By VICTORIA CHURCHILL, US POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: 13:33 BST, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 13:57 BST, 9 August 2026

Bear Grylls fans wouldn’t have expected the survival expert to be related to this reality star

Advertisement

Bear Grylls is far from the only famous face in his family but with his sister going down a very different career path.

The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls has dropped on Prime Video today, Sunday August 9, where he leads the cast of historical drama The Chosen through rugged landscapes to explore their real-life spiritual journeys.

All six episodes are ready to stream now and as fans delve into the docu-series, many viewers are growing curious about Grylls’ personal life, including his family.

But what fans may not realise is that his older sister has become a regular on our screens every Friday night as she is Gogglebox star Lara Fawcett.

Bear clearly isn’t the only one with an adventurous side in the family though as Lara is an open-water cold swimmer.

Advertisement

The 60-year-old has previously represented Team GB in the International Ice Swimming World Championships in the French Alps.

But since competing in the extreme sport, she joined the cast of Channel 4’s Gogglebox, appearing alongside her mother-in-law Sara on her sofa.

It was also thanks to Lara, who now works in PR, that the survival expert got his famous nickname.

He previously shared with The Times: “I was christened Edward. My sister gave me the name Bear when I was a week old and it has stuck.”

Bear and Lara’s father was also well known but in a very different field as he was British Conservative politician Sir Williams Grylls.

He served as an MP for both Chertsey and North West Surrey from 1970 to 1997 and sadly died in 2001 at the age of 66.

Grylls has been married to author, philanthropist and speaker Shara Grylls since 2000 and they have three sons together.

She has written two relationship books that focus on advice and insights about maintaining a strong partnership.

The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls is available to watch on Prime Video.

Forget golf clubs and boozy lunches – top firms across Britain are now wooing new clients over a game of padel.

Padel, a tennis-squash hybrid played with rackets, has become a favourite for networking and team-building among lawyers, venture capitalists and management consultants in recent years – with courts increasingly springing up close to offices and along commuters’ routes home. 

Unlike suburban golf courses, padel courts are popping up in some of London‘s smartest neighbourhoods, including Battersea, Canary Wharf, Shoreditch and Vauxhall.

The trend is also spreading beyond the capital.

In central Manchester, players can head to Pollen Club, a padel clubhouse in Deansgate complete with a terrace and coffee shop, while in Birmingham, Powerleague boasts a state-of-the-art padel court alongside private parking and a cafeteria.

But the sport does not come cheap. Court hire typically costs between £30 and £50 an hour, rising to as much as £100 at London clubs such as Padium in Canary Wharf, at the heart of London’s financial district.

Former lawyer Lauren van der Westhuizen, 34, is the founder of House of Racquet, a padel club based in King’s Cross in London. 

She has hosted 150 corporate and brand events centred around the sport in just three months, with employees from Goldman Sachs, Jane Street, Checkout, Google and Meta taking part in networking and team-building days.  

In Birmingham , Powerleague boasts a state-of-the-art padel court alongside private parking and a cafeteria (pictured)

Ms van der Westhuizen said the sport offers a refreshing alternative to deals being sealed over a game of golf. 

She told The Times, ‘When I worked in law, I’d go in on a Friday and be like: ‘Why is the office empty except for the female associates?’ 

‘Oh, because they’ve got partners and senior associate golf day. Padel is gender-balanced.’ 

Amy Hall, founder of Solihull-based women’s padel merchandise brand Serve, said the sport takes the ‘awkwardness’ out of traditional networking. 

Jenny Afia, a partner and solicitor advocate at Schillings who organises padel games for people working in media and media law, agreed, saying: ‘People connect far more naturally when they’re doing something together than when they’re standing in a room exchanging business cards.’ 

Padel is a racquet sport that follows the same scoring system as lawn tennis, but is played on courts roughly a third of the size.

Usually played in doubles, the game uses solid, stringless racquets and enclosed courts where, as in squash, players can use the walls to keep the ball in play.

