Officers were called to reports of a crash on the motorway between the A56 at Edenfield and J1 at Walmersley at around 5.10pm.

They said a Citroen Dispatch van crashed with the central reservation before junction one “as a result of a suspected medical episode.”

Traffic was turned around on the M66 following the serious crash (Image: Phil Taylor)

A man in his 50s was taken to hospital where he remains in a life-threatening condition, a force spokesperson added.

The motorway was closed in both directions for several hours yesterday as emergency services rushed to the scene.

RECAP: All lanes stopped on M66 near Ramsbottom due to crash

Traffic on the northbound carriageway was released first while those heading south were turned around by traffic officers.

Diversions were also put in place through local roads for those heaidng south.

Queueing traffic on the M66 southbound (Image: Phil Taylor)

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed yesterday a person had been taken to hospital by colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service.

North West Air Ambulance also confirmed their attendance but did not provide any further information.

READ MORE: Person taken to hospital after ‘serious’ crash on M66

Officers Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) serious collision invesitgation unit are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward.

The road was closed for several hours while emergency services dealt with the incident (Image: Phil Taylor)

Anyone with information should call 0161 856 4741 quoting log 2419 of April 16. Information can also be shared via the report tool or LiveChat function on the GMP website.

Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Viewers saw Karishma Vijay crowned the winner of the BBC business show on Thursday after an all-female final, which saw her battle it out for Lord Sugar’s coveted investment against Pascha Myhill.

The 28-year-old beauty business owner also recently got engaged, announcing the news with a series of photos with her fiance on social media.

Vijay told the Press Association: “I actually can’t believe my life right now. Things keep happening. I’m just having a really good week.

“I think people are happy to see me happy. A couple of years ago, I was single, I called off a wedding, ran away from it all – very dramatic, Bollywood movie-esque.

“Now, I’m here with my happy ending and also a lot of money in the bank account.”

Vijay, from Surrey, recounted the moment Lord Sugar told her she had won and would be receiving his £250,000 investment, and said: “I was so blown away, so shocked – but I kept it very cool.

“Then, I got in my car and I was screaming. It was just insane – I can’t believe I’ve gone and done it after not having watched the show, I feel like that’s so cheeky.”

She said once the final is filmed, the contestants have “no idea who has won” and must wait up to six months to find out the results.

Vijay told PA: “Having all that waiting time, it was a lot of anxiety.

“I’m just happy with the outcome. I’m so over the moon. And I’m just so happy to have all these opportunities now, it’s insane. My life has just really turned around.”

Vijay continued: “The last three or four years, my life has been nothing short of a shit storm. Everything that you can imagine going wrong went wrong, and it was like, ‘How am I surviving this?’

“I felt incredibly unlucky. Then I found this show. I’m just so eternally grateful for all of it.

“Had I not hit rock bottom, it would have never been this unreal. I wouldn’t have probably been this grateful if it had come easily to me.”

Vijay will use Lord Sugar’s investment to expand her beauty business Kishkin, and said: “It’s going to be a brand that really made it, with young girls queuing up to buy it.”

She added: “My mum and dad are the proudest people on Earth right now.

“They cannot stop speaking about me to everyone they meet, and their friends – who probably overlooked us at some point.

“My dad raised me as a single dad – both me and my sister.”

Referring to her Indian background and her “very traditional” family life, she said: “Being from the kind of community I’m from, they told my dad, ‘There’s no way you’re going to be able to raise these two girls as a man, as a single parent’.

“My older sister is a doctor, and I’m the winner of The Apprentice. What more can a dad ask for?”

Vijay praised fellow finalist Myhill, saying: “I have so much love for Pascha. I think she’s incredibly inspiring and the most deserving.

“A lot of people were questioning her place in the final and I just won’t have it.

“She deserves a seat at that table, 100%.”

Manchester United look to have an incredibly busy summer when the transfer window finally reopens, as they look to address growing issues in the engine room

Roy Keane has opined that Manchester United will struggle to find a better midfielder than Bruno Fernandes as they look to upgrade the heart of their midfield this summer. The board are already likely to be putting in the groundwork to find a suitable replacement for Casemiro, who will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season.

