with the people of the UAE and his condolences for the lives lost as a result of Iran’s reckless bombardment”, according to No 10.

In talks with leaders from Bahrain, Sir Keir “reiterated the importance of ensuring the ceasefire is upheld in order to pave the way for lasting peace”.

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UK drivers on certain medications warned by DVLA about driving restrictions

Published

27 minutes ago

10 April 2026

NewsAdmin

The DVLA may tell motorists to avoid driving if they are taking certain medications like opioid painkillers, tranquillisers and some antidepressants, according to experts

The DVLA may ban drivers on some common medications. Motorists could be advised to “avoid driving” if they are taking certain medicines, according to leading experts.

Greg Wilson, motoring expert at Quotezone.co.uk, said: “If you are on strong medications, it is likely that you will be recommended to avoid driving. Opioid painkillers, tranquillisers, and certain antidepressants are examples of medicines that can affect driving ability – as well as those that cause drowsiness or say ‘do not operate heavy machinery.”

Drivers are legally required to notify the DVLA of certain medical conditions that may impair their ability to drive. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £1,000.

You have the option to voluntarily surrender your licence. This may be worth considering if your doctor advises you to stop driving for 3 months or more, or if your medical condition affects your ability to drive safely for a period of 3 months or more.

Alternatively, if your medical condition means you no longer meet the required standards for driving, you will need to inform the DVLA and return your licence, reports Birmingham Live.

Should you have a medical condition that affects your driving and choose not to voluntarily relinquish your licence, you are obliged to notify the DVLA, who will then determine whether you are fit to retain your driving licence. Those holding a car or motorcycle licence are able to check and report their condition online via the DVLA’s dedicated service, which allows drivers to search for their health condition and notify the relevant authorities accordingly.

The DVLA website advises: “You’ll need to enter some details about your current driving licence and your condition.

“To search for the condition, you’ll need to say what type of licence you have and confirm your entitlement to drive.”

It further states: “If you’re checking for someone else, and you do not know the information about their licence, you can check the A to Z list for the condition.

“If you report your condition to DVLA through the service, you might need to give your GP or consultant’s name and address.”

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I feel complete support from owners and fans – Slot

Published

34 minutes ago

10 April 2026

NewsAdmin

“I’m repeating myself a lot, but I feel a lot of support. Not only from the owners but from Richard [Hughes] and Michael [Edwards]. A lot of support from them but as weird as it might sound, I also feel the support from the fans,” said Slot.

“In Paris when the players went out for the warm-up and after the 4-0 loss [against Manchester City] the fans immediately started singing ‘we love Liverpool‘.

“I think it’s fair to say we were outplayed for 90 minutes and they were still singing and clapping for us.

“I’ve said it many times, the club knows the period of time we’re in and in the meantime, I feel complete support.”

He added that Wednesday’s defeat to PSG would serve as motivation during this “defining” period of the season, which starts with Fulham‘s visit to Anfield on Saturday.

“We faced the champions of Europe and we experienced that we were not on the level we should have been.

“The good thing is we have four or five days to show we can be much more competitive. It also tells us we want to keep improving and playing at that level next season.

“I think if you experience that two days ago, you want to be involved next season to show we can do even better. Therefore, we have to perform in the league as well.”

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Emmerdale’s Bradley Riches flooded with love as he says ‘I do’ to husband

Published

40 minutes ago

10 April 2026

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The couple have been engaged since a trip to Sorrento in 2024

Emmerdale star Bradley Riches tied the knot with his now-husband Scott Johnston as the pair were flooded with love and support.

Bradley Riches made his Emmerdale debut last year as Lewis Barton, son of Emma Barton and newcomer Kev Townsend. During his time in the village, not only has he built up a relationship with older brother Ross Barton, but romance has blossomed between him and Vinny Dingle.

Away from the Dales, Bradley has been counting down the days until he can say “I do”. The actor got engaged to his partner Scott Johnston during a romantic getaway to Sorrento, Italy, in April 2024, which came shortly after Bradley’s stint in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

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Bradley then shared at the end of last year that they’ll be getting married in April 2026 as he wrote on social media: “4 months until we say ‘I do’” back in December.