The balls are slightly smaller than tennis balls and serves are made underarm. Among the sport’s celebrity fans are David Beckham, Serena Williams and even French President Emmanuel Macron.

Padel is replacing traditional networking locations, including golf courses (Pictured: Pollen Club padel clubhouse in Deansgate, Manchester)

Advertisement

Its meteoric rise is all the more remarkable given that padel was only invented in 1969, when a husband and wife created the game while on holiday as a way to stave off boredom.

But not everyone is a fan of padel – a sport said to have more than one million players in Britain and a rapidly growing following, according to the Lawn Tennis Association.

Rob Mindell, a managing director at consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal, said a game of padel can involve ’90 minutes’ of little to no conversation, unlike a business lunch, where there is ample opportunity to get to know the other person directly. 

And on TikTok, users have also been quick to point out the sport’s shortcomings.

One commenter on a video about the sport also branded it ‘a commercial rip off’, while another simply agreed: ‘Utter rip off.’

Others took aim at its price tag and image. One wrote: ‘Padel is definitely elitist,’ while another dismissed it as ‘very performative’.

There have also been growing concerns that community spaces are being lost to make way for padel courts. 

Aiwa Saito is a regular at Barking Skatepark in London, which is set to be replaced by padel courts.

Ms Saito said she now feels there are few safe indoor spaces in the capital where she can take her children skating.

‘Outdoor skateparks aren’t safe for children, particularly teenage girls,’ she told The Guardian.

‘Parents already tell their girls: ‘You have to be really careful when you go skateboarding, which park you go to. It’s not safe.’ 

‘And to take that away, with no alternative, is unacceptable.’

The YouTuber, who also posts on Instagram and TikTok, thought he was being robbed after they descended upon him suddenly as he rode along the path

A YouTuber says he was grabbed from his e-bike by plain clothes police officers wearing tracksuits – and then they realised who he was. Carmine Stones had no idea the men were officers when they suddenly seized him on a canal path in Manchester.

He was convinced he was being set upon by “a group of thugs”. The 21 year old initially believed he was about to be robbed before the tracksuit-wearing men identified themselves and produced their warrant cards.

Footage recorded on Carmine’s GoPro captures him pleading: “Wait, please stop. Stop, please.” The officers immediately announced that they were police, prompting Carmine to repeatedly demand to see their warrant cards.

One officer explains: “We stopped you because of your electric bike, okay?” After Carmine says that its assisted speed is capped at 15.5mph, one of the officers suddenly appears to recognise him.

Advertisement

The officers then reveal that they are targeting suspected drug dealing and knifepoint robberies involving e-bikes. Having inspected the bike, the officers in the video confirm it is road-legal and apologise for the extreme nature of the stop.

The officer says: “Sorry to scare you like that, mate. I know it’s a bit extreme.” They also commended Carmine for wearing a helmet and urged him to stay vigilant owing to the number of e-bikes reportedly being stolen in the area.

Carmine, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, produces videos about bicycles and local news for his @‌Kurrgas social media channels, including Instagram and TikTok, where collectively he has many tens of thousands of followers. He said the incident took place around three months ago on a canal near Manchester Piccadilly.

“I didn’t notice them until they grabbed me and pulled me off my bike,” Carmine said. “It definitely scared me because, at first, I thought I was being attacked by a group of thugs.

“It was mainly because of the way they were dressed and the number of officers involved. Once they started speaking, though, it became clear they were police officers.”

Carmine said the officers produced their warrant cards straight away and professionally explained the reason for the stop. He said: “At the time it was frightening and made me feel uncomfortable.

“Afterwards, I could laugh about it because it had all been recorded, but it did make me nervous about riding along canals for a while. I was mainly shocked at first, but also relieved that they weren’t taking my bike.”

Despite his ordeal, Carmine said he backs police carrying out proactive operations against weapons and criminal activity. He added: “Considering the recent issues with knife crime, I support proactive policing like this.

“Although I wouldn’t want to experience being stopped like that again, I understand why they were carrying out the operation.”