However, doing so will be no easy feat considering the wealth of experience and ability that the Brazilian possesses. Casemiro has been instrumental to United’s success this season as Michael Carrick looks to guide his club to Champions League football for 2026/27.

The 34-year-old has missed just two Premier League outings this season as the Reds head into their final six games, with eight goals and two assists to his name – incredible for a predominantly defensive-minded midfielder. As a result of his imminent exit, a number of names have been linked as potential successors to fill the void he will undoubtedly leave.

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But if Keane’s recent assessment of talent in the English top flight is anything to go off, they may struggle to find anyone equally as good as his midfield playing partner in Fernandes. The Sky Sports pundit took part in a quick-fire winner stays on segment with The Overlap, where he was asked for his opinion on the Premier League’s current midfielders.

In his assessment, Keane rated Mateus Fernandes higher than Alex Scott, Carlos Baleba, Casemiro, Enzo Fernandez and Ryan Gravenberch. However, he conceded that Bernardo Silva is a better all-round player than the West Ham talent.

He said the same of Silva when he was asked for his choice between the Manchester City star and Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice, although was caught in an impasse when his former club’s current captain came up.

He said: “Do I have to answer it? They’re both brilliant players. Obviously Silva’s in a better team, Bruno’s doing well in not such a good United team. At this moment in time, form-wise, I’d go Silva.”

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When asked if he believes Bruno has a chance of seeing Premier League Player of the Season honours, Keane added: “I think it depends how the season finishes. Who gets their hands on the big prize at the end, who wins that league would have a big say in it.

“I think Rice has been kind of quiet lately, but obviously over the course of the season…Bruno’s stats are brilliant. They’re all in the mix.”

It comes as United have a wealth of options to pursue this summer, not just limited to the majority of the names Keane spoke of during his segment.

Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has been floated as a potential recruit to the Theatre of Dreams, as have both Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United – considering they look unlikely to secure European football for the new season.

Lewis Miley of the Magpies has also now been linked, although the 19-year-old may require more time to develop consistently at such an early stage of his career.

Benfica’s Richard Rios has also been thrown into the mix with reports suggesting that United have contacted his representatives, while Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki is also thought to be a target in the long-term after an impressive first season in the Premier League.

Add to that growing list the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Morten Hjulmand, Kees Smit, Aleksandar Pavlovich and many more, and United have plenty of opportunities to pursue in the coming months.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, McGinn, Onana, Tielemans, Buendia, Watkins, Rogers.

Subs: Bizot, Wright, Lindelof, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Sancho, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.

Bologna: Ravaglia, Joao Mario, Vitik, Freuler, Casale, Miranda, Ferguson, Moro, Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe.

Subs: Pessina, Franceschelli, Pobega, Orsolini, Heggem, Zortea, Odgaard, Lykogiannis, Sohm, Cambiaghi, Castaldo.

Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The Artemis II astronauts who ignited a lunar renaissance gave high marks Thursday to their moonship, especially the heat shield, for its performance during reentry.

In their first news conference since returning to Earth, the three Americans and one Canadian said their lunar flyby puts NASA in a much better position for a moon landing by a crew in two years and an eventual moon base. They spoke from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, their home base.

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen launched to the moon from Florida on April 1, NASA’s first lunar crew in more than a half-century and by far the most diverse.

They became the most distant travelers ever — breaking Apollo 13’s record — as they whipped around the lunar far side, illuminated enough to reveal features never viewed before by the human eye. The sight of a total lunar eclipse added to the wonderment.

Their Orion capsule, which they named Integrity, parachuted into the Pacific last Friday to close out the nearly 10-day voyage. Artemis II’s Houston homecoming the next day coincided with the 56th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 13.

Wiseman said he and Glover “maybe saw two moments of a touch of char loss” to the heat shield as Integrity plunged through the fastest, hottest part of reentry. Once aboard the recovery ship, they peered at the bottom of the capsule as best they could, leaning over to view any signs of damage. They spotted a little loss of charred material on the shoulder, where the heat shield meets the capsule.

“For four humans just looking at the heat shield, it looked wonderful to us. It looked great, and that ride in was really amazing,” Wiseman said.