As 2025 came to a close, Bradley shared the video of his proposal once more and added: “2020 was my favourite yet but… 2026 gonna be even better as I get to marry my best friend”.

On Thursday (April 9), Bradley took to his Instagram with a gorgeous photo of himself and now-husband Scott sharing a kiss on their wedding day.

He gushed: “Mr & Mr Johnston-Riches (white heart emoji) 08.04.26”. His comments were filled with congratulations, as his co-stars sent him love and support.

Katie Hill penned: “Omg can’t cope love you guys congratulations” and Lisa Riley added: “We love you so so so so much…can’t wait to celebrate when we are home CONGRATULATIONS you belters”.

With his day filled with love and support, just a few days before his wedding Bradley shared the sad news that his Nan had passed away.

Sharing a snap of younger him and his Nan, he wrote: “Never did I think I would be saying goodbye to my Nan just days before my wedding Before my nan passed, she told me she’d be with me on my big day… and I know she will be.

“She loved Scott so much- never questioned us, just loved us fully. I will miss you every day. See ya later love you xxx”.

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.

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Police name motorcyclist who died in crash with tractor

Published

47 minutes ago

10 April 2026

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The 53-year-old has been described by his family as a “loving father”

The family of a motorcyclist that died in a crash involving a tractor has paid a tribute to him. The crash involved a yellow Yamaha motorbike that was travelling from the Block Fen Drove roundabout towards Chatteris at around 8.11pm on March 31.

The motorcyclist, a 53-year-old man from March, died at the scene. He has been named as Napoleon Georgoulias.

Napoleon’s family said: “Napoleon Georgoulias, affectionately known as Naps to his friends and family, sadly passed away following a road traffic collision on Tuesday, March 31.

“He was a deeply loved son, brother, uncle, partner and a loving father to two wonderful children. Naps had a personality that was truly unforgettable. Once you met him, you never forgot him. His larger than life character and his warm spirit touched everyone that knew him.

“His passing has left an immeasurable void in the lives of his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be forever missed and always loved.”

The driver of the tractor involved in the crash, a 16-year-old boy from Haddenham, was interviewed at the scene of the crash and is helping officers with enquiries. Debris from the crash struck another car, which was a Volkswagen Polo. The driver was uninjured.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “An investigation has been launched and officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed either the motorbike or tractor before the collision, those with relevant dash cam footage, or with any information about the collision.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 and quote Operation Juniper or incident 485 of March 31.

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Vance heads to Pakistan for talks to try to end Iran war

Published

1 hour ago

10 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Vance heads to Pakistan for talks to try to end Iran war

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is tasking the member of his inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the conflict with Iran to now find a resolution to the war that began six weeks ago and stave off the U.S. president’s astonishing threat to wipe out its “whole civilization.”

Vice President JD Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, sets off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

It comes as a tenuous, temporary ceasefire appears to be on the precipice of collapsing. The chasm between Iran’s public demands and those from the U.S. and its partner Israel seem irreconcilable. And in the U.S., where Vance might ask voters in two years’ time to make him the next president, there is growing political and economic pressure to wrap it up.

Vance is joined by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who took part in three rounds of indirect talks with Iranian negotiators aimed at settling U.S. concerns about Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic weapons programs and its support for armed proxy groups in the Middle East before Trump and Israel launched the Feb. 28 war against Iran.

The White House has provided scant detail about the format of the talks — whether they will be direct or indirect — and has not provided specific expectations for the meeting.

But the arrival of Vance for negotiations marks a rare moment of high-level U.S. government engagement with the Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the most direct contact had been when President Barack Obama in September 2013 called newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.

The two sides face a steep climb in making headway

Almost immediately after the White House and Iran announced a temporary ceasefire Tuesday evening, the sides found themselves at odds over terms of the truce.

Iran insisted that an end to the Israeli war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump said the truce did not cover Lebanon and the Israeli operations there continued.

The U.S., meanwhile, demanded that Iran make good on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic had closed the critical shipping waterway in response to Israel’s intensifying attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

Trump on Thursday night said Iran was “doing a very poor job” of allowing oil tankers to pass through, writing on social media, “That is not the agreement we have!”

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Vance, Witkoff, Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “have always been collaborating on these discussions” and said Trump was optimistic that a lasting deal can be reached during the two-week ceasefire. “President Trump has a proven track record of achieving good deals on behalf of the United States and the American people, and he will only accept one that puts America first,” Kelly said.