Greater Manchester Police said: “Officers working in the Harpurhey area as part of an operation to tackle nuisance and anti-social e-bikes conducted a stop of a man to ensure the bike complied with road regulations. The officers identified themselves as they did so, before they ensured the bike was fit and legal to be on the road.

“The bike was deemed to be in compliance with the relevant laws and the man was free to leave shortly after.” The force confirmed that e-bikes are amongst the most commonly reported antisocial behaviour complaints it receives.

It added that officers deploy a variety of tactics to tackle the problem, including the use of covert and plain-clothes teams. The footage attracted millions of views and sparked debate amongst viewers about how they would have reacted.

One viewer joked: “Bruh, I would not have stopped. I probably would’ve ended up going in the water.”

Another praised the officers, writing: “They are actually good officers.” JD Sports’ official account also waded into the reactions, joking: “Blue Light Card got rinsed for this operation.”

The publication would transform Robert Burns’ life and secure his place as Scotland’s National Bard.

Rare Burns artefacts, historic documents and a printing press will help bring a pivotal moment in Scotland’s literary history to life as Ayrshire commemorates the 240th anniversary of the Kilmarnock Edition.

In July 1786, a little-known poet from Ayrshire saw his first collection, Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, printed in Kilmarnock.

The publication would transform Robert Burns’ life and secure his place as Scotland’s National Bard.

Now, 240 years later, a programme of exhibitions, events and activities across East Ayrshire will explore the story behind the book that changed both Burns’ future and Scotland’s cultural identity.

At the heart of the celebrations is the Dick Institute in Kilmarnock, where visitors will be able to see rare objects linked to Burns and the world that shaped him.

Among the highlights is the Kirk Session Book, believed to be the only known document in the world bearing both the signatures of Robert Burns and Jean Armour.

Visitors will also be able to see a replica of the printing press used to produce the Kilmarnock Edition, bringing to life the craft and innovation behind the publication that launched Burns’ career.

The exhibition will explore how advances in printing helped spread ideas, literature and learning at a time when Scotland was becoming a centre of intellectual and cultural change.

Advertisement

The anniversary programme also includes A Type of Enlightenment, an exhibition exploring the history of printing and its role in shaping the Scottish Enlightenment.

Contemporary artist Graham Fagen’s exhibition, The Kilmarnock Edition, offers a fresh perspective on Burns’ story by examining the poet’s planned emigration to Jamaica before the success of the Kilmarnock Edition changed the course of his life.

Through themes of identity, migration, empire and memory, the exhibition invites visitors to consider how different history might have been had Burns boarded the ship he intended to take.

The programme also celebrates Burns’ life in nearby Mauchline, where visitors can discover sites connected to the poet and Jean Armour, including the room where they once lived, the graves of people who inspired characters in his poems, and locations that reveal the real stories behind some of his most famous verses.

As well as celebrating the past, the programme will encourage new generations to engage with Burns’ work. Through activities at Poets’ Corner, opportunities for aspiring writers to share their own work through the Post a Poet competition, and creative experiences such as Rab’s Summer School at the Killie Print Shop, young people will be invited to explore poetry, storytelling and the printing traditions that helped launch Burns’ career 240 years ago.

By connecting Burns’ legacy with today’s young voices, the programme aims to inspire the next generation of writers, poets and storytellers.

Celebrations will take place across East Ayrshire throughout 2026, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore the extraordinary story of the poet, the people around him and the book that made his name, while inspiring a new generation to discover Burns for themselves.

For more information about any of the Burns celebrations visit Ayrshire360.com

Additional information can be found at https://ayrshire360.com/blogs/the-book-that-made-burns-how-kilmarnock-changed-scottish-literary-history/

By JADA BAS, REPORTER

Published: 11:22 BST, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 13:08 BST, 9 August 2026

Tributes have poured in for an ‘adored’ musician who died in a crash involving a tractor.

Nathan Smith, 45, was best known for supporting the Wombats with his band MFK at Trentham Gardens.