He cautioned that detailed analyses still need to be conducted. “We are going to fine-tooth comb every single, not even every molecule, probably every atom on this heat shield,” he said.

The heat shield on the first Artemis test flight in 2022 — with no one aboard — came back so pockmarked and gouged that it pushed Artemis II back by months if not years. Instead of redoing it, NASA opted to change the capsule’s entry path to minimize heating. Future capsules will sport a new design.

As the parachutes released right before splashdown, Glover said he felt like he was in freefall — like diving backward off a skyscraper. “That’s what it felt like for five seconds,” he said, adding when the ride smoothed out: “It was glorious.”

Since their return, the four astronauts have endured round after round of medical testing to check their balance, vision, muscle strength and coordination, and overall health. They even put on spacewalking suits for exercises under conditions simulating the moon’s one-sixth gravity of Earth to see how much endurance and dexterity future moonwalkers might have upon lunar touchdown.

NASA already is working on Artemis III, the next step in its grand moon base-building plans. The platform from which the rocket launches headed back Thursday to Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building, where it will be prepped for next year’s Artemis launch.

Still awaiting an assigned crew, Artemis III will remain in orbit around Earth as astronauts practice docking their Orion capsule with one or two lunar landers in development by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.

Artemis IV will follow in 2028 under NASA’s latest schedule, with two astronauts landing near the moon’s south pole.

NASA is aiming for a sustainable moon presence this time around. During the Apollo moonshots, astronauts kept their visits short. Twelve astronauts explored the lunar surface, beginning with Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969 and ending with Apollo 17’s Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt in 1972.

Koch said that since returning, she and her crewmates are “feeling even more excited and just ready to take that on as an agency.”

“We made it happen,” she added.

Everyone will need to accept extra risk to achieve all this and trust that any future problems can be figured out in real time, Hansen noted. “We’re not going to be able to pound everything flat before we go. We’re going to have to trust each other,” he said.

While everything went smoothly for them, “it was also very clear to us that it can get pretty bumpy,” he said. Future crews will have to “understand it can get real bumpy real fast.”

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

And some of the affected models were only released last year.

A support page on the Sony website now warns customers that the company will be altering its service in “late May 2026.”

Antenna users will get a greatly reduced experience.

“Program information may not appear depending on the channel,” Sony says , and “Only programs from recently watched channels may be shown.”

Channel logos won’t be displayed in the program guide, and thumbnail images in program descriptions will also no longer be available.

It’s not clear why Sony is removing the features, but the Japanese firm said it apologises “for any inconvenience this may cause”.

The firm has announced eight unexpected differences that some viewers will notice from late May.

As a result, customers have not taken the news well.

Sony is killing features for 2023-2024 Bravia TVs in May. If you bought a smart TV recently, check your settings before they vanish.

— Anil Pal (@itsanilpal) April 15, 2026

On Reddit, user NewsCards said the move risked Sony gaining a reputation as “a penny-pinching brand willing to take away established features that 19% of their customers use, just to save a few bucks.”

User tuppertom chimed in by adding: “Looks like I can stroke Sony off of my shopping list.”

“Starting in late May 2026, the availability of certain TV Guide (Program Guide) and display features will end on 2023-2025 BRAVIA TVs,” Sony said.

“We appreciate your understanding and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Full list of affected models:

The models affected are:

• 2025: BRAVIA 8 II (XR80M2)
• 2025: BRAVIA 5 (XR50)
• 2024: BRAVIA 9 (XR90)
• 2024: BRAVIA 8 (XR80)
• 2024: BRAVIA 7 (XR70)
• 2023: A95L series

If you’re not sure what model your TV is, you can usually find it in the settings or on the sticker on the back/side of your TV.

Do you have a Sony TV? Let us know if this affects you in the comments

Caernarfon Crown Court heard how Cara Haran, 25, told police about the conspiracy to protect Kaylem Longhurst from the consequences of his illegal and dangerous riding of an off-road motorbike around the Welsh town where he then lived.

Ember Jade Wong, prosecuting, said as he rode along Central Drive, Longhurst collided with six-year-old Arlo Buckley, who had been crossing the road.