High stakes for peace — and for politics

It’s the highest-stakes moment thus far for Vance, who spent much of last year as more of a background player in the Trump White House, especially as others like Elon Musk and Rubio took turns as ever-present advisers for the president.

But Vance’s portfolio is fattening fast, first with a mission to root out fraud in government programs at home and now to help solve a U.S. war in the Middle East, where complicated doesn’t even begin to describe things.

Vance, who served in the Iraq War while in the Marines, spent two years as a U.S. senator and a little more than one as vice president, has little diplomatic experience.

On Wednesday, he dismissed speculation that the Iranians requested that he join the talks, telling reporters: “I don’t know that. I would be surprised if that was true. But, you know, I wanted to be involved because I thought I could make a difference.”

Jonathan Schanzer, a former Treasury Department official who is now executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a hawkish Washington think tank, said Vance, with little experience on Iran policy, is an interesting choice to lead the delegation.

Trump has noted his vice president was “less enthusiastic” than other top senior officials in the Republican administration, making Vance an intriguing interlocutor for the Iranian side, Schanzer said.

“I think they probably prefer him knowing that his perspective on foreign intervention is one of skepticism,” Schanzer said of the Iranians. “I do think that he’s going to need some help. I don’t think he’s ever been engaged in negotiations with this kind of weight, this kind of seriousness. This is as serious as it gets.”

The White House has not detailed who will be in the negotiations besides Vance, Witkoff and Kushner, but Kelly said officials from the National Security Council, State Department and Pentagon “will also play a supportive role.”

During early rounds of indirect nuclear talks with the Iranians before the war, Democrats and some nuclear experts questioned whether Kushner and Witkoff had enough technical knowledge. The White House has not said whether the pair, whom Trump has entrusted with some of his most difficult negotiations since returning to office, had a nuclear expert with them for those talks.

Negotiating peace is a tall order for any vice president

It’s not unusual for vice presidents to take on important negotiating roles for the president, said Joel Goldstein, a professor of law at Saint Louis University who is an expert on the history of the vice presidency.

But, he said, “I don’t recall a situation where a vice president has been sent to negotiate a ceasefire or peace in connection with a war the United States was involved with.”

Vance and Rubio are seen as the Republican Party’s strongest potential 2028 presidential contenders, though neither has given a clear answer about whether he intends to run.

The vice president’s team is not thinking about the negotiations with an eye to future political considerations, according to a person familiar with discussions who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

As vice president, Vance inherently would carry any baggage of the administration if he eventually does run for president, Goldstein said. But stepping in to lead negotiations even further identifies him with the conflict.

“The fact that he’s involved in the negotiations in a very visible way, that means that, if things go south, that people will be pointing fingers at him,” Goldstein said.

At the same time, Goldstein said, “If things go well, then it will be something that he could point to.”

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ScotRail services between Aberdeen and Inverness cancelled after person hit by train

Published

1 hour ago

10 April 2026

NewsAdmin

A person was struck by a train earlier this morning causing a shutdown of some of the country’s major lines.

09:45, 10 Apr 2026Updated 09:52, 10 Apr 2026

All ScotRail services have been cancelled on the Aberdeen to Inverness line after a personal was reportedly hit by a train.

The incident happened between Elgin and Nairn and was shared on the transport body’s social media at around 7.45am on Friday, April 10.

It is understood emergency services, including Police Scotland and Scottish Ambulance Service, rushed to the scene and remain on site.

The incident means all services between the Highland capital and the Granite City have been axed, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 10am this morning with ScotRail saying they are working closely with crews during this time.

The ScotRail JourneyCheck website confirmed: “Due to a person being hit by a train between Nairn and Elgin, the line is closed. Disruption is expected until 10am. Train services between Aberdeen and Inverness will be cancelled, delayed or revised.”

A ScotRail spokesman added: “Due to the emergency services responding to an incident between Nairn and Elgin, the line is closed.”

The three services that are cancelled so far are the 09:46 Inverness to Elgin, the 10.51 Elgin to Inverness, and the 11:11 Aberdeen to Inverurie.