The music star died on Wednesday morning following the collision where he was a pedestrian on Shelton New Road, in Cliffe Vale, Stoke-on-Trent.

Emergency services raced to the scene where he was in a critical condition, but despite the best efforts of staff he sadly died in hospital shortly after.

Advertisement

Staffordshire Police said the tractor driver has helped with their enquiries.

Mr Smith also ran a recording studio and was in numerous bands.

In a statement, his family said: ‘Nathan was a self-taught electric bass player, who played in various Stoke bands and ran the UTC recording studio in Longton with his friend and fellow Big Cash Prizes band member, Tom Bath.

‘He was supremely talented and in recent years enjoyed success with a new Stoke band MFK, culminating in supporting the Wombats at Trentham Gardens.

Advertisement

Tributes have poured in for Nathan Smith, a musician who died in a crash involving a tractor

His band MFK posted on Instagram a tribute to the late bassist which said: ‘Absolutely heartbroken. Nay Smith forever.’

The music star died on Wednesday morning following the collision where he was a pedestrian on Shelton New Road, in Cliffe Vale, Stoke-on-Trent

Advertisement

‘Nathan was so much more though. A wonderful son, grandson and an incredible father.

‘He charmed everyone he met and was universally adored. He will be missed enormously by so many people.’

MFK also posted on Instagram a tribute to the late bassist which said: ‘Absolutely heartbroken. Nay Smith forever.’

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police previously said: ‘We are appealing for information after a man sadly died following a collision in Stoke-on-Trent.

Advertisement

‘We were called just after 8.20am to Shelton New Road in Cliffe Vale following reports of a collision.

‘West Midlands Ambulance Service and Midlands Air Ambulance also attended the scene.

‘A tractor and a pedestrian were involved.

‘The pedestrian, a man, was taken to hospital by ambulance and was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.’

Advertisement

The box – which originally contained just a single bar of Rowntree’s chocolate – is one of the rarest commemorative wares produced for the royal event.

Auctioneers at David Duggleby believe it is only the second to be seen in an auction this century.

For the coronation, Rowntree’s of York – alongside all the country’s major chocolate manufacturers – produced thousand of souvenir coronation tins which were distributed across the nation.

They were decorated with painted portraits of the King Edward and Queen Alexandra.

The King and Queen supplied tins of the Rowntree chocolate for Coronation Dinners that were arranged for ‘the poor of London’ and for a Royal housemaids tea.

But the confectionery company also commissioned silversmiths Cooper Brothers and Sons from Sheffield to produce a small number of solid silver versions.

Holly Hammond with the 125-year-old silver chocolate tin made for the coronation of King Edward VII (Image: David Duggleby Auctioneers/SWNS)

The King and Queen were given silver versions and the others went to members of the Rowntree family.

Prior to bidding opening on the lot auctioneer Coralie Thomson said there had been “lots of pre-auction interest in this one”.

And following a short bidding war at David Duggleby in Scarborough, the gavel was raise and the Edwardian tin was sold for the huge figure.

Read next:

Holly Hammond from auctioneers said the item was “incredibly rare”.

She said: “This is in a completely different league, about as rare as it gets.

“The only other example that we have been able to find ever going under the hammer was back in 2007, in London, a box that was reportedly given by a member of the Rowntree family to their coachman and passed down in his family.

“This box retains its original red leather case and is in quite remarkable condition.

“It bears the Cooper Brothers stamp and is hallmarked Sheffield 1901, the year before the Coronation – which brings us on to a surprise, the fact that the date of the Coronation emblazoned on the tin, June 26th 1902, is wrong.”

“That’s down to the fact that the King and Queen were due to be crowned on June 26th but King Edward was taken ill with an abdominal abscess that required surgery shortly before the date and the ceremony was postponed for six weeks.

“The coronation did not actually happen until 9th August.”

Holly added that it is was a “blessing” that the chocolate was no longer in the tin.