The court heard how Arlo, now eight, was seriously injured as a result of being struck and dragged by the bike; requiring urgent medical care at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

In the aftermath of the crash, Longhurst fled the scene and – jurors found – his family tried to help him evade justice for the incident.

Haran, of Lucas Avenue, Clifton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert justice. Three other relatives were convicted after a trial of the same offence: Longhurst, 18, now of Morgan Walk, Nantwich, and Shane Hunt, 39, and Terry Follows, 43, both of Clwyd Avenue, Shotton.

All four were jailed at Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence. Longhurst was also sentenced for dangerous driving.

Kaylem Longhurst (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police)

Among the family’s activities set out during the trial were the burning of Longhurst’s clothing and him being transported to York, as well as various lies told to the police by the defendants during the ensuing investigation.

Joseph Lees, for Longhurst, said: “There is no arguing that these offences are so serious they cross the custody threshold – but I seek to persuade the court that it may be possible to suspend the sentence in respect of Kaylem Longhurst.

“He is devastated by his actions that day. He fully admits he took the wrong decision to leave the scene rather than taking responsibility and staying with his victim.

“He made bad decision after bad decision.”

Oliver King, on behalf of Terry Follows, conceded: “There can be only one type of sentence for Terry Follows and she knows that.

“She has no false hope.

“Her most powerful mitigation is her previous good character; with no previous convictions, cautions or reprimands.

Terry Follows (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police)

“She’s described as dedicated to her children and grandchildren which perhaps helps to explain – not excuse – what motivated her actions that day.”

Simon Rogers, on behalf of Shane Hunt, said: “It’s always difficult to make any points on behalf of a defendant – which carry any great weight – when they have been convicted following a trial.

“But there are points, in my submission, which Your Honour can take into account on behalf of this defendant.

“Shane Hunt was not the mastermind behind this plan.”

Shane Hunt (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police)

Mr Rogers added there was “in one sense, a misplaced sense of loyalty.”

Frank Dillon, on behalf of Cara Haran, said: “There came a point when she had a crisis of conscience; she attended the police station the next day and made the factual account.

“Were it not for her actions, it is by no means inconceivable that the successful prosecution of others might not have been possible.

“I say this is a genuine regret on her part for her involvement in the matter – which she quickly sought to put right.”

Judge Simon Mills said while the prosecution did not seek to “lay the terrible injuries that little boy sustained” at Kaylem Longhurst’s feet (the “chain of causation” being “broken at some point before he collided with Arlo,) the 18-year-old was “in every moral sense, responsible for what happened.”

He continued; “He was riding an off-road bike around the streets of Shotton dangerously. The bike was in a dangerous condition and he was not insured to ride it.”

Cara Haran (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police)

“He knew he should not have been on the road. He set about doing everything he could to distance himself from these facts.

“The one piece of evidence he gave which I accept is that he thought he had killed a child; he said so himself.”

Judge Mills branded some of the lies told during the trial “utterly ludicrous falsehood” which the jury had completely rejected.

He added: “No sentence I pass today can correct the terrible wrong that was done to this little boy, his family and those who love him.”

Turning to the defendants, Judge Mills explained he had to amend the starting point of Longhurst’s sentences significantly to reflect the fact he was just 16 when the incident happened.

The sentences were as follows:

Kaylem Longhurst received an overall sentence of 14 months in a young offenders institute and a two-year and seven month driving ban

• Terry Follows received 26 months imprisonment
• Shane Hunt received 21 months imprisonment
• Cara Haran received a nine month term of imprisonment

At the conclusion, Judge Mills praised North Wales Police again for the quality of the evidence placed before the court, and for the way officers tracked down and brought the offenders to justice.

“I was most impressed,” he said.

“The officers responsible have the thanks and commendation of the court.”

Following the hearing, Temporary Detective Inspector Katie Davies of the North Wales Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “This was a shocking and deeply distressing incident in which a child was left with serious injuries, while the person responsible chose to flee the scene rather than stop and help.

“What is particularly concerning is that members of Longhurst’s own family then assisted him in attempting to evade justice, including helping him leave the area and destroy evidence.

“I would like to commend the bravery of Arlo and his family, and also thank members of the public who came forward with information.