In the meantime, ScotRail has arranged for passengers’ rail tickets to be accepted on local bus routes at no extra cost with Stagecoach North. Travellers should be aware that Insch is not covered by local bus agreements.

The alternative buses in place are as follows:

1 x bus at Forres ETA 09:30/09:45 – D&E all stops to Aberdeen
1 x bus at Elgin ETA 10:00/10:15 – D&E all stops to Inverness

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 07:36 to attend an incident near Brodie. We dispatched one ambulance to the scene.”

British Transport Police has been contacted for comment.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

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Coronation Street star’s exit ‘confirmed’ as he films ‘last few days’ | Soaps

Published

1 hour ago

10 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Coronation Street star’s exit ‘confirmed’ as he films ‘last few days’ | Soaps

Is it game over for Carl? (Picture: ITV)

Carl Webster’s days of causing chaos on Coronation Street may be numbered as Jonathan Howard, drops a huge hint about leaving the soap after being accused of ‘spoiling’ their upcoming murder mystery.

The actor, who has played the conniving Corrie baddie since last Spring 2025, has teased that he is filming his final scenes.

He took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal that he is wrapping up filming on the Cobbles before jetting off to America.

The photo featured a beaming Jonathan with a film crew in the background, including the caption ‘Last few days on #Corrie before flying back to the States’

‘It’s time!’

This is not the first time Jonathan Howard has dropped some serious spoilers.

Earlier this year, a flash-forward scene showed Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin) being questioned by police, after discovering the body of someone she knows.

Last Wednesday, Jonathan set the rumour mill ablaze when he shared a cheerful selfie from the soap set posing with Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs), Vinta Morgan (Ronnie Bailey), and Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster).

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Actor Jonathan Howard smiling on the set of Coronation Street, with the caption 'Last few days on Corrie before flying back to the States. It’s time!!!' — Jonathan seemed to suggest that he was exiting Corrie. (Picture: Instagram)

The caption read “Sun finally came out to say hello on the cobbles today…”

While the pic might have seemed innocent enough, fans soon put two and two together in the comments and wondered that if Carl Webster is one of the potential murder victims, why is Jonathan still filming?

One fan joked: “Well, I’m guessing Carl doesn’t die!! Spoiler alert lol.”

“Either he doesn’t die or he does but is throwing us off the scent,” said another.

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Jonathan replied: “Maybe some goodbye photos.”

Ryan and Carl face off in Coronation Street — Carl is not exactly Mister Popular in Weatherfield. (Picture: ITV)

Since arriving in Weatherfield last year, Carl has quickly become one of the soap’s most insidious love-to-hate villains.

Greatest hits include seducing his brother Kevin’s wife Abi Webster (Sally Carman-Duttine) only to do the dirty on her with James Bailey(Jason Callender), putting Tyrone Dobbs in a wheelchair with a reckless hit-and-run, and worst of all, causing the Corriedale crash which killed Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) then gaslighting Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) into taking the blame.

With a list of enemies longer than your arm, Carl may seem like a prime target for murder. Would anyone miss him if he was bumped off? Despite his many evil deeds, Coronation Street bosses have attempted to explain Carl’s behaviour and even redeem him by his relationship with Debbie – the woman he thought was his sister, who was later revealed to be his mum.

Carl speaks to Debbie in her flat in Corrie — Carl and Debbie have a complicated mother/son relationship. (Picture: ITV)

Even though he takes advantage of her and uses her like a human piggy bank, Carl genuinely cares for Debbie and recent episodes have seen the two grow closer after she was released from prison.

If actor Jonathan Howard is trading Weatherfield for the US of A, it wouldn’t be the first time the actor has jetted across the pond in search of stardom.

Before coming to Corrie, Jonathan starred in Hollywood shows for a decade. In the drama series Kingdom, Jonathan played Nick Jonas’ love interest – and they had a steamy snog. He also featured in the SyFy drama Dominion played a soldier fighting against an army of angels.

Is Hollywood calling Jonathan once more? Is it curtains for Carl?

MORE: Debbie injured in Coronation Street as the truth about Carl is exposed

MORE: All Coronation Street spoilers for next week as the end of Theo sends shockwaves

MORE: Ronnie fizzing with rage in Coronation Street as Carl makes Debbie’s illness worse