By SOPHIE GABLE, US REPORTER

Published: 05:35 BST, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 12:50 BST, 9 August 2026

A woman and five-month-old baby have died after a boat capsized near the State of Liberty in New York City on Saturday night.

Passengers on board a boat in New York Harbor plunged into the water after the ship turned over at around 10.30pm. 

A 27-year-old woman and a five-month-old girl were airlifted to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn in critical condition, police said.

Both the woman and girl were later declared to have died, ABC News reported. 

Advertisement

It remains unclear if the two victims who died were related and exactly how many passengers were aboard. 

A large search and rescue operation was launched after the incident, as 12 people were rescued with minor injuries and transported to hospital.

Multiple units from the FDNY, Harbor, Scuba and Aviation, responded to the scene. 

Advertisement

Multiple emergency response units were seen in the water on Saturday night after reports that a boat overturned 

Police sources told multiple outlets that a woman and child were airlifted to the hospital in critical condition and dozens were rescued. The woman and child were later pronounced dead 

Divers with the New York Police Department were also seen in the water rescuing passengers.

Footage from the scene showed multiple emergency vessels in the water flashing lights. 

Advertisement

Harrowing cries from loved ones of the victims could be heard at the hospital, the New York Post reported.

‘No. Why? Why? No,’ a relative reportedly screamed in horror.

People at the hospital were also reportedly still holding their life jackets.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the NYPD, FDNY and Coast Guard for more information.  

Advertisement

Blurry footage captured multiple emergency response crews in the water late on Saturday night 

Emergency responders rushed to Liberty Island on Saturday night after a boat overturned. A woman and child were rushed to a hospital in Brooklyn 

It is unclear what led to the incident and how many people were on board. Police crews were seen rushing to the scene 

Take a look at five farm shops and cafés worth paying a visit to across the region this summer.

Five Houses Farm Shop, Yarm

Five Houses Farm Shop in Yarm. (Image: Provided)

This family-run favourite is loved for its quality local produce and well-stocked butchery counter on the outskirts of Yarm.

Shoppers can pick up fresh meat, fruit, vegetables, baked goods and deli items, with many products sourced from local suppliers.

Complete with a café, this should be a regular stop for anyone wanting to support local while stocking up for summer barbecues and gatherings.

Hutchinson Hobbs Farm Shop, Yarm

Hutchinson Hobbs in Yarm. (Image: GOOGLE)

In the countryside on the outskirts of Yarm, Hutchinson Hobbs blends a traditional farm shop with a modern café.

Enjoy browsing local produce and artisan foods before settling down for breakfast, lunch or coffee. Its rural setting draws visitors looking for a peaceful escape.

Fletchers Farm, Great Ayton

Fletchers Farm in Great Ayton. (Image: Provided)

Fletchers Farm is a top spot for families, set with views across the North York Moors.

The farm shop sits alongside a café, bakery and ice cream parlour, making it popular for a day out for families with children.

Its mix of food, drink and beautiful countryside keeps visitors returning.

Crathorne Farm Dairy

Crathorne Farm Dairy. (Image: Crathorne Farm Diary)

Crathorne Farm Dairy is known for ‘award-winning dairy products’ and offers some of the region’s finest milk, cream and cheese.

The business has become renowned for championing local produce and sustainability while maintaining its family farming roots.

For those wanting to try food produced just a short distance from where it was made, it provides a true farm-to-table experience.

The Farm Shop and Café at Wynyard Hall and Gardens, Wynyard

Wynyard Hall and Gardens. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Set on the Wynyard Hall estate, the Farm Shop and Café champions local foods, gifts and seasonal ingredients.

The café’s menu uses regional produce, and visitors often combine shopping with strolls in the gardens – a perfect summer outing.

With a growing appetite for local food and supporting independent businesses, farm shops have become much more than places to pick up supplies.

Whether you’re searching for fresh produce, a hearty lunch or ingredients for your next barbecue, these destinations offer a chance to discover some of the best food and drink Teesside and North Yorkshire has to offer.