“Today’s sentence reflects the diligent work of our officers, in particular Detective Constable Donna Vernon, and sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue not only offenders, but anyone who seeks to help them avoid accountability.”

The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) had 137 stores before entering administration earlier this year.

Since then, it began shutting locations across the country in recent weeks, with sales launched at every outlet.

Now, the last TOFS locations have officially shut, with the retailer’s head offices also ceasing operations.

UK clothing chain shuts all shops after entering administration

The Factory Shop Limited, which traded as The Original Factory Shop, was established in 1969.

The discount retailer sold products including clothing and homeware.

TOFS closed 32 stores back in 2018 due to falling profits and the withdrawal of its credit insurance, but post-COVID, in the financial year 2021/22, the group’s profits soared.

In 2025, Modella Capital bought the chain from Duke Street Capital and several sites shut when TOFS entered a company voluntary arrangement in April 2025.

It was in January of this year that the company entered administration.

The online shop closed down immediately, with the remaining 137 stores beginning to shut in the weeks that followed.

TOFS employed 1,180 people across 137 stores and its head offices at the time of closure.

The Original Factory Shop has now shut all of its UK stores (Image: Ben Birchall/PA)

Now, Interpath, which was appointed in the administration process, has revealed that the last TOFS locations have, as of this month, now closed.

“A phased closure of the store portfolio was implemented considering the financial position,” a spokesperson told The Grocer.

“Without any viable offers to take the business forward, it was not possible for The Original Factory Shop to continue trading and all remaining stores were closed on April 4, 2026.”

They said that the “majority of employees have been made redundant”, however, a “small number of staff” have been retained to assist the joint administrators in formally winding up the business.

“A specialist team is in place to support impacted staff with making Redundancy Payments Service claims,” the spokesperson added.

Businesses that have entered administration in 2026

TOFS is not the only business hit financially this year, with 2026 already seeing several retailers and businesses entering administration and others announcing widespread store closures.

Russell & Bromley, Moores, Claire’s, Quiz, Denby and National Car Parks (NCP) are just some of the major businesses that have fallen into administration recently.

Lifestyle brand, Gandys, which has been worn by Prince William and Sir Richard Branson, has been forced to enter administration due to a sudden withdrawal of funding.

Following its administration, the business has cut prices by up to 75% online and in stores.

LK Bennett, founded back in the 90s, entered administration in January and has now shut down its website.

Online sales via the LK Bennett website have continued since the administration announcement earlier this year until recently.

The website has now been shut down with a message reading: “Website and phone order now closed – Shop in store for a limited time.”

Other major high street retailers, including River Island, Primark, and Poundland, have been forced to close stores, while Revolution and BrewDog have shut the doors to 21 and 38 pubs, respectively.

Recommended reading:

It is not all bad news, however, with UK beauty firm Beauty Bay filing for administration in March 2026 before being saved.

A French-owned company called AA Investments Group bought it for an undisclosed amount, saving stores and people’s jobs.

Did you shop in The Original Factory Shop before it closed? Let us know in the comments below.

Zayn Malik and One Direction fans were emotional over his touching words regarding former bandmate Liam Payne who devastatingly plunged to his death in 2024

Zayn Malik has admitted the tough moments he faced when it came to mourning his pal Liam Payne’s death. The duo shot to fame as part of One Direction, amassing worldwide success alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson following their X Factor success.

Aged just 31, in October 2024, Liam tragically fell to his death from the balcony of his third-floor room at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It came just days after the late musician had met up with his former bandmate, Niall.

Now, Zayn has opened up on how his emotions run high when he tries to sing parts of their hit tunes that were once sung by his former bandmate. On X, formerly known as Twitter, a fan page shared a quote from Zayn, who spoke of the raw feelings while singing Liam’s lines.

READ MORE: Katie Price ‘f**king furious’ as she breaks silence on seventh driving banREAD MORE: Stone Roses icon Mani to be honoured with mural as Ian Brown leads campaign

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He told Vanity Fair: “I definitely had to do it at that moment because it was all still very recent. I sang a One Direction song, and it was hard not to think about Liam. I almost cried a few times singing his verses.”

Zayn was talking about moments during his own solo Stardust tour. His words were met with appreciation from fans of the band. Replying to the original post, one user wrote: “Oh Liam you are so loved.”

Another added: “We love you and support you @zaynmalik.” And a third said: “my heart remains broken, oh my god.”

In his 2024 tour, Zayn opened up proceedings days after Liam’s funeral. The “Pillowtalk” hitmaker left fans emotional as he displayed an emotional message for his former bandmate.

The tribute, on a large blue screen, read: “Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro.” The message, followed by a heart emoji, was shared widely on social media after leaving the crowd in tears.

Paying tribute to Liam following the devastating death, Zayn admitted he “never got to thank” the late star for supporting him through what he called some of the “most difficult” in his life. Taking to Instagram at the time, Zayn wrote: “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.

“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.

“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f***s about telling people when they were wrong. Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.”

He went on : “I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next. I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what l’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye.”

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I’m A Celebrity…South Africa star Beverley Callard, best known for starring as Liz McDonald on Coronation Street, has given fans another update amid her cancer battle

Beverley Callard has given fans a huge update about her cancer battle. The star explained that despite having her cancer removed during an operation, it had spread to a lymph nodes.

Speaking on Instagram, Beverley explained that her consultant contacted her to say the surgery “went really well,” and they managed to “cut the cancer out”. She added: “They’re pleased with how the surgery went. And they also two three lymph nodes. And this is how she explained it to me. The lymph nodes are like a staircase. And if cancer is in the lymph nodes, it sort of tends to climb up the stairs.

“That’s oversimplifying it, but just to help explain. And they took three, and the cancer is in the first lymph node. It’s not in the second two and three. So it is there, but it’s only small.”

The actress, 69, who is best known for playing Rovers Return landlady Liz McDonald on Coronation Street, recently relocated to Ireland with her husband Jon McEwan so she could star in the BBC soap Fair City.

But just before filming her first scenes, the star, who can currently be seen competing on the pre-recorded I’m A Celebrity…South Africa series, received a call informing her that she had been diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer and underwent her first bout of surgery in early March.

After suffering a few delays due to a backlog in the system, the soap legend finally received her results on Thursday afternoon and took to Instagram to update her followers.

Beverley has been keeping her followers up to date with her whole journey ever since she revealed her diagnosis in February. Earlier this week, she began with a sigh as she said: “Oh well, I’ve been painting all day again and I’ve nearly finished it, which is amazing.

“God, I’ve put some hours in that room, but I really want it finished for when Jon gets back. As you know, I’m waiting for my results, which has made me paint for England, well, for Ireland!

“Anyway, I got a text just a couple of hours ago. It says that my consultant is away at the moment, but there is someone else who I have seen before, another consultant, who wants to discuss my results on Thursday at 12 o’clock, so I’ve got a consultation then. I don’t know what that means. So I’m sort of like, ‘Okay… I just thought that the nurse was going to ring.’

“I spoke to one of the cancer nurses last week, she was great, and she said they would ring me as soon as they know anything. So I’m thinking, ‘Well, why have they not rung me then? “Or am I mistaken?

“I don’t know but I will know more on Thursday at 12 o’clock so I will be glad when Jon is home. I wasn’t going to tell him but [my daughter] Rebecca said to tell him, so I have just told him. There we are. I just wondered if this has happened to anyone else. Lots of love everyone – I’m being strong.”

She wrote in the caption: “Had a bit of a weird update and not sure how to feel about it…trying to be brave and strong.”

Beverley first revealed news of her diagnosis in February during an appearance on RTE’s Late Late Show. She said: “I’ve had some tests just before I left the UK, and literally, 15, 20 minutes before I was in my dressing room at Fair City, getting ready to go on, and I was quite nervous and thinking, ‘I hope everybody thinks I’m all right’, whatever.

“And my consultant rang me and said, ‘you’ve got to come back to the UK’ I said, ‘Well, I can’t possibly, I’ve just taken a new job’. I said ‘I’m away for a month’, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“But I’m fine, I’m absolutely fine. My head was a bit mashed for the first few days. It’s very early stages, and I’m along with thousands of other women as well.”